A day had passed since Luel's crushing defeat at the hands of the Rank A Ragnarok Beast, Cerberus.
He hadn't logged back into RAIDS ONLINE in the last 24 hours, afraid that another humiliation might trigger another round of anxiety or even a panic attack.
It wouldn't be so bad if Luel was the only one suffering from his condition. He'd gotten used to the symptoms over the past few months. But troubling his relatives—especially his cousin, Rammie—every time his health monitoring device sent an SOS signal was something he didn't want to keep doing.
Of course, removing the device wasn't an option. Doing so would trigger an emergency alert not only to his cousin but to his family and even the hospital—and that would likely send everyone into a panic.
Luel just didn't want to feel like a burden anymore. But right now, he was facing a dire crisis... and was seriously considering calling his cousin for help.
"I don't have any ketchup or soy sauce…"
It was nearly lunchtime. Luel had already prepared his Pork Tonkatsu Rice Bowl, only to realize he didn't have any condiments—no ketchup, no soy sauce, not even a drop.
There was a convenience store just a few streets away. But along that same route lived people who knew him—neighbors, distant relatives, and other acquaintances.
Saying hello to them a few days ago had been fine—he was with his brother, after all. But now, alone, his insecurity and distrust crept in, whispering that they were probably laughing behind his back. Laughing at how someone so full of pride had left for the capital with big dreams, only to return defeated.
Still, the desire to properly enjoy his meal triumphed over his anxiety. And so, for the first time since coming back to the countryside, Luel stepped outside on his own—hoping that most people were already eating lunch and wouldn't see him.
---
Luel arrived at the only convenience store in the area. It was a bit shabby compared to the sleek ones in the capital, but as far as he remembered, it had everything a store should have—maybe even more.
Fortunately, he only ran into people he barely recognized, which helped ease his nerves. That is, until he entered the store and was greeted by a familiar voice.
"Ohh... If it isn't Mister Honor Student."
An old man in his seventies stood behind the counter—it was Trov, the store's owner. He had known Luel since high school, back when Luel was a regular customer.
"So you're still doing well, old man Trov?"
"Of course I am, brat!"
Luel didn't mind chatting with the old man, but Trov's next words struck a nerve.
"So why are you back? Taking a vacation from work?"
Luel stood frozen, unable to respond—not even with a lie. He couldn't bring himself to say he'd quit, nor admit he was recovering from health issues.
But somehow, Trov understood his silence. He didn't press further and instead offered his usual, nostalgic catchphrase.
"Just pick what you want. If your total hits a thousand, I'll give you a 1% discount."
"Still the same cheap old man, huh?"
---
Luel browsed through the store and grabbed ketchup, soy sauce, and even a proper katsudon sauce for good measure.
That was all he intended to buy—until he reached the corner display filled with various VRMMORPG merchandise. There, he spotted a RAIDS ONLINE poster featuring Selene.
It wasn't just Selene—it was Amy, the cosplayer, dressed as Selene. Amy was a former idol who had retired over two years ago to pursue a career as a pro-gamer in RAIDS ONLINE.
The fact that Luel immediately recognized her meant one thing: he had once been a fan.
Back in his late college days, and even when he still had a job, he always watched Amy's shows and concerts. Coincidentally, the year of Luel's accident was also the year Amy retired.
"Hmm…"
He chuckled quietly, realizing how funny it was that during his long medical recovery, the thought of seeing his favorite idol again might have helped him stay strong.
Amy's long black hair beautifully contrasted Selene's short silver hair—like the moon glowing against the night sky. Before he realized it, Luel had grabbed three copies of the poster. One to display, one to keep as backup, and one just in case.
"Gonna do what with that poster, brat?"
"Shut it, old man."
"Hahaha!"
---
Back at home, Luel reheated his Pork Tonkatsu Rice Bowl in the microwave.
Seated on his usual spot on the balcony, he began eating while scrolling through his RAIDS ONLINE channel. But when he saw what was on the screen, he choked on his food in shock, nearly suffocating on a mouthful of tonkatsu.
[RAIDS ONLINE: LUCENT @ RAIDS - Channel]
[Followers: 100,000+]
[Total Views: 1,000,000+]
[Notifications: Friend Request (+99), Party Invitation (+99), Boss Raid Invitation (+99), Contract (+1)]