Chapter 57
Chapter 57
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: The Contract
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Rain emerged from the consultation room, and Chris walked her to her hospital room.
Rain seemed exhausted from the long hours of various tests. A clear weariness lingered in her eyes.
"I'm sorry... There's so much I should be doing... Just for a little while, if you don't mind..."
Rain leaned on Chris for support.
The guardianship application process was also complete. With the patient's consent, Chris now had the authority of a guardian, allowing her to be privy to medical information and more.
After helping Rain into her hospital bed, Chris gently patted her until she fell into a deep sleep.
Chris left the room and went to the doctor's office.
The doctor, who had been staring intently at a hologram screen, welcomed Chris. The screen in the office displayed test results.
"Ms. Chris, it's a pleasure to meet you. You're Ms. Iseulbi's guardian, I presume."
The doctor got straight to the point.
"Even after she's discharged, her guardian will need to pay close attention to her nutritional status and physical condition. She has a spinal cord injury, and her overall physical functions have severely declined, so she'll need to remain hospitalized for treatment and rest for the time being..."
Chris listened as the doctor explained various aspects of Rain's current physical condition.
South Korea had undergone rapid change after implementing policies to embrace refugees and immigrants as citizens. In the decades that followed, the welfare of unidentified refugee orphans became a prominent social issue.
Although Rain had shared much with Chris, she never mentioned her past before a certain point. Judging by her foreign appearance and lack of relatives, Chris could infer she was one of the refugee orphans from that tumultuous era.
Rain must have lived a lonely life with no one to rely on. Her body, too, was a wreck.
"To be frank, while the patient's physical treatment is important, the most significant issue is..."
The doctor's expression turned grave as he looked at a graph.
"Her current mental state. It's highly likely that this is also having a severe impact on her physical functions."
"......!"
"As you know, with the advancement of virtual reality technology, neuroscience and medicine have also made rapid progress. Thanks to this, we can now visualize most mental health issues through special brainwave scans. However..."
A moment of silence. Chris was seized by an inexplicable anxiety.
"However...?"
"...the test results are unusual. I've explained this thoroughly to Ms. Iseulbi, but patients sometimes refuse to accept that they have a mental illness or don't take it seriously. That's why the guardian's perspective on the patient's condition and their role in future care is crucial. Hmm, the case most similar to Ms. Iseulbi's special brainwave scan results is..."
The doctor paused for a moment before continuing.
"PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder. It appears she's suffering from a mental disorder due to severe physical and psychological trauma experienced in the past. However, Ms. Iseulbi's condition is quite different from that of other PTSD patients. We've conducted thorough psychological evaluations and in-depth interviews, but we simply can't define her condition."
"What exactly is wrong with Rain—uh, Iseulbi?"
Chris asked urgently, trying to calm her wildly beating heart.
"The results of her in-depth interview and her outwardly observed psychological state are very stable. And yet, the special brainwave scan diagnosed her with extremely severe PTSD. Based on the visible test results alone, it wouldn't be surprising if symptoms like age regression or seizures occurred at any moment."
Chris felt as if all the blood was draining from her body.
"...She's stable for now, but we don't know when her condition might worsen. I'd like you, as her guardian, to continuously monitor her progress."
With a dazed expression, Chris walked down the hospital corridor, lost in thought.
The 'Iseulbi' Chris had observed for the past few days was Rain, yet somehow different. When she stroked Chris's hair to comfort her, she even felt more like an adult, older than Chris herself. She didn't seem like someone with mental health issues at all.
But the special brainwave scan results indicated that Rain had a severe psychological wound.
How on earth did she get such a wound? Did it happen during the accident that crippled her legs?
And then, every one of Rain's actions in 'Astria Online' flashed through Chris's mind.
Her timidness, an extreme reluctance to let people get close; the symptom that could be called a seizure when her shoulder was touched; her childlike gestures and behavior.
Having seen Rain up close, Chris knew.
Rain's wounds were there.
She wanted to heal her emotional scars on the 'Astria Continent.'
*
"So, it's PTSD."
Having woken up, I lay in bed and recalled the doctor's explanation.
Fortunately, even the advanced science of this future era couldn't peer into a person's memories.
I had expected there would be some psychological issues. I did suffer a lot after 'that day'.
But the 'Iseulbi' of today is fine.
There was a time I nearly lost the will for everything and was swept away by the world, but after discovering Astria Online, I resolved to live on with strength.
Of course, 'Rain' is also enjoying her journey across the Astria Continent.
