Theodore’s sleep was fitful, his mind replaying scenes from his marathon session in “Rakuen.” He tossed and turned, but when the sounds of his mom bustling in the kitchen reached him, staying in bed was no longer an option. Groggily, he got up and shuffled to the bathroom to splash some water on his face, trying to shake off the remnants of the virtual world.
Over breakfast, he compulsively checked his smartphone, half-expecting to see a notification about the money transfer. But nothing yet. He tamped down the urge to tell his mom about it; it was too soon, and he didn’t want to raise her hopes prematurely. After all, his account was just a “demo,” and who knew what the game’s developers might do?
Stepping out onto the balcony, Theodore gazed wistfully at the old ashtray, now a snowy basin. He longed for a cigarette, a vice he hadn’t fully conquered. He drew in a deep breath of the crisp Massachusetts air instead, feeling the chill seep through him.
He dialed Sebastian’s number.
“Hey, Theo,” Sebastian’s voice came through after a moment, rushed and slightly frazzled. “What’s going on? I’m buried in work here, and I’m running behind schedule...”
“Sorry to bug you, Seb. Quick question: how long does it usually take to withdraw money from ‘Rakuen’?”
“Ah, you’re cashing out, huh? Good move! It’s immediate on their end, but depends on your bank. Typically, it’s three to five business days. Since it’s an international transaction, there might be extra verification the first time around. What’s up? You got a big payout?”
“Just wondering,” Theodore replied, keeping it vague. “Thanks, man.”
He was about to end the call when Sebastian’s voice stopped him:
“Hey, hold on a sec! Got any plans tonight?”
“Not really.” Theodore omitted that he had a shift at the salon; he wasn’t keen on divulging that detail. “Why do you ask?”
“I’ve got a corporate dinner tonight at ‘Caprice.’ Want to come along?”
“How do I fit into a corporate dinner?”
Sebastian hesitated briefly. “Well, I had a breakup last week, and my plus-one slot is open. I’ve already paid for two, and it’s non-refundable. Thought I’d invite you. Join me around eight; we can chat more about ‘Rakuen.’ Plus, my boss will be there – we’re looking to fill a junior lawyer position soon, Katrina’s going on maternity leave. So, how about it? I hear they serve great food...”
“Thanks, I’ll be there,” Theodore agreed, though he wasn’t entirely sure he meant it. It was simpler to say yes to Seb now and cook up an excuse later. “Catch you then.”
As soon as he ended the call, though, a flicker of genuine interest sparked in Theodore. The event itself wasn’t the draw; it was the prospect of possibly snagging a job and gleaning insider info on ‘Rakuen.’ He’d scoured guides and forums, but Seb might have those slick, under-the-radar strategies that weren’t common knowledge.
Another, somewhat humbler reason tugged at him too, one he was almost too sheepish to acknowledge: the allure of a lavish meal. He fantasized about hearty salads, succulent meats, an array of fruits, and decadent desserts. His stomach gave an approving rumble. And, he thought with a smile, he could snag some leftovers for his mom.
There was a hitch, though: his wardrobe. He owned a suit, but it wasn’t exactly compatible with his well-worn sneakers. And his boots were out of the question for a swanky venue like ‘Caprice.’ They were roughed up, bleached by road salt, and sported frayed laces.
After breakfast, Theodore helped his mom settle on the couch, turning on the TV to the ever-present holiday movies. He opened his laptop, hoping for new freelance gigs, but only found a delayed payment for a term paper he had written. It was a small amount, yet every bit helped.
Around noon, with their refrigerator nearly bare, Theodore prepared for a grocery run. They needed essentials: coffee, sugar, some grains, and his mom’s favorite bulk candy.
As he was tying his worn sneakers, a knock on the door interrupted him. Outside, a woman stood shivering in the cold, wearing a winter coat, holding a clipboard. She looked exhausted and impatient.
“The Robinsons? Apartment 36?” she inquired.
“That’s us. Can I help you?” Theodore asked, a sense of foreboding creeping in.
“About your electric bill. Are you ready to pay, or should we disconnect your service?”
“I can pay part of it today,” he offered hesitantly.
“Partial payment won’t cut it,” she responded briskly. “We’re closing our accounts for the year. If we don’t cut off now, people like you tend to delay indefinitely.”
“We’re not trying to dodge payment,” Theodore insisted. “I’m just waiting for my paycheck. I should have it by the end of the week. I promise I’ll pay in full then.”
