[Shop]:
[Skills]
[Weapons]
[Items]
[Consumables]
[Miscellaneous]
Julian raised an eyebrow. "That's more organized than I expected." He tapped on [Skills] first, and another screen appeared, listing various abilities, each accompanied by a price tag.
[Basic Dagger Technique] – 150 Coins
[Intermediate Swordsmanship] – 5,000 Coins
[Stealth Lv.1] – 300 Coins
[Fire Manipulation] – 20,000,000 Coins
[Instant Regeneration] – 1,000,000,000 Coins
"...Yeah, definitely not buying that last one anytime soon."
Scrolling through the list, Julian noticed that while some basic skills were affordable, many of the more powerful ones were outrageously expensive, far beyond his current budget.
He exited the [Skills] tab and checked [Weapons] next. Swords, daggers, spears, bows—everything was listed, from basic iron weapons to legendary-grade artifacts worth absurd amounts of Coins.
[Iron Dagger] – 100 Coins
[Steel Longsword] – 1,500 Coins
[Crimson Fang Greatsword] – 75,000,000 Coins
[Void Reaper] – 2,000,000,000 Coins
Julian scoffed. "Yeah, no way I'm getting that anytime soon."
After briefly skimming through the other categories, he closed the shop interface and leaned back against his bed, arms behind his head.
"At least I have options," he mused, staring at the ceiling.
For now, though, he needed rest. He had made it through his first quest, leveled up, and even had some Coins to work with. It was a good start.
Letting out a small sigh, Julian closed his eyes. Sleep took him quickly, his thoughts drifting toward what came next.
***
The next morning, Julian woke to the faint sound of footsteps outside his room. His body still felt a little sore from the previous night
Sitting up, he opened his status window again. His eyes drifted toward the Coin balance in the corner of the interface.
[Coins: 1000]
He hadn't paid much attention to it before, but now that he thought about it, there was something familiar about the way stats were presented. His gut told him there had to be a way to manually increase them.
Pausing, he focused on his Strength stat.
The moment he did, a faint glow appeared around it, followed by a prompt.
[Would you like to increase Strength by 1?]
[Cost: 1000 Coins]
Julian blinked.
"So that's how it works…"
It was a direct exchange—1000 Coins for a single stat point. That explained why some quests rewarded Coins instead of XP. Coins weren't just for buying skills or weapons; they were a way to directly strengthen himself.
A grin slowly formed on his face.
He didn't have enough to test it right now, but knowing this gave him an entirely new way to grow stronger.
The sound of knocking pulled him out of his thoughts.
"Julian, wake up already!"
It was a familiar voice—Evelyn's younger daughter.
Sighing, he closed his interface and stood up. Whatever today had in store for him, at least now, he had a better idea of how to take advantage of his system.
***
Julian stretched his arms as he walked to the door. He hesitated for a second before opening it, coming face-to-face with Lilia.
She stood with her arms crossed, her sharp gaze scanning him. "Took you long enough," she said, her tone carrying the usual mix of impatience and authority.
Julian offered a lazy smirk. "Good morning to you too."
She ignored his remark. "My mother wants to see you."
That made Julian pause. He hadn't done anything wrong—at least, nothing that should have been discovered. But Evelyn calling for him this early wasn't a good sign.
Still, he kept his expression neutral. "Any idea why?"
She shrugged. "No clue. Just get moving."
Without another word, she turned on her heel and walked off, expecting him to follow.
Julian sighed and ran a hand through his hair before stepping out of his room. As he followed her through the halls of the Averill estate, he couldn't help but think about last night. The completion of his first quest, his unexpected level-up, the discovery of the [Shop]—all of it left him with more questions than answers.
But right now, his priority was whatever Evelyn wanted.
It didn't take long before they arrived at a quiet study. Evelyn sat at a polished wooden desk, a cup of steaming tea in her hand. She looked up as Julian entered, her gaze unreadable.
Lilia gave a small nod to her mother before stepping back, allowing Julian to approach.
Evelyn took a slow sip of her tea before setting it down. "You've been adjusting well," she said, her voice calm but firm.
Julian wasn't sure if that was a compliment or an observation. "I tried my best."
Evelyn leaned back in her chair. "That's good. Because I have another task for you."
Julian kept his expression neutral. "What is it?"
Evelyn folded her hands on the desk. "You'll be accompanying my daughter today."
Julian raised an eyebrow. "To protect her?"
Lilia scoffed. "I don't need protection."
Evelyn shot her daughter a brief look before returning her attention to Julian. "No, you're not going as a guard. You'll be assisting her with carrying supplies, running small errands, and ensuring everything proceeds smoothly."
Ah. So, he was just an errand boy. That made more sense.
Julian nodded. "Understood."
"Good." Evelyn took another sip of her tea. "Since you're still unfamiliar with the city, consider this an opportunity to learn your way around. Stay attentive, follow Lilia's lead, and don't cause any trouble."
"Noted."
Evelyn turned to Lilia. "I trust you'll handle things efficiently."
Lilia nodded. "Of course."
Evelyn waved a hand dismissively. "Then go."
Taking the cue, Julian turned and followed Lilia out of the study. She walked briskly, clearly not in the mood for conversation.
After a few minutes of silence, Julian glanced at her. "So, what exactly are we doing in the city?"
"Picking up some supplies," she said flatly. "Mother wants certain materials for the business, and I have a few personal errands to run."
"Sounds fun."
Lilia shot him a sideways glance. "It won't be. Just do your job and don't slow me down."
Julian smirked. "I'll do my best, Lady Lilia."
She clicked her tongue but didn't respond, leading him toward the estate's entrance.
As they stepped outside, Julian took in the sight of the bustling city beyond the Averill estate's walls. The streets were already coming to life with merchants setting up stalls, travelers passing through, and workers hurrying about their business.
He had spent most of his time in the estate since his arrival. This would be his first real chance to see what the city had to offer.
And who knew? Maybe he'd learn something useful along the way.