Bae Merong scolded the guest fighter. The guest kept bowing his head, looking apologetic.
There was also the responsibility of the bus driver, who failed to prevent the guest’s sudden actions without providing sufficient warnings. Scolding the guest too much wouldn’t look good.
As a result, he caused me immense pain, but no one else could know my synchronization rate. I had to act like a regular user. It wasn’t that person’s fault; it was odd that I felt the pain so intensely.
As soon as I drank the potion, my body quickly recovered. However, the horrific sensations of being bitten by the chimera still lingered, swirling inside me.
Strange. Strange.
It still feels like it hurts.
The potions in Astria Online should completely heal me. My HP is full, so the pain should have vanished.
Lee Seulbi’s body in the outside world screams. If I let my guard down for even a moment, it feels like I might be flung back to that first death.
No, not yet.
I’m the bus driver, and as someone who gets paid to work, I have an obligation to clear this dungeon.
Just hang in there a little longer, okay?
Today, I’ll only deal with this guest.
Chris came closer and spoke to me. Her face was marked with surprise and a hint of worry and concern.
I couldn’t make out what she was saying. But it was clear that she was worried about me.
I don’t want to cause Sister Chris any concern.
What kind of expression am I wearing right now? I hope it looks okay.
Sometimes, I would suddenly show my weak side, which isn’t easy to control in Rain’s body.
Still, the pain is actually alright.
I’m confident in hiding my pain.
When I’m alone, I’ve shaken and trembled until the pain went away, but if I acted like that in front of her, she’d surely worry a lot.
If I respond like this, she’ll be reassured.
I smiled brightly, hoping my answer would put Chris at ease.
“My ultimate move was cool, right?”
Now my vision is blurring.
Instinctively, I moved my body and blocked Aspero’s attack.
Fortunately, my body moved as I remembered. I wasn’t hit by the magic sphere.
If I allow more attacks in this state, something irreversible could happen.
Magic spheres exploded around me.
It felt like explosions happening everywhere like a muted video, not a sound to be heard.
Bang! Bang!
It seems like that sound would fit perfectly, but I can hardly hear anything.
I barely held onto my fading consciousness and endured until the last named enemy was clear.
Once the guest fighter left, Chris and Bae Merong approached me.
Now both of them couldn’t hide their worried expressions. They must have seen the clear signs of pain on my face.
Chris grabbed my shoulder and spoke urgently.
Ah, it’s come to this.
“Oppa, what did you say? I can’t hear well.”
Please, I hope my voice isn’t trembling.
“I’m s-sorry. I’m done for today.”
Crackle.
Just as I was about to finish my sentence, a strange noise appeared before me.
Soon, I was flung back into the outside world.
The capsule opens. My body feels heavy as lead. My heart races. My head throbs. I can’t stop the nosebleed. My vision spins. My body aches all over.
It’s strange. I should be fine after the potion, but I still feel pain.
The tissue is stained red with blood that won’t stop.
No matter how much I wipe, or block it, the blood keeps seeping out, soaking the tissue.
Thump thump thump thump.
My heart keeps racing. I wonder if this intense beating would worsen my condition?
My body shows no signs of calming down.
This isn’t good.
Hospital. I need to go to the hospital.
First, I need my welfare card. That emergency medical support for vulnerable groups should still work, right?
I succeeded in changing my clothes and moving into the wheelchair.
I can still move like this. It doesn’t seem like it’s a huge emergency yet.
Just as I was about to head outside, my eyes fell on the box and the garbage bag placed at the entrance.
Hmm, I’ll have to take out the trash when I get back.
The outside is dark.
What time is it? It seems like the hospital isn’t open anymore.
Should I go to the emergency room of the big hospital? Will the emergency room also have medical expense support?
I know the nearest hospital is quite a distance away. Should I use public transport?
My body lacks strength. Using the bus or subway doesn’t seem like a good idea.
Should I take a taxi? Taxi fare is expensive, though.
Call 119? Is it really that urgent? It doesn’t seem like it. My overreactions might affect those who are in real emergencies.
As I carefully maneuvered the wheelchair down the slope…
Wobble.
Uh, dangerous.
Thud.
My body tilted sideways, and I fell from the wheelchair.
The wheels of the fallen wheelchair spun in circles.
Thank goodness. I barely managed to twist my body to avoid rolling over.
They warned me to be careful of falling from the wheelchair during my previous hospitalization.
