Fetch – 1

‘Looks like the name hasn’t changed.’

As soon as I mentioned the name ‘Fetch’, the sly smile that had been on their face completely vanished, and I felt a sense of relief.

In the game, the NPC who was Arcana changed to Minerva, and just as the names of the Empire’s Emperor and the Holy Nation’s Popes also changed, I wondered if Fetch’s name might have also changed along with their gender.

If that had been the case, I would have had to repeat the annoying task of buying items every time I met and then parted ways, only to find Fetch again.

And honestly, if that name had changed, it would have been quite a shame.

Fetch.

A legendary character who transcended time and space, appearing in every single installment from Brightest Darkness 1 all the way to Brightest Darkness 4.

Even the NPC who gave the ‘Praise the Sun’ gesture in Brightest Darkness 1 couldn’t directly appear from Brightest Darkness 2 onwards. Even though their popularity was truly immense.

But Fetch did it.

It’s unknown if all four characters who appeared in the four installments were the same Fetch, but since the name ‘Fetch’, their distinctive bald head, and even their voice and voice actor were all maintained, the claim that they were the same person was almost an established theory among users.

Furthermore, if you kept pressing the ‘talk’ option after buying items above a certain amount from Fetch themself, they would sometimes subtly drop hints implying that they had been selling items for a very long time.

Rather than it being truly the case, it was probably more akin to the developers knowing Fetch’s cult popularity and including it as a fan service.

“How about it, do you feel like talking now?”

“Ha, haha. I don’t know what you’re talking about. Fetch, you say? Who’s that?”

“You should know better than anyone that denying it with that expression is useless. Why don’t you just quietly start your business?”

“…….”

The girl with hot pink twin tails seemed to be pondering something deeply at my words.

Since the money I showed was real, they were probably using their characteristic swindler’s disposition to think hard.

While Fetch was thinking, I also carefully observed them. Just like all the other NPCs, Fetch’s appearance was very different from their in-game look. The biggest difference was that they weren’t bald.

Their hair was beyond pink, almost hot pink. Claudia also had pink hair, but the color tone was completely different.

If Claudia’s pink gave off a subtle cherry blossom petal feel, Fetch’s was closer to a flamboyant hot pink. Their Pupil (of the eye) was also so pink that it made me dizzy just looking at them.

The twin tails tied into pigtails near their ears reached down to their hips, and their face openly displayed an unrestrained playfulness.

Their attire was also very much like a woman of this world.

Not only were they wearing pink underboob tights as a top, but for bottoms, they were wearing pink tights of a length comparable to Rije’s dolphin shorts.

The level of exposure was such that it wouldn’t be outdone anywhere. If it weren’t for the long red coat that reached their ankles, the exposure itself would certainly not be less compared to Nyx or the Popes.

Fortunately, their chest was quite meager, so the destructive power was much less. If their chest had been large with that outfit, it would have been a fashion exposing their nipples, not just their underboob.

On their back, they wore a backpack the size of their own body. This was the only part that was identical to the game.

“Oh my! If that’s the case, there’s nothing I can do!”

Fetch, who had been pondering something until I finished my observation, gave a wide smile and a playful wink.

“This Fetch sells everything except what they don’t sell, so feel free to look around!”

With the line ‘I sell everything except what I don’t sell,’ which was almost Fetch’s symbol and was spoken every time they appeared, the bag landed on the ground with a thud.

Fetch unfurled the bag with a *chwaak* sound. At first, I thought it was just an ordinary bag, but it seemed to have some kind of support inside, as it opened up from both sides like a wardrobe.

‘In the game, only the UI popped up.’

Leaving Fetch, who was grinning nearby, I took Rije and Nyx and stood in front of the bag.

While I was mentally calculating the prices of the familiar-looking consumables, Rije, who had suddenly picked up and was examining a high-grade potion, made a shocked face and whispered to me.

“Delta. Isn’t this woman crazy? She’s charging 1.5 times more than what they sell in the city!”

Rije clicked her tongue in disbelief, but I wasn’t particularly surprised since I had already experienced these prices.

Fetch was an NPC who could be found in a truly wide variety of locations. They traveled the continent so busily that they even appeared in certain specific spots within the poisonous swamps of the continent’s south.

Perhaps because of that, the items they sold were also diverse. From one end of the Empire to the other end of the Holy Nation, all consumables sold in shops across the continent passed through Fetch’s shop, which says it all.

Theoretically, even if you only kept meeting Fetch, you could obtain all the consumables sold in shops.

