Aston asked Nova, “How much would it cost to repair this house?”

  Then, he felt a tingling in his head. He felt a pulse leaving his head.

  [Scanning… Scan complete. Estimated cost of repair is 30 dragon gold. Cost includes major structural repairs, electrical and plumbing, exterior restoration, roof replacement, support beam replacement, painting, and insulation.]

  He continued asking, “Then ,how about the basic appliances and furniture?”

  [Estimated cost is 20 dragon gold.]

  “So 50 dragon gold in total. That is good,” Aston murmured. “Okay, let’s have a company do the repairs. Nova, please search for a reputable company that can do both the repairs and supplying of furniture and appliances.”

  [Search found. Ironwood Home Services can do aforementioned services. Contact number for their sales is…]

  A series of numbers flashed before his eyes. Aston decided to contact the number for Ironwood Home Services. Using his phone, he dialed the number and was received by a female receptionist.

  After a brief exchange, he was transferred to a representative who listened to his request. The conversation went on for a while as they discussed the extent of the repairs, available services, and general pricing. Aston kept his responses concise, mostly inquiring about the timeline and what they could provide beyond structural repairs.

  Eventually, they settled on sending an estimator to assess the house the next day.

  “Understood. We’ll have someone there tomorrow morning,” the representative confirmed.

  “Alright, I’ll be expecting them,” Ason replied before ending the call.

  He lowered his phone and exhaled, glancing around the broken walls and worn-out furniture. As he was thinking that it would not take long for the house to become a home again, he habitually reached out his hand to his neck, touching his pendant.

  His thoughts paused. He forgot. The pendant transformed into a dragon pendant with a gem embedded in its eyes. He looked down and stared at it.

  “Nova, what happened to my necklace? It was a blocky pendant that became the shape of a dragon coiled in itself. And the box… it became a gem that was embedded in the dragon’s eyes…”

  [Query received.]

  [Host’s cuboid pendant was the external vessel of a spatial artifact. The box you possessed served as its core. When the two were combined, the artifact reached completion, allowing for functionality as a storage device.]

  Aston’s eyes flickered with interest. A spatial artifact!

  [This artifact has now formed a blood bond with the host. As a result, its storage capacity is not fixed but will expand in accordance with the host’s strength. The stronger the host becomes, the greater the available space.]

  Blood-bonde. Meaning no one else could use it even if they got their hands on it. A deep sense of relief settled in his chest.

  You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

  “So, I can store things inside now?”

  [Affirmative. The host may access the storage by injecting his spirit power in the artifact.]

  Aston glanced at the pendant, feeling its cool surface against his skin.

  “Is the spatial artifact the only one existing?”

  [Negative. Spatial artifacts exist but are uncommon. Due to their rarity and functionality, they are highly valuable. Most spatial artifacts are crafted into accessories for ease of use, where rings and bracelets are the most common forms.]

  “Oh, so they grow with strength as well?”

  [Negative. Spatial artifacts’ space have a fixed storage capacity upon creation. Their internal space does not expand regardless of the user’s strength. However, the host’s artifact is an exception. Due to modifications utilizing advanced techniques by the host’s progenitors, it allowed a constant expansion directly proportional to the host’s growth in strength.]

  “I see. What is the current capacity of the artifact? And how much is the cost of a spatial accessory with an equivalent storage capacity?”

  [Current capacity is 150 cubic meters. For reference, a standard spatial ring with a storage capacity of 100 cubic meters was recorded to have sold for approximately 750 dragon gold.]

  He felt the pendant against his neck and infused it with spiritual power. With his eyes closed, he can visualize the space inside the pendant. It was a place the size of a small bedroom, about 3 meters wide, across, and high. Its contents, nothing. A void - not even air.

  He stopped releasing his spiritual power once he saw all the space. Aston exhaled.

  “This is more valuable than initially thought.”

  He tucked the pendant below his shirt in order to hide it from the public eye.

  Aston’s thoughts lingered on the pendant’s importance, but a glance at his smartphone snapped him back to reality.

  1:07 PM.

  His shift at the shop has already started.

  “Damn! Gray, let’s go! We’re already late!” he exclaimed. He had lost track of time. Without wasting another second, he placed Gray on his shoulder and ran out of the house.

  The midday sun hung high in the sky. The roads were livelier than in the morning, filling it with merchants calling out deals, carts rolling, and people moving between businesses.

  Aston quickened his pace. While his newfound fortune had given him options, he wasn’t about to abandon the job that had kept him afloat for years. Besides’ he still needed to maintain appearances.

  The familiar sight of the shop came into view as he turned the final corner. A shop sign hung outside the shop - Emberlight Emporium.

  Taking a deep breath, he straightened his posture and stepped inside. The moment Aston stepped inside, a gruff voice immediately called out.

  “You’re late.”

  Aston flinched. Behind the counter stood a middle-aged man with a thick mustache and sharp eyes. Rufus’ eyes were crossed, and on his foot tapped against the wooden floor impatiently.

  Aston rubbed the back of his neck. “I lost track of time, boss. Won’t happen again.”

  Rufus narrowed his eyes. “Won’t happen again? You say that like you have room to make excuses.” His voice was firm, but not outright furious. “It’s already 1:12 PM. You’re twelve minutes late. If you were working anywhere else, they’d have docked your pay.”

  Aston lowered his head. “I know.”

  Rufus let out a sharp exhale, then clicked his tongue.” Tch. I heard about your awakening.”

  Aston‘s body stiffened.

  “Clear, huh? That’s rough, kid,” Rufus muttered. His tone wasn’t mocking. If anything, there was a strange heaviness to it.

  Aston clenched his fist, keeping his expression neutral.

  Rufus sighed, rubbing his forehead. “Look, kid. You work hard and you’ve got a good head on your shoulders. But life is gonna be tough for you. Tougher than it already is.

  Aston swallowed. “I’ll manage.”

  The shopkeeper grunted, then waved a hand. “Just don’t slack off, alright? Now, stock the shelves. We’ve got customers coming in soon.”