The academy district never really slept early.
Even after the sun had disappeared completely, the streets around Lemuria Academy stayed alive. Lanterns glowed softly above the narrow lanes, food stalls sent clouds of fragrant steam into the cool night air, and small groups of students wandered along the paths, laughing and talking in easy voices.
Aaron had spent a while staring at his status panel in the quiet of his dorm room. Yet the longer he looked at the numbers, the more he felt the need to do something useful with the materials sitting in his inventory. The Stoneback Bear plates and cores would not stay valuable forever. For a beginner, turning monster parts into coins was one of the quickest ways to get stronger.
So he left the dormitory and headed for the Hunter's Night Market.
The market sat only three streets away, tucked close to the inner city wall. By the time Aaron arrived, the place was already packed. Lanterns swung gently overhead, casting warm light across stone roads lined with wooden stalls. Merchants called out their wares while hunters in worn leather armor laughed loudly around outdoor tables, swapping stories from their latest runs. The air smelled of roasted meat, hot oil, and the faint metallic tang of freshly worked weapons.
Aaron moved slowly through the crowd, taking it all in. This was his first real visit to a place like this since he had arrived in this world. The original owner of his body had never had enough coins to shop here.
He stopped in front of a larger shop with a solid wooden sign above the door.
Iron Mountain Trading House
Unlike the noisy street stalls, this place looked more serious. Inside, shelves stood neatly arranged with monster materials, armor pieces, and weapon parts. A middle-aged man with a thick beard and powerful arms waited behind the counter. His build suggested he had once hunted for a living.
The man glanced up as Aaron stepped inside.
"Young hunter?"
Aaron gave a small nod.
"I have some materials to sell."
The shopkeeper crossed his arms.
"Show me."
Aaron opened his inventory with a thought. A soft flicker of light appeared as four Stoneback Bear armor plates materialized on the counter.
The shopkeeper's eyebrows rose noticeably.
"Stoneback Bear plates?" He picked up one piece and turned it slowly under the lantern light. The surface was thick, heavy, and carried a faint gray sheen. After a moment he whistled low. "Clean work. These are good quality."
He set the plate down and looked at Aaron more closely.
"You cut these yourself?"
Aaron kept his expression neutral.
"Does it matter?"
The shopkeeper chuckled.
"Fair point." He examined the rest of the plates carefully, then tapped the counter. "I can offer three thousand copper coins each."
Aaron raised an eyebrow.
"That seems low."
The shopkeeper smirked.
"You know the market price already?"
Aaron did not, yet he had learned enough from the day to understand that bargaining was part of the game.
"Four thousand five hundred," he said calmly.
The shopkeeper laughed outright.
"You drive a hard bargain for someone your age."
Aaron stayed quiet.
The man scratched his beard, then sighed.
"Four thousand each. Final offer."
"Deal."
The shopkeeper pulled out a small device and completed the transfer. A soft beep sounded.
Sixteen thousand copper coins received.
Aaron placed the two low-grade monster cores on the counter next.
The man inspected them quickly.
"Two thousand each."
Aaron nodded.
"Done."
Another beep.
Four thousand copper coins received.
Then the system chimed inside his head.
Ding.
[Twenty thousand copper coins received.]
[100× amplification triggered.]
[Final amount: 2,000,000 copper coins.]
Aaron felt a quiet rush of satisfaction. Yet he kept his face calm as the shopkeeper leaned back.
"You did well today, kid."
Aaron smiled faintly.
"Something like that."
As he turned to leave, the shopkeeper spoke again.
"You are from Lemurian Academy, right?"
Aaron paused at the door.
"Yes."
The man scratched his beard thoughtfully.
"Then let me give you a small tip. Two days from now the academy tournament registration opens. The prize pool is better than usual this year. Top three get equipment straight from the city armory. Rumor says the champion might even receive a rare weapon blueprint."
Aaron's interest sharpened.
"I will keep that in mind."
He stepped back into the lively night market street. The cool air brushed against his face. He had barely gone a few steps when Rei appeared from a side alley, carrying two skewers of grilled meat still sizzling from the fire.
"Brother Aaron!"
Aaron looked surprised.
"You were here too?"
Rei grinned and handed him one skewer.
"I live nearby, remember?" He took a big bite from his own and spoke around it. "So… did you sell the materials?"
Aaron nodded.
"Yeah."
Rei swallowed.
"How much?"
Aaron answered simply.
"Twenty thousand."
Rei froze mid-bite. The skewer almost slipped from his fingers.
"Twenty thousand?" He stared at Aaron like he had grown another head. "Brother Aaron… I suddenly feel like following you into the wilderness every single day from now on."
Aaron laughed softly.
"That might be dangerous."
Rei shook his head immediately.
"No way. With you around it is profitable."
Aaron could not help smiling.
For the first time since he had arrived in this world, life was starting to feel genuinely entertaining.
He took a bite of the warm meat and looked toward the distant city wall, where the night sky met the massive steel barrier.
Somewhere beyond that wall the wilderness waited.
And Aaron was already thinking about the next hunt.