Chapter 7: Special Ability: Merge

"30 units of Spiritual Fire Ganoderma."

The staff took out a small ring, which made his heart turmoil.

Even though he initially had the urge to steal, he still maintained his sanity and asked.

"Storage ring?"

The staff gave a faint smile as this was natural to him.

"Sir, this is your first time buying rune raw material, so you don't know, but it is our policy to provide all these materials in a storage ring.

"Please, take it, sir."

Thickening his face, he took it with a faint smile while also clearing his confusion.

"How did you know that this is my first time buying?"

"These rune raw materials can't be exhibited in an open surrounding for too long, and I have spent ample days working here to know these basics."

Sam nodded and transferred the money from his popped-out panel since his wristband could access all his online legal documents and bank account.

"3,000 U.C. deducted from SBN account."

In this world, the government is too lenient toward students since there are many scholarships alongside a monthly allowance of 1,000 U.C. However, the minimum condition for getting a monthly allowance is the 10th class, but they can apply for a scholarship as long as they are eligible.

"Thanks for your hospitality."

"It's my pleasure, sir."

Stepping aside from there, he murmured to himself.

'No wonder they won the heart of every young boy!'

He had bought the basic raw material but had also spent 30 percent of his savings. Hardening his heart, he moved to another counter and bought the low-grade conveyer since his bank account didn't permit him to buy a high-grade conveyer.

The only difference between the different grades is that the quantity of cross teleportation of materials varies, though the distance remains the same for every grade.

'20,000 U.C. spent on a VR Chip, 3,000 U.C. spent on rune raw material, 5,000 U.C. spent on a low-grade conveyer.'

'28,000 U.C. diminished in a moment.'

Sam felt a pang of pain in his heart, as if every hard-bent saving of one year vanished without even touching it.

'Sigh! Maybe this is the life of every runic producer.'

Getting out of the Runic Merchant Association, he took a taxi and moved toward his destination: Gyan Bharati Hostel.

With the remaining 2,000 U.C., he set a goal to preserve this money since having at least a minimum amount would give him peace of mind.

Glancing at the crossing footpath and the public, he inadvertently thought about himself: How many would have had the opportunity to transmigrate? Would his news have shattered his parents? Will they be alright?

Unconsciously, Sam's eyes grew heavy, as if a drop of mist might fall anytime.

Taking a deep breath and drying up the mist, he slumped on the seat.

'Maybe I should focus on the future.'

"Sir, you have reached."

"Ok." Handing over the fare amount, Sam's footsteps raised toward the hostel.

This time, a lock was hanging on the teacher's room door. Shrugging his shoulders, he moved toward his room, and just a moment after entering, he locked the door.

His fingers unconsciously preened over his wristband, and the panel popped out.

Phone

Status

VR

With his throbbing heart, he clicked on the VR, and just before his eyes, a ray unfolded, covering his entire room in just a few moments.

Now, he stood before a rhythmic market with many figures with blurry faces moving from one stall to another.

'How magical.'

'No wonder everyone praises it.'

In his memory, he himself saw how the previous owner was obsessed with the VR chip, and that's why he had saved all his money.

"Truly lived up to its name."

This fascinated him as if he had entered a sci-fi world. Raising his footsteps, he moved, but a notification rang before his eyes.

"User is being scanned."

"Processing..."

"Done."

"Your user ID: sk7858."

Everything happened in an instant before vanishing before his sight.

'Is this to record me and my user ID to keep track of my data?'

Sam thought but threw it all to the back of his mind as he felt himself immersing in the VR.

As his footsteps halted at the first stall, the prices gave him a nightmare.

One Round Invigoration Rune: 100 U.C.

One Round Golden Rune: 100 U.C.

One Round Nourishing Rune: 50 U.C.

One Round Supplying Rune: 50 U.C.

His goal was to produce the One Round Invigoration Rune using his special ability: Merge, so he didn't have any issue bearing a loss. But for those who wanted to produce it, they had to rub their knees on the ground to even make a profit.

His thoughts weren't just sprouted: One unit contained 10 pieces, which meant he had 3,000 pieces of Spiritual Fire Ganoderma. To produce one One Round Invigoration Rune, he needed 6 pieces, which alone cost him 60 U.C., and labor cost and transportation costs were still entirely different matters to add.

'This fierce market!'

Sam prayed to Buddha for his competitors and his sight returned to his room.

Rubbing his palms, he hissed.

"Time to get serious."

First, he cleaned all the utilities that littered his study table and arranged numerous small boxes. Taking out the conveyer from the storage ring, he placed it on the study table.

Taking a deep breath, he took out 6 pieces of Spiritual Fire Ganoderma and urged the rune energy with his eyes closed.

Magically, he felt a gentle breeze covering his palm, making it lighter as if the Spiritual Fire Ganoderma had vanished from his palm.

And in the next moment, he found himself before his very special ability: Merge.