Noct walked in as the door opened, in a hurry so he wouldn't miss the chance.
DING!
"Welcome, sir," the cashier said from the counter.
It was a convenience store, and the only reason Noct was in such a rush was because of today's 30% discount. He couldn't miss this chance—he had to save as much as possible.
He ignored the cashier and thought, For a perfect body, I need food full of nutrients. People nowadays mostly ate junk—that's why they couldn't get a perfect body even if they tried. But for Noct, who only ate bread, butter, eggs, and sometimes a few vegetables, it was even harder.
He murmured while strolling, As far as my knowledge goes, I'm like a newborn when it comes to this stuff.
He had never thought about nutrients in his past life. Back then, he could barely survive—he didn't have time for such things. So how could he know about something he never cared about?
A grin formed on his face. He had already found a solution to his lack of knowledge.
But from this body's memories… I can figure out what I need.
As always, the memories were useful.
He recalled that the best things for nutrients were—
He picked up a pack and read the label. "Protein XL100…"
Protein shakes were one of them.
"WHAT!? The fu—!"
After seeing the price, his eyes almost popped out, barely holding themselves in place.
There was no way he could afford this kind of luxury.
"I can't buy this…" he muttered, putting it back.
He was broke. Completely broke.
The only money he had was what Noct had saved for studying abroad—and even that wasn't enough to sustain something this expensive.
But I need it… or all the training will be for nothing.
He continued strolling. That was true—just like yin without yang, training without proper nutrients was incomplete. Focusing on one while ignoring the other was pointless.
"Wait… I could do that." An idea struck him—homemade protein shakes.
He remembered seeing them before.
"Yeah… that could work. It's at least affordable… and compared to those overpriced shakes, it's my best option."
But this… would turn out to be his second big mistake of the day.
He quickly bought a bunch of vegetables, some cheap meat, eggs, and a few fish. Grabbing everything he needed, he went to check out.
While billing, the cashier looked at him with the utmost pity one could have.
What the hell… it's just groceries. Don't look at me like that, he thought, feeling like he was being attacked.
The cashier handed him a bottle of milk. "Here, kiddo… eat well," he said, almost on the verge of tears.
That works for me… BUT FUCK THIS BODY!!
He grabbed everything and rushed home.
---
As soon as he arrived, he collapsed onto his old, uncomfortable bed.
Yet… it felt like heaven.
What could you expect from someone who used to sleep on stone slabs? With this exhaustion, even this felt like paradise.
Within moments, he fell into a deep slumber.
"Wake up… wake up… WAKE UP!"
He jolted awake, the noise dragging him out of his paradise.
The first thing he saw wasn't blood, fights, or corpses—
It was a beautiful face.
Yeah… his master's face.
"Jeez, it's already 8:30 and you're still sleeping. How are you supposed to become a great exorcist like this when you can't even wake up on your own?" she said, clearly enjoying teasing him, a bright smile on her face.
Look who's talking, he murmured, about to say someone who sleeps like a cat with no tomorrow.
(Sleeping like a cat—not just deep sleep, but her curled-up position.)
"Did you say something?" she asked, still smiling warmly.
But Noct stayed silent.
He didn't want to hurt the person who cared about him—even by mistake.
"No… it's nothing. Just talking to myself," he said, getting up from the bed.
"Go brush your teeth and come for breakfast," she said as she left the room.
"I'm coming… just give me a moment," Noct replied.
He quickly brushed, took a fast shower, got dressed, and sat at the table in no time.
His gaze fell on the food.
The usual. Bread and butter. Nothing special.
She sat down, a hint of disappointment on her face.
"Sorry for this… we can only afford this. You know our condition…" she said with an awkward laugh, hiding her sadness—her frustration at herself.
Noct didn't say anything. He just started eating.
The bread was hard, almost stale—it had been sitting on the shelf for days, close to expiring.
The butter had melted into an oily layer under the heat, with no proper storage.
Yet… he didn't complain; he ate silently, because in his past life—even this… was a luxury.
After a while, only one word left his mouth—and it was the furthest thing from a complaint. With a faint smile, he said, "What are you talking about? This is delicious."
Even those words were only half true. The food wasn't that good… but he said it only to comfort her.
Her sadness faded instantly. "Really? Then I promise, once our conditions are stable, I'll treat you to a fea—"
"Stop right there!" Noct cut her off. "Because I'll be the one treating you to a grand meal in the future, Master—and that's a promise. No… not just one meal. We'll eat like that every day."
A faint grin appeared on his face. He had just found another reason to grow stronger in this life—something beyond revenge.
She smiled… and a tear fell from her eye. "You really have changed."
He really has changed, she thought. This past month… he doesn't act like before. No complaints, no whining… it's like he's a completely different person.
But… he felt more dependable now, and somehow… that felt good.
Noct looked at her, his thoughts turning cold. Really… that scum had someone like her by his side… and never appreciated it?
Instead, that bastard cried over everything he didn't have.
Pathetic. Truly pathetic.
People never value what they already have… they only envy what they lack.
A flawed world… but it doesn't matter.
If the path is filled with danger and thorns—then I'll carve my own way through it.
As soon as she finished eating, she stood up. "Oh! Look at the time—I'm off to work. Take care of the house," she said, heading toward the door.
Noct waved with a bright smile. "Take care of yourself… and come home safely."
The door closed—CLICK. Silence. And then—
A dark, twisted grin spread across his face, filled with excitement.
"Time to level up… this pathetic body."