Chapter 106
Chapter 106
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 106
Chapter Title: Rain
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The two Rangers of the Red and White Guild, Go Seung-woo and Seopseobi, were letting out exclamations of awe in the lobby of the Klaus Hotel.
"Wow, this is amazing. So this is the wealth of the world's top capsule corporation."
"It's an era where virtual reality technology is connected to various industries. The only daughter of the Klaus Capsule Corporation's CEO and a senior researcher, Chris. You knew that, right?"
"What... Was that why you were so desperate to join the Red and White Guild?"
"Hehe, of course not. Well, we're just the generation that's content with playing games using advanced technology."
As the appointed dinner time approached, they visited the hotel Chris had invited them to and soon entered a spacious hall.
The hotel had been known by another name in the past, but now it was owned by the Klaus Capsule Corporation.
Scientific technology, including AI, had developed rapidly over the last twenty years.
The advancement of science and technology had allowed the people of Earth to enjoy life in a new world.
And one of those worlds was the world of sword and sorcery where countless people enjoyed adventures, the Astria Continent.
"Oh, what's all this?"
"No way, are we using this entire hall today?"
Even after entering the hall, they couldn't help but let out exclamations of awe.
Fine hotel buffet food, champagne, wine. The tables in the hotel hall, reminiscent of a high-society party venue, were filled with all sorts of food and drinks.
Go Seung-woo clicked his tongue in amazement.
"It pays to have good parents."
"What are you talking about? Chris is someone who rose to the position of senior researcher on her own merit, you know?"
"Impressive for her age. Mr. Seopseobi, you seem quite interested in virtual reality technology too? What is the guild master researching?"
"Something about sensory separation within virtual reality... Ah, the guild members are here."
As the appointed time drew near, the guild members began to gather one by one.
The first person to catch Seopseobi's eye was a young man with a large build.
"Whoa~ What is all this?"
"Oh, you must be Mr. Hopkins? A pleasure to meet you."
"Hahaha! Well, if it isn't Mr. Seopseobi. I'd recognize you anywhere! Are your party members coming too?"
"Yes. Our whole party decided to attend. What about you?"
"All of ours are on their way too."
"I thought a few would miss out due to personal schedules. The Red and White Guild has amazing solidarity."
"It's an invitation from Chris, isn't it? There's no way we could refuse. And also..."
Hopkins grinned.
Seopseobi couldn't help but smile back.
'Drizzle Rain'.
The person who was currently the hottest topic in Astria Online.
Surely, there were some who attended just to see her face.
"I don't really mind either way, but my party, 'Red Hot Chicken,' was making such a fuss."
"Hahaha! In our party, 'Full Moon' was also really eager to see her."
There might be a few men drawn to Rain's cute appearance and small frame, but thankfully, the men of the Red and White Guild were normal. Rather, it seemed Rain's delicate body stirred the protective instincts of the women.
Was her appearance her only strength? She was strong, too. In an age where virtual reality held nearly as much weight as reality, one's abilities there were also a talent and an object of envy.
While Seopseobi and Hopkins were talking, other party members arrived one after another. They, too, let out exclamations of awe at the sight of the hall.
"Kyah! As expected of the Klaus Capsule Corporation! Even the venue for our offline meeting is on another level!"
"I-Isn't this the kind of place that has a dress code? I'm in casual clothes!"
"Are the members of Chris's party not here yet?"
"There's still some time until the meeting. They might have arrived early to prepare to greet the guests."
All the members of the Red and White Guild, except for Chris's party, had gathered in the hotel hall.
And before long, the members of Chris's party also appeared.
"Oh, is that Mr. Death of Death!"
"Ms. Beimerung and Mr. Cherni, right?"
"Nice to meet you, everyone from the Red and White Guild! It's your Mage, Beimerung!"
Everyone smiled at the sight of Beimerung bouncing into the hall. A little behind her, Death of Death and Cherni entered together.
Hopkins laughed heartily, while Seopseobi shared a handshake with a sly grin.
"Aha~! Nice to meet you, Mr. Hopkins, Mr. Seopseobi!"
"Ms. Beimerung, you look just like your character, except for the hair color! I touched up my face quite a bit during character creation, you know. Hahaha!"
"Heheh. The handsome and beautiful ones don't know how us common folk feel."
"What are you talking about! You're all very handsome!"
The few who had been anxious about a dress code breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing the casual attire of Chris's party members.
*Click, clack.*
And then, with the light sound of heels, the host of this party and the master of the Red and White Guild, Chris, appeared in the hall.
