A Bug In Fate

The next morning, Alden was enjoying his breakfast while a cup of freshly brewed black tea sat beside his plate.

He had already finished his usual morning routine.

Swordsmanship.

Movement training.

Muscle workouts.

Mana control.

After washing away the sweat with a refreshing bath, he finally felt relaxed enough to enjoy his meal.

Taking a sip of his tea, he spoke in his mind.

"Status."

A familiar blue screen appeared before his eyes.

Unlike before, however, the interface had become much cleaner after his breakthrough.

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STATUS

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Name : Alden Crowe

Race : Human

Title : A Bug

Realm : Intermediate Spark Realm

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ATTRIBUTES

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Strength : 641

Agility : 684

Stamina : 657

Intelligence : 732

Vitality : 669

Mana : 781

Luck : Unpredictable (???)

Charm : 450

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PHYSIQUE

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• Apex Evolution Body

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AFFINITIES

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• Void : D

• Ice : A-

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TECHNIQUES

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Movement

• Flash Step (Basic)

Sword

• Basic Swordsmanship

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SKILLS

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• Mana Sense

• Universal Comprehension

• Basic Poison Resistance

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Alden quietly looked over the screen while chewing another piece of meat.

A satisfied smile slowly appeared on his face.

"Not bad."

His progress over the past few weeks had been nothing short of absurd.

Compared to the day he had first awakened in this world...

He had become several times stronger.

Yet Alden wasn’t arrogant enough to think it was enough.

After all, the Intermediate Spark Realm was still considered weak in the grand scheme of things.

There was still a long way to go.

After finishing his breakfast, Alden left the V-Light Inn and stepped onto the bustling street.

He took a deep breath.

The morning air felt refreshing.

The city, however, was anything but peaceful.

The rumors from yesterday had already spread throughout Ravenfall.

People were talking about a cultivator in the Spark Realm who had beaten several guards in the Advanced Rupture Realm inside the city’s library.

Along with the story, another name had also surfaced.

The Baron Blackthorn Family.

Their young master had been publicly humiliated, making them the laughingstock of many taverns and tea houses.

Alden wasn’t surprised.

News traveled frighteningly fast in a city this size.

Especially when it involved a noble family.

He knew trouble would eventually come knocking on his door.

But...

He didn’t regret what he had done.

He had simply been reading a book.

If he started backing down over something as trivial as that, fearing every possible consequence...

Then he might as well lock himself inside a room and spend the next hundred years cultivating until no one dared offend him.

But by then...

Would he still be the same person?

Alden already knew the answer.

No.

Instead of heading to the Adventurers’ Guild, Alden wandered through the city.

He was fairly certain that walking into the guild right now would only make him the center of attention.

"Hehe... I’m a celebrity now."

A grin spread across his face.

Unfortunately...

Every coin had two sides.

Sure, he had become somewhat famous overnight.

Whether that fame would bring opportunities or endless trouble...

Only time would tell.

With nothing in particular to do, Alden continued strolling through the bustling streets.

He passed all kinds of shops.

Weapon stores.

Armor workshops.

Tailors.

Jewelry stores.

Every display was filled with eye-catching items, making it hard not to stop and take a look.

Sadly...

His wallet quickly reminded him of reality.

Sigh...

*Why couldn’t I have reincarnated into some rich noble family like every other protagonist?*

Alden silently mourned his tragic financial situation in broad daylight.

Just then, his footsteps came to an abrupt stop.

A strong, refreshing fragrance drifted through the air.

His gaze shifted toward a two-story building standing by the roadside.

A wooden sign hung above its entrance.

★Riener’s Herbs & Medicines★

People constantly entered and left the shop, making it one of the busiest stores on the street.

Alden looked at the sign for a moment before a thought crossed his mind.

...Maybe they’ll have something useful.

Without another thought, he walked toward the entrance.

The moment Alden stepped inside, the herbal aroma became even stronger.

The air was filled with the scents of countless medicinal plants, some soothing while others carried a faint, bitter smell.

Several staff members moved around the shop, organizing shelves and helping customers.

The entire first floor was lined with herbs of every shape and color.

Some glowed faintly with mana.

Others released subtle poisonous auras that Alden could sense even from a distance.

*I guess poison isn’t always used for killing.*

Medicine and poison really are two sides of the same coin.

He slowly walked around before approaching a young woman dressed in a neat green uniform.

"Hi."

"Good morning, sir."

She greeted him with a polite smile.

"Is there anything I can help you with?"

Alden could tell she was at the Peak Awakened Realm, just like most of the employees working in the shop.

"Actually... yes."

He scratched the back of his head.

"It’s my first time visiting a herbal shop."

His eyes wandered across the countless herbs displayed around the room.

The woman smiled warmly.

"That’s perfectly normal, sir."

"We often have customers who come in without knowing exactly what they’re looking for."

"They simply look around until something catches their interest."

"Haha..."

Alden laughed awkwardly.

"I’ve never been comforted and insulted at the same time before."

"That’s... an impressive talent."

For a brief moment, the woman’s polite smile stiffened.

"...I apologize, sir."

"I don’t quite understand what you mean."

"It’s alright."

Alden waved his hand with a helpless smile.

*Yeah... that joke definitely didn’t land.*

He decided to change the subject before things became any more awkward.

Pointing toward a herb with deep blue leaves,

"So, what’s this one called?" Alden asked, pointing at the herb with deep blue leaves.

The woman glanced at it before answering.

"That’s Moonleaf. It’s commonly brewed into tea or medicine to soothe the mind. Many cultivators drink it after long training sessions to calm their thoughts."

Alden nodded thoughtfully.

"No wonder it smells so refreshing."

His gaze drifted across the shelves until another group of herbs caught his attention.

"And those black mushrooms?"

"They’re Shadow Caps. They’re poisonous if eaten raw, but after proper processing, they’re used to make antidotes and medicines that strengthen poison resistance."

"I see."

Alden couldn’t help but feel impressed. He had only been here for a few minutes, yet he had already learned more about herbs than he had in his entire life.

As he continued looking around, something on another shelf caught his eye.

"Huh?"

Unlike the colorful herbs surrounding them, these looked rather ordinary.

A wooden tray held dozens of small, oval beans no bigger than the tip of a thumb. Their hard shells were a deep reddish-brown, with faint ridges running along the surface.

"And those?"

The woman followed his gaze and walked over to the tray.

"Those are Cacora Beans."

She picked one up and held it out on her palm.

"They’re mainly used by herbalists to make bitter tonics and medicines that help reduce mental fatigue."

"Bitter?"

Alden raised an eyebrow.

"They’re extremely bitter."

An awkward smile appeared on the woman’s face, as if an unpleasant memory had surfaced.

"Very few people can eat them as they are."

"Then why not just throw them away?"

"They’re still valuable. Alchemists grind them into powder before mixing them with other medicinal ingredients. Some healers also use them to balance the taste of certain potions."

Alden stepped closer and picked up one of the beans.

He rolled it between his fingers before bringing it closer to his nose.

A faint earthy aroma reached his senses.

Its brown shell.

Its oval shape.

Even its smell...

Everything about it felt strangely familiar.

His expression gradually stiffened.

No way...

A ridiculous thought surfaced in his mind.

*Don’t tell me...*

*Is this basically cocoa?*

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