Chapter 36: Profit without investment.
Unlike the natural resources of his own world, Froststeel wasn’t simply another piece of ore. It was a completely foreign material that had never naturally belonged to Volcan.
Whichever race obtained it first would undoubtedly gain an advantage over the others, especially because of its ice attributes.
The Silicari weren’t intelligent enough to understand the value of minerals, and their numbers were pitifully small as well.
The Magnari Volcano had helped, on the other hand, were steadily growing in population, yet they too lacked the knowledge required to harness such an ore.
That left only one possibility.
Gre Ka Go’s Magnari.
They were still relying on stone-made weapons, and Gre Ka Go himself had already begun encouraging the crafting of tools and weapons.
"...If they discover this... they’ll become unstoppable, hehe."
Volcano muttered to himself before glancing at the twenty Froststeel ingots floating before him.
"So where should I hide these?"
He merged his consciousness with the world and began searching for a suitable location. His divine perception swept across Volcan’s vast landscape, passing over forests, rivers, mountains, and countless stretches of untamed wilderness before finally settling upon one of the planet’s dormant volcanic regions.
A rugged mountain range stretched across the horizon, its towering slopes layered with black volcanic rock and ancient obsidian deposits that had accumulated over countless years.
A smile slowly spread across Volcano’s face.
"That looks like a great spot. It’s neither too close to their settlement nor too far away."
If fate guided someone there...
Then it would become their discovery.
If not...It would remain buried beneath the earth until another generation eventually unearthed it.
"Owhh... God, I’m so excited. I wonder who’ll be the one to find it... and how they’ll end up using it."
Simply imagining the countless possibilities made Volcano’s heart flutter as though he were a child discovering something entirely new to play with.
Without another thought, he gently waved his hand.
The twenty Froststeel ingots suspended before him dissolved into countless pale-blue particles. Guided by his divine authority, they shot across the heavens like streaks of falling stars before disappearing deep into the heart of the dormant mountain range.
A few seconds later...
Rumble...
The earth trembled ever so slightly.
The Froststeel fused with the surrounding volcanic strata, gradually becoming one with the mountain itself as the world’s laws silently accepted its existence.
[Ding!]
[Foreign World Resource Successfully Integrated.]
[Froststeel has adapted to the environmental laws of Volcan.]
[Resource Classification Updated.]
[New Natural Resource Added.]
• Froststeel Veins (Extremely Rare)
Volcano blinked several times in surprise.
He wasn’t even sure whether something like this was possible.
"...It actually became part of my world?"
That wasn’t what he had expected.
He had merely wanted to hide the ore beneath the ground until someone eventually stumbled upon it.
Instead...
The System had permanently integrated Froststeel into Volcan’s natural resource cycle.
"...So imported resources can become native resources too..."
A grin slowly crept across his face.
"Then doesn’t that mean...If I continue trading with other gods..."
"My world itself can keep acquiring resources that were never originally native to it?"
His heartbeat quickened.
The realization struck him like lightning.
Trading wasn’t merely about obtaining useful items.
It was another way of enriching an entire world.
Every successful trade had the potential to introduce completely new resources, reshape civilizations, and gradually transform Volcan into something far beyond the limits of its primordial beginnings.
Volcano turned his gaze toward the endless marketplace once more.
The countless listings no longer resembled ordinary trade offers.
To him...
They had become endless possibilities.
[Ding! You have received a message from Goddess Nova.]
"Hmm? What does she want now?"
Volcano immediately opened the chat.
Nova: I had another favor to ask.
’Of course she did...’
Volcano let out a quiet sigh. For a brief moment, he had hoped she had simply enjoyed their earlier conversation and wanted to chat a little longer. Then again, this was Godcraft. Almost every interaction here revolved around transactions and mutual benefits. Pushing aside the tiny disappointment in his heart, he quickly replied.
Volcano: Hmm? What is it?
Nova’s response came almost immediately.
Nova: You know... during the supplementary class, I was sitting a few rows away from you. I got so bored that I started looking around until I noticed you, Volcano.
Volcano couldn’t help but blink.
Volcano: Wh-What? You were... staring at me? Why? Then again... I suppose I am quite handsome to look at.
A soft laugh seemed to echo through the text itself before another message appeared.
Nova: Haha... you’re funny. I only became curious because you suddenly muttered what sounded like a code. It was... 00547COSMOS or something similar, right? I wondered what you were talking about, so I followed your gaze. That’s when I noticed Cosmos acting rather strangely throughout his lesson.
The playful smile on Volcano’s face gradually faded.
