Sunlight streamed through the living room windows as Rio finished packing her backpack.
The afternoon was warm, and the house carried the comforting smell of food being prepared in the kitchen. For a brief moment, everything felt peaceful.
Then reality returned.
She was about to spend the last of her savings.
Again.
As she adjusted the straps of her backpack, her mother appeared in the doorway, wiping her hands on a kitchen towel.
"Rio," her mother called gently, "where are you and... your boyfriend going?"
Rio nearly stumbled.
The word boyfriend struck her like a critical hit.
For a split second, she considered correcting the misunderstanding.
Then she remembered that she had created this disaster herself.
"...We're going out," she replied quickly.
She tried to sound casual.
She failed.
Her mother raised an eyebrow slightly.
"And when will you be back?"
Rio forced a smile.
"...By dinner."
Her mother studied her for a moment before nodding.
"Alright. Have fun, but be careful."
Rio immediately relaxed.
"Thanks, Mom."
Before another dangerous question could appear, she grabbed Ryota by the sleeve and dragged him toward the front door.
A few moments later, they were walking through the city streets beneath the afternoon sun.
The weather was pleasant.
Rio was not.
She walked with her hands in her pockets and a visible sulk on her face.
Ryota glanced at her.
"Why do you look so depressed?"
Rio crossed her arms.
"...I just spent the last of my savings enrolling you at my school."
Ryota almost tripped.
"...You did what?"
Rio refused to look at him.
She simply kept walking.
The guilt in her wallet was already painful enough.
Eventually, they arrived at the school's enrollment office.
Several students and parents sat in the waiting area while paperwork was processed behind the front desk.
Rio pulled a stack of documents from her bag and handed them to Ryota.
"Fill these out."
Ryota accepted the forms.
His expression softened slightly.
"You're really doing this for me?"
Rio focused on arranging the papers instead of meeting his eyes.
"...Yeah."
The answer came out quieter than intended.
"I guess I am."
Ryota stared at the paperwork for a moment before beginning to fill everything out.
After nearly thirty minutes of signatures, verification, and processing, the enrollment officer finally nodded.
"Everything appears to be in order."
Rio handed over the tuition payment.
The last of her savings disappeared across the counter.
Her soul followed shortly afterward.
As they left the office, she looked at her nearly empty wallet and sighed dramatically.
"...And that's it."
Ryota looked concerned.
"You really spent everything."
Rio continued walking.
"Don't remind me."
The two headed back toward their neighborhood.
Halfway there, Ryota suddenly stopped.
Rio looked back.
"Hm?"
"I'm not coming home yet."
She blinked.
"...What?"
Ryota smiled faintly.
"I have some business to take care of."
Rio tilted her head.
"...Business?"
He nodded.
"A place I used to work."
Rio considered asking for details.
Then decided she didn't care enough.
"Fine."
With that, the two split up.
Rio continued toward home while Ryota headed toward a familiar part of the city.
The old bar where he had worked years ago.
The building looked exactly as he remembered.
The sign hung above the entrance.
The windows were slightly worn.
The familiar scent of cooking drifted outside.
For a moment, memories surfaced.
Long shifts.
Late nights.
Conversations with customers.
It was strange seeing it again.
When he stepped inside, the owner immediately looked up.
A look of surprise crossed his face.
"Ryota?"
The older man blinked.
"Is that really you?"
Ryota smiled and bowed politely.
"It's been a while."
The owner laughed.
"You disappeared."
"Something like that."
After exchanging greetings, Ryota got straight to the point.
"I need work."
The owner folded his arms.
"Work?"
"A temporary job."
The older man studied him for a few moments.
Then smiled.
"You know where everything is."
Ryota nodded.
"Exactly."
The conversation continued quietly.
By the time it ended, Ryota walked out carrying a small envelope.
Inside was an advance payment and confirmation that he could begin working immediately.
For the first time since waking up in the past, he felt a little more secure.
Meanwhile, Rio had returned home.
She sat at the dinner table with her mother and younger sister, Akari.
The smell of freshly cooked food filled the room.
Normally it would have been comforting.
Today she was too busy worrying about money.
Akari chatted happily about school while Rio absentmindedly pushed rice around her plate.
Then her mother spoke.
"Rio."
Rio froze.
"...Yes?"
"Where's your boyfriend?"
The spoon nearly slipped from Rio's hand.
Her mother continued.
"I thought he was with you."
Rio's brain immediately entered emergency mode.
"...He's still out."
She smiled nervously.
"He said he'd be late."
The excuse sounded reasonable enough.
At least until—
Knock knock.
The front door echoed through the house.
Everyone looked toward the entrance.
Rio felt immediate dread.
Her mother stood.
"I'll get it."
A moment later, the door opened.
Ryota stood outside.
In one hand was a small envelope.
The moment he entered, all three members of the family looked toward him.
Rio's eyes widened.
Akari blinked.
Her mother looked confused.
Without saying anything, Ryota walked over and handed the envelope to Rio's mother.
She opened it.
Inside was cash.
Not a huge amount.
But enough to be meaningful.
Her eyes widened.
"Ryota?"
Rio was equally shocked.
Before anyone could say anything, she stood up immediately.
"Excuse us."
She grabbed Ryota by the arm and dragged him upstairs.
The second they reached her room and closed the door, Rio turned toward him.
Her voice dropped into a whisper.
"You didn't steal that, did you?"
Ryota looked offended.
"No."
He held up his hands.
"I went back to the bar where I used to work."
Rio blinked.
"The bar?"
"They hired me again."
For a moment, Rio simply stared.
Then genuine surprise appeared on her face.
He actually solved the problem himself.
Before she could respond, Ryota reached into his pocket.
He pulled out another small envelope.
Then handed it to her.
Rio accepted it cautiously.
