Chapter 2: The water of the Earth is the treasure of that world(2)

“I’m selling water it’s clean, potable water ,anything is fine as payment. There’s no supply limit.”

The recording ended.

Now, my will contained in this voice will echo through that world.

It wasn’t anything grand.

But in that world, there must be many who would value this water.

“Alright, let’s stop here and… get some rest.”

I had done everything I could.

But from here on, it was up to luck.

Whether someone would come to the trading post or not was not something I could control.

‘For now, let’s lie down…’

The moment I lay in bed, the status window popped up in front of me.

“What, why now-“

[A visitor has approached! A communication request has been received!]

“So soon?”

Startled, I got up and contacted that world through the status window.

A hologram window the size of a TV appeared before me.

There, a blonde woman with a bewildered expression was captured.

“Hello.Th-this is Western Ranger, Squad Leader Lisa Martinez.”

“I’m Jeong Isu.”

As soon as we exchanged greetings, Lisa shouted urgently.

“I-I came because you said you could sell water! Can I receive it right away? I don’t know how the water is coming in, but-“

I smiled faintly.

I didn’t expect to start the first transaction so quickly.

“Yes. I’ll prepare it right away.”

In my studio apartment, there were a few unopened water bottles.

‘It’s a bit of a waste…’

Trading wasn’t something I could do indefinitely.

Each transaction required my mana.

In my current state, if a transaction started today, I wouldn’t be able to trade for at least a week.

“You seem to be in a hurry?”

“Yes. Please. I think there’s a tank of water in this trading post, but if we don’t drink it now… today or tomorrow, everyone will die.”

It seemed like I held their lives in my hands.

‘Well, that’s not bad.’

They didn’t seem to be raiders.

If so, continuing this trade with them wasn’t a bad choice.

I needed trading performance, not immediate profit.

“I’ll send it right away.”

Another screen appeared.

There, a box similar to my sub dimensional inventory was visible.

“You can put the items you want to send in there.”

I brought five 2-liter water bottles and put them into my subdimensional box.

“Wh-what’s in there… is it all water? Unprocessed water?”

“Of course, it’s water.”

It seemed that during a transaction, they could also see the items in my subdimensional inventory.

“I-I’ll give you anything. What do you want?”

“Well?”

It was something I hadn’t thought about.

I had planned to ‘just sell items without expecting anything in return’, but I didn’t realize there might be nothing I could receive from them.

“First, among the valuable things we have… how about we offer you guns?”

“I don’t need them.”

I wasn’t going to hunt myself, and there was no reason for me to suddenly receive guns.

‘Realistically, it’s a firearms violation…’

In the long run, I didn’t think I could hide my ability from the state forever.

But at least until this ‘trade’ stabilized to some extent, I wanted to appear as if I had a non-threatening ability.

‘Even if it’s a junk gun, it’s still a gun.’

Guns in this world weren’t very special unless they were unique.

Most guns were probably not better than the K2 used by the national army.

But even a crude gun is still a gun.

My ability was to bring a lot of unlicensed firearms into Korea through unknown routes.

‘This is a no-go.’

No matter how I thought about it, it was an ability that could be used for crime.

There was no reason to reveal this.

It wasn’t like my mindset was close to a criminal’s, and even if I used this ability for crime, I would probably just be used and discarded with my level of ability.

“Then, clothes… I can give you the clothes I’m wearing.”

“Uh, I hate to say this… but I don’t need them.”

If a beauty like Lisa was wearing them, there might be a demand from a certain demographic.

But I wasn’t part of that ‘certain demographic’.

I had no desire to buy rough, worn-out clothes that had been worn around the wasteland.

Even if I tried to resell them, I wouldn’t know where to sell them.

‘Wait a minute…’

A brilliant idea suddenly popped into my head.

I immediately opened the status window to check it.

‘If I exchange useless items indefinitely… Ah, it doesn’t work.’

To be recognized as trading performance, the first item exchanged through this system had to be included in the transaction.

“We have drugs or food…”

“Uh, I don’t think I need them.”

Drugs in that world are real drugs.

The effects of ‘potions’ that increase reaction speed or allow one to endure pain are, realistically, the effects of narcotics.

I have no intention of becoming a drug addict.

In a life-or-death situation like the people of [Wasteland 2], prioritizing immediate survival over future addiction might not be strange, but I didn’t want to abuse my body like that.

The same goes for food.

