Chapter 2: A Brother's Love and A Stroke of Luck
Ray sat at the small, rickety table in their cramped kitchen, absently swinging his legs. The scent of warm rice and miso soup filled the air, but his attention wasn't on the food. His eyes were fixed on his mother, who was hunched over the sink, scrubbing dishes with slow, tired movements.
Her hands trembled slightly, and every so often, she rolled her shoulders as if trying to shake off some deep-rooted pain.
Ray frowned. She's exhausted.
His mother had always been hardworking, but lately, it had become clear just how much she was overexerting herself. Every day, she left before dawn and came back late, barely able to sit down before another chore demanded her attention.
And she never complained.
Ray bit his lip. He knew they were poor. He knew she had to work to provide for him and Maki. But… wasn't there something he could do?
Then, a thought struck him.
His low-tier healing potion.
He had gotten it from the gacha a while ago, but he never found a reason to use it—until now.
His mother let out a quiet sigh as she rubbed her sore shoulders before reaching for a cup of water on the counter.
This was his chance.
Ray quickly took out the small vial from his pocket and, when she turned away for just a second, poured the liquid into her drink. It dissolved instantly, leaving no trace.
His heart pounded as she lifted the cup to her lips and took a long sip.
For a moment, nothing happened.
Then, he noticed it.
His mother's shoulders relaxed. The tired creases on her forehead softened. She blinked in surprise, stretching her fingers experimentally, as if some invisible weight had been lifted from her body.
"…Huh," she murmured, rolling her shoulders again. "I feel… lighter?"
Ray held back a triumphant grin. It worked.
His mother shook her head and let out a small, relieved sigh. "Maybe I just needed some water…" She smiled to herself and continued washing the dishes, but her movements were no longer sluggish.
Ray felt warmth bloom in his chest. He had helped. Even if she didn't know, even if it was small—he had done something for her.
But this wasn't enough. He needed more.
He needed to get stronger.
---
Maki's Favorite Pastime: Hugging Her Brother
Later that evening, Ray found himself cornered—literally.
His older sister, Maki, had him trapped in a bear hug, squishing his face against her chest.
"Maki… can't… breathe…" he mumbled.
Maki, a twelve-year-old girl with long, messy black hair and sharp brown eyes, grinned mischievously. "Nope! My little brother is too cute. I must squeeze the life out of him."
Ray groaned. Why did she have a brother complex?
It wasn't like he hated her attention. He actually liked being around Maki. She was strong, funny, and always looked out for him. But sometimes, she really overdid it with the physical affection.
"Maki, let go!"
"Nope."
"Please?"
"Nope."
Ray sighed in defeat. There was no escaping Maki's hugs.
After a while, she finally loosened her grip, allowing him to breathe properly. "You're too cute, Ray. What if some villain tries to kidnap you?" she teased.
Ray rolled his eyes. "Then I'll punch them."
Maki giggled. "Right, right. My little brother is sooo strong."
Despite her teasing, Ray knew she was genuinely protective of him. It was comforting, even if she was a bit overbearing.
Still, one thing was certain—Maki loved hugging him, and there was no stopping her.
---
Midnight Gacha Rolls
That night, after making sure everyone was asleep, Ray slipped out of bed and tiptoed toward the bathroom.
He closed the door, took a deep breath, and brought up his Gacha System screen.
[Rolls Available: 2]
Since he didn't roll yesterday, he had two chances. But before rolling, he clasped his hands together and prayed for five minutes.
"Please, please, please give me something good."
After finishing his prayer, he tapped the Roll button.
The screen flashed.
[Congratulations! You rolled: GOLD—Water Manipulation!]
Ray's eyes widened.
Gold pull?! WATER MANIPULATION?!
For a second, he stood frozen, trying to process what just happened. Then, pure excitement exploded inside him.
He had an actual ability now.
Suppressing a scream, he silently jumped up and down. This changes everything!
With this, he could actually train, defend himself, and get stronger.
But he wasn't done yet.
Still buzzing with excitement, he tapped the Roll button again.
[Congratulations! You rolled: 200 Million Won (Credit Card)!]
Ray blinked.
"…Huh?"
He checked the system again. The number wasn't a mistake. 200 million won. In a credit card.
His mind reeled. That was a ridiculous amount of money. They wouldn't have to struggle anymore. His mother wouldn't have to break her body working long hours, and Maki wouldn't have to worry about food.
But then, reality hit him.
I can't just give this to Mom without an explanation.
She would definitely get suspicious if he suddenly had a fortune. And if anyone found out, they might try to take it.
Ray sighed, slipping the credit card into his pocket.
This would have to wait. For now, his focus was on his new ability.
With a satisfied nod, he left the bathroom and headed back to his room.
---
Sleeping with Big Sis
As soon as Ray entered the small room, he was met with Maki's expectant stare from the tiny bed.
"You took too long," she said, opening her arms. "Come here."
Ray sighed but didn't resist. He climbed into bed, letting his sister wrap her arms around him before pulling the thin blanket over them.
Their family was poor, so they only had one small bed. But since Ray was still small, they could fit together comfortably.
Maki hummed contentedly, resting her chin on his head. "You're so warm, Ray…"
Ray rolled his eyes but secretly didn't mind. He was used to this. Maki had always treated him like a teddy bear, and honestly, it was nice.
A comfortable silence settled between them.
"…Goodnight, Ray," Maki whispered.
Ray closed his eyes.
"…Goodnight, sis."