The morning light slanted through the wooden shutters of the inn room, golden beams spearing the dust-filled air. Kaito blinked against the brightness, his mind still half-anchored in dreams of printer jams and ramen vending machines.
Then reality settled in again—this wasn't Tokyo. This was Draymoor, a quaint medieval town in a fantasy world. And he wasn't an office worker anymore. He was… what, exactly?
Merchant? App-wielding anomaly? Glorified delivery boy with a magical Amazon Prime?
He sat up slowly in the lumpy bed, the straw-filled mattress crinkling beneath him. A faint stiffness lingered in his limbs from yesterday's events—being mugged, surviving his first magical battle, and blowing a goblin's face off with a lighter. A normal Tuesday, really.
"Still alive. No Wi-Fi. No morning meetings. Not the worst trade I've made," he muttered, rubbing sleep from his eyes.
His eyes fell on the phone resting on the rickety nightstand beside the bed. Or, more accurately, the magical pseudo-phone that hosted the Modern Mart app.
He picked it up and tapped the screen. It flickered to life with a soft glow, despite there being no electricity in this world. The UI remained crisp, colorful, and alarmingly familiar. A new tab sparkled in the corner:
DAILY DEALS – MAGICAL CLEARANCE SALE!
Tactical Flashlight – 70% Off
Energy Bars (Box of 12) – 2-for-1
Waterproof Camping Tent – 50% Off
Inflatable Dummy – Buy 1 Get 1 Free
Electric Bug Zapper Racket – Shockingly Effective!
Kaito stared at the screen. "Inflatable dummy? What am I supposed to do with that—prank goblins?"
Still, the energy bars were tempting. His breakfast options so far had been dry bread and lukewarm ale. He tapped to order the bars and the flashlight. A glowing ring appeared above the phone, and a small package blinked into reality on the bed beside him.
He inspected the contents. The energy bars were high-protein, wrapped in foil, and covered in branding that promised "Extreme Chocolate Crunch!" The flashlight was compact, heavy, and built like it could survive a dragon's temper tantrum.
Satisfied, he scarfed down a bar, ignoring the mild chalky texture. "Better than elf bread or whatever they eat around here."
After dressing and slinging his newly acquired backpack over his shoulder, Kaito made his way downstairs. The innkeeper, a portly man named Grens, waved at him from behind the counter.
"Off early, mister merchant?" he asked, polishing a mug with a suspiciously oily rag.
"Yeah. Thought I'd browse the market again. Maybe sell a few odds and ends." Kaito smiled politely.
"Careful on the eastern road. Bandits've been getting bold again," Grens said, jerking his thumb toward the window. "Some adventurers went out yesterday. Didn't all come back."
Kaito's brow lifted slightly. Bandits. Of course there were bandits. "Thanks for the warning."
Grens nodded. "If you're really serious about trade, you might want to visit the Guild. They assign protection or trade routes for a fee."
He considered that. Protection sounded nice. But fees… not so much.
After a brief stop to check his coin pouch (still depressingly light), Kaito headed to the Draymoor marketplace. The cobbled streets were already alive with noise—stall owners shouting deals, children running between carts, the aroma of baked goods and spices wafting in the air.
He found an empty spot near the edge of the square and dropped his pack. Time for some experimental capitalism.
Kaito pulled out a few items: a flashlight, a couple energy bars, a sealed pack of playing cards, and—just for laughs—one of the inflatable dummies. He activated the pump and watched the dummy expand into the vague shape of a human wearing a printed suit and tie.
"Looks like my manager," he muttered.
A few townsfolk gathered, curious. One child pointed at the flashlight.
"What's that? A magic torch?"
Kaito flicked it on and aimed the powerful beam at the wall of a nearby building. Gasps erupted.
"Is it enchanted?" someone asked.
"Better. It's battery-powered." He grinned.
Within an hour, he'd traded the flashlight for a full basket of dried meat, spices, and a pair of enchanted gloves that supposedly "reduce fatigue." The cards and dummy netted him a pouch of silver from a traveling noble who claimed it would make a great party prank.
Profit achieved.
Just as Kaito was packing up, a voice cut through the crowd.
"You! The one selling strange relics."
He turned and saw a man approaching—tall, armored, and scowling. A badge shaped like a sword-and-scale glinted on his chest.
"Guild enforcer," someone whispered.
Kaito offered his most harmless smile. "Morning. Can I help you?"
The enforcer frowned. "Word is you've been selling unidentified magical goods without registry approval. That's a breach of commercial law in Draymoor."
Kaito blinked. "Unidentified? I'm not selling cursed swords or potions. It's just… stuff."
"Stuff that glows. Stuff that's clearly not from this world. Where did you get these things?"
He debated lying but decided against it. "They're summoned from a unique merchant skill."
The enforcer's eyes narrowed. "Summoning relics is a class-exclusive privilege. You'd better prove that."
"Sure. Watch."
Kaito pulled out the phone and summoned another energy bar. With a faint pop and flash, it appeared in his hand.
The enforcer's stern expression faltered. "That… actually might check out."
Kaito offered him the bar. "Chocolate crunch? No poison, I swear."
The man took it with a grunt, examined the wrapper, and finally sighed. "You're lucky. Still, if you're going to keep selling, register with the Guild. They'll want to classify your 'relics' and ensure they're not disruptive."
"Disruptive how?"
The enforcer turned away. "Last guy who summoned a 'relic' accidentally brought over a toaster that burned down half a village."
"…Noted."
With the situation defused, Kaito decided to head toward the Adventurer's Guild, just in case. The road there took him past the eastern gate—the same direction the bandits had been spotted.
His fingers hovered over the Modern Mart app.
"Time to shop smart."
He tapped into the Defense category.
Recommended for Field Safety:
Pepper Spray (Military Grade)
Self-Defense Baton
Foldable Riot Shield
Drone with Surveillance Camera
Tactical Sunglasses (Polarized)
He smirked. "Modern Mart, never change."
By the time he reached the Guild hall, he had the drone in his bag, a can of pepper spray on his belt, and was wearing the tactical sunglasses like a protagonist in a cop show.
The receptionist looked up, startled. "Can I… help you?"
"Yeah," Kaito said, adjusting the sunglasses. "Name's Kaito. I want to register as a merchant. And maybe look into hiring a bodyguard."
The receptionist eyed his gear. "What kind of merchant are you exactly?"
He flashed his best deadpan smirk. "The kind that sells the future."