It was Saturday and the time was around 11 AM.
The sun reached its peak and released too much. Since Ling's house had no ceiling and the distance between their roof was not high, that's why it was hotter inside.
Ling and Akai were sitting in the old wooden chairs while having their lunch. "You look so tired, brother Ling. It would be better if you rest today and ask your boss to have a day off." She said worriedly, knowing her brother doing everything he could just to earn some money.
Of course, she tried to ask her brother to work also so that she can somehow help him financially. However, no matter how many times she insisted Ling has the same answer which was NEVER.
Or to be exact, Ling would like his sister to focus on her study as he knew how was hard to study and work at the same time. Yes, as much as possible, he doesn't want his little sister to suffer just like what he was experiencing right now.
"You know that's not possible, Aika. What would we eat if not go to my work?" He asked and take a sip of his black coffee.
"I'm saying here it's not bad to have some rest even once a week. Plus, aunt Morga gave us allowance." She responded.
"Just use the money for yourself, okay? For sure, there are a lot of things you have to pay for in your school. Or, you can use that money to hang out with your friends." Ling said nonchalantly.
"Eh, what I would do that? You are killing yourself just to earn money, and now you are saying that I should spend it? What a joke." She replied.
Aika was getting upset every time her brother was only focused on her, not too him. Why? She wasn't blind to not noticing all the worn clothes of his brother. Plus, the uniform he already wearing since his second grade.
"Haha! Calm down, Aika, I'm just teasing you." Ling said, then looked at her as she remembered something. "Aika, may I borrow your phone for a bit?"
Aika stopped scrolling and held her phone with both hands. "Why?"
"As your brother, I would like to check if you have a boyfriend."
"Brother... I'm too young for that! And even though there are some guys trying to impress me, still, I have no time to entertain them!" She answered straightforwardly.
And once again, Ling chuckled. "Hahaha! Why are you being so defensive?" After he wiped the tears that formed in the corner of his eyes, he added these words. "I'm just kidding, Aika. My phone was destroyed, that's why I'm borrowing yours. I just need to tell something to Hary."
Aika clicked her tongue while giving her phone. "You can borrow it without teasing me. Here!"
Soon, Ling used his media accounts to message Hary. Well, this was the day when decided to play, he was informing them so that they would meet inside the virtual world.
Since Ling's screen name has just 5 letters, both of them decided Hary will be the one who added him as a friend inside the game. With that, they were allowed to see if someone was online and sent messages to others.
Meanwhile, he stood up and back Aika's smartphone. "Here you go, thanks."
"Welcome-"
"But wait, who's sweetie pie that chatted you?" He smirked.
"There's no such thing!" Since Aika reached her limits, she kicked her brother back to his room. "That's for ruining my day!"
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On the other hand, Ling was slowly rubbing his back, enduring the pain given by Aika's solid kick. Nevertheless, he still had a broad smile on his face as he felt satisfied every time he successfully teased his sister.
"I missed teasing her."
Ling seated on the small bed, then took the black VR helmet and gloves not too far away from him. At this point, he had 6 hours to play this game so he was expecting to earn higher today than the last time.
"I already told to Hary that I left my character at the Rocky temple, so there's nothing to be worried about."
As soon as he wore the helmet and gloves, Ling immediately clicked the green button to log in to the game. A distorted light was flashing in his eyes, that was why he was quite dizzy.
"Argh."
He moaned in pain before hearing rankers that were having a conversation not too far away. When their eyes meets, he realized those were the rankers he met before he logged out.
"Are kidding me? How long they're waiting for me here?" He asked himself inwardly and plan to leave this place as much as possible. However, the five rankers were fast as it seemed like they already plan this all along.
Hey, how could you let us wait here?!
Do you know how long we are standing here?
Are you the ranker who has the screen name of Blood?
Are you a pro player? This is just your smurf account, please tell us.
The five rankers asked him multiple questions at once, enough reason for Ling to not respond and blank for a second. Eventually, he shook his head, trying to fool them.
"N-no, I'm not blood. W-what the hell you guys are talking about?" He stuttered.
"No, you are! We can't be wrong, by simply comparing your clothes and the clothes of the ranker in the video clip, it's exactly the same!" Xyera said in a high tone as she wanted to ask for some tips on how to become a stronger ranker alone.
At this point, Ling can't find out which woman in his class is. If he remembered it correctly, the three young men sitting in the front row were the rankers here right now. However, he can't recall if there was a woman among them.
Ling looked at the screen popped out from the screen as someone added him along with a simple message.
[Hey, it's me, Hary. I'm heading there right now, so wait for me.] (Message from Harinator)
Ling bit the bottom of his lips as he was not comfortable standing next to the people who were bullying me at the school. It can't be helped, he looked around and started to run into the much deeper part of the Rocky temple.
Swoosh!
Of course, the rankers were clueless why he was running away. However, they still chased him as soon as he moved his legs.
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Ling ran for almost five minutes. Fortunately, he managed to lose them thanks to the added agility given by the [Shadow] passive skill.
Thud!
When he was about to stop. Suddenly, he bumped into someone which made him roll to the ground several times. But the main here was, that the person he bumped remained in his position just like nothing happened.
First, he rubbed his head as it hit the wall. Eventually, he bowed to that person as if it was his fault. "Sorry, I'm not looking at my way-"
He can't continue his sentence after he saw a woman who had silky white hair, and silver armor, and was armed by a thin sword that was coated with a power that looked like lightning.
"Who are you?" The woman asked him in a cold tone.