Crossing the lively streets of Umbra with holographic ads floating above him, Max walked with his head bowed.
A Streamer Class, huh? He had no choice but to accept this fate.
It was still too early to go home. If he returned now, his mom would instantly notice that his glasses were gone again.
He'd rather go there late and fall asleep immediately.
Unfortunately, the weak growl of his stomach ruined that plan, reminding him he needed food first. And was flat broke to buy any.
His phone suddenly buzzed in his pocket, and he quickly pulled it out.
It was a news report.
[A Blue Dungeon Gate has appeared at Section 4C. Don't panic. The WOA has dispatched a five-man squad of A-class hunters to handle it. Citizens are advised to continue their daily lives while keeping a safe distance from the area.]
An old man beside Max shook his head. "Another dungeon gate? That's the third one since morning. I've got a bad feeling about this."
Gates were portals that appeared randomly around the world, leading into monster dungeons.
They had existed for decades now, turning hunters into the most respected people alive.
They hunted monsters, cleared dungeons, and harvested valuable drops. Every monster left behind crystals worth a fortune, and dungeon clears could reward rare items.
Though it was true and concerning that the gates had been appearing more frequently these days, most hunters just saw this as opportunity to make more money and fame.
A live video on his phone began streaming on the news site, showing the squad handling the dungeon.
The comment section, of course exploded with praise.
[As expected from the Blue Diamond Party! Perfect coordination!]
[Their leader, Mia Khaline, is stealing the spotlight again!]
[How does she move so fast with those massive breasts?! Lol]
[Bigger the engine, faster the car, hahaha!]
[She's a holy saint. You might not want to say that guy's, or you'll end up in trouble.]
The chat was lively. And as always, no one cared about the helpless Streamer behind the live video.
Another reminder of just how trash a Streamer Class really was.
Max let out a quiet sigh of disappointment.
Yet the longer he watched, the lighter his mood became. Mia Khaline was a hero that countless kids - including him - admired. She had risen to fame at only nineteen, just a year after receiving her blessing.
On-screen, the party wiped out a hoarde of kobold monsters and cleared the dungeon with ease.
Section 4C wasn't far from where Max stood. It was only natural to want to see his hero emerge from the dungeon victorious and if he was lucky, maybe even get a picture.
Without wasting any more time, he headed for the next street and arrived at the scene.
Crowds had already gathered, and traffic was jammed as drivers waited for the gate to vanish so they could cross.
Being short, Max squeezed through the mass of people until he finally reached a spot where he could clearly see the shimmering portal.
The hunters stepped out as the gate slowly disappeared behind them.
The crowd erupted in cheers, cameras flashing nonstop. Fans rushed forward with praise and autograph requests.
Mia stepped out last.
White knee-high boots, white combat robes with golden linings only a Saint like her could wear, and a matching hat over her head, Mia had no single speck of dungeon dust on her. With such dazzling silver hair, one could mistake her for a goddess.
Clutching his phone, Max ran ahead, hoping for a chance to ask Mia for a picture.
But without his glasses, he never saw the banana peel.
The moment he stepped on it, he slipped and crashed straight into Mia's legs. It felt like slamming into a brick wall.
The cheers stopped.
Mia looked down at him like she had stepped on trash.
Her voice was cold.
"Are you blind?"
Her gaze dropped to his clothes.
"…You're filthy. Don't stain my boots."
The crowd was silent. They just watched, their glares feeling like daggers on Max.
"I- I'm sorry," Max stammered, scrambling up. "I tripped.....could you....just one pic—"
She turned away mid-sentence.
"Forget it."
Saliva dried in his mouth.
"H-Hey… we used to live in the same neighborho—"
She glanced back over her shoulder, eyes filled with pure disgust.
"Get lost, you parasite."
Her party members shoved him aside as her fans began insulting Max, saying his rags could taint the Saint.
As she walked off, some of her fans rushed forward, throwing money for her to walk over, while others trampled Max underfoot as though he were nothing more than an insect.
He collapsed to his knees and stared at the concrete in disbelief.
He hadn't expected Mia to be this arrogant.
Is this what heros become when they get rich?
His stomach growled again.
Right. He was starving.
There was no point lingering in the capital now. He had to go home—just in time to get chewed out by his mom.
**
[The Next Morning]
The creaking of old wood greeted Max as he climbed off the warped mattress before his little brother woke up. Cold wooden planks pressed against his bare feet.
He sighed and stepped out to wash his face and freshen up.
The house was quiet. Perfect, that meant everyone was asleep, and he wouldn't want to wake them.
He tip-toed as quietly as he could, but just as he reached the door, his mother's voice stopped him.
"You're leaving already? This early?"
She was fifty, with long dark hair, smooth skin, and curves that made her look far younger than her age, though they were always hidden beneath her worn work overalls.
Such was a commoner's life.
"Liam got us an F-rank dungeon today," Max said quickly. "We're leaving early."
She walked over and straightened his messy hair.
"You're not entering gates, are you?"
"Don't worry. F-rank dungeons are stable monster zones. They don't vanish like gates after clearing. Mostly slimes and weak beasts live there. Its perfect for beginners."
She hesitated, then reached into her bra and pulled out a pair of glasses.
"You'll need these, right?"
His eyes widened.
"Mom… why did you buy me glasses again?" he half-shouted. "You could've used that money for groceries! I said I'd buy my own—"
"Shhh." She pressed a finger to his lips. "It's your first job, sweetie. I'm not letting you trip over everything again. What if you fall into a pit or something because you can't see too well?"
"Mom!" He groaned. "You worry too much!"
She smiled as she slipped the glasses onto his face. "There. Perfect." Then her warmth vanished. "Break them again, and I'll crush you with my bare hands."
His spine shivered.
Moms could be terrifying sometimes.
He said his goodbyes to her, then, stepped outside while she waved from the doorway, her smile bright once more.
Taking a deep breath, Max walked away toward where they'd agreed to meet with Liam.
And he was already thinking of a name to give his streaming channel.
Every streamer needed an iconic name, right?
TBC