Kai trudged through the dense forest, each step crunching against fallen leaves and snapping twigs. Shadows lengthened around him as the sun sank lower, casting a dim amber glow through the tree branches. After spending hours in these woods gathering herbs, fighting off curious animals, and feeling the relentless grip of the System's penalties, he felt drained, though a small sense of accomplishment nudged him on. He'd survived his first day of real tasks, and despite the struggle, he'd learned a thing or two about the rhythm of this new world—even if his lesson came at the cost of a bruised ego and a handful of scrapes.
As he reached the edge of the forest, the faint outline of his cottage came into view just across a shallow creek. He quickened his pace, eager for a meal, a drink, or anything to soften the weight of the day. The quietness of his surroundings provided a strange comfort. But as he stepped onto the familiar path leading back to his small dwelling, the System's chime echoed in his mind, snapping him out of his thoughts. A new notification flashed before him:
System Alert: New Task Assigned
Objective: Complete a trade with the villagers.
Details: The nearby village relies on trade and barter for essential goods. As part of your training, you must complete at least one transaction with the locals. You'll find a small inventory of goods in your possession. Sell them, trade them, or barter as needed to achieve a fair profit.
Kai's face fell. Of course, the System wasn't about to let him relax just yet. He reached down and noticed a rough leather pouch that hadn't been there before, as if it had simply materialized out of thin air. Curiosity piqued, he opened the pouch and rummaged through the items inside. There were small vials of strange powders, a few bundles of herbs, and a handful of assorted trinkets, none of which he recognized.
"Great, I'm supposed to sell a bag of stuff I don't even know how to use," he muttered, glancing back at the forest as if hoping it might swallow him back up. But he couldn't escape this task any more than he could escape his strange new life. With a resigned sigh, he started along the winding trail toward the village, the pouch slung over his shoulder.
The village itself was simple but bustling. When Kai reached its outskirts, he was greeted by the sight of homes with thatched roofs, wooden stalls lining the main road, and villagers milling about. They were haggling over fabrics, sampling fresh produce, and exchanging coins and goods in a lively marketplace that felt both alien and exciting.
"Kai's Role as a Merchant," he thought sarcastically. "The System really is intent on making me learn everything the hard way."
He glanced down at his modest selection of goods and felt his confidence waver. Sure, he'd watched countless anime series where the hero talked their way out of tricky situations, charmed people, or made brilliant deals. But in the real world, standing here in the midst of a bustling village market, he felt every bit the awkward newcomer.
Kai sighed as he stared at the small pile of goods arranged neatly before him. He hadn't expected to be stuck selling random knick-knacks to the locals. But the System's latest task was clear: complete a simple trade with the villagers nearby. He squinted at the items—a handful of spices, a small sack of grain, and a few trinkets of dubious origin—and sighed.
"This is what they're giving me?" he muttered, poking a tiny vial filled with what looked like red powder. "I don't even know what half of these things are."
With a begrudging sense of resignation, Kai slung the rough leather pouch over his shoulder and made his way down the dirt path to the nearby village. He'd passed by it briefly during his last excursion, though he hadn't paid much attention to it then. Now, as he approached, he could see people bustling about, their faces focused and intent, each one absorbed in their tasks. Merchants were set up along the main road, their goods spread out on blankets or in wooden carts, shouting out prices and chatting with customers.
Kai took a deep breath, trying to psych himself up. "Alright, I can do this. Just go up, say a few things, make a deal. How hard can it be?"
His confidence faded almost instantly as he observed the others bartering. Two men were arguing over the price of a sack of potatoes, their voices rising with each counter-offer. Nearby, a woman with a sharp eye and a quick tongue was haggling over the price of a woven blanket, her every word precise and cutting.
"Uh, okay… this is more intense than I thought," he whispered, feeling a knot form in his stomach.
He didn't have a clue about bargaining. Back in his old life, he'd bought everything with a tap on his phone screen, delivery included. He'd never haggled over anything, let alone dealt with villagers who'd spent their whole lives learning the art of bartering. Kai's eyes darted back to his supplies, suddenly realizing just how woefully out of place he felt. His gaming and anime knowledge seemed utterly useless here. No magical power-ups, no fast-forward button to skip the grind.
Bracing himself, he approached a burly man standing beside a cart filled with vegetables. The man's thick, calloused hands were busy stacking carrots and potatoes into neat piles. He looked up as Kai approached, giving him a quick once-over.
"Need somethin', lad?" the man asked, his tone neutral but not particularly welcoming.
"Uh, yeah," Kai stammered, glancing down at his pouch. "I… I have some things to sell?"
The man raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. Kai pulled out the vial of red powder and held it up, feeling a little ridiculous. "Interested in… this?"
The merchant squinted at it, taking the vial from Kai and inspecting it with a critical eye. "What is it?" he asked, his voice skeptical.
"Um… spice?" Kai offered, though he wasn't actually sure. The System hadn't given him much information, and now he was realizing just how little he actually knew about the items he was supposed to be selling.
