Chapter 39: The Pay-to-Win Boss
"Anyway, go wash up first. Yesterday, I... I went with Kouya to rescue two poor little cats, but they're suffering from a serious illness. Ordinary methods can't cure them. Can you try using Light magic to heal them?" Vigne said seriously, her hands clasped tightly together as she looked toward the still half-asleep angel.
"Huh?" Gabriel scratched her messy golden hair and let out a sleepy groan. "You woke me up for this?"
"What, as an angel, isn't it your responsibility to save two poor little cats?!" Vigne narrowed her eyes, her aura of justice bursting forth like a holy flame. The air itself seemed to shimmer around her.
Gabriel immediately flinched under the pressure, covering her mouth as she yawned exaggeratedly. "Fine~~ give me a minute, I'll wash my face and brush my teeth."
"Hurry up!" Vigne stomped her foot, her expression unyielding.
After washing her face and brushing her teeth, Gabriel wandered out of the bathroom wearing a fluffy pink sweater, and her expression filled with lazy boredom. She let out another small yawn and rubbed her eyes as if every breath was effort.
As the top graduate of Angel School, even if she had fallen from grace into the life of a hopeless gamer, the divine teachings hadn't completely left her. The memory of sacred healing magic still remained. She crouched beside the cardboard box where the two Scottish Fold cats lay, her expression softening a little as she checked their condition.
After a moment, her expression dimmed, and she sighed. "Sorry, Vigne. I can't heal them either. It seems their problem is... deeper than normal sickness. Something's wrong with their bodies themselves."
Vigne's lips trembled as she bit them, her eyes filling with guilt. She crouched beside the box, gently stroking one cat's head as it let out a weak meow.
But then Gabriel suddenly straightened up, a mischievous light flickering in her eyes. "But I can at least make them feel better, ease the pain for now."
"Gabi-chan!!" Vigne's brows shot up instantly.
"Hehehe, if you want my help, then help me finish my homework for the week... Ow ow ow! Okay okay!" Gabriel quickly surrendered under Vigne's piercing glare.
...
Gabriel took a deep breath and brought her hands together in front of her chest. A faint golden radiance shimmered around her fingers, spreading through the room like dawn breaking through the clouds. A moment later, a pair of pure white wings unfolded behind her, their feathers soft yet dazzling.
The warm air filled with light particles as she began to chant softly, and beams of holy light fell upon the fragile cats. Under the glow of Light magic, the two little creatures stopped trembling and began to move again. Their eyes grew lively, and soon they were playfully batting at each other's tails.
Gabriel let out a tired sigh, wiping sweat from her forehead. She looked around nervously, making sure no one had seen her divine display. Performing miracles in the human world could be a huge problem if witnessed.
"Gabi-chan, I'll treat you to lunch." Vigne said softly, guilt lacing her tone as she smiled with relief.
"Sure!" Gabriel grinned widely, her mood switching instantly. "I've been living off instant noodles while raiding these days. I'm sick of them already."
Vigne frowned, folding her arms. "I told you not to eat that junk! You'll ruin your health."
"Relax." Gabriel waved a hand lazily. "I'm an angel, remember? This body's maintenance-free!"
Vigne sighed helplessly. "You're hopeless."
When they returned to the apartment and stepped into Gabriel's room, Vigne froze. Her jaw dropped.
The curtains were sealed shut so tightly that not a single ray of sunlight entered. The entire room was dim, lit only by the flickering glow of the monitor. Empty instant noodle cups towered in a corner, a mountain of neglect surrounded by scattered snack wrappers, fruit peels, and energy drink cans. The air was heavy with dust and a faint smell of old food.
"Have you... not cleaned this place in days?!" Vigne shouted in disbelief.
"Well, the guild leader said I'm the team's main DPS. They can't raid without me..." Gabriel laughed awkwardly, scratching her cheek.
Vigne exhaled slowly, clearly suppressing her frustration. She turned away before she said something she'd regret and instead walked down the hall to Kouya's door, knocking firmly.
It was nearly noon. Cooking in that disaster zone was impossible. There was only one solution.
