[Dream no more!]/[Transport yourself into another world!]/[Live in the fantasy world just like-]
"Hey! Keep it down, you brats! Can't you see I'm watching the match?!"
I groan as I watch my grouchy boss yelling at the kids. However, I feel a bit sorry for them when they run away from the store. Besides, they didn't do anything to make him mad.
In fact, the one playing the trailer is me. And it's not any other video game trailer playing on my phone.
It's a trailer for the first VRMMO on the [Advanced Virtual Reality System].
[Isekai Online].
It's like any other fantasy MMO out there including retro ones. The big difference is that the system meant for character development runs on a [Mastery System], a skill system of sorts that customize your play style: no job classes or anything to dictate it.
It has been a month since its release and so far, the hype train for it didn't stop. The only caveat is that the latest [ADVR] console, [VeilCon] is so damn expensive! It's a miracle I got it as a gift along with the game. Although I joined the game a week after the release and the person who sent me the bundle was none other than my...
"Hey! What the hell are you goofing around for, newbie?!"
Dammit... The big bad boss noticed me! I thought I hid my phone under the counter a bit too well. Still, I can't quit this job now. Even if I hadn't fronted the cashier for a few months now. How the hell did this general store keep its lights up with that jerk around?!
"LUUUUUUCAAAAASSSSSS!!!"
WTF?! Did that bastard have to shout that loud?! Dammit, the boss is already pissed after my sneakaway trailer rewatch.
"Hey! I told you brats to- OOOOFFF!"
As I feared, a certain guy with glasses wearing green eyeglasses along with a green plaid buttoned shirt over his white undershirt, blue denim pants, and orange sneakers. I can tell who he is because of his short auburn hair that looks like he hasn't combed his bangs lately.
"Sorry! I'll buy some stuff afterward!" He quickly rushes by my side and glares at me without realizing what the hell he has done. "Lucas! I can't believe you did me in like that!"
I raise my eyebrow and ask, "Done what?"
"THE EDITS! Why didn't you tell me about them?! I could have gone in and suggested some stuff during the editing?!"
Oh, right. That.
"If I don't, you'll be the one editing without me stopping your crazy ideas, Bryan," I answered. "I get the draft is perfect, but it's better to double-check than have readers complain about the lack of logic behind the characters' actions."
"Okay. You may have a good point. But we're supposed to be a team, Lucas. A bit of clarity is a big part when it comes to collaborations."
I sigh. "Yeah, my bad. But still..."
"Hey! Why are you chattering around for, newbie?!" I was almost startled as soon as I heard my boss shouting at me. "Get your ass up and haul that inventory back onto their shelves!"
I sigh again. I have a right to be pissed at that asshole. But being pissed does no wonders with my paycheck and livelihood. Even if I try to find some free time while waiting for the inventory or customer, he will pull out some bullshit to accuse me of being lazy.
"Huh. What a charming guy." Bryan turned to me next. "If you're done, meet me at the usual."
I didn't say anything else but to wave and give him the usual from the drinks section. I wish we could chat longer, but I can feel that jerk's glare running through my spine.
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After a while, I got out of that hellhole I got out of my store uniform and back into my brown open-buttoned shirt and blue T-shirt. Then I quickly ran to the MoonCoin coffee shop nearby while trying not to look back from the dreaded place called part-time.
Once I was inside the cafe, I saw Bryan sitting at our usual table on the right with two paper cups near him.
"Congrats on surviving another day of hell, Lucas," Bryan greeted with his usual grin.
"Enough with the jokes, Bryan," I groan as I sit in front of my friend. "Still, I'm glad you didn't run away like the other kids."
"What's that supposed to mean?!" Bryan frowned before shaking his head. "Besides, did you spend months working in that store? Why the hell did you not leave in the first place? Your boss is more like Satan than a normal manager to me."
"If I do it now, I can't secure my current budget I have this month," I answer while taking a cup of latte that he ordered for me. "Rent's due this month and even if I quit, Mr. Grumpy Asshole won't give me enough severance pay as promised."
"Geez... That sounds like black company shit right there. I'm surprised no one reported him. Not even you."
I sip my latte slowly to avoid getting my tongue before I turn to Bryan. "If I rush in without a plan, then it will get worse on my end. That's how I work against those kinds of people."
"Still, you shouldn't be a pushover. You have a right to be heard as a part-time employee of the 10-Seven!" He says while pumping his arm like he's pushing weights. "You did endure his torturous orders for months now, right? Not to mention you already have a steady budget with your Sponzer and your articles."
"But they were meant for extra money, not bills and rent," I clarify. "So far, I only have 3 Sponzers. One of them is you, remember?"
"O-Oh..."
"Second, I have some competition when it comes to guides and articles at the [Isekai Travelers] fansite. With most of them being the top guides and most visited, I can't earn enough revenue than I used to." I sip my latte again. "Adding to my serialized web novel's current views and you get a recipe for financial disaster."
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I can see Bryan's eyes widen after saying all of that. "Yeesh... "Struggling" doesn't even begin to describe your living situation, Lowell."
That's an understatement. I've been struggling since the moment I left high school. From my parents' disapproval over my decision to become a writer to leaving home from Nevada once I knew it was too much for me to live there any longer to cover the college tuition and apartment rent, I didn't have a glamorous life as anyone would expect moving here in the Big Apple.
"Well, it's not like I wish to live in a big mansion like everyone else," I said while leaning back in my seat. "This is my life and no one can tell me otherwise."
"Wow, I didn't expect you to be an edge lord, Lowell."
I gasp when I hear someone behind me. When I turn around, I sigh in frustration to see who it is.
