章節 8: Chapter 8 - Stupid, Fat Ass

The room was suddenly filled with a hissing sound as a capsule device sprung into action, its lid retracting to reveal its occupant. Inside lay a 20-year-old man, his blond hair framing his face, and blue eyes wide with the shock of abrupt re-entry into reality.

Leon Chambers found himself gasping for breath, his complexion pale, a stark indication of the panic that gripped him. He had remained encased within the virtual reality capsule for four hours, marking this as his longest dive into the game since the day he had played it.

He extracted himself from the confines of the capsule, standing to his full height of 182 cm (6'0").

His room, bare except for the essentials—a bed, a table, and a few chairs—felt alien after the richly detailed world he had just left behind. The simplicity of his surroundings served as a cold reminder of the divide between the virtual world and his physical reality.

The rusty door to his room creaked open. Through it stepped a sixteen-year-old girl, standing at 167 cm (5'6"), her blonde hair falling just above her shoulders and framing her slender face. This was Lily, Leon's younger sister.

"Leon, I've been trying to wake you up... but you were like a dead man, not responding, even after I tickled you repeatedly. Are you okay? You should be heading to work, right?"

"It's okay, Lily," Leon said as he grabbed his bag from the desk. "I got caught up in something big inside the game, and it took me until now to sort it out. I've got to head out immediately."

Leon dashed from the room, exiting his modest home that nestled on the outskirts of town where he, Lily, and their uncle lived. He mounted his bicycle parked outside and began pedaling towards his destination.

As Leon made his hasty departure, Lily followed him to the door.

"It's not like him to be so absorbed in the game," she whispered to herself. "He's always been limiting himself to just an hour each day since we got that capsule a year ago. Could it be that he's grown tired of his daily routine?"

"I know. I'll prepare his favorite meal tonight!" she said, giggling to herself.

Leon hurriedly parked his bicycle outside the convenience store. And as he approached the entrance, he noticed Bob, the store manager, storming out.

Bob, a man in his early twenties, plump with usually rosy cheeks. The two were actually classmates in high school.

"This is bad," Leon muttered to himself.

Bob, catching sight of Leon, flung the door open.

"You stupid fool," he barked, "do you really think you own this place? That you can just waltz in and out as you please? Discipline should be your priority!"

"I… I had an emergency," Leon stammered, trying to explain. "I'm really sorry, Bob."

"Do you think I'm a fool, Leon? You're useless to us. For breaking our rules, you're fired. Now, get lost. I can't stand the sight of you."

"You can't be serious about firing me just for being late once, right?"

"Shut up and rot on the streets, you fool! Poor scum!"

Bob had always been wealthy, even back in their senior high school days, which meant someone like Leon never really fit into his circle. When Leon started working at the convenience store where Bob was the manager, it didn't sit well with him. Bob had been quietly displeased from the start and was always looking for an excuse to get rid of him.

"Give me my salary, Bob!"

Bob took out his wallet, pulled out a few bills, and threw them at Leon's face. "Here's your pay for the last ten days!"

Bob then turned his back and disappeared inside the store.

"Damn you, Bob!"

Leon squatted down, picked up the scattered bills from the floor, and counted them briefly before shoving them into his pocket.

He made his way to the parking lot of the convenience store, feeling the weight of his recent job loss on his shoulders. He slumped down, seeking a moment of escape from the harsh reality he now faced.

It was then that the sound of a news broadcast from inside the store floated through the air, its volume cutting through the quiet of the early evening. The topic, "Immortal Legacy," snagged his attention immediately.

"Something big is going to happen..."

The screen displayed a scene from the virtual world of Yunatea, where a female reporter stood beside a man clad in striking red metal armor, his hair as fiery as his armor.

"We're broadcasting live from Yunatea, and with us right now is Natsu, a top 100-ranked player."

"We're here to discuss a major event that has just unfolded in Yunatea. There's startling news about a global achievement—a player has had an actual encounter with a deity and even made physical contact with the deity."

