Chapter 93
Chapter 93
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 93
Chapter Title: Rest and Preparation
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Ding-dong—
"Oh, looks like Dayeon is here."
While I was sitting on the living room sofa, letting Chris do my hair, the doorbell rang. Chris got up to greet Beimerung.
Click, patter patter patter.
A brief conversation and hurried footsteps came from the entrance, and then a small woman with short hair appeared, sitting down to my left with a vibrant smile.
"Hi, Rain! How are you feeling?"
"Hello, Dayeon. I'm feeling much better."
Nam Dayeon, or Beimerung, who had been smiling, looked me over and then, with eyes that seemed about to well up with tears, she tightly gripped my hand.
"Sob, I knew it. Chris isn't taking proper care of you, is she? Do you want to just come live with me?"
"Hey, Nam Dayeon!"
Chris approached with a displeased expression, sat down to my right, and pulled me toward her. I shook my head while nestled in Chris's embrace, looking at Beimerung.
"It's not Chris's fault. I've just been playing the game too hard lately. My body is weak, so I should have been taking it easy."
"Sniff, really? Anyway, you really surprised me. When I heard you were taking a few days off from the game because you weren't feeling well, I thought you might have been hospitalized again."
"Well, it's not that serious. But I need to do my daily quests."
"Ahem! You promised me, didn't you? We agreed you'd rest for a few days."
"Yesss."
Seeing Chris's stern expression, I hung my head low. I was guilty of pushing my body too hard, so I couldn't defy her.
Chris chuckled, then with a dreamy expression, she began to gently stroke my hair again.
"Rain's hair is so fine... Haaah...."
"Uh, uum."
I'd said I would rest for a few days, but there wasn't much to do in the world outside the Astria Continent. Lately, I'd been letting Chris have my body to caress. Am I like a comfort doll to her?
In the Astria Continent, Rain's body is always busy running around, doing daily quests or sightseeing, so I don't get to spend much time with Chris.
And to let Chris enjoy me more, I have to let her touch my body in the outside world. The synchronization rate of a normal user in the Astria Continent would likely leave something to be desired.
When I offer my body, Chris is happy, and I feel good too. It's one of the few joys I can experience in Iseulbi's body.
As I received Chris's caresses, a sudden thought made me blush slightly.
Recently, she bathed me.
At the time, my head was fuzzy from the medicine meant to ease the pain, so I acted childishly and obediently entrusted my body to her, but thinking about it now, it was incredibly embarrassing.
Even if we're both women, a grown young woman showed her naked body to another and surrendered to their touch.
Well, my body might be a little small, but it wouldn't be wrong to claim I'm a grown young woman, right?
I'm probably not the only one who was embarrassed. Chris's face was beet red and she kept flinching, so she must have been quite embarrassed too.
Rain, what on earth have you done?
Still, it felt good. Chris likes touching my body, so it must have been okay.
You liked it too, right? Hmm, is that the right way to think about it?
My thoughts were wandering for only a moment before I reflexively ate the snack that suddenly appeared before my mouth.
Chomp.
Beimerung, who had put the snack in my mouth, grinned.
"My, you eat so well."
"...Are you feeding an animal?"
"Of course, my cute little critter."
Beimerung teased me.
I shook my head at her childish behavior.
Comparing my physique to Beimerung's, she wasn't really in a position to be calling me a small animal.
I'm in the mid-140cm range, and Beimerung is in the mid-150cm range, so there's barely a handspan's difference between us. Compared to the tall Chris, who is over 170cm, we're total shorties.
"Chris is like a tall model with a great figure, but Beimerung is...."
"Rain, you!"
"Eheheh!"
I looked at Beimerung with a mischievous expression. Beimerung puffed out her cheeks. Chris just laughed foolishly and shrugged.
She kept calling me cute, but as a fresh-faced college student, Beimerung was plenty cute herself. I'm sure I'm not the only one who sees her that way.
While I was sandwiched between the two giggling women, eating snacks and watching TV, it was already lunchtime.
"We have a guest, so I should treat her to something delicious. Let's see, I went grocery shopping a few days ago. If there's nothing left, I guess we'll have to order delivery."
Chris got up and headed to the kitchen, speaking to Beimerung as she went.
"Oh, right, it's time for Rain's exercise. I'll be preparing the meal, so Dayeon, could you watch over Rain for me?"
"Yes, ma'am!"
Beimerung stood up and saluted. Chris chuckled and disappeared into the kitchen.
"Alright."
I grabbed my exercise aid and carefully stood up.
It was a rehabilitation aid with wheels and a bar I could hold with both hands. With this, I could practice walking a little at a time. Even if my legs wouldn't heal, doing these exercises would help my daily life, even if just a little.
Tremble, tremble.
Holding onto the bar, I began to carefully move my legs using only the strength of my thighs.
