[13:49 A.M., Ritcher Pub]
Inside the noisy pub, an adult server moved carefully through the crowd. People were sitting around a circular table, playing cards and drinking. Their eyes, both men and women, were locked on each other with a hungry greed for victory.
The server was about to place a drink in front of a fat man who had been losing all his bets. The fat man looked up at the server, his eyes lighting up as if he had found a new and weak person to pick on.
"Took you long enough, brat!" the fat man growled. "I waited ten minutes! Because of you, I lost my focus on the game!" Suddenly, he kicked the server's leg hard enough to make him lose his balance. The server fell to the floor with a grunt, and the tray of drinks clattered beside him.
"Tch, stupid pigs," the fat man muttered, turning back to his game to continue his losing streak, happy that he had taken his anger out on the server.
The server did not say a word. His job was more important to him than his own pride. Silently, he picked up the empty tray and the scattered glasses. He then walked back to the counter to prepare more drinks for the endless list of waiting customers.
For the next hour, he worked diligently, serving order after order. Finally, the owner of the pub called him over. It was closing time.
The owner was a fat man wearing glasses, sitting heavily on a chair. He looked old enough to retire, but the need for money is a cruel master, forcing even the old to work their bodies to the bone.
"I have heard many complaints about you, lad," the owner said, his eyebrows lowered into a stern V-shape. "And these were much harsher than the previous ones."
"I-I am sorry," the server stammered. A cold fear gripped his heart. He was terrified of losing this job. But before he could even form a plea, he heard the words he dreaded most.
"This is becoming a burden to our pub's reputation, boy. I can't do anything if the customers hate you this much." The owner sighed and waved his hand dismissively, as if shooing away a worthless object. "You're fired!"
The server felt a shocking jolt, as if the connection between his mind and body had been snapped. This was his last job, the only one he had been barely able to get. Before he could even fully understand what had happened, he found himself standing outside the pub's back door. It seemed that while he was dazed, the owner had called other workers to throw him out.
"Argh!" He grunted in pain as he landed harshly on the hard ground. His body was covered in bruises and cuts from the rough handling, but the physical pain did not matter to him. What mattered was the job he had just lost. He desperately needed the money for his mother's hospital recovery fees.
He had taken every job he could find, but was rejected by most. Finally, he had managed to get this job at the pub. And now, it was gone, too.
He began to lose all hope. Was he a burden to his own parents as well? What had he done wrong in his life to be led down this path? The answer was nothing. This world was simply cruel, filled with humans who were liars and cheats. Unfortunately, he was always their victim.
With heavy steps, he started walking towards a large bridge that connected two cities. Far below, a wild river rushed over sharp rocks. He decided to end all his suffering at once. Since it was night, no one would see him. No one would even notice he was gone. After all, there was no one who cared about him in the first place.
He stood on the edge of the bridge, looking down at the raging, dark water below. Memories of his mother surfaced in his mind. Then, without another thought, he jumped.
His body fell through the cold air and hit the hard, unforgiving rocks beside the river with a sickening thud.
---
[Protagonist's POV]
A sharp, throbbing pain pulsed through my head. How was I still alive? I just wanted to end it all for good! Just kill me already! Maybe if I hit my head one more time, it would finally be over. Just one more time...
Suddenly, a bright, blinding light flashed against my closed eyelids. Huh? Wasn't it night? Had I been unconscious the entire time? Gosh, this was so embarrassing. If anyone saw me lying by the river like a drunkard, what would they think?
I could hear a lot of murmuring and muttering sounds around me, but I couldn't make out the words or understand them. This was getting more and more embarrassing by the second!
My eyes fluttered open slowly. After a moment, they adjusted to the sharp light, and I could see clearly. What I saw around me was not normal. It was not the riverbank.
Many green creatures of varying heights stood in a circle around me, staring.
What the fuck are these things?! Where am I?! Is this some kind of sick experiment or a dream?
The green creatures around me saw that my eyes were open. They started to jump up and down, their faces breaking into wide, toothy smiles. What is even happening?!
Then, a sound so high-pitched and piercing that it hurt my ears screeched through the air. At the same time, a flat, rectangular, blue screen appeared, floating in front of my face. Words began to form on it.
[Found lost soul....connecting with it...]
[Ding! 1%.....30%....80%....100%... Complete!]
[Fetching Host's information:
Name: Sparx
Race: Goblin
Soul: Fragile
Path: Greed
Ability: Steal]
Wh-what? What is this? Why is it saying I'm a goblin!!!!