"Old man, breakfast is ready. Don't keep the food waiting."

'I didn't get much sleep on the past few days... I was overthinking some things and got excited.'

It's been 3 days since I've been regressed. And all I did was lay down in bed, focusing on the recovery of my beaten-up body. 'I have wasted a lot of time idling...'

'Those thugs... If I see them again, I'll beat them up until they are crippled.'

"..."

After we finished our breakfast, I washed the dishes and helped old Vincent in his shop.

He's a brilliant blacksmith, all of his creations are quality, ranging from E- to D-rank grade. But due to a conflict that happened years ago, Old Vince shop is not doing well.

Adrian looked around the vicinity of the shop but found that no one was approaching the shop.

'There are no customers again. It's because of that stupid old best friend of the old man. Adrian sighed at the thought.

'That baron's pettiness is on a whole lot of level.'

Adrian approaches Vincent with a bright smile on his face.

"Old man, I think that there will be no customers again. And I'm thinking of heading to town to earn a bit of money, pick a job something like that..."

"Adrian, don't tell me you want to enlist in the church of light's selection."

"You still thinking about being a hero? I thought that hero syndrome of yours was already gone. tsk... I guess I was wrong."

'hero... I'm tired of being a hero.'

Adrian bit his lips and tried his best not to show the bitter expression on his face. "No, I just want to earn a little. It's my birthday tomorrow and I was thinking of earning a little bit so we can eat delicious food, It's a special day."

"NO! You are really one hell of a stubborn kid."

"You just got beaten up again by those thugs, and you still wanted to go to the town square!" Vincent roughly hammered the iron as if he was showing that he was really against the idea of Adrian going to the town square.

"Please grandpa Vince... I will just be gone by Three hours. No, Five hours."

"I said No! if you need want money, I will give you money."

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

"No need to wander around. And it's very dangerous, I heard that the battle against demons in the city of Delia had just finished yesterday."

"Half a day of walking... that's how close the city of Delia is to us. And maybe some stray demons from the battle are just outside of the town."

"What if some stray demons from the battle, attack the market square?..."

"I know gramps, I promise you that I will be very careful. I promise."

"Please Grandpa, you know how stubborn I am. I will not stop until I get what I want."

"..."

After some moments of contemplating, a sigh of resignation can be heard from Vincent. "You and your dad are both very much alike. Both are stubborn bastards."

"Go now, Before I change my mind be sure to come back on the afternoon."

After picking up my bag made of cloth I bade farewell to the old man.

The town of Hora is divided into 3 districts the lower district where the old man and I lived, the town square where all sorts of shops and businesses can be seen and the upper district where the semi-rich people live. Also, people who's ranks are E+ to D can also be seen living there.

.....

Lost in my thoughts, I have unknowingly arrived at the town square. All sorts of noises can be heard from the background.

From people who sell foods to monster parts and adventurers who are looking for party members to raid a dungeon or go for a hunt.

My purpose in coming here is to purchase a jade. But in my current state even if I sell all of old man's work and multiply it by twenty, I will still lack the necessary funds to purchase a jade of a low quality.

'If I remember it correctly, a jade of a low quality probably cost 150-200 gold. I can buy a small plot of land and start a farm on that amount of gold."

'Now I'm missing the days when I don't have to think about the cost because I can just buy anything I want no matter how expensive it is.'

'I was filthy rich on the original timeline. I can fill a whole tub of high-quality Mana crystals and it's not even a quarter of my wealth.'

100 bronze coins are equivalent to 1 silver coin,

100 silver coins are equivalent to 1 gold coin, 10 gold coins are equivalent to a low-grade Mana crystal, 100 gold is equivalent to a medium-grade one, and 500-1000 gold is equivalent to a high-quality Mana crystal depending on its size.

'I need to find an alternative... A jade crystal might be useful for temporary use, It might take my Mana and Mana quality to E+.'

'Jade crystals contain a tiny percent of jade, so I think that It can be an effective alternative for now.'

...

After half an hour of walking and inquiring on the prices of the jade crystals around the market, I found a small stall located at the eastern gate.

'This seems to be the last shop that has a jade crystal.'

"Hello, how much for the small jade crystal"

"1 silver."

"Can I haggle on the price?"

"It's the most cheap jade crystal that you can find here."

'She's not wrong, this is definitely the cheapest crystal out here.'

"Can you please reserve that crystal for me? I just lack a bit of coin, I promise to come back as soon as possible."

After I finished talking to the merchant lady, I decided to go home to borrow 48 bronze coins from the old man.

'Climbing up ranks is really hard, Apart from talent you also need an enormous amount of gold to fund your expenses onto the path of power.'

'I was really lucky in the first timeline. The church's pope of light has chosen me to undergo a sacred ceremony to permanently increase my talent and become one of their grand knights.'

'But I was very naive back then... my heroism syndrome made it easier for them to manipulate me.'

'When some members of 12 seats falsely accused me of colluding with the demons, the pope and the goddess that I served chose to banish me out of their church.'

'When the dog loses its value, the owner throws it away...'

As I was on my way to borrow coins from the old man, I saw the thugs that had beaten me up yesterday, picking on a girl about my age or older.

'tsk... typical bastard who bullies the weak.'

Staring at them Adrian's eyes widened as he thought of an Idea.

'Looks like the solution to my coin problem has appeared before me...' He clicked his tongue due to satisfaction 'Maybe my luck stat is taking effect.'

'Time to show my acting skills.'

I slowly walked on the sidewalk acting as if I was trying to avoid the trio.

"You bitch girl, we told you to bring 70 bronze coins today right? These are only 40, Do you want us to beat you up to a pulp?..."

The trio mercilessly kicked the girl while they mocked her.

'scums of society.'

"Ben, isn't that our lovely Adrian? Call that bastard to come here."

'They've taken the bait... it looks like I'd be hitting two birds with one stone.'

'Getting revenge and filling up my empty coin purse.'

I grinned a little as I was thinking of the ways to beat them up In order for them to give me all of their money.

'Now the roles have been switched.'

"Hey bastard, why are you standing there in a daze? come here the boss is calling you."

"Co- coming" I acted scared while I slowly walked closer to them, limping to make it seem that my injuries from yesterday were not healed yet."

'I'm coming darlings, your apothecary is here to give you guys your own taste of medicine.'