After a busy day filled with unexpected revelations, Thomas wandered through the market, gathering information on prices and trying to get a sense of the economy in this new world. The vibrant stalls around him showcased an array of goods, from fresh produce to sturdy weapons, and he couldn't help but marvel at the variety.
He stopped at a vendor’s stall displaying baked goods. The aroma of freshly baked bread wafted through the air, and his stomach growled in response. “How much for a loaf?” he asked, eyeing the golden crust.
“Five copper coins,” the vendor replied, her hands deftly wrapping a loaf in parchment.
“Great!” he said, handing over the coins with a smile. He couldn’t wait to sink his teeth into something warm and delicious.
Next, he made his way to a weapons merchant who had a selection of bows and arrows displayed. Thomas pointed to a sturdy-looking bow. “How much for that one?”
“Cost you one silver and fifty copper,” the merchant said, grinning. Thomas quickly calculated in his head: 100 coppers for one silver, and he was willing to part with the coins. He needed a better weapon for the challenges ahead.
After making his purchase, Thomas wandered over to a different stall, intrigued by the shimmering array of stones on display. “Excuse me,” he said to the shop owner, a bespectacled man with a weathered face. “How much do you think a multi-colored magic stone would be worth?”
The owner scratched his chin, his eyes narrowing in thought. “Multi-colored? Never seen one of those. But I can tell you that higher-ranked magic stones usually go for a pretty penny at auction. The common colors are red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple.”
Thomas’s interest piqued. “And what about the ranks? What do the colors mean?”
“Red stones are typically found on orcs, and orange ones are usually from orc chieftains. Yellow stones come from trolls,” the shop owner explained. “The prices vary depending on the size and quality of the stone. If you’ve got something truly unique, it could be worth a fortune.”
As he walked away, Thomas couldn’t help but think about the multi-colored stones he had found in his treasure trove. He had refused to sell them, claiming they were essential fuel for his runes. He glanced at his Discord chat, where some of his followers had already chimed in about the potential riches those stones could bring.
Chat:
RuneMaster5000: Sell those stones, Thomas! You could make a fortune!
FrostBite: But think of all the cool runes you can make with them!
LeetGuy42: Stonks, baby!
K3wlGamer: Don’t sell them, dude! Keep that magic flowing!
Feeling the weight of their words, Thomas chuckled softly to himself. They were right; those stones were invaluable to his burgeoning skills. He wasn’t ready to part with them, no matter how tempting the offers might be.
As Thomas took a bite of the bread, his face contorted in disappointment. The texture was tough, each bite felt like he was tearing into paper, and the flavor was bland at best. He quickly spat out the mouthful, grimacing at his poor choice. Just as he was about to discard the rest, his gaze was caught by a striking figure across the market square.
There stood a tall female elf, her long hair cascading down her back and her attire hinting at noble lineage. She carried herself with an air of elegance, and there was an undeniable allure about her. “Wow,” Thomas muttered under his breath, his confidence bubbling up as he decided to approach her.
Chat:
LeetGuy42: Go for it, Thomas! Ask for her number!
FrostBite: What game are you playing, bro?
Stonkz420: She’s a knockout!
K3wlGamer: Smash or pass, fam?
The encouragement from his viewers fueled him as he walked closer, ready to make his move. But as he approached, the elf’s demeanor shifted. In a swift motion, she unsheathed her sword, pointing it toward him with a grace that only a trained warrior could possess.
“Back away, please,” she said coolly, her eyes narrowing as they briefly met his. “I’m not interested in short men.” With that, she flicked her gaze down at Thomas, then turned away, her elegant form gliding as she walked off.
The chat erupted with laughter, the comments rolling in faster than Thomas could read.
Chat:
RuneMaster5000: Oof, that’s harsh!
FrostBite: She just roasted you, man!
LeetGuy42: GYATT!
Stonkz420: Dayummm, though!
Caught off guard, Thomas blinked in disbelief as he watched the elf strut away. He couldn’t help but let out a low whistle, his admiration for her figure pulling him in despite the embarrassment. “Dayumm,” he muttered, watching her from behind as she gracefully moved through the market.
