A chubby young man sat in his gaming chair, surrounded by empty soda cans and junk foods.
The true quality of a champion. Well, at least in the virtual world.
His eyes were bloodshot from another all-night gaming session, fingers twitching over the keyboard as he conquered another city.
In the game, he was someone—a top-tier leader who had led his empire to become one of the most powerful in Asia.
But in real life, he was just Luck—the overweight, broke kid who hadn't left his apartment in days.
His only connection to the outside world was a delivery app and the occasional angry knocks .
"Luck, open up!" His landlord shouted, pounding on the door.
He didn't want to move. Maybe if he ignored it, the problem would just disappear like the enemies on his screen.
Another knock. Harder this time.
"Luck! I know you're in there. Get your fat ass out of here!"
'Fat? Judgmental Prick, I'm just a bit on the heavy side,' he grumbled to himself, fingers still furiously clicking at the keyboard.
He wasn't about to let some rent-collecting tyrant get in the way of his victory. So, what if he legally owned this very building?
"I know you're there, Luck! Open the damn door! You're three months behind on rent!"
Luck's shoulders sagged, and he slouched back in his chair, staring at the screen as though it could somehow save him from the mess he was in.
The knock came again.
He let out a tired groan, dragging himself up . His knees cracked as he walked slowly to the door.
"I'm coming, I'm coming," he muttered.
His reflection in the mirror didn't help his mood—disheveled jet-black hair, dark circles under his pitch-black eyes, and a shirt that had once been white but was now on the brown side.
Especially the collar region, which had turned dark, as if it had been burned in a fire.
He opened the door just enough to see Mr. Yamagi's furious face.
"Three months, Luck. I've given you three months! You either pay up or you're out by the end of the week. "
Luck scratched his neck, trying to look as casual as possible. "Yeah, I know…but like…I've been busy, you know, with very important stuff."
"Very Important? You mean sitting around playing video games all day and ignoring reality?" Mr. Yamagi snapped, his voice rising alongside his blood pressure.
"You've got until Sunday to get your act together, or you'll find yourself sleeping on the street,"
Luck forced a grin. "How about I give you some in-game currency? Worth a fortune in the right hands."
Mr. Yamagi stared at him, unblinking.
"Sunday Luck. Don't push it." He turned and stomped away, muttering something under his breath.
As the door clicked shut, Luck returned to his chair, staring at his game.
He glanced over at the stack of bills piling up on his desk. There wasn't a single yen to his name.
'This suck.' He sighed, rubbing his temples
'Bills, rent, and problems... they could all wait, right?'
His fingers twitched. Maybe he could sell some of his in-game items to make quick cash.
He had some rare items in game that would fetch a decent price from desperate noobs.
History Empire Online—his favorite Real Time Strategy Game.
It transported players to a bizarre world where historical figures, legendary warriors, kings, and even mythical beings could be recruited as troops.
A crazy idea for a game, sure, but it was addicting. He'd spent countless hours grinding his way through battles, upgrading his territory, and collecting legendary avatars.
At this moment, he was one of the most formidable players, renowned for his genius in economics, warfare, and diplomacy.
He carefully plotted ways to expand his territory, teaming up with others and managing resources wisely to keep his kingdom flourishing.
Then he'd rally his army and launch his conquests, gaining a reputation as the "Cunning King" because he had a habit for betraying his allies whenever it suited him.
'Time to check my empire!' he chuckled inwardly, trying to ignore the fact that he was going to be evicted.
After all, what's a little eviction when you're the supreme overlord of a virtual kingdom?