It was a weekday morning, and the café wasn’t busy.
"......."
Chris sat at a table by the window of a café across from the *Hana Games* headquarters in Gangnam, Seoul, staring outside.
*Ding-ding.*
Before long, the person Chris had been waiting for appeared at the café entrance.
A woman with bright, glamorous blonde hair and an office look—a stunning beauty.
Chris thought her own appearance was nothing to scoff at, but this woman’s beauty was on par with hers.
The woman scanned the café before spotting Chris. She smiled brightly and walked over, taking a seat across from her.
With an exaggerated gesture, the woman placed a hand on her chest and let out a sigh of relief.
"Whew! Honestly... you called me out so suddenly, I barely managed to squeeze this in!"
"Sorry for the sudden request."
"What do you mean! It’s a request from the senior researcher at *Klaus Capsule Corporation*, no less—*KCC*! I’d make time even if I didn’t have any! You know, in this industry, it's important to be on good terms with people from the world’s largest capsule company, right?"
"*Haha*, we’ve met before, haven’t we?"
"*Hehe*, yes, we have."
The blonde woman smiled brightly.
"There’s a lot I want to ask you."
Chris returned her smile with a meaningful one of her own.
"Team Leader Han Yeoreum."
---
Han Yeoreum.
Team Leader of the Marketing Department at *Hana Games*.
She was the first person from *Hana Games* to contact Rain regarding a modeling proposal.
There wasn’t anything particularly noteworthy in her background.
But something felt off.
A sense of unnaturalness in reality, much like when Chris had dug into Rain’s background.
*Who are you?*
*What do you know about Rain’s past?*
Han Yeoreum continued to smile brightly.
Chris studied her for a moment, then glanced around the café.
It was unexpected that Han Yeoreum had suggested meeting in a public place like a café.
Chris had planned on having a private, discreet conversation today. While speaking quietly would prevent others from overhearing, it still felt unsuitable for the discussion she intended to have.
How should she bring it up?
Sensing Chris’s hesitation, Han Yeoreum smiled softly and spoke first.
"What are you worried about? Isn’t this conversation going to be about something... abstract?"
"Excuse me?"
"I mean, you’re not here to talk about VR development, are you? You’re curious about Rain, aren’t you?"
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"...!"
Chris was taken aback.
How much did she already know?
Han Yeoreum nodded to herself, as if pondering something.
"How did you get this far, I wonder? Is it because you're by her side, that irregular? Anyway, I got partial permission from my higher-ups, so I’ll tell you what I can."
"Higher-ups? Are you talking about AO Director Shin Kyunghoon? Or... the CEO of *Hana Games*?"
"No, not those bosses. Strictly speaking, they’re not even my superiors. Ah, here it is. Mmm~ Even in winter, iced Americano is the best, don’t you think?"
Han Yeoreum sipped on her iced coffee, smiling peacefully before resting her chin on her hand and speaking.
"From now on, I’ll be telling you the story of a hero who saved the world."
"A hero?"
"You can think of it as a fantasy novel. That might be easier for both of us."
"..."
---
For Chris, the story was incomprehensible.
It didn’t seem real.
In fact, if Rain had undergone some sort of human experimentation where a game world had been implanted into her mind, that would have been easier to believe.
A hero reincarnated from another world?
A hero who had defeated the Demon King, but whose comrades had died, and who had been broken in the process?
A hero who had returned mentally and physically scarred?
"...It’s just a story, right?"
"Yes, think of it that way."
Chris felt something bubbling up inside her.
Her mind couldn’t accept it, but her heart was filled with sympathy and anger.
"And the goddess of that world? Why did she send the hero back in such a broken state?"
"There’s no one left to question, so it can’t be helped. Besides, the world where the hero was reincarnated into didn’t exactly ask for her either. It’s a complicated situation for everyone involved."
Han Yeoreum sighed, as if it were a headache for her as well.
"Upper dimensions aim for a world that functions without a god. To ascend to that dimension, gods must refrain from intervening in the world. But lower dimensions require divine intervention to maintain their structure. Gods might bestow holy power or send down sacred swords, but they can’t directly interfere. Anyway, it’s all part of the fantasy lore, you see?"
"..."
"At any rate, that hero’s story continues in another world. Ahh~ Restoring a world that’s on the brink of collapse, a world that’s been hollowed out and left vulnerable to demonic corruption, is a responsibility assigned to those overseeing the upper dimensions. But they have to do it in the least disruptive way possible to avoid affecting this world."
Chris clutched her chest.
