Chapter 3 - Shopping

[Do you want to sell the creature 'Urban Mouse' to the merchant?]

Looking at the rat in his hands and at the message next to the squeaky little creature, Kaito was completely confused by what was happening to him, reading that message, his mind still couldn't understand the meaning of it. He has never received such a screen on his weblink before and could hardly believe that what he was seeing was real. Still, his eyes widened in surprise, as his body got tenser and his mind wondered if it was really a dream or not. With one of his hands, he reached the button and unconsciously touched YES, realizing that the floating window was not just an illusion, as the mouse in his hand suddenly shattered into golden particles. With a strange sound in his ears, another window popped up.

[You have received 10 bronze coins from the merchant.]

[Do you want to open the merchant's shop?]

Inside his chest, Kaito's heart started beating faster as his breathing quickly got deeper. And even after blinking his eyes and rubbing his hands over his face, the message was hanging there, floating in front of his face. With a surprised look on his face, his eyes glowed, not believing what he was reading.

"This is crazy." He said aloud.

Even without knowing what to do or how to react to this strange situation.

"It's just like in the game," he said while staring at the floating message mid-air. The text and everything in the interface was precisely like the ones from selling items on the markets of Mortal Tower.

"But that's impossible, isn't it?" Kaito wonders.

Kaito felt a shiver run down his spine, as he couldn't explain what was happening after he opened his eyes. But deep inside his chest, he could feel that something huge happened to him while he was unconscious.

After pressing, the [YES] button, this time to open the merchant shop. At the same time, his stomach rumbles, as if a big hole is consuming him. A shiny new window appears in front of his eyes, and with this mixture of curiosity, fear, and nostalgia, he was not knowing how to react. The window displays two lists of items for sale, divided into two sections. The section on the left is for seasonal items, and there is a 72-hour countdown to loading, but what caught his attention was the section next to it, a long list of normal items.

His eyes quickly scanned the options, that range from fruit and bread to more elaborate items. The temptation to satisfy his hunger was almost irresistible, but to the left, among the seasonal items, one of them caught his attention.

"Beginner's manual? If I'm not mistaken, that was an item that was only available in the first few days in Mortal Tower." he said out loud.

[Item: Beginner's Handbook

Description: A comprehensive guide for the newly awakened as they seek to understand and master their new skills. This is exclusive content with valuable tips for beginners in this new world and a limited edition available for 72 hours only].

Reading the word 'newly awakened', Kaito's eyes widen again and things finally begin to make sense. However, some things still don't add up, like the fact that Kaito never had Lethargic Encephalitis to become an Awakened - or was he infected and didn't realize it?

Kaito had been feeling more tired than usual in the last few days, but he thought that was because he was working hard to earn extra credits at the end of the month, not because he might be infected. Besides, even if Kaito was lucky enough to contract Encephalitis Lethargy, he was always sure that he would be the last person on Earth to succeed in becoming an Awakened, after all, less than 1% of the infected were so lucky. There was no way he could be one of those lucky ones, right?

Of course, when you realistically consider the whole dystopian setting of his apartment, as well as his brutal physical transformation, and now an extremely Death Tower-like magic shop in front of him, you cannot deny that the adjective "newly awakened" does not sound as absurd as it should.

Kaito is fascinated by the manual in the seasonal shop. This item seems to be exactly what he needs right now. He knows he needs to get answers to better understand what is going on around him, and the idea of getting all the guidance from a simple book quickly becomes tempting.

After a few seconds, he pressed the buy button and another window popped up.

"Oh! it's also like in the shop." he said out loud.

[You have spent 5 bronze coins.]

[You have received a Beginner's Guide.]

Suddenly, the manual appears in his hands, with a worn cover and yellowed pages, the size of a small children's bedtime storybook. Kaito turns the first page of the book expectantly, and there is only one small word written on a blank page.

"Hello." He listens as the written word echoes in his mind like a voice.

Then other words begin to form.

"If you are reading this manual, it is because you are part of a select group of individuals who have acquired special abilities. I am your guide, and this manual will help you understand and master your new abilities. First, allow me to clear up any doubts you may have about your role as a "newly awakened.

When Kaito heard the word "newly awakened" directed at him, he unintentionally dropped the book on the floor. He had a suspicion, but to have it confirmed is still a surprise.

"Each Awakened individual has unique abilities, and so they are divided into classes that serve to separate the Awakened into categories, such as warriors, mages, and others." The mysterious voice continues. "By the way, your class is Villain."

"Villain, huh?" He said, looking at his left hand, which no longer has even a remnant of the chubby hand it once was. "Now things are starting to fall into place."

"Through this manual, you will learn to explore and hone your abilities to meet the challenges that will come your way. As you progress through this manual, you will find valuable information on how to control your abilities. You will also learn how the threats that exist can affect your destiny and vice versa. Be aware that time is of the essence. The manual is only available for 72 hours, so use it wisely. Dedicate yourself to reading and learning as it will help you unravel the mysteries of this awakened universe and find your place in it.