I slept. I slept deeply.

It felt like I slept more than 15 hours a day. My exhausted body and accumulated fatigue demanded rest.

Chris was always by my side whenever I was awake. She looked at me with a tender expression.

Though, her constant fidgeting with my hands was a bit overwhelming.

Living in this world as Lee Seulbi, I could count on one hand how many times I had real conversations with others. But with Chris, I naturally found myself engaging in small talk. I even shared a bit about my life in this world with her. She never pressed for more personal details.

Maybe it was because Chris had cared so much for Rain. Lee Seulbi’s body didn’t reject her.

Chris didn’t look at me with pity or sympathy. Instead, she showed admiration, tenderness, and a hint of guilt.

And every time she touched my hands, her eyes would become slightly hazy, as if they emitted a strange light.

Hmm, I’m not sure why that is.

But one thing is certain—Chris cherished not only Rain from *Astra Online*, but also Lee Seulbi.

That warm, ticklish feeling in my chest was pleasant.

Even this dull, colorless world seemed to regain a bit of vibrance.

I drifted in and out of sleep, feeling Chris's gentle touch each time.

Once the IV treatment was complete, I was able to start eating again. The food was soft, easy-to-swallow meals like porridge.

Chris asked if she should feed me, but I quickly waved her off and ate on my own. She seemed a bit disappointed.

"You have to eat all three meals, in the proper portions," she said firmly.

Chris was adamant about this. I had only eaten two or three spoonfuls before feeling full and putting down the spoon, but Chris insisted that I needed to eat more to recover my strength.

I was a little frustrated, but knowing she meant well, I complied.

I picked up the spoon again and continued eating. Maybe that feeling of being full was just in my head, because the porridge went down smoothly.

"By the way, it’s almost time for them to arrive," Chris said with a cheerful smile as she glanced at the time.

Apparently, Beimerung and Cherni were the ones who found me when I collapsed. Chris asked if it was okay for them to visit me, and I said yes.

They were the two people I had run countless dungeon bus trips with. I wasn’t sure if Lee Seulbi’s body would react to them the same way, but as a person, I owed them my gratitude.

Still, how did they know where I lived?

Squeak.

A short woman entered with a bright smile, followed by a man.

I recognized their faces. Their hair and appearance were slightly different from in the game, but I could tell who they were.

Cherni and Beimerung.

"Ahem."

The man, avoiding my gaze while clearing his throat, must be Cherni.

As I stared at him, wondering why he looked familiar, something suddenly clicked.

"Oh, the convenience store clerk."

One of my questions was answered—I now knew how they had found me.

Cherni, Chris’s junior, had worked part-time at a convenience store near where I lived.

For about three months, we had known each other as customer and clerk. Of course, I just picked things out, and he rang them up.

"I’m sorry!"

Cherni suddenly bowed his head and apologized to me.

I tilted my head in confusion.

Why is he apologizing? I should be the one thanking him.

"Um, well... I’ve been feeling guilty ever since I recognized you. If we hadn’t had any prior contact, it wouldn’t have bothered me, but meeting you again in the game, I felt like I had to check on your situation. I’m sorry I didn’t ask first. You can report me as a stalker if you want!"

"Ah."

He was rambling, but I got the gist. He had been concerned about me and discreetly checked up on me.

Though it feels strange to say this about myself, my appearance is quite striking and unique. And I use a wheelchair. It’s hard to forget once you’ve seen me.

I used the same appearance for Rain in *Astra Online*. The moment he saw Rain, Cherni must have recognized me as the frequent customer from the convenience store. Of course, it would have been awkward to bring it up.

But once he realized that someone his senior cared deeply about was living in such poor conditions, with a physical disability, it would have been hard for him to turn a blind eye.

He must have been caught between a rock and a hard place, trying to figure out what to do.

I smiled gently.

"It’s alright. Really, thank you."

Cherni, the convenience store clerk.

He was the first tenuous connection that 'Lee Seulbi' had made in this world.

Thanks to him, Chris was able to find me. He was a person I was grateful to.

As we spoke, Beimerung quietly approached and cleared her throat a few times while standing by my side.

Seeing her up close, her cute appearance confirmed that this was indeed Beimerung from *Astra Online*.

But what should I call her?

Chris was older than Lee Seulbi, so it made sense to call her 'unnie' here as well. 