Kouya opened the door a moment later, blinking at the sight of Vigne's serious face and Gabriel's sheepish look.
"What's going on?" he asked.
Vigne bit her lip nervously. "I wanted to make lunch for Gabi-chan, but her room's a warzone. So... could I maybe borrow your kitchen, Kouya?"
She smiled faintly. "If it's alright, I'll make your lunch too."
Kouya nodded without hesitation. "Sure, go ahead."
Relieved, Vigne hurried downstairs to buy groceries, her footsteps quick and determined. The fridge had barely anything inside, and expecting Gabriel to shop was laughable. Meanwhile, the lazy angel flopped onto Kouya's couch like a cat.
"Ugh, TV is so boring these days," Gabriel muttered. After a few seconds, she stood, fetched her laptop, and sat cross-legged on the couch. Soon the rapid clatter of her keyboard filled the quiet apartment.
"Damn, died again! We just need one more person to lure the mobs!" she groaned, slapping her forehead.
She turned toward Kouya, who was calmly scrolling through news articles. Her eyes sparkled with a sudden idea. "Hey, Kouya! Wanna play a game with me?"
"Not interested," he said flatly without looking up.
Gabriel gasped dramatically. "What? How can you say that?! The Arad Continent is burning in endless war, and the Gate of Fate calls to you!"
She leaped up, striking a heroic pose. "Take up your sword! Don your cloak of adventure! Gather comrades and allies, and end the war in the crucible of steel and fire to bring peace to the land! How can you not be stirred by that?!"
Kouya blinked at her theatrics, then chuckled faintly. "Comrades and allies, huh... It's been a while since I had those." He paused, thoughtful. "Fine. I'll try."
Under Gabriel's guidance, he downloaded the client, set up an account, and began the game. The installation music blared through the speakers, dramatic and overblown.
A bright flash filled the screen. A weak, scruffy character appeared holding a rusty sword, standing in a pool of glowing water.
A radiant goddess hovered above, smiling gently. "Brave young man, go forth and create miracles!"
Kouya stared at her silently—then, without warning, swung his sword at her.
"Hey! What are you doing?!" Gabriel cried, nearly spilling her soda.
"In games, killing bosses usually drops rare gear, right?" Kouya asked calmly.
"But she's neutral! You can't even hurt her! I already tried that ages ago!" Gabriel puffed her cheeks.
"Tch. Boring," Kouya muttered.
He followed her instructions, taking quests, slaying low-level monsters, and exploring the world map. At first, it was mildly entertaining. But soon, he frowned.
"Why do others kill monsters in five hits, but it takes me seven or eight?"
"Because they're pay-to-win players," Gabriel explained casually, eyes glued to her own raid.
"Pay-to-win?"
"Yeah. They buy items with stat boosts from the cash shop. More money, more power. Simple logic." She yawned. "Anyway, I've got a raid now. You grind for a while."
Time slipped by quietly. Gabriel's clicking and Kouya's steady grinding filled the room.
Eventually, Gabriel stretched, cracking her neck. "So, newbie, what level are you now?"
"Just started the class change quest."
"Huh? Already?!" Gabriel leaned over, eyes wide.
Kouya shrugged nonchalantly. "I paid-to-win."
Gabriel blinked. "That explains—wait! Even with cash gear, you can't level up that fast!" She scooted closer, curiosity lighting up her face. Her shoulder brushed his as she leaned in. "Show me what you bought!"
"Demon's Soul Gem, War Rhapsody, Silver Lord, Sea God's Enigma Leggings..."
"My god! How much did you spend?!"
"Not much, just a bit." Kouya said, completely deadpan.
Gabriel's eyes widened. She clutched her chest as if struck by divine lightning. "That's... that's whale-tier spending!"
Then her expression softened. The usual laziness vanished, replaced by a sweet, almost angelic charm. She tugged on his sleeve, her big eyes shimmering like wet gemstones. "Big spender... carry me, pleeease~~ just one raid together... I'll even heal you properly this time!"
At that exact moment, the door creaked open—