Fact or Imagination

"C'mon, get him!"

"Yeah! Show those bastards who's in charge!"

"Dammit, my little kidney is about to explode. I want to take a leak, but my eyes won't let me."

.

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In the heart of a major city, there was a small popular Gaming Café.

Tonight, buzzed with life. 

There was a mix of cheers and curses swirling like a storm. 

Several youngsters crowded around a teen.

He had inky-dark hair, and a grin sharp enough to cut steel. 

Good-looking. That was the first thought when seeing the youngster.

There was a lollipop dangling lazily from his lips. 

The lollipop's sweetness was a stark contrast to the chaos the young man unleashed on-screen. 

His fingers danced across the keyboard, each stroke creating a melody of destruction. 

"He's just too fast!"

Just watching the display made the crowd dizzy.

The young boy's character, a berserker in a famous MMORPG game, was ruthlessly crushing the heroes.

"Fools," the youth muttered underneath his breath. 

In the game, one could choose to be: a Villain, a Hero, or an 'Ordinary.'

There were no NPCs since even those in the stores were players who chose to be merchants and store owners.

For the dark-haired boy, his favorite thing to do was go after so-called righteous heroes.

Heh. 

The young sneered. 

—HEROES

Such a wimpy title. 

Many times, they committed crimes in the name of the greater good.

"Get him!"

"Destroy that Hero!"

Around him, the crowd surged closer, their faces lit with awe and excitement. 

The boy was no mere player; he went under the name ILoathHe-diots, a legend and a villain. 

To some, he was a genius; to others, a scourge. 

However, his fame was undeniable.

Whenever he was online, thousands and millions of people would crowd to watch online.

While he played, his friends acted like professional bodyguards.

"Alright, alright. Break it off!" one of them barked at an overeager fan.

"That's right. Back off! The genius needs space to breathe."

"You there! No autographs today. Back off. If you're fortunate, next time you'll be granted a chance by fate."

"Everyone can watch from a distance. Don't push or hit the genius."

"Give him some space! C'mon now, let the genius work!"

The boy's friends were rude and direct, but no one cared or felt offended. 

Soon, the boy ended today's adventure by cleaning up one of the top Ten ranked Heroes on the server and their lackeys.

WOOOOOW!~~~

The cafe erupted in cheers and groans. 

"Victory! ILoathHe-diots has killed them all!"

"Fufufufu, how can 18 people ambush a single person but end up all dying?"

"Legendary! As expected, he is just too strong."

"Too good! His methods of killing them all are still as brutal as ever."

"Hey... he looks our age. I wonder what school he's in."

.

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Finishing his gaming segment, Levon's eyes dimmed underneath his mask.

As per usual, the Café Manager allowed him to exit through a more private door.

They were long-time customers of the café, so much so that the manager often gave them staff uniforms to escape with.

Many want pictures.

It was sad to say that the crowd of people who were waiting at the front, once again missed the legendary gaming idol and his friends.

Seeing his silent state, the friends around began to worry.

"Brother Levon, are you still thinking of the results of the National Examinations?"

They felt it must be that.

"Don't worry about them, brother Levon. So what if your grades fell far below the passing line? Don't forget that the rest of us barely passed."

"Yeah. Even if we go to a higher institute of learning, who is to say what we will become in the future? We–"

"Enough." The boy, Levon, took out the lollipop in his mouth.

His voice never raised an octave. Yet, it released a foggy slither that curled around its listeners.

"Have I become so pitiful, that something somewhere in your minds would tell you I need sympathy from you?"

He paused, slowly sweeping his eyes over them one by one. "You made it. But Proud. So… enough with the BELITTLING.."

His aura, coupled with his words made their bodies freeze up on their own. 

Yet, they were touched by Levon's encouragement. He didn't butter them up, nor make exaggerated remarks. 

"You all did good. Do not belittle yourselves around me. Besides—"

Putting the lollipop back in his mouth, Levon began walking away. 

"With the money I make through gaming, it's enough to get me a house in Grandville."

Grandville was the second most luxurious housing region in the city. 

Everyone wanted a home in that turf. 

"Brother Levon…"

The boys lowered their heads, knowing he was right.

So what if their brother Levon wouldn't be going to school?

People went to school to learn how to make money. However, their brother Levon already makes 5 to15 times an average person's monthly salary.

What a joke. They shouldn't be worried about him.

Rather, it's them who will have to work hard now that they've graduated from high school with mediocre passing grades.

Levon never stopped to look back. "Don't get all soft with me here. Do I look like your girlfriends? If you're done, go home!"

These boys lived in regions closer to each other, while he lived in a completely different area within the city.

It was already 9 P.M.

Levon was silent.

The night was unsurprisingly dull as he walked the lonely path he often took.

He was late for supper, but who in his family cared?

Reaching his front door and hearing the boisterous laughter from within, Levon sighed.

'Sometimes,'  He muttered to himself. 'I wonder if I would've been better off as an orphan.'

Holding the door knob, he was about to turn it sideways. 

But then—

WHO?

There was a flicker in the corner of his eyes. 

Levon abruptly turned around, his senses sharpening like blades. 

Silence was the only thing that stared him in the face. 

Hmmm?

'Is it just my imagination… or am I being followed?'