A Veteran of Infinite Buffs - Chapter 78

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 78

“Kael! It’s been so long! I hope you’ve been well?”
“Yes, I have. And how have you been, Silverpenn?”
Health springs from prosperity.
Silverpenn’s complexion had noticeably improved.
With the absence of players during this period, he seemed to have enjoyed a more leisurely time than before.
“With Liam becoming so quiet, I haven’t had much fun, I must admit. Hehe.”
“But it seems you’ve made thorough preparations for when things pick up again.”
“Haha! You noticed? It’s thanks to an oracle that Guild Master Russell obtained with great difficulty from the Temple!”
“An oracle?”
“Yes. It stated that the foreigners would return after a hundred days, and that their time here would grow longer thereafter. So I’ve brought ample supplies of everything—daily necessities, food ingredients, sleeping bags, you name it!”
A merchant company of considerable scale truly operates differently.
The moment they received this future information from the oracle, they immediately stockpiled goods that would be in high demand.
“Guild Master Russell isn’t here, then?”
“Correct. He travels between the Major Cities overseeing the company’s operations. I remain here in Liam, responsible for introducing the Russell Merchant Company to the incoming foreigners.”
It appeared the Russell Merchant Company’s main operations were indeed centered on the Guild Master.
In terms of profit, the Major Cities would certainly be more lucrative.
Both NPCs and players have substantial spending power there.
‘If even Seoguang’s wealth falls short of the Kingdom’s three great dukes, then a primary merchant partner is absolutely essential.’
The timing seemed right, and the opportunity had presented itself.
I decided this was the moment to make another impression.
I could purchase gifts for Chae-rim while also filling the empty spaces in my subspace.
“This is Chae-rim, my adopted daughter.”
“Your adopted daughter? My! What an honored guest. I shouldn’t be standing here like this. Please wait just a moment.”
Silverpenn hurried back into the tent, causing quite a commotion before returning, visibly more flustered than before.
Had Chae-rim brought gifts as well?
“Our company has recently established an exclusive partnership with Marcel Workshop. Thanks to this, we can now distribute their products. This is a gift for the young hero.”
“Oh my. What is all this?”
Silverpenn set down an array of items before me.
Most of them appeared to be toys at first glance.
I first examined a waist pouch I couldn’t immediately identify, its interior packed full of contents.
“Ah, this is a waist pouch that the workshop has released as a key product. Inside, I’ve placed carved figurines, wooden flutes, and a wooden comb.”
“I see.”
These were items that weren’t expensive but certainly useful to have.
Moreover, the wooden flute was something I hadn’t anticipated, yet now it felt like an essential item.
Silverpenn’s eye for quality was truly in a different class.
“The carved figurines are also from the workshop. They’re effective for stamina recovery, fatigue relief, and alleviating muscle soreness.”
Even the sculpture itself was arranged for long-distance travel.
“How much do I owe you?”
“Think nothing of it. If you’re Kael’s foster daughter, I should make a good impression as well. Please accept it as a gift.”
“My goodness. If you insist, then I’ll have to buy plenty of goods today. Come now, Chae-rim. Thank you….”
Now that I thought about it, Chae-rim had gone quiet.
Chae-rim was intently examining something in her waist pouch.
“Ah. She must be absorbed in admiring the sculpture. The child has quite nimble fingers.”
“Nimble fingers? Hmm. In that case….”
Silverpenn handed Chae-rim a wooden carving and sculpting knife displayed on the carriage.
“I should give you this as a gift as well.”
“You’ve already given me too many gifts, Master Silverpenn. I’ll purchase this one myself.”
“Hehe. Would viewing your sculpture be sufficient payment instead?”
Silverpenn didn’t yet know Chae-rim’s true skill.
Yet something told him to offer the wooden carving with confidence.
“I’ll buy whatever you make regardless of success, so won’t you create something for me?”
Without a word, Chae-rim accepted the carving wood and immediately began working.
Scritch. Scritch.
“Hmm? You’ve handled a sculpting knife before?”
“Yes. The child’s hands are remarkably skilled.”
Scritch. Scritch. Scritch.
“Haha. Then I’ll have to loosen my purse strings today! I might just be witnessing the work of a future master sculptor!”
Scritch. Scritch. Scritch.
“Uh….”
Silverpenn gradually fell silent.
I knew the reason well enough.
Anyone watching could see that a sculpture superior to workshop standards was taking shape.
Scritch. Scritch.
Before long, she had moved beyond shaping the form into detailed work.
A crowd of onlookers had gathered without anyone noticing.
“That child is creating an extraordinary sculpture….”
“The sculpture is actually glowing….”
“Shh. Don’t disturb her work.”
From the sculpture’s eyes to the delicate folds of the clothing, every detail was being carved with meticulous precision.
Each time life seemed to breathe into the sculpture, small gasps of admiration rippled through the crowd.
And Silverpenn too began to break into a cold sweat.
“…I had forgotten. Everyone traveling with Kael was equally extraordinary.”
“I didn’t know either. I only knew she was skilled at needlework.”
“Nee, needlework…. Gasp.”
Sculpture and needlework.
It was obvious which one would earn more money, even at a glance.
After all, tailoring is intimately connected to the essentials of daily life.
Moreover, in a world where magic exists, the value of a seamstress stands far higher than in reality.
Scritch. Scritch.
Chae-rim’s gaze no longer lingered on the workshop-made sculpture.
There was only her own sculpture now.
I decided to give my attention to the workshop-made sculpture instead.

