Kvatcha must have been a real hit.

  [ 897,228 Nexus Coins ]

  The blue screen hovered before me, its glowing digits daring me to look away. I barely resisted the urge to whistle at the staggering amount sitting in my Game Store account. However, given how Ben and Remlend were seated across from me in the carriage, I forced my facial expression into submission.

  I would have had even more if I had enough time before dying in Round 8 to offload my Duex coins by buying more goods and tossing them into the Game Store; however, this was a satisfactory outcome.

  I had the System run quick calculations on how much profit was earned from the Kvatcha alone. Before Chase had killed me and forced an unexpected restart, I'd tossed only three dozen barrels of the blue drink into the Game Store. Yet, they had sold out completely, netting me a cool 112,860 Nexus Coins.

  Sure, it wasn't as impressive as the 22 Nexus Coins that Dragon's Breath Brew went for, but when accounting for the cost that I had incurred in my world to obtain the drink, the profit margin was downright blasphemous.

  Other realms must really be starving for decent food and drink.

  [[ Apophis, you know about other realms, don’t you? ]]

  ~Of course, Master. What were you curious about?

  The snake's smooth hiss came as he slithered atop my left shoulder, his scales cool against my neck.

  [[ I've been selling items in the Game Store and noticed a few oddities. Food and drinks sell out ridiculously fast. Yet, no one else seems to sell edibles, though. Why is that? Do other realms have basic food and refreshments? ]]

  Apophis gave a dry laugh, his coiling body shifting slightly.

  ~Hahhh. You misunderstand. It's not about the existence of food but its economics, Master.

  I blinked.

  [[ Economics? ]]

  ~Yes. The provision of supply is the issue, not the actual supply. Selling food in the Game Store isn't worth it for most Players. It's far more lucrative and efficient to beat a Game and rake in the winnings. Moreover, Games in harsher and more uninhabitable realms yield more significant rewards than those in comfortable environments; thus, those are the Games Players generally focus on. That's the correlation.

  I frowned, glancing again at the nearly million Nexus Coins glowing on the blue screen.

  [[ But is beating a Game that much more lucrative? I mean, I have earned nearly a million coins just from selling food and drinks. That doesn't seem like pocket change. ]]

  Apophis appeared to be laughing, his body vibrating on my shoulder.

  ~Master, beating a Game is exponentially more lucrative than selling snacks and refreshments to hungry Players. Your profit is impressive, but it's still a pittance compared to the spoils of a completed Game.

  I leaned back in my seat, the faint sway of the carriage blending with the hum of Apophis's words into my mind.

  A pittance? Nearly a million Nexus Coins?

  As the thought simmered, I felt a slight chill run over my arms, neck, and scalp.

  Just what in the world were all these Players trying to get Nexus Coins for? What were they hoping to purchase?

  "We've arrived at the location you requested, young master Luca," Ben announced.

  The carriage came to a halt, and I gazed out at the festival, finally noticing the scent of buttered bread, grilled onion, and roasted rabbit filling my nostrils.

  Ben stepped down from the carriage and held the door open for me.

  Leona stirred on my right shoulder. Finally, festival food!

  [[ And here I though you had filled up for once? ]]

  I teased her, though her boundless appetite brought me a strange sense of relief.

  Arnold's food was quite satisfactory, but there's something about the diversity of flavors. Besides, I need to replenish my reserves.

  [[ Hold up, Leona. ]]

  I raised a hand to gently press against her, preventing her from darting toward the open door.

  [[ You can't fly about the festival eating food like a ghost. It'd be too conspicuous. Stay in the carriage. I'll make sure you get plenty of food. ]]

  Turning to Remlend, I gave my next instruction. "Remlend, buy food from every stall, two servings each. Bring it all back here and leave it inside the carriage."

  Remlend raised a brow but only briefly. "Every stall, young master?"

  I leaned my head out of the carriage and gestured to the far right of the street. "From that end—" I traced an arc with my finger "—to that end. Everything they've got. Two servings of each."

  I tossed him a pouch heavy with coins, enough to feed thirty men twice over.

  "Understood." Remlend bowed his head and left the carriage, making his way effortlessly between the crowd of people.