The woman sighed, glancing at her watch. “Look, I don’t have time to chase people down. If you don’t pay by Friday, you’ll be welcoming the New Year in the dark. Understood?” She nodded to her assistant to proceed with the disconnection.
“Wait, please!” Theodore’s voice cracked with desperation. “My mom is ill; she needs constant care and her medication. I’m working three jobs to make ends meet, and they’re late on my pay. It’s the holiday season...”
The woman paused, holding her assistant at bay with a raised hand. She turned back to Theodore, her expression softening slightly. “Alright, you have two more days. Make it happen by then.”
Theodore uttered a shaky “Thank you” as she walked away. He remained seated in the hallway long after her departure, his thoughts swirling. There were no relatives to ask for help: his father’s family was barely getting by themselves, and his mother had severed ties with her own family over her marriage to his father, who had never been accepted by them.
Theodore ran through his options methodically. He called the warehouse supervisor, but was told they were fully staffed. They only called him as a backup. The pay was sporadic and modest, but at least it was cash in hand.
Next, he phoned a secretary from his main job to check on his paycheck.
“Theodore, weren’t you just here yesterday?” she exclaimed, her voice suggesting she’d had a few drinks. “Nothing’s changed. People are celebrating right in the office instead of a fancy party. No work, no pay, and the bosses are off on vacation. You’re welcome to join…”
He thanked her and hung up. At the tech store where he worked as a night security guard, they paid on time, and they’d even promised to process December’s pay before the New Year. He could count on that, as long as it came through by Thursday. That, or the money from ‘Rakuen’.
Theo had already called his friends for a loan yesterday. Everyone was strapped, burdened with loans, and some had families and kids to support. Sighing heavily, he spent his meager earnings on groceries. Having even a little in his account made Theodore feel more secure, but now—bam!—he was broke again. He decided not to go to the corporate party. He hadn’t told Seb yet, planning to call and make up an excuse later. Seb would just try to persuade him, and he didn’t want to admit he had nothing appropriate to wear. Too humiliating.
With household chores done in an hour, Theodore found solace in cleaning and cooking when times were tough. It was a distraction from gloomy thoughts, and everything seemed a bit brighter in a clean, organized space. He tidied up, mopped the floor, did the laundry, cooked lunch, fed his mom, and told her about the party.
Theodore’s mom glanced at him over her glasses. “You should go, Theo,” she said. “Why waste your evening with an old lady like me? Sebastian might introduce you to his bosses, maybe even a nice girl, huh?”
“I’ve got a shift at the tech store tonight, Mom.”
“That’s not until eleven! You’ve got plenty of time.”
Theodore didn’t mention his worn-out boots or his indecision. Instead, he washed the dishes, his mind racing. It was just past five, hours before his shift at MobiTech Hub. What to do in the meantime?
His mom was engrossed in a TV show, so Theodore decided to tinker with the PlayStation 5. After a bit of effort, he managed to connect it to his laptop. Success. He booted up “Rakuen” and connected to the server. The loading screen gave way to the expansive world of the game.
Your character, Theo, a Level 2 Barbarian, has been resurrected at the Moonhaven Sanctuary Cemetery.
Your character has incurred a death penalty—a loss of 10 experience points.
Theodore nearly lost it all—if he had been a bit slower, his barbarian character would have dropped back to level one. Close call...
Theodore observed his barbarian shivering in the graveyard of a strangely named town called ‘Moonhaven Sanctuary’. The place seemed bleak and lifeless. The wind howled, sunlight was blocked by a systematic filter, making everything appear dark despite the bright sun and clear sky. Long shadows darted and jumped, defying the laws of physics, even though the light source remained constant. The graveyard was deserted, save for the barbarian in a surprisingly clean, almost snow-white loincloth, which from the camera’s angle, looked like underwear.
Theodore speculated that players might respawn in the graveyard alone, or perhaps a separate copy of the burial ground was created for each player. It seemed like a smart design choice to him. A newly resurrected player is always vulnerable and needs time to recover and process their death, away from lurking gankers at respawn points...