"...But, the hero—"
"She’s mentally unstable right now. But she’s a hero, after all. She’ll overcome it."
Han Yeoreum smiled gently.
"It seems that even this irregular hero, this impurity that doesn’t belong in this world, has found an emotional anchor."
She looked at Chris with a reassuring expression.
"A person who can connect Rain to Seulbi. A person who can help 'Rain the Hero' exist in this world as 'Lee Seulbi.'"
Chris shook her head in shock.
It was a cruel story.
For someone who lived in a world built on advanced science, it was impossible to grasp.
Even though she had mentally prepared herself, accepting it was a completely different matter.
She could only regard it as a fictional tale.
"I... I don’t know."
"Take your time and follow the hero’s journey in the world we’ve prepared. Perhaps one day, you’ll be able to accept it. After all, though we call it a world saved by many, she is personally reclaiming the power she once had."
---
"Igraine, I won’t be able to visit for a while. Don’t be lonely without me, okay? Well, you do have your friends here."
I reached out to gently touch one of the green orbs.
I couldn’t physically touch it, but I caressed it as if it were something precious.
"Soon, we’ll be able to talk again. Do you remember the one time I was able to rest in your arms? Hehe, I was so exhausted back then, so I think this time I’ll stay in your arms for a long time. Even though I look like this now... Please, appear in your original form? Not that it matters, but... I just want to hug you. It would be nice if I could actually feel you."
The time for conversation would come again.
I longed to see Igraine’s silvery-white hair again.
I wanted to see her serene smile, the one she always gave me.
"Well then, I’m off."
I stood up, gave the glowing orb a final glance, and turned around.
At that moment—
*Wooooong!*
The green orb emitted a stronger light and hummed.
A beam of light extended from it, wrapping around my waist and soon forming into the shape of a belt.
---
[World Tree Belt]
[Elite]
[Strength +50, Agility +50, Intelligence +50]
[Special Ability: Blocks a lethal blow once. After activation, maximum HP is fixed at 1% until combat ends (Cooldown: 30 minutes).]
---
*Hehe.*
I couldn’t help but laugh.
Right, it’s still a game.
But I could feel Igraine’s gentle heart through this belt.
Her desire to protect me was unmistakable.
I bowed my head toward her.
"Thank you. I’ll protect the elves and the World Tree."
---
The dense fog of dark magic lifted.
I walked steadily along the path.
And before me, the *Tree of the Abyss* revealed itself.
The massive opening at its base slowly began to yawn wide.
I looked around.
Many warriors had gathered here to stop this tree.
It was the first 12-player raid dungeon in *Astria Online*.
The raid teams had assembled.
Each would carry out their strategies according to schedule.
Then, someone approached me.
"Chris."
"Rain."
She looked at me with an expression as if she might cry.
Then she wrapped me in a tight hug.
I blushed.
"Ack, sis! People are watching."
"Are you really going to go in alone? Even though it’s a 12-player raid?"
"Yes."
I nodded, still held in her embrace.
Chris had tried to form a raid team around me, but I insisted.
This was my duty as a hero of *Astria*.
I couldn’t borrow the strength of people from another world for this.
As Igraine’s companion, I had to do it.
I smiled at Chris as I looked into her eyes.
"I’m a solo-play user, remember?"
"Sniff, even if you told me the sky was red, I’d believe you. So just tell me whenever you’re ready! Even if I can’t trust that shady blonde, I’ll always trust you, Rain!"
"...?"
Shady blonde?
Chris held my hand tightly.
"You’re going to push yourself, aren’t you?"
I nodded.
Chris’s gaze hardened.
"Alright, if you
’re going to push yourself, I’ll finish this quickly so you won’t have to."
Behind her, I saw the members of the *Hongbaek Guild*.
They were all smiling confidently.
Chris let go of my hand and, reluctantly, walked toward them.
I watched her leave before turning my gaze back.
The *Raid Dungeon*.
It wouldn’t be cleared in just a day. It might take several days.
Waiting for me inside was likely one of the demon commanders.
In the past, I had fought commanders with my comrades.
Now, I was alone.
Could I defeat a commander by myself, without the strength of a hero?
But still, I had to do it.
I finally faced the *Tree of the Abyss* as its gaping maw fully opened.
---
[Entry Level: 50]
[Raid Dungeon (Recommended for 12 Players)]
[Tree of the Abyss]
[Time until World Tree loses all life: 29 days, 23 hours, 59 minutes.]
[Time until this area is covered in freezing demonic energy: 29 days, 23 hours, 59 minutes.]