After the fierce battle against the superior goblins, Kaito quickly realized that he wouldn't win that fight and quickly started to run away, after all, he cannot deal with three of these monsters at the same time.
However, the three enemies didn't give up and continued to run towards him.
Strangely, with a mixture of skill and luck, Kaito somehow managed to lose track of the superior goblins in the winding corridors of the dungeon. After looking to the back, he was no longer being chased, he quickly hides behind a rock in a dark corner to think.
Of course, such a desperate escape has its price. While he managed to distance himself from the superior goblins, he also managed to distance himself from the group of Awakeneds that were traveling with him. The feeling of failure weighs heavily on his heart, as he looks at both sides trying to gasp for a clue about the other members.
'I need to think… The highest priority right now is to survive and find a way to heal this thing.' he thought, while looking at his torn arm. Hiding in a patch of darkness, Kaito begins to assess his situation, and surprisingly, the merchant's shop appears in front of him, as if this were just a brief pause between stages in a game.
This brings a wry smile to Kaito's face.
The merchant's shop does indeed offer a remarkable variety of items that can help him. The only problem is that the prices of the items are almost too high. Still, Kaito has a backpack full of items on his back, so he carefully examines some of the options, weighing the pros and cons of each choice.
[Welcome to the store of the merchant! There are many items for sale!
- Basic Mana Regeneration Potion (50 bronze coins)
- Basic Life Regeneration Potion (60 Bronze coins)
- Rabbit meat (30 Bronze coins)
- Assorted bulbs (15 Bronze coins)
- Southern dagger (200 Bronze coins)
- Flaming Elven Sword of Gélidus (200 silver coins)
- Wind Shadow Armor (180 silver coins)
- Ancient book of banned spells (250 silver coins)
- Starry night cape (110 silver coins)
...]
These are just a few of the items available in the merchant's inventory, each with its own unique properties and abilities.
Looking to the window, he was secure that the answer to healing his arm was among these items, more specifically in a pool of life or in some ordinary flesh, but he also understands that his current financial situation does not allow him to purchase the items that are not desperately needed.
[Current amount: 3 bronze coins].
'I'm not getting really far with only 3 bronze coins… I need to keep these with me..' He thought, looking to the only number floating in front of his eyes.
Kaito sighs and whispers to himself:
"I almost forgot that I already ate today..."
As his torn arm throbs with pain, Kaito realizes that he has to make a quick decision. At that moment, he looks at the backpack full of items in front of him and wonders how much he could get if he were selfish and sold everything.
"Estimate." He says, extending his left hand toward the bulky backpack.
[Do you wish to sell the item 'Backpack with Miscellaneous Items' to the merchant? This may yield 300 bronze coins].
"Only 300 bronze coins? There are treasures in this bag." Kaito asks incredulously. "Sigh... Maybe he's giving a discount because I'm selling it all at once."
Kaito thinks about the offer to sell the bag with all the items he carries with him. After all, everyone in his group risked their lives to get it.
With a resigned sigh, Kaito agrees to the sale.
[You have received 300 bronze coins.]
Although he is a bit melancholy about getting rid of all this, he knows that nothing in his backpack could help him survive. At least he has a larger amount now, which might be crucial for him to get out of this random portal alive.
[Current amount: 303 bronze coins].
Kaito examines the available items again, taking everything into consideration, including the urgency of healing his arm. He knows that he can buy five Simple Potions of Life and try to heal all five members of the vanguard, but he can also buy several other things, including the tutorial to learn how to use his abilities. This is a difficult decision, almost a dilemma.
But Kaito does not want to back out this time. He knows that retreating would be tantamount to defeat, and he feels that if he still chooses to lose with a new body and a number of options at his disposal, he will not be able to change his life and will continue to live miserably forever. So, for the first time in a long time, Kaito decides to make a completely selfish move.
[Would you like to buy 'Guide to Skill Usage' for 100 bronze coins from the seasonal shop?]
Kaito doesn't even blink to press YES.
[You have spent 100 bronze coins.]
[You have received Guide To Skill Usage].
Then Kaito's eyes slide to the shop tab on the right, the same tab as the long list of items he looked at earlier. And without much thought, he clicks on the icon of the only weapon he can buy with the little money he got.
[Would you like to buy 'Merchant's Southern Dagger' for 200 bronze coins?]
Kaito's left index finger trembles for a second, but he agrees to the purchase.
[You have spent 200 bronze coins.]
[You received the Southern Dagger.]
"The total cost was 300 bronze coins. I received the entire amount. It wasn't even enough for a life potion for me..." Kaito says a little discouraged, but when he looks down and sees his new items, he smiles happily.
The Skill Usage Guide is very similar to the Beginner's Guide, a small book with a few dozen pages.
The Southern Dagger, on the other hand, is simply magnificent. Its curved blade is thin and sharp, glinting in the dim ambient light. The leather-covered hilt provides a firm and comfortable grip.
Kaito feels a new sense of determination as he holds the dagger in his left hand. The feel of the dagger's weight in his hand gives him a mixture of power and responsibility, even though he has no ability to use it with his bad hand. The curve of the blade, however, evokes a sense of fluidity and dexterity, while the shine of the metal underscores its potential. It is certainly a good weapon.