The Extra Who Stole the Hero's System

My jaw must have been hanging open. Three thousand gold coins. For nuts. Luminous, completely oblivious to my internal shock, was already happily munching on his expensive snack, his face a picture of pure joy.

I, Alex Miller, who used to budget for groceries and fret over utility bills, was now witnessing a child casually spend enough money to feed a small village for a month, all for a handful of glorified almonds. The sheer, unthinking wealth of these noble children was staggering, almost obscene. It was a stark, almost painful reminder of the gap between my old life and this new one.

"Come on, Kai!" Luminous called, his mouth full. "Evelina’s items won’t find themselves!"

I shook my head, trying to clear the lingering disbelief. Right. Evelina’s shopping list. Enchanted Grimoire, Mana Focus Band, Knight’s Trial Elixir. Each item sounded like it belonged in a high-tier fantasy game, not a shopping trip. This was going to be interesting.

We left the nut vendor, Luminous still happily munching, and went deeper into the bustling Central Market. The air here was a vibrant mix of sounds and smells: the shouts of vendors, the murmur of crowds, the clatter of carts, the scent of exotic spices, roasted meats.

Our first stop, according to Evelina’s detailed instructions, was the ’House of Mages,’ a renowned magically-inclined bookshop tucked away in a quieter, more academic-looking section of the market. The shop itself was narrow and tall, its shelves crammed with ancient-looking tomes, scrolls, and glowing crystals.

"An Enchanted Grimoire, you say?" The shopkeeper, an old man with spectacles perched on his nose and a permanent ink stain on his finger, peered at us over a towering stack of books. "For the young miss’s Academy preparations, I presume?"

"Indeed!" Luminous piped up, ever eager. "The one that casts mock spells!"

The shopkeeper nodded, a knowing glint in his eye. "Ah, a fine choice. We have a few models. The latest, the ’Apprentice’s Cast,’ is quite popular. It adapts to the user’s mana refinement for personalized training." He produced a small, leather-bound book from a hidden compartment. It floated gently above his palm, a faint, internal glow emanating from its pages.

I examined it closely. The craftsmanship was exquisite, the magic subtle but undeniable. This world was truly steeped in mana. I remembered the Thunder Clap, the mana-infused strike that had knocked me out. This was the same energy, just applied differently. My Intelligence stat, at 18, allowed me to instinctively grasp the underlying principles, even if I couldn’t wield it myself.