Chat:
K3wlGamer: Dude, you’re simping hard right now!
FrostBite: She’s out of your league, bro.
RuneMaster5000: She’s got that noble energy; you might need a knight’s armor to catch her eye!
With a slight chuckle, Thomas shook his head, trying to brush off the humiliation. He knew he should have expected some rejection in a world like this, especially from someone who looked like she belonged to a higher status. But there was something about her that made him curious, a challenge he couldn’t easily dismiss.
Just as Thomas was shaking off the embarrassment from his earlier encounter, one of the viewers chimed in with a playful message. “Hey, where’s the dono button?” they asked, hinting at the possibility of sending him some in-game currency as a donation.
Thomas smirked, feeling a rush of excitement. “Well, if you’re giving, I might as well accept it!” he replied, quickly setting up his donation button. However, he soon realized he hadn’t set up a bank account for the donations to go to. “Guess it saves automatically,” he muttered, unsure of how this would play out.
To his surprise, a notification popped up almost immediately: You received a donation of $5! In an instant, five copper coins materialized right in front of him, shimmering and clinking together as they landed in his hand. He stared at them, wide-eyed, and the chat erupted in excitement.
Chat:
FrostBite: No way! That’s awesome!
RuneMaster5000: Dude, are you serious?!
K3wlGamer: They actually just appeared?!
“Whoa,” Thomas exclaimed, glancing around to see if anyone else noticed the magic spectacle. The reaction from the viewers was just as stunned as his own, with some even jokingly suggesting that he should become a full-time streamer if he could pull off magic like this.
However, feeling a sense of responsibility wash over him, Thomas quickly turned off the donation button. “Alright, that’s enough of that! There’s no way I’m flooding the streets with copper coins,” he said, chuckling nervously.
The chat was filled with laughter and playful teasing, the viewers clearly enjoying the idea of flooding the town with copper coins.
Chat:
LeetGuy42: Keep it going! We’ll turn this place into a copper mine!
FrostBite: I’ll donate until it’s raining coppers!
Stonkz420: We can start a copper coin revolution!
Feeling the buzz of excitement from the donation incident, Thomas took a moment to strategize. He quickly set up a system to manage the donations, limiting the number he could accept each day. “Alright, let’s keep this reasonable,” he said aloud, typing away as he created a cap on the number of donations. “No more than ten a day! That should keep the streets from turning into a copper coin mine.”
However, even with the limits in place, he realized that the magic coins still seemed to appear without warning whenever a donation came in. The idea of copper coins materializing out of thin air was exhilarating, but also a bit concerning. The power of his viewers—of the people—was becoming a force to be reckoned with, and he had no idea how to control it.
“Okay, folks,” he said, addressing the chat with a grin. “I’ve set up a donation limit, but just remember: if you donate, those coins are going to appear in front of me, and I can’t control that magic! So let’s keep it fun and manageable, yeah?”
If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.
Chat:
FrostBite: We’ll be responsible… maybe.
RuneMaster5000: No promises!
LeetGuy42: Let the copper rain begin!
With the limits set, Thomas felt a mix of anticipation and apprehension. He could already picture the scenes of chaos if too many coins started flooding the streets. He chuckled to himself at the thought. But deep down, he knew this was an incredible opportunity to interact with his audience in a way that few streamers could.
As he strolled through the town, he kept an eye out for interesting spots to explore, all while glancing at his donation notifications. Each time a new one popped up, he half-expected to be showered in coins, but the thrill of unpredictability only added to the excitement of his adventure.
He passed by vendors and market stalls, greeting townsfolk and sharing snippets from his stream.
As the sun began to set, casting a warm glow over the town, Thomas felt the weight of his new purchases in his hands—or rather, in his newly acquired sub-space bag. It had cost him three silvers, but the utility was undeniable. With a capacity of up to 110 pounds, it was perfect for stashing all the gear he’d been accumulating. Along with the bag, he had picked up a light armor set, a simple robe for less combat-heavy tasks, and a pair of sharp daggers, all for what remained of his funds. He was down to just two silvers now, but he felt well-prepared for whatever the future held.
