The Unemployed Game Master

"Hah... what should I do today?"

My name is Highessn Harmberg, a 25-year-old living my own life. It's not a pleasant life. After graduating from school, I decided to move to the city, seeking opportunities to work and succeed.

Yes, that's how it should be, but... it has been 8 years since I graduated. And getting a job is very difficult in this advanced world; I don't have many opportunities.

Only the money from my parents helps me survive, but they also want me to succeed and support my own life.

That morning, on the 20th of the year 2089, nothing special happened. Everything was the same; my life was just that of a bored unemployed person.

My stiff legs wandered through the city, not too busy for today. But, it can be sure that in a few hours, people will fill the streets going to work.

Some of them have already started getting busy, wearing ties and neat suits for a decent life.

"It would be nice if I had a life like theirs, but right now, I'm just..."

I can only feel frustrated. I found a bench on the edge of the park, a perfect escape to release the fatigue of this life.

"If only I had a chance, I would fight for this life."

But, it's still just words. I don't know how many times I've said words to myself that success will come, but until now, I'm still a loser without a future.

Life feels boring enough; maybe only death will help me get out of this mess.

I gaze at my stiff hands. I don't know how long I can endure this. Every day, I can only hope. In the past few months, even the monthly money my parents used to send has stopped coming.

They must be very disappointed to have a child like me who can only spend money.

For 20 minutes, I contemplate there. The sudden appearance of sunlight makes my skin burn, reminding me to go home.

With a sour face, I continue to walk the city streets, staring straight at the flat asphalt with my eyes.

There's a crowd of people who seem so enthusiastic, even bringing cameras to focus on a luxurious black car.

For a moment, I was silent, waiting to see what would happen.

Clk...

The door starts to open; I squint my eyes. This makes me curious about what makes so many people enthusiastic to welcome this person.

The person in the car exits with a very charming aura; she is a blonde woman with fair skin. Her eyebrow arches are so graceful that it makes me freeze.

My heart beats fast as I look at her eyelids; there's a desire to approach her, and anyone who hinders my steps will be immediately pushed aside.

"Hah... that's just wishful thinking!"

However, it's just a hallucination. Now I only live in reality; such daydreams often happen. Perhaps when I was 20 old, I always hoped to get married soon and find a decent life, but unfortunately, it was just a dream.

I can only stare at my feet which have to keep moving endlessly until I reach my place.

A two-story apartment with a slightly outdated design, this apartment is not too suitable for living. Besides being quiet here, the building's texture is also neglected. But, I'm still comfortable because it fits my current condition, and the rent is not too expensive.

When about to climb the stairs, I see a newspaper lying on the ground.

Now information is easy to obtain; technology that makes everything easy makes newspapers useless.

I can feel the despair from this used newspaper, and I immediately pick it up intending to throw it into the trash.

Tap! Tap! Tap!

My feet continue to move until I'm in front of a trash can that would make my body feel nauseous, but it's not much different from me who has already failed.

As I look at the newspaper in my hand, my eyes spontaneously focus on the date on it.

For that reason, it's enough reason for me to change my mind. At least I want to read the contents of this newspaper, hoping for job vacancies that I can apply for.

"Hehehehe..."

Yes, even if all of that is just wishful thinking. I don't know how many times I've tried to apply for a job, and it always fails. Even if there is a vacancy, I will surely be rejected.

With a cup of coffee in hand, I sit comfortably inside the room. I spread the newspaper; I won't read all the news, only a few pieces of information that interest me will be read.

"Huah... this picture is so big..."

I am greeted by a picture of two women posing for a game; in other words, it's an advertisement for a trending game.

"The game developer really wants to promote it with so much enthusiasm!"

More than 2 million players have played the game, and many consider it the best game of this era.

At least for an unemployed person like me, this is too monotonous. A year ago, there were many games that had incredible advertisements, but now all of that is just history forgotten by many people.

I've seen new games being promoted with great fanfare too often, but in the end not selling well due to market competition.

Behind the explained advantages and excitement of the game, there is one sentence written in capital letters to emphasize something.

"For anyone who plays this game, there is a chance to win a prize of 1 million dollars!"

My chest feels tight hearing this. Yes, with that much money, surely debts and all the setbacks I am experiencing now can be overcome.

But, I'm not too sure if this is really true; not only do I surely know this. Moreover, in the first paragraph, if this game has been played by more than 2 million people worldwide, the one-million-dollar prize is likely just wishful thinking.

My body immediately leans on the chair until the creaking sound of wood echoes.

"Hah... competing with other players, do I really have a chance? Heh... don't joke, in this world, there will surely be endless difficulties!"

It's still too foolish for me to do, so I don't do it. I choose to sleep until today passes until the night comes.

"We here are disappointed in you; you shouldn't come back anymore!"

I see my mother expressing disappointment; this is not a hallucination or a dream. But... memories repeat in my dreams.

Everything turns white, and a light full of hardships directly hits my head, making my eyes slowly open again. I see the light in the room replacing everything that happened.

My heart beat non-stop at that time; the dream reminded me of this ruined life. There's no way out.

Standing firmly while panting, I then look at the newspaper still spread out, that game, the game that I keep looking at sharply.

"Right, I have to do it..."

__To Be Continued__