It had been quite a while since I went out.
To go to the hospital and do some shopping too.
"Hmm, these days everything can be delivered to your doorstep by robots, but it's nice to do the shopping yourself too."
Chris was humming a tune while choosing meat, fresh vegetables, and cheese.
I stuck close to her side with snacks like cookies on my lap in the wheelchair.
The mart was quiet in the afternoon hours.
It's a weekday daytime, and in this world that's more futuristic than the world in my faint memories, almost everything is being replaced by delivery.
Whirr.
I hear the sound of wheels other than my wheelchair. Wheeled robots are moving around putting items in shopping baskets.
"Oh."
It's amazing to see things like this every time.
In a way, isn't this an isekai from my perspective too?
Chris put a pack of beef in the shopping basket and glanced back at me.
"That's good, right? They said you don't need to be hospitalized."
"If I had to be hospitalized, it would have been really bad..."
I shuddered.
Last time when I was hospitalized for a month, how much loss did I suffer. I missed the golden time when I could charge high bus fees, farming was delayed, and I entered new content late. Fortunately, no new dungeon opened at that time, but if I had been hospitalized for a long time during a period when I needed to farm a lot, it would have been truly desperate.
"Anyway, you really won't overdo it now, right? Sniff, unnie really thought my heart was going to drop."
"Yes~"
Chris earnestly requested this of me several times today.
I felt sorry for her too.
If I abuse my body, Chris will be sad.
Still, although my body seemed to be quite unwell, it recovered faster than I thought.
Is this all thanks to eating and living well until now? They say the best medicine is food.
And indeed, it's the hospital. With just a little treatment and medicine prescription, they restored my body almost to normal.
Heroes appearing in cartoons and movies. They get badly injured while fighting villains. But after the fight ends, they quickly become clean when hospitalized. Unless they become disabled or die, that is.
"Hospitals are amazing."
"Ah~"
"Ah."
Chomp.
I blushed slightly while eating the meat Chris put in my mouth.
My body was a bit damaged this time, but not to the extent that I can't eat by myself.
I think I've gotten too used to this setup lately.
Chris and Bae Merong. They're about the only people I meet often here, but both of them liked the action of putting something in my mouth.
Of course, I don't dislike it either. It's just a little embarrassing for a grown adult to be fed like this.
Munch munch.
I skillfully used chopsticks and eagerly ate rice and side dishes as if to show off.
Chris had an expression containing a bit of doubt and worry, and many thoughts.
"You're good at using chopsticks..."
"...?"
Chomp.
I looked at Chris with my cheeks slightly puffed up after putting meat and rice in my mouth at once.
Why is unnie acting like this today?
It's not like it's the first time she's seen me eat.
Munch munch, gulp.
As rice and meat went down my throat, Chris asked me a question.
"Does the food suit your taste? Korean food might seem a bit unique in some ways, but is 2 years enough to fully adapt to the food culture... Still. A-ahem. I wonder if you ate well there."
"...?"
Chris suddenly says incomprehensible things.
I tilted my head and put some kimchi in my mouth.
"Mmm."
I narrowed my eyes savoring the tanginess that instantly rose to my brain.
"As expected, aged kimchi tastes the best."
Question marks seemed to keep flashing above Chris's head.
"Geez, even if I try to understand something about isekai, it's not easy. Looking at how you eat, you're completely Korean. ...Or not? If I believe what that blonde team leader said, maybe not completely from another world? U-um. It's complicated."
Chris muttered to herself quietly.
Isekai?
Has she been playing Astria Online for too long?
Korean?
I am Korean though.
I finished my meal while tilting my head repeatedly in front of Chris who was clutching her head alone.
I sat on the sofa entrusting my head to Chris's touch while munching on snacks.
Chris's skill in combing my hair is good. This body seems to have naturally good hair quality, so it doesn't get tangled even without particular care, but it felt good when Chris touched it.
I stared blankly at the TV screen and was lost in thought.
I have a guess as to why Chris is acting like this.
What happened at the World Tree must be swirling complexly in her head.
I felt a bit embarrassed too. I cried my eyes out in front of her at the World Tree. If someone else saw, it would look like I cried from being too immersed in the game.
