Episode 8

The digital map appeared, and Ferzo searched for the nearest route to his dorm.

A path leading to his dorm materialized, albeit one meandering through alleys and behind other people's houses, but it was of no concern, so long as he could arrive quickly. He traversed this route and sure enough, what took thirty minutes that morning only took seventeen on the way back.

He'd barely arrived at the dorm when a meatball soup vendor passed by.

"Hey, wait up!" Ferzo called out. The vendor stopped.

"How much for one serving?" Ferzo asked, approaching.

"Twenty thousand," said the vendor.

"Make it fifty thousand’s worth for me, I want a big meal," Ferzo requested with a smile.

"Alright!" the vendor replied, opening the lid of his cart and scooping the meatballs into a plastic bag.

"Just a sec, I’ll get my money," said Ferzo, entering his house.

[Click here to open]

[Click]

[Are you sure you want to take it?]

[Yes]

[No]

[Click Yes]

Ferzo retrieved his money, taking a bit extra so he wouldn't need to get more from the system later if he wanted to buy something else.

"Here’s the money," said Ferzo, handing over fifty thousand.

"Thank you," the vendor replied, accepting the money and handing over a plastic bag filled with meatball soup.

"You’re welcome," Ferzo answered cheerfully, taking the meatballs into his house.

[Ding Ding]

[Your balance has been reduced by 50,000]

[Your remaining balance is 2,100,000]

Ferzo changed his clothes and hung up his school uniform, then grabbed a plate from the kitchen which the owner had provided, and brought it out. He was eager to dine on the meatball soup, a treat he’d only had a few times and that he indulged in almost every four months.

Ferzo poured the meatball soup into a bowl.

[Click here to open]

[Click]

A laptop was displayed, spinning on the screen; he smiled.

[Are you sure you want to take it?]

[Yes]

[No]

[Click Yes]

Ferzo took his laptop, looking pleased, then set it down and pressed the power button.

Eating his meatball soup patiently, Ferzo waited.

"Hm… this is really delicious, I should become a regular customer of that meatball vendor," Ferzo nodded approvingly.

The laptop booted up, and he began searching for a game he’d been wanting to play. His life felt full of color now, no longer tinged with previous sadness.

Ferzo started playing a game he’d longed to enjoy. Some hours later,

[Ding Ding]

[New Mission]

[Finish your math homework]

[Reward: 2,000,000]

[Mission status: In progress]

"That’s right, I shouldn’t get too carried away with fun, even though life has been made easier by the system," said Ferzo, taking out his school bag and fetching his math book.

Ferzo began to work on his math homework, as his teacher had assigned it in school. Difficult though it was, he managed to deal with it by using the examples provided.

There were ten problems to solve, each with lengthy solutions, taking up an hour. Sunlight streamed through crevices into the dorm, gradually setting. At that time, facing directly towards the sun, Ferzo stepped out with his laptop to record the sunset.

The view was breathtaking, marred only by the house in front obscuring the sunset. Someday, if he had his own house, Ferzo wanted one where the sun rose in the back and set in the front, unobstructed by any structure hiding its beauty.

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