As he made his way to the inn, Thomas noticed another donation notification pop up in the corner of his vision. 10 coppers. The message attached made him raise an eyebrow:
"Buy a hoe (hooker)"
The chat lit up with laughter and playful banter, clearly enjoying the audacity of the comment.
Thomas smirked, shaking his head as he read the donation aloud. “Really? 10 copper for a hoe? First of all, there’s no way I’m getting a hooker for 10 copper—unless we’re talking about, like, the absolute bargain bin of hoes.” He chuckled, hearing the chat explode with jokes and trolling. “Secondly, we’re keeping this PG... for now,” he added with a sly wink, knowing full well how his audience loved to push the boundaries.
Chat:
LeetGuy42: Cheap hoe for 10 copper?! What a steal!
FrostBite: PG in a fantasy world? Good luck with that!
Stonkz420: You’ll be rolling in hoes in no time, trust me.
RuneMaster5000: Can we donate for a hoe army?!
The inn came into view, a cozy structure with a warm glow emanating from the windows. As he walked up the steps, Thomas could still feel the ripple of laughter from the chat, the lighthearted jokes keeping him entertained as he pushed open the door. The interior was exactly what he had hoped for—a place to rest his weary body after a long day of shopping and strolling through town..
“Alright, chat,” he said, leaning back in his chair, “looks like I’ve got two silvers left. What should I spend them on next? And no, we’re not starting a ‘hoe fund.’” He chuckled, half expecting the comments to be filled with nothing but trolling ideas.
Thomas had just taken a sip of his drink, enjoying the momentary calm, when he noticed a movement out of the corner of his eye. A beastman female approached his table. She was tall, with feline-like features—pointed ears, sleek brown fur covering her arms and legs, and a long, swaying tail. Her amber eyes gleamed with a mischievous glint as she smiled at him, revealing sharp but not unfriendly teeth.
“Good evening, adventurer,” she purred softly, her voice carrying a melodic tone. “Mind if I sit here?”
The chat erupted instantly.
Chat:
FrostBite: OMG SHE’S CUTE!
LeetGuy42: Bro, bro... this is it. This is your waifu!
Stonkz420: Simp nation, rise up!
RuneMaster5000: Is this the start of the harem arc? Please let it be the harem arc.
TheRealGigaChad: Let’s get that harem sponsorship going!
Thomas could practically hear the collective simp-sigh from his viewers. He could almost see the comments rolling in, offering sponsorships to help him build a fantasy-world harem. He smirked, raising an eyebrow as he addressed both the chat and the beastman in front of him.
“Well, if the chat has their way, I’m apparently building a harem,” he muttered under his breath, before smiling politely at the girl. “Sure, have a seat,” he said, motioning to the chair across from him.
The beastman sat gracefully, her tail wrapping around her waist as she leaned forward slightly, resting her elbows on the table. “I’ve heard stories about your fight earlier,” she said with a small smile. “Word travels fast in town. They say you put up a good show.”
Thomas shrugged, trying to play it cool despite feeling the eyes of his chat watching his every move. “I wouldn’t call it a ‘show.’ Just handling my business.”
Chat:
LeetGuy42: Bruh, humble hero vibes. She’s definitely into it.
FrostBite: Offer her some copper coins, lmao.
K3wlGamer: SPONSOR THE HAREM!
“Anyway,” Thomas continued, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly, “what’s your name?”
The beastman chuckled lightly, her tail swishing behind her. “I’m Lirien,” she said, her amber eyes never leaving his. “And you must be Thomas, the new adventurer everyone’s talking about.”
Chat:
Stonkz420: He’s already famous! Let’s goooo!
RuneMaster5000: Forget being famous, just ask her out already!
TheRealGigaChad: Slide her the dono link, bro!
Thomas cleared his throat, trying to stay focused. “Yeah, that’s me. Just got my F-rank today, nothing too special.”
Lirien leaned in, lowering her voice. “Well, I think you’re more special than you realize. You’ve caught the attention of some important people.”
That piqued his interest. “Important people, huh? Care to elaborate?”
Lirien glanced around the inn before smiling again, standing up and leaning close to whisper, “That’s something you’ll have to figure out yourself. But let’s just say… you might be in for more than you bargained for.”