"...What's this?"
"I know it doesn't cover the tuition you paid."
His expression was sincere.
"But I'll pay you back."
He smiled slightly.
"I promise."
Rio looked down at the envelope.
Then back at him.
For the first time since meeting him, she truly understood something.
Ryota wasn't irresponsible.
He wasn't lazy.
And he wasn't taking advantage of her kindness.
He was trying.
Actually trying.
A small feeling of guilt appeared.
Rio looked away.
"...I owe you an apology."
Ryota blinked.
"Hm?"
"I was rude when we first met."
The admission felt awkward.
Very awkward.
"I judged you too quickly."
Ryota simply smiled.
"It's fine."
His answer came without hesitation.
"Really."
The simplicity of the response surprised her.
After a moment, Rio nodded.
"...Thanks."
Together, they returned downstairs.
Dinner resumed shortly afterward.
The atmosphere felt noticeably warmer than before.
Akari spent most of the meal talking about school.
Rio occasionally responded.
Ryota answered questions from their mother.
For the first time, the situation felt strangely normal.
Days passed.
Then those days became a week.
The week disappeared in a blur of preparation.
Rio spent nearly every waking hour reviewing notes.
Leveling routes.
Hidden quests.
Rare item locations.
Secret NPC triggers.
Dungeon requirements.
Anything she could remember from fifteen years of Evermount.
Every detail went into her notebooks.
Every advantage mattered.
Finally—
Launch Day arrived.
Rio sat on her bed holding the VR headset in both hands.
The sleek device felt almost unreal.
Beside her, Ryota adjusted his own headset.
The excitement on his face was impossible to hide.
Outside, the city continued as normal.
Cars passed by.
People went to work.
Birds chirped in the distance.
But inside Rio's room, everything felt different.
This was the day.
The beginning of everything.
Rio looked toward Ryota.
"Ready?"
He nodded immediately.
"Absolutely."
Rio smiled.
Then she placed the headset over her eyes.
The startup sequence activated.
The room vanished.
Light consumed her vision.
Then the world of Evermount appeared.
A breathtaking landscape stretched endlessly in every direction.
Rolling green hills swayed beneath a clear blue sky.
Crystal rivers sparkled beneath sunlight.
Ancient stone ruins stood among forests and plains.
Far in the distance, towering mountains pierced the clouds.
The sounds were just as incredible.
Birds chirped overhead.
Wind rustled through trees.
Blacksmith hammers echoed from nearby towns.
It felt alive.
Completely alive.
Beside her, Ryota stared in amazement.
"Wow..."
His voice carried genuine wonder.
"It's beautiful."
Rio smirked.
"Don't get distracted."
Her fingers were already navigating menus.
"This is Day One."
Her eyes narrowed.
"Every second counts."
Ryota laughed.
"Got it."
Rio immediately moved through the character creation process.
Unlike most players, she didn't need time to think.
She already knew what she wanted.
More importantly—
She knew what mistakes to avoid.
Fifteen years of experience guided every decision.
Every menu.
Every option.
Every selection.
This was her second chance.
And she intended to use it.
Meanwhile, Ryota stared at his own menu.
Rio reached over and tapped the notebook she had prepared for him.
"Swordsman."
He looked down.
"Strength-focused build."
Rio nodded.
"Good early damage."
"Strong leveling speed."
"Reliable class progression."
She pointed toward the notes.
"Follow the plan for now."
"We'll adapt after your first skill appears."
Ryota nodded.
"Understood."
Then the countdown appeared.
A massive timer materialized above the starting hub.
Three.
Two.
One.
LAUNCH.
The world exploded into activity.
Thousands of players appeared throughout the starting city.
Some sprinted toward beginner quests.
Others crowded merchants and trainers.
Many simply stood around admiring the scenery.
Rio was already moving.
She rushed toward the path leading into the Beginner Forest.
The route was burned into her memory.
Every monster spawn.
Every hidden objective.
Every shortcut.
She remembered them all.
Behind her, Ryota followed closely.
His movements were less polished, but he adapted quickly.
Years of real-life experience made learning surprisingly easy.
"Stay close," Rio instructed.
"We don't have time to wander."
She pointed toward the forest.
"Every monster matters."
"Every quest matters."
"Every item matters."
Ryota nodded.
"I'll keep up."
The first monsters appeared.
Low-level forest creatures.
Weak.
Simple.
Rio attacked immediately.
Her movements were efficient and precise.
Every strike landed perfectly.
Every combo flowed naturally.
Years of experience were impossible to hide.
Ryota followed her lead.
At first he was slower.
More cautious.
But his reflexes allowed him to learn quickly.
Before long, they were clearing enemies together.
Experience points accumulated rapidly.
Loot filled their inventories.
Quest objectives disappeared one after another.
Rio couldn't stop smiling.
This was familiar.
Comfortable.
Exciting.
"See?"
She glanced toward Ryota.
"This is how you dominate Day One."
Ryota laughed.
"Knowledge really is overpowered."
Rio nodded.
"Knowledge."
Then she smirked.
"And execution."
The forest stretched ahead.
Their levels continued rising.
Their progress far exceeded the average player.
And this was only the beginning.
Rio checked the in-game clock.
Not even an hour had passed.
Perfect.
Every second saved now would become an advantage later.
She looked toward Ryota.
"We stick to the plan."
Her voice was filled with confidence.
"We stay ahead."
"We take every opportunity."
"And we don't waste a single advantage."
Ryota grinned.
His eyes shone with excitement.
"Sounds good to me."
Together, they pushed deeper into the forest.
The adventure of Evermount had officially begun.
For the former Silver War Goddess and her unlikely partner, this wasn't simply the start of a game.
It was the start of an entirely new future.
And neither of them intended to lose it.