1.
"You've really worked hard all this time."
After serving the last plate of kimchi fried rice and returning to the kitchen, the Boss greeted me with a smile.
"Thank you. You've worked hard too."
"No real thoughts about sticking around here longer? I could raise your hourly wage as much as you want."
He tried to hold onto me regretfully, but my decision hadn't changed.
"I'd love to keep working if I could, but I'm quitting to prepare for going back to school. I'm truly sorry."
Of course, it was a lie. I had no intention of returning to school. After finally coming back, having to study again? Nothing could be more horrific.
"Don't worry about it. I was just saying that because it's a shame."
The Boss pulled a paper envelope from his pocket and held it out to me.
"Thanks to you, Hayul, we've had way more customers. This is a token of our appreciation."
"You already helped me find that capsule listing. If I take this too, I'll feel too guilty. Please keep it."
"No, no. It was just a used one anyway—got it from a buddy whose capsule room went under and he needed to sell fast. Don't feel burdened."
"...Alright."
Refusing too much would be ruder. Who knew I'd end up receiving this kind of favor.
"If you ever think about coming back, give me a call. Got it?"
"Yes. Thank you so much for everything."
I gave the Boss a light hug and stepped outside.
"I finally quit."
I'd planned to quit soon anyway, but I hadn't expected it to happen this quickly. To meet my sister even a day sooner, I had no choice.
Sales at the capsule room might dip a bit without me, but it'd be fine in the end. Business had picked up lately anyway, and I'd shared the spam kimchi fried rice recipe.
'It wasn't anything special to begin with.'
Adding mayonnaise midway was a bit unique, sure, but a quick search on cooking channels would turn up plenty like it.
In the end, it all came down to the human touch. I wondered how tasty the Boss could make it.
'Not my problem anymore.'
I headed home lighthearted. Opening the door revealed the capsule. I'd asked the Boss for it yesterday, and it arrived this morning.
Going to the capsule room all the time was a hassle, so I'd bought one. New ones were too pricey, so I went used—and even this wasn't cheap.
'Who charges over 10 million won for a single machine.'
Thanks to it being used and a friend discount, I snagged it for 5.5 million. Not the latest model, but beggars couldn't be choosers.
I grabbed the triangle kimbap I'd stashed in the fridge ahead of time. No microwave—I tore it open and shoved it in my mouth.
Crunch crunch—
My old body needed three of these to feel full, but now one filled my stomach right up.
'Guess this body's got great cost-performance.'
Was this what they called a natural lightweight? I chuckled, tossing the wrapper in the trash. Meal done—time to game again.
Yesterday was just going with the flow, but today required precise control. Getting diamond right off the bat would be trouble.
'Placement matches are five games total, right?'
Even carrying, the odds of landing diamond were slim. No room for complacency, though.
'That's how "it can't happen" bites you.'
I gulped down some water and climbed into the capsule. It smelled like a new car. They'd cleaned it thoroughly, apparently.
Deep breath, then I hit the button inside. The lid closed, and a hologram popped up.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Biometric ID confirmed. Welcome back, Hayul. Connecting to a new world. Turning imagination into reality.
My vision flashed, and it felt like my soul was being sucked in. Falling and floating at once.
Familiar from last time, but still alien. Probably take a while to get used to.
"Hoo."
Senses sharpened one by one until a blue meadow stretched before me. I flexed my fingers and connected straight to the Legendary Arena.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Transferring to the Legendary Arena. Skip Intro?
"Yeah."
The city walls faded like dust. The screen brightened, revealing a massive holographic battlefield.
"It's an honor to see you again, Carrier!"
Melena beamed at me. I smiled back and greeted her.
"What brings you to the Legendary Arena today?"
"Want to play ranked. Possible?"
"You've completed twenty quick matches, so you can jump straight into competitive! Twenty in a single day—impressive!"
"Ahem."
I cleared my throat and looked away. Sounded like teasing. Probably just my guilty conscience.
"Let's start competitive then."
"Yes! Initiating matchmaking!"
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Match found!
Less than five seconds. Popular game, huh?
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Assigned position: Top Lane.
"Nice."
Position was fine. Safe there, I pondered bans.
'Honestly, no clue.'
Hadn't studied the meta deep enough to know broken picks. Best to defer to teammates here.
💬 Game Lobby — HallelujahElena Oh, fuck. Finally got you lolololol — OnlySayFacts ??? — ElenaHere Ah....
"Huh?"
I finally checked the chat—trouble brewing. Looked like a streamer getting sniped.
"Tch."
Would've been great if it was my sister. No such luck.
'Not worth stressing over.'
Dogs bark, trains roll. Sniper or not, I just play my game.
2.
"Ah, I masked my matchmaking, but how the hell did this guy snipe me?!"
A character with snow-white hair bellowed. Her icy looks clashed with the foul mouth.
— Viewer1 lolololololololol — Viewer2 Pulled it off lolol — Viewer3 Fact: Silver makes sniping easy af ㅇㅇ — Viewer4 Jealous? You know what to do...
"Ugh, fuck... Guys, please let me climb to Gold. Huh? Always Silver fights with teammates. Isn't it about time I got tired of this?"
