Chapter 48: Hard work and Dead end
1204 Words
My name is Sasaki Rin, a previously third-year student. Living in the crowded city of Tokyo. Schooling in the day and working at night. I do have friends but I rarely go out with them to hang out. I thought it was a waste of money. I worked my hardest so that I could go to a proper university after I graduated in the third year.
Day by day, things are the same. Spring, summer, fall, and winter. One year could loop around and nothing significant is truly happening in my life. I felt like I was some kind of side character in a story.
I sigh upon realizing.
Passing by a theater in the shopping mall. I turned my head toward a movie poster. Staring at the actors and actresses who seemed to be of the same age as me.
They are so lucky in life… Pretty faces, people like them, and more importantly, they have goals fulfilled in life already. Their life has direction. Only a few people were able to live in a dream. I’m sure I’m not one of them.
Comparing myself to them is unhealthy for my mental health, but I can’t resist myself.
If the real world is a game. The world sure has balance issues... For example, people born without education in countries are likely to be poor in the future. Most people are educated so that they could become mindless workers in the future. Replacing the mindless workers who have already become old.
Reflecting on myself through the mirror. There was a huge possibility I would become like them in the end.
But what is it? What do I want to do in life exactly? People living their dream life knew exactly what they wanted to do in life. I don’t have any dreams… Therefore, I don’t have a direction or goal. It causes me to get into a stable flow of life.
I hated my reality of being unable to have a dream.
Escaping reality, I became interested in playing VRMMORPG. A world where I could become anything. The possibilities were endless. I could become a hero or villain. Fighting monsters and having fun, unlike in the real world.
Playing games has become my form of escapism in reality.
But it didn’t take me very long. I realized that I even have this world. There are only a few chosen ones who could become great.
I was at a high level, but I was defeated by a rookie sword user. My level is significantly higher than hers and I have better equipment too. I was killed by one strike of her sword. The girl was named Kaede. She was dubbed to be the sword demon or the sword user that bends the system because of her impossible-like feats.
This virtual world and the real world are not that far from each other. The inner core of this world is the same as the real world. The talented always go to the top and those who are not at rock bottom suffer.
That time I gave up… I gave up on life.
I fell asleep playing the game. Later I found myself in a different world. I threw my life into the real world and decided to start a new life in this world. In this world, I’ll find my purpose and do my best to grasp it.
Many things happened, like meeting an old gardener and his granddaughter. I was appointed to become a gardener at a certain mansion. To have a peaceful life I need money. Being a knight might be dangerous, but it sure pays a lot. I decided to become a knight. Then, while in my training, I met her, the girl who became my goal. Her name is Belle and I would like to make her the happiest girl in the world. She is always gloomy in her room reading books. I saw her talking to her toys and I found it very cute. She looks like a hamster when she’s eating bread. She has some issues representing her emotions, but I can feel that she is a very kind person.
Holding her hands, I promised her that I would take her hands.
I’m not insecure about other people's achievements anymore. When I found my purpose, nothing was more important than her. Everything was erased and all I did was for her.
As I look at the beautiful full moon, All I think about is her. After my mission ended, I got promoted to a knight. I’ll marry her and we’ll live a peaceful life together.
One year later…
Life in the fortress was hard. Our job is to eliminate the monsters making their way inside the human empire.
I can’t lose… Someone is waiting for me after all.
The war between humans and humans started. The battle was fierce and many lives were sacrificed. The sword demon faced the dark lord and won. The world became a slightly better place because of their victory. As a reward for my hard work as a knight. I became a nobleman. Rewarded wide land and riches. With status and wealth. I could finally go back to Belle and take her hand.
Finally, I’m able to see her again.
…
Lay down on the ground. I could feel my body burning hot. Blood was gushing out from my belly. The carriage I was in was assaulted. I’m unable to do anything.
“Who are you?”
I asked, lifting my head.
From the shadow, I saw a big man wearing luxurious clothes. She was accompanied by knights with the Arsland kingdom crest on their armor.
“You must be Rin… The man who stole my precious Belle.”
When I heard his voice, I found out that it was the prince. The fiance of Belle. Belle didn’t want to be with him from the very start. I didn’t steal her from him.
“My beautiful finances are not facing me because of you… All because of you, I’m unable to do anything to her. SH is avoiding me and looking at me with disgust because of you. All because of you.”
He shouted pathetically as he stomped my body continuously. This man would be a piece of cake if my body was in his prime. Unfortunately, I was badly injured by the knights with him. I’m outnumbered.
“I won’t let you have Belle.”
“Hahahahaha! What could you do?! Just a mere low rank noble like you can’t do anything to me. You’re just a mere low-life person. I’m the prince… It was my privilege to marry as many beautiful girls as I wanted.”
This man is disgusting.
The world is created unbalanced. Why does god let this kind of thing slide? This is unforgivable. Why was this kind of man given such power?
I asked the universe the same question.
My death wasn’t a pleasant one. My body was burned down in flames. Before I die, all I wanted to see was Belle. All I wanted to see… All I wanted to realize. All my dream of being with Belle.
“Belle… I’m sorry… I broke another promise.”
- Writer
