Volume 1 Chapter 16: The Shifting Value of a Coin
Morning sunlight bathed the Town of Beginnings in a warm golden glow, but the peaceful appearance was deceptive.
The town was in turmoil.
Players rushed through the streets carrying newly purchased weapons and armor. Merchants shouted over one another, trying to attract customers before prices changed again. Groups of adventurers gathered in circles, discussing rumors and theories about the hidden dungeon that had been cleared earlier that day.
Everywhere Rio and Ryota looked, there was tension.
"Hidden dungeon cleared already?!"
"We need better gear!"
"Buy now before prices go up again!"
"The market's gone crazy!"
The entire town felt like it was moving faster than normal.
Ryota slowed his pace slightly as he watched the chaos around them. A group of players rushed past carrying freshly purchased equipment while another crowd argued over weapon prices at a nearby stall.
He frowned.
"Something feels different."
Rio continued walking without slowing down.
"It is."
Her voice remained calm.
"It's because of us."
Ryota blinked.
"Us?"
Rio nodded.
"We cleared the hidden dungeon. The moment the announcement went public, everything changed."
She gestured toward the busy streets.
"People aren't just playing anymore. They're competing."
Understanding slowly appeared on Ryota's face.
The effects of their actions were already spreading through the game.
Players who had been taking their time were now rushing to improve their equipment. Merchants were raising prices. Guilds were beginning to mobilize.
A single dungeon clear had created a chain reaction.
The two continued through the crowded streets until they reached a familiar weapon stall.
The merchant stood behind a worn wooden counter displaying simple beginner equipment. Rio stepped forward immediately.
"I need your best musket."
The merchant nodded and disappeared briefly behind a shelf before returning with a standard bronze musket.
Rio took the weapon and carefully inspected it.
The balance was acceptable.
The barrel alignment was decent.
The firing mechanism worked smoothly.
Nothing special.
Exactly what she expected.
Satisfied, she placed a single copper coin onto the counter.
The merchant accepted it immediately.
Too quickly.
Ryota noticed.
"That was fast."
Rio nodded.
"Good."
The merchant hesitated.
Then he cleared his throat.
"That'll be seven copper coins."
Rio froze.
Very slowly, she turned toward him.
"What did you say?"
The merchant avoided eye contact.
"The market rate has increased."
Rio stared at him.
"The same musket was worth one copper coin yesterday."
"Yes."
"And now it's worth seven?"
The merchant swallowed.
"Yes."
Silence settled over the stall.
Ryota immediately sensed danger.
"Rio..."
But she was already speaking.
"Seven copper coins."
Her voice was calm.
Far too calm.
"You are charging seven times the original price."
The merchant tried to defend himself.
"With the dungeon clear, demand has increased—"
Rio's hand slammed against the counter.
The wood cracked.
Nearby players jumped and turned toward the noise.
The merchant nearly stumbled backward.
"Demand does not magically create value."
Her eyes remained fixed on him.
"Raising the price by seven hundred percent because players are desperate is not business."
The merchant opened his mouth.
Rio cut him off.
"It's exploitation."
Ryota quickly placed a hand on her arm.
Not to stop her.
Just to ground her.
"Rio."
She didn't look away from the merchant.
"Seven copper coins for the same item does not suddenly make it worth seven copper coins."
Her voice remained controlled.
But sharp enough to cut.
"People like this make the game worse."
Ryota tightened his grip slightly.
"We'll find another way."
A few seconds passed.
Then Rio exhaled.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Finally she stepped away from the counter.
"Fine."
She turned toward the street.
"We're going to the auction hall."
The merchant visibly relaxed.
Rio ignored him.
As they walked away, Ryota glanced sideways at her.
The crowd continued moving around them, but the tension surrounding Rio hadn't completely disappeared.
"You're still mad."
His tone wasn't teasing.
Just honest.
Rio remained silent for several seconds.
Then she answered.
"Yes."
