Player Chapter 2. I Don't Work for Free
Riven stared at her.
For a long moment.
Then he visibly cringed.
"You kidnapped me. And now you're giving me… employment?!" he repeated in disbelief.
"…Correct."
Riven sighed. He tried to get some logic in that, but failed spectacularly.
Astraea straightened proudly. "I chose correctly for this job. Riven Goldborne. Age twenty-three. Six-time solo VR champion. Five-time team VR champion. Born into the Goldborne gaming dynasty. Your father, Allen Goldborne, owner of the largest gaming empire in the world. Former professional gamer. Your mother, Jane Goldborne, lead narrative designer and famous story enthusiast. She reads hundreds of fantasy novels every year."
Riven scratched the back of his head. "Yeah, that sounds like her."
Astraea smiled brightly. "You are perfect for this role."
"Right." He raised one finger. "Important question."
Astraea leaned forward. "Yes?"
Riven looked directly at her. "What's the payment?"
The goddess blinked, slightly panicked. "…Payment?"
"Yes. For the job. I don't work for free."
She hesitated. "Uh… Money?"
Riven tilted his head, frowning. "…And that is the reward you're offering me? Money?"
For a brief moment, the chamber of stars went very quiet.
Astraea looked… uncertain.
Riven noticed it immediately.
Interesting.
He had spent half his life reading people. Interviews, tournaments, sponsors, paparazzi, corporate sharks pretending to be friendly, he'd learned early that body language spoke louder than words. And right now the literal goddess in front of him was doing something suspiciously human.
She was panicking.
Her posture stiffened just a little. Fingers curled slightly on the armrest of her glowing throne. Her calm divine smile faltered by half a millimeter.
Riven's lips curled upward.
Oh.
This was fun.
Internally, he felt something familiar stir. That quiet thrill he usually got during a tournament when an opponent revealed a weakness. A tiny crack in their defense.
Same feeling.
Just… now the opponent was a goddess.
"Let me tell you this," he said casually, pacing slowly across the crystal floor like he owned the galaxy. His footsteps echoed softly under the endless starfield above. "You paused time in a stadium, kidnapped me out of a championship match, brought me into a cosmic throne room…"
He stopped a few meters from her.
"And your best opening offer was money?"
Astraea straightened slightly.
He tilted his head, studying her expression with calm curiosity.
"My father owns the largest gaming empire in the world."
A finger went up.
"I'm the eldest heir."
Another finger.
"I'm currently the most famous VR tournament champion alive."
Third finger.
"And I just won my sixth solo title ten minutes ago."
He shrugged lightly.
"So, unless your divine treasury beats the global economy…"
His sharp eyes lifted back to hers.
"…money isn't very convincing."
Astraea blinked.
The pause stretched.
Riven waited.
He could almost hear the gears in her head spinning.
Then she spoke quickly.
"What about luxury?"
He said nothing.
She continued.
"I could give you palaces. Wealth beyond human imagination. Rare treasures across worlds—"
Riven slowly started walking toward her again.
She stopped mid-sentence.
He reached the base of the glowing throne and leaned one hand casually against it, looking up at her like this was just a business meeting instead of a divine summoning.
"Already have it," he said flatly.
Internally, he felt a small spark of amusement.
This was almost unfair.
She was trying so hard.
Astraea hesitated again. "…Then how about…" She seemed to search for something. "…a better body?"
Riven raised an eyebrow.
Now that was new.
His gaze drifted slowly down his own torso.
Then back up to her.
"Define better."
Astraea gestured vaguely. "Stronger. More handsome. Perfect health. Divine physique."
Riven's mouth twitched.
He took her hand.
The goddess froze.
Her skin was warm. Softer than he expected.
He gently guided her hand forward.
Astraea blinked in confusion as her fingers landed on his chest.
Right over his esports jacket.
Riven's eyes never left hers.
"Feel that?"
She did.
Her hand pressed lightly against the firm muscle beneath the fabric.
He moved her hand slightly lower.
Abs.
Even through the jacket, the definition was obvious.
"I work out," he said calmly. "A lot."