His inventory and crystal balance were wiped, just like his Theodore card. All equipment slots were empty too: both the club and animal hide were gone. Naked players in diapers, running around Moonhaven Sanctuary, probably didn’t surprise anyone. Many might have had the funds to immediately reclaim their stuff. Often, gankers didn’t bother and dumped their loot with vendors, where you could buy back your items if you hurried. Theodore had seen three types of vendors in this sandbox world: an armorer, a weaponsmith, and a junk dealer. The latter not only traded various potions and food but also clothing for newbies. A standard kit—trousers, a shirt, and basic weaponry—cost just ten crystals. But even this modest amount was beyond Theo’s reach.
The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
Theodore checked the auction house, secretly hoping some eccentric had purchased his pickaxe, but no luck there. There it was, “The Primeval Pickaxe of the Mistress of Copper Mountain”, still unsold. Now what? It was hardly useful with such low damage, and too risky to carry around. “Fine, let it sit here for now,” Theodore decided. He’d figure out something later, maybe find out where players store their personal items and money.
With these thoughts, he leisurely headed towards the cemetery exit. The notion that it was an instance was confirmed when he stepped outside. The image flickered, the main world loaded, and Theodore found himself on a path leading to the town. A plan quickly formed in his mind: grab a quest with a cash reward, try to complete it, use the earnings to buy a club, and then get back to farming.
But the plan wasn’t meant to work out. Not because of any external circumstances, but due to a new opportunity that suddenly opened up for Theodore. As he wandered through the bustling streets, his random button mashing on the controller produced the right combination of presses, and his character slipped into stealth mode. “Du-u-um...” came a low tone from the gamepad. The image on the screen slightly faded, signaling the mode change.
The barbarian crouched, tucked his knees in, and mimicked a sneaky elephant. Theo’s figure became slightly transparent. It was a comical sight.
Congratulations! You’ve acquired a new skill: Stealth.
Nearby, caught in the crosshairs, a passerby appeared, and the ‘X’ button on the controller took on a new purpose. Above the aim crosshair, a prompt appeared:
Steal. Success Probability: 0.001%.
Theodore didn’t dare to steal anything, but his barbarian character thought otherwise and attempted to pickpocket.
Theft failed! Try again?
Luckily, the random target of the unsuccessful pickpocket didn’t notice anything, except for pushing him away while snarling, “Back off! What’s with the shoving, idiot?!” Theo awkwardly squatted and danced, and a new notification popped up before Theodore:
Congratulations! You’ve acquired a new skill: Theft.
Theodore had no intention of stealing anything else, but he found the “Stealth” skill intriguing. Scratching the back of his head, he delved into the settings and scrolled through the control commands until he reached the subsection “Character in Stealth Mode.” To activate stealth, it was necessary to press both top shift buttons simultaneously.
“How intuitive...” Theodore chuckled to himself.
From the command list, Theodore learned that while his barbarian wasn’t exactly stealthy by nature, the ability (or at least the attempt) of stealth was available to anyone. The effectiveness, however, depended on the class and the ‘Agility’ stat. Probably ‘Luck’ played a part too.
Stealth mode offered other possibilities: lockpicking, backstabbing for triple damage, and stunning. All these were interesting, revealing new facets of ‘Rakuen’, the game world. It turned out that ‘Stealth’ was best leveled up in shadows or twilight, near enemies. ‘Agility’ improved with acrobatics: jumping, rolling, climbing walls and trees, and dodging in combat. ‘Strength’ grew with lifting weights, and the sandbox had a training area for that. Developing these physical attributes by oneself was slow and inefficient. But when your virtual avatar was doing the work...
Remaining in stealth, Theodore headed to the training ground. The sight of a sneaking, jig-dancing barbarian didn’t go unnoticed by the players:
“Idiot, we can see you!”
“Oh, look at Mr. Invisible here! Ha-ha-ha!”
“Pull up your pants, dancer!”
Theodore thought of his character as a ‘clown in diapers’, not really associating him with himself. It was a natural thought for him, but not for ‘Rakuen’, where players and characters were one and the same.
Theodore continued to control the barbarian, trying not to bump into others. People in Rakuen seemed to react more sharply to him than those in real life. In the real world, America, homeless people relieved themselves right in the streets and sang songs, and people just walked by. But here, he was the center of attention...
After sneaking through the entire town, Theodore reached his destination. The training ground was deserted. An obstacle course, stacked logs, dummies. Nearby, he saw another player pounding a wooden dummy with crossbars for arms, numbers indicating damage flying off it.
