Chapter 9 : Spending Without System Consent
Nolan stood outside the Yamaha showroom.
The glass walls were bright even at night, with colorful bikes lined up inside like toys in a store window. Spotlights shone on each model, making the paint gleam—red, blue, black, and silver.
The floor was polished so clean it reflected the bikes above it. Posters of riders leaning into sharp turns covered the walls, and a few salesmen in blue shirts moved between the vehicles, talking to customers.
Nolan checked his phone. 9:02 PM.
A sign on the door said Closing at 9:30 PM.
He took a breath and walked in.
A salesman approached immediately. Young guy, maybe mid-twenties, with a practiced smile. "Welcome to Yamaha. Looking for something specific?"
Nolan looked around. His eyes landed on a sleek black bike near the center. It looked aggressive. Powerful. Nothing like the old bicycles he had ridden as a kid.
"That one," Nolan said, pointing.
The salesman's eyebrows rose slightly. "The R15? Nice choice. Sports model. Great for beginners and experienced riders both." He glanced at Nolan's clothes—decent but not expensive. "Price is 9.2K, on road."
Nolan nodded. "I'll take it."
The salesman blinked. "Sir, would you like a test ride first? Or maybe discuss financing options—"
"No test ride. No financing." Nolan pulled out the black card. "I'll pay full amount now."
The salesman stared at the card. Then at Nolan. Then back at the card.
"Right this way, sir."
Inside, Nolan's heart pounded. 'This is it. I'm actually doing this. Spending almost ten thousand dollars on a bike. What if the system punishes me? What if the money disappears? What if—'
He pushed the thoughts away.
'Too late now.'
The paperwork took fifteen minutes. The salesman moved fast, typing, printing, explaining each document quickly. Nolan signed where he was told.
"Total comes to 9,500 with insurance and taxes," the salesman said.
Nolan swiped the card. The machine beeped. Approved.
The salesman grinned. "Congratulations, sir. The bike is yours."
Nolan felt lightheaded. 'I just bought a bike. for myself'
"One more thing," the salesman added. "Number plate. Normal one takes a week. But if you pay 1,000 extra, we can get it done fast. Ready in two days."
Nolan didn't hesitate. "Do it."
Another swipe. Another beep.
Current Balance: $4,500.
Ten minutes later, Nolan sat on his new bike, helmet strapped on, engine humming beneath him.
He rode slowly through the streets, feeling the wind against his jacket. The city lights blurred past. His thoughts raced faster than the bike.
'No system message yet. No penalty. But also no reward. Did I mess up? Is it waiting to punish me later?'
He reached his dorm building, parked the bike, and locked it carefully. He stared at it for a full minute.
'Mine. It's actually mine.'
He took the helmet and walked inside.
The dorm room was small and messy. Clothes on the floor. Empty ramen cups on the desk. And Ethan—his roommate—sprawled on his bed, phone in hand.
Ethan looked up. His eyes landed on the helmet.
A wide grin spread across his face.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Ethan sat up. "Bro! What's with the helmet? Did you win a lottery or something? Or wait—" He gasped dramatically. "Did Lila dumping you unlock some secret millionaire mode?"
Nolan almost laughed. Ethan was like this. Always joking. Never serious. It used to annoy him, but right now, it felt... normal. Comfortable.
"Something like that," Nolan said.
He tossed his phone and bike keys onto the desk. The phone landed with a heavy thunk. The keys jingled.
Ethan's eyes went wide. His mouth fell open.
"WHAT THE—"
He jumped off the bed and grabbed the phone.
"iPhone 17 Pro Max? BRO!" He turned it over in his hands. "This is the new one! The one that costs like two grand!" Then he grabbed the keys. "And YAMAHA?!"
He stared at Nolan like he had grown a second head.
"Nolan. Nolan, bro. What the hell happened? Did you rob a bank? Do you have a rich uncle? Since when do we have a rich uncle?"
He paused, then his face twisted into something between horror and fascination.
"Wait. Wait wait wait." He leaned closer, squinting at Nolan. "Don't tell me... Did some rich, fat, ugly woman fall for you? Like, REALLY ugly? Like, face so ugly it could stop a clock ugly? Did you become someone's sugar baby? Is that what happened? Do you have a sugar mommy now?"
