Chapter 59
Chapter 59
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 59
Chapter Title: Rain's Revival
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Goodbye, hillside slum.
I gave the moldy single room that had been my home one last look, then stepped outside to take in the view of the neighborhood.
The time had come to part with this place, which had sheltered me for nearly a year.
The move happened in a flash.
After all, there wasn't much to move from my little room. The only appliances or furniture of any real size were the latex mattress, the PC, and the capsule.
I decided to get rid of the used microwave and mini-fridge I’d bought. Chris’s house had all the latest appliances, so they would be useless there.
I wanted to bring the latex mattress that had molded so perfectly to my body, but Chris said my room already had a nice new bed she’d recently bought, so the mattress wasn't necessary. Why on earth did she buy a new bed when she lives alone?
There was so much to throw away. In the end, the only things I really needed to take were my clothes, the capsule, and the PC.
While the movers handled the capsule and PC, I packed my personal belongings.
"...Rain, can't you throw that out too?"
I clutched the electric kettle tightly to my chest and shook my head.
"With this, I can survive anywhere."
The electric kettle is a god-sent appliance. All you need is a cup of instant noodles from one of the convenience stores on every corner, and that’s a meal for the day.
And that's not all. You can make tea, and with boiling water, you can prepare all sorts of instant meals. You don't even need a gas stove.
"If you need a personal kettle, I'll buy you a new one. My house has a state-of-the-art one, you know?"
"...I've grown attached to this one."
A used, older model electric kettle. It was thanks to this that I’d been able to get by.
I didn't let go of the kettle. Chris just shook her head.
*
"Mmm."
I rubbed my sleepy eyes and woke up.
An unfamiliar ceiling.
Different from the hospital ceiling I’d grown quite used to.
My eyes took in the clean white wallpaper and the faint afterimage of a night light that gently illuminated the room.
*Whir.*
Sensing I was awake, the window blinds opened automatically, letting in the morning sunlight.
My goodness. Everything is so modern.
It feels like I’m looking at something straight out of the future.
The hillside slum was no different from the Earth of the past. But this place was different. Everything was new and amazing.
*Iseulbi, you have to get used to it. This is your home now.*
I pressed a hand down on the bed I was lying on.
*Swoosh.*
It sank down easily. It was so, so soft.
Yesterday, after the move was finished, a sleepy Chris had brought me here and tucked me in. I fell into a deep sleep almost instantly. It felt like wearing clothes that were tailored just for me.
And.
"The capsule."
It was the latest model, the same one I’d been using since my days in the slum.
I’d had it installed right next to the bed. I could roll out of bed and slip right into the capsule, or get out of the capsule and lie right down in bed.
The room was pristine. And very spacious.
Even though this was the smallest room in the house, it was no comparison to my old single room. It didn't smell like mold, either. It even had its own clean, attached bathroom.
*Whirrr.*
I operated the wheelchair next to my bed and went into the bathroom.
"A bathtub."
Tears welled up in my eyes; I was so moved.
The spacious bathroom even had a bathtub. I could take baths, not just showers.
But I haven't taken a bath since my body became like this. It might be dangerous to try it alone.
Could I take a half-body bath while still in the wheelchair? That wouldn't be much different from a shower. I want to soak my whole body.
Well, I'm sure there's a way if I look for it.
For now, I'll just stick to showers, which I can manage even in the wheelchair.
After quickly washing my face, I lay back down on the bed.
It was so incredibly soft. It was on another level compared to my latex mattress. I couldn't be happier.
*Bzzzz.*
Just as I was about to drift back to sleep in the comfort, my smartphone vibrated.
[Yin-Yang Master 'Chris' (Offline)]
- Rain, are you awake? Want some breakfast?
It was a notification from the messenger app linked to Astria Online.
It was Chris.
Still half-asleep, I typed a reply.
- Ill eat in a bit, im still slepy
There were a few typos. I was still groggy, even after washing my face.
- Should I come get you? Can I come in?
- k
Clutching my smartphone, not even remembering what I’d replied, I was drifting off to dreamland again when...
*Swoosh.*
I felt a hand on my body. Soon after, I felt myself being gently lifted.
Her hands supported my body firmly, in a secure position that caused no discomfort. My nodding head was rested on her shoulder for support. Such masterful skill.
There was only one person who could hold me like this.
"......."
I slowly opened my eyes and looked past her shoulder at her hair.
Even through my blurry vision, I could clearly see the red strands.
It's Chris.
She carried me in her arms and headed somewhere.
"Rain, time to eat."
She gently set me down.
Just because it was a rich person's house didn't mean we were having steak for breakfast. It was a typical home-cooked meal with various side dishes like rolled omelets, anchovies, and simmered black beans.
The nutritious porridge in front of me, however, was quite luxurious for porridge. It had meat and abalone. It was half rice, half toppings. The seasoning was perfect, too.
*Gulp.*
I ate the porridge with relish.
