*Ding dong—*
"Oh, it must be Dayeon."
As I sat on the living room sofa with Chris tending to my hair, the doorbell rang. Chris got up to greet Beirung.
*Click, thud, thud, thud.*
I heard so conversation and hurried footsteps near the entrance, and soon, a petite woman with a bob haircut appeared, wearing a cheerful smile as she sat down to my left.
"Hi, Rain! How are you feeling?"
"Hello, Dayeon unnie. I'm feeling much better."
Nam Dayeon—Beirung—smiled as she examined , her eyes quickly welling up with tears as she grasped my hand tightly.
"Sniff... Chris unnie isn't taking care of you properly, is she? Why don’t you just live at my place?"
"Hey, Nam Dayeon!"
Chris returned with a disgruntled expression and sat to my right, pulling closer to her. Wrapped in Chris's arms, I looked at Beirung and shook my head.
"It's not Chris unnie's fault. I've just been pushing myself too hard in the ga lately. I need to take more breaks since my body is weak."
"Really? I was so worried! When you said you had to take a break because you weren’t feeling well, I thought you’d end up in the hospital again."
"Well, it’s not that serious. But I do need to finish my daily quests."
"Hey! You promised you'd take a break for a few days!"
"Yes..."
Seeing Chris’s stern expression, I lowered my head. I couldn’t disobey her, especially since I knew I had overworked myself.
Chris chuckled softly and, with a dreamy look, began gently running her fingers through my hair again.
"Rain’s hair is so beautiful... haaa...."
"Uh, um..."
Although I’d agreed to take a few days off, there wasn’t much to do outside the world of Astria. Recently, I’d been letting Chris pamper , like so sort of beloved doll.
In Astria, I’m constantly running around completing quests and exploring with Rain’s body, so I don’t spend as much ti with Chris as I'd like.
And if Chris wanted to enjoy my company more, I had to let her interact with in the real world. With the average player's synchronization rate in Astria, it’s hard for her to truly enjoy it.
When I give her my body, it makes Chris happy, and I feel good, too. It’s one of the few monts of joy I can experience in Seulbi's body.
As Chris continued to stroke my hair, I suddenly blushed at a thought.
Recently, she’d helped bathe.
At the ti, I was dazed from the painkillers, and I’d let myself be pampered like a child, but looking back, it was quite embarrassing.
No matter how close we were as won, showing my naked body and letting soone else wash —well, it was still a bit awkward.
Even if my body is small, I can still claim to be a grown woman, right?
Surely, I wasn’t the only one embarrassed. Chris had turned bright red and fidgeted constantly during the whole thing, so she must have been flustered too.
What have you done, Rain?
Still, it felt nice. And Chris seed to enjoy it, too, so it must have been okay.
You liked it too, right, unnie? Hmm, is that the right way to think?
Before I could dwell on it, a cookie appeared before my mouth, and I instinctively took it.
*Munch.*
Beirung grinned as she fed .
"Aw, you eat so well."
"...Am I so kind of pet to you?"
"Of course, my cute little animal."
Beirung teased .
I shook my head at her childish behavior.
Comparing our sizes, she wasn’t exactly in a position to call a little animal.
I’m about 145 cm, and Beirung’s around 155 cm, so there’s maybe a hand’s width between us. But compared to Chris, who’s nearly 180 cm tall, we’re both tiny.
"Chris unnie has such a model-like figure and height, but Beirung unnie... well..."
"Rain, you!"
"Hehehe!"
I playfully smiled at Beirung, who puffed out her cheeks in frustration. Chris chuckled and shrugged.
They always called cute, but in truth, Beirung, a fresh-faced college student, was adorable too. I wasn’t the only one who saw her that way.
As I sat between the two of them, eating snacks and watching TV, it was soon ti for lunch.
"Since we have a guest, I should serve sothing nice. Let’s see... I went shopping a few days ago, but if there’s nothing left, we might have to order takeout."
Chris stood up and headed to the kitchen, calling out to Beirung.
"Oh, by the way, it’s ti for Rain’s exercise. Could you keep an eye on her while I prepare lunch?"
"Yes, ma’am!"
Beirung stood and saluted. Chris chuckled before disappearing into the kitchen.
"Alright."
I grabbed onto my exercise equipnt and carefully stood up.
It was a rehabilitation device with wheels and bars to hold onto, allowing to practice walking little by little. Even though my legs wouldn’t fully recover, exercises like this would help manage daily life more independently.
