I Can Extract Game Items

Aleman stopped near the center of the hall as his voice cut through the murmurs. "Welcome to AM Coven. Our mission is simple: to provide a safe haven for players to trade their game items that have been retrieved to reality. Whether you're here to browse, buy, or trade, you'll find what you need. But remember—this isn't just a business. It's a revolution."

The room fell silent for a moment as his words sunk in. Then, one by one, the customers nodded.

Their respect for AM Coven grew with each passing moment because they understood the dangers of selling game items and what had happened to many real life players when they tried to do so in the past.

This was a perfect location for protection.

...

...

The cafeteria at Asterisk High School buzzed with chatter and laughter as students gathered in their usual groups.

The air smelled of cafeteria pizza and fried chicken, and the clatter of trays echoed through the wide hall.

In one corner, Sophia Clementine sat alone at a table near the window with her long green hair pulled into a loose ponytail.

She idly poked at her food with a fork while her eyes were fixed on the schoolyard outside.

Despite the lively atmosphere around her, Sophia was disconnected.

She had always been that way—distant, guarded, and unapproachable. She didn't exactly know when it started but she didn't want friends. Her brother was enough for her.

She felt that most people were better kept at arm's length. Her personality at school was completely different from the one she showed August at home. This was because she was only ever herself when she was around her brother.

As she took a sip of her juice, a voice interrupted her solitude.

"Well, well, if it isn't Sophia Clementine."

Sophia sighed, not bothering to look up. She already knew who it was: Madeline Price Montgomery, the queen bee of the school and her personal tormentor.

While Sophia was amongst the most popular girls in the school due to her beauty and brain, Madeline was mostly popular due to her parents' wealth.

Clad in some designer jewelry that probably cost more than most people's rent, Madeline stood with her arms crossed and a smug smile plastered on her face.

"What do you want, Madeline?" Sophia asked flatly, still staring out the window.

Madeline pulled out a chair and sat down uninvited, flipping her perfectly styled hair over her shoulder. "Relax, I'm not here to ruin your day. Not entirely, at least. I just came to ask for your brother's number again."

Sophia's hand froze over her tray. Her voice was calm, but there was an edge to it. "I told you last time. No."

Madeline leaned forward as her smile turned into a pout. "Come on, Sophia. Your brother's hot, and I've been thinking about him since that parent-teacher meeting. Help a girl out."

Sophia finally turned to look at her while narrowing her emerald eyes. "I'm not giving you his number, so stop asking."

Madeline's expression hardened. "You know, for someone who doesn't have any friends, you sure act high and mighty. Maybe you should stop being so bitter and actually do something nice for once."

Sophia clenched her fists under the table. "Get lost, Madeline."

But Madeline wasn't done. "You know, if I were you, I'd be grateful someone like me even bothers to talk to you. You're just a poor little charity case, aren't you? No father, no mother eugh. I could never relate."

That was the last straw. Sophia stood up so quickly that her chair scraped loudly against the floor, drawing the attention of nearby students. "Say that again," she said through gritted teeth.

Madeline smirked, unfazed. "I said, you're a—"

Before she could finish, Sophia shoved her tray aside and lunged. The cafeteria erupted into chaos as the two girls started fighting, pulling hair, and shouting at each other.

Teachers rushed in to break them apart, and within minutes, both were escorted to the principal's office.

--- Stay connected through empire

Later that afternoon, August arrived at the school in a black suit making him stand out among the parents in the waiting area.

His green hair, streaked with white patches, caught fluttered as he ran a hand through it before sighing deeply.

When the principal finally called him in, August entered the office to find Sophia sitting with her arms crossed and Madeline dabbing at a scratch on her cheek.

"Mr. Clementine," the principal began while adjusting his glasses, "your sister was involved in a physical altercation during lunch. This behavior is unacceptable."

August turned to Sophia while raising an eyebrow in surprise. "Sophia?"

"She started it," Sophia glared daggers at Madeline.

"I did not!" Madeline protested. "All I did was ask for his number, and she lost it."