I could feel beads of sweat forming on my forehead.
Beimerung watched me walk slowly across the living room with tense eyes.
Was it a blessing in disguise that I didn't have full lower-body paralysis? They said my condition, something about an L2 spinal cord injury, was one of the better stages among the classifications that used professional-sounding medical terms.
The me of the past, whose spirit was dead. Back then, my condition didn't even register in my mind.
But after I started living with Chris, I developed at least some will to improve.
After all, for Rain's sake, I had to take care of Iseulbi's body too.
"Hoo."
Finally, I had made one magnificent lap around the spacious living room.
I exhaled and wiped the light sweat from my forehead.
It was easier than before, probably because my body had definitely gotten better lately.
Beimerung clutched her chest and let out a sigh of relief.
"Haa, I don't know why that was so nerve-wracking."
"I've improved a lot. Now, without this aid, I might even be able to take a few steps if someone just holds my hands."
"Really? Want me to hold your hands?"
"Yes. I want to try."
I clenched my fists, steeling my resolve.
I felt like I could do it now, even without the aid.
Carefully, I let go of the aid and took the hands of Beimerung, who had come to stand before me.
I took a step.
"Oh."
I walked.
Since I was walking using only my thigh strength, my legs trembled, but I was definitely walking.
It looked like tears were welling up in Beimerung's eyes.
"Sniff, I'm so proud of you... Rain...!"
Two steps, three steps.
Thud.
"Ah."
Beimerung, who had been carefully walking backward while holding my hands, suddenly let out a startled cry.
At the same time, her body staggered backward.
Beimerung, who had been walking backward with her eyes only on me, hadn't seen the slightly protruding leg of the living room table. Her leg caught on it, and she began to fall backward.
Still holding Beimerung's hands, I fell forward, my sharp gaze scanning the floor.
I can catch her. So her head won't get hurt.
I quickly shot my arms out to either side, cradling Beimerung's head as she fell back.
Smack!
Thump.
Beimerung lay on the living room floor with a surprised expression, staring into my eyes, which were so close I could feel her breath.
Pat, pat.
I gently patted the back of Beimerung's head. It seemed she wasn't hurt.
By the way, pink hair really suits Beimerung. The standard Korean black hair actually looks awkward on her.
"Haa, you should have been more careful."
I removed the arm that had protected her head and looked down at her with a grin.
Beimerung's body acted as a cushion, so I wasn't hurt either. And since I had smacked the floor with my arm to support her head, Beimerung's head wasn't injured. Her butt might be a little sore, though.
My arm and elbow, which I'd slammed into the floor as if breaking a fall, hurt a little, but as long as Beimerung was unhurt, it was fine.
Indeed, even in Iseulbi's body that couldn't walk, my reaction speed was still good. My reflexes from my time as the Hero hadn't gone anywhere.
Back then, my strength and speed were mostly supplemented by the Holy Sword and mana, so my small body never developed much muscle.
"...?"
But something was a little off about Beimerung.
She stared at my face with dazed eyes for a moment, then averted her gaze and blushed.
Then she squeezed her eyes shut and shouted, as if making a vow to herself.
"N-No! I'm not a psycho lesbian like Chris!"
"Psycho lesbian...?"
What does that mean?
Did she hit her head?
Did I fail to protect her from the impact?
Chomp.
I happily tore into a chicken leg.
Today's lunch was delivery. Crispy, delicious fried chicken.
My stomach capacity had increased a bit, so I could now eat about half a chicken.
Chris smiled brightly as she offered me a second chicken leg.
"I did cook some rice, but I didn't have any good side dishes to go with it, so I just ordered in. I know you like chicken, Rain."
"Yes. I love chicken."
Beimerung was tearing into her chicken with her head hung low. She kept sneaking glances at me.
"...A scene straight out of a classic anime... C-Cute, but with those cool-looking eyes..."
"...? What's wrong, Nam Dayeon?"
"Hah! Oh, it's nothing!"
Chris tilted her head in confusion for a moment, but then dismissed her doubts and asked about Beimerung's progress.
"The next Elite Dungeon should be opening soon. You've finished leveling up, right, Dayeon?"
"Of course! I am Beimerung, the newly strengthened Mage of Chris's Attack Squad! This time, we might even be able to beat your party, Rain!"
As if she'd never been flustered, Beimerung quickly put on a confident face.
Chris and I exchanged amused glances.
So, the members of Chris's party still don't know.
They'll find out during this Elite Dungeon raid, though.
"I've finished my preparations, too."
I've even created an account for streaming.
Did they say it was a world that all users would save together?
No, in this Astria Online you've created, I'm the main character.
Through this Elite Dungeon raid, I will firmly etch the name 'Rain' into everyone's minds.
I'll make sure everyone sees it—all the users, and even the beings who created the Astria Continent in the form of a game.