According to their own claims, that was also why the prices were 1.5 times higher. They said it was unavoidable because they maintained the highest quality while traveling across the entire continent.

Of course, since they were an NPC firmly disliked by users, most reactions were ‘Don’t talk nonsense.’

“Ah! Wait, wait! Just a moment! You just touched that, didn’t you! You absolutely *must* buy anything you touch!”

Just as Rije was about to put the potion she had just picked up back down, Fetch raised a hand with a *tteaek!* expression and blocked Rije. Rije’s expression instantly soured.

“What? Are you kidding me? Where’s that rule?”

“For customers, it might just be touching it once, but I have to meet dozens of those ‘customers who touch it once’ every single day! If a potion bottle is touched dozens of times, what do you think will happen to it? It’ll get dirty from handling and I won’t be able to sell it! So! It’s a rule that you absolutely must buy anything you touch once!”

Fetch, who had emphasized ‘So!’ by breaking it into individual syllables, pushed their practically non-existent chest forward. Their attitude was as if they were utterly confident.

It was pitifully comparable because the people on either side were Rije and Nyx. To strike such a pose specifically between those two.

‘Still bigger than Ceres.’

Now that it’s mentioned, I suddenly wondered. How is Ceres doing now?

I wonder if the effect of the ‘Pungyuhwan’ is still active. In the game, the effect lasts until you defeat the final boss, so it means it lasts quite a long time.

“Crazy talk- Oof!”

“Alright. I’ll buy it, so put that down too.”

“Hehe. Thanks!”

I covered Rije’s mouth with my palm and lightly tossed the potion she had just picked up. Fetch caught it easily and gently placed it on the ground.

Anyway, to trigger the event I wanted, I had to spend a certain amount or more at Fetch’s shop. I picked up every item within reach and threw them at Fetch.

Fetch skillfully caught the items being tossed one after another and arranged them nearby.

When the amount I had calculated in my head reached the target, I stopped shopping. The items I had chosen were lined up one after another nearby. A smile never left Fetch’s lips.

“How much is it all together?”

“Yes! That will be 15,620 gold in total!”

A very cheerful voice replied. Without a word, I handed over the pouches filled with gold coins. Fetch took them and began counting the money inside each pouch one by one.

Only after a long while did Fetch, smiling so wide their mouth seemed to split, bow deeply.

“Confirmed! Thank you for your purchase! Customer!”

‘Somehow, I don’t feel like I got ripped off.’

In the game, every time I bought something, comparing it to the original item’s price made it feel incredibly wasteful.

‘Is it because of their appearance and outfit?’

A pink-haired beautiful girl, wearing underboob that exposed everything from her smooth 11-pack abs to her solar plexus, and tights with an area no different from panties, smiled and offered thanks, so I didn’t really think of them as a swindler.

In the game, there were many posts saying that a bald male character would act friendly and call them ‘hyung-ssi’, which annoyed them so much they just beat him up without a second thought. There were also many users saying, ‘Isn’t he obviously a swindler?’

Even so, this Fetch is also a swindler to me. There’s no way I’d get reeled in by their looks, get dazed, and fail to do what I need to do.

“Can I ask you one thing? I bought a lot, didn’t I?”

While Nyx was teleporting the mountain of consumables, I subtly approached Fetch and whispered.

“I’m sorry, but I’m not for sale. No matter how much money you offer, I don’t sell my body, so don’t suggest it.”

And after hearing the reply, I was momentarily dumbfounded.

“……It’s not like that, so don’t think strange things, okay?”

“Ah, I’m sorry! It’s just that I travel alone so much that I’ve received those kinds of questions countless times. Well then, I should answer anything you ask. What’s your question?”

“I’d like to see some of the items that only you have.”

“Aha! I see! I understand!”

Fetch replied cheerfully and reached behind the bag. Perhaps because it was a request from someone who had just spent well over 10,000 gold, they moved very quickly.

This was why it was difficult to see this Fetch event in the first playthrough. In a first playthrough, where there are already many places to spend money, almost no one would spend a huge sum like 10,000 gold on a single Fetch.

From the perspective of a first-time user who needs to save every penny, it was also difficult to rashly use Fetch, who charged 50% more.

Instead, in higher playthroughs, it was a very simple condition. Even though you lose half of your gold if you die, 10,000 gold is like pocket change that comes in just by casually defeating street mobs in higher playthroughs.

‘So what? The most important seller has no credibility.’

However, first-time users would often get thoroughly backstabbed by this guy before they could even finish 10,000 gold worth of shopping, then return fuming and kill Fetch.