In any case, it's not like I'm suffering from an illness so serious that others need to worry.
Still, one thing became clear during these tests.
The doctor said it was highly likely that a past psychological wound remained as a form of persistent pain, affecting my body, but it probably wasn't because of PTSD. That part is nothing.
The reason my body was having this strange reaction was likely...
"The synchronization rate."
The injuries 'Rain' sustained had a major impact on 'Iseulbi's' body.
I now knew for sure that pain felt by the mind could affect the physical body.
Of course, I didn't tell the doctor about the 100% synchronization rate.
My body is already at a point where it can't live without 'Astria Online'. I have to earn money there, too.
Even if they told me to take measures regarding the synchronization rate because it's dangerous, there's no way I could listen.
So, what should I do?
"Hmm..."
I guess the best thing would be to try not to get injured.
And if my real body gets healthier, it should be able to endure a bit more.
Exercise... hmm. Should I do things like upper body workouts?
For now, the best effort I can make while hospitalized is...
"Rain, say 'ahhh'~"
"...Ah."
Gulp.
I sighed deeply and accepted the spoonful of porridge Chris was feeding me.
"I told you I can eat by myself... I'm not a child."
"But I want to feed you. You said you owed me a big debt, right? So please, just grant me this little request~"
Just by her expression, Chris looked incredibly happy feeding me porridge.
If it makes Chris happy, I guess I have no choice.
Besides, this is also one of the activities to help my body get healthier.
I heard one of the reasons I collapsed was malnutrition.
The solution: eat three meals a day.
On time, with balanced nutrients.
"That's difficult."
For years, I've lived on one meal a day, relying on cup ramen.
Sure, I've had some delivery food recently, but my body was satisfied with just a slice or two of pizza a day.
But now I'm supposed to stuff three nutritious meals a day into this small stomach.
"It'll be fine if you increase your portion sizes little by little. You're not on a diet or anything. When a body with no fat to spare and no muscle mass left doesn't get nutrients, this is what happens."
Chris wore a stern expression. I glanced at her cautiously.
Since I had accepted her as my guardian and was now under her care, I had to listen to what she said.
Her expression quickly softened, and Chris smiled brightly again as she held out the spoon.
"Say 'ahhh'~"
"...Ah."
Gulp.
Obediently, like a baby bird accepting food from its mother, I felt a slight blush creep onto my face from the embarrassment.
Of course, I still ate diligently.
"When do you think I can be discharged?"
After finishing my meal, I asked Chris the most important question.
It's already been over a week since I was admitted. Legs aside, shouldn't the rest of my body be recovered by now?
"Hm? Already? The doctor said you need to be hospitalized for at least a month."
"A-a month...!"
I couldn't help but be horrified.
In a month, the period where I can charge high prices for the citadel bus will be completely over.
The bus fare will only go down. In a month, most of the passengers will have finished their farming. It'll be hard to find customers then, and I'll have to charge a lower fee.
"I can't be in the hospital for a whole month. I'll be in trouble if I don't earn gold."
If I can't earn gold this time, I'll have to stay in the shantytown even longer. On top of that, a long hospital stay is bound to be expensive.
Chris took out a piece of paper and placed it in front of me.
"Huh?"
It was a contract.
"Rain, if you sign this, I'll take care of everything. Not just the hospital bills, but I'll solve your housing problem too."
"Gasp..."
Even my housing problem?
I swallowed hard and began to carefully scrutinize the contract.
In essence, it stated that in exchange for working as a full-time employee of 'Chris's Attack Squad Bus' within 'Astria Online', the employee's real-world housing issues would be resolved and other benefits would be provided.
Participation in the initial progression attempts wasn't required. I only needed to join when the bus service started. The salary would be paid in cash instead of gold. Of course, I could also receive it as gold if needed.
I tilted my head.
The terms were too good for me. It was no different from what I was doing now. If I received a salary, I wouldn't even need to go through the process of converting gold to cash.
I stared intently at the contract.
People on the internet always say to be suspicious of contracts with terms that are too good to be true. Could there be a hidden poison pill clause?
Soon, I shook my head.
*Iseulbi, what are you thinking?*
*There's no way Chris would do something like that, right?*
Still, the thought of being trapped in a capsule, forced to grind for money without being able to enjoy the Astria Continent...
"Gasp...!"
That would be dangerous.
*This isn't because I doubt Chris.*
*It's a process to be able to trust her completely.*
I read the contract again and again.
Chris just watched me with a bright smile.
In the end, I finally signed the contract.