Chapter 76

Hyeseon spent her day again in Arang’s hospital room, bringing her favorite books and black tea, sitting by the table next to Arang.

Recently, Arang’s illness has suddenly eased, and her health is improving day by day. However, Hyeseon, who has been watching Arang’s condition up close, always felt uneasy.

So, she spent even more time by Arang’s side than when Arang was suffering from her illness.

Naturally, as Hyeseon watched Arang’s life in Leore from the sidelines, she unknowingly grew closer to Arang’s guild members.

“Lately, you’ve been only dueling with people, huh?”

While Arang used to go to places like dungeons or raids with many people to hunt monsters, recently she has been focusing on 1v1 arenas. Hyeseon admired Arang’s impressive performance.

“Time’s up. I should tell her now.”

After watching Arang’s impressive performance and realizing it was 10 minutes past the agreed time, Hyeseon stood up, pressed the mic button next to the access device, and spoke.

“Arang, can you hear me?”

On the monitor screen, Arang lifted her head, manipulated her hands, and spoke.

[What’s up? Oh, it’s already this late.]

Hyeseon finished the conversation, confirmed the access device was powered off, and lifted the device covering Arang’s head using the button on the side.

*Whirr.*

As the access device fully lifted, Arang’s cute, small face came into view.

Her closed eyes slowly opened, revealing eyes that seemed to hold death. The eyes moved slowly to the side and met Hyeseon’s.

“Unnie… Hi…”

“Welcome back, Arang.”

“…”

*Swoosh.*

Arang, with her non-existent arm and surgical scars revealing a gruesome amputation, stretched out her severed hand, asking for a hug.

The amputation site bore old burn marks, not surgical scars. Hyeseon swallowed her guilt and hugged Arang.

“You’re all wet.”

“Yeah… I worked hard today…”

“Let’s go wash up quickly. I already prepared the water.”

“You’re the best, unnie… Thank you.”

As usual, after a half-bath and gaming, Arang’s stiff body relaxed. Hyeseon carried her and laid her on the massage bed.

“First, I’ll give you a full-body massage.”

“Okay…”

Arang, who spends more time lying down than others, always needs a massage.

After a careful massage to prevent stiffness and promote blood circulation, the next step was crucial.

Starting today, Hyeseon would begin abdominal massages.

Seeing how much Arang struggled during her periods, Hyeseon contacted a friend who specialized in massage, explained the situation, and learned how to do it herself.

After the half-bath and full-body massage, Arang was all relaxed and drowsy.

Her face was flushed, her body glistened with oil, and she let out soft moans. Hyeseon tapped her cheeks to stay focused.

Though Arang was getting healthier, her body was still more delicate than others.

Hyeseon took a deep breath and placed her hands on Arang’s belly.

Soft, squishy Arang’s belly.

Previously, it felt like touching leather due to her reliance on medical nutrients, but now, with her illness easing and gaining weight, her belly had a somewhat addictive feel.

Hyeseon slowly massaged Arang’s belly using the techniques she learned.

Arang’s body trembled slightly with each massage, and Hyeseon thought it was effective, so she massaged diligently.

“Mmm…”

Lately, Arang’s mental state in reality had improved significantly. Though her facial expressions hadn’t changed much, she could express herself more, starting to moan during massages.

Usually, when entering a hot bath, she’d make a refreshing sound, but Arang’s sensitive body made it sound somewhat sensual.

Hyeseon ignored Arang’s moans with a strong will, focusing on the massage.

==

‘Ah… It feels so good…’

Every time I get a massage from Hyeseon unnie, I realize how good it feels.

Getting a full-body massage every day makes me really happy.

To the point where I think, “Would it be okay to not have limbs?”

Of course, I know it’s inconvenient for Hyeseon unnie. Taking care of me, who has no limbs, and even giving me massages, must be really hard and tiring.

‘But it feels so good…!’

Now I understand why people pay big money for massages.

