After gathering information about the village, Yuta continued asking around.
Not about the world this time.
Not about pirates or Marines.
Just something simple.
"…Is there anywhere I can stay?"
He asked a few nearby villagers.
At first, they looked at him strangely, but after a few explanations, someone eventually pointed him in the right direction.
"…There's a small inn near the east side of the village."
Yuta nodded.
"…Got it."
He thanked them briefly and began walking in that direction.
The village was quiet as he moved through it.
Simple wooden houses, small stalls, people going about their daily lives.
Nothing unusual.
But as he walked, his steps slowly slowed.
Then—
He stopped.
"…Wait."
He frowned slightly.
"…I don't have any Beli."
Silence.
He stood there for a moment, expression blank.
"…Why am I even looking for a place to stay?"
He muttered to himself.
It didn't make sense.
He had just arrived in this village. He didn't have money. He didn't even know how long he planned to stay yet.
And yet—
He was casually walking like he could afford anything.
"…That's stupid."
He shook his head slightly.
"…I need money first."
Yuta turned around and started asking again, this time with a clearer goal.
"…Excuse me."
"…Is there anywhere that buys animal materials?"
People pointed him toward a small trading stall near the market area.
Not a big shop.
Just a simple merchant who handled fur, meat, and other materials.
Yuta walked there without hesitation.
The stall owner was a middle-aged man, sitting behind a wooden counter.
When Yuta arrived, he placed a bundle on the table.
Animal fur.
Snake skin.
Wolf hide.
Bear material.
Things he had collected over the time he spent hunting on the island.
The merchant raised an eyebrow.
"…Where did you get all this?"
Yuta answered simply.
"…Hunted it."
The man looked at him for a moment longer, then shrugged.
"…Tch. Doesn't matter."
He began inspecting the materials.
After a short while, he gave a rough estimate.
"…Good quality."
He tapped the table.
"…I'll take all of it."
He named a price.
Yuta listened carefully.
"…Three million Beli."
He repeated it quietly.
The merchant nodded.
"…That's the best I can give you."
Yuta didn't react immediately.
He just stood there for a moment, processing it.
Three million Beli.
In this world, he didn't yet know the exact value clearly.
But he understood one thing—
It was enough.
For now.
"…Deal."
He said simply.
The exchange was completed quickly.
Money changed hands.
And just like that—
Yuta had his first real income in this world.
After leaving the stall, Yuta stood in the middle of the village road, holding the money.
"…So this is Beli…"
He muttered.
He looked around again.
People were buying food.
Selling goods.
Living normal lives.
Everything had a price.
Everything required money.
"…Without Beli, you can't do anything."
He said quietly to himself.
Then he closed his hand around the money.
"…And without strength, you can't change anything."
That was even more important.
Because in this world—
Money could buy comfort.
But strength decided fate.
Yuta decided to stay in the village for a short time.
Not permanently.
Just enough to understand things properly.
He found a simple place to stay—a small rented room at the inn he was told about earlier.
Nothing luxurious.
Just a bed.
A table.
And silence.
For the next three days—
He stayed in the village.
Observing.
Listening.
Learning.
He learned the basic value of Beli.
Food prices.
Room costs.
Daily living expenses.
How people survived here without strength.
And how easily those without power could be ignored.
"…So this is how normal people live…"
He muttered once while sitting in his room.
Over those three days, he also confirmed something important.
Money alone wasn't enough.
If he lost everything—
He would still be powerless without strength.
And strength alone—
Without understanding the world—
Would also be wasted.
On the third night, Yuta sat quietly in his room.
The village was silent outside.
He counted the remaining money briefly.
Then stopped.
"…Enough."
He said.
He already understood what he needed.
This world had structure.
Rules.
Hierarchy.
And those who ignored it—
Were either strong…
Or dead.
Yuta stood up slowly.
He looked toward the window.
"…To change fate…"
He said quietly.
"…I need both."
Money.
And strength.
But above all—
Control over his own path.
He turned away from the window.
Tomorrow—
He would move again.