004 -

Frustrated, his breath becomes short. But he still tries to calm his mind, looking for a way to solve his problem.

“Hey! Is there any way to cure the poison?”

[A small vial of Ether liquid is enough to cure you from this level of poison]

[A small vial of Ether Liquid = 55 gold coins]

[Your current balance = 0 gold coins]

“Wooo! It's much more expensive than the portal scroll. You're deliberately selling it in a higher price just because I need it?”

[Prices are determined based on need and item availability. This is the basic law of economics. Just complete the quest, then you will have the gold coins to buy items.]

“You damn capitalist! Can’t you just give me one for now? I’ll pay you later!”

[We do not accept that type of transaction]

“Come on, Jimmy! Use your brain! Think! Think!”

“I should have…”

“Hold on! Wait!”

“Hey! Show me that quest again!”

The system shows him the details of the quest.

After reading it carefully, for whatever stupid thing coming to his mind, he points the gun at his own head, looking so ready to commit a suicide.

“God, please! Don’t hate me! I really don’t have any other choice!”

The hands are shaking in fear. The trigger feels so heavy for him to pull at the moment.

In fact, there is nothing left for him in this world anymore. He knows there is no family who will cry for his death. Except...

“Erick!”

Yes, he still has a little brother. He has made a promise that he will collect so much money that they won't have to stay as freeloaders in their aunt's house.

His facial expression drastically changes, showing so much determination.

And then…

Bang!!! He ultimately pulls the trigger of the handgun.

Jimmy drops lifelessly, with blood flowing freely on the floor. A few moments later, his dead body shimmers with some blue light, and then disintegrates into the thin air.

But then…

Srrrnnnk!!!

[Congratulations!]

[You’ve unlocked an achievement]

He is back inside the portal circle, lying on the ground unconsciously.

Soon, he wakes up in aghast. He is gulping, due to the nightmare he just experienced. But then, he suddenly screams excitedly.

“Just as I thought! The quest gives me a condition that the count will be reset if I die! Which means, it will bring me back if I die here!”

A moment later, his attention is attracted by the warning which has been alerting him for a while.

[Congratulations!]

[You’ve unlocked an achievement - learning how to live in Icalaterra the hard way]

-You’ve just received 500 gold coins as a reward.

-Your level and experience are reset back to the ground state after death.

Jimmy holds his forehead with a disbelieving face.

“Achievement?”

[!]

[Would you like to make a purchase with your first earned gold coins?]

The system then displays one window consisting of so many items, complete with price information.

“Wait! I only need to get home,” he mutters as he touches the portal scroll icon.

Ten gold coins are deducted from his balance. He rushes back to the portal circle, and confirms the intention to access that portal.

The two portal scrolls appear and turn into a blue hologram. Jimmy’s body is also shimmering for a moment before completely disappears from that place.

The next moment he can see his surroundings, he finds himself standing inside the wrecked bus.

“Oh, I’m back!”

“Hold on! Everyone? Where’s everyone?”

The place looks so deserted, making Jimmy so confused. At least, some police lines are still there around the scene.

“Oh, they must have been taken back to Summerfield!”

His hometown, Summerfield, is still about four hours away by car, while Drada can probably be reached in one hour on foot.

So he decides to go back to Drada, keeps walking on the street while occasionally asking for a ride to any passing car. But no one gives him a ride.

An hour later, he finds a food shop named Miller's Delicacy on the side of the road at the border of Drada city. And indeed, he is already so tired, thirsty, and hungry.

He rummages through his pockets, but finds nothing except two pieces of coin.

“My money? Ah shit! I threw all my money in that cave.”

He then looks inside the shop through the glass wall, only to makes sure they sell a bottled mineral drink. But some people mistake him as homeless begging for food.

“Hey, look!”

“Could be beggar!”

“He looks so weak, must be hungry for not eating anything for days.”

One of the customers raises her hand, calling for the shop owner. Jimmy still doesn’t realize his situation, while that one customer is now complaining about his annoying presence.

And a few moments later…

Plak!!!

A girl slaps Jimmy’s head with a small towel from behind. “If you want to get some charity, look somewhere else. I’m doing business here!”

“No! I only want to buy a bottle of mineral drink. You see, this is all I have,” explains Jimmy as he shows the two pennies in his hand.

The girl scrunches her face. “This is not a convenient store! Don’t act stupid with me! I knew you were just a homeless beggar. Trying to fool me, heh?

Jimmy finds the girl look pretty, exactly his type. But the way she treats him is really annoying. Feeling so uncomfortable, Jimmy ultimately walks away.

“Daamn! It’s not like I’m expecting any charity from her.”

He tries to check the store section in that strange system again. At least, he is quite relieved to find out he still can access it. Unfortunately, there is absolutely no food or drinks there.

“Hold on! Is there a way for me to withdraw the gold coins I’ve earned?”

[!]

[Would you like to make a withdrawal in the currency used by this country?]

“Eeeh? I really can do it, huh? Yes, please! Can I take out a few dollars?”

[!]

[The exchange rate today is $893.64 for one gold coin]

[Please adjust how much gold coins you want to exchange]

Jimmy is stunned by the exchange rate. His eyes are now filled with dollar symbols, and his brain immediately makes the calculations.

Currently, he has 490 gold coins in his balance. That means, based on his quick calculation using his not too smart brain…

“Holy shiiiit! I'm rich!”