Flipping through the encyclopedia, Theodore learned that training with dummies could improve special skills and attacks like his ‘Berserker’ and ‘Overhead Smash’. But it was highly inefficient: to level up a skill from 1 to 2 required a million points of damage. He snorted. Yeah, three to four hundred thousand hits, three seconds each – roughly 280 hours.
No thanks. Clearly, the developers wanted to please everyone. Those who liked training and those who sought rapid development and were willing to pay – they had fighting schools, teachers, and skill points awarded for each new level.
Speaking of points! Theodore opened his profile. Yes, he had one point each in attributes and skills… Considering the next levels’ descriptions, he calculated the potential effect. He was good with numbers. ‘Berserker’ gave a thirty percent boost for ten seconds every three minutes; level 2 would add another five percent. Better to invest in ‘Agility’ and improve ‘Overhead Smash’. The first would increase critical hit chances, and the latter would deal 130% of normal damage instead of 120%, usable every three seconds instead of every three minutes like ‘Berserker’...
No, he needed to run the numbers on a calculator. There was always time to allocate points. Maybe ‘Agility’ wasn’t even necessary? He hadn’t read any guides yet, nor talked to Sebastian.
Theodore closed the profile and directed his barbarian to the log stacks, still in stealth. Theo, visibly straining and sweating, loudly grunted and lifted a log. Ah, the ‘X’ button had triggered again!
His character, not letting go of the log, began to dance again. Given that Theo was half-bent and hunched, as if sneaking, it looked hilarious.
The doorbell rang. Leaving the gamepad on the table next to his laptop, Theodore went to answer it. Peeking through the peephole, he saw his upstairs neighbor, a cranky old lady with insomnia and nocturnal wanderings. Her footfalls rattled the dishes and shook the chandelier, but she never noticed her own flaws, only others’. Frankly, Theodore wasn’t too fond of her.
It was Ms. Hathaway, his upstairs neighbor. Despite the existence of delivery services, she always preferred asking for help from people she knew. She said it gave her a sense of community, something she felt was lost in today’s digital world. Theodore understood; the elderly often found comfort in the personal touch that technology couldn’t provide.
“Hello, Ms. Hathaway,” he greeted, opening the door.
“Oh, Theo, thank God you’re home! I need help. Can you help your old neighbor?”
Theodore inwardly sighed but nodded.
“Who’s there, Theo?” his mother called from the living room.
“Helen, it’s me,” the neighbor replied, peeking inside. “I need Theo’s help…”
They shouted back and forth until Theodore found out that it was slippery outside and Ms. Hathaway needed to go to the pharmacy. It took a moment to connect the dots, but the neighbor explained, “I took such a fall last year, ended up with a huge bruise! Now I’m scared, Theo. Could you run to the pharmacy for me? Here’s a list and some money...”
She handed him a few neatly ironed bills and a squared notebook sheet with a long list of medicines and groceries written in large handwriting. “Potatoes at the pharmacy now?” Theodore joked. “Alright, Ms. Hathaway, I’ll go.”
He threw on his jacket and hat and set off for the errands. The neighbor stayed to chat and gossip with his mother. When he returned, he escorted the old lady back and carried in her heavy bags. “Here’s an orange for you, Theo,” she thanked him, rummaging in her bag.
“Thanks, Ms. Hathaway...”
Back home, he handed the treat to his mom and, forgetting about the still-running ‘Rakuen’, started sorting his wardrobe. The company party was approaching, and he had decided to go, counting three benefits: discussing the pickaxe with Sebastian, networking for a job opportunity in his company, and well, free food.
Theodore had a defined opinion about corporate parties. What were they, really? A gathering of colleagues, where initially the bosses spoke and then vanished, followed by a free-for-all: a drunk host conducting ‘fun’ contests, brudershaft drinking, dancing, and ending differently for everyone. His first party ended in a fight with the company driver; the second, he hooked up with a girl from marketing.
What to expect this time, Theodore didn’t know, but he was sure that after a few hours of fun, no one would care what he wore. Maybe just show up late? Let the bosses do their bit, loosen up, then make his entrance...
Theo picked out decent jeans and a shirt, cleaned his sneakers, tried them on... The mirror reflected a tall, slightly stooped guy with unruly hair. Not bad overall, he wasn’t lacking female attention. He checked the shelf: there was still some cologne left in the bottle, so he’d smell good for the party.
