Chapter 16: A jobless citizen

Ivan sat on his bed, gazing at the destroyed Oasis Pod before him. The room still carried the scent of smoke, and his clothes were burnt. He couldn't comprehend how he had survived the explosion. So many questions filled his mind, like how he had managed to escape the game and what had transpired within it.

Despite facing certain death just moments ago, a part of Ivan desperately wished he could go back. After all, the real world was still a harsh and unwelcoming place, and now his precious Oasis Pod, for which he had spent all his money, lay in ruins.

"Damn, so I finally have to get a job," Ivan muttered, feeling a tinge of hesitancy. He had been living off the little money he received from his parents' wealth after their passing, and with it almost depleted, it seemed that necessity had driven him to enter New Oasis.

Ivan decided to take a shower and change into fresh clothes before stepping out of his small apartment. Now, he was prepared to wander around in search of a job. He resided in Ivory, a bustling city and the capital of Terranor, a country formed through the merging of several European nations. Similar mergers had taken place across continents, with countries combining to foster greater development and strength.

Terranor boasted a high population of Awakened individuals and stood among the wealthiest and most influential nations worldwide. Despite this, it wasn't any easier for Ivan to find a well-paying job. He had dropped out of school, believing it to be a hindrance, as he felt he was already far ahead of his peers. This left Ivan without a degree, making it challenging to secure lucrative employment.

As Ivan walked the streets, he stumbled upon a small supermarket that displayed a poster, which brought a sigh of relief to his lips. Intrigued, he entered the supermarket to find an elderly man behind the counter, engrossed in watching a sports game on an outdated television.

"Such ancient technology," Ivan blurted out, unable to contain his surprise.

"What do you kids know? I'm not buying one of those rip-off transparent glasses you guys use. This is the real experience," the man retorted, his eyes still fixed on the screen.

"Go get what you want to buy, then bring it to the counter. You're interrupting my game. Ugh, that heartless daughter of mine won't stay and help her old man," the man grumbled.

"Actually, I'm here for the job," Ivan said, his voice laced with determination.

"The job, huh? There's a lot of heavy lifting done around here. Do you think you can handle it?" the man asked, eyeing Ivan skeptically.

Ivan had made an effort not to appear homeless like he usually did, his dark hair neatly arranged and his clothes relatively clean. He presented himself as a handsome young man, which he was.

"Yes, I can," Ivan replied confidently, though he wasn't entirely sure. He wasn't the physically strong type, and compared to the average person, he was rather weak. Heavy lifting wasn't his forte, but he needed a job.

"Well, you do look a bit strong," the man conceded, scanning Ivan's physique.

"I do, don't I?" Ivan said, a hint of confusion and surprise in his voice. His muscles seemed more defined, and he noticed a well-defined six-pack. The changes had gone unnoticed amidst the turmoil he had experienced recently.

While Ivan admired his newfound physique, a man approached from inside the store.

"We're done unloading the shipment," the man informed.

"Good, Ethan. Perfect timing," the store owner replied with a grin.

"Alright, let's see how you do. We just received some packages. They're in the back, so move all the boxes to the storeroom," the store owner instructed, pointing towards the designated area.

"Alright," Ivan said, praying silently that the boxes wouldn't be too heavy for him to handle.

As Ivan made his way to the back, the store owner exchanged a mischievous look with Ethan.

"Those boxes are really heavy. You usually need more than one person or machinery to move them," Ethan warned, a smirk forming on his face.

"I know, but I just want to have some fun with the boy," the store owner replied, chuckling under his breath.

Ivan stood before the boxes, which, although not massive, appeared substantial. He hoped they would be lighter than they seemed. Steeling himself, he reached down to pick up the first box and was taken aback by how effortlessly he lifted it.

"Oh, these are surprisingly light," Ivan remarked, a sense of relief washing over him as he dropped the box.

He proceeded to pick up another box, stacking them to maximize efficiency, and carried them into the store.

Ethan tapped the store owner, who had been engrossed in the sports game.

"Hey, old man," Ethan called out, trying to grab the store owner's attention.

"What is it?" the store owner replied, his voice laced with annoyance.

"Look," Ethan said, gesturing towards Ivan, who emerged from the back of the store, effortlessly carrying two boxes.

Both the store owner and Ethan stood there, their mouths agape, astonished by what they had just witnessed.

"This is the storeroom, right?" Ivan asked, standing in front of a door near the back entrance.

The man nodded, still unable to find words as he watched Ivan, who proceeded to enter the storeroom and deposit the boxes.

The store's bell chimed as a girl with silver hair walked in.

"Dad, I'm here," she announced, noticing her father and Ethan staring at the storeroom with wide-eyed astonishment.

"What's wrong with you guys?" she asked, perplexed by their reactions, her gaze following theirs towards the storeroom.

Ivan emerged from the storeroom, stretching his arms after the task.

As he turned, his eyes met the girl's, and time seemed to freeze. Ivan couldn't help but gaze at her, she was extremely beautiful, however what captivated Ivan was what he saw hovering above her head.

[Iris Einar (Lvl 54)].