Her face turned pink.
Riven noticed immediately.
Oh.
That reaction.
His internal amusement deepened.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
For a goddess, she looked dangerously close to melting.
Her fingers stayed there a moment longer than necessary.
Riven tilted his head slightly, studying her expression the way a scientist might observe an unexpected experiment result.
Then he gently released her hand.
"Next offer."
Astraea cleared her throat quickly.
"Romance."
That made him pause.
She regained a bit of composure and leaned forward.
"I know about your past relationships."
Riven's expression didn't change.
Inside, something small and bitter shifted.
Astraea continued.
"Women approach you for your fame. Your wealth. Your family name." Her voice softened slightly. "They don't see you."
Riven looked away for half a second.
Then back.
Yeah.
That one landed.
But his face showed nothing.
Astraea pressed forward. "I can change that." She lifted a hand. "I can guide you to a real romance. A genuine partner. Someone who sees you as Riven… not as Goldborne."
The chamber fell quiet.
Riven's eyes lingered on her.
Then slowly…
A smirk spread across his face.
Dark.
Interested.
"…Now we're negotiating."
Internally, he felt the game shift.
Better.
Much better.
He leaned closer to the throne, resting his elbow on the armrest like this was a casual conversation between equals. "And?"
She blinked. "And?"
"You said romance." His eyes narrowed slightly. "What else?"
Astraea hesitated. "…Power."
Now his attention sharpened.
"I can grant you game-like abilities. Not unlimited. But significant. Strength beyond normal people. In real life."
Riven's smile widened slowly.
There it was.
"Now we're talking."
His mind started working immediately, assembling possibilities the way it did before every tournament.
Systems.
Mechanics.
Exploit potential.
He got even closer. "So…" His voice lowered slightly. "What are my facilities?"
Astraea blinked again. "…Facilities?"
"What do I get? Something like office facilities."
Her confusion was genuine.
"…What do you want?"
Riven noticed the slight nervousness in her tone.
That made his smile deepen.
Oh, she had no idea what she had just asked.
"Alright," he said casually, counting on his fingers. "First. A private base. Something like a pocket dimension." He gestured around the chamber. "A guild hall. Safe zone. No enemies. Somewhere I can rest, store things, and think."
His voice remained calm, but his mind was already running scenarios.
Unknown game genres.
Unknown mechanics.
Unknown dangers.
You survive those with preparation.
"Second. Dimensional storage."
Her eyes widened slightly.
"Inventory space. I don't care what genre I land in. Apocalypse. Dungeon. Fantasy. I need portable logistics."
Astraea nodded slowly. "…Reasonable."
"Third. Adaptive mana."
She blinked.
"Power systems change between games," Riven continued smoothly. "Magic, energy, cultivation, whatever nonsense those worlds run on." His eyes gleamed slightly. "I want compatibility."
Her expression shifted. "…You're very quick."
He shrugged.
"I grew up in game development meetings."
Then he added casually…
"Oh. Also..."
She braced herself.
"I need a way to recruit companions."
Her eyebrows rose.
"Or servants. And maybe some narrative manipulation, in case I need it."
He tilted his head slightly.
"You're sending me into story-driven worlds. Characters matter. If someone useful appears…" A slow smile spread across his face. "…I want the option to keep them."
Silence.
Then Astraea slowly nodded.
"…Deal." She raised a finger. "But narrative manipulation is limited. You cannot completely rewrite the world."
Riven shrugged. "Fine."
He leaned closer.
Just a little.
Close enough that her breath caught.
"One more thing."
Astraea froze.
Riven lifted a hand.
His fingers gently tilted her chin upward.
Their eyes met.
His voice dropped to a whisper.
"I want…" A pause. "…you."
Her face turned bright red instantly.
"Y-you—"
She stammered.
Riven smiled.
Then…
Reality collapsed.
The chamber shattered like glass.
Gravity vanished.
The stars twisted into a swirling abyss beneath his feet.
Astraea's flustered voice echoed as he fell. "YOU NEED TO GO NOW!"
And then the darkness swallowed him whole.