I don’t know why Hyeseon unnie takes care of me to this extent. Money probably plays a big role, but the way she looks at me and treats me feels like Anna unnie. Like family.

And the important thing is the guilt in her eyes.

Not long after becoming Arang, Hyeseon unnie made a slip of the tongue.

At first, I thought it was because of that. But as I got better at speaking and talked about that incident, I even said it was okay.

I thought it was resolved then.

‘Even when she lifted me earlier, that bitter smile… There’s definitely something.’

It wasn’t just pity or sympathy.

‘Is that why Hyeseon unnie stays by my side almost 24/7?’

I feel grateful for Hyeseon unnie’s actions, which are things only family would do, but I can’t help but be curious.

‘I’m so curious. But she probably won’t tell me… Hmm… What should I do… Hoo…!’

While deep in thought, the abdominal massage started, and I felt a refreshing and slightly pleasurable sensation on my sensitive belly.

‘I don’t know… For now… Just enjoy the massage…’

But I couldn’t resist my tired body, drowsy from the half-bath and massage, and fell asleep midway.

==

Jeong Jin, a professional gamer active in the Leore arena, sighed deeply after not getting a match in the ranked arena for 5 minutes.

“Maybe it’s because of the time today, but matches aren’t coming through.”

-It’s understandable for a Challenger rank 10 lol

-Are you aiming for first place in this tournament?

“Of course, I have to do my best. Everyone’s good, so I’m practicing even more this time.”

Jeong Jin, sponsored by a company, had the sponsor’s logo on his stream.

Though he doesn’t stream a week before tournaments to strategize, with the tournament still months away, he streams to communicate with fans.

Even at 3 AM, around 1000 people were watching Jeong Jin’s stream. But due to the time, his arena matchmaking kept spinning.

“Guess no matches today. Everyone must have left early.”

-Probably? It’s 3 AM after all

-Jeong Jin, do you know the user Arang?

“User Arang? Oh, the one who got the WFK?”

-Yeah, the best in the gallery

-That’s the one

-Arang, I love you!

“That user, I haven’t seen her, but I’ve heard she’s a knight. Apparently, she’s the first Korean WFK since the global server opened. And she’s a female user.”

-Arang started PVP

-She’s a Grandmaster now

-She’s undefeated up to Grandmaster lol

“Huh? Undefeated up to Grandmaster? Wow, that’s amazing.”

-Funny thing is, she started PVP less than a week ago lol

-And she climbed as an assassin, which is hilarious

“Wow… Grandmaster in a week, undefeated, and as an assassin? That’s insane talent.”

Jeong Jin wondered if he could do the same.

‘Maybe…’

Honestly, with his main job as a tank warrior and sub-job as a sword mage, he thinks he could do it 100%.

But

‘If I had to do it as an assassin, I’d probably lose once.’

Assassin. Not a bad job for PVP, but few users in Challenger use it.

The reason is simple. The gap between counter jobs is bigger than other jobs.

The win rate between assassins and tank jobs is about 3:7, overwhelmingly favoring tank jobs. Honestly, if I faced a Diamond tank as an assassin now, it’d be a close match.

But a user who only did raids, not PVP, climbed to Grandmaster as an assassin without a single loss?

That’s truly impressive.

*Ding.*

“Wow… Got a match after 12 minutes. I’ll win this one smoothly.”

-Go go go

-Win this last one

-Let’s win smoothly

As soon as he entered the arena, he checked who his opponent was.

Since there are only 100 Challengers, he always faces the same people, so he checks their job or style during the 30 seconds before the game starts.

What? Why can’t I see them?

Jeong Jin was confused when he saw no one in front of him and lowered his head.

“Arang, Arang? Is that Arang? She has the WFK title.”

-Wait, Jeong Jin and Arang are facing each other? lol

-They meet right after Arang hits Grandmaster lol

-Probably matched because there’s no one else lol

“Let’s seriously face Arang, known as the strongest physical in Leore.”