Chapter 72
Chapter 72
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 71
Chapter Title: Shopping for an Outfit
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I opened my status and equipment windows, examining my specs with a satisfied expression.
Accessories with the desired options, weapons, outfits, and more. I had gotten everything I possibly could.
"Mm, hmm. Good."
Temple fully farmed!
As of today, all the farming I could do alone was finished.
Starting tomorrow, I could take it easy. I would just need to run a few carries whenever my schedule lined up with Chris and the party members.
My three-day solo farm of the 'Ancient Temple of Verbeia' was over. In that time, I had also sold off weapons at high prices. Thanks to that, I was able to make a decent income from this dungeon as well.
On the day of the first clear, I had worked up the courage to show Chris my solo play, but not much had changed.
I had prepared various excuses for any questions Chris might have had—like why I'd been soloing or how I could move with such exceptional reaction speed—but thankfully, they weren't needed.
However, Chris seemed to have a lot on her mind that day.
If anything had changed, it was that Chris had started asking about my physical condition more often than usual.
Today was the day 'Iseulbi' had a hospital appointment. Even though I had been discharged, they said I needed regular outpatient treatments.
It was a huge pain, but Iseulbi had to be healthy for me to enjoy the Astria Continent with peace of mind.
If I showed even the slightest hint of not wanting to go to the hospital, Chris would look like she was about to cry.
"Chris is such a worrywart."
After a light-hearted grumble, I finished my dailies for the day and logged out.
*
On the way back in Chris's car after finishing my outpatient treatment at the hospital, we were having a light conversation.
"The doctor said you've improved so much. I'm so relieved!"
Chris wore a refreshing smile. She seemed to be in a particularly good mood today.
Whirr.
It was an electric wheelchair, so it didn't need pushing, but Chris enjoyed the act of pushing my wheelchair for me.
According to the doctor, the malnutrition problem was almost completely resolved.
I guess diligently eating three meals a day had paid off, even if it was inconvenient to have to log out of the game in the middle of things.
Chris, who had come up beside me, scratched her cheek and spoke in a casual tone.
"...I also heard your mental trauma is slowly healing."
"I don't know... I don't think I really have any mental trauma..."
"W-well, that's a relief, then."
The diagnosis was PTSD.
I had heard about that today, too.
I'd heard it was a scary illness, but my struggles with it ended a long time ago. I'm fine now. The doctor and Chris are just making a fuss.
Chris helped me fold my wheelchair and put it in her car.
Vroom.
I had noticed it the last time I rode in it, but the ride in Chris's car was so smooth you could barely feel any vibrations. It must be a very expensive car.
Chris, sitting in the driver's seat, gave my body a quick glance.
"...Rain, how do you buy your clothes?"
"My clothes? Um, I order them online."
At her words, I looked down at my own outfit.
It was a light tracksuit, top and bottoms. It wasn't exactly what you'd call an outfit for going out.
Truthfully, since I never had a reason to go outside in this body, there was no need to buy any fancy clothes. When I lived alone, the furthest I'd go was the convenience store in front of my house. Very rarely, I'd go to the supermarket, too.
Chris hesitated slightly before speaking to me carefully.
"Rain, uh, um... are you busy today? Could you, maybe, spare some time? If you're okay with it, that is."
"Time? I'm free."
Suddenly?
I tilted my head.
I had finished farming the temple and selling weapons to the vanguard players. I'd even done my dailies ahead of time because of the hospital appointment, so I didn't have anything urgent to do.
I wanted to start running carries through the temple right away, but my employer was Chris, after all. I just had to be available when she requested.
"Chris's Attack Squad has a little get-together every time we finish farming a new elite dungeon. It's nothing grand. We just meet at a café for coffee and a chat, that sort of thing."
"Ah."
"Um, so, I was thinking. It would be great if you could join us today."
"Okay."
"R-really!? Are you sure!?"
"...Is there a reason I shouldn't be?"
"Ugh...! This big sis is so grateful...!"
Chris clenched her fists, shedding tears of joy.
Her reaction made me a little grumpy.
What does she think I am? Some kind of social recluse?
Sure, I can be shy around strangers, but the members of Chris's Attack Squad were Beimerung, Cherni, and Death of Death.
They had all visited me in the hospital and we'd run dungeons together during the carries, so it wasn't like they were people I couldn't meet.
