7 01 07 - A Red Player’s Greed

"Hah.. I know it's just a Virtual reality game but.. hah- this is tiring."

I groaned painfully, holding my back as if I was some old man with back pains. We took a rest under the shades of the trees, the village was nearby and the forest was on a hill so it was a pretty nice view from here. I replenished my energy, by eating like how I would in real life. It even tasted like actual bread with honey.

Kyun was doing the same beside me, eating before standing up with a sigh.

"I can see my mom's text coming in, she's telling me to get off already."

He groaned. Even though he looked like he was my age, I somewhat forgot that he was also just a senior high kid.

"Go get off then before you get in trouble you child."

I made a weird face with one hand on my mouth, teasing him that he still had a bedtime. He just looked at me with pout before waving.

"Fine I'm going, see you tomorrow, at least after your work."

I nodded and waved goodbye, I had work in the morning but I'm sure I'd be okay sleeping a little later.

I realized I still had to go meet the farmer to finish up his quest, even though I could leave now, it'd be nicer to have my own skills already rather than just trying to find people to copy skills.

I nodded to myself thinking it was the greatest idea before I pulled open my statues window to put the state points i received since I was level 5 now.

Most of it just went to strength and health, some on intelligence in hopes to increase my mana.

Then again, as I grabbed the necklace that wrapped around my neck, I had this, which Nel gave me for finishing that task pretty early.

Suddenly without notice I felt a sharp cold dagger around my neck, I froze as the man behind me began to talk.

"I need to confirm something. Do you have the borrower's skill?"

I flinched, knowing damn well I wasn't going to tell him. The moment itself already showed it would be the wrong choice to do so. I was silent before getting the courage to speak.

"I don't know what you're talking about, what's the borrower's skill?"

I spoke in hopes he doesn't realize the lie, but the man seemed to already know.

He pushed me away and I turned instantly with my fist up, I had to figure out the right moment to pull out the sword I had. I shouldn't have put it back in my inventory.

"Doesn't matter, I just need to take your account from you, Lee Gihyuk."

A shiver ran down my neck as this random man knew my real name, and as far as he knew, Kyuk had only called him hyung and not his real name.

"How do you know me? Why are you obsessed with the skill?"

I took the moment to pull out my sword before he suddenly rushed in to take a stab, but I was quick enough to block it with the sword.

"It's what I wanted for almost 2 years and a mere newbie was the one to get it?"

He was clearly angry, as the yellow eyes from the hooded man shined. The other clearly towered me over height.

There was a part of me that wanted to just give it up and give him my account, or the skill even though he didn't know how. Then there was the other side that didn't want to do just that, that didn't want to give up the luck I received, the easy way out of their debt and to give my mother the lovely life she deserved.

"Too bad, you took to long."

I spoke as pushed him back, he had a tighter grip on his dagger now.

"Give it now or I'll take it by force. Even if I have to go out of game for it."

He growled and truth be told, I was beginning to be scared, but instead of pleading and giving up, why not bluff it up?

"Are you that scared that you can't beat me in game?"

He was confused, but seeing how this guy was, he probably had some high pride.

"Are you some rich kid? You gonna send your guards to get me because you can't beat me yourself?"

He was clearly getting angry, opening his palm like he was about to cast a spell, he then shouted in anger.

"I'll show you! I don't need those underlings to beat a weakling like you!"

Good news is, I don't think he'll be coming to kill me in person, bad news is, he's been throwing lightning bolts at me, trees were already burning when they were hit.

"Wait calm down! Breather breather!"

I shouted as I continued to run, blocking it time to time with the sword. Man this sword is amazing, that it could even block magic. Well it was one of the top knight's sword after all.

"What kind of sword is that?! What the hell!?"

The other guy was clearly getting pissed by the minute, then I had an idea, wasn't this a good idea to try out my skill? I whispered to myself,

"skill borrow."

To avoid the guy noticing as a window popped up.

.

Skill borrow has been activated.

First skill in sight or physically contacted will be the skill borrowed.

.

"I'm a PK! Killing you is no problem to me!"

He shouted as his yellow eyes began go glow red, he was chanting again, something much worst than the lightning from before. He showed so much greed in his eyes.

"Is this game the place you let your anger out? Your anger from your life outside of this game?"

I spoke clearly and loudly enough for him to hear me, and I guess my words were enough to shock him out of focus as the skill, which was a large explosive beam with lighting that swirled around it, coming straight at me as I was quick enough on my feet to avoid it.

"Jesus, this kid has no mercy."

.

Skill borrower activated.

Skill borrowed - Thunder's rage.

To activate the skill, please reach out your hand and say the skill's name.

.

I took no time to hesitate and was fast to use the skill while the man was still confused and shocked.

