Shower water poured over the yellowing bathroom tiles. Ian stood beneath it with eyes closed, letting cold water drench his hair and face.
Day off.
Usually slept till noon. Or if there was a sudden loading job, woke up early but half-conscious with a protesting body.
But today, woke at seven AM, on his own, no alarm, and went straight to shower.
Ian opened his eyes and grabbed the thin bar of soap. His hands moved quickly, efficiently. No time to daydream under the water like usual.
Five minutes later, he emerged with a towel wrapped around his waist, hair still wet and dripping onto his shoulders.
At the dining table, his mother had prepared a simple breakfast. Rice, fried egg, and instant miso soup. His sister, Hana, sat reading a book as always, but her eyes glanced at Ian with a curious look.
"How unusual, waking up early," Hana said while sipping soup. "Normally on your day off you sleep in."
Ian sat and started eating without answering.
Their mother smiled while adding rice to Ian's plate. "I'm surprised too. Yesterday you came home early, now you're up early. What's going on?"
"Nothing's going on," Ian replied while chewing egg.
Hana grinned. "There's definitely a girl."
Ian nearly choked. "What?"
"There's definitely a girl." Hana repeated with conviction. "You've seemed different lately. Smiling to yourself last night. Now waking up early, looking put together. There's definitely someone special."
Their mother laughed softly while wiping her hands with a cloth. "I was thinking the same thing. It's been so long since I've seen you this energetic. Who is she? Coworker? Old friend?"
"No," Ian answered quickly, face slightly flushed. "Seriously, there's nothing."
Hana and their mother exchanged glances, then smiled broadly.
"That's fine," their mother said while patting Ian's shoulder. "As long as you're happy. I'm glad to see you like this."
Ian just nodded while continuing to eat quickly. Didn't know what to say. Couldn't exactly tell them what had him energized was a VRMMO game with a trash class where he'd died over twenty times.
After breakfast finished, Ian went straight to his room, changed clothes, and left the house with a small bag over his shoulder.
"Where are you going?" Hana asked from the living room.
"Out for a bit."
"Meeting her, right?" Hana grinned.
Ian didn't answer and closed the door.
***
The morning streets were still quiet. A few elderly people jogging, some housewives shopping at the traditional market, but most people were still home, enjoying their day off the normal way.
Ian walked quickly while his hand reached into his pants pocket, pulling out a small, neatly folded piece of paper and a pen.
He unfolded the paper while walking.
There, in Ian's somewhat messy handwriting:
List:
Check grass - can it be pulled? Does it grow back?
Climb tree - how high?
Backflip - realistic physics?
Eat dirt (???)
TRY FOOD IN GAME
Ian stared at the list while occasionally adding small notes beside it with the pen. Didn't even realize he was smiling faintly, the smile of someone thinking about something absurd but serious at the same time.
If grass can be pulled, the system is super detailed.
If I can climb high trees, there's potential for vertical exploration.
If physics is realistic, then I can...
"Ian?"
That voice made Ian reflexively fold the paper and shove it into his pocket quickly.
He turned.
Minho.
His best friend stood in front of the convenience store with two plastic bags in hand, apparently just finished shopping. His face mixed surprise and amusement.
"Whoa, how unusual seeing you out this early on a day off?" Minho walked closer while grinning. "Normally you hibernate until evening."
Ian laughed awkwardly. "Yeah... had a few things to do."
Minho glanced at Ian's hand, at the pocket where Ian had hurriedly stashed the paper. One eyebrow raised.
"What was that? What paper?"
"Nothing," Ian answered quickly. Too quickly.
Minho grew more suspicious. His smile widened. "Seriously? Why does it seem like you're hiding something? Don't tell me... a love letter?"
"No!"
"Then what?"
Ian stepped back. "Look, I'm in a hurry. I'll text you later."
"Hey wait..."
But Ian was already walking away quickly, leaving Minho standing there scratching his head in confusion.
Ian only slowed his pace after making sure Minho wasn't following.
He took a long breath while rubbing his face with both hands.
Damn. Almost caught.
Not because playing games was wrong. But because of embarrassment.
Embarrassed if Minho knew he was playing a game but still weak. Still dying constantly. Still using a trash class that even NPCs laughed at.
Minho was a video editor for pro players. Worked with people who were high level, had big guilds, had millions of viewers.
If Minho knew Ian was still stuck on slimes and had an absurd list like "check grass" or "eat dirt"?
Ian wouldn't be able to handle the mockery.
Later. When I'm halfway decent, then I'll tell him.
Ian continued toward Nexus Capsule Rental with faster steps.
***
The same receptionist raised an eyebrow when she saw Ian enter again.
"You're becoming a regular, huh," she said while chewing gum.
Ian just smiled thinly while handing over money. "Five hours again."
