The system screen still hovered in front of Rin's eyes, glowing faintly with the message:
Would you like to use 1 Beast Core to expand Beast Space?
Rin closed his hand over the core, pulse steady.
Not yet.
He turned to the group leader, wiping goblin blood from his fingers.
"How much do these cores sell for?" he asked.
The leader tilted his head. "You thinking of selling?"
Rin nodded.
"Depends on the type," the man replied. "Low-grade goblin cores like these? Usually go for about 50 gold each in the city."
Rin looked down at his pouch. It was heavy, packed tight with small, warm cores — the spoils of his first dungeon run.
"I've dissected about a hundred goblins," he said calmly. "Can I ask for just one core and 50 gold in cash?"
The group paused.
"Just one?" the leader raised an eyebrow. "Why the split?"
Rin shrugged. "I want to show something to my family."
The leader chuckled. "Family man, huh?"
He scratched his chin, then grinned. "Alright. I like you, kid. I'll give you a little discount deal."
He reached into his pouch and pulled out a thick leather bag, then handed over 60 gold coins and 1 core from Rin's own count.
"That's 40 gold per core, just this once. You keep two cores — one for family, one for whatever the hell you're planning — and 60 gold as your cut."
Rin bowed slightly. "Thank you."
They returned to the surface by sunset. Kareth City glowed in amber lights as dusk settled over the streets. Towering neon signs buzzed alive, mana trams zipped past overhead, and beast carts rumbled through the market lanes.
The van rattled back into the city limits, heading toward the crumbling edge of the slums.
The others chatted about their loot, about food, drinks, and tomorrow's raids.
Rin stared out the window, clutching the two cores tightly in his palm.
As the van turned toward the district gates, he suddenly stood up.
"You can drop me here," he said.
The leader blinked. "Here?"
They weren't near the slums yet — just on the border of midtown, where city folk bustled and buildings didn't look like they were about to collapse.
Rin nodded. "Yeah. Here's good."
The van came to a slow stop.
As he stepped out, the leader called after him, "You sure, kid? Thought you said you had to show something to your family?"
Rin paused in the doorway.
"I will. Just… not today."
Then he walked into the city, rat on his shoulder, two beast cores and 60 gold in his pocket — and something burning in his chest that hadn't been there in years:
Hope.