  Gathering food for Leona was the sole purpose I brought him along today.

  Human, where are you going?

  Leona's voice chimed into my mind.

  "I'm going to see Orla Rex," I said, addressing both Leona and Ben as I prepared to leave the carriage.

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  Stepping out, I closed the door behind me, the muted hum of festival chatter growing louder now that I was amidst it. Henry, who had been riding beside the driver, dismounted and fell into step with Ben a short distance behind me. They kept a respectful distance yet displayed their presence publicly. Beyond them, I was well aware that several unseen guards were positioned in the crowd, blending seamlessly into the festival's liveliness to ensure no harm would befall me.

  Not that most would dare pull something in my grandmother's backyard.

  Ahead of me, behind a stall laden with trinkets and artifacts, sat a familiar figure—Orla Rex. Her one visible blue eye, sharp with curiosity, tracked my approach. Her other eye was hidden behind a silver patch that glimmered faintly.

  "Do you remember me? I'm Luca Frey," I re-introduced myself, "young master of the Frey Merchant Guild and grandson of Ruth Arankagul."

  A wide grin spread over Orla's face as her gaze flicked to Ben and Henry standing a short distance behind me, making the connection.

  "Of course," she said, her voice warm with interest. "What might I interest you in today, Luca Frey?"

  The multicolored mana stones embedded in her teeth shimmered as she spoke.

  I surveyed the artifacts on display.

  "Are you able to assess an artifact for me?" I inquired.

  "For a fee, of course," Orla replied. "Ten golden Duex."

  I placed the coins on the table and produced the ring I had taken from the giant toad in Govista Lake.

  "The Ring of Boundless Bloom—what can you tell me about it?" I asked, handing it over to her.

  Orla took the ring with a delicate touch, producing a small loupe encrusted with runes in her other hand. She brought it to her blue eye, the runes shimmering faintly as she began her inspection.

  "Curious… curious…" she murmured. "This ring amplifies the wearer's connection to living mana fivefold, allowing them to sense and locate potent sources of life energy in their surroundings—trees, plants, creatures. It can channel that life force to enhance the wearer's vitality or manipulate plants and creatures nearby."

  She glanced at me briefly before continuing.

  "It's a powerful artifact, but a dangerous one. Prolonged use causes the wearer to mutate—body and mind alike. The effects disappear once the ring is removed, but the curse doesn't. If the wearer exceeds the limit and then takes off the ring, putting it back on ever again will immediately trigger the full mutation. A second time, they might never be able to remove it on their own."

  I frowned.

  "Can I use it to prolong the life of someone who's dying?" I asked.

  Orla's expression softened in understanding. "Unfortunately, no. Using it on someone near death would only hasten their decline—those close to passing are particularly vulnerable to its adverse effects. A healthy individual, free of illness, preferably a child, would fare best against the ring's mutations."

  She handed the ring back to me with a measured smile.

  "Despite its flaws, it remains a formidable artifact when used carefully," she added.

  I nodded, slipping the ring back into my pocket. While it wouldn't serve to save a life, it was reassuring to know my younger brother could potentially use it without succumbing to the fate that had befallen the toad.

  "Is there anything else I might interest you in?" Orla asked, her tone inviting.

  "Yes, there is," I replied, straightening. "My birthday is approaching, and my grandmother offered to buy me a gift. I'm certain cost won't be an issue."

  I lifted my gaze from the artifacts on display and met Orla's blue eye. What I truly wanted wasn't on the table after all.

  Orla grinned. "I'd be delighted to help. I happen to have three special artifacts with me right now."

  She pulled out the Pandora's Flask from within her dress, its silver cover catching the light as she twisted the cap off. A swirl of purple and yellow mist flowed from its opening, and as the fog dissipated, a cherry-wood box etched with intricate runes and secured with gleaming locks appeared in Olra's hand.

  "You're in for a real treat," she said, placing the box carefully on the table. "Even among antiques, you don't see many beauties as these."

  Click. Click. Click.

  The compartments opened, revealing the artifacts.

  ~Hahhhh, how interesting.

  Apophis leaned his head forward from my left shoulder, taking in the artifacts for himself.