August blinked with a look of confusion. "Wait... my number?"

Madeline perked up, smiling sweetly. "Hi, Mr. Clementine. You probably don't remember me, but we met during the parent-teacher meeting. I just wanted to talk to you, that's all."

August sighed before pinching the bridge of his nose. "Right. Look, Principal Jones, can we just handle this quickly? Sophia's not exactly the fighting type, but I'll make sure it doesn't happen again."

The principal nodded, though he looked skeptical. "Very well. Sophia, you're suspended for two days. And Madeline, I suggest you stop provoking your peers."

Madeline gasped, indignant. "But—!"

"That's final," the principal said firmly.

"Two days? When she started it?" Sophia was finding it difficult to accept this.

"You should count yourself lucky the Montgomerys are not pressing charges," the principal statement caused August's eyebrows to narrow.

As August and Sophia walked out of the building, Sophia muttered, "She's such a brat."

"You shouldn't let people like her get under your skin," August shook his head. "Fighting doesn't solve anything."

August knew damn well that this wasn't always accurate but nevertheless, he couldn't encourage such a behavior.

Parenting 101.

"She called me a charity case with no father or mother," Sophia snapped. "What was I supposed to do, just sit there?"

August sighed but didn't reply, 'That was definitely too far... Maybe I'm not really bothered because I'm not the real August but any orphaned child would certainly be triggered... Kidss...'

As they approached the parking lot, August noticed a group of boys leaning against a nearby fence.

They were older students and their uniforms were slightly disheveled. Their postures exuded unbridled arrogance as well.

At their center was a tall boy with a scar running across his cheek. His arms were crossed as he watched August and Sophia approach.

"That's him," the boy said with a loud voice. "The guy Madeline won't shut up about."

August's face displayed a neutral expression as he came to a stop.

"Can I help you?"

The boy stepped forward with his gang trailing behind him. "Name's Zack. You've got Madeline all worked up, and I don't like it. She's my girl."

August raised an eyebrow. "Then maybe you should talk to her about that."

Zack's jaw tightened, and his gang laughed behind him. "You think you're funny, huh? Walking around like you're better than everyone else. Maybe someone needs to teach you a lesson."

August tilted his head. "I don't have time for this, kid. Move."

Zack smirked while stepping closer. "Or what?"

Before August could reply, Sophia snapped, "Get lost, Zack. You're embarrassing yourself."

Zack's smirk faltered, and he glared at her. "Stay out of this, Sophia. This is between me and your lover boy brother here."

August sighed while taking a step forward to shield Sophia. "You've got about three seconds to back off before this gets ugly. I don't like getting anywhere close to kids but if you keep misbehaving I'll have to teach you the lesson your parents failed to give you at home."

The gang laughed again, but there was hesitation in their movements. Zack's confidence wavered as August's eyes bore into him, cold and unyielding.

"Let's go, Zack," one of the boys muttered. "This isn't worth it."

Zack scoffed. "No!"

He brandished a dagger out of nowhere and rushed forward with a shout.

Sophia gasped. "Augie!"

From August's point of view, the world seemed to slow down a bit.

With his in-game avatar getting more powerful also meant he was getting more powerful in the real world.

The dagger's movement was sluggish and every twist of Zack's wrist was clearly visible to him.

August raised his hand smoothly and slapped the dagger out of Zack's grasp, sending it clattering to the pavement.

Zack barely had time to process what happened before August placed a firm hand on his chest and gave him a gentle shove.

The gentle shove didn't feel gentle to Zack...

Fwhii~

He was sent flying backward as his body crashed into the fence with a loud clang.

His gang froze in place as their eyes widened and darted between August and their fallen leader.

August's voice with a cold authoritative tone as he stepped forward. "Last warning. Leave."

The gang didn't need to be told twice. They scrambled to their feet, dragging Zack along as they fled, disappearing into the shadows.

Sophia stood rooted to the spot with her mouth slightly open. "Augie... what was that?"

He turned to her with a smile. "A lesson. Let's go home."

---