[Earth, Hospital.]
Zerze stepped into the room, then looked over his sleeping sister.
The sound of her breathing and the hospital's equipment was what told him that she was alive, so Zerze always sat quietly while spending his time with her.
However, this time, his lips parted rather immediately after he sat down.
"I had a strong opponent today," Zerze said, then he recited everything that had occurred in the Regional Tournament.
His time with his sister was interrupted by one man.
This man was from his guild, "Although you haven't reached top 1, our bosses were extremely satisfied with your performance and the appropriate sum of money has been transferred to your account."
"I understand. Thanks." Zerze nodded.
The man smiled, "Well, well... There are so many things to do in the game. Our guild aims for the rarest pieces, so you will get another deal soon... Hmm, that man..." He suddenly spoke about Michu, "We have heard an interesting thing about him... I mean, his girlfriend."
"What?"
"Turn the stream on your phone and see for yourself," The man replied, then turned heels, "I will be going. It's best to keep yourself away from that Michu. He is lured by someone dangerous. Haha!"
It felt like what Zerze was about to see on the stream was beneficial to his guild.
It seemed odd, however.
Michu was such a strong player and if his girlfriend was the dangerous one, why wouldn't his guild try to lure Michu into their ranks and request Zerze's help?
They had fought a fair and rival-like battle and everyone knew that Zerze and Michu left the tournament on good terms.
So what was the problem?
Zerze's eyes narrowed as he tapped his phone, 'They never recruited already established and popular players... It's rare for this guild to recruit someone at the top...' His eyes went to his sleeping sister, 'If by any chance this coma has something to do with you... I will make your whole guild pay for it.'
This kind of thought was not the first in Zerze.
He often had it at the back of the head, but the circumstances were so sudden... He decided to not think of such egregious thoughts and turned his eyes to his phone.
On its screen, there was a conference with many guilds from the Eastern Region.
Even the popular ones were here and their talk was about the Regional Tournament and new promising figures.
There was one thing that surprised many and that was the appearance of the man with green and poisonous eyes.
He stole the spotlight with his appearance.
"My daughter attended the Regional Tournament... She just left prison, so I was very surprised to see her."
Zerze's eyebrows arched, then he turned off the phone, "What a piece of shit."
In silence, Zerze accompanied his sister before another person entered it.
This time, Zerze turned around and faced her.
It was his mother.
She lost her noble status as all her husbands left the world.
"Yuki... How have you been? I watched the tournament..." His mother asked, then said with palpable nervousness around her.
Her whole voice was shaking as the words her son had said in the past rang out anew.
[You are a failure.]
"You did great... I am proud of you," She continued.
"I can't be proud of you, however," Zerze replied and gestured to her to sit down.
His mother visited his sister whenever Zerze played the game, so they never met here. But that was given considering how much she had disappointed them all.
Rather than trying to work herself, she always tried to latch to someone's thigh. At some point, her children developed disappointment and began to hate her.
Even now, Zerze was sure she was using someone.
Her common clothes revealed that...
"You have never worked." Zerze began.
But his mother cut in, "I became a nanny. I am trying my best, Yuki..." His mother shared her story, then Zerze bitterly laughed.
He was about to make the decision, but it seemed like his mother changed by herself, "I am relieved... Every time she was drunk, Sis always complained and cried because of you. Even if she was disappointed, she wanted our family to be together. But you were too busy searching for another husband who would take you in."
"..."
"Today, I wanted to share some savings with you, so that you could begin your own company and change your life. So that when sis woke up, she would see the two of us working." Zerze clenched his hands, but his face eased as she looked at his sister with a warm smile.
This startled his mother as she didn't expect that.
But the thought of work genuinely scared her.
Her life with a wealthy husband was just too good and easy.
She gave birth to beautiful and handsome children, took care of them while relishing in wealth and pleasure out of it.
But at this moment, her heart shivered.
If she were to show any fear, her son would give up on her.
And remembering how he fought in the game, she wanted to try something challenging too. That was why, Zerze's mother raised her eyes and asked, "If there is one thing I can do, then it's fashion, right?"
"All those wealthy wives often visited our house to speak with you about clothes and other stuff. You always picked the best shops, made the best stylization and... Sis always said you were always the most beautiful. So, I thought you could start a proper company with my help." Zerze replied.
His mother instantly answered this, "I can do it... I want to do it!"
Zerze looked deeply into her eyes, then nodded, "My heart can only endure once." He said and stood up.
"I won't disappoint you... two."
"I will be going back to the game," Zerze turned heels and left the hospital room. "There are some brothers I have yet to kill and sell their stuff for more money. Then, I will plunge into more dangerous quests."
Left alone, Zerze's mother looked at her daughter, then promised to work hard.
She went to learn all the required stuff about companies! Her late husband also had good and fair accountants, so she called them and shocked them to the core.
Zerze transferred her some money before throwing himself in the game, then a faint tear tumbled down his cheek within the game.
After seeing his mother's resolve, Zerze felt like he would actually endure any disappointment twice!
Such were the blood ties.
-
A few hours before Zerze entered the hospital and the conference.
Michu and Venomous returned to real life too!
They left capsules and spoke with their family!
"I won! Haha!" Michu laughed out loud, then another round of applause heightened his mood! He ate a banana to satiate himself while Venomous turned her eyes to mom and Nana.
She said, "The fire island was the most annoying one."
These two initially wanted to cheer Venomous after her loss against Zerze, but further events showed that Michu had taken care of that.
Thus, they spoke about Venomous' battles as she also did a fair share of fighting!
Especially in the fire island part, she fought against many players solo and punched their faces back!
"It was annoying because clothes stuck to my skin. I felt like it was inappropriate."
"We felt like your words were a little inappropriate," Mom and Nana replied.
"Oh, did you see?" Venomous asked.
"No, we didn't." Mom and Nana shook their heads. They switched streams after Venomous threatened to gauge out other players' eyes!
They were scared, but women had many countenances! They kinda understood that, but Venomous was too brutal sometimes!
Fortunately, Michu's family could only see and feel the sweet snake!
Yumi laughed cheerfully, "I see."
Michu laughed while munching on the banana, then the sound of knocking spread across the room.
He turned to the doors, "Who it might be? It's pretty late!"
"Don't tell me some guilds found our address? That's creepy." Venomous thought out loud.
"Refuse them, big brother!" Nana also threw her two cents!
"Okay!" Michu stood up and opened the doors.
But he opened his mouth widely, dropped the banana and shouted, "Savior!"
It was the savior and his sister!
These two were wealthy and out of the place here, but Michu invited them into the house and introduced them to his family!
"This is the savior and his sister! They are nice people! Hehe!" Michu's introduction was weird!
But Nana felt like her mother was acting out weirdly, "Mom, why did you fix your posture and begin fixing hair next? No way you would get someone younger."
"I didn't ask for your comment! We have to greet our benefactors the best!"
"You look weird now."