  Orla gestured to the items inside. "Here are the three I mentioned. But if you don't see something you like, let me know. My specialty is being able to source just about anything my clients might fancy."

  I examined the three artifacts, relieved they were all the same from the prior loop: the Ring of Mental Acuity, the Time Dilation Watch, and the Chromatic Pendant.

  I already knew the one I planned to obtain.

  "I'd like the Time Dilation Watch," I pointed to the middle compartment.

  Orla examined me, her blue eye squinting at me. "You certainly have a discerning eye."

  However, I didn't answer her unasked questions, and she filled the silence by explaining the artifact to me. I nodded, not needing to hear the insight, given how my memory still retained that information.

  "I'd like it for my birthday gift," I confirmed again.

  "Ben, I presume that won't be a problem," I said, turning my head toward my grandmother's right-hand man.

  It felt rude not to check, even though I ultimately knew the answer.

  Ben smiled. "Of course, you don't need to worry about the cost."

  Orla glanced toward Ben. "I presume Madame Ruth Arankagul will pay in the usual manner?"

  "Of course," Ben nodded.

  ~Hahhh Master, I suspect you have reason to pick the watch, but I advise you to get that pendant instead.

  Apophis hissed into my mind.

  I raised a brow.

  [[ Why? Is it a Chaos artifact? ]]

  ~Oh goodness no… A Chaos artifact would require far more safeguards in place.

  "One moment, could I look at the pendant closer?" I asked Orla, now curious to know what had piqued Apophis's interest.

  "Most certainly." She held up the small silver necklace. A gemstone dangled from it, shimmering and shifting in color from red to green to purple as the light caught it. "It's called the Chromatic Pendant and it has a rather intriguing effect. It will cause a random object to appear before you once a day."

  I pulled up the item description in case the System had more to add; however, there was nothing to suggest Apophis's focused interest in it.

  [ Item: Chromatic Pendant ]

  [ Description: Once a day, a random object will appear before the wearer. The object can range in size and value but is usually small and of little practical use. ]

  ~It might not be a Chaos artifact, but it was evidently crafted with Chaos magic. Thus, it's safe to handle by regular people, yet it has the benefit of grasping the value that Chaos can provide.

  "It's crafted by Chaos magic?" I asked Orla Rex.

  She smiled knowingly. "Luca Frey, you certainly do have a discerning eye. Yes, indeed. Its unpredictable ability to conjure objects, from the fascinating to the dangerous to the utterly pointless, stems from its creation by a Chaos mage."

  [[ Apophis, if the item is at random and often insignificant, how useful would it be for me? ]]

  ~Master, Chaos magic is unpredictable by its very nature; to conquer it, you must sway like a willow, bending and utilizing the winds that come your way, no matter what they bring.

  Apophis turned to me, his purple eyes gleaming with intent.

  ~This artifact is the perfect item to practice your ability to stay malleable. Besides, you have a method to make fate bend to your will, do you not?

  I smiled. He wasn't wrong. I had Chase and Jarvis on my side, albeit far away at the moment.

  [[ I'll get it, but I'm still getting the watch too. Why not both? ]]

  "I'd like to purchase this pendant with my own funds," I told Orla.

  She tilted her head slightly, her single blue eye flicking toward Ben.

  "Hmmm, that might prove... difficult. Even for you," she said.

  I blinked.

  "How much is it?" I asked.

  Her lips moved as she uttered the price.

  I froze, sure I had misheard her. I felt my throat drop into my stomach and my mouth go dry as I realized I hadn't. There was an extra zero tacked onto the end beyond what I had predicted.

  Damn it. I knew it was going to be expensive, but that is outrageous.

  My gaze shifted toward the watch, which I suspected was in the same astronomical price range. I swallowed hard, a fresh wave of awe washing over me as I realized how extravagant a birthday gift Grandmother was willing to buy me.

  "I'll take the pendant instead of the watch," I said finally.

  The watch had a clear use case, but Apophis's conviction, coupled with my own intrigue, tipped the scales. Besides, Orla's story from the previous loop—about the snow globe with a living world that had emerged from this pendant—still lingered in my mind.

  ~Excelent choice, Master.

  Apophis slithered across my left shoulder, exuding evident satisfaction.

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