Chapter 17: Internet Addict Gabriel
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeq6SwX9KJq
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa0VOqSM23y
It was finally the end of the day. The moment the bell rang, Kouya grabbed his bag and got ready to leave, his patience with the world already stretched thin. The classroom buzzed with chatter, desks scraped across the floor, and the faint sound of laughter drifted from groups of students discussing after-school plans. Kouya, however, had no desire to linger. The rumors still clung to him like an invisible fog, and the thought of another curious glance made his temples ache.
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIYH4q9L64o
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0XR7pGTKuU
Just then, a clear and gentle voice called out behind him:
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVf0Nah4pSF
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLVhZj2rGV7
“Kouya-kun, please wait a moment.”
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ34fNeYyL3Q
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzujs6nJxKo
He stopped in place and slowly turned around.
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1RgZPQ520r
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNc8z1FGiRm
The one who called him was a tall, elegant girl with long black hair cascading like a waterfall, her uniform immaculate and posture perfect. A soft, almost natural grace radiated from her, and even her tone carried a touch of calm authority.
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw6MA2LXtx1
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡREZrRuQzuS
“Hmm?” Kouya looked at her questioningly, raising an eyebrow.
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdp7zZVgcAI
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjWK4w2nzBG
He knew this long-haired beauty, of course. Not because he had any particular affection for her, but because she was one of those students everyone seemed to admire—the type who smiled politely to teachers, never missed a deadline, and made others unconsciously straighten their backs when she walked by.
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJKsMbeeaI3
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb4fSickQrd
Yes, the class representative herself.
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡykHxHkTgbx
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEwOKIeQEVo
Machiko.
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8MXugdbjiX
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcaFP95gqde
Under his gaze, the black-haired girl blushed faintly, clutching a file against her chest. “Kouya-kun, Gabriel-san lives near you, right? I wanted to visit her on behalf of the class. Since I don’t know the way, could we go together?”
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpdLI6AI3L5
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡepEcgRv0wi
Her voice was calm, yet the faint tremor at the end revealed her nervousness. Even the class rep wasn’t immune to the strange aura that Kouya exuded—a quiet pressure that made people hesitate.
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX2eNL4EYVC
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGH27v2abPy
Kouya exhaled softly. “Hmph, might as well let the class rep see her too. Maybe that’ll finally shut those rumors up.”
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXTBXq3yJ1p
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUAlmhfhNIJ
He cleared his throat, ready to reply, when another bright voice broke in—full of righteousness and optimism.
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvxwmESyE7p
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNEUMPGqZL3
“Perfect timing! I’ll come see Gabi-chan too. Let’s all go together!”
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4dHlf2arDt
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQV4NFrywWW
The sound was cheerful, confident, and brimming with warmth, as if sunlight itself had taken human form.
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM78sf0IFcU
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9fZ85CDgSg
A flash of vibrant purple hair appeared beside them.
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY3rJWfmxvE
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1H16ZtsqJu
Of course—it was Vigne.
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGoDVWtwuEs
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ52ypMuWFUj
Kouya could already imagine how this was going to go. When Vigne decided something was “the right thing to do,” there was no stopping her.
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUovM6oe6tc
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYajsQfEhW0
…
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBkdGzwkHZA
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE8YRy24xGT
Meanwhile.
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo6kgsKcTyx
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXkmZs1JoBq
Inside a dimly lit room where daylight no longer reached.
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡguw2u6NtGK
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxDOTRE7G6N
The curtains had been pulled tight, the faint smell of instant noodles and potato chips filling the stagnant air. The only illumination came from the cold, flickering glow of a computer monitor that bathed the space in pale light.
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgNmAp1YGrz
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡebTWNhWYnS
A blonde girl sat cross-legged at her desk, her eyes bloodshot yet sparkling with unhealthy enthusiasm. Her hands moved swiftly across the keyboard as she muttered under her breath.
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo4BHOdFgn6
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdW6a927hnY
“My name is Gabriel…”
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFbQoN3YXsi
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV1VGLdatWV
“Two days ago, I heard the distant call across space and time…”
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCu7i7FzZV6
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdTaDG1NYQp
“The world of Arad has fallen into endless war, teetering on the brink of destruction…”
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTCkFKFZ9aT
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnPiJPEht6N
“As the top graduate of Angel Academy, it is my sacred duty to save the world…”
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8bNReG2k5W
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡONJDypthCS
“I shall lead the charge, staff in hand, guiding my comrades through trials of blood and iron, to destroy the source of chaos and bring peace and hope to all who suffer—”
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO0msJOHr4m
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpLOzwfYCbv
“Ah! I died again!”