— Viewer1 Yeah, no lololol — Viewer2 Nah, every moment's fun. Feels new each time... — Viewer3 Silver fits Elena perfectly ㅇㅇ — Viewer4 Woo woo~~~~ You're too hyped. Need to chill...!
"You think I can stay calm? All this bullshit, and now a sniper?!"
— Carrier Anyone need a ban card?
"And who's this?"
Elena scowled at the lobby chat amid her frustration.
"Top laner doesn't need a ban? We're first pick too? How confident is this guy?"
— Viewer1 Top mains dodging bans bb — Viewer2 Even got a top noob lololol — Viewer3 But what if he's actually good?
"Yeah, there's a chance. Haven't seen that kind of confidence here in ages."
She pulled up the match history site, searching the top laner's name.
『Carrier』
『Unranked』
"Ah...."
No history at all. No prior season data either—total newbie on placements.
— Viewer1 lolololololololol — Viewer2 Nahhh~~~~ Not confidence, just no matchup knowledge~~~~ — Viewer3 Ignorance is bliss lolol — Viewer4 Baseless bravado lololol
Showing the search on stream had viewers in stitches. The one semi-reliable teammate—a newbie.
"Should I dodge? But I've dodged twice already—another and I'm locked out for twelve hours...."
Stream was only two hours in. Dodging now would torch chat.
"...No choice."
— ElenaHere Anyone wanna dodge? — Carrier Why?
The newbie replied instantly. Didn't seem to know she was a streamer.
"How do I even explain? 'I'm streamer Elena, and that HallelujahElena sniped me...' Too cringy."
— Viewer1 Ughhh cringecringe fml — Viewer2 Embarrassing to admit watching Elena stream... — Viewer3 Fr lol — ElenaHere ...Never mind. Let's just play.
She sighed, picking her usual ranged DPS hero. Ice arrow specialist, strong in lane.
— ElenaHere Play properly, got it? — HallelujahElena Of course ㅇㅇ Not throwing just cuz he's a sniper ;;
"Sure, whatever...."
Said they'd play, but she'd mentally checked out. Allies were iffy, but the enemy sniper was worse.
Malicious snipers who'd tanked to Silver on purpose.
Throw blatantly for allies, grind hard against foes. Enemy sniper meant surrender at fifteen.
'Please no.'
Otherwise, winnable.
"Kairon?"
Teammates picked. Top went last—surprise choice.
Kairon.
Wields a massive two-handed greatsword. Fallen holy knight lore.
Powerful basics and skills, but hard to land. Low-tier "trash champ."
"This has to be a troll, right?"
Newbie top picking that? Game over already, but no dodge.
— ElenaHere Top, can you dodge? — Carrier Why?
"...Cuz we'll lose because of you."
— Viewer1 Wow, trash; — Viewer2 Uwuuuu trash~~~ — Viewer3 Saying that to a placement newbie????
"I know! I know! That's why I didn't type it!"
— Carrier No special reason? Let's just play. I'll carry. — ElenaHere Ah, okay....
"Carry my ass...."
— Viewer1 Confidence check lololol — Viewer2 Cute lil newbie lololol
All that was left: pray enemy dodges.
"Please!"
She clasped her hands in desperate prayer, but the gods ignored Elena.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Entering the Legendary Arena!
Game started, loading screen up. Familiar enemy name among foes.
『ElenaTopKiller』
"Ah...."
Enemy top: malicious sniper. Ex-Master from two seasons back. Master in Silver? God-tier.
— Viewer1 GG — Viewer2 Game Over. Ban them all!!! — Viewer3 A~~~~~~ Elena doomed~~~~~
"Ugh, seriously... fucking bullshit...."
Obligatory loss. Like livestock to slaughter?
🪙 Sponsor Alert 💸 [Nickname: Anonymous] donated 🪙 1,000G! 💬 But 'Carrier' has history—losing streak? Nah, 20-game win streak in normals ;;;
As she bit her lip, the donation pinged.
— Viewer1 Fr? — Viewer2 Newbie 20-win streak? Insane talent — Viewer3 Smurf? — Viewer4 Smurfs in VR? Dumbass — Viewer5 Oh, maybe hope?
"...Hope? Even with talent, how's he beating a Master top?"
— Viewer1 True... — Viewer2 Experience gap is real ㅇㅇ — Viewer3 Can't be helped
"I'll make this quick. Not slacking, but...."
Loading ended—game on.
No hope, no expectations. Just tragic defeat ahead.
The oblivious top laner charged top lane boldly. She sighed at his receding back.
"...Kinda feel bad."
Cocky newbie soon to be slaughtered by Master top.
Elena worried she'd scared off another newbie. But her guilt lasted less than a minute.
⚔ FIRST BLOOD! ⚔ First Blood
"Ah...."
Minions not even out yet—defeat alarm already? As she covered her face.
— Viewer1 Huh? — Viewer2 Eh? — Viewer3 Wtf??? — Viewer4 ??????????????
Chat flooded with question marks. Checking the scoreboard, Elena panicked.
"...We won it?"
The first blood? Allies.
The direction of the wind... had changed.
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