The restaurant glittered with warm golden lights, the kind that made everything look expensive—even the people.
Reus stood outside the glass doors, staring at his reflection.
Cheap shirt.
Faded jeans.
Shoes that had seen too many rainy days.
Inside, laughter echoed.
His former classmates.
For a moment, he considered leaving.
Then his phone buzzed.
**"Don't tell me you're too poor to even show up?"**
Another message followed.
**"Relax, we'll pay for your food"**
Reus clenched his jaw.
"…Just one night."
He pushed the door open.
---
The moment he stepped in, heads turned.
Not because he was impressive.
But because he *wasn't*.
"Yo… he actually came?"
A man in a branded suit leaned back in his chair, smirking. His name was Alan, the son of the Parmean CEO, who runs a medium-sized hotel franchise company.
"Reus, right? Damn… you didn't even upgrade your life a bit?"
Laughter spread across the table.
Reus forced a smile. "Long time no see."
Tasha, a girl he once liked, covered her mouth, whispering loudly enough, "He looks even worse than before…"
Another voice chimed in, "Bro, what are you studying now? Or did you drop out already?"
"College," Reus replied quietly.
"Oh?" Alan raised an eyebrow. "Which one?"
Reus hesitated.
"…Just a normal one."
"Ahhh, broke college."
More laughter.
---
They didn't stop.
Every question wasn't curiosity.
It was a weapon.
"Got a girlfriend?"
"No."
"Of course not."
"Income?"
"…Part-time."
"How much? Enough to eat?"
"HAHAHAHA—"
The table erupted again.
---
Then came the final blow.
Alan snapped his fingers at a waiter.
"Hey, add one more seat. Don't worry—" he glanced at Reus with a grin, "—I'll cover his share."
The words hit harder than a slap.
Reus stood there, frozen.
Not welcomed.
Not respected.
Just… tolerated.
Like charity.
---
"I… I suddenly remembered I have something."
He turned.
No one stopped him.
Why would they?
To them, he was just tonight's entertainment—and the show was already over.
---
Outside, the night air felt cold.
Reus walked without direction.
Past neon lights.
Past crowded streets.
Past people who actually had somewhere to go.
---
By the time he reached his tiny rented room, his legs felt numb.
The door creaked open.
Inside—
A mattress.
A fan.
Silence.
That was his world.
---
He collapsed onto the bed.
At first, he didn't cry.
He just stared at the ceiling.
But then—
"…Why is my life like this?"
His voice cracked.
"I didn't do anything wrong…"
Tears slipped down silently.
"I study… I work… I endure…"
His fists tightened.
"…so why am I still the one everyone looks down on?"
---
The laughter from earlier echoed in his head.
**"Too poor to show up?"**
**"We'll pay for your food."**
**"HAHAHAHA—"**
"Shut up…"
He covered his face.
"Just… shut up…"
---
Exhaustion finally pulled him under.
Tears still wet on his cheeks—
He fell asleep.
---
Darkness.
Silence.
Then—
A sound.
**[Ding.]**
---
Reus's eyes snapped open.
"…What?"
The room was the same.
But something—
Felt different.
---
**[System Initialization Complete.]**
A glowing blue screen appeared before his eyes.
Floating.
Unreal.
---
**[Detecting Host Emotional State…]**
**[Extreme humiliation detected.]**
**[Extreme desire for wealth detected.]**
---
Reus froze.
"…Am I dreaming?"
---
**[Binding Condition Met.]**
**[Wealth Ascension System Activated.]**
---
His heartbeat exploded.
"What… is this…?"
---
The screen flickered.
Then—
Words appeared that would change his life forever.
---
**[Newbie Reward Granted]**
**[You have received: 10,000 USD]**
---
Silence filled the room.
Reus stared at the number.
His breathing stopped.
"…Ten… thousand…?"
---
**[Would you like to check your balance?]**
---
His hands trembled.
The humiliation.
The laughter.
The helplessness.
All of it—
Still burned inside him.
---
But now—
Something else was rising.
---
Hope.
---
"…Yes."
---
**[System Fully Activated.]**
---