"Thunder's rage!"

Oh god saying it out loud felt so embarrassing, it was so cliche, like your typical anime tropes. Even though I felt shy, it still helped me as I caught the guy off guard with his own skill.

It was enough to take a lot of damage and I took this time to just run.

"What the!?"

I heard him shout from behind me but I just kept running back to the town with no hesitation. I panted heavily, once again, even in game it made it be so real.

I looked back behind, he didn't seem to be following. Why was he so interested in this skill? I get that it's pretty OP, but to the point of stalking me? What kind of spoiled rich kid is that-

I let out a sigh before pulling up the game window for the skill that I just borrowed to understand it more.

.

Borrowed skill - Thunder's rage

Info - A mix of two chemicals creating a large explosion directed towards the target followed by purple/blue lightning.

Specks - paralyze for 2 mins, confusion for 2 mins, blindness for 1 mins.

Understanding - current percentage is 15%

Damage - 200 dmg with 15 dmg from lighting shock for 8mins.

.

"I mean, this skill is already great, why does he want mine?"

I grumbled to myself, but it made sense why he wasn't following right away, but he could come anytime soon, so I decided I'll end the gaming session for now.

I logged off quickly, tiredness and stiffness was all over my body, I've been playing for over 3 hours now probably, and I didn't even get to go to Nel because of that guy.

He was strong and had good items, I wonder if he's popular. I saw his hair and clearly saw his yellow eyes so maybe Hyuk might now, I'll probably ask him tomorrow after work.

For now, I should probably get some sleep, it's 9pm already anyways, and I have work in the morning.

I went for a quick shower first before laying down in bed, passing out pretty fast. Guess the tiredness came to me.

Soon it was morning, and I had about an hour to get ready for work. I did a quick stretch, groaning slightly before getting ready, a simple sweatpants and sweatshirt. Then grabbed my bag that had my uniform and other things I might use, and soon I was off to go to work.

It was just a typical day, people came in for snacks and such, some were nice, some were rude. My shift was to end at 4pm, it was just a gentle day. Until I noticed a man walking around outside staring at me.

The man had a hate that covered his face and a slight mullet. He had black hair, for some reason he gave the same vibe as the guy from the game. I didn't hesitate to pull my phone up and the guy was fast to walk away the moment he saw that. He wasn't, trying to fight me was he?

I mumbled to myself before a old woman knocked on the counter asking for me to ring up her items.

"Oh right, sorry bout that."

I just smiled before doing what I'm supposed to be doing.

After a while, it was close to my shift and my co-worker, Hyuk was coming in. I gave him a small wave asking him to come over here and he was fast to come over.

"What is it hyung?"

He asked as took a deep breath.

"Do you know a PK in The Land of Oasis? He has yellow eyes and I think white hair."

I asked and the boy blinked looking surprise.

"Why what happened? Did you get attacked?"

Seems like he does know about something.

"Yeah, uh, he wanted to knight skill."

I can tell him about the other skill, can't help but be wary of everyone, plus I want to focus on earning money, what if he keeps asking to go on raids... wait that would work... while deep in thoughts I was snapped back to reality when I heard the boy begin to talk.

"Of course it was because of the skill, the only PK that describes what you said is Red Ai, he wants to have the strongest skill sets."

Red Ai I repeated to myself, thinking before speaking.

"That doesn't make sense though, how would he get my skill?"

He thought for a moment before speaking again.

"He has a gambler skill, and he somehow makes people bet their skills, which he can then get."

Makes them? I guess when he tried to fight me, it was probably torture in a way till a bet my skill. I let out a small groan.

"He's going to be troublesome.."

I mumbled to myself before I noticed a customer coming in. I told Hyuk to hurry off and get changed since it was only a few minutes before I was off.

Once he was done, we switched up and I said my goodbyes then headed back home. Getting some chicken on the way for dinner again.

When I reached home, I made sure to sneak away fast so I wouldn't be seen with the chicken and have to share again.

Once in my room, I got changed and ate, but I was also searching through my phone to know more about "Red Ai." There were many who either got their money or skills taken away by him.

"Wow, kind of brutal, isn't a game supposed to be for fun?"

I spoke to myself, but I couldn't even say anything since I used to rage rather than have fun in old games- Anyways, from these info, he was obviously dangerous.

"Hope he keeps it in game, seem like he has a lot of ego though so he probably will."

I licked my fingers clean then laid down in bed, rubbing my full stomach.

"I need to focus on finishing the quest with Nel so I can leave the main village, and be able to look around the actual game and experience it.."

I mumbled to myself.

"But a nap first.."

I hummed before closing my eyes, falling asleep for a quick nap before going back into the game.

To be continued...