[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-online-game-starting-with-sss-ranked-summons":3,"chapter-online-game-starting-with-sss-ranked-summons-online-game-starting-with-sss-ranked-summons-chapter-30":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Online Game: Starting With SSS-Ranked Summons",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1650489,2114,"Chapter 30 The Drunk Man","online-game-starting-with-sss-ranked-summons-chapter-30",30,"\u003Cp>Returning to the hospital room after their evening out, Arthur slowly pulled out the guest bed provided for family members and sat down on it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'This bed is quite comfortable...Well, anything is better than cardboard, I guess,'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Charlotte moved toward the hangers on the back of the door, removing her jacket and scarf.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She hung the clothes neatly before turning back toward him, her pale face tranquil.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a small gesture, she signed: \"I'm tired. I'm going to sleep. Goodnight Arthur.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arthur nodded, offering her a soft smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Goodnight, Charlotte\" he replied, his tone warm. \"I'll stay awake for a bit. I need to fix a few things on my phone.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Charlotte nodded, as she climbed into her bed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She tucked herself under the blanket, her small, fragile frame almost disappearing beneath it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arthur focused on his phone, updating a few apps and skimming through some update notifications.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The room was peaceful, with the sound of their breathing the only breaker to the silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time passed quietly, and as Arthur adjusted his phone brightness, he felt a slight touch against his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking down, he noticed Charlotte's hand touching his, her delicate, long fingers brushing against his slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their beds were close together which allowed the contact.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He glanced at her, but her face was turned away to the other side, her breathing even and steady as though she had already fallen asleep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A faint smile tugged at Arthur's lips as he gently held her hand, enclosing it in his own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her fingers were cold, and he warmed them as he rested back against his bedframe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'This girl...' he thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The realisation softened him, filling him with warmth as he held her hands softly but tightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Charlotte's lips curved into a small smile as she drifted deeper into sleep, though Arthur couldn't see it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She seemed at peace, her hand remaining loosely in his as her breathing deepened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An hour later, Arthur noticed the rhythm of her breathing hadn't changed for a while.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'She's asleep now,' he thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Carefully, he released her hand, placing it softly back on her bed. He stood up slowly, his movements careful not to disturb her rest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Walking to the window, Arthur stared out at the city lights.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'I can't just sit here and do nothing,' he thought, his fists clenching at his sides.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Her treatment, the future… I need to make more money, and fast.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a determined expression and unshakable resolve, he entered [Armageddon].\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He smiled feeling the familiar pull into the void as the real world faded around him, and he reappeared in the vast, unpredictable world of Armageddon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking around him, the village was still bustling with players who were either trying to flirt with female NPCs or other female players.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'What are these idiots doing? How can you possibly waste your time doing this shit, when this world is so unpredictable. Like, this isn't just a random game. Its origins are unknown, and the creators are also unknown.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Some of these guys are way too thirsty,' he thought with a sigh. 'Horny for missions and just about anything that walks and has a hole.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lost in thought, he suddenly felt a small weight land on his right shoulder, startling him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His heart jumped as he quickly turned his head, only to find Neko perched there, her tail curling lazily around his neck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Neko, you scared the shit out of me. At least meow or something, don't just jump on my shoulder.\" He said, shaking his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Neko, as expected, completely ignored him. Instead, she rubbed her ears with her paw, her face the epitome of indifference.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arthur shook his head. \"Figures,\" he muttered, continuing his walk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>**\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he wandered deeper into the village, Arthur passed by a small but familiar run-down house.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A familiar figure caught his eye, it was a drunk old man sitting slouched against the wall, a bottle in his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arthur recognized him immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'It's that guy from before,' he thought. 'The one who said he didn't need help.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man seemed oblivious to Arthur at first, lazily sipping from his bottle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But as Arthur passed, the man's gaze shifted to his shoulder, locking onto Neko.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His blurry eyes squinted slightly, and for a moment, his entire personality changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man's body stiffened, his drunken stupor fading instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes widened as they met Neko's calm, golden gaze. His hand trembled, and he nearly dropped the bottle as fear crept onto his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'That beast…' he thought, his mind racing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'How the hell is this kid walking around with that thing on his shoulder like it's a normal cat?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Neko continued to stare back at him, her gaze unwavering and unreadable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man swallowed hard, the bottle slipping from his hand and clattering to the ground. The sound snapped him out of his daze, and a sudden idea struck him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Maybe… maybe he can actually help me,' he thought, standing up with surprising speed for a supposed drunkard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The drunken wobble was gone from his step almost as if it never existed in the first place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arthur frowned as the old man approached him, a wide smile plastered across his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hello, young man,\" the old man began, his voice unusually cheerful. \"How are you doing today? I heard you're an amazing adventurer! I was wondering if—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arthur raised an eyebrow and cut him off mid-sentence. \"Wait a damn second,\" he said, his tone sceptical.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Aren't you the same guy who told me he didn't need any help? You were pretty sure about that, too. You made me waste minutes that I could've been using to level up, what do you want now?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man froze, his smile faltering. For a moment, he simply blinked at Arthur, his mind scrambling for a response.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'What the hell?' he thought, his panic rising. 'Aren't players supposed to be desperate for quests? Why is this one rejecting me?!'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arthur tilted his head, his expression deadpan. \"Well?\" he asked. \"What's changed? Or are you just here to waste my time again?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man's lips parted, but no words came out at first. He scratched the back of his head awkwardly, his confidence wavering. 'How am I supposed to explain this?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, he cleared his throat and forced another smile. \"Ahem. Well, young man,\" he said, his tone overly formal almost boot-licking, \"I may have… uh… underestimated you before. But I can clearly see now that you're someone special.\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1083,"2026-06-06T12:00:35.877Z",1,"novelbin.me","3fea8d237d933d5d06d02f88ff17adbd9416aaeac3f35fb1529d04922d414926","online-game-starting-with-sss-ranked-summons-chapter-31","online-game-starting-with-sss-ranked-summons-chapter-29",601,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fonline-game-starting-with-sss-ranked-summons-cover.jpg"]