His fingers hovered above the virtual keyboard as he quietly weighed his options. The redeem code had rewarded him handsomely, yet it had also been hidden well enough that no one else seemed to have noticed it. Revealing such information wasn’t a decision he could make lightly.
Before he reached a conclusion, another message appeared.
Nova: I’m certain Cosmos wasn’t simply acting strangely. The way he kept gesturing with his free hand... there was definitely something there. Tell me... did you receive a message?
Another notification followed before Volcano could even answer.
Nova: If it’s truly something significant, perhaps we can strike another deal. We might even become allies in the future. After all... nothing should be free in Godcraft.
Volcano chuckled.
An interesting idea quietly surfaced in his mind.
The redeem code had earned him a generous reward, yet obtaining it hadn’t cost him anything. Sharing the information at face value might seem foolish, but if he negotiated properly, he could exchange something that had been completely free for resources capable of changing the future of his entire world.
His fingers immediately began moving across the virtual keyboard.
Volcano: I won’t deny it. The reward I received was indeed extremely valuable. So... what exactly are you willing to offer in exchange for that information?
Rather than replying immediately, Nova once again shared the list of tradable resources from her world.
Nova: You may choose anything from this list. Surely that should be enough.
Volcano smiled before typing another reply.
Volcano: Believe me, Nova. It’s worth far more than a single resource. Besides... let’s be honest with each other. You’re not showing me every tradable resource your world possesses, are you?
Far away, a silver-haired girl quietly stared at the floating message before her.
"...His way of speaking has changed.He isn’t nearly as shy or hesitant anymore."
After a brief pause, she resumed typing.
Nova: And how exactly am I supposed to know your redeem code is truly as valuable as you claim?
Volcano scratched the back of his head.
She wasn’t wrong.
After all, there was no way for her to verify his words before making the trade.
With a helpless smile, he finally replied.
Volcano: That’s... a fair point. I can’t exactly prove it beforehand. In the end, you’ll simply have to decide whether it’s worth trusting me.
Nova let out a quiet sigh.
Since she was the one requesting the favor, she naturally held the disadvantage.
After thinking for a while, she finally made her decision.
Nova: Very well. I’ll make one concession. I’ll show you two of my higher-tier resources. You may choose one of them. If neither interests you, then even if I miss out on this opportunity... I’ll simply have to decline.
Volcano: Fine.
Nova immediately opened the list of Epic resources available for trade.
Her fingers paused over several entries before moving on.
Frozen Core Fragment...Absolutely not.
Heart of the Eternal Glacier...Not a chance.
Aurora Silk...Too difficult to reproduce.
She continued scrolling through the lengthy list, carefully evaluating each option. Some resources were simply too valuable to part with, while others were exclusive to Icefrost’s future development. Trading those away would only weaken her own world in the long run.
Several moments later, her fingers finally came to a stop.
After carefully weighing the advantages and disadvantages, she settled on two resources.
Both possessed tremendous value.
Both could remain useful even outside an ice-based world.
Most importantly, neither would significantly hinder Icefrost’s future even if they were traded away.
Without another word, she pressed Send.
A soft notification appeared before Volcano.
[The other party has shared additional tradable resources.]
Glacial Heartstone (Epic World Resource)
A rare mineral born where geothermal heat and eternal frost coexist in perfect equilibrium.
It naturally harmonizes opposing elemental energies and is widely used in advanced forging, large-scale elemental formations, and environmental stabilization.
Estimated Market Value: 1,800–2,400 Faith Points per unit.
Aurora Crystal (Epic World Resource)
A crystal formed beneath celestial auroras after absorbing condensed starlight for centuries.
It possesses extraordinary mana conductivity and is highly sought after for enchantments, magical communication arrays, and high-grade mana storage devices.
Estimated Market Value: 900–1,200 Faith Points per crystal.
Volcano slowly reread both descriptions.
"..."
"So expensive..."
Even after receiving Cosmos’ hidden reward, the value of either resource still exceeded everything he had traded thus far.
A moment later, Nova’s next message appeared.
Nova: Those are the highest-grade resources I’m willing to trade.
She paused for a brief moment before sending another message.
Nova: One of them...for your information.
Nova: Choose.
Volcano quietly scratched his cheek.
"...Only one?"
His gaze shifted back and forth between the two descriptions.
One possessed the potential to shape the very foundation of Volcan’s future industries.
The other could become an irreplaceable treasure for any civilization capable of wielding mana.
Neither choice seemed wrong.
If anything...Both seemed almost too valuable to give up.
"...This really is a difficult choice."
He floated comfortably in the void, his eyes lingering on the two descriptions as countless possibilities flashed through his mind.
"One could change the world’s environment."
"The other could change civilization itself."
"...Which one would benefit Volcan the most?"