Restoration

Ambrose departed the dojo and continued towards Market Square. There, he bought ten steaming buns that cost 10 silver.

He found a bench on Market Square and took a seat there. He took out one of the steaming buns and ate it in silence.

[10 HP Restored!]

[HP: 39/40]

'I won't waste one steaming bun for 1 HP...' Ambrose thought and stored his steaming buns in his inventory. Whenever he ate one of the steaming buns, he felt like he was eating his money away.

It wasn't far-fetched. He, after all, lost money every time he lost HP, as keeping it near full was important since if he got ambushed, he might not have time to restore his HP.

Ambrose touched his hood and uncomfortably touched the left side of his face that lacked one ear.

'I would really want to fix that right now, but I don't know how. I better get going and reach level 4.' He stood up and headed out of the Market Square.

The Market Square was perhaps the busiest part of the entire city. NPCs acted like real humans, selling their wares to players and other NPCs. They were trying to work for their livelihood and not just work because the game's developer coded it to be.

Every street in Amaterasu had its own history. The city was breathing with life, and the people who lived there had their own stories, their own lives, and their own problems.

"What, it costs 100 silver to restore a limb? That sucks!" An angry-looking player stomped down the stairs and stomped towards Market Square.

Ambrose stopped walking and turned to the door where the angry-looking player came from. It was a door to the clinic.

'100 silver to restore a limb?' He touched the earless side of his face and looked towards the clinic. He walked up the stairs and entered the clinic.

It was a humble-looking clinic with a waiting room that had only three sofas and a small table. There was also the receptionist desk, where a lazy-looking woman sat behind it.

"Hello." Ambrose walked to the receptionist's desk and asked. "How much does it cost to restore an ear?"

"Hmm?" The lazy-looking receptionist raised her gaze from the desk. She saw a hooded figure with a pale and sickly face. "100 silver."

"Huh." Ambrose was surprised. "Is restoring an ear or limb of equal value?"

"Yeah." The receptionist replied lazily.

"Very well." Ambrose walked to the door and exited the clinic. He stood silently on the steps of the clinic and sighed. "I guess I have to go earn money."

...

The sky had gone dark, and a glowing crimson moon appeared in the sky. The stars flew across the sky as if they were racing against each other. It was a beautiful sight, making many players on the streets of Amaterasu exclaim.

At the Crow Forest, Ambrose was walking down a dirt path while munching on a steaming bun. He soon left the dark forest and entered a proper road, which led straight to Amaterasu.

He finished his business in Crow Forest.

He reached level 4 and, in his opinion, received enough items from animals and players alike to get his wealth over 100 silvers so he could restore his ear.

'It is quite late, but perhaps merchant stores are open till midnight.' Ambrose thought and picked up his pace.

He soon arrived at the entrance of Amaterasu and saw the familiar sight of players chasing after red-eyed bunnies on the wheat fields.

After entering Amaterasu, he rushed straight to Flarehead's merchant store.

The store looked closed with a dark interior, and there didn't seem to be anyone there.

Ambrose sighed and sat on the steps.

'Shit, I've got to wait for tomorrow, I guess.'

At that moment, the door behind him opened, and a long-bearded man with a lantern in his hand appeared in his sleeping gown.

"Hmm, it's you." Flarehead squinted his eyes and recognized the sickly-looking young man.

"Ah, sir." Ambrose stood up. "I suppose you have closed for tonight."

"Yes, are you here to sell items?"

Ambrose nodded.

"Then come in." Flarehead left the door open and walked inside. "I am not feeling sleepy anyway!"

"Oh!" Ambrose entered the store and closed the door behind him. "Thanks for this."

"It's not a problem." Flarehead placed the lantern on his desk and lit up the small area around him.

Ambrose walked to the desk, pulled out his items from the inventory, and placed them on the desk.

Flarehead took his monocle and put it over his right eye. "Two wooden swords, a wooden spear, linen cloth, and a wooden knife. 11 wild hog tusks and 3 white bird feathers."

