chapter 92 log out

The Real World – Stella's Pressure and Ethan's Dilemma

The moment Ethan removed his VR headset, the real world came rushing back—stiff muscles, a dry throat, and the soft hum of his computer. He leaned back in his chair, rubbing his eyes as he adjusted to the dim glow of his monitor. Ten hours in Eldoria. It felt like minutes.

But before he could fully relax, a voice caught his attention.

It was coming from the next room.

Stella.

Her voice wasn't its usual controlled, confident tone—it was tense, frustrated.

Ethan sat up.

She was on a call.

> Manager: "Stella, I don't care how difficult it is. You promised to submit the project today. We have deadlines to meet!"

The voice was sharp, impatient. Even through the thin walls, Ethan could hear the pressure behind those words.

> Stella: "I understand the deadlines, but the workload you assigned isn't reasonable. I can't finish everything alone."

She wasn't raising her voice, but there was strain in it, like she was barely holding herself together.

> Manager: "Then maybe you should have thought about that before taking on the project. Or are you saying you're not capable?"

Ethan frowned. That was low.

> Stella: "…I'll submit it before midnight."

Her voice was level, but he knew what she was really saying.

"I don't have a choice."

The call ended.

Ethan could hear nothing but silence.

Then, a deep breath.

He didn't need to see her to know she was stressed out of her mind.

He imagined her sitting at her desk, staring at the screen, forcing herself to keep going despite the exhaustion. She probably looked the same way she did back in college—stubborn, focused, acting like nothing could touch her.

But Ethan had seen this before. Burnout.

He hesitated.

Should he check on her?

She'd probably brush him off.

She wasn't the type to admit weakness, let alone accept help.

But still…

Ethan stood up. His footsteps were quiet as he walked to her door.

He raised his hand.

Paused.

Then, before he could second-guess himself, he knocked.

Silence.

Then, a tired voice.

> Stella: "…What?"

That was already a bad sign. Normally, she'd just ignore him.

Ethan exhaled.

> Ethan: "I heard your call."

A pause.

Then, her door opened slightly.

Stella stood there, arms crossed, looking at him with her usual sharp gaze. But there was something different this time—her posture was a little too stiff, her eyes a little too tired.

> Stella: "You were eavesdropping?"

> Ethan: "Not on purpose. Your voice carries."

> Stella: "…And?"

There it was. That defensive wall. The one she always put up whenever someone tried to get close.

Ethan considered just dropping it. Walking away.

But instead, he leaned against the doorframe.

> Ethan: "…You look like you're about to collapse."

She scoffed, rolling her eyes.

> Stella: "I've handled worse."

> Ethan: "Yeah? And how many all-nighters have you pulled this week?"

She didn't answer.

That told him enough.

Ethan sighed.

> Ethan: "Look. I know you think you have to do everything on your own. But if you keep pushing like this, you're going to crash."

Stella frowned.

For a second, he thought she was about to argue. But instead, she just…looked away.

> Stella: "…I don't have a choice."

Her voice was quieter this time. Almost like she hated admitting it.

Ethan exhaled.

> Ethan: "Maybe not. But at least let me make sure you don't pass out at your desk."

He walked past her into the room before she could stop him.

Her desk was a disaster.

Stacks of papers. A half-empty coffee cup. Her computer screen was filled with spreadsheets and emails, notifications piling up at the bottom corner. The air smelled faintly of caffeine and stress.

Ethan raised an eyebrow.

> Ethan: "You're living like a final-year college student."

Stella sighed, rubbing her temples.

> Stella: "Ethan, I don't have time for—"

> Ethan: "You have time to eat, don't you?"

She blinked.

> Stella: "…Eat?"

> Ethan: "Yeah. Food. That thing that keeps you alive."

She gave him a tired glare.

> Stella: "I don't need you babysitting me."

> Ethan: "I'm not babysitting. I'm making sure my roommate doesn't collapse before she even submits her project."

Silence.

Then, to his surprise—a small smirk.

> Stella: "…You're annoying."

> Ethan: "You're welcome."

She sighed, rubbing her temples.

> Stella: "…Fine. But only because I need a break."

> Ethan: "Good. I'll order takeout. And no, you don't get a choice. You'll eat whatever I pick."

> Stella: "…You're really taking advantage of this, huh?"

> Ethan: "Of course."

And just like that, the tension eased.

For now, at least.

Ethan's Realization – The Value of His Virtual Fortune

As Ethan leaned back on the couch, scrolling through the food delivery app on his phone, a thought struck him.

> Ethan: "Hey, Stella."

She glanced at him from her desk, where she had already returned to her work despite agreeing to take a break.

> Stella: "What?"

> Ethan: "How much do you get paid for this job, anyway?"

There was a brief silence. Stella didn't even look up from her screen as she replied.

> Stella: "Five thousand credits per month."

Ethan's hand froze mid-scroll.

> Ethan: "…Five thousand?"

Now he was numb.

He blinked, processing the number.

She was overworked, pulling ridiculous hours, dealing with unreasonable managers, and all for…5,000 credits?

Ethan slowly put his phone down and stared at her.

> Ethan: "That's it?"

Stella finally glanced at him, frowning.

> Stella: "What do you mean, 'that's it'? It's an average salary for a mid-tier corporate job."

Ethan didn't respond immediately. His mind was still calculating.

5,000 credits a month.

He had earned 20,000 credits in one night just by selling in-game gold.

And he still had 30 gold coins left.

Not to mention the healing potions and agility potions that were practically printing money for him. Veryon was working hard in-game, mass-producing potions, and Kaelith hadn't even touched the more valuable strategies yet.

If he cashed out everything…

He could make at least 50,000 credits.

More than ten times Stella's salary.

> Ethan (thinking): "I made more money in one night of playing a game than she does in an entire year of corporate work."

He swallowed, feeling a strange mix of excitement and disbelief.

Stella raised an eyebrow.

> Stella: "Why do you look like you just saw a ghost?"

Ethan coughed, trying to play it cool.

> Ethan: "Uh… nothing. Just thinking."

Stella studied him for a moment before shrugging and returning to her work.

But Ethan?

He couldn't stop grinning.

Because now, he knew something for sure.

Eldoria wasn't just a game.

It was a gold mine.