Ryota nodded.
"Yeah. I figured."
The two continued walking.
After a short while, Ryota spoke again.
"You know..."
Rio glanced at him.
"What?"
"You don't actually look angry anymore."
Rio raised an eyebrow.
"I am still angry."
"I know."
A small grin appeared on his face.
"But you're not yelling."
Rio looked forward again.
"Yelling wouldn't solve anything."
Ryota chuckled.
"That sounds like you."
She gave him a brief look.
"What does that mean?"
He shrugged.
"You're usually the one who thinks before doing something."
A pause.
"Mostly."
Rio snorted softly.
"And you're usually the one who acts before thinking."
Ryota immediately nodded.
"Absolutely."
For the first time since leaving the weapon stall, Rio's expression softened.
"Good thing we're a team."
Rio's steps paused for only a moment.
Then she continued walking.
"Yes."
Her voice was quieter.
"It is."
Neither said anything else.
But Ryota walked a little closer beside her.
Soon the auction hall came into view.
The building looked considerably less crowded than normal.
The emergency maintenance caused by the boulder incident had delayed the main auction event by four days.
A floating notification remained near the entrance.
MAIN AUCTION DELAYED — 4 DAYS
Ryota scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
"Yeah..."
His gaze drifted away.
"We definitely caused that."
Rio ignored the comment.
She simply entered the building.
Inside, the atmosphere was completely different from the chaos outside.
Players moved carefully between display platforms and auction counters. Merchants negotiated quietly. Potential buyers inspected merchandise while calculating values in their heads.
Everything felt controlled.
Measured.
Then a new item appeared on one of the displays.
Rio immediately noticed it.
So did Ryota.
Bronze Flintlock Musket Crafting Scroll.
Ryota leaned forward.
"That's it."
Rio nodded.
"Yes."
"We're getting it."
"Yes."
The auctioneer stepped forward.
"Starting bid. Eight copper coins."
Immediately bidding began.
"Eight."
"Nine."
"Ten."
Rio stepped forward.
"Eleven."
The room fell quiet.
Several players exchanged looks.
Eleven copper coins was a fair price.
Not excessive.
Not cheap.
Nobody wanted to push higher.
The auctioneer waited.
"Going once."
Silence.
"Going twice."
Still nothing.
"Sold."
The scroll became theirs.
Ryota let out a relieved breath.
"That was easier than expected."
Rio nodded.
"Fortunately."
Then they checked their remaining funds.
Both froze.
They had exactly one copper coin each.
Ryota stared at his inventory.
"That's..."
He paused.
"Not good."
Rio agreed.
"We need more money."
"Then we sell something."
The answer was obvious.
Both opened their inventories.
Rio immediately located the magical pendant they had found inside the treasure room.
Ryota saw it too.
"That's probably our best option."
Rio nodded.
"We sell it."
Neither hesitated.
The pendant had no immediate use for them.
Money was more valuable.
A few minutes later they approached another merchant.
Rio placed the pendant on the counter.
"We'd like to sell this."
The merchant carefully examined the jewelry.
His expression shifted.
Rio immediately noticed.
"What is it worth?"
The merchant looked up.
"Eight copper coins."
Both players blinked.
Ryota looked surprised.
"Wait."
Rio narrowed her eyes.
"That pendant was previously worth two copper coins."
The merchant shrugged.
"The market changed."
Ryota laughed softly.
"Looks like everything got expensive."
Rio sighed.
"Apparently."
The sale was completed.
Four copper coins each.
Not a fortune.
But enough to continue progressing.
As they left the market, Ryota glanced at his inventory.
"What are you spending yours on?"
Rio asked.
Ryota immediately answered.
"Upgrading Iron Steve."
Rio stared at him.
"You're still calling that sword Iron Steve?"
"Of course."
"It is a sword."
"And its name is Iron Steve."
"Why?"
Ryota shrugged.
"It feels right."
