"Show me inventory spaces in the shop," Will ordered.
[understood]
A translucent blue interface materialized in front of him. A new tab unfolded with an item labeled "System Inventory." The listed price made Will's eyebrow twitch.
[1,000 shop points per cubic meter.]
He had one free purchase every month, anything the shop contained, according to the system itself.
So why should he waste that on a finite space?
He grinned.
"I want infinite inventory."
A faint, irritated clicking sound echoed in his consciousness.
[tch… You are perceptive.
Another item popped into the interface.
[Infinite System Inventory – 1 Zillion Shop Points]
Will smirked. "Initiate free purchase."
[understood, infinite inventory added to system functions]
The moment the purchase completed, knowledge of the inventory's functions flowed seamlessly into his mind.
Infinite space, perfect preservation, timeless storage, no decay, no aging, and no living beings allowed. It was understandable, or he would've abused it beyond measure.
He glanced at the old storage ring in his hand. It wasn't needed anymore, but he wore it anyway, both as a memento and as a cover. No one would believe a boy with no ring when he used his inventory.
Next, he rummaged through the chest and pulled out a sword technique manual used by knights of House Draconia.
[trash tier]
"Will you ever shut up?" he muttered, tossing the manual into his infinite inventory.
Only one item remained in the chest—a small bracelet attached to a faded note.
We found this on you when we discovered you in the middle of the forest near the borders.
Will stared at the bracelet, turning it in his hand.
Its material was smooth and warm. Perhaps it was tied to his origins, maybe even his true parents, his birth, or the mysterious reason he was thrown into this universe.
But Will's heart didn't waver thinking about things beyond him.
If his birth parents abandoned him, then he owed them nothing, and if that was not the case, he would think about them in the future if he felt the need to do so.
Without hesitation, he tossed the bracelet into his inventory and shut the empty chest once and for all.
He headed to the kitchen next, sweeping herbs, spices, dried meat, and anything remotely edible into his inventory. He also packed furniture, tools, and hunting gear.
By the time he finished, the house that had once been lively and warm was nearly barren.
The convenience of infinite storage was intoxicating.
Still, he paused at the doorway, taking in the empty home. This place had given him peace, love, and a childhood he never expected to have. A sanctuary that guarded him from his cruel past.
He whispered softly, "I'll return… when I find peace."
But peace was far from reach for now.
With a steady breath, Will stepped outside and headed for the village market.
His first stop was the village lord's residence. He informed the man that he had no family left and planned to live with Kaiser's distant relatives in the neighboring village.
The lord nodded, pretending to show sympathy, while his greedy eyes glimmered like a starving wolf.
Will needed smaller currency, so he exchanged two gold coins for two hundred silver coins. The village lord accepted with suspicious eagerness.
Will sensed the man's excitement and malice but remained silent. He left without looking back.
Next, Will visited the village tailor—one of the few kind-hearted people in Oak Village. He purchased several sets of good clothes and bid the old man farewell.
They exchanged a few sincere words before Will moved on.
He spent the next hour roaming the market, buying boots, dried food, flint, rope, and various supplies. By the time he finished, he had transformed from a village boy into a prepared traveler.
Will knew from the moment he left the village lord's residence that the greedy man had sent his men to the only route exiting the village, probably to loot him and even kill him for money and the old knight's inheritance.
Earlier he didn't have a choice but to go to him to convert gold to silver since gold won't be accepted by anyone in this region due to them not having change at all and also to not be hindered in other towns where crime was sky-high.
Will opened the map of the region in front of him and marked his next destination as Operatown in the west, the one where the protagonist lives.
The distance was approximately 500 miles (804.67 km) away. He needed a carriage or a horse and multiple stop points to reach there.
He, for instance, needed to stop at Redstone Town for rest and for finding a carriage or caravan to Opera Town, which would take him 4 days on foot if he followed the official route.
Will decided to not take that direction since he trusted his instincts and was sure the village chief's men would rob him. He drew a straight line passing through the forest, a shortcut he could cover in 3 days.
***
The first day passed without major incidents, until a goblin stumbled into his path. A goblin wasn't a demon but a monster, and due to the superior strength of the natives, the monsters were almost extinct on the continent, leaving only a few weak ones in forest areas just like this goblin.
Will immediately ducked behind a large tree root, steadying his breath. Goblins traveled in groups, but this one seemed alone. He waited until it wandered into range.
Thwip!
His arrow flew straight toward the goblin's face. It struck, causing the creature to stagger and roar. But Will didn't give it a chance to recover. He appeared behind it in a blur, stabbing repeatedly until the goblin collapsed lifelessly.
Only then did he exhale.
He didn't sit. Didn't rest. Instead, he sprinted forward.
The goblin's shriek had been loud, far too loud. Other monsters could have heard. And the blood splattered on him? A beacon for beasts with sharp noses.
Desperate, Will rubbed soft mud, crushed herbs, and leaves over his skin and clothes, masking the scent. It worked enough for now, but he knew this method wouldn't save him forever.
After nearly thirty minutes of running, a cave entered his view. Dark and silent, its entrance is wide enough to swallow three grown men.
He hesitated.
Caves often housed magical beasts, dangerous ones. But this one was unnervingly quiet. No footprints. No blood trails. No bones.
[It might be a giant anaconda that swallows its prey whole.]
Will's face twitched. "Shouldn't they live in swamps?"
[…]
The system refused to answer. Not helpful.
Will decided to test the cave. He nocked an arrow and fired it inside.
Snap.
The sound echoed eerily within the cave.
He crouched behind a bush, waiting.
Seconds stretched into minutes.
Nothing moved.
The silence wrapped around him like a suffocating blanket.