The next day ,the morning sun poured through the window like liquid gold, scattering across polished counters and newly repaired walls. For a brief, blissful moment, Ethan thought he was dreaming.
Then the system spoke.
[Commencing automatic reconstruction of Domain: "Shop of Creations."]
[Warning: Please vacate the area. System recommends safe distance of ten meters.]
Ethan blinked. "Wait, what"
The floor rumbled beneath his feet.
A surge of light erupted from the golden orb at the center of the room, expanding outward like a tidal wave. Every corner of the shop shone with blinding radiance. The old shelves shimmered, the wooden walls reshaped themselves, and even the cracked windows began to mend, their surfaces reforming into flawless crystal panes.
The door slammed open as he stumbled outside, shielding his eyes.
"What the hell, System?! You could've given me more than a one-second warning!"
[Correction: You were informed 0.8 seconds before activation.]
"Not helping!"
The light intensified. The entire building pulsed once, twice, and then silence.
A cool breeze drifted past. Dust settled slowly to the ground. When Ethan finally dared to open his eyes, his jaw dropped.
The once weathered old shop was gone.
In its place stood a structure straight out of a fantasy dream tall glass windows framed in black-gold alloy, smooth stone walls inlaid with faintly glowing sigils, and a sleek, arched doorway crowned by a floating sign that read:
"Shop of Creations"
(Property of Ethan Raphael)
The letters shimmered with soft silver light, glowing faintly even under the morning sun.
Ethan stood frozen. "Did… did I just time travel into luxury real estate?"
[Correction: Domain Reconstruction complete. New aesthetic based on Host's subconscious design preferences.]
"…Subconscious? I don't remember wanting something this expensive-looking!"
[Observation: Host's suppressed vanity has influenced design output.]
He groaned. "I swear, you're learning sarcasm from me."
The door creaked open automatically as if welcoming him home. Inside, the air was fresh charged with mana yet calm, like the silence before rain. Warm light floated from embedded crystals in the ceiling, and polished obsidian floors reflected his figure perfectly.
Golden veins pulsed faintly beneath the glass-like floor, leading toward the counter at the center now larger, reinforced, and etched with complex runes that hummed softly when he approached.
The walls were lined with symmetrical shelves made of smooth blackwood and white-gold trim. Each item rested on its own pedestal, encased in faint translucent barriers of energy. Tags floated beside them neat, luminous, and organized by Rank.
Ethan's mouth fell open as he read the categories:
> F-Rank Creations — Basic Utility and Tools
E-Rank Creations — Enchanted Objects and Equipment
D-Rank Creations — Proto-Artifacts and Specialized Gear
At the very top, a single, empty pedestal shimmered faintly — marked:
> C-Rank and Above — Locked
[System Notice: All prior creations have been catalogued, refined, and arranged for public sale.]
Ethan blinked, eyes flicking across the room.
"Wait, my old junk made it in here?"
[Correction: 'Junk' successfully upgraded through Material Optimization Process.]
"…You're flexing now, huh?"
[Statement: Affirmative.]
He sighed but couldn't help the grin tugging at his lips. "Alright then, show me what we've got."
One by one, holographic cards appeared beside each displayed item glowing softly as the system introduced them.
Name: Luna's Whisper Broom
Rank: F+
Description: A self-propelling cleaning implement infused with minor wind mana. Can sweep, dust, and polish autonomously for six hours before requiring mana recharge. Rumored to hum softly while working.
Price: 3 Silver Coins
Ethan chuckled. "You actually displayed that? It was my first test creation!"
[Statement: All beginnings deserve recognition.]
"...Okay, that was almost wholesome."
Name: Crystal-Flame Lantern
Rank: E-
Description: A durable light source that produces both illumination and warmth. Automatically adjusts brightness based on ambient light. Can double as a heat source for small cooking purposes.
Price: 12 Silver Coins
"Now that's practical," Ethan mused. "People would actually buy that."
[Affirmative. Demand for survival and travel equipment is high among mid-tier adventurers.]
"Smart."
Name: Silverthread Cloak
Rank: E
Description: Woven with reinforced mana fibers, this cloak provides mild resistance to elemental attacks. Self-cleaning and temperature adaptive. Also looks stylish.
Price: 45 Silver Coins
Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Temperature adaptive? I didn't even code that!"