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZnS9raMeVw
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcoXWcTqFHM
The girl slammed her mouse with both hands, groaning. “Damn it, lag again! I swear this boss is rigged!” She scratched at her golden hair furiously, grabbed a half-open bag of chips, and shoved several pieces into her mouth in frustration. Crumbs rained down her uniform like snow.
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqbkNjLV28A
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVDYXbR6fS1
“This boss is impossible… Fine! Let’s look up a guide.”
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRpNMmgsfew
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFZwrxwiHnI
Her eyes darted to the search bar. “Eh? ‘Luck can’t change destiny—only spending money can.’ Hmm… I don’t really understand, but it sounds oddly philosophical.”
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ64NK8YqBhv
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ86duq3UyhJ
There are many things in the world that, once touched, become addictions. A harmless curiosity that evolves into a habit. A single spark that turns into wildfire. Gaming, shopping, or… microtransactions.
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXFeu6F3DBF
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhSaqHoeodF
Gabriel’s pupils dilated as her cursor hovered over the “Shop” button. The screen glimmered, revealing the limited-edition Shadow Priest Set. Her breath caught. “Just one purchase… just to test the stats…”
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjEXMnslPoq
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBIp18lCn22
Knock, knock, knock!
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8IXHQgdt6e
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQoWY1ibkSo
A crisp knocking shattered her trance.
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbS9wLP18RA
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJWZR2GxNbc
“Gabi-chan, are you there? We came to visit you!” Vigne’s cheerful voice called from outside.
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH3qp5AoBlk
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9EMCIzcZgt
Gabriel froze. “No way…” She minimized the game in a panic, shoving empty snack wrappers under her desk.
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEn2hIcx4tt
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9C9UX5qLr0
Kouya, standing in the hallway, folded his arms. He could already sense trouble. “Let’s see what this idiot angel is up to now.”
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡILXQKLjYN1
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrphEtSoMTz
Footsteps shuffled behind the door. After a long pause, a click echoed, and the door opened.
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiT5TTM85Up
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpywpHLRpmq
Blinding sunlight streamed in, stabbing at Gabriel’s eyes like knives. She hissed softly and turned her head away, shielding her face. “Oh… Vigne-chan. What brings you here? And, um… who’s this?”
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlUszlIWMSZ
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNy5ftraWmP
Machiko: “……”
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNo6qafW5KS
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpQd1u56e5b
Does the class rep really have this little presence? Unbelievable.
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgr15IbYvlK
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7H0LFL0ngc
“This is Machiko, our class representative,” Vigne explained, a crease forming between her brows.
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIfLg2d3d96
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUeJhU0YIjW
“Oh, the class rep, huh? Sorry, I only just transferred here, so I didn’t recognize you.” Gabriel stuck her tongue out playfully, absolutely unapologetic.
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqgoqOXg9HJ
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf7SwszaM7h
“Something’s off…”
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPHU6kfrASr
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDanBQ1yccE
“Very off!”
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvIjCrNOu1H
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkLdrLmDs4s
Kouya pressed his fingers to his temple. “What the hell happened to you, you fallen angel?”
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0qF76P2ySl
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK7ImIjt0qq
Wasn’t this girl supposed to be strict, disciplined, the very model of celestial virtue? What stood before him now was a creature of pure sloth.
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsbGDtP8qc7
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFWF9Og11GK
He stepped inside—and immediately froze.
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfEUdNU1Ipt
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ126WtaaEal
Holy hell.
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiaH6YXpApP
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8vPRAO9lhA
I must’ve stepped into a war zone!
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi1oSUp5JjT
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoq702oLwex
Just last weekend, her place had been spotless—clean windows, polished floor, the faint smell of soap. Now it looked like a disaster site. Half-empty bottles rolled on the floor. The curtains sealed the light like a coffin. The faint hum of her computer fan filled the silence.
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxZZQWBrxcd
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmbvd5lAjwy
A thick, greasy smell clung to the air. At first, it was faintly savory, but the longer you breathed it, the more nauseating it became.
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAIrOdGyoeL
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyw5Bw77dUY
“This smell… instant noodles,” Kouya muttered darkly. “Of course it is.”
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjFoeID4OTL
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqgEST5C5DR
He had lived that life once—long nights, bad posture, cup noodles as dinner companions. He recognized every symptom of self-inflicted ruin.
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQkh47uTuv2
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOrartj7zI4
His gaze swept the room: a glowing laptop, snack crumbs across the desk, a soda can balanced precariously on a book, piles of unfolded laundry, and slippers abandoned far apart. His eyes stopped abruptly at something else—blue-and-white striped panties draped over the headboard, accompanied by a frilly white bra.
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJjo3c7NePC
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL6eLRTmFH4
Vigne moved like lightning, scooping them up and glaring daggers at Kouya.