Chris, who had been watching me eat with a bright smile, suddenly looked like she was about to cry.
"I have to go to work today. Can you manage to take your medicine and eat your meals on your own?"
Chris had said she was a senior in college. But she was also working, with her attendance guaranteed through a work-study program. On top of that, she spent a lot of time on Astria Online. What kind of work did she do?
"Hehe, I work for a capsule company. Playing Astria Online is part of my job."
What a great job. To get paid to play a game.
*Whirrr.*
A mechanical sound, similar to my electric wheelchair, approached, and a robot with wheels for legs came over.
"It's a housekeeping robot. It'll bring you your meals, so you don't have to come to the kitchen."
"Oh."
I marveled at this product of future science.
Chris showed me how to use the robot. It seemed I could summon it through a smartphone app, and it would heat up my food and bring it to me.
With a robot like this, I didn't have to operate my wheelchair all the way to the kitchen just for a meal. I could eat in my room.
My range of activity stays the same, but my quality of life improves.
Overwhelmed with emotion, I looked at Chris with teary eyes.
"Heehee, isn't it great? Isn't it? From now on, all of this is yours."
Chris, who had been grinning foolishly, suddenly put on a meaningful expression and spoke to me suggestively.
"By the way, how have you been showering with your condition? Even at the hospital, you insisted I not follow you to the bathroom. D-did a nurse ever lay a hand on my body...!"
*My* body? Not *your* body?
Her choice of words was a little strange, but I explained to her how I showered.
"...It's something like that. I can shower by myself by sitting in the wheelchair after switching its mode."
"Hmm, I see."
Chris licked her lips.
After seeing Chris off at the front door, I returned to my room.
*Whir.*
The capsule, which I hadn't used in a long time, opened smoothly.
Chris had said she wouldn't take any money since it was an employee benefit, but I couldn't just live here comfortably saying, "Oh, thank you." I had to contribute to the household by at least covering utilities, including the minimum maintenance fees.
Iseulbi's body had improved a lot. Her living environment had also improved dramatically. From now on, I could earn money and enjoy that world as Rain, without any worries or burdens about my real life.
I'm finally going back. To the continent of Astria.
*
[Welcome to Astria Online]
*Woong.*
With a strange sense of floating, I returned to the continent of Astria.
"Haaa~ Whoo."
I took a deep breath.
*Hop, hop, stretch.*
I spun around in place and flashed a peace sign.
"Rain, revived!"
I missed you, Astria!
I logged in just outside the elite dungeon, Aspero's Citadel.
"Huh... Isn't that her? From Chris's Attack Squad's bus."
"Should we talk to her?"
A few players seemed to recognize me.
"Hic."
*Scurry.*
I quickly fled from the players' gazes and hid behind a pile of rocks.
Even after a month, the area in front of the dungeon was still crowded.
I briefly turned on the zone chat. The local messages were filled with advertisements for bus runs.
[Aspero's Citadel Bus, lowest price in the industry! One free run for every ten!]
[Express Bus now departing! Full refund if the bus wipes!]
The number of competitors had grown, and the prices had dropped, but it seemed the bus service was still going strong.
It was also time for me to start leveling up again. The top players were probably already leveling in the next region.
Since most of Iseulbi's financial problems were solved, I didn't need to be too obsessed with real-world money. My job, hired by Chris, was just to run the bus with her when she asked.
Fortunately, Chris seemed to care for Iseulbi too, but I couldn't freeload at her house forever. I'd have to diligently save the salary I received instead of gold and prepare to live on my own.
Still, I needed gold. There were many items I wanted to buy, like cool outfits and desserts.
"I heard you can make higher-grade Echostones now."
While Iseulbi was hospitalized, the continent of Astria had also been slowly changing.
PvP content like the arena had been added, and crafting recipes for higher-grade Echostones had appeared.
The Elite+ grade Echostones had stats 1.5 times better than the existing ones. Socketing one into a weapon would be a huge power boost. It could also be used in weapons from the next dungeon.
You could craft one by combining three existing Echostones, but I heard the success rate was extremely low. As a result, the tradable Echostones on the market had all been bought up.
"I need to earn a lot of gold."
Buying Echostones one by one with daily quests could take months. And if the combination failed, all that effort would be for nothing. The only realistic method was to buy tradable Echostones from the auction house, which cost hundreds of gold, and try to combine them. For that, I needed a lot of gold.
And.
"The housing system."
You could buy a house in the imperial capital. It was also expensive, but it was a worthy investment. It helped you recover your fatigue points faster, and you could also use it as a workshop.
Iseulbi's home had become so much nicer. I thought it would be great if Rain had a home too.
I could decorate the house nicely and buy furniture.
I held up my fingers and counted the people I would invite.
"I'll invite Chris, and Beimerung. Hmm, maybe I'll let Cherni and Death of Death come too."
Once I earn some gold, I'll buy a house first.
Smiling brightly, I took a determined step forward.
*Stomp, stomp.*