He gasped dramatically.
"Oh my god. You DO have a sugar mommy. That's why you're not sad about Lila! You traded up! Well, traded sideways? Down? I don't know the direction but you definitely traded SOMETHING."
He pointed at Nolan's chest.
"Tell me the truth, bro. How old is she? Fifty? Sixty? Does she have more chins than a Chinese phone book? Does she smell like mothballs and regret?"
Nolan stared at him.
Ethan kept going.
"I'm not judging! Okay, I'm judging a little. But also I'm impressed. That takes commitment. That takes sacrifice. That takes a strong stomach, bro. A STRONG stomach."
He grabbed Nolan's shoulders.
"You're a hero. A tragic, beautiful hero. Now tell me EVERYTHING. How much does she pay you per month? Do you have to call her 'mommy'? Does she make you wear a leash? I need details, Nolan. DETAILS."
Nolan grabbed the pillow next to him and threw it at Ethan's face.
"Shut up, idiot. There's no sugar mommy."
Ethan caught the pillow, still grinning. "Then explain the bike. Explain the phone. Explain EVERYTHING. Because the last time I checked, my broke roommate couldn't afford instant noodles two days ago."
Nolan opened his mouth. Closed it. Opened it again.
Nothing came out.
'What CAN I say? Hey Ethan, I got struck by lightning and now a magical system gives me money and shows me how much people like me?'
"Yeah, that's what I thought," Ethan said, crossing his arms. "Sugar mommy. Definitely sugar mommy. Come on, bro, just admit it. Does she have a pool? Can I come swim?"
Nolan grabbed the other pillow.
Ethan dodged, laughing. "Okay, okay! I'll stop! For now." He pointed at Nolan. "But this conversation isn't over. NOT over."
He flopped back onto his bed, still chuckling.
Nolan shook his head, but a small smile stayed on his face.
Then he looked at the ceiling.
The system. It still hasn't said anything. No penalty. No reward. Just... nothing.
His smile faded slightly.
'I spent almost ten thousand dollars. Without permission. Without a quest. What if that was stupid? What if the system gets angry? What if it takes everything back?'
The bike is still outside. The money hasn't disappeared.
He waited.
Five minutes.
Ten.
Nothing.
Okay. So... no penalty?
He let out a slow breath.
Lucky. Really lucky.
Then another thought hit him.
But also no reward. If I had waited for a quest, maybe I would have gotten something. Maybe double the money back. Or stats. Or something.
He stared at the ceiling.
So... no penalty is good. But no reward feels like a missed chance.
He sighed.
'At least now I know that I can spend money as I wish,' he thought.
His eyes grew heavy.
'I'll figure out the system later. For now... this is enough.'
Sleep came fast. And for the first time in years, it was peaceful.
***
Morning sunlight hit Nolan's face.
He stirred. Blinked. Rubbed his eyes.
For a moment, he just lay there, staring at the familiar crack in the ceiling.
'I slept well,' he realized. Really well.
He thought back.
Yesterday.
Just yesterday.
Lightning. The hospital. The system. The kid. Stats. The canteen. Lila at the restaurant. Yuna. The bike showroom.
He glanced at the keys on the table.
Picking them up, he looked closely at the logo.
'So it wasn't a dream after all.'
He let out a long breath and smiled.
Then—
[DING!]
The system flashed in front of his eyes.
Nolan's heart stopped.
'Oh no. This is it. The penalty.'
[Host spent money without system consent.]
[Tracking process...]
[Tracking complete.]
Nolan's blood turned cold.
His hands trembled. He gripped the keys tighter.
'No. No, no, no. There IS a penalty. I knew it. I KNEW it.'
His mind raced.
'Will it punish me? Will it—'
[Hidden Quest Detected.]
[Quest: Spend money without fear of losing it.]
[Status: COMPLETED.]
Nolan blinked.
'Wait. What?'
'A Hidden Quest?'
[Reward: Commercial Building - Grayport City, Central District.]
[Property: Vellmar Tower.]
His eyes widened.
"The whole building…?"
He blinked again, rereading the message.
"Not a flat… but a whole fucking building?"