'I wish I could game all day,' Noa thought, lifting another heavy package and delivering it to the truck.
Today was exhausting.
But all he could think about was games and the last live stream he had watched before his morning shift started.
Noa wasn't rich by any means.
He had no friends, social status, or time for what he truly wanted.
Still, remembering how comforting it felt to hold the mouse in one hand, press the keyboard keys with his fingers, and pull the headset over his head, Noa could only sigh.
Reality was harsh for everyone.
Strangely, it seemed even harsher for Noa.
Born with nothing in a world ruled by money, he was destined to accomplish nothing his entire life.
Survival was a battle for him.
And each day, Noa kept struggling.
At 20, he was already spending his energy and time on grueling work in poor conditions. What's more, he had two other jobs besides working at the warehouse.
Despite that, he was barely getting by.
Although he was a dropout, his student loans kept increasing.
The debts his parents had left behind now fell on him, deepening his need for money.
His muscles ached from constant pressure and lack of sleep. Even his meals only served the purpose of stuffing him.
But in this hopeless situation, he had two shining stars.
One of them was live streaming and gaming in general. Every game he had touched offered him a new world with challenges he could easily overcome.
Be it multiplayer, story, or strategy games, he could beat them all with ease.
It was one of the few times he felt truly alive.
That's why he enjoyed it and dreamed of doing it full-time. The famous streamers he watched lived the lives of his dreams, but slowly, he was finding even less time to game, let alone stream himself.
Noa had tried streaming before.
But it was hard for him to gain followers in this competitive field.
He hadn't given up yet, but he was returning too exhausted from the work to reach the bed. Playing games and chatting felt like a pipe dream now.
There was one more shining star in his life.
It was brighter and sweeter than anything Noa had ever seen, and honestly, she was the only reason he could hold on this long.
The star was, of course, his younger sister Hana.
She was only ten years old. To her, Noa had to be not only a brother but also a mother, father, and pillar of strength.
The way she loved to game with him. The way she laughed when he cooked meat for her or gave extra cookies for dinner… it was enough for him to push himself.
So much so that he felt the endless hours of box carrying were worth it.
Just imagining her adorable expression when he reached home gave him energy.
However, today was harder than usual.
His body screamed louder, his bones felt rustier than his old car—one that no longer moved.
If that wasn't enough, the asshole manager had to show up. It was a bald man with quite the temper who, strangely enough, hated his guts and yelled at him every time they met.
Today was no different.
Except…
"Look at this mess! These stacks are pathetic. Get it fixed right now!" the man spoke, clearly looking down at him.
He was wearing a clean, tailored suit—a stark contrast to Noa's shabby working outfit that had holes almost everywhere.
Noa wanted to argue.
Still, the man was ready for it. "No buts. I want the job done, and you will do it even if it means sleeping here on the floor."
Hearing this, Noa clenched his fist.
He ignored the 'no buts' rule and pointed at the man in anger. "What if I don't want to?"
The manager was used to his attitude. Noa wasn't easy to bully, and that's why he wanted to mess with him even more. So he smirked, his polished shoes clicking against the floor as he stepped closer.
"Oh?" he exclaimed, glaring at Noa. "You don't want to? Then don't bother coming back tomorrow. Let's see how long you can survive without this job."
The words stabbed directly into his heart.
Hana's smile flashed into his mind. The laughter that filled the house, the way she called him the best big brother in the world—everything was at risk.
It was the first time for the manager to threaten him.
Yes, he was demanding and loud every time he spoke, but he had never intimidated Noa this way.
His hands trembled. Again.
The day got even worse. So he wanted to swing his fist to crush that smug look from the man's face.
But he lowered his arm instead. He had to.
And swallowing the words he truly wanted to utter, Noa's voice cracked as he whispered, "…fine."
"That's how you should have acted from the beginning," the man sneered and strolled away, his cologne lingering like the venom in the air.
Noa turned back to the boxes.
His body ached as he restacked them one by one.
By the time he left the warehouse, his vision blurred, his legs almost giving up.
The shabby apartment was silent when he stepped inside. Hana was asleep on the couch, a thin blanket barely keeping her warm in this cold weather.
He draped his jacket over her and gently pinched her cheeks repeatedly—softly, so she wouldn't wake up.
For a moment, his heart warmed.
She was adorable as she frowned in her deep sleep, forcing a deep smile on his face.
Then his eyes landed on his old monitor. It felt like it was whispering to him like a devil, encouraging him to play and stream one more time.
Noa sat down.
He ignored the pain his muscles were going through.
Though he was more tired than usual, he wanted a quick dopamine rush to feel alive again.
The old PC booted up slowly. Its coolers even made loud noises, but when the screen lit up, all the worries were gone.
After that, he opened his streaming profile.
His username, OvertimeOrc, appeared, and the streaming icon glowed faintly. 'I really need to sleep,' he thought.
Still, Noa hit the button: Start Stream.
The camera lit up, showing his exhausted, but now happy face. "Hello?" he whispered. "Anyone watching?"
But just before he got an answer, the world tilted and his vision finally darkened.
In a moment, the mouse slipped from his hand, and the darkness swallowed him whole.
The death wasn't as painful as he had thought.
It was just silent. Cold. Dim. And lonely.
But suddenly—
A transparent system panel materialized right in front of him.
[System Notice: First broadcast in another world begins now.]