After a while.

"So, what brings you here, Linus?" Nox asked after they had settled into adjacent seats. "Didn't you plan to take over your father's business after high school?"

A flicker of recognition had passed through Nox's mind when the disheveled man entered and shouted his name. From his memory he know, the original Nox was best friends with this guy.

They had grown up together, staying thick as thieves through their school years until ultimately parting ways.

And what he previously said was almost true. They used to play games together and for a long time. As for ‘Soul mate’ , that's some bullshit.

Still, Nox looked at the person, his current appearance was completely different from the young days. Linus's gaunt, malnourished frame and sunken, bloodshot eyes were proof of whatever troubled path he was walking on.

“Nah! My old man said I am not suited for business..”Linus leaned back in a rickety classroom chair, Speaking nonchalantly. With one elbow propped up on the desk, he raked his bony finger through the greasy disheveled hair, unconsciously mussing it even further.

Despite his attempted casual demeanor, Nox could see unmistakable intensity burning in his sunken, bloodshot eyes.


'Exactly what happened to this guy?' Nox wondered, studying his old friend's deteriorated appearance.

Gone was the fresh-faced, well-kempt young man Nox remembered from their school days. The Linus before him now bordered on gaunt, with sallow, hollow cheeks and chapped lips. Dark circles engulfed his eyes, enhancing the skeletal look. His stringy hair hung in greasy clumps, much unlike the neat, fashionable cuts he used to sport.

"I have to say," Nox begins, tilting his head slightly, "Your dad had some serious foresight. If he had let you anywhere near the business, you'd have sunk the whole thing into buying 2D waifus." His smirk flickers, testing the waters. Humor has always been their bridge, the way they used to navigate even the serious stuff.

Linus recoiled, his greasy strands whipping as he rocked back in the rickety chair. "Dude, don't you dare disrespect the supremacy of 2D waifus!" he squawked, righteous indignation dripping from every gaunt feature.

"They're perfect - pure beings uncorrupted by the flaws of the third dimension!" One bony finger jabbed outward, trembling with conviction. "They don't nag you about leaving a towel on the floor or get mad if you happen to miss an anniversary because you were grinding a raid boss all weekend!"

"My kawaii waifus only want me to be happy. They support my lifestyle choices to sequester inside, safe from the harsh rays of the sun..." He shuddered. "That's true, unconditional love. You narrow-minded normies just can't comprehend such profound emotional bonds!"

'Sweet heavens, this man needs an industrial-strength therapist way more than he needs virtual girlfriends,' Linus's impassioned retort defending the sanctity of 2D waifus made Nox's lips twitch, rendering him temporarily speechless.

Yet as he studied his former friend's flushed, animated features - the greasy clumps of hair whipping about his gaunt face, the feverish light blazing in his sunken eyes - Nox couldn't help but feel a strange sense of relief. At least his passion is the same as before.

It was strange, in a way. This guy wasn't his friend, but the deceased Nox's. Yet, he felt a strange bond, a sense of ease with him, as if they had been friends for years.

'Strange. This must be the effect of those inherited memories,' he concluded.

“By the way, Nox.” Linus leaned closer, his voice dropping to a secretive whisper. “My old man thinks I'm no good at business, but what he doesn't know is I've got this killer idea...” He trailed off, a glint of cunning replacing the vacant look in his eyes.

“It's all about the virtual world. Interested to know?” A sly smirk spread across his gaunt face.

Nox, caught off guard by Linus's sudden change in demeanor, raised an eyebrow. "Oho? You, of all people, have a business idea? Tell me what it is.."

Linus fumbled in his pocket, the movement twitchy and hurried. A sleek, metallic bracelet slid from his grasp, landing with a faint clatter on Nox's desk.  "Here, log in to my virtual space."

He slipped a matching bracelet onto his own wrist. "Come quickly, we don't have much time before the lecture starts."  With that, Linus slumped forward, resting his head on the desk, seemingly asleep in an instant.

Nox eyed the bracelet, then his odd companion. Curiosity winning out, he picked it up and fastened it to his right wrist. "First time logging into a virtual world," he muttered, a mix of anticipation and excitement lacing his voice.

A wave of darkness washed over Nox's vision, a disorienting rush followed by...nothingness. Then, a pinprick of light blossomed in the distance, expanding slowly until it filled his field of view. Shapes and colors coalesced, and suddenly, the smell of alcohol rushed into his nostrils.

He blinked, struggling to adjust to the dim light filtering through dusty blinds. It painted stripes across a worn wooden floor that seemed to stretch on forever.  On his right was a shelf filled with glass bottles of alcohol.

There were many seats arranged neatly around as soft retro music ran in the background. ‘A tavern huh..’

With much curiosity, Nox walked forward towards the nearest table. He reached out, trailing his fingers across the rough surface of the table. It felt cool, slightly damp, and surprisingly solid beneath his touch. "This is..." he breathed, a touch of surprise coloring his voice, "so damn real."

A flicker of comprehension crossed Nox's face. 'Is this the business idea he talked about? Opening a virtual tavern? Indeed, the people in this era should be very curious about this.
'

He tilted his head, a crease forming between his brows. 'But has no one done it yet?'  The question hung in the air, mingling with the faint strains of retro music.

“Nox, Come here!” At this moment, Linus' voice cut through the soft retro music, his voice made Nox whirl around. His eyes swept the empty tavern, finally landing on a shadowed corner. 

Squinting his eyes, Nox focused his vision to see clearly in dim light but when he did so his jaws dropped in astonishment.

Linus was sitting on the corner on a chair that was not surprising. Linus was not alone, surrounded by a group of extraordinary women whose appearances defied ordinary human traits.

'Tails... Furry ears... Pointy ears...'

Nox's mind raced as he tried to make sense of the impossible scene unfolding before his eyes. His gaze darted from one mesmerizing figure to the next, each more otherworldly than the last.

'Holy shit! Holy shit! Holy shit!'

Yes, Linus was surrounded by otherworldly beauties, And the women were not just accompanying him but serving him.

The first woman, a captivating cat-girl, stood behind Linus, the cat-girl's tight top hugged her ample chest, accentuating the gentle swell of her breasts as she moved. her feline tail swishing gracefully as she rubbed his shoulders with her delicate hands.

The demon-girl's figure was a tantalizing hourglass, her generous bust straining against the fabric of her low-cut top. Her curves flowed seamlessly into a narrow waist before flaring out into wide, shapely hips. As she shifted on Linus's lap, the clinging fabric of her skirt rode up, offering tantalizing glimpses of her plump, well-rounded derriere.

An ethereal elf-woman sat on a nearby chair, her slender fingers expertly massaging Linus's legs. Her pointed ears and delicate features exuded an otherworldly beauty, and her graceful movements seemed to flow like water. As she leaned forward, the neckline dipped tantalizingly, showing the glimpse of what was hidden within the clothes.

'Why the hell did he say 2D waifus? These ladies are so 3D, they're practically leaping off the screen and into my lap! If this is what Linus considers "virtual perfection," I might just have to unplug and join a monastery!'

AN: Day 2: College is kicking my butt, so updates might be a bit...chaotic.  But hey, at least my characters are having a more exciting life than I am right now!

And yes, thankyou for collecting my book on webnovel, you guys are best!