Should I use the teleportation skill?

I really didn’t want to. The last time I’d used it, I collapsed the second I stepped out of the dungeon and ended up hospitalized for two full days.

The aftereffects had been brutal. I still remembered waking up in that hospital bed with the worst headache of my entire life. The pain was so intense I genuinely thought I was dying.

If it hadn’t been for that doctor, I probably would have.

When I asked the system about it afterward, the explanation was straightforward. To use the teleportation skill without severe pain or dangerous side effects, I’d need to reach at least Iron rank.

So for now, teleporting wasn’t an option.

Thinking about that reminded me of something else, though. Something I’d been meaning to do.

Oh, right. I’d almost forgotten.

I focused my thoughts inward. "System, use the triple rank upgrade card on the teleportation skill. Upgrade it now."

The system’s voice responded immediately in my mind.

[As you wish.]

A holographic screen materialized in front of me.

[Initiating the upgrade process!]

[Upgrading the Teleportation Skill!]

[Current Skill Rank: C]

[Increasing rank by 3 using Triple Rank Upgrade Card!]

[Processing...]

[26%... 53%... 80%... 91%... 96%... 100%]

[Congratulations, Host! Your Teleportation Skill has been successfully upgraded to S Rank!]

I stared at the screen for a moment, then swiped it away.

After sitting there and resting for another minute or two, I grabbed my phone and slipped it back into my pocket. Then I forced myself to stand and started climbing the stairs again.

I needed to move faster. At this rate, it would take another full hour just to reach the top.

Ten grueling minutes later, I finally made it to Eden’s floor.

I stopped in front of his door, tried my best to catch my breath, and pressed the doorbell.

Then I waited.

The door swung open a few seconds later.

Eden stood there, looking me over slowly from head to toe.

I already knew why. I was soaked through with sweat, breathing hard, and probably looked like I’d just run a marathon.

He raised an eyebrow. "Dude, are you okay?"

I stared at him for a long second before responding."Say that one more time, and I’m going to kick your ass."

Eden frowned. "Hey, relax. I was just asking. You look like you’re about to collapse."

"Thanks for the concern," I said. "Now get the fuck out of here."

I pushed past him and stepped inside without waiting. My eyes went straight to the couch in the living room. I headed for it and dropped onto the cushions.

God, I was wiped out.

Eden closed the door behind me and turned around. "Wait. You didn’t use your teleportation skill?"

I glared at him from the couch. "Why the fuck do you think I kept calling you?"

I was frustrated, angry, and stressed all at the same time, and it was entirely because of this bastard who couldn’t even help me when I asked.

For some reason, Eden actually smiled. "Hmm. That’s good, actually. Your body got a decent workout."

Unbelievable.

I sat up slightly and pointed at him. "Next time you ask me to come over for a game, I’m turning you down immediately. I mean it."

Eden raised his hands. "Come on, Mic. I was joking. I’ll help next time. I was just busy this time."

I narrowed my eyes. "Busy with what, exactly? While I was climbing forty flights of stairs?"

Eden hesitated for a split second. "Uh..."

I watched him glance toward Miss May, clearly looking for backup.

"Yeah, I was helping my mom with dinner," he said quickly.

I raised an eyebrow. "You know you told me you can’t cook at all, right? About a year ago. Your exact words."

Eden shook his head. "Bro, I have no idea what you’re talking about. You must’ve hit your head on the way up."

This guy.

I opened my mouth to argue, but Miss May’s voice cut through the room.

"Boys, dinner’s ready."

Eden perked up right away. "Coming, Mom!"

He left without looking back.

After a few seconds, I sighed and followed.

Anyway, this time dinner was different from last time. The biggest change was that Eden sat next to me instead of Miss May.

Why the hell was he sitting here?

I’d actually wanted to sit next to her.

Damn it.

After finishing the meal, I headed to Eden’s room.

The second I stepped inside, I stopped in my tracks.

His room was completely spotless. Everything was clean and organized. Not a single thing out of place.

How was that even possible?

Based on Michael’s memories, Eden’s room was usually a complete disaster. Clothes thrown everywhere, empty food containers scattered across the desk, random junk piled in the corners.

Eden was a gaming addict. Once he got hooked on a game, especially competitive battle games, he’d stay glued to his screen for days straight. Literally days without sleep or proper meals. His body could somehow handle it thanks to his ridiculous physique, so he just kept going.

I looked at him. "Why is your room so clean? It’s always a mess. What happened?"

Eden shrugged. "Michael, I’m not some slob who lives in trash all the time."