Chris, beaming, dropped a bombshell as if it were nothing.
"Then we'll have to stop by a clothing store and get you an outfit first. Rain, you promised to hang out with me today, okay?"
"What!?"
I jumped in surprise.
Even though my legs couldn't move, it felt like my whole body had leaped into the air.
All sorts of frilly women's clothes swirled before my eyes, making me dizzy.
"Haaah..."
I ended up covering my eyes with my small hands.
This was a women's clothing store.
A place I'd never even seen in my now-distant memories of a past life.
For the first time since I was born, I had set foot in this sanctuary forbidden to men.
The eyes of the female employee at the store widened for a moment as she watched me enter in my wheelchair, a hint of pity flashing across her face.
Thankfully, just before I could get upset, the employee erased that expression and started squealing. A true professional.
"Oh my, oh my. What a beautiful customer."
"Hello."
"Kyaa!"
When I gave the salesperson a polite nod, she squealed again in delight. She didn't seem like a very calm person.
The employee approached me, quickly took my measurements, and began recommending all sorts of clothes.
"Goodness... what a gorgeous hair color... You could pull off even the most difficult colors. Lighter shades would suit you best, but dark colors would also look great. The smallest size should... oh my, oh my. This would be perfect, too. It's a wrap dress, but the smallest one should fit you perfectly. How about a white one to match your hair color?"
I shot Chris a pitiful look.
A plea for help.
Chris, who had been grinning foolishly from a short distance away, picked out a dress, held it up against my body, and then led me toward the fitting room.
In front of the fitting room, Chris's face turned slightly red as she cleared her throat a few times.
"Ahem, ahem. Rain. Can you change by yourself?"
I nodded.
I had been living in this body for quite some time now. It was a bit difficult, but I wasn't so helpless that I couldn't change my own clothes.
Still, it would be easier if Chris helped.
"If you could just help a little, I can change faster."
"Heok...!"
Chris gasped, then began looking around for something.
Soon, she found a handkerchief-like cloth and tied it around her eyes.
Then, as if possessed by a hero from some MOBA, she declared proudly.
"W-where should I go! This should be fine, right!?"
"......?"
Why does Chris need to wear a blindfold to help me change?
Rustle. Rustle.
"Hoo, hoo."
Chris's hands carefully fumbled over my body.
Her breathing was a little ragged, and her face was red.
"Hah!"
Chris flinched in surprise every time her hand touched my bare skin.
Shouldn't I be the one who's surprised? Why is she the one acting startled?
"...Why did you cover your eyes? This must be difficult."
"B-big sis doesn't trust herself."
"Trust...?"
Shaking her head vigorously, Chris once again helped me take off my clothes.
Chris's hands carefully supported my legs while I used my own hands to pull off my tracksuit bottoms.
In an instant, I was left wearing only a bra on top and a pair of panties on the bottom.
It's a bit embarrassing to say it myself, but aside from being a little on the small side, my body is quite pretty.
I'd been eating well lately, so I had filled out just enough to look healthy.
The act of looking at my own body. The distant memories of my past life no longer caused any feelings of rejection.
However, there was one thing I was a little unhappy about.
I pouted as I looked down at my modest chest.
I didn't think a chest like this needed a bra, but I'd heard it was something women were supposed to do.
I lifted my eyes slightly and stared at Chris.
"Hoo, hoo."
She was still blindfolded, making strange breathing sounds as she waited for my instructions.
Chris didn't wear clothes that revealed a lot of skin like her in-game character, but even her casual outfit couldn't hide her beautiful figure.
Chris's aggressive chest stood in stark contrast to my own flat one.
"Haa."
I shook my head from side to side and held out the dress for Chris to take.
"A wrap dress...? I don't really know how this works, so please just dress me. I'll do it myself next time."
"O-okay!"
Chris carefully wrapped the dress around my body.
To think this robe-like piece of fabric was a type of dress... the world of women's fashion was truly profound.
She pulled the left tie through a hole on the opposite side of my waist, wrapped it around my back, and brought it down to my left hip.
The right tie went around my back, circled once, and intertwined with the left tie.
Then, she tied the left and right ties that met at my waist into a perfect bow.
"Oh."
Clap, clap, clap.
I applauded Chris for accomplishing all of this while blindfolded.
Chris took off the cloth covering her eyes and slumped to the floor of the fitting room, gasping for air.
"T-that was torture..."