Evan slumped on the stool behind the counter, staring blankly at the door where his first potential customers had just walked out. The Cola cans on the shelves seemed to mock him with their bright red labels, as if challenging him to figure out how to sell them. A silver coin for a single drink? Who would ever pay that?
He could still hear the system's cold, robotic voice in his head: Quest incomplete. Time remaining: 12 hours. His heart pounded with a sickening realization—he wasn't just going to fail a silly sales quota; he was going to die. All over a can of soda.
Evan rubbed his temples, trying to calm down. "Okay, this is ridiculous. I'm not some hero with a sword or magic, but surely there's a way out of this… I just need to sell one can."
He looked at the window. The market outside was lively, full of adventurers passing through. They were clearly on their way to explore the Great Forest, that massive, mysterious woodland just beyond the town. Every so often, a group of knights, rogues, and mages wandered past, laughing, talking, and sharing plans about their next adventure. There was opportunity out there, if only he could get someone inside to buy something.
"I just need the right pitch," Evan muttered to himself. "If I can convince them it's useful—maybe they'll buy it." He stood up and paced around the counter, trying to think of a way to sell something that didn't even seem special to him. "Think, think… What would an adventurer need?"
His mind flashed to the adventurers who had just left. They didn't seem too interested in drinks or stamina boosts. They were looking for weapons, enchanted items, anything that could help them survive the dangers of the forest. From what Evan could gather, the Great Forest was a deathtrap—monsters, wild magic, and dangerous terrain. No wonder they weren't impressed with some soda.
"What if…" he muttered, glancing at the cans. "What if this stuff is actually more than just a drink in this world?"
The system had said nothing about magical properties, but then again, it hadn't said much at all beyond the basics. It was almost like it wanted him to figure it out on his own.
He grabbed a can of Cola from the shelf, holding it up to the light as if it might suddenly reveal some hidden power. "You're not just a drink, are you?" he asked the can, half-joking. "You've got something weird going on, don't you?"
There was no response from the system. Just silence and the ticking clock in his mind.
Evan sighed, setting the can back down. "Whatever. Whether this stuff is magical or not, I still have to sell it. I just need to get one person to try it."
He paced around the shop, running through scenarios in his head. If he could spin the drink as something useful—maybe something that helped them fight monsters or gave them an edge in battle—he could probably convince a few people to fork over a silver coin. It wasn't too far off the mark, right? People in this world believed in all sorts of crazy magic.
"Cola, the drink that… uh… boosts stamina!" he said to himself, trying out a sales pitch. "It'll give you an edge in your next fight! Quench your thirst, boost your energy, and take on the world!"
He cringed. "No, that's terrible. Who would buy that?"
He slumped back into the stool, staring at the door, hoping another customer would walk in. The minutes seemed to drag by, and the pressure started to mount. The system's earlier words echoed in his head: Penalty: Death.
Panic gripped his chest again. "I can't believe I'm going to die over this," he muttered, pulling at his hair. "I just need one person to buy this stupid can…"
As if answering his silent plea, the door swung open again, and another group of adventurers entered the shop. This time, it was two young women—one wearing light armor and carrying a bow, the other clad in flowing robes with a staff slung over her shoulder. They both looked tired, their boots caked in dirt, likely from a long trek on the road.
Evan shot up from the stool, trying to appear casual but friendly. "Welcome! Looking for something to keep you going on the road?"
The archer gave him a quick nod while the mage glanced curiously at the shelves. Her eyes landed on the display of Cola, and she tilted her head, clearly confused by the strange cans.
"What is this place?" the archer asked, scanning the mostly empty shelves.
"It's a shop," Evan said, forcing a grin. "I sell, uh, drinks! Good for stamina and, you know, keeping up your energy. Perfect for adventurers."
The mage picked up a can, turning it over in her hands, inspecting the bright red label with a bemused smile. "And what is this? Some kind of potion?"
Evan's heart skipped a beat. "Oh, that? That's Cola. Very refreshing. One of a kind. It's, uh… it's great for long journeys and fights. You won't find anything like it anywhere else."
The archer raised an eyebrow. "How much?"
Evan hesitated, then braced himself. "One silver coin. Per can."
Both women froze, staring at him like he'd just sprouted a second head.
"One silver coin?" the archer said, her voice dripping with disbelief. "For a drink?"
The mage looked between Evan and the can in her hand. "One silver coin… for this?" She set the can back on the shelf, shaking her head. "We're not idiots. We could buy a healing potion for less than that."
Evan tried not to panic. "No, no, you don't understand. This isn't just any drink! It's special! It's—"
"Ridiculous," the archer finished for him, turning toward the door. "Come on, we're wasting our time here."
The mage sighed, casting one last glance at the Cola before following her friend. "You really should reconsider your prices, shopkeeper."
Evan watched helplessly as they walked out, the door swinging shut behind them.
Another failure.
The system dinged in his ear. "Quest incomplete. Time remaining: 8 hours."
Evan slumped over the counter, his forehead resting against the cold wood. "I'm really going to die over a can of soda."