fantasy novels Chapter 4: Cheap and Worth It
Chapter 4: Cheap and Worth It
Chapter 4: Cheap and Worth ItIf someone stopped, he’d talk.
If they didn’t, he’d wait.
The afternoon heat began to crawl across Frank’s shoulders when a group of four broke from the steady foot traffic and drifted closer. Not slow, as if they were curious. Not fast, as if they were confident. That in-between pace—half pull, half drag.
D-Ranks. Scuffed armor, half-repaired gauntlets, and a mismatched pair of boots on one of them. Their weapons were solid but worn—steel swung too many times without a proper whetstone. The leader stood out by how little he blinked. Late thirties, maybe. Short hair, red with dust, and eyes that scanned Frank as if
The next chance didn’t come.
For almost an hour, no one stopped. No one slowed. Most didn’t even look his way. The foot traffic had shifted—more confident groups now, higher rank, better gear, better attitudes. They gave him the kind of glance you give a stray flyer on a windshield: brief, annoyed, forgettable.
Frank didn’t call out.
He didn’t drop the price.
He just sat, elbows on knees, one hand loosely drumming the edge of the crate while the other shaded his eyes from the lowering sun. His water bottle was warm, and the back of his shirt stuck to him. He tried to crack his neck, but it just gave a dry click and locked up tighter.
He reached into his bag, pulled out a spare cloth, and started wiping the dust from the table’s edge. Not for show—just to keep his hands moving.
Then a soft chime.
System-side.
He straightened, his eyes flicking to the corner of his vision where the alert hovered. Not a sale yet—just a message.
New Message — Buyer Inquiry
Sender: Arma Clan Cook
Realm: Beastkin Ridge
Product: Earth Energy Drink
"Is this safe for warriors? Good for recovery after battle?"
Frank blinked. The drink? He hadn’t expected it to catch attention again. It wasn’t magic. No stat boosts. Just sugar, caffeine, and whatever processed fuel Earth slapped into a can.
He typed back without hesitation:
"Yes. Boosts energy short-term. Helps with fatigue. No mana side effects. Good for daily use."
The reply came three seconds later.
"We’ll take five."
Immediately after, the confirmation hit:
Item Sold: Earth Energy Drink
Buyer: Arma Clan Cook — Beastkin Ridge
Quantity: 5
Earnings: +150 Tokens
Remaining Balance: 310 Tokens
Frank sat there, watching the number shift.
That was half his stock, gone in one deal.
He opened his system dashboard. The energy drink listing blinked amber—Only 2 remaining. His eyes dropped to the tomatoes, still sitting in the market window like background noise. Untouched. Expected.
He tapped a few times to bring up the product editor. Quick changes. No pitch. Just facts.
"Earth Energy Drink – Non-magical stimulant. Effective for post-combat fatigue, long working hours, or stamina dips. Refrigeration advised but not required."
He saved the update and leaned back on his crate. The drink wasn’t flashy. But someone needed it. Enough to pay 30 tokens each.
He opened a note window and jotted down quick thoughts before they slipped:
– Energy drinks sell to Beastkin: not for combat, for clan recovery.
– Not resold on system — they use it directly or share internally.
– Demand not power-based, it’s lifestyle-based. Daily use items.
– Keep the price. Don’t overstock. Scarcity matters.
Frank sat in silence for a long moment. Not tired, not impatient—focused. His brain wasn’t buzzing with joy; it was shifting gears. Slower. Sharper.
Then a second alert pinged. New system message:
3 New Reviews Received
– "Not bad. Works well for cooldown recovery."
– "Strange taste. Effective."
– "Human merchant’s supply is reliable."
Frank stared at them, reading each one twice.
Not glowing praise, but not empty either.
He adjusted the bottles on his table again, moving two closer to the edge for visibility. The crate creaked under his shifting weight as he leaned forward, arms resting on his knees, back to waiting.
A few steps down the path, a small trio approached the gate. One of them glanced over.
Frank didn’t move.
If they stopped, he’d talk.
If they didn’t, he’d sell to the next one who did.