Chapter 27: Market Manipulation Incident

On the third week of peacefully enjoying the Playground server.

“Huh?”

• ????
• Wait, what?
• ??
• What’s going on?
• Is this a bug? It was fine just a moment ago.
• Why is the market acting like this?
• ???

While I was diligently farming and visiting the farming shop as usual, something strange happened.

The market prices, which had been normal just an hour ago, had suddenly shifted drastically.

“…Is this really a bug?”

After planting some seeds at home and returning, I saw that the prices of grapes and cherries had plummeted.

On the other hand, the prices of cabbage, corn, and various vegetables had skyrocketed.

It was the first time I had seen such a phenomenon, so I was completely taken aback.

“Ah… my grapes…”

I had started grape farming based on Akira’s suggestion, but if things continued like this, my losses would be severe.

• Whoa… this is insane.
• Admin, is this supposed to happen?
• What happened for the prices to change this drastically?
• What’s going to happen to our poor Yuwol? ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ
• Ugh…
• At least you still have some leftover corn. You can sell that, right?
• Sigh…
• Why are grape prices like this?

“Everyone, please remember to diversify your investments…”

If only I had spread out my farming. Who could’ve predicted grapes would drop this badly?

As I stared gloomily at the market prices, the Playground server chat was buzzing with activity.

[Yutongman: ?????? Am I the only one seeing weird market prices at the farming shop?]
[Baekdoolgi: Haha, I quit farming a long time ago.]
[Ilaine: Huh? Mine looks weird too!]
[Ilaine: What about my cherries?!]
[Yutongman: It’s probably a bug, right?]
[Nok: Haha;;;]
[Ilaine: AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!]
[Baekdoolgi: Ila, I think you picked the wrong profession… Are you really a plant mage?]
[Hapbi: What the heck is this? Why are prices like this?]
[Anna: Lucky I’m a fisherman, haha.]
[Rumi: I’M DOOMED!]
[Rumi: MY CHERRIES!]
[Angela: Rumi, please… close your mouth for a second…]

Screams of despair flooded the chat from every direction…

[Tsupi: After investigation, we have confirmed that this is neither a bug nor an error.]

[Baekdoolgi: Hahahahahahahaha, the farmers are crying.]
[Ilaine: WHAAAAT??!!!!!!]
[Yutongman: Is this for real?]

The admin team officially announced that this wasn’t a bug, throwing all the farmers into complete chaos.

“Ugh… what do I do now?”

• Ahahaha…

“Market manipulation.”

“Who did this, really?”

Hahaha, hahaha, hahaha, hahaha.

“How did this happen, Wol-nim?”

“But since it’s not fully grown yet, maybe it’s still okay?”

“At this rate, the market should stabilize after changing prices about three more times.”

“Today’s farming is ruined.”

“At this point, it seems like it was a collective manipulation. It’s hard to believe one person did this.”

“Manipulation… I don’t know who did it, but they’re definitely a bad person.”

I spoke in a slightly lower voice and focused on the Playground server chat.

Maybe because everyone realized it wasn’t a bug, they started suspecting each other, trying to find the culprit of the incident.

‘I need to change the title.’

I had something to do today. How dare someone interfere with the Warrior’s healing farming life?

I would make sure they paid for their actions, no matter what.

While Yuwol was swearing vengeance, the culprits behind the market manipulation gathered in a secluded spot in the plaza.

[We didn’t want this either… It’s all the cooks’ fault.]

[They were buying only vegetables, so we had no choice but to step in!]

[We feel bad for the other farmers, but it’s for the greater good…]

[But hey, after this, our wallets are nice and full. The short-selling was a huge success.]

[Seriously, it was amazing.]

There were six people involved in this incident. And among them was…

[So? How much did you make? Why are you so quiet, ‘Yutongman’?]

Yutongman, who had been the first to notice the market issue, was also there.

But in reality, Yutongman wasn’t feeling that happy. No, until just a moment ago, he had been laughing with his fellow conspirators, celebrating their success.

If it hadn’t been for a video donation that arrived during Yutongman’s stream, he would’ve probably still been grinning with a smug smile.

The reason he wasn’t happy now was because of the content of that video donation.

The video showed Yuwol, as if the world had been taken from them, staring blankly at the market prices with an open mouth, looking like a fool. Yutongman realized what he had done.

Yeah, he was sorry to the other farmers, but what else could they do? How else could farmers make a living? It was all for the greater good.

But… the unfortunate truth was, Yuwol was also a farmer.

It wouldn’t have mattered if it had been anyone else. But where did Yuwol belong?

KR Märchen Live, 11th generation Warrior Yuwol.

The youngest baby bird of Märchen, who had just begun to spread its wings.