I raised an eyebrow. "Could’ve fooled me. That’s exactly what I thought you were."

"Yeah, whatever." He gestured toward the corner. "Check out the setup. What do you think?"

I turned and took in the gaming rig. As expected, it was top of the line. High end monitors, an expensive chair, custom lighting. The works.

"Looks great as usual," I said.

Eden grinned. "So what are we waiting for? Let’s dive in. We’re going all night."

I shook my head right away. "Not happening. I’m not pulling an all-nighter. My sleep schedule isn’t a mess like yours."

His grin disappeared. "Bro, seriously? It’s brand new. I literally had to cancel a dungeon expedition today just to get this game so we could play together. And you’re backing out?"

He made the saddest face I’d ever seen him make.

I wasn’t falling for it. "That puppy dog face isn’t going to work. I’m still not doing it."

Eden dropped the act and sighed. "Tch. What a boring friend."

"I’ll take that as a compliment."

"Whatever. Let’s just start. I don’t want to waste time arguing with you."

He tossed a headset in my direction.

I caught it. "Like I want to keep talking either."

I put the headset on and adjusted it until it felt comfortable.

Before starting, I glanced down at my smartwatch.

***

Name: Michael Frostburne

Total Rules Broken: 0

Time: 10:00 PM

***

I took a breath, leaned back in the chair, and started the game.

***

**Two hours later.**

"Fuck!" Eden shouted. "Watch out for that tank!"

"Goddamn it!" I groaned as our jeep exploded into a fireball. "How the hell does that guy still have ammo left?"

"Maybe he found more somewhere." Eden sighed, setting his controller down before taking a long drink of his soda. "That’s the third time they’ve beaten us."

"No kidding. What the hell are these guys? Professional mercenaries or something?" I pulled off my headset, no longer caring whether the idiots we were playing against could hear me.

Eden laughed as voices continued coming through his headset.

"Nah. One of them says they just don’t have lives." He shook his head. "They’re asking if we want to run some four-on-four matches with them."

"Sure." I stood up and stretched. "But first, I need to take a leak and give my eyes a break. I’ll be back in a few minutes."

"Fine, but don’t take forever." He spoke into the microphone for a moment before taking off his headset as well. "Seriously, come back quickly. I want to beat these guys at least once tonight."

"Yeah, yeah."

I got to my feet and cracked my back, wincing slightly.

"Man, don’t you ever get tired of sitting in that chair for hours?"

Eden leaned back and smirked.

"I’m not weak like you."

I stared at him.

This fucking asshole.

"Right," I said. "You’re not weak. You’re just a loser who can’t beat a bunch of random players."

"Oh?" Eden raised an eyebrow. "And what does that make you? Last time I checked, you lost every match right alongside me."

"Look at my accuracy, dumbass. It’s way better than yours."

"Sure," Eden shot back. "And look at your reaction speed. By the time you’re ready to pull the trigger, they’ve already sent your ass back to the respawn screen."

"You Bloody-"

Before I could finish, Eden waved me off.

"Yeah, yeah. Just go already. Stop wasting time like a loser."

I pointed a finger at him. "Just wait. Next round, I’m carrying the team by myself. Then you’ll find out who’s actually the loser."

Eden snorted.

"Keep dreaming. Go splash some water on your face before you start dreaming in the middle of the match too."

I clicked my tongue and headed for the door.

Fuck that guy.

Leaving the room, I made my way toward the bathroom.

A few minutes later, after taking care of business and washing my hands, I leaned over the sink and splashed cold water across my face several times.

The cool water helped immediately.

Looking up, I met my own reflection in the mirror.

My eyes were slightly red.

Not surprising.

I’d spent the last two hours staring at a screen without taking a single break.

In hindsight, I probably should’ve stepped away for a few minutes between matches instead of playing nonstop.

Letting out a sigh, I turned off the faucet and left the bathroom.

The hallway was quiet as I made my way back toward Eden’s room.

A short distance later, something caught my attention.

Hmm?

The door to Miss May’s room was slightly open, and light was spilling through the gap.

I frowned.

Why was she still awake?

Then it hit me.

Right.

Probably because of Eden.

The guy had been yelling at the top of his lungs for nearly two hours straight.

Honestly, it was a miracle nobody had complained.

Since I didn’t want to disturb her, I quickened my pace.

Whatever she was doing was none of my business.

But as I passed the doorway, my eyes drifted toward the room out of habit.

My footsteps stopped.

I blinked.

Then stared.

For a moment, I genuinely thought I was seeing things.

"Miss May, you..."