Rio decided she no longer wanted answers.
Without her noticing, Ryota quietly opened another menu.
A hidden exchange window appeared.
EXCHANGE COMPLETE
4 Copper Coins → 4000 Yen
He closed the interface immediately.
No reaction.
No comment.
Just a quiet decision.
As they continued walking through town, exhaustion finally began catching up to them.
Rio adjusted her bag and let out a tired sigh.
"I'm getting tired."
Ryota nodded.
"Yeah. Me too."
"We've been playing almost all day."
"Feels like it."
Rio glanced toward him.
"We should log out."
Ryota looked around.
The sun was still shining.
"Now?"
"Yes."
He pointed upward.
"It's literally daytime."
Rio stared at him.
Then realization crossed her face.
"You forgot."
"Forgot what?"
"The time ratio."
Ryota blinked.
Rio explained.
"One day inside Evermount equals four hours in the real world."
Silence.
Then—
"What?"
Rio nodded.
"It's currently around eleven at night."
Ryota's eyes widened.
"That's insane."
"Yes."
Time moved differently inside Evermount.
It was one of the game's most famous features.
After another moment, Ryota nodded.
"Yeah."
He stretched.
"We should definitely log out."
Rio agreed.
A few moments later they activated the logout command.
The world dissolved into light.
Evermount disappeared.
And reality returned.
Ryota opened his eyes and stretched immediately.
Every muscle complained.
"That was a long session."
Nearby, Rio stood up from her chair.
"Yeah."
She yawned.
"I'm exhausted."
Then she pointed toward the bathroom.
"But first."
A grin appeared.
"I'm taking a long shower."
She walked toward her closet, grabbed fresh clothes and a towel, then turned toward Ryota.
Her eyes narrowed.
"Don't you dare peek."
Ryota immediately raised both hands.
"I wasn't planning to."
"Good."
With that, Rio disappeared into the bathroom.
A few moments later, the sound of running water echoed through the house.
Ryota remained lying on the bed.
For several minutes.
Then he quietly stood up.
Careful not to make noise, he left the room and descended the stairs.
The house was calm.
Warm.
Comfortable.
Downstairs, Rio's mother sat at the dining table.
She looked up when she noticed him.
"Ryota?"
He stopped and bowed respectfully.
"Good evening."
She smiled.
"Where's Rio?"
"Taking a shower."
"I see."
A gentle silence followed.
Then she tilted her head.
"What brings you downstairs?"
Ryota hesitated.
Then reached into his pocket.
He carefully placed the money on the table.
Four thousand yen.
Rio's mother blinked.
"What is this?"
Ryota looked slightly embarrassed.
"It's the money I earned today."
She stared at the bills.
Then at him.
"Ryota..."
He quickly shook his head.
"Please don't tell Rio."
Her expression softened.
"It's just..."
He looked away.
"I wanted to help."
The room grew quiet.
Rio's mother studied him carefully.
Then she smiled.
A genuine smile.
"You're a good child."
Ryota immediately shook his head.
"No."
"I'm just trying to help."
Her smile only grew warmer.
"I'm glad my daughter has someone like you beside her."
Ryota didn't know how to answer that.
Eventually he simply nodded.
Rio's mother accepted the money.
"I won't tell her."
Then she added softly,
"Thank you."
Upstairs, water continued running behind the bathroom door.
Downstairs, the conversation ended.
Yet the warmth remained.
As Ryota returned toward the stairs, he realized something.
For the first time since entering Evermount, it no longer felt like he was simply playing a game.
The world inside the game mattered.
The people around him mattered.
And the small choices he made mattered too.
Whether it was helping Rio during a battle, protecting her inside a dungeon, or quietly leaving money for her family without expecting anything in return—
Those things felt real.
As he climbed the stairs and headed back to the room, a small smile appeared on his face.
Somewhere along the way, he had stopped treating Evermount like a game.
Without realizing it, he had started building a life within it.