…Of course, as the youngest, Yuwol must’ve been doted on by the older sisters.

“…Let’s put everything back. Everyone.”

[What?! What do you mean all of a sudden?]

[Why the change of heart now? You were the one leading this.]

[It’s already too late to fix things… Why are you saying this all of a sudden?]

“I… I don’t know. I’m just going to try to fix it a little bit, if I can.”

[What’s up with him?]

[I don’t know.]

Yutongman predicted the future that was coming, and quickly started organizing the items in his inventory.

He couldn’t just ruin his relationship with all of Märchen for the sake of a game…

And so, he swiftly withdrew from the situation, distancing himself.

The reason he had reached one million subscribers was because he survived by reading the room.

‘I will live honestly… Please.’

That didn’t mean his past actions would disappear, but it was better to face the consequences quickly than delay them.

Yutongman once again thought of the donation.

“…I should close my email.”

If he didn’t, the inbox would likely have +999 new messages by tomorrow morning. And there was one more thing.

[Tsupi: ^^ What I did to my idol… I’ll definitely remember this.]

It was a truly dizzying moment.

An hour had passed since the market manipulation incident.

I was standing in the plaza with a pouty expression, just staring blankly.

[Woah, Wol~?]

[Akira will buy you seeds again! So please, say something…]

[Ugh… Just wait until I catch you! You’re in big trouble!]

[Should we release some cosmetics? They added a lot of pretty ones this week!]

• This is bad…
• Our baby is really angry this time.
• Yuwol-nim
• I thought this was a healing server, but it’s a scam server…
• Why can’t the baby Warrior speak?!
• As Anna said, let’s release the cosmetics to at least lighten the mood.

• The grapes might take a bit more time to return to normal… but Yuwol’s grapes have already grown…
• 

After sitting in the plaza for 30 minutes, Tsupi, Akira, Imari, and Anna had all gathered around me, trying to cheer me up.

On top of that, the viewers were also trying to comfort me, so my anger had mostly subsided.

But here’s the problem.

“…When can I say it’s okay?”

I couldn’t find the right moment to say it, so I ended up staying like this for another 30 minutes. Even I could feel how tense the situation was, and I could feel heat rising to my face.

[Ah, yes! Let’s open the random boxes we’ve gathered so far!]

Maybe now’s the right time?

“…Shall we?”

[!!

Now! Yes! Let’s do it now!]**

[Phew]

I managed to find the right moment to speak, thanks to Akira’s words. Fortunately, I could hear the sound of four people exhaling, clearly relieved.

To be honest, I just wanted to go back to my farm, but I had already said it. It wouldn’t hurt to try something new for content.

[#Menol Week 1-3 Cosmetic Unboxing]

I changed the title and went to the gift box to take out all the random boxes that had piled up.

I was a bit surprised at how many there were.

• Umm…
• How many of these are there?;;
• 27 outfits and 8 weapons Hahaha
• There are 2 special random boxes too Hahaha
• I don’t have a cosmetic key, so I can’t open the special ones…
• Wow… Hahaha
• How much is all of this worth? Hahaha
• 27 outfits… If I’m lucky, maybe I’ll get a legendary one?

“Wow, there’s more than I thought. It’ll take some time to open all of these.”

[I’ll open it soon. But let’s move to another spot first. I’ll find a place where we can open the boxes and be right back.]

Since Tsupi was an admin, they could even fly in the game. I thought I should try Minecraft properly sometime. It looked fun.

The place Tsupi found while flying around was…

“Oh.”

• Wow, look at the view.
• I guess it’s the shaders that make it even prettier.
• Is this Minecraft…? Is this the same square world?
• Wow.

Hahaha, this isn’t the Minecraft I knew anymore.

• I’ll admit this.
• Yuwol’s house is quiet like this.

At the top of a spire, a little away from the plaza. It was a view that allowed me to see the entire Märchen Playground village.

“Wow… This is beautiful.”

With the base resource pack of Märchen Playground and shaders added, it created a stunning background scene.

Far in the distance, I could also see a lighthouse, and a sunset was visible as well.

While briefly taking in the view, I started opening the cosmetics one by one.

And in the middle of it, I also received a cosmetic key through a donation.

[Ooh… That actually suits you pretty well?]

Five stars, I give this one.]

**[Really.]

[Wow! Yuwol looks so cool!]

[Wow…]

I couldn’t raise my head at the compliments echoing around me.

How could the items turn out like this?

<Cosmetics>

[Warrior SET!]

[The 5/5 equipment once used by the First Warrior.]

• Warrior’s Hat
• Warrior’s Top
• Warrior’s Bottom
• Warrior’s Shoes
• Warrior’s Sword

I mean, I am a warrior, but… wearing these clothes felt a bit embarrassing.