The man sniffed the vial, his expression souring. "This isn't spice, kid," he muttered, shoving it back at Kai. "It's pigment. For painting."
Kai blinked, feeling a flush of embarrassment rise in his cheeks. Of course, he should have recognized it as paint. He'd been so caught up in the System's assignment that he hadn't even stopped to think about what he was carrying.
"Oh… right," he said awkwardly. "Well, what about… grain?" He held up the small sack of grain, hoping for a better reaction.
The man's gaze softened slightly, but his expression remained unimpressed. "Grain, huh? Not exactly the rarest thing 'round here, but if the price is right…"
Kai's heart leapt at the small victory. Maybe he could actually make this work. "How much would you offer?" he asked, trying to sound casual.
The merchant shrugged, glancing down at the sack. "Couple silver, maybe. But with this quality, I'd say one silver and ten copper."
Kai's stomach sank. He didn't know much about the local economy, but even he could tell that wasn't a lot. His instinct was to push back, demand a higher price, but as he opened his mouth, he realized he had no idea what a fair counter-offer would even look like.
"Uh… how about one silver and twenty copper?" he blurted out, hoping it sounded reasonable.
The man snorted, folding his arms across his chest. "Kid, I'm offerin' you a fair price. Take it or leave it."
Kai hesitated, glancing down at the sack of grain. He was pretty sure he'd just been lowballed, but without any real understanding of the market, he was stuck. With a sigh, he nodded. "Alright. One silver and ten copper."
The man grunted his approval, tossing a few coins into Kai's hand. Kai stared down at the money, feeling a strange mix of accomplishment and defeat. He'd made his first trade, but he couldn't shake the feeling that he'd just been taken advantage of.
As he pocketed the coins, he glanced around the market, watching other merchants handle their trades with confidence. These people knew the value of their goods, knew how to haggle and push for the best possible price. He, on the other hand, was completely out of his depth. Every interaction felt like he was fumbling in the dark, barely scraping by.
He took a deep breath, trying to shake off the frustration. This was just the beginning. He couldn't expect to be a master merchant overnight. But he was determined to learn. He couldn't afford to let the System think he wasn't taking this task seriously, not after the penalty he'd received for his last mission.
With renewed determination, he approached another stall, this time clutching a small, intricate trinket he'd found in his bag. It was a delicate necklace, the pendant shaped like a coiled serpent, its eyes made from tiny, glinting red stones. He didn't know if it was valuable, but it certainly looked interesting.
The stall owner, a wiry woman with sharp eyes, looked him over with a shrewd gaze. "What're you selling, boy?" she asked, her tone laced with suspicion.
Kai held up the necklace, trying to keep his voice steady. "This… uh, necklace. It's unique, right?"
The woman's eyes narrowed as she leaned forward, inspecting the pendant with a practiced eye. "Unique, maybe. But I've seen better." She glanced up at him, a faint smirk on her lips. "Where'd you get this, anyway?"
Kai hesitated, not wanting to admit that he had no idea. "Just… picked it up," he said vaguely, hoping she wouldn't press further.
She chuckled, clearly amused. "Well, I'll give you… fifteen copper for it."
"Fifteen?" Kai echoed, trying to mask his shock. He had no idea if that was a fair price, but it seemed low for something that looked so intricate.
"Alright, twenty," she said, her tone indicating that this was her final offer.
Kai felt a pang of frustration. He'd been hoping for more, but he didn't want to push his luck. "Fine," he said, handing over the necklace. The woman counted out the coins, dropping them into his hand with a satisfied smile.
As he walked away, Kai's frustration grew. He'd barely made any profit, and it felt like he was just scraping by with each sale. He knew he needed to do better, to actually learn the value of his goods and stand his ground in negotiations. Otherwise, he'd never make any real progress.
As the day wore on, Kai managed a few more sales, each one leaving him with a mix of relief and frustration. By the time the sun began to set, he'd earned a modest handful of coins, but he couldn't shake the feeling that he'd barely scratched the surface of what he needed to know.
On his way back home, he let out a heavy sigh, reflecting on the day's events. Back in his old life, everything had been simple—he could buy whatever he wanted with a few clicks, and the idea of haggling over prices had seemed almost alien. But here, in this world, every coin counted, and every trade was a test of skill and knowledge.
As he walked, the System's familiar chime sounded in his mind, filling his vision with a new notification:
System Alert: Task Progress - Moderate
Progress on mandatory task "Complete Trade with Villagers": 50%
Effort: Adequate
Reward: +5 Silver
Kai blinked as the coins materialized in his hand, their cool weight a welcome surprise. The System was giving him a boost for his efforts, though the message made it clear that he still had a long way to go.
He pocketed the silver with a small smile, feeling a spark of motivation ignite within him. He'd stumbled his way through the market today, but he'd learned a few things in the process. Next time, he'd be more prepared. Next time, he'd actually know what he was doing.
As he trudged back toward his new home, he made a silent vow to himself. He would adapt, he would learn, and he would succeed in this strange, challenging world. Because if there was one thing he knew for sure, it was that he couldn't afford to fail. Not again.