*Shiver, shiver.*
I grasped the bars and, using only the strength in my thighs, began to take small steps.
I could feel sweat beading on my forehead.
Beirung watched walk slowly across the living room, her eyes filled with tension.
At least my lower body wasn’t completely paralyzed. They called it an L2 spinal cord injury or sothing like that—a dical term that seed to suggest I was fortunate to have a less severe injury.
I hadn’t fully grasped my condition back when I was ntally out of it.
But ever since I started living with Chris, I’d found a bit more will to improve.
After all, if I wanted to support Rain, I’d need to take Seulbi's body along for the journey.
"Phew."
I finally completed a full lap around the living room.
I let out a breath and wiped the sweat from my forehead.
I was definitely getting better. It felt easier than it used to.
Beirung clutched her chest and sighed in relief.
"Haah, why is this so nerve-wracking?"
"I’m doing much better now. I think I might even be able to take a few steps without the device, as long as soone holds my hands."
"Really? Do you want to hold your hands?"
"Yes. I want to give it a try."
I clenched my hands tightly, determined.
I felt like I could do it, even without the device.
I carefully let go of the support bars and took hold of Beirung’s hands as she stepped closer.
I took a step.
"Oh."
I walked.
Although my legs were trembling, using only my thigh muscles, I had taken a clear step.
I saw tears well up in Beirung’s eyes.
"You’re amazing, Rain...!"
Two steps, three steps.
Thud.
"Oh."
Beirung let out a surprised sound as she suddenly stumbled while walking backward, holding my hands.
Without noticing the slightly protruding leg of the coffee table, she tripped, losing her balance.
As Beirung started to fall backward, I instinctively scanned the floor with sharp eyes.
I can catch her. I won’t let her hurt her head.
I quickly stretched out both arms, catching Beirung’s head as she fell.
*Smack!*
*Thud.*
Beirung lay on the living room floor, looking up at with wide eyes, our faces so close I could feel her breath.
*Pat, pat.*
I gently patted the back of her head. It didn’t seem like she was hurt.
By the way, pink really suits Beirung's hair. Black, the standard color in Korea, looks a little awkward on her.
"Sigh, you should be more careful."
I removed my arms from behind her head and smiled down at her.
Beirung had cushioned my fall, so I wasn’t hurt either. And since I’d used my arms to soften the impact, Beirung's head was fine, though her backside might be a little sore.
My arms and elbows stung a bit from hitting the floor to support her, but it was worth it to keep Beirung safe.
Even in Seulbi's body, unable to walk, my reflexes were still sharp. The quick reactions I’d developed as a Hero hadn’t disappeared.
After all, my strength and speed had always been supplented by my sacred sword and mana, which was why my petite body hadn’t developed much muscle.
"...?"
But sothing seed off with Beirung.
She stared at my face with a dazed look, then turned her eyes away, blushing.
Then, as if steeling herself, she squeezed her eyes shut and shouted.
"No! I won’t be like Chris unnie!"
"Chris... what?"
What’s she talking about?
Did she hit her head after all?
---
*Munch.*
I tore into a chicken drumstick.
Today’s lunch was takeout. Crispy fried chicken.
I could now eat about half a chicken, thanks to my improved appetite.
Chris handed a second drumstick with a smile.
"I was going to cook, but I didn’t have enough side dishes, so I ordered food instead. I know you love chicken."
"Yes, I really love chicken."
Beirung sat with her head down
, nibbling on her chicken, sneaking glances at .
"...It's like sothing out of an old ani... all cute, but then with those cool eyes."
"...? What are you talking about, Nam Dayeon?"
"Huh! Oh, it’s nothing!"
Chris tilted her head in confusion, then brushed it off and asked Beirung about her progress.
"It looks like the next elite dungeon will open soon. Have you leveled up enough, Dayeon?"
"Of course! Beirung, the newly strengthened mage of Chris’s raid team, is ready to go! This ti, I’ll beat Rain’s party for sure!"
Beirung was back to her confident self, as if she had never been flustered.
Chris and I exchanged amused glances.
Her raid party mbers still didn’t know.
They’d find out during the next elite dungeon run.
"I’m all set too."
I had already created the account for streaming the event.
The world that all players are striving for together?
No, the *Astria Online* you built belongs to .
Through this elite dungeon run, I’ll make sure everyone knows the na *Rain*.
Not just all the players, but even the ones who turned the continent of Astria into a ga. Just watch .
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