Yet, the wheelchair tipped over. It’ll be hard to lift it back up.
I can’t muster any strength.
At this rate, I won’t be able to get up myself.
The world turned yellow.
My arms won’t move either.
What should I do?
How do I even ask for help?
Tatatatatt!
The sporadic streetlights faintly illuminated the road. The bright red hair of a passing woman gleamed under the streetlight. Her face was filled with tension and anxiety.
Old, shabby houses were tightly packed, and garbage was scattered all around. Broken cement and gravel littered the sloped road, obstructing each step I took.
The streetlight flickered dimly, making it hard to find my way in the darkness. Old graffiti and advertisements cluttered the walls, and the smell of dampness and mold assaulted my nose.
“What the hell…! Rain lived in a place like this?”
“Whew, whew! C-Chris-senpai! Please slow down! I’ll guide you to the exact location!”
“Jaewook, is complaining really the best thing to do right now?!”
Following Chris were Namdayeon and Jaewook, who were just as anxious.
Chris bit her lip and quickened her pace.
“When Rain logged out, there was noise in her body. That’s a phenomenon that occurs when something’s wrong with the physical body in reality.”
“Could it be a problem with the last bus? After that guest, Riro, awoke the egg…?”
“No, it’s not just the last bus that was the problem. Rain’s condition hasn’t been right for days.”
“I-I’m sorry. I tried to keep an eye on Rain’s condition, but if I had caught on sooner… Even if I’d just talked to you and Rain about the situation…”
Namdayeon said with a face full of guilt, about to burst into tears.
Chris shook her head.
She didn’t want to blame Namdayeon or Bae Merong for not noticing Rain’s condition. She could understand why Rain hadn’t informed her about it.
Reaching out to help someone without consideration for their will is arrogant. Moreover, Rain isn’t someone who seeks out help. She must have been trying hard to push through alone in a difficult environment.
But now that she clearly noticed something was wrong with Rain, there was no time to waste. They had to check on Rain’s condition as soon as possible.
Jaewook and Namdayeon scrambled through their memories, guiding Chris to the place where they had previously spotted Rain in reality.
“Since we brought trash from here, it must be one of the houses nearby. But, which house could it be?”
“Ah… I should have remembered exactly which house Rain lived in!”
Jaewook looked around in a panic, ready to knock on every door he saw.
Whirr.
At that moment, a faint mechanical sound reached Chris’s ears.
Without hesitation, Chris rushed toward the source of the sound. Namdayeon and Jaewook hurriedly followed her.
As they rounded the wall, under the dim light of the streetlamp, what they discovered was…
Whirr.
A spinning wheelchair.
Next to it lay a pale-haired girl.
Rain.
The Rain that clearly exists in reality.
Scattered around her, contrasting with her pale figure, was a dark liquid?
No, it wasn’t black, but the streetlight wasn’t illuminating it properly. That color was surely…
“Blood…!”
Chris’s heart raced wildly.
Chris quickly dashed over and scooped up Rain’s fallen body.
Rain’s delicate form rested in Chris’s arms.
She’s small. Soft.
So light. Too light.
Rain’s lovely face came into Chris’s view.
Though it’s just virtual reality, it was the face Chris had always watched over.
But now that face was stained with blood, clouded by pain as she lay unconscious.
Chris’s mind blanked out.
This wasn’t the time to feel touched that she finally met Rain in reality and held her in her arms.
Chris hastily took off her coat, gently pressing it against Rain’s face to wipe away the blood.
It came off easily. It hadn’t bled for long. But soon, blood flowed from Rain’s nose again, starting to stain her face red.
The bleeding wouldn’t stop. This is dangerous.
Namdayeon shouted urgently.
“Jaewook, call 119!”
“Are we really just going to wait for an ambulance to come here?! Time is of the essence!”
“Then what do we do!? That’s the only option we have!”
“No.”
Chris hoisted Rain up.
The lightness of Rain’s body leaning against her back felt eerie. It feels feather-light and soft.
Why is her body so light? Is she managing to eat properly?
Chris, you idiot.
How could you not notice that Rain was in this state? Are you really someone Rain can rely on?
Chris started to walk down the street carefully, making sure Rain didn’t jolt. Namdayeon and Jaewook quickly followed her.
Chris’s eyes calmed down.
“I brought the car. I’m taking her straight to the emergency room.”
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