The place where I was supposed to meet Luce was one I was quite familiar with.

My daily life took place within a very narrow range.
Even during my days as a kendo athlete, I wasn’t the type to wander around, and after my leg injury, my world shrunk even more.
Now, it was mostly limited to my home and the hospital. Occasionally, I’d stop by the convenience store, but that was about it.

So, there weren’t many places that I could call “familiar.”
In this case, the meeting was taking place on the grounds of Sigma Medical Group—specifically, the hospital I frequented.
Although I usually went to the rehabilitation center, this was right in front of the main entrance.

When I arrived, two women were already waiting in front of an upscale car.
I wasn’t late or anything, so they must have come early.
Obviously, one of them was Luce. The other, I assumed, was Camellia.

“Thanks for making the trip. This is Camellia. And this is…”
“Gawol. But it seems you already recognized me. My real name is Han Da-eun.”
“Camellia. Shin Eun-chae. I apologize for my previous behavior.”

The first impression I got from Camellia was much cleaner than I expected.
In the game, she had a tough and aggressive vibe, but in person, she looked more like a model student.
She seemed uneasy, especially when she glanced at my leg. It didn’t seem like she was a bad person.

Her shaky gaze showed confusion and curiosity.

Maybe she was wondering how I could move with legs like this.
Before she could ask anything, she acted.
Shin Eun-chae bowed deeply, a clear display of politeness and regret.

Honestly, I didn’t feel particularly good seeing this.
I stared at her for a moment before letting out a sigh I didn’t bother to hold in.

“It’s fine. I said some things too. There’s no point getting more upset now.”
“I’ll be more careful in the future.”
“Please, lift your head.”

Was I always this soft-hearted?
Seeing her bow so low made me feel more uncomfortable than anything.
I had to physically straighten her up before she seemed to relax a bit.

Well, I got the apology, so it’s fine.
It’s not like I’m without fault myself.

And I had been wary of Luce’s reaction for a reason.
After all, I had lied to her too.

On the day I appeared on Elderen’s stream, I had told Luce I was leveling a fire mage.
Instead, I revealed my identity as Gawol, the same Han Da-eun she knew.
Luce must have been quite dumbfounded when she found out.

“Um, I’m sorry too. For lying about playing the game. I didn’t mean anything bad by it. It’s just that…”
“I understand. I know what you were feeling. I’ve been there.”

Ah, of course.
This is why I liked Luce.

She had gone through a tough time like me.
She understood how having a sick body could feel like a burden, like a sin.
Knowing that made me feel more at ease.

“Shall we get in the car? Standing around here is a bit awkward. Let’s go grab something to drink.”

Sigma Medical Group is a globally influential medical foundation.
Its prestige is such that it proudly stands as the best in the country.
For someone like me, this place was the only option for treatment and rehabilitation.

As expected from such a large institution, there were several fancy cafes on its grounds.
After just a few minutes in Luce’s car, we arrived at a three-story café.
As soon as we got out, I felt subtle stares from people around us.

It would be a lie to say it had nothing to do with our appearance.
But most of the attention had been on us even before we stepped out of the car.
Or more precisely, on Luce’s car.

‘Not exactly a common sight.’

Luce really was wealthy.
Even though Elderen’s car wasn’t cheap, Luce’s was in a completely different league.
It wasn’t just a matter of “earning well”; this was something on another level.

Her actions, even in small gestures, exuded a certain nobility.
I couldn’t help but feel a bit insecure, much like how I struggled to hide my own financial anxieties.

“What do you want to drink?”

Luce chose a cold brew.
Camellia went with an Americano, while I opted for a milkshake.

Since my body changed, I found that sweet things worked especially well for me.
Whenever I ate something sweet, it felt like my mind lit up, as if it gave me a slight boost in energy.
So, I often reached for something sugary whenever I had the chance.

As we waited for our drinks, Luce broke the silence.
She looked a bit uneasy.

“Is it okay if I ask why you’re taking a break from gaming, Da-eun?”
“Ah… well…”

So, we’re getting into this topic, huh?

I had expected this.
I came to this meeting because there was something I wanted from her too.
But I hadn’t anticipated what she’d say next.

“I have a guess. Did I ever mention what I was planning to do before I became a pro gamer?”

