"I hope you can live happily, loved and at peace in this world."
"...Rain! Rain!"
"......."
I must have lost my focus for a moment.
When my vision returned, Chris was in front of me, her hands gripping my shoulders as she shook me, worry etched across her face.
"Are you okay?"
"Un... ni."
My voice came out hoarse, barely audible.
My body ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) trembled uncontrollably, shaking as if I were a leaf in the wind.
Chris, realizing the severity of my condition, quickly helped me log out.
---
Back in reality.
I was in my real body—Isulbi.
Strangely enough, even this body was trembling.
"Rain!"
My darkened vision gradually adjusted as the capsule opened. Chris's face came into view, her voice reaching my ears.
Without hesitation, Chris lifted my trembling body and cradled me in her arms. She gently laid me down on my bed and pulled my head against her chest.
Thump, thump.
The rhythmic sound of Chris’s heartbeat echoed in my ears, and slowly, the storm inside my heart began to calm.
After several minutes, the shaking of my body ceased.
"Haah."
Chris let out a deep sigh, almost as if the weight of the world had been lifted off her shoulders.
The source of this c𝓸ntent is frёeweɓηovel.coɱ.
"Are you feeling better now?"
"...Yes."
"What on earth happened to your body? No, that's a foolish question... it’s because of me, isn’t it? I’m sorry."
"Why are you apologizing, Unni?"
I chuckled softly and buried my face into her embrace.
I knew I hadn’t completely overcome it.
Even though I thought I was fine, my body clearly disagreed.
"So that’s how it is."
A quiet voice escaped my lips.
I finally understood why I had always gravitated toward solo play.
The sight of a companion sacrificing themselves in front of me...
I never wanted to see that again.
Even if it wasn’t real, even though I knew it in my head, my heart still perceived it as reality.
"Rain... no, Isulbi."
"......?"
Had Chris ever called me "Isulbi" before?
I looked up at her, confused.
"...Now I understand why you can’t help but feel like the world of Astria is real."
"Yes."
"But, Isulbi."
Chris took my hand and placed it on her chest.
Soft.
"...Ah."
I blushed as the sensation of her warm chest came through my small hand.
Thump, thump.
The heartbeat I had felt against my face earlier now resonated through my palm.
Chris spoke firmly.
"I’m alive. Here. With you."
"...That’s true."
"I won’t leave your side."
She smiled gently.
For the first time in what felt like forever, I drifted off to sleep in her arms.
---
The next morning, I reluctantly got up at Chris's call for breakfast. After splashing water on my face like a lazy cat, I maneuvered my wheelchair to the dining table in the kitchen.
Still rubbing my sleepy eyes, I found Chris looking at me with honey-sweet eyes as she set a bowl of rice and soup before me.
"Yawn... I guess we’ll be tackling the second boss today."
"Mm-hm. Want to try this too?"
I opened my mouth to accept the rolled omelet Chris offered and began scrolling through my smartphone.
"...When did you put this in?"
Checking my character inventory through the *Astria Online* app, I noticed an unfamiliar item—a single earring.
[Earring of Sanctuary]
[Legendary Grade]
[Strength +100 | Agility +100 | Intelligence +100]
[Critical Chance +15% | Critical Damage +35%]
[Unique Ability: 15% Bonus Attack Damage]
(Exclusive to “Drizzle Rain”)
It was a legendary-grade earring bound to me upon acquisition.
Chris, eating her breakfast like she was in a battle, answered between bites.
"Nom, nom. That? It dropped from the first boss."
"You should’ve kept it for yourself."
"Your DPS is higher than mine, isn’t it? You getting stronger makes clearing the dungeon easier for both of us."
"Uh, thanks."
Chris grinned foolishly, a grain of rice stuck on her cheek.
I plucked it off and popped it into my mouth.
"Nom."
Chris jumped, startled.
"R-Rain!"
"Why are you eating so quickly today? You’re being so sloppy."
I teased, putting my finger to my lips with a mischievous grin as I stared at her. Chris turned beet red, steam practically rising from her head. Yesterday’s muscular Chris felt like she might burst out at any moment.
I cupped my cheeks, recalling how amazing she had looked yesterday.
"Chris, your transformation was incredible."
"Cough... It’s not exactly a flattering look, is it?"
She tried to brush it off, embarrassed. I shook my head firmly.
"Muscles are cool. You could lift me up with them."
"...Rain, you like muscles?"
"Well, my body doesn’t really build any."
I pouted, touching my thin, soft arm. Despite all the swordsmanship I’d practiced, my arms had never grown firm. After falling ill and being unable to move much, any muscle I had was long gone.
"R-Really? Should I start building muscle then? Add weight training to my routine... maybe some protein shakes..."
"Mm... not necessary. I like you as you are."
Though muscular Chris was great, the soft and balanced Chris of today was equally appealing.
Chris beamed as she lifted me up effortlessly.
"Even with these arms, I can hold you just fine."
"Hehe."
I giggled, sticking my tongue out playfully as she carried me to the sofa.
Then, the doorbell rang.
"Who could it be at this hour?"
Chris set me down and went to the door, her expression puzzled.
---
"Haaah..."
The person who plopped down beside me on the sofa, sighing heavily, was Nam Dayeon—*Astria Online’s* mage, Baymerung. Her youthful features still held the charm of a college freshman, but her face was clouded with worry.
"I guess if anyone’s going to show up here, it’s you. What brings you?"
Chris chuckled as she sat down beside me, glancing at Dayeon, who was on my other side. It was the usual seating arrangement, with me sandwiched in the middle.
Dayeon shot Chris a frustrated look.
"Chris, how did you manage to control those brutes?"
"...Brutes?"
"I trust your judgment, but putting Junhyuk in charge of the raid was a mistake."
I tilted my head. Junhyuk? That’s the real name of "Death's Death."
"What, couldn’t make much progress yesterday?"
"Progress isn’t the issue; they don’t listen!"
Dayeon began ranting about the chaos caused by Death's Death and the others, her frustration boiling over.
"Seriously, we couldn’t even handle the first special phase! Without you, Chris, they all lost their focus. They’re like bulls, charging blindly at everything."
"Ha!"
"Don’t laugh! I’m struggling here, while you and Rain are off having a cozy little date!"
Chris, still grinning, handed Dayeon the video footage of our special phase and explained the mechanics for the first boss, *Bone Dragon.*
"...You really cleared the first boss in a single day? I guess it makes sense—Rain soloed the first boss in the last raid on day one too. With Chris around, it’s only natural."
"Yep, Rain did all the heavy lifting."
"The number of lightning strikes increases with each phase... dodging seems impossible. Even with invincibility skills, it’s tough. How did you two manage it?"
"Chris transformed and ripped apart the Bone Dragon’s ribs."
"Ha! So that’s why you didn’t show the final phase. Didn’t want me to see your ogre form? You must’ve been desperate to clear it on day one."
Dayeon teased, covering her mouth with both hands as she laughed at Chris, who looked away, flustered.
"Ahem... what’s so funny? Anyway, your raid’s tackling it after work hours, right? We’ll be running ours earlier."
"Some of us have all the time in the world, like you, Rain, and me, a mere college dropout."
Was that an insult? Did she just call me unemployed?
I protested weakly.
"I-I do make money, you know."
"Of course, I know."
"Rain doesn’t need to earn money. What’s mine is yours."
Caught between these overly supportive women, I sighed.
For the record, the gold I earn in *Astria Online* is rightfully mine! After all, I saved that world, didn’t I? I deserve to cash it in however I want!