Reset After Solo Clear: Shadow Master Rebirth

Return to the Beginner City

"WOOO! I GOT AN IRON SWORD! MY FIRST ONE EVER!"

That was the shout that greeted Nox the moment he passed through the city gates. It was not a cheer celebrating his return, but the excited cry of a new player jumping up and down while proudly waving an ordinary iron sword in the air.

Nox paused briefly at the gate, staring at the bustling city before him. This was not how he had imagined returning to civilization after everything that had happened.

His clothes were torn in several places, clear remnants of his battle against nine PK players. His HP had only recovered halfway despite spending the night resting on Erebus's back. His inventory was a mess, with all the loot he had collected jumbled together because he had not had the time to sort it. Worst of all, his coin balance was almost nonexistent.

He stepped into the city, walking along the main street filled with a commotion he had not experienced in a long time.

"Hey, anyone want to party for a beginner dungeon? We need one more healer!" a player shouted near the bulletin board, his voice filled with enthusiasm that had yet to be worn down by exhaustion.

"WHAT THE HELL IS THIS? WHY DOES MY SKILL KEEP HITTING MY OWN TEAMMATES?!" another player screamed in frustration nearby, while the teammate who had been hit by the stray attack could only laugh as he rubbed his virtual chest.

Nox slowly passed through the crowd, his eyes catching another player standing in front of a stall, staring in confusion at the price he had set himself.

"Is this too cheap? I guess I'll sell it for five coins. As long as it sells," the player muttered, unaware that the item in his hand could actually be sold for ten times that price in a busier market.

Not far away, another player stood confused in front of his own skill menu, repeatedly trying to activate something without success.

"Why won't this skill come out?" he grumbled in frustration, pressing the same button over and over. "It says it's already level five. It should work."

Another player passing by patted him on the shoulder.

"That skill requires a specific weapon type, bro. You're using a staff, not a sword."

"Oh, that's why."

The player fell silent for a moment, his face turning red with embarrassment.

Nox observed everything with a blank expression. There was no smile or quiet laugh, only a gaze that absorbed every detail without much reaction.

You look strange, Erebus murmured softly, only loud enough for Nox to hear.

"Strange how?"

Like you're thinking about something far away.

Nox did not answer immediately. His eyes were still following the player who had shouted excitedly earlier, now proudly showing his new iron sword to his friends as though it were the most valuable treasure in the world.

"I used to be like that too, even an ordinary item could make me happy for an entire day."

And now?

"Now it feels like that was a very long time ago, it's not just about time. It feels like distance."

He did not dwell on it for long. A second or two was enough. The memory passed just as quickly as it came. There was no point lingering in nostalgia when his stomach was growling and his clothes were still in tatters.

An equipment shop stood at the end of the main street, its sign gleaming with the large words Blacksmith Hoggart, while various armors and weapons were neatly displayed in the windows.

Nox stepped inside, greeting the shopkeeper with a brief nod before scanning the rows of armor on display.

"Bronze Chainmail, decent for increasing defense."

He opened his financial status menu.

[Coins: 12]

Nox stared at the number for a long moment, then looked back at the chainmail in front of him.

[Price: 850 Coins]

"Twelve," he repeated quietly, his voice flat. "Twelve coins."

That's not even enough to buy the cheapest pair of leather gloves here, Erebus muttered from within his shadow, sounding like he was struggling not to laugh.

"I just killed a dungeon boss by myself last night, and now I can't even afford decent low-level armor."

The shopkeeper glanced at him, perhaps wondering why the player in front of him had been standing there for so long, staring at a single item without buying it.

"Need help picking out some armor?"

"No," Nox replied, shaking his head slowly. "I'm just recalculating my priorities in life."

The shopkeeper frowned in confusion but decided not to ask any further questions.

"If I may make a suggestion, there's some ordinary cloth armor on the back shelf. It's much cheaper. Not as good as chainmail, but it'll do for now."

Nox glanced toward the shelf the shopkeeper had pointed to and found a worn cloth robe priced at ten coins.

"Ten coins," he muttered, staring at the remaining balance on his status screen.

He took the robe, paid with nearly all his remaining coins, and put it on over his torn clothes.

Nox stepped out of the shop empty-handed, staring at the city streets that were still bustling with the noisy activity of new players who were currently far more fortunate than he was when it came to money.

What's the plan now? Erebus asked.

"Find a way to make money before I starve to death because I can't afford food."

You could sell some of the loot from last night's dungeon. I saw several rare items you haven't sorted yet, Erebus suggested.

"Right," Nox said, stopping for a moment as he opened his still-disorganized inventory. "If I sell everything at once, I might have enough to buy decent armor."

Or at least enough to eat dinner tonight, Erebus added, once again sounding like he was struggling not to laugh.

"Stop reminding me," Nox grumbled, though the corner of his lips lifted slightly, almost forming the faintest smile he had not shown in a long time.

He continued down the street, leaving the equipment shop behind and carrying with him a new lesson the system had never taught him through any notification, that great power did not always come with a thick wallet.