There were even users who said they got backstabbed so hard during their first encounter that they just killed Fetch every time they met them in subsequent playthroughs, regardless of any related events, which says it all.

Honestly, considering the grand history of Fetch’s backstabbing events, it was understandable.

“Here! Take a look!”

Fetch gestured, as if the item display was finished. I went around to the back of the bag. Consumables that looked quite expensive were arranged there.

Everything here was an item that could only be bought once per playthrough in the game. That’s why if you opened this shop and didn’t buy anything, a special dialogue would appear.

“I’ll take this one.”

I picked up the rolled-up map at the very end. Below it, on the price tag, I saw the words ‘Fetch’s Treasure Map!’ written in messy handwriting.

When I picked it up, Fetch made a surprised expression.

“Uh… are you really choosing that one?”

“Yeah. Why? Is there a problem?”

“No. It’s not like that. I’m just a bit surprised.”

Fetch seemed to be hesitating slightly.

This treasure map was made to backstab and kill the one who chose it, but since I showed such a gullible appearance, they’re probably thinking it’s better to let me live and exploit me repeatedly.

I lightly shook the map in my hand.

“So, are you going to sell it or not?”

“I’ll sell it. Well, it’s an item I left here for that purpose.”

Their hesitation was brief. Indeed, considering its price, it would be too much money not to sell to someone willing to buy it.

“How much?”

“One million gold.”

Even though they had already heard the explanation from me, Rije and Nyx still gasped slightly at the enormous sum, while I calmly opened my mouth.

“A million for one map? That’s too expensive, isn’t it?”

Of course, I chose it knowing full well. And in the game, there was also an option to grumble that it was too expensive after hearing the price.

“No, no! Your mind will change once you hear my explanation!”

“Oh really? Then go ahead and explain.”

“This treasure map is, believe it or not! A place I personally explored! It’s an ancient ruin only I know about, and if you add up the value of the treasures inside, it’ll easily be two million gold, you know?”

Fetch spread their arms wide to both sides, adding hand gestures and even foot movements to their explanation.

“Two million gold, you say… If such a ruin existed, you should have explored it and taken everything yourself, why did you leave it?”

“Ah, well… it’s embarrassing to say, but my skills are quite lacking to explore the entire ruin. Still, it would be a waste to just leave it, so I marked its location and kept it until someone who could recognize its true value appeared! The entrance is well disguised, so it’s fine!”

Fetch, holding the map up like a mask in front of their mouth, peeked out with only their eyes and giggled. It was such an innocent smile that anyone unfamiliar with them would think they were truly embarrassed.

“Alright. I’ll trust you. Here, take it.”

I handed over another large pouch, and Fetch, who checked it for much longer than before, bowed deeply with a smile stretching from ear to ear.

“Yes! It’s confirmed! I don’t know if you can find it just by looking at the map, so would you like me to guide you to the ruin?”

“I’d appreciate that. I’ll pay, so let’s go by carriage. Here. Go rent one. You can keep the change.”

“I understand! I’ll be right back! Ah, please hold onto the luggage for a moment! It’ll really only take a second!”

As I held out a pouch of gold coins that felt much heavier than the cost of a carriage, Fetch instantly snatched it and bolted towards the nearby city.

As Fetch’s figure completely disappeared, I flapped the map in my hand and smiled.

“They probably think I’m some rich young master who knows nothing of the world and has been completely duped, right?”

“Indeed. You’re committing such acts without even a change in expression, huh?”

“Hehe, indeed…….”

Rije and Nyx had already heard the explanation. From the fact that this woman was a swindler, to the fact that the ruin marked on this map was full of traps.

This is why I said I didn’t want to do it with someone else’s money. To proceed with the Fetch event, you have to let yourself be fooled once, but getting scammed with borrowed money feels a bit off.

If I’m going to be scammed, it has to be with my own money.

“Alright, so. What’s your job? Rije, you first.”

“You told me to say that you sent us back first because you were worried about us, and to follow the carriage without being noticed.”

“You remember well. Nyx, what about you?”

“Hehe, I’m not confident in hiding, so you told me to teleport to you when you send a signal later.”

As a compliment for answering well, I patted both their heads and then gestured. Nyx disappeared with a teleport, and Rije hid herself nearby.

It was surprising that she could perfectly hide her body despite having such a large chest.

‘How should I greet them after they escape the ruin?’

I leaned against a nearby tree and waited for Fetch to return. I’d already told Rije not to kill Fetch even if they met later, so their life would somehow still be intact.