"What's your take on this, Mr. Natsu?" she inquired.

Natsu seized the moment with a grin that lit up his face. "Hmm!" he began. "Before I dive into that, may I take a moment to talk about my guild?" he asked.

"Yes, that's alright." The reporter said.

Natsu leaned into the microphone with confidence. "Alright, everyone. I know you're all looking for a guild that values professionalism and dedication."

He paused before continuing, "At the Mirajane guild, we're opening up five new spots. For those of you craving an unparalleled adventure in the world of Yunatea, look no further! Our members come from a wide array of classes, ready and able to tackle any challenge that comes our way."

The reporter interjected, "Sorry… Mr. Natsu... we need your answer for this phenomenon."

"You guys will never regret it, hahaha," Natsu chuckled. Turning back to the reporter with a cheeky grin, he asked, "Is that all clear to you?"

"That's crystal clear, Mr. Natsu," the reporter confirmed. "Now, could you please share your thoughts on the current global phenomenon?"

Natsu responded with a hearty laugh. "I'm sure we'll see more player-deity encounters following this event," he said. "And I'm certain the Mirajane guild is home to many skilled players ready for such encounters. So, joining us is a decision you won't regret."

"Alright…" She took over the microphone. "In light of that ambition, we're all eagerly awaiting the incredible developments following a player's direct encounter with the goddess of Sloth, Akidia.

"Her legendary beauty has been a topic of many discussions, but this marks the first occasion where her physical form will be revealed in Immortal Legacy. This event is a historical milestone for Yunatea, and we're diligently working to uncover the identity of the mysterious player."

She added, "This suggests that the champion of Sloth may have been chosen. This development is significant, especially considering that champions representing the other sins have reached top rankings within Immortal Legacy. We're all on the edge of our seats, anticipating the major updates and changes the game will undergo following this unforeseen event. Stay tuned for our next live report for more updates!"

Leon, who had been watching the report, finally picked up his bike and continued his journey home, his mind still swirling with thoughts of the game and the harsh reality of his recent job loss.

"You'd better watch your mouth next time, you stupid, fat ass."

Upon reaching home, Leon quickly parked his bicycle and rushed inside only to be instantly greeted by the comforting aroma of food.

"Ah, it looks like Uncle is home tonight. Lily's cooking smells amazing!" he couldn't help but exclaim.

創作者的想法
Galanteo

Poor Leon—fired one minute, and famous in the virtual world the next! Who knew being the Champion of Sloth could cause such a stir?

Character Arts, Wiki, Discord!

Join Discord tinyurl.com/galanteodiscord

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章節 9: Chapter 9 - It's Not a Romantic Relationship

"Leon...?" Lily's voice called out from the kitchen. She stepped into the living room, wearing an apron. "Hey, I didn't expect you to get home so early."

"Ah, yes..." he replied, unsure how to explain the situation to her.

They lived with their uncle, who worked hard to support their education. Since starting high school, Leon had been working a part-time job to pay for his own studies.

Now, in his second year of university, he continued to work to help cover their daily expenses, hoping to contribute to Lily's school fees as well. Naturally, the news of his sudden job loss would be a cause of concern for his little sister.

Leon and Lily were both students—Leon was in his second year of university, while Lily was in her second year of high school. Ever since their parents left when Leon was eight, they had leaned on each other and their uncle for support.

The three of them shared a small, modest living space. Their uncle often had to travel for work, leaving Leon and Lily to look after themselves. With Leon's demanding schedule, juggling both work and school, he was rarely home, adding to the challenges they had to navigate.

"Are you okay?" Lily asked, sensing his unease.

Lily couldn't help but wonder why Leon was acting so strangely tonight. From playing video games longer than usual to coming home early from work.

She tried to piece it together, thinking maybe he was stressed and had gotten a bit too addicted to the game he was playing. Her classmates often talked about games, especially Immortal Legacy, so it didn't seem unusual for someone Leon's age to get hooked on one.