Beimerung, however, was a tricky case. In *Astra Online*, Rain had no problem calling her 'unnie', but according to Lee Seulbi’s age on her ID, Beimerung and I were the same age, both newly turned adults.

Honestly, I had probably set my age as an adult just to avoid complications. Whether it was the goddess in that world or this one, things just sort of worked out.

So, while my ID listed me as an adult with no known relatives, the reality was more complicated.

Defining my age was difficult. 

I was a being who had been shoved into the body of a young girl in this world, after having died in the modern era. It was hard to say whether the person I called 'me' included my past life or not.

Is my identity based on the memories etched into my soul? Or does it follow the brain’s perception of the current body? That’s not an easy question to answer. After all, I’m the only one in this world with memories of a previous life.

When I first found myself in this young body, I struggled deeply with my sense of identity. But over time, I’ve fully adapted to this body and mind.

I guess I was about seven or eight years old when I entered this body? A little more than ten years have passed since then, so I’m probably around seventeen or eighteen by now, even if my body hasn’t fully grown.

Ugh, it’s all so complicated.

In the end, I decided to call Beimerung the same thing I always had. She liked that too.

"Beimerung unnie."

"Hah...!"

Beimerung’s face lit up with emotion. Her hand trembled as it reached toward me but hesitated, hovering in the air.

I gently took her hand.

There was no sense of rejection. Just as Rain hadn’t felt any discomfort, Lee Seulbi’s body didn’t react negatively to her either.

Beimerung held my hand tightly and introduced herself.

"My name is Nam Dayeon."

"Dayeon unnie."

"Kyaaa!"

"Hey, hey! Nam Dayeon! Rain is still recovering!"

I was held tightly by Beimerung as she squealed, only for Chris to pull her away with a scolding look.

I chuckled quietly at their antics.

"Since your condition has improved, you should undergo a thorough examination today. You don’t want to stay sick, right?" Chris suggested after Beimerung and Cherni left.

"Yes, I’ll get the tests done."

While I remained in the hospital, it seemed best to leave my care in Chris’s hands. I could happily accept the kindness she was offering. Since we played the game together, I’d find a way to repay her too.

But first, I needed to get healthy again. I had learned the hard way what could happen if I neglected my body.

"But I’m worried about the hospital bills. I won’t be able to work while I’m here."

Although there’s some support, it wouldn’t cover everything. A private room like this must be quite expensive.

"For now, just focus on recovering. You can rely on me for a bit. I’ve already completed the guardian application."

"I guess I’m in your debt now...."

It seemed like Chris had taken care of the expenses and paperwork. 

While I could eventually repay the money, there was a much bigger emotional debt. How would I ever repay that?

Chris smiled mischievously.

"I’ll be collecting in various ways, so don’t think you’re getting all this for free, okay? Hehe."

"...What?"

Various ways to collect?

Her words reminded me of an urban legend about people being trapped in capsules for years, forced to work in virtual reality to pay off their debts.

Of course, Chris would never do that to me, but still, it was a scary thought.

I really need to make sure I don’t owe her anything.

I was wheeled into the examination room, with Chris gently pushing my wheelchair from behind.

My condition needed to be thoroughly checked.

What kind of tests would I undergo? With the advanced medical technology in this world, how much could they learn about my body and brain?

In any case, I had to take the tests to figure out the underlying cause of my condition and start treatment. I definitely didn’t want to collapse again.

When we arrived at the examination room, my wheelchair was positioned in front of a long medical bed.

 A cylindrical machine stood nearby, indicating that I’d be undergoing various tests.

As I tried to muster the strength to move myself onto the bed, Chris stepped in.

Swoosh.

"Oh."

Her hands gently wrapped around my back and supported me under my knees.

I ended up being cradled in her arms.

Her touch didn’t feel unpleasant. 

I closed my eyes softly and let her hold me.

"Huff...!"

Chris let out a strange noise. I could feel her arms tremble slightly as she held me.

My body isn’t that heavy, but I hope she’s not overexerting herself.

Carefully, Chris laid me down on the medical bed, her eyes looking a bit hazy as she muttered something under her breath before leaving the room.

"1% recovery...."

"Hmm?"

What was that about?

Puzzled, I set aside my curiosity and quietly lay still as the tests began.