Chapter 92
Chapter 92
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 92
Chapter Title: A Little Indulgence
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"Hngh."
I let out a groan as I sat up in the capsule.
Clutching my shoulder, I trembled from the pain that still seemed to linger inside me.
Thump, thump. My heart was beating faintly, but steadily.
Whirr. Click.
As I gritted my teeth, battling the pain for a moment, the sound of mechanical wheels came from outside, and the door opened.
I hastily swallowed the medicine the housekeeping robot brought, washing it down with water. It was the painkiller and sedative prescribed by the hospital last time. Medicine in this future era works quickly and has almost no side effects.
The pain coursing through my body gradually subsided, and I began to calm down.
"Hoo."
I feel languid. The medicine kicked in so fast that I'm already drowsy. Does it have a sleeping agent in it, too?
My body was covered in a cold sweat. My clothes were soaked through.
I need to wash up. I need to eat dinner, too.
Still, it's a relief I don't have a nosebleed this time.
I gently touched my face.
A faint, languid smile played on my lips.
I definitely felt good.
Today, I got what I needed from my past self. Conditionally, of course.
But there was a problem.
Sway, sway.
Sitting in the capsule, I tried waving my arms gently. Then I let my body go limp.
"I have no strength in my body."
The medicine has eased the pain considerably, but it's hard to get up.
In the past, even if I had no strength, I would have mustered every last ounce to get up.
It's all because my fighting spirit is gone. I'm not desperate enough to whip my aching body and risk my life grinding for gold, and my body isn't screaming danger signals like it used to.
And if worse comes to worst, I can go to the hospital right away. In this future world, going to the hospital fixes everything, taking medicine cures everything. Even without the divine power of a saintess or a priest. Ah, Elena. I'm sorry. I didn't mean you weren't needed.
I silently apologized to my companion and tried to get up again.
Struggle, struggle.
Knock, knock, knock.
Just then, a knock came from the door.
"Rain~? Can I come in?"
It's Chris.
Her voice held a hint of concern.
"Ah, just a moment."
Struggle, struggle.
I tried to get up again.
And then, I gave up.
"...Come in."
Click, patter patter patter.
Chris opened the door, took one look at my state, and rushed over with a slightly panicked expression, wrapping her arms around me.
"Rain, are you okay? Oh my god...! Look at all this sweat! What happened!?"
"I-I'm fine."
I lowered my head slightly, avoiding Chris's gaze.
"What do you mean, fine! You're trembling! Sh-should we go to the hospital?"
"I'm fine."
This time, I looked her in the eyes and said it firmly.
She froze.
Chris, who had been checking me all over, paused. She lowered her hands and sighed.
"Haaah, alright."
Then she met my gaze, her eyes firm.
"If I decide you're in real danger, I'm dragging you to the hospital, whether you like it or not. Got it?"
"...Yes."
I answered with my head bowed low. Chris hugged me.
I pushed myself too hard without telling her. It's clearly my fault.
The fact that Chris rushed over the moment I returned to this world means she was constantly monitoring Rain's connection status through messenger while I was attempting the Ice Crystal Tower.
I didn't want to worry Chris, but did I end up making her worry even more?
"I'm sorry."
"What are you sorry for?"
"For everything."
"It's okay."
"I'm sorry."
I wanted Chris to enjoy this beautiful Astria Continent as just a game.
Honestly, I don't have the confidence to explain it to her. I'm the only one who needs to be bound by the afterimages of my companions, immersed in this mission.
To the people of this world, I must just look like some mentally ill person who can't distinguish between virtual reality and reality.
The process of reclaiming my past strength. The pain that comes with it.
While receiving her unconditional kindness, I hide that unspeakable secret.
At the same time, I'm grateful for her consideration in not prying.
For a while, I lay in Chris's arms, repeating my apology.
I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
After resting in Chris's arms for a bit, my body calmed down considerably. The pain had almost completely vanished.
Living with Chris and being cared for by her has definitely paid off in keeping my body healthy. If I had endured this much pain with my previously frail body, I might have already collapsed, blood streaming from my nose.
My body felt better. But, there was a problem.
I pulled my face away from Chris's embrace, frowning slightly as I fidgeted with my clothes.
"They're a bit damp."
"They are, aren't they? Can you wash up? If it's too much, maybe just change your clothes and lie down for a bit?"
I still don't have much strength, but it's not so bad that I can't shower. Still.
"Hmm..."
I feel languid and sticky. I'd rather take a full bath than a shower.
I feel like soaking in the tub would make me feel much better.
Since I'm already being childish, maybe I can ask for a little more.
I stared intently at Chris.