[Marcel Workshop Recovery Sculpture (Superior)]
[Health recovery speed increases dramatically for a time.]
[Durability: 5]

[A sculpture crafted by a master artisan of Marcel Workshop. Simply gazing upon it brings a refreshing sensation.]
[When receiving the sculpture buff, durability decreases.]

The workshop-made sculpture was a superior-grade piece, no less.
Moreover, since it rapidly restored health in an instant, it could serve as a healing potion usable outside of combat.
This meant it was not a copper-tier item—it was a sculpture that should be traded in silver to gold tier.
Silverpenn did not give trivial gifts.
Scritch. Scritch.
Yet comparison was inevitable.
Chae-rim was creating a masterpiece that would undoubtedly be traded in gold tier.
Scritch.
Moreover, the sculpture Chae-rim was making was for Silverpenn—for him alone.
This was why the sculpture still retained its rough edges.
“Huff.”
With the sculpture complete, Chae-rim finally opened her mouth.
“Thank you for the gift.”
“K-Kael…”
Silverpenn could not bring himself to accept the sculpture Chae-rim had made.
Perhaps I could at least examine its options now.

[Warm-Hearted Merchant (Masterpiece)]
[Health recovery speed increases dramatically.]
[Luck increases by 35.]
[Durability: 10]

[A work created by a sculptor of great talent. Though it may appear humble, most sculptors would feel the wall of talent before it. This is the first step of a sculptor blessed with great talent.]
[When receiving the sculpture buff, durability decreases.]

As expected.
The performance is absolutely insane.
Even better than the masterpiece doll I’d acquired before.
She had accepted the Marcel Workshop’s expertise in health recovery sculptures, added her own techniques, and inscribed a status-boosting effect into it.
“A wonderful gift has been completed.”
“…I couldn’t possibly accept it as a gift. Whatever the price, I should purchase it properly. After all, you carved me into existence.”
“No. Chae-rim decided this was a gift, so it is a gift.”
“Ah, well. Either way, this is rather awkward. Perhaps we should move to a more suitable location. I’ll guide you to my tent.”
“Yes, let’s go inside.”
Drawn by the attention, I entered Silverpenn’s tent.
The interior looked much the same as before.
But there were slightly more decorative pieces bearing the touch of an apprentice artisan.
This was probably as far as Silverpenn’s vision extended.
Collecting works by apprentice artisans to decorate the tent’s interior.
And becoming the owner of pieces created during the early days of a future master artisan.
Was Silverpenn’s intention merely art patronage and lottery-style wealth management?
“Chae-rim. Let’s give this to Silverpenn properly.”
Chae-rim nodded and held out the sculpture to Silverpenn.
“Thank you for accepting the gift, Silverpenn.”
“My goodness. I should be thanking you, young lady.”
Even Chae-rim’s form of address had been elevated to “young lady.”
The original purpose of visiting the merchant company was to introduce Silverpenn to Chae-rim.
I needed someone who would purchase Chae-rim’s creations at generous prices and turn a profit.
Seo-gwang and Lumiere would also buy Chae-rim’s work at high prices, but they had entangled interests.
However, the Russell Merchant Company, and Silverpenn especially, was connected to me alone—making him the ideal partner.
Yet the success rate exceeded my expectations.
This variable was solely the result of Chae-rim’s genius.
If there was something weighing on my mind, it was the Luck +35 and health recovery buff.
Converting the buff to permanent duration was something only I could do—a dilemma unique to me.
But there was no reason to dwell on it.
The sculpture was decided as a gift from the start.
It would be strange to reduce its durability just to give it away.
My stats weren’t in such dire need anyway.
“…Ahem. A gift. I accept it.”
A pure gift.
It was a concept distant from a merchant’s world.
Yet even for such a merchant, accepting that this gift was pure and genuine was unavoidable.
Because the giver was a pure child.
And because of that, the effect was powerful.
“Today will become an unforgettable day for me. That I could solidify my position as Silverpenn, that I could elevate this merchant company to greater heights—it is all thanks to you, Kael.”
“I haven’t done anything.”
“Hehe. This sculpture must be preserved as a family heirloom. It will become a treasure for the ages.”
Silverpenn accepted the sculpture Chae-rim offered with utmost care.
He continued speaking with a radiant smile.
“Your specialty isn’t sculpture but needlework, is it, Miss Chae-rim?”
“Yes.”
“I’m not certain how far it can go, but I’ll stake my name on it.”
When a merchant stakes their name, it means they’re wagering their reputation.
That’s why these words carried such weight.
“May I purchase everything you create from now on, Miss Chae-rim?”
Chae-rim regarded Silverpenn quietly.
Then she nodded silently.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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