"...So damn boring, I want to die."
Capybory Rambuloli, a capybara with a half hairy rambutan body, performed [Spinning Demon].
– "Fall into hell," in capybara noises.
But Turpperoni, a turtle inside a pepperoni pizza shell, crouched and blocked the sweep before dashing forward and performed [Thunder Fist].
– "Don't get cocky with me," in turtle noises.
Capybory was knocked mid-air, followed by a juggle combo until grounded to the wall.
10 hit combo!
Turpperoni used this chance and performed a combo ender with his [Sage Art], unleashing a powerful punch that slammed Capybory and his shell transformed into a Margherita Pizza.
Seven orbs formed behind him, coating the fist with each heavy punch.
Wall hit!
16 hit combo!
– "This is the end!" in turtle noises.
17 hit combo!
Perfect!
Turpperoni grabbed Capybory's collar before he could fall on the ground, lifting him up in the air.
– "Pitiful," in turtle noises.
KO!
Holding a controller, Seojin sighed as he stared at the screen with plain black irises filled with scribbling lines like worms.
"Seriously, how boring…"
The game he just played no longer gave him any kind of enjoyment. In fact, he had only played it again after a year just because of its nostalgic feeling.
Throwing the controller across the room, he reached for his phone and opened a light novel site.
If there was another hobby of his, that would be reading novels and indulging himself to the beauties and surprises of fantasy worlds.
But almost every novel nowadays bored him to death!
Truth is, there was only a single novel saved in his library, and that too, had ended just yesterday after a whole seven years.
Staring at the screen, his face contorted as he read a question posted by the author in the community server:
"If you were given to create a new character in this novel, who and what would your talent be? The first reply would be the backlash of your talent."
[Comments: 76]
A cringe question, if he dared say.
Coming from an author whose novel was serialized for seven years, yet the readers per chapter only peaked with 2 digit numbers.
Except the first 100 chapters of the novel, where the reader count peaked around three digits.
The question was posted yesterday, but Seojin was still hesitant to answer. It's not that he was not sure who and what his character would be, but afraid that the first reply would put him at a great disadvantage.
For example,
[Xiana :3] Xiana, a pretty furry with a perfect ideal body. Eternal Youth.
–> [Vainy] is a femboy :3
Growl!
His stomach told him that he was hungry, had not digested a single grain of rice since last night.
Grumbling, he began to walk outside while typing the 'ideal character' in his mind to distract his stomach.
Tap, tap!
[Seojin] Seojin, looks exactly like me and is filthy rich like me. As talented as me.
Tap!
[Comments: 77]
He couldn't think of a better character than this.
And everything about it was true. Having a mother that is a top model of the country, and a 'biological' father who is also the most admired and respected attorney of the country.
Naturally, he had inherited good genes.
He is also filthy rich— or should be filthy rich if he had not been spending them to read premium chapters and newly released games, resulting in his mother reducing his weekly allowance.
If he has one flaw, Seojin is a shut-in.
Although he had graduated as a valedictorian in both primary and high school, he had dropped out of college two years ago as he had no drive to pursue law.
His father banished him, branded him as an incompetent son, and gave him two years to re-think his decision, and that two years would end tomorrow.
"Heh. I really am a genius. This way, no one could give me a backlash that is exclusive to my character and his talent."
He smirked as he picked up a cup of instant ramen and approached the counter.
After all, no one knows him online, meaning they would not have any idea about what he looks like, his wealth, and his talent— and would end up forever writing a backlash.
–> [mikaeljaxon] skibidi sigma rizz sus gyatt ohio npc
Or so he thought.
"That would be a thousand and five hundred won, sir," the cashier said after scanning the instant ramen but Seojin didn't hear it.
The only thing in his mind was that he had not expected this reply at all! He was frustrated. In fact, he was the only one frustrated as the other replies even glazed the first one.
–> [itsnotronny] bro, nice! ts so tuff *wilted rose emoji
–> [nine] eleven! eleven! over ten!
–> [adieu] goodbye, seojin.
–> [sonikisnotacreep] are u a hedgehog? can i lick your feet?
–> [square] i can draw your thighs xXx
There was no serious reply among them at all!
"Sir!" the cashier raised her voice, snapping back Seojin to reality. "That would be a thousand and five hundred won."
"Ah. Just a minute, I'll scan the payment."
He scanned the code displayed behind the monitor but it failed; he had no balance left on his e-wallet.
Searching for his wallet, he could not find it anywhere in his pockets! He was busy typing the character that he had forgotten to bring his wallet before going out.
In the end, he used his looks!
"Can you… uh… cover for me just this once? I'll pay you. In fact, I'll give you my number too, so—"
"I am truly sorry, sir, but I can't do that," the cashier replied with a calm voice.
"Seriously? Then I'll treat you to dinner tomorrow. How about it?"
He was not lying. Tomorrow is Monday, and his mother sends him the allowance every morning of that day. He had nothing else to do anyway, so it wouldn't be a bad choice to invite a beauty to dinner once a year.
"I am truly sorry again, sir, but I have a boyfriend," the cashier replied with the same tone, unbothered by Seojin's seduction. "Please step outside. If not, I'll have to call the cops."
"Ah."
Coming out of the convenience store with nothing in hand, he scoffed and kicked a random piece of stone.
"Damn it! It's just one cup of instant ramen, what's with the fuss?"
Growl!
His stomach growled again.
Looking at his phone, he was just about to message his mother to perhaps send his allowance tonight, but suddenly—
Ding!
7
A number appeared on his screen, overlaying the other apps.
"What the fudge—?!"
Ding!
77
Ding!
777
With each ding, the number multiplied; with each multiply, a liquid-like substance poured down from his nose.
Ding, ding, ding!
SEVEN SEVEN SEVEN SEVEN SEVEN SEVEN SEVEN
He couldn't take it anymore. A saying goes, "never joke with a hungry man" and Seojin was very, very hungry so he slammed the phone on the ground.
After a while, he picked the phone back and thankfully there was no crack. It also returned to normal with no more sevens and vibrations.
But, suddenly…
Bang!
The phone exploded in his hand and black smoke flowed out from the speakers. His instincts immediately threw it across the road. His hand didn't burn though, but the shock rattled him.
However, that black smoke slowly thickened, engulfing his vision as he began losing sensations of his surroundings until all he could see was a complete darkness.