He needed to cover his night shift at the cell phone store, just in case the night turned unpredictable. Theodore called Sergio, another night guard, and suggested swapping shifts. Sergio agreed surprisingly easily, saying he had a date planned for the next day and Theodore’s offer was timely.
Only then did Theodore return to his room and glance at his laptop screen. Visually, everything was as before: his barbarian, jig-dancing in place, was pressed against a stack of logs. He hadn’t exited stealth mode, but now he was squatting under the weight of four logs, trying to dance. Apparently, the ‘X’ button got stuck, causing the character to overdo it.
Behind his character stood that odd player who had been hitting the dummy, saying something. Theodore turned up the volume. “…of intellect! Do you think you’re the smartest? Smarter people have tried to level up like this! Read too much ‘Legendary Moon Sculptor’, idiot? Well, I’ll tell you, Theo, that’s author’s fiction! The developers considered this; you can’t suddenly decide you’re a passive-genius in lovemaking and level up your stats like you’re doing!”
Theodore’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. What a way for the game’s auto-translator to sanitize swear words!
A guy named Sandeboruto, if Theodore read the Latin script correctly, was passionately scolding him like an old acquaintance. It seemed like Sandeboruto was also inspired by the adventures of the hero in the mentioned Korean saga, hence his enthusiasm for beating the dummy. But realizing how labor-intensive it was, he grew frustrated. And now, he was lecturing Theo.
Sandeboruto kept talking but, for some reason, also picked up a log and started jumping in place. “Phew, phew, you’re a fool, Theo! Phew... Phew... Drop those logs... Phew... And let’s go fight mobs! Phew!”
Theodore didn’t drop the logs. The logs unambiguously indicated that Sandeboruto was wrong. Here’s what he got from this creative squat-training session:
Agility: +1.
Strength: +1.
Endurance: +1.
Spirituality: +1.
Stealth: +1.
Athletics: +1.
Dance: +1.
‘Blood and Sweat’ Achievement, 1st Rank Unlocked!
You’ve developed a primary characteristic through training! To reach the next rank, accumulate a total of 10 points in primary characteristics through training. Reward: +10% effectiveness in physical characteristic training.
‘Apprentice’ Achievement, 1st Rank Unlocked!
You’ve developed a skill through training! To reach the next rank, accumulate a total of 10 points in skills through training. Reward: +10% effectiveness in skill training.
While Theodore was examining the achievements, Sandeboruto gave up. Angrily, he threw down the log, spat, and, grunting, walked away. “What an idiot, and why are you so stubborn, barbarian?” he muttered, glancing back.
Theodore could have sympathized with a fully immersed player who was actually experiencing the physical strain, but he quickly forgot about him. He opened his barbarian’s profile. What were ‘Athletics’ and ‘Dance’? And ‘Stealth’, can it even be leveled up?
More information appeared in the character window. Previously empty blocks were now filled with three new lines:
Theo, human, level 2 barbarian
Primary Characteristics:
Strength: 8
Agility: 6
Endurance: 6
Intelligence: 1
Wisdom: 1
Spirituality: 2
Charisma: 1
Luck: 1
Skills:
Athletics: 1
Theft: 1
Stealth: 1
Dance: 1
From the skill descriptions, Theodore learned that ‘Athletics’ influenced running speed, success in dodging, jump height—essentially, everything that made a character agile and coordinated. ‘Stealth’ was the same as before, but now the chance of detection decreased by one percent. There was a base stealth level, and skill development improved it. ‘Theft’ improved through both successful and unsuccessful attempts, albeit less effectively. And ‘Dance’... purely aesthetic. The barbarian did dance slightly more refined, even the taps and claps looked more graceful. But still zero grace under four logs.
Theodore pondered how to capitalize on his success. He decided to leave the game running, but button mashing was too random for efficiency. If an action required pressing, and a repeat one more press, then for dancing and running, you just had to hold down the button. He patted his pockets, found some gum, popped it in his mouth... Then realized it wasn’t very reliable, it might come off. He went for some tape, secured the shifts. Much better!
To ensure it worked, he grabbed a few more logs. The limit for his barbarian was eight: one for each point of ‘Strength’. Almost ready.
After jogging around the training ground, he found a reliable spot: a corner between a building and a fence. Now, Theo the barbarian was surrounded by walls on three sides—nowhere to run.
“Good luck, Theo,” Theodore smiled, watching his barbarian bump into the wall.
It was time to get ready for the corporate party.