A week had passed since Alden last visited the Awakened Union. In that time, he had cleared another dungeon, steadily accumulating mana cores, money, and combat experience. The repeated battles pushed his skills and instincts further, making him more confident in handling high-stakes fights.
Now, with his latest haul, he was headed to the Union once more.
---
Alden stepped into the Awakened Union, the familiar scent of metal, blood, and mana residue filling the air. His new storage ring was packed with monster materials from his most recent hunt. His black combat jacket bore scuffs and faint claw marks, evidence of his last dungeon battle, but he looked otherwise unbothered.
The Exchange Counter was staffed by the same clerk as before, a middle-aged man with sharp features and glasses.
"Back again so soon?" the clerk asked, raising a brow.
Alden smirked. "Gotta keep the income flowing."
Placing his storage ring onto the counter, he watched as the scanner began analyzing its contents. The clerk's eyes widened slightly as the total valuation appeared on the screen.
"Damn… another big haul. Five D-rank snow leopards, two D+ frost golems, and several lower-ranked monsters. Selling everything except the mana cores?"**
Alden nodded. "That's right."
"Alright. The final price is… 2,300,000 credits.
Alden glanced at his bank balance on his watch interface.
[Bank Account Balance: 4,780,000 credits]
"Not bad."
With the transaction complete, Alden left the Union, stepping into the bright afternoon sunlight.
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Alden wandered through the bustling streets, hands in his pockets, taking in the sights. It had been a long time since he had taken a day to just relax.
"Before transmigrating, I never had this kind of freedom."
In his past life, he had been terminally ill, spending most of his days in a hospital bed, watching the world through a window or a screen. The simple act of **walking, breathing in the fresh air, feeling the sun on his skin—**these were things he had longed for back then.
But since arriving in this world, he had been too focused on survival, training, and hunting.
Today, he decided to slow down.
As he strolled past various tech shops, clothing stores, and cafés, his gaze landed on a high-end gaming store.
A large holo-screen displayed an ad for the newest VR gaming system.
"The Zenith VR System—experience reality beyond limits!"
Alden's lips curled into a small smile. "Gaming, huh? It's been a while since I indulged."
Before transmigrating, gaming was one of his few escapes from his hospital-bound life. Now that he was in a healthy, powerful body, he didn't have to live through a screen anymore.
But… it wouldn't hurt to have a little entertainment.
He stepped inside the store, scanning the shelves filled with VR headsets, consoles, and accessories.
"Can I help you, sir?" A young sales assistant approached with a polite smile.
Alden pointed to the Zenith VR System. "I'll take one of these. And a high-performance gaming PC to go with it."
The assistant's eyes widened slightly. "Of course! Do you have any specific preferences for the PC?"
"Max out everything."
"A wise choice."
---
After leaving the gaming store, Alden made another stop at a vehicle dealership.
Walking through the showroom, he scanned the available options until he found something that caught his eye—
A sleek, black, foldable motorbike, designed for urban travel and off-road use.
"That'll make getting around a lot easier."
The model was a Mana-Infused ZR-9, a lightweight, high-speed bike with a built-in mana battery that could last for weeks on a single charge.
As he was examining the details, Shiranui, his small fox companion, who had been lounging lazily inside his hood, spoke up.
"Hmph, you should've gotten a mount instead. A noble should ride something grand."
Alden chuckled. "A mount? You mean like a horse? Or maybe a giant wolf?"
Shiranui scoffed. "Even better. A divine beast. Maybe a golden wyvern or a storm phoenix."
"Yeah, I'll keep that in mind for later."
From within his storage ring, his katana, Kurenai, let out a dry chuckle.
"He barely has time to sleep, and you want him to take care of a divine beast? He already has you."
Shiranui huffed but didn't argue.
After a quick test ride, Alden swiped his card.
[Transaction Complete: -1,100,000 Credits]
---
With his purchases complete, Alden returned to his dorm, setting up his new gaming PC and VR system.
As he powered it on, he leaned back in his chair, stretching.
"For once… I don't have to think about dungeons, fighting, or training."
"You say that now," Kurenai murmured, her voice smooth yet sharp. "But I give you two days before you get bored and start looking for your next fight."
Alden smirked. "Two days, huh? That long?"
Shiranui, curled up on the bed, flicked her tails. "I say one day. He can't sit still."
Alden didn't deny it. He had gotten too used to the thrill of combat, the adrenaline of battle. Sitting still for too long felt… unnatural.
Still, tonight was different. He had time to breathe, to enjoy life.
He looked at his reflection on the PC screen. The face of Alden Blackwood stared back—healthy, strong, and free.
This was a life he never had before. And he intended to make the most of it.
Tomorrow, he'd be back to preparing for the Academy.
But for tonight… he'd just enjoy being alive.
---
To be continued…