[Explanation: System's optimization added features based on available materials.]
He smirked. "I take full credit anyway."
Name: Essence Purifier (Compact)
Rank: D-
Description: A small refining device capable of purifying beast cores, removing impurities, and stabilizing energy signatures. Reduces instability rate by 40%.
Price: 3 Gold Coins
Now his grin widened. "This one's a game changer. Hunters and guilds will line up for this."
[Affirmative. Predicted sales probability: 92%.]
"Music to my ears."
Name: Arcane Whetstone
Rank: D
Description: Sharpens weapons on a molecular level. Each use restores edge durability and slightly increases cutting efficiency through mana flow synchronization.
Price: 5 Gold Coins
Ethan's eyes gleamed. "Oh yeah… this'll fund my next upgrade."
As he walked through the aisles, admiring each creation, pride quietly filled his chest. Every item glowed faintly, a piece of his imagination now tangible living proof that he was no longer helpless.
"This… this actually looks like a real store."
[Correction: It is a real store. Estimated market readiness: 100%.]
He laughed softly. "You really outdid yourself, System."
[Statement: The System only reflects the Host's potential.]
"…Okay, that was actually smooth."
He reached the counter again, still overwhelmed. "So, what now? Wait for customers?"
[Affirmative. Shop is now linked to the City Commerce Grid. Sales can occur both physically and through digital auction systems.]
"Digital? You mean… people can buy stuff remotely?"
[Affirmative. All transactions are processed through the Creation Network. Host's profits will be directly converted to either local currency or Creation Points upon request.]
He blinked. "You basically made me a magical online store owner."
[Affirmative. Host now qualifies for the title "Creator Merchant."]
"Do I get perks with that?"
[Passive effect: +5% sales rate due to improved charisma perception.]
Ethan burst out laughing. "You're telling me my charisma increases when I sell things?!"
[Affirmative. Studies indicate customers prefer confident creators.]
"Guess I'm officially a handsome merchant now."
[Observation: Ego level rising 13%.]
He chuckled. "I can live with that."
He leaned back against the counter, exhaling softly. The air still shimmered faintly with lingering reconstruction energy. The whole place looked brand-new, like a treasure vault from a celestial empire.
And that's when it hit him what if his sister had seen this?
A bead of sweat rolled down his temple. "Oh, hell no…"
He pictured her bursting into the street during the transformation the glowing light, the shaking ground, and the shop morphing like something from a myth.
She would've demanded answers he couldn't possibly give. "I'd have had to fake an entire team of architects and mages."
Ethan rubbed his temples. "Good thing she's out visiting Aunt Lyra… I dodged a mana-charged bullet there."
Still, he sighed in relief. In Aeris City, rapid-construction arrays and mana-builders weren't completely unheard of the rich used them for rebuilding estates and fortresses within hours. As long as he kept things subtle, people would just assume he had hired a top-grade formation specialist.
"Fast construction's pretty normal here anyway," he muttered to himself. "I can get away with it… maybe."
[Statement: Host is learning the art of plausible deniability.]
Ethan grinned. "Survival skill number one: never get caught being special."
A soft chime echoed through the room again.
[Shop of Creations — Status: Fully Operational.]
[Main Mission: "First Transaction" — Sell one item to an external buyer.]
Reward: 100 Creation Points + 1 Roulette Token (Limited Use)
[Hidden Mission Discovered: "The First Fifty."]
Objective: Sell to 50 unique customers.
Reward: Shop Level Up (→ Level 2), Mystery Reward ×2, Unlock New System Function.
Ethan blinked, eyes widening. "Wait, a hidden mission? You're actually giving me those now?"
[Affirmative. Hidden Missions are designed to reward consistent growth and enterprise-level success.]
He chuckled, a spark of excitement flaring in his chest. "Leveling up the shop, huh? Guess it's time to prove I'm not just lucky."
He looked around the gleaming store one more time the floating labels, the humming energy, the walls alive with his mana signature.
"Alright," he whispered, eyes bright. "Let's make it official. From today… this place starts our future."
The system hummed softly, almost approvingly.
[Affirmation: Let's sell greatness, Creator.]
Ethan smiled faintly, feeling the pulse of the golden orb synchronize with his heartbeat.
The Shop of Creations had awoken.
Now, it was time to open its doors to the world.