Luce began speaking casually.
Looking back, it all made sense—it was a simple connection I hadn’t made before.

Elderen, a streamer earning enormous income, and Luce, with far more wealth.
Could Luce’s fortune really be solely from her earnings as a pro gamer?

Before she became a pro gamer, Luce had been involved in equestrian sports.
And horseback riding was an expensive sport.

“I was originally going to be a researcher in the virtual reality field. After my riding accident, I couldn’t bring myself to continue my studies.”
“Hmm.”
“And that’s also why I started gaming after the accident.”

Sigma Esports was Luce’s team.
That was common knowledge.
But the reality was slightly different.

Sigma is an American company, but Sigma Esports is part of the Korean league.
The timing of Sigma Esports’ launch and Luce’s debut in the pro league wasn’t that far apart.
Moreover, Luce had been doing volunteer work with Sigma for a long time.

Sigma Medical Group.
To be more precise, the entire Korean branch was backed by Lee Ga-yun, also known as Luce.
In simpler terms, she was the only daughter of the branch’s director.

“Not long ago, I received a request from a game company. It involved analyzing login logs and verifying usage records. There are very few people who have both the technical knowledge of VR devices and the gaming skill to test such actions.”

The buzzer notifying us that our drinks were ready went off.
Naturally, Camellia got up to retrieve them.

“Sigma also has a solid position in the virtual device field. They have the legal authority to verify the safety of connection devices. But of course, that department is untouchable by personal influence.”
“...”
“This is all I know. That’s why I brought Eun-chae along with me. I was worried that I might be prying into Da-eun’s wounds. I’m sorry for learning all of this without your permission. It wasn’t intentional.”

I felt a sudden sense of fear.
The secret I had wanted to hide could spill out this easily.
But in a way, maybe it was for the best.

Camellia returned with the drinks.
I stirred my white milkshake with a thick straw.
While I did that, I organized my thoughts.

My leg wouldn’t magically heal overnight.
Similarly, I wouldn’t be able to use a standard connection device like I used to.
But it wasn’t impossible to challenge the game company and fight for my case—it would be hard, but doable.

“…You’re right. It’s not that I’m taking a break from the game. I’ve been banned from playing. I was using a neural connection device, but it was blocked due to safety concerns. They said I could use a different device.”

“As I suspected. Unfortunately, the safety issue was out of my hands. It’s a matter of providing factual data.”
“I know.”

I wasn’t completely clueless about how society worked.
This was a legal matter between corporations, so it had to proceed fairly.
I wasn’t planning to make any unreasonable demands.

But I now had confirmation.
I had made the right decision.
Luce could be my strongest ally in this situation.

Luce asked me a direct question.

“You want to keep playing the game, right?”
“Yes, that’s why I’m here.”

There was no need to hesitate.
I wasn’t about to hold back when asking for help either.

“Please help me. I… I don’t want to end it like this. I don’t want to lose Gawol like this.”

I wanted to reclaim my lost paradise.
I wanted to return to the place where I could run on my own legs.
Even if it was just once, I wanted to take back what had been stolen from me.

I had always lost, always been crushed by the world.
So, isn’t it okay if I resist just once?

Even if I had to be desperate and cling to hope, it didn’t matter.
If she refused me here, I was ready to grab hold of Luce’s ankles and plead.
I wouldn’t let go unless she beat me to a pulp.

“Do you have a plan in mind?”
“Yes, I do.”

Game companies aren’t invincible.
In fantasy novels about VR games, game companies are often portrayed as omnipotent, but that’s not how it works in reality.
They’re part of society too.

So, I had to fight within the realm of society.
It would be a long, grueling battle, but there was a chance.
After hearing my plan, Luce gave her assessment.

“It’s a straightforward approach. Honest and correct. It’ll take a long time, and there’s no guarantee that your skills will remain sharp by the time it’s resolved.”
“…I’ve already prepared myself.”
“But, do you really need to take it all the way to court? You’re still a bit naive, Da-eun. The law has more loopholes than you think. The people who follow the rules often know how to bend them the best.”

She knows what she’s talking about.
As long as I don’t break the rules, right?
Luce gave a sly smile and pulled something out of her bag.

It was a contract on crisp, white paper.

“Shall we start by signing this? No backing out now.”