"What the hell…?" he muttered, glancing around.
The room he found himself in looked like a small, cozy shop. Shelves lined the walls, but they were nearly bare, except for a single display in the center featuring rows of Cola cans. The bright red cans looked out of place in the rustic setting. A polished wooden counter sat nearby, spotless and unused.
But what really caught Evan's attention was the world beyond the shop's windows. Outside, people in medieval clothing walked along a dirt road, their boots kicking up dust. Knights in gleaming armor clanked by, swords glinting in the sun. Mages in long, flowing robes floated just above the ground, their staffs glowing faintly with magical energy. Vendors with carts called out to passersby, selling everything from enchanted trinkets to loaves of fresh bread.
Evan stood up, rubbing his eyes. "This… this is not home."
He walked slowly to the window, staring out at the strange medieval scene. Just beyond the road, the towering trees of a dark forest stretched into the distance, their thick canopies casting long shadows over the land. The air smelled of smoke, earth, and something sweet, a stark contrast to the cold, metal shelves inside.
"What the hell is this place?" he muttered, his heart pounding.
Suddenly, a soft ding echoed through the room, and a calm, robotic voice spoke from nowhere.
"Welcome, new shop owner! You are now the proprietor of The Modern Haven."
Evan whipped around, eyes wide. "Who's talking?!"
"I am the Shop Management System," the voice replied, ignoring his confusion. "Your task is to run The Modern Haven, a shop providing food, drinks, and entertainment to adventurers, knights, and mages."
Evan blinked slowly. "A shop? That's it?"
"Correct. Your role is to serve the people of this world. You have been transported to this location at the crossroads near the Great Forest, where adventurers and travelers from various regions pass by on their way to explore its mysteries."
Evan stared at the empty shelves, then at the cans of Cola. "You mean I've been isekai'd to a fantasy world… and instead of being a hero, I'm running a soda shop?"
"That is correct. You are now the owner of this establishment. Would you like to begin your first quest?"
"Quest?" Evan asked, frowning. "Like in a game?"
"Yes. Your first quest has been assigned. Quest: Sell one can of Cola for 1 Silver Coin to a customer. Reward: Unlock a new product. Penalty: Death."
Evan's stomach dropped. "Penalty… death?"
"That is correct," the system said, its tone unchanged.
Evan's eyes darted around the shop, his mind racing. "So, let me get this straight. You're telling me that if I don't sell one can of soda, I'm going to die?"
"That is correct."
"Wonderful," Evan muttered, rubbing his temples. "Just great. I get stuck running a medieval snack shop with a death sentence hanging over me if I don't sell some overpriced soda."
As if on cue, the door to the shop creaked open, and three adventurers stepped inside. One was a tall, burly man in worn leather armor, a huge sword strapped across his back. Beside him, a slim rogue in a dark hooded cloak glided silently, her sharp eyes scanning the shop. Finally, a young mage trailed behind them, his staff glowing faintly as he absentmindedly twirled it in his hand.
Evan straightened up behind the counter, his heart racing. "Uh… welcome! Can I help you find anything?"
The warrior grunted, eyeing the shelves with a frown. "What is this place?"
The rogue snorted, nudging the mage. "Looks like a snack shop or something. Weird."
The mage raised an eyebrow as his gaze landed on the cans of Cola. "What are those? Magic potions?"
Evan forced a smile. "No, no. Just… Cola. You drink it. Very refreshing. Good for, uh… stamina."
The warrior stepped closer, eyeing the cans suspiciously. "Stamina, huh? How much?"
Evan swallowed hard. The system had given him an absurd price. "Uh… one silver coin. Per can."
The three adventurers stared at him in disbelief.
"One silver coin? For a drink?" the rogue said, crossing her arms. "You've got to be kidding me."
The warrior's frown deepened, his gaze narrowing. "One silver coin? Do you think we're idiots?"
Evan's smile faltered. "No, no! It's just, you know, a… special drink. Unique. You won't find it anywhere else."
The rogue rolled her eyes. "I'm not paying a silver coin for a drink that doesn't even look enchanted. This is a rip-off."
"Yeah, what kind of shop is this?" the warrior added. "We're adventurers, not suckers."
Evan could feel the tension rising in the room. He needed to sell a can—just one can—or the system would kill him. He swallowed again, trying to stay calm.
"Look," he said, "I know it sounds crazy, but I promise, once you try it, you'll see it's worth it."
The mage stepped forward, his curiosity piqued. He picked up a can and held it up to the light, inspecting it from every angle. "There's something… odd about this," he murmured.
The rogue leaned over his shoulder. "Odd how?"
"I don't know," the mage replied. "It's like… there's something more to it. But I can't tell what."
The warrior shook his head, crossing his arms. "I don't care if it sings and dances, I'm not paying one silver coin for a drink. Let's go."
The mage hesitated, looking at the can one last time before setting it down. "Yeah… probably best not to waste our coin here."
With that, the trio turned and left, the door swinging shut behind them, leaving Evan standing alone behind the counter, his heart sinking.
The system dinged softly in his ear. "Quest incomplete. Time remaining: 12 hours."
Evan slumped onto the stool behind the counter, burying his face in his hands. "I'm going to die over a can of soda."
He glanced up at the shelves, the rows of Cola cans staring back at him mockingly.
"Well," he muttered, "I guess I'd better figure out how to sell this stuff fast. I'm not going down over a drink."