The atmosphere in the hall shifted completely with the appearance of the tall, beautiful woman with reddish hair.
"Ooh."
"Indeed."
Hopkins and Seopseobi couldn't help but gasp.
They were purely in awe of her appearance and aura, which overwhelmed the room.
She looked no different from her character, Chris, in Astria Online.
With features that could look a bit sharp, everyone would probably be intimidated if she frowned. Fortunately, her eyes were curved in a smile.
"Thank you all for gathering here today. Members of the Red and White Guild."
"Don't mention it! We're the ones who should be thanking you for the invitation!"
"Thanks to you, we get to enjoy a party like this. Hahaha!"
Chris shook hands with Hopkins and Seopseobi.
With everyone but one person gathered, the members of the Red and White Guild took a moment to greet each other.
"I see. The entire second floor of this building is a virtual reality capsule facility...! It seems more like a Klaus Capsule Corporation theme building than a hotel, doesn't it?"
"There are various experience programs, too. Like a reaction speed test simulation."
"Ooh, I definitely want to try that!"
"Hehe, please enjoy yourselves to the fullest. The hotel rooms on the fifth floor and the capsule facilities on the second are for our guild members' exclusive use today. Those who came from out of town can stay the night."
Seopseobi, listening to Hopkins and Chris's conversation from the side, glanced toward the window where Death of Death was standing.
He was leaning against the wall, gazing out the window with sharp eyes, swirling a wine glass in his palm.
Go Seung-woo, the Ranger from Seopseobi's party and his friend, came over and whispered quietly in Seopseobi's ear.
"That's the current Rank 1 in the arena, the main tank of Chris's party, Death of Death."
"Excluding the unconventional player named Rain, you could say he's the best player in Astria Online."
"Every single one of them is incredible."
"Well, Ms. Beimerung and Mr. Cherni are excellent Mages and Spirit Masters too. They're among only five people in the Red and White Guild who have experience with a first clear of an elite dungeon."
"I want to go talk to him, but he's putting on such an intense aura."
While Seopseobi and Go Seung-woo were whispering, Beimerung strode over to Death of Death with a very annoyed expression.
"De-De! You're off by yourself again as soon as you get here. Go talk with the other guild members!"
"A Fighter chewing on solitude, don't you think that's a cool position? Uh, ugh!"
Beimerung grabbed Death of Death by the collar and dragged him into the center of the hall. Death of Death scratched his head and bowed slightly to Seopseobi.
"Name's Death of Death."
"Heheh, I'm Seopseobi."
"You can call me Go Seung-woo."
Even Death of Death, who had been exuding an unapproachable aura, was powerless before Beimerung.
Seopseobi smiled as he watched the two, who seemed to get along well.
"By the way, the main character doesn't seem to be here."
The person not just Seopseobi, but everyone else was waiting for.
In this hall where everyone had gathered, one person was still missing.
*Peeking, peeking.*
The two female users from the Red and White Guild, Red Hot Chicken and Full Moon, were peeking toward the hall's entrance.
Full Moon mustered her courage and approached Chris.
"Um, Ms. Chris?"
"Yes? Oh, you're Full Moon, right? It's nice to meet you."
"Y-Yes! Um, by any chance."
"Hehe, I'll introduce you."
"Ah!"
Full Moon's face brightened.
Chris walked toward the entrance of the hall.
And then.
*Whirrr.*
A faint mechanical sound came from the entrance.
The gazes of everyone in the room focused.
With that mechanical sound, a girl entered the hall.
No, it wasn't so much that she entered, but rather, she 'rode' in on something.
".......!"
Silence.
The room was more shocked than when Chris had first appeared.
How many people in the world could command the atmosphere with their appearance alone?
The appearance of the pure white girl left everyone gathered in the hall speechless.
"W-What."
Seopseobi's lips trembled.
A mysterious, unrealistic appearance that no one had thought could actually exist.
An appearance they had only grudgingly accepted because it was in a virtual reality game with character customization.
That very appearance had become reality and appeared before their eyes.
Obsidian eyes, a little calmer than their in-game counterpart.
Within them, one could even feel a sharpness like that of a well-honed sword.
Pure white hair that reflected a silvery light, as if it would dye the entire hall in its color.
A breathtakingly beautiful face, as if sculpted by a god.
Had a god, jealous of her perfection, taken something away?
She was.
Sitting in a wheelchair.
In the silence, her lips parted.
"Hello. I'm Rain."