Chapter 001: Birth of a lazy gamer
What does it mean to be poor, when you live in a western European country? You have a roof above your head, a bed to sleep in, a full HD TV. Even high speed internet. You can eat three meals a day and have warm clothes for the winter.
So is life really too cruel to the poor? One might think, that it's not that bad. But there is at least one drawback: You don't have the money for a VR capsule!
So what to do? Some would work 3 jobs till their bodies break to get the money. But there is one major problem, our main character is too lazy. He would never do that.
Others could get the money for a capsule from their parents, wealthy relatives or even friends. No luck for our anti-hero there. Even if there was someone in his family with that kind of money, he or she wouldn't give it to him.
What about selling an old game account for a lot of money? Geez! Since our main character, let's call him Xavier, is lazy, forget about grinding in a game. He's so lazy that he haven't even played a MMORPG once!
So even after finding (accidently while watching TV) his ideal game (that means a game you can play laying on your back with eyes closed) Royal Road, there is no way for him to actually play it.
End of story?
* * *
Xavier lies in front of the TV watching a KDrama, when he hears the doorbell. It's his neighbor Wladimir.
"Hallo, neighbor."
"Hallo, Wladimir."
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"Can you do me a little favor?
"What favor?"
"Can I garage some things in your shed? Just for a few weeks."
"What things?" Xavier doesn't want to get involved. There are rumors that Wladimir is a member of a crime syndicate.
"It's better for you if you don't know. I'll do something good for you in return." Wladimir's gaze falls on the prospect of Royal Road. "You like Royal Road? Do you have a capsule?"
"No."
"I can get one for you. It's even pimped up. I know someone who has several spares." Even crime syndicates are trying to make money through VR these days.
"I don't know." Xavier doesn't like to be investigated by the police. Too much stress.
"Do you know what? I can even get you a six month subscription for free! Doesn't that sound really good?"
Xavier gets really excited. Giving in to temptation, he agrees. "Ah, okay."
"Good! Friends of mine will bring the boxes tomorrow or the day after. The capsule will be here by the end of the week. And if someone comes and asks: You don't know me!"
"Okay."
"See you in a few weeks, neighbor."
* * *
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I'm currently rereading (or more precisely scanning) the first volumes of LMS for information. I have planned two more scenes for the first chapter: Capsule installation (short) and character creation (longer and more complicated). It should be finished sometime next week.