"Give me a break, Harley. It's not like I ask for a better life away from my "perfect" parents."
The black-haired man in our age chuckles as he sits down next to Bryan. "But you have an F when it comes to optimism. Sure, you're having a shitty life right now. But posting about 50 chapters online is nothing to scoff at. You're currently on the Top 50 right now on Horror and Suspense."
"Yeah, but not enough to get some readers. I don't have enough money to buy ads to promote it."
"But reviews are praising your story beats and lore. Well, except for some criticisms of your worldbuilding and twists," Bryan points out before Harley smacks him in the gut.
"I said "encourage" him, not make him feel worse!"
I groan upon hearing his whispers. "I get you want to help me, but this is my problem and I should be the one who needs to solve it. But thank you for trying."
"Hey, that's what best friends are for," Bryan said. "If you want real encouragement, how about we should steer clear of those RL stuff for now?"
"Yep. Like this one!"
Harley quickly flashes his phone to us with a forum thread that seemed to have been posted almost a month ago.
"[A High-Level Beast in a Low-Level Dungeon]?" I read it out loud. "Is this about that rumor running around in [Isekai] lately?"
"Yeah. There's an update posted and they say the beast in question somehow moved out of the dungeon the original poster mentioned," Harley explains. "However, another player reported that the same monster appeared near the
I raise my eyebrow when I hear this. "What about it? Isn't that monster supposed to be spawned in different areas like other ones including MVP bosses? I mean, someone defeated it and we might not have heard about it on social media."
"That's the thing. The monster has a unique dark blue name tag and no other monster has it. When players try to approach it, they see a warning that says it's dangerous and "cannot be found by other means". They even have screenshots of that pop-up."
Well, that changes things. But still...
"Not only that, the same monster appeared during the full moon in the game! Not before or after. During the full moon."
"As in it appeared in a few hours outside the game, right?" Bryan said. "Full moons only occur every 14 days in in-game time as opposed to the real one. So that's about 2-3 days here."
"Right on the money, Kessler! In short, what we're witnessing is a big lore mystery emerging inside the game and we might get a boatload of attention if we solve it." Harley then turned to me with a big smile on his smile. "What about it, Lowell? Sounds like an interesting subject for your next article."
Thinking about it, it does sound like a big deal. But there are too many uncertainties around it. I mean, the information came from other players' statements and there are a few that might be exaggerated for clicks. I really want to boost my articles, but...
"You don't have to pursue it if you don't want it, Lucas," Harley suggested. "Besides, according to them, being killed by that monster will give you the worst [Death Penalty] you have ever experienced before. You should give it some thought if you're still interested, though."
"Yeah, thanks for the warning, Harley. I know where I should avoid this week," Bryan yawned before sipping his Cappuccino. "I want to know more about it since it's rumored to be a werewolf of some sort, but I'm still in my 10's and I have to grind for [MEXP] to level up my [Magic Artillery Mastery]."
I chuckle at his second thoughts. "At least you're still smart enough to avoid those reckless endeavors despite your obsessive tendencies when it comes to werewolf movies. Not unlike that knight who jumped in front of us and got killed on his first visit."
I don't know the name of the knight (I do recall his name starts with an A), but Bryan and I saw him before and that's all I can recall.
"Yeah, not gonna touch that one," Bryan said. "What the hell did that guy was doing?"
We chuckle at the thought of that stupid memory.
"That definitely helps me a lot. Thanks for sharing that with us, Harley."
"Anytime, Lowell! Glad you're back to your old self."
I'm glad, too. I smile while watching both of my friends chatting about an explosion in the
Brycen Kessler and Harley Spencer.
They have been my only friends since middle school. Both of them are odd ducks, but despite my annoyance in some cases, they are the ones who make me forget the pain of reality outside [Isekai Online].
I wish I could stay with them a bit longer. Chat with them more about the game.
But reality just had to remind the shitty life I'm in right now.
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Night time falls and I yawn as I walk my ass up to the 3rd floor of the apartment building. I wish I could say Bryan and Harley are living with me. But they are staying at the college down while I can't afford to stay there. It's not because I'm broke, but I have to get by without relying too much on my deadbeat parents.
As I open the door to the leftmost corner of the hallway, I see a kitchen counter on my right with the sink filled with dishes and instant noodle cups I forgot to throw out. On my left is a small bathroom complete with a shower, sink, and toilet. In front of me is a small living room with an outdated television and sofa and a bedroom to the side. Honestly, I doubt my friends would live here in this cramped apartment. But it's cheap and has good Wi-Fi along with the basic amenities.
"Home sweet home..." I muttered to myself. "It's better than last week, I guess."
Yeah, I doubt it's true. With my boss's attitude and my work schedule being around the weekends and every Tuesday and Wednesday at night, I don't know if I can earn enough income for the rent in time.
I removed my shoes and lay down on my bed as I let out a sigh. I close my eyes for a while, trying to get enough rest before I can move on. I turn around and see my PC and a violet [VeilCon] sitting right next to my textbooks.
With a stressful day today, I expect things in [Isekai Online] will get better for me.
Unfortunately, the world of
It's late, but I should check up on it just in case.
I stand up and boot up both of my [VeilCon] and PC. While the PC is slow, the [VeilCon] is fast enough to finish booting up, which is enough for me to double-check its settings.
Once both of them are all booted up, I lay down on my bed again and put on my goggles. It should be daytime in the game right now, so a perfect time for me to log in and meet up with a few unlikeable faces.
I close my eyes and prepare to enter [Isekai Online] once more as I utter the activation phrase.
"[Dive in]!"