The wide park in front of the house.
Chris and I were taking a walk here late at night.
"Unnie... The expansion pack is out, but with how busy you are, what are you going to do? Shouldn't you log in and level up right now?"
I appreciated her concern for me, but Chris’s leveling up was just as important.
Chris, walking next to me with her hands behind her back, glanced at me and grinned before responding.
"How about you, Rain? How much XP did you gain today?"
"Ah."
*Whirr.*
I avoided Chris’s gaze and quickened the pace of my wheelchair.
Was Chris psychic or something?
How did she know that I spent today goofing off instead of leveling?
Even if she could check my level through the messenger or guild tab, the exact amount of experience points wasn’t visible. Yet Chris somehow knew I had been slacking off today. She probably deduced it from my expression, gestures, or tone of voice.
Scary woman.
"Hmm, since you can't answer, it looks like you were slacking too, huh? You don’t have to rush; the new expansion still needs time for the elite dungeon to be discovered and opened anyway."
"You're right."
I agreed with Chris, who had now caught up to me.
As she said, even though the expansion was out, there was no need to rush leveling. To be honest, I didn’t feel like hunting today because of the annoying *Safety Guard* bug.
We continued strolling through the city park, passing by trees that had been artificially landscaped, enjoying the late spring breeze.
"It’s starting to get warmer."
On the Astria Continent, we had just endured a long, harsh winter.
Spring had been short-lived, and now Korea was waiting for summer.
I glanced at Chris, who was walking beside me.
The red hair I loved, her beautiful face adorned with a confident smile, and her eyes narrowed, though they sparkled as they looked at me.
It’s been almost a year since we started spending time together. While it might not be as long as the time I spent with my past companions, the space Chris occupied in my life had grown immensely.
Maybe time isn’t the most important thing in relationships after all.
Suddenly, I clapped my hands.
"Oh, right."
There was something I had been meaning to ask Chris.
"Unnie, I wanted to ask you something about the sync rate in virtual reality."
"Hmm? What’s on your mind? Well, that’s definitely my area of expertise."
Chris tilted her head curiously but answered confidently.
"It might sound a bit odd for me to be asking this... but with current technology, what’s the maximum sync rate possible in virtual reality?"
"Hmm? Haha. You’re right, it does sound a little funny coming from you. Well, our Rain isn’t exactly a normal case. Why, are you offering to be the guinea pig in my lab?"
Chris snickered and made a joke. Though I knew she wasn’t being serious, I barely managed to stop my cheeks from puffing up in response.
Lately, I’ve noticed that I’m starting to behave a bit more childishly, even in Isulbi’s body. Maybe the way I act as *Rain* in Astria is rubbing off on *Isulbi* here too?
"In lifestyle metaverse games, it’s around 60-70%, maybe? With the new capsules currently being tested, they’re aiming to raise it to the 80% range. As for combat-focused RPGs like *Astria Online*, the cap is around 20-30%. There are ways to raise it higher, but that’s through almost illegal means."
I nodded. I had heard of cases where people hacked the sync rate to remove the limits.
"Of course, with our current VR technology, which can’t separate pain from the experience, it’s incredibly risky. If someone gets slashed by a monster while their sync rate is high, the shock alone would make them pass out. Once the sync rate passes a certain threshold, the game server detects it and auto-bans the player. I think it’s around 50%?"
"Hmm..."
I pondered for a moment.
The swordswoman I met today in Astria, *Nagi*, looked no older than 12.
She was smaller and cuter than me. From her voice and behavior, it was clear that she wasn’t an adult using some kind of age-reducing customization.
Since *Astria Online* was now rated for ages 12 and up, Nagi was probably a girl around that age.
Could a 12-year-old like Nagi have hacked her sync rate?
It didn’t seem likely.
Chris glanced at me and hesitated before adding something.
"It’s rare, but sometimes the sync rate can increase due to psychological factors. There aren’t many cases, so it’s still being studied."
"Psychological factors?"
"...It tends to happen to people who can’t accept their reality."
"Oh."
I immediately understood why Chris was bringing this up.
She was referring to my old self.