I’d rather go to a convenience store than eat food from that environment.

In terms of taste, price, and hygiene.

“Then what… Ah! Th-this. If you need it-“

“What’s that?”

In her hand was a small steel ring.

“This is supposed to be good for health… but it’s meaningless to me.”

“It’s not important?”

“No. I just found it somewhere.”

“That’s fine. Give me that.”

I nodded calmly.

‘Receiving it as an item… not bad.’

In [Wasteland 2], there were many items that could be found here and there.

Basically, it was a world with a strong post-apocalyptic identity rather than magic or superpowers, but there were a few psychic users and items that ‘slightly ignored the laws of physics’.

‘This is better.’

Cursed items were rare, and since Lisa was wearing the ring herself, the possibility was even lower.

“Then, I’ll just… put it here?”

“Yes.”

She placed the ring in the tiny box.

‘…Oh?’

And I could immediately check the ring’s ability.

‘Not bad?’

In terms of the game itself, it wasn’t a very good ring.

‘+1 Health during non-combat’

It could provide a minor benefit to skill checks, but the most crucial time for health is during combat.

Health affects HP, and a difference of 1 or 2 HP could determine whether you die instantly or survive.

It was a unique ring, but not that unique.

‘Not for me.’

After all, I don’t engage in combat.

I can fully enjoy the +1 health option.

‘Not bad?’

It was a ring with a much more certain and clear effect than the ambiguous health foods that say ‘may help with health’ found on the internet.

It was an excessively good item to receive for just a few bottles of water.

“I received a good item. I’ll use it gratefully.”

“Yes… Yes! So, hurry up with the water-“

She craved water like an addict.

It was understandable.

Not only Lisa but also her subordinates seemed to be struggling without water.

“Please close the door on your side… Alright. Let’s proceed with the transaction.”

I used my mana.

The ability I obtained as an awakened one began to function across dimensions.

After closing and opening my eyes, I checked my subdimensional inventory.

A small steel ring came into view.

“R-really water-“

It seemed they had received the water on their side.

“Let’s stop here for today. Thank you for your time.”

“Th-thank you so much! You are our savior!”

“If you need to trade again later…”

“A-again? Can we really trade again?”

“Yes. Next time… I’ll be able to supply a bit more water.”

Lisa’s eyes lit up.

“Thank you! Next time, I’ll definitely bring something worthy as payment!”

“It’s not necessary… but if you insist, I’ll gratefully accept it.”

I smiled faintly and calmly ended the communication.

And I thought.

‘…I succeeded.’

I didn’t think I would succeed on the first day.

But this was definitely a success.

It might be a bit difficult and cumbersome to prove its effectiveness, but this ‘+1 Health during non-combat’ ring could also be sold at a high price in this world.

It wasn’t comparable to modern medicine, especially since it started using monster materials and mana stones, but it was still an item that could permanently maintain health without side effects.

But more importantly, it was ‘trading performance’.

It was increasing.

And as long as Lisa was alive, it would continue to increase.

It didn’t matter what I received from them.

After all, the only resource I’m using is water.

Instead of thinking about selling water to buy something from the [Wasteland 2] world, if I think of it as selling water to buy ‘trading performance’, it was a huge gain.

‘And… first, I should submit my resignation.’

I had no ill feelings towards the company.

But now, I had no reason to stay there.

I’m an awakened one.

I didn’t receive combat abilities, so I couldn’t work as a hunter, but just doing the groundwork of collecting byproducts in gates could earn me a lot of money.

‘Well, someday I might be able to live solely on my ability…’

Still, stability is important.

My ability ultimately requires buying and selling something.

And it’s uncertain when I can realize profits.

‘Let’s not be hasty…’

Clearly, my life had changed dramatically.

I never imagined this would happen when I got on the subway and bus on a dead-end commute back to my studio apartment.

The important thing is safety.

I must secure success without any variables.

I picked up my phone and ordered more water online for the next ‘trade’.

Then I signed up on an awakened one site and looked into what I needed to start a new part-time job.

‘Alright…’

My heart was racing.

I couldn’t predict what would happen tomorrow.

It was a special feeling I never felt during my office worker days.

‘Wow, just attending training earns this much money-‘

Continuing transactions, getting awakened certification, and going through the resignation process-

There was a lot to do.

I dragged my sleepy body, turned off the lights, and fell into a deep sleep.

Looking forward to what tomorrow might bring.