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJmGrSEraTG
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXsrlIysqu1
He ignored her, still scanning the room with grim familiarity. It felt almost nostalgic. “This… feels too familiar.”
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5KW1HK43XC
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0N2prvybtP
“Gabi-chan?” Vigne asked, voice rising slightly. “What happened here?”
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGHqJuuPfvg
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ4UIzCxm8t
“Hehe…” Gabriel scratched her head, laughing weakly.
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsbJfobtwcU
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1sTnerR1S3
“It’s only been a day! How did you become like this already?” Vigne sighed deeply, folding the clothes and gathering trash like a mother scolding her child.
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe3Y9GlMk6r
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw8GfAHIYQ7
Machiko tilted her head, clearly baffled. “Gabriel-san, are you feeling unwell?”
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJBpJFU3h1B
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7OIhlsLNB4
Gabriel blinked, paused, then nodded far too quickly. “Yeah! I was sick, so I stayed home. Totally sick.”
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm3cUIuQ7QR
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhtb0k6ZdFr
Before she could say another word, her computer let out a dramatic victory jingle.
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCbg0r0bqnR
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA53vRfHrdo
Vigne raised an eyebrow and approached. “What’s that?” She grabbed the mouse and clicked.
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqn9zSlmOSN
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrLoCaUAVnG
The monitor exploded in color—shimmering outfits, golden effects, and a chatbox filled with chaotic text.
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxeiesBvCFC
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ07FwvF7oQY
“Wha—must’ve been an ad pop-up!” Gabriel stammered.
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJNqhQhniq
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKE3w4VT6Eu
Vigne didn’t even answer. She moved the mouse, and the in-game character—a female priestess with glowing wings and a shining staff—began moving gracefully. Message bubbles appeared above her teammates:
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNn9ivDJlRk
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBiEkdxWKzl
“Angel Onee-chan, did you get rid of the real-world nuisances?”
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlYVUP4J95X
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFLpK5n5Yib
“You’re late! The raid started!”
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSPkkFiNjE1
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHZOtviSzlr
“The fate of the world depends on our healer!”
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7rrRnbyZQx
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw7b4Sn9Gev
“Yeah! Real friends are boring. Raiding with beer and chicken is the dream!”
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL5G9bEg35r
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT4rXYaqxmf
“……”
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqZ2x72UC2U
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ48CGmuVVvE
“So this is your ‘pop-up ad,’ huh?” Vigne’s voice was dangerously calm, her eyes narrowing until the temperature in the room seemed to plummet.
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuHqPkiMs45
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIGikAH5UaB
Even Machiko could sense the tension, her face pale. “Gabriel-san… have you been gaming all day?”
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSKebJq0KdZ
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpWzYMdgpOC
Gabriel fidgeted, poking her fingertips together. “I-I couldn’t help it! They’re my new friends. They needed me for the dungeon, and I didn’t want to disappoint them…”
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKjCv7dCUvb
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHhmmOoGpSk
Vigne crossed her arms, her aura blazing. “You’re going to school tomorrow.”
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk8iyzX10Ax
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGqYDodiOcC
“N-no! I can’t!”
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡswGhnWpkv2
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ913V1AqVC3
“Why not?”
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNXkNe67cUX
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeFFWvyN9zP
“I’m… I’m still not feeling well!”
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMiw1rWrBG0
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE9rORoKvJk
“You look perfectly fine to me.”
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Jbj1fUX10
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXSSDBf1Ey5
“But the war for Arad’s salvation is reaching its final stage!” Gabriel cried dramatically.
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7rQo8So6m2
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMjcLcXUJpx
“No discussion. You’re coming.” Vigne’s tone was firm, righteous, and absolute. “I’ll personally drag you there if I have to.”
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlP9SOYkPaF
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ5aDPTNRho
Gabriel whimpered, her wings drooping as she slumped to the floor like a defeated dog.
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaMdjbJHIjg
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCNvsDPaALO
Kouya watched the scene unfold, one eyebrow twitching. The image was almost comical. This once-proud angel—now reduced to a lazy, weepy mess surrounded by trash and snack crumbs.
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv9UbssTFoJ
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡptsPbpUof2
Then it struck him.
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2nP6xO6mJT
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtdZzu7vQgH
This was exactly how his past self had lived.
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqt8jLCL8jO
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsW6vwlYqSX
Endless games. Instant noodles. Isolation. A slow, comfortable decay.
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0L4YBTnzlb
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9eqkmB3Vip
He sighed, looking down at her.
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8RSVciG9QE
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPMj3sj3ekS
The angel Gabriel—the model of discipline and virtue—was gone. In her place sat a new creature entirely: the slothful, hopeless, utterly addicted gamer known as Internet Addict Gabriel.
ns216.73.216.253da2
and then Add to home screen.