Before I met Chris, when I had abandoned my life as Isulbi and was completely absorbed in living as *Rain* on the Astria Continent.
"For people with severe PTSD or those with physical disabilities in the real world, this can happen. They reject reality and come to see their virtual self as their true self."
This was exactly how I had been.
Although in my case, my 100% sync rate wasn’t just because of that.
"I see."
I decided not to pursue the topic further. It would only remind Chris of my past.
Even though I’ve improved a lot now.
"......"
Nagi.
The cute girl I met on the Astria Continent.
Was she struggling with some kind of physical disability in the real world?
---
Our walk through the park was coming to an end. After a full lap, we planned to pick up some chicken from a nearby place and head home for a late dinner.
"...?"
At some point, I noticed that Chris had stopped talking.
"Ah!"
Glancing at her, I saw Chris meet my eyes, and she let out a soft gasp before whistling nonchalantly.
Her adorably awkward response made me laugh.
"Hehe, sorry."
"What are you apologizing for? I was just... whistling, that’s all! See, nothing strange here!"
This awkward silence was my fault.
Whenever I got lost in thought and stopped talking, Chris always picked up on it.
*Tatatatat!*
Just then, a couple who looked like they were on a jog came running toward us from the opposite side of the path.
The woman in the couple caught sight of me, her eyes widening as she gradually slowed to a stop.
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"Hmm? ...Isn’t that..."
"Do you know them?"
"That’s Rain from *Astria Online*! You’ve seen her in the commercials, right?"
"...Huh?"
*Thunk!*
Upon hearing the couple’s whispers, Chris immediately switched to a defensive mode. She stepped in front of my wheelchair, growling protectively.
"Rrrr!"
"Unnie..."
"...Oops, uh, ahem. Do you two need something from my companion?"
After I scolded her, Chris stopped growling but still kept up her defensive stance.
"Oh, um... You’re Rain, right? I play *Astria Online* too!"
The woman glanced nervously at Chris before speaking to me.
Chris, still worried, kept looking at me with concern.
My range of activities was limited to short outings around the house, and yet even here, I’d encountered another *Astria Online* player.
Signaling for Chris to relax, I smiled warmly at the woman.
"Yes, I’m Rain."
"Oh my goodness! Really!? You live around here? Wow, so the rumors were true—you didn’t change anything in character customization! You’re just as beautiful in real life as you are in the game!"
"Do you play *Astria* too, unnie?"
"Yes! I play a Spiritmaster, and this is my boyfriend, who’s leveling a Fighter. We’re still newbies though, hehe."
"'Newbies'? Speak for yourself."
"Who are you kidding? You’re totally a newbie."
I watched the couple playfully bicker, amused.
The woman’s gaze briefly lingered on my wheelchair. I noticed a flicker of surprise and pity in her eyes, but she quickly masked it, trying her best to show only friendliness.
Well, that much is to be expected.
---
After saying goodbye to the *Astria Online* couple, Chris finally relaxed, letting out a long sigh.
"Haa, I guess *Astria Online* really is a popular game. Who’d have thought we’d run into other players so close by?"
Chris looked at me, her expression full of concern.
I knew what her gaze meant. She was worried about me showing my real self, my body, to other players.
"Should we stop going for walks?"
"I’m fine."
"...Really?"
"It’s not a big deal. Just because my body has some limitations doesn’t mean I can’t play games."
"Rain!"
I don’t think I would have responded this way in the past.
Chris’s face brightened.
I smiled too.
Soon after, Chris walked ahead of me, hands behind her back, muttering something as she went.
"By the way, what has our Rain been up to today instead of leveling up?"
"Gasp."
Cold sweat ran down my back.
Why was I reacting like this? I hadn’t even done anything wrong.
Chris glanced back at me, her eyes narrowing.
"Rain... you didn’t spend today with another *unnie*, did you?"
"W-What are you talking about! Of course not!"
I turned my head sharply, feigning indign
ation.
It wasn’t a lie.
I had spent time with another girl, but she wasn’t an *unnie*.
"Anyway, let’s hurry home and eat."
*Whirr.*
I sped up my wheelchair, feeling Chris’s suspicious gaze stabbing into my side.
Chris really must be a psychic.