For about a year, Leon had been spending more time at home ever since a pricey, cutting-edge virtual world capsule device arrived at his doorstep in an anonymous package.

Although the sender of the mysterious gift remained unknown, the label addressed to him made it clear that the device was meant for Leon.

Their uncle was initially worried when the expensive package arrived, fearing that it might be a scam that could bring trouble to them, especially for Leon. However, after leaving it unused for a few weeks, Leon finally decided to accept it, thinking that it was indeed a gift meant for him. As to from whom? No one knew.

The capsule device was the only hardware that allowed full dives into the virtual game Immortal Legacy. Despite its high cost, many people were eager to own it due to the game's popularity and the various job opportunities it offered within the virtual world.

"Is Uncle coming home tonight, Lily? Did you cook for him?" Leon asked.

"I cooked for you! You haven't eaten since this afternoon, right? But it appears you'll have to wait a little bit. Is that alright?" she asked.

"Ah, okay, thanks," Leon replied, taking a look at the clock on the wall. "I'm certainly happy, but shouldn't you be getting ready for school tomorrow?"

Lily only smiled at his question and then shook her head. "It's okay," she replied. "I'm just in a good mood and wanted to do something in the kitchen. I had a sudden urge to cook."

"Do you need my help?"

"No, I'm okay," she shook her head. "I think you should return to your room and finish your game. Will you be out in a few minutes so we can have dinner together?"

However, Leon refused and immediately put down his bag and headed to the kitchen. "It's okay, I'll help with the cooking. I'll cut this one," he said.

Lily looked annoyed and tried to grab the knife from his hand. "Stop it. I said go to your room and play your game."

"Why? I want to help you. Wouldn't it be faster if we did it together?"

"No! You're just getting in my way. Let me handle it myself."

They ended up grappling over the knife, with Leon trying to ensure that it didn't harm his sister.

"What are we doing?" she said, giggling.

"I just want to help."

"No! Go to your room and play the game!" Lily insisted. "Someone is waiting for you, right? A girlfriend, perhaps?"

"Where did you get that idea, Lily?"

"What else could it be? You've been playing the game for over three hours, and you came home from work so quickly. It's not because you want to help me cook, is it? My classmate said that it's common for someone your age."

"I couldn't log out of the game because I met someone."

"A girl?"

"Uh, yes."

"So, it's a girlfriend. Tell me more about her… is she pretty? Do you have her picture?"

"No, it's not like that... um, how do I explain it? She was asleep, and that's why I couldn't log out. I had to wait for her to wake up because she said she'd give me something... special."

"Got it! So, you were staying with a girl while she slept, in the game..."

"It's not like that. It's not what you think," Leon said quickly.

"Then what is it like, Leon?"

Leon sighed, trying to find the right words. "She promised me something special but she suddenly fell asleep in front of me."

Lily giggled. "Oh, so it's all about the game, then. Well, you better go back to it and make sure you get that special thing."

Lily had clearly heard from her classmates that people could start families inside the game, even get married and have children, though the children were game characters.

With this fact in mind, she also read that people could do "that thing" inside the game. Her face flushed as she tried to dismiss the thought from her head.

Leon was a young adult. It was natural for him to have a serious relationship with a woman, so it was understandable. Maybe soon, he would introduce a woman to her and their uncle. He had worked so hard until now; it was natural for him to have some fun with his own interests.

"So... Leon," she said hesitantly. "I'm glad you finally have a special relationship with a woman... so... please make sure it's a player, and not an NPC, okay?" she said, giggling.

"It's an NPC, but it's not as special as you think. It's not a romantic relationship."

Lily laughed. "Just go already. And don't forget to join me for dinner later."

"Okay then," Leon finally agreed. "I'll be out shortly to join you for dinner. Bye, Lily."

He then rushed back to his room, his eyes gleaming at the sight of the advanced capsule device.

"Here we go," he muttered with a smile before hopping back into the capsule and logging back into Immortal Legacy.