But while I was sleeping, there must have been a conversation between Elaine and Chris. It wouldn't be strange if stories from the hero party days came up then.
Chris seemed confused.
A truly strange story.
An NPC in the game knows me.
She might have sympathized with my emotions and comforted me for now, but actually, looking at it from a distance, it's a really strange thing.
I can't just say 'I'm a hero. Although it's in the form of a game now, this continent actually exists, and I saved this Astria continent!'
Of course, Chris who adores me might believe my words perfectly.
And then what happens?
'We must risk our lives to block the threat facing this world!'
The birth of the hero sisters.
We become weird sisters who are overly immersed in the game.
Even if I don't mind, I don't want others to look at Chris with strange eyes too. Of course, she'll handle it well herself.
I hoped Chris would just enjoy this beautiful and strange world, 'Astria Online', as a game.
I grumbled quietly.
"One mentally ill person is enough."
"Hmm? Rain, did you say something?"
"Ah, it's nothing!"
I closed my eyes tightly and focused on feeling Chris's touch.
Rustle rustle.
My complicated feelings are calmed by her pleasant touch on my hair.
It feels good.
Isn't this fine just as it is?
"By the way, Rain. What are you going to do now?"
"Huh?"
Chris suddenly asked.
What do you mean what am I going to do?
"The Tree of the Abyss is a weekly dungeon, right? Even if you farmed one of each this time, you'll need to match pairs for the earrings and ring."
"Ah."
Chris is right.
'Tree of the Abyss' is a weekly raid dungeon, clearable once a week. Legendary grade accessories with overwhelming stats and abilities, unobtainable elsewhere. I obtained one each of earrings and ring as a special reward for clearing the 12-person raid dungeon alone, but I need to run it at least one more time to match pairs.
And for money too, I needed to continue farming continuously.
I wanted to praise myself from a few days ago a little. Because I properly secured the items even in a dazed state.
The item obtained from defeating Crow was a weapon material item. It looked like an item to upgrade Elite weapons to Legendary weapons. Of course, I'll have to log in and check the details after my body fully recovers.
I have an excellent Legendary weapon called 'Astaroth', so if it's a weapon of similar grade, I can sell it.
There were many things to check like evolution system, additional materials, weapon specs, tradability, etc.
"Are you going to keep doing it alone? I'd prefer if you didn't."
Chris voiced with worry.
I nodded slightly too.
This, I cleared it alone once but it's difficult to do continuously.
Of course, after the first clear, you don't need to attempt many times because you know all the strategies.
But solo play is a different story.
The biggest problems are still damage output and gimmicks.
How many more levels do I need to raise to shave off Named boss HP meant for 12 people alone? How much more does my Agility stat need to increase to perform gimmicks alone?
Currently, to clear this place, I need to use my ability that's like a cheat key.
To use that?
I have to endure great pain.
I have to recklessly roll my body's health on the scales.
Solo farming that puts even this life at stake in severe cases, I can't continue that. If I collapse bleeding again, it's over. No matter how much Chris respects my wishes, that's when she'll put me in the hospital with fire in her eyes.
"Hmm... It's difficult after all, right?"
"Haah, I really wonder how on earth you're clearing it. Anyway, judging by your condition, you must be experiencing great pain, right? You don't want to get synchronization rate treatment, right? Are you going to keep doing it while being in so much pain?"
"...I'm sorry."
I shrank.
Chris used a stern voice.
It's my fault so there was no room for rebuttal.
"You know? The Tree of the Abyss is a bound dungeon. The Red-White raid party has 12 people now so there's no spot. Of course, if Rain wants, I'd kick out someone I don't like right away but..."
"Th-that's not okay!"
"Right? I knew you'd say that."
Chris lifted my body that was sitting between her legs and sat me next to her.
"Don't worry. Unnie has something in mind."
"...?"
And she looked at me and gave a reliable smile.
"I'll make a raid party for you."
I tilted my head.
How?
The Tree of the Abyss is a weekly dungeon, clearable once a week per character.
If the Red-White raid party clears the Tree of the Abyss, Chris unnie's character will be bound to that dungeon too, right?
It's not like Chris unnie has two bodies.