"Um, I'd like to take a bath. But I think it might be a little difficult on my own."
"A bath?"
"Yes. I want to soak my whole body in the water, a full bath."
A shower or a half-bath might be one thing, but with my disabled body, taking a full bath alone is difficult.
The biggest problem is the size of the bathtub. It's needlessly large for my small body.
Even if I stretch my short legs out, they won't reach the other side.
If my upper body were to slip during the bath, I could end up flailing in the tub and swallowing a lot of water.
But if Chris helps me, I can do it without worry.
"Can you... help me take a bath?"
Chris's eyes widened.
Gush gush gush, trickle.
After confirming the large bathtub was about three-quarters full, I turned off the faucet.
Splash, splash. I gently stirred the water with my hand. The temperature was just right.
I smiled brightly.
I can finally take a full bath.
"Grrrrr! Did you want to repay your debt so soon! Fine, I'll let it slide! I even took a calming pill! I've grown, too! Did you think I'd let you get the better of me forever!!"
"......?"
I could hear Chris growling from outside the bathroom.
Chris is being extra noisy today.
"I'm ready."
Click.
"Grrrrr!"
Chris entered the bathroom, growling. Her aura was intense.
But as soon as she stood before me, her eyes glazed over and she went limp.
Twisting her body like a shy girl, Chris carefully lifted my naked form from the wheelchair and moved me to the tub.
I felt her hands twitch slightly as they touched my bare skin.
Splash.
The warm water pleasantly enveloped my entire body.
I closed my eyes gently, opened my mouth, and let out a sigh.
"Haaaah... this is paradise."
"Paradise? Heheh, you sound like a little old lady."
"I'm not a kid, and I'm not old."
Chris laughed, her face slightly flushed. I looked at her and smiled sweetly.
With only my head above the water, I pouted slightly.
"The tub is big enough, we could have bathed together."
"...I really don't have the confidence for that."
Chris complained, turning her face away slightly.
I tilted my head.
Even in the faint memories of my past life, there were things like public bathhouses. And I'm clearly a woman now.
Is it not common for women to bathe together in this future era?
I washed my body and my hair.
Chris washed my long, silver-white hair with a gentle touch.
Today, Chris rolled up her pants and sleeves like a bathhouse attendant and took care of me. She lathered my body with body wash. Gently, on every finger, every nook and cranny of my body.
Feeling refreshed and clean, I changed into my pajamas and lay down in bed.
Chris lay down beside me and patted my back. I expressed my gratitude to her.
"Chris, that was really nice. Thank you so much."
"Are you sure you don't want dinner?"
"Just for today... I'll skip it...."
My eyes immediately began to close.
I definitely overdid it today, but the bath felt just as good.
It felt like a good night's sleep would return me to my usual state.
Pat, pat.
Even in Iseulbi's uncomfortable body, maybe it's a little okay if I'm in these arms.
Feeling Chris's gentle pats, I buried my face in her embrace and quickly drifted off to dreamland.
Between the boundary of reality and the virtual.
*
Sniffle, sniffle.
Pat, pat.
Chris listened to Rain's breathing, patting her as she fell into a deep sleep.
And, she whispered her name into her ear.
"Sleep well, Rain."
A small, wounded bird that had flown into her arms at some point.
A secretive little bird that constantly tempted Chris with her nightingale-like voice and delicate gestures.
Chris patted Rain, lost in thought.
"I wonder if the Ice Crystal Tower was hard today."
Rain wouldn't have been beaten by something like the Ice Ogre King on the 9th floor. With the power of Astaroth that Chris gave her, she would have cleared the 9th floor without issue and conquered the tower.
The smile of accomplishment Rain had worn all day. She must have obtained a new power at the top of the Ice Crystal Tower.
However, Rain's condition today was definitely bad.
Could she have suffered immense pain at the top of the tower?
If it was enough to affect Rain, it couldn't be something an ordinary user could handle. Did she stumble into something she shouldn't have?
It was hard to imagine anything in Astria Online that could hurt Rain.
Rain's synchronization rate and psychological state. She was clearly treating Astria Online as reality. It was likely a process for Rain, who couldn't find meaning in this world, to affirm her own existence in virtual reality.
Chris wanted to make Rain smile brightly, wherever she was.
But outside of virtual reality, Rain was still adrift.
Even while in Chris's arms, her gaze always seemed to wander somewhere far away.
"I wish she would rely on me a little more."
Rain certainly relied on Chris, but deep in her heart, she was hiding something.
What could be motivating Rain to become stronger, even if it means enduring great pain?
Will the day ever come when Chris learns Rain's unspeakable secret?
As the night deepened, so too did Chris's worries.