Ambrose crossed his arms and wondered how much he could get.

"Two wooden swords, a wooden spear, and linen cloth are basic stuff, so my offer is 5 silvers for all of them. However, this wooden knife is self-made, increasing its price. I can buy it for 3 silvers.

"Then, with 11 wild hog tusks, I can give 15 silver for them. Lastly, white bird feathers are more rare than wild hog tusks. 15 silvers each."

'Wow, I didn't expect them to be that valuable, but they did also give a lot of XP.' Ambrose faced the white bird feathers in the forest. It wasn't a difficult fight, but they were fast and easily evaded him.

"In total, you get 45 silvers from these." Flarehead opened a drawer and took out a pouch, then filled it with silver coins. He then handed it over to Ambrose.

"Thanks." Ambrose accepted it with gratitude and added them instantly to his interface. 'My total wealth is now 105 silvers. When I go to restore my ear, I will be poor again. This sucks.'

He once again thanked Flarehead and then left the merchant store. He headed straight to the clinic.

After visiting the clinic, he planned to assign his stat points.

Soon, he reached the clinic, which was still open.

He entered and walked to the receptionist desk, where the lazy-looking woman was sleeping.

Ambrose gently knocked on the desk, but the woman didn't wake up. He then knocked harder, but nothing happened. She was snoring peacefully.

At that moment, a door opened from the side, and a woman came out of it. She was very beautiful, with a gentle expression and long black hair, which made her look lovely. She donned a traditional doctor's outfit, which was entirely white.

She saw the receptionist sleeping and gently shook her head.

"I am sorry about her." On her chest, there was a name sign that said "Dr. Amelia."

"It's alright." Ambrose said. He felt slightly nervous about being near such a beautiful woman. He had rarely met a person of the opposite gender outside his family, especially someone this attractive. "I am here for... restoration."

Dr. Amelia smiled and nodded. "Alright. Come in; I will see what I can do for you."

Ambrose nodded and followed behind her. They entered a room with different equipment belonging to the doctor, including a bed and a desk with two chairs.

"You may sit." She pointed at one of the chairs and sat on another.

Ambrose sat down. He looked around the room to get rid of his nervousness, but it barely worked as Dr. Amelia moved closer and said.

"Show me the injury, please." Her hot breath grazed his face.

Ambrose gulped and hesitantly removed the hood from his face, revealing his already sickly-looking face. He then turned his head and showed the earless side of his face. There was also the dried up blue blood, which he hadn't cleaned off.

"I see." Dr. Amelia walked to her desk, took out a bottle of gel, and returned to Ambrose. She popped open the cork, dipped her finger inside, and then smeared the gel across his earless part of the face.

Ambrose flinched as he felt coldness seep into his face and skull. It felt incredibly uncomfortable.

However, soon she was done and closed the bottle again. She looked at the ear and smiled.

A cluster of pixels appeared out of nowhere and drifted straight towards Ambrose. They slowly got stuck in the earless part of the face and began transforming into transparent ears. Once the transparency appeared, flesh began appearing out of nowhere.

Slowly, Ambrose started hearing sounds from his left side as well, and soon, the pixels disappeared again. He touched the side of his face and felt his ear again.

"That is magical..." He exclaimed and looked at the beautiful doctor. "Thank you! What was that gel?"

"Oh, this?" Dr. Amelia giggled and said. "It is Restoration Gel."

"Is it on sale?" Ambrose asked hesitantly.

"You may buy it, but it is quite expensive." Dr. Amelia said. "It costs 500 silvers."

'500!' Ambrose's eyebrow twitched, and he stood up. "Thank you. This costs 100 silvers, right?"

Dr. Amelia smiled with a nod.

Ambrose paid for it and bade farewell before again leaving the clinic.

He walked without his hood on, feeling the night air on his face. He felt much better than before, as he could also hear sounds coming from the left side.

'It is quite late already; better get going, but before then, time to assign my stats.' Ambrose found a bench to sit on and then crossed his legs.

He wondered what stats he needed.