As she straightened and gave him a playful wink, she turned to leave, her tail brushing against his leg as she walked away.
Chat:
FrostBite: WHAAAAT?! Mysterious plotline unlocked!
LeetGuy42: Bro got the secret quest!
Stonkz420: We’re sponsoring that harem, I swear!
RuneMaster5000: Dude. She likes you, and she’s a spy or something. 100%.
Thomas shook his head, his mind spinning from the encounter. “Alright, chat. That was… something.” He watched as Lirien disappeared into the crowd. “Looks like I’m in deeper than I thought.”
As the chat continued to explode with wild theories and sponsorship offers for his so-called harem, Thomas leaned back, trying to process the cryptic message from Lirien.
Thomas, his eyes scanning the room for the innkeeper. As luck would have it, Lirien stood near the counter, her feline eyes flicking through a ledger. He approached cautiously, still trying to make sense of their earlier conversation—and, of course, the chat was absolutely losing it.
Chat:
FrostBite: Oh, it’s her again! Go for round two, my dude!
LeetGuy42: Ask her for the harem room package!
RuneMaster5000: He’s 100% gonna mess this up, lmao.
Stonkz420: Bro about to simp himself into poverty!
Thomas cleared his throat, trying to shake off the relentless trolling from his viewers. “Uh, hey... Lirien,” he began, catching her attention. “I was just wondering... how much for a night—" He paused, realizing how weird that sounded. The chat was instantly on it.
Chat:
FrostBite: Ayyyyyy, he said it!
LeetGuy42: Bro, you meant for the room, right? RIGHT?!
TheRealGigaChad: Thomas out here paying for dates, what a legend.
RuneMaster5000: LMAO this man’s wildin’.
Thomas quickly corrected himself, raising his hands in surrender, face flushing slightly. “I-I meant a room. Per night. Yeah, just a room.”
Lirien chuckled softly, clearly amused by the blunder. Her tail flicked lazily behind her as she leaned forward across the counter. “A room, huh? Just a regular room with a bed and nothing... extra?”
The chat exploded.
Chat:
FrostBite: SHE KNOWS, SHE KNOWS!
Stonkz420: Man’s down bad!
LeetGuy42: Thomas, you’re killing us here, bro.
RuneMaster5000: Best girl, no question.
Thomas rubbed the back of his neck, fighting the urge to bury his face in his hands. “Y-yeah, just a regular room. Nothing more, nothing less.”
Lirien smirked, her eyes gleaming with that playful glint. “For you, 20 copper a night. That includes breakfast... and a discount if you stay more than a week.”
Thomas mentally calculated the cost, relieved that it wasn’t too steep. He had two silvers left, so he was good for a while. “Alright, I’ll take a room for tonight.”
Lirien handed him a key, her fingers brushing his ever so slightly. “Room’s upstairs. Try not to get into too much trouble,” she teased, before turning back to her ledger.
Chat:
FrostBite: Bro got hand contact! We’re in!
LeetGuy42: This is the start of something beautiful.
Stonkz420: Where’s the harem sponsorship when you need it?!
RuneMaster5000: Discount for a week? Sounds like she’s tryna keep you close.
Thomas shook his head, pocketing the key and heading upstairs to his room. He let out a long sigh once the door closed behind him. “Alright, chat, I’m in for the night. No, I didn’t buy the ‘harem package.’” He chuckled. “But if you guys keep pushing it, I might end up with something I can’t handle.”
Chat:
TheRealGigaChad: Bro, you got this. Simp responsibly.
LeetGuy42: You’re definitely getting that extra breakfast tomorrow!
RuneMaster5000: Next mission: harem.
As Thomas settled into his room, he couldn’t help but think about how different this world was from what he had imagined. Between fighting adventurers, talking to strange beastfolk, and being trolled by his viewers, his journey was taking unexpected turns every single day.
He stretched out on the surprisingly comfortable bed, letting the chat simmer down for a bit. “Alright, guys. Tomorrow’s a new day. Time to get some sleep... and maybe figure out what the hell is really going on with this place.”
With that, Thomas drifted off, knowing full well that the adventure was just getting started—and his chat, ever the chaotic entity, would be along for the ride.