Siiiiiiip.

The unmistakable sound of a warm cup of coffee being savored, its aroma filling the air.

The culprits? Naturally, the trio.

After discovering Ryna in an unexpected heap of books—unharmed but deep asleep—they had taken refuge in a nearby café, the weight of ‘the novel’, growing too heavy to bear. The simple comforts of a cozy, welcoming space were a brief reprieve.

Kai cradled a steaming cup of coffee, its warmth seeping through his fingers, while Lucifer and Ryna each had a glass of cola. Kai was the first to break the stillness that hung between them like a cloud of thought.

“All right,” he began, setting his cup down with a deliberate clink, his gaze shifting from one companion to the next. “First things first—our economy. We’re not really lasting in terms of money.”

Lucifer leaned back slightly in his chair, a wry smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “Yeah, I get that,” he said, the sound of his voice carrying a note of resigned amusement. “Reina blew all the 3,000 eons on that grocery refill. I had a feeling our measly 11k wouldn’t last long... and now we’re down to seven. And it’s what? Barely been two days? We’re just starting the second one.”

Kai’s eyes snapped open, his expression shifting to one of quiet seriousness. “Remember that 49th-level guardian I tried looking into?”

“Yes,” Lucifer replied, his tone clipped.

Kai leaned forward, his voice steady and determined. “I was actually thinking about dungeon-diving and collecting gems.”

Lucifer raised an eyebrow. “Like the teleportation and communication rocks I found on my day one, right?”

Kai's lips curved, “Indeed.”

Communication gems: a rare jewel that transforms spoken words and their intent into mana waves.

These waves are easily understood by creatures that possess a degree of intelligence—beasts like dragons, raptors, and, of course, griffins.

The gem’s mana waves allow for a connection to form, bridging the gap between the wielder and the beast.

However, these gems are not without limitations.

Upon first use, they will last for a decade, after which they begin to crack and lose their potency, eventually becoming dangerous to use.

"And, of course, they come at a steep price, making them quite the luxury."

"Yeah, no joke! Almost half the price of a Griffin!"

Chips, on the other hand, are their technological counterparts.

While they function in the same manner, converting words and intent into mana waves, they are far less durable.

Stolen story; please report.

Unlike the gems, which last for a decade, chips can barely withstand 25 weeks of usage.

Their price is more affordable, yes, but it’s still a luxurious item nonetheless.

As for the teleportation gems, these precious obsidian stones are typically placed into a specially designed piece of technology or straight-up crushed into fine dust.

Once powdered, the dust is mixed with purified water, and the resulting ink holds the key to creating teleportation tomes.

“In other words, the actual ultimate luxury item.” Kai said as he finished his coffee.

Lucifer leaned back slightly, his hands clasped behind his back, a contemplative look crossing his face.

“Gem-sales, sure, but I dive in the dungeons instead, I need you up here to help me out with other plans”

Kai raised an eyebrow, but was aware that his combat power was just a fake copy of Luke’s and did not refuse the roles-swap.

“Good! We’ve got ourselves a deal then!” Lucifer grinned, the idea of a new plan already taking root in his mind.

To everyone's surprise, Ryna took a deep breath, steeling herself to invade their conversation. Then, with a sharp, ear-piercing voice, she practically shattered the café’s calm—

“LUCYYY!”

Startled or not, she didn’t wait for a reaction. With a triumphant grin, she lifted a thick book from beneath her, the sudden loss of height making her sink slightly into the chair. Her cat-like ears twitched in pure excitement as she flipped through the pages at an unholy speed, her fingers blurring through the text.

The book?

It was vibrant, mesmerizing, a riot of colors more dazzling than the cover of any Historical Cover!

It was…

A Tome of Flowers!

Ryna had not simply dozed off beneath a mountain of books—no, she had been embracing this masterpiece, cradling it as if it were a sacred treasure. Even in sleep, she had refused to let it go, forcing the group to rent it for the week at the library’s main desk rather than attempt to pry it from her grasp.

And now? Now, after all that effort, it was finally time for the book to shine.

SLAM!

The book hit the table with a force that rattled the cutlery. Ryna’s eyes gleamed as she jabbed a clawed finger at the open page.

“Look! When Lucy goes into the dungeon, make sure to find this cutie!”

Lucifer braced himself, already expecting her to shove some absurd rainbow-rose in his face, or maybe an extravagant fantasy-lily—perhaps even an unholy combination of the two.

His fantasy flower guess was close… but the reality was far from what he had imagined.

As his gaze fell upon the pages Ryna eagerly pointed to, his expression shifted.

It was a tulip. A deep, washed-red bloom, its delicate pink petals formed from thin, translucent sheets of crystal, shimmering under the light.

Beautiful? Absolutely. Mysterious? Without a doubt.

But what truly unsettled him wasn’t the flower itself. It was Ryna’s expression. The way her cat-like ears twitched. The barely-contained glee in her gaze.

At this very moment, her thoughts were anything but pure.

This flower? It wasn’t just some rare botanical marvel. No—this was proof that she was thinking the kinds of things reserved only for adult minds.

An area strictly 18+ only.

That’s right.

MONEY!

The thought, however, carried on, onto the wind as the bill arrived, and the reality of their indulgence hit them.

Eons spent:

* $9.99 for one black, bitter coffee.

* $17.98 for two colas.

Lucifer couldn’t help but scowl as he picked up the tiny paper.

“Damn… Still not selling THIS telegemstone!”

Meanwhile, far off in a dusty pawnshop, an old Dwarf let out an unexpected sneeze.

“Bless you, Dad!” a young voice called out in concern. “Are you catching a cold?”

“Nah, I’m fine,” the old Dwarf chuckled, wiping his nose. “Not like this old man has much to do anyway! Hehehe!”