"Capsule 14?"
"Yeah."
She printed the ticket and handed it over. "Enjoy."
Ian went up to the second floor with steps that already knew the way. Same corridor. Same capsule. Same chair.
But this time, before putting on the headset, Ian pulled out that small paper from his pocket again.
Reading it one by one seriously, like a researcher reviewing hypotheses before an experiment.
Check grass. Climb tree. Backflip. Eat dirt. Try food.
Ian folded the paper again and put it in his pocket.
"Okay," he muttered softly. "Let's go."
Headset on. Sensor bracelets locked. Power button pressed.
"Welcome back to Atlas Fall Online."
***
Ian spawned in the middle of Beginner Village as usual. But this time didn't immediately run to the hunting ground.
Walked slowly, eyes sweeping the area with full attention, like someone observing, not playing a game.
Okay. First list item: check grass.
Ian crouched at the roadside, in front of a patch of wild green grass growing beside a wooden fence.
His hand rose, fingers grasping a blade of grass.
Pulled.
SHRAK.
The grass came out, complete with roots still having dirt attached.
Ian stared at it with shining eyes.
"It can be pulled..."
He placed the grass back on the ground and waited. One minute. Two minutes.
Didn't grow back.
"So the system doesn't auto-regenerate," he muttered while making a mental note. "Means if there's a quest to collect grass, the stock is limited."
An NPC passed by and looked at Ian with a confused expression, like someone watching a crazy person pull grass for no reason.
Ian didn't care.
He stood and searched for a tree.
There was a large tree near the village square. Thick trunk, leafy branches.
Ian stood in front of it, looking up seriously.
Second list item: climb tree.
His hand grabbed the lowest branch and started climbing.
One branch. Two branches. Three branches.
The texture of the tree bark felt rough on his palms. Sometimes there were slippery parts from moss. Sometimes small twigs broke when stepped on.
Ian kept climbing until nearly at the tree's peak, about ten meters from the ground.
From here, he could see the entire village. Wooden rooftops. The bustling market. Players moving around like tiny ants.
"Damn... the view is amazing."
But more importantly, could climb this high without fall damage or invisible walls.
That meant...
Vertical exploration possible.
Ian descended carefully, then the moment his feet touched ground, immediately tried something crazier.
Third list item: backflip.
Ian backed up several steps, then ran and jumped while rotating his body in the air...
THUD!
Fell face-first.
His HP decreased slightly.
Several nearby players stopped and stared at him strangely.
Ian stood while brushing dust off his clothes, then tried again.
Until finally, on the fifth attempt, landed perfectly.
"Backflip successful."
No system notification. But Ian felt it. Momentum, rotation, gravity. Everything felt real.
"The physics really is realistic..." he muttered while smiling broadly.
Fourth list item: eat dirt.
Ian crouched again, this time on bare ground near the fence.
His hand took a handful of dirt.
Stared at it for a long time.
Am I really doing this?
But curiosity overcame everything.
Ian put a little dirt in his mouth.
UGHHH.
It tasted... yeah, like dirt. Texture like wet sand stuck between teeth.
Ian immediately spat it out with a grimacing face.
[You consumed: Dirt]
[No nutritional value]
[Status: Nauseous (minor)]
"Shit... there's actually an effect..."
But at least now he knew: you can eat anything in this game, but it's not necessarily useful.
Several NPCs who saw Ian eat dirt immediately moved away with disgusted looks.
And finally, fifth list item: try food in game.
Ian walked to the bread cart that had become his obsession since yesterday.
The old NPC with the white apron was still there, still busy tending his warm loaves.
Ian stood in front of the cart with shining eyes, like a kid in front of a toy store.
"Excuse me, sir," Ian said politely. "How much is the bread?"
The NPC turned and smiled warmly. "50 copper per piece, son."
Ian opened his inventory.
[Copper: 3]
Froze.
Three copper.
Price of one bread: fifty copper.
Ian closed the menu slowly, face slightly red.
"Sorry, sir... I... don't have enough money."
The NPC glanced at him briefly, then went back to busy with his bread without saying anything.
Ian still stood there, staring at those loaves with a hungry look.
Maybe if I ask... just a little...
"Sir, could I..."
"If you're not buying, don't block other customers," the NPC cut in with a flat but firm tone.
Ian jolted.
Several other players started lining up behind him. They all had money, all could buy.
Ian stepped back once, then twice, then turned and left with hands in pockets.
Sat on a wooden bench at the edge of the square, staring at the bright blue sky with an empty expression.
In the game, I'm poor.
In the real world, I'm also poor.
Everywhere I go, I can't buy what I want.
But then Ian shook his head, his hands clenched on his thighs.
"No. I won't give up."
His voice was quiet but firm.
"I have to get out of this situation. Whatever it takes."