Chapter 14

“Arang, I’ll make you look pretty.”

“…Okay.”

Anna is helping me change my clothes.

Today is the day I’m meeting Pinkubelly offline.

I hit max level and casually suggested an offline meetup. Pinkubelly was a bit flustered but nodded and agreed, so it’s happening.

In reality, I’m getting a bit better, but I’m still like a doll that can barely talk. Words don’t come out as I want them to.

Wait, if I meet Pinkubelly like this, I won’t be able to talk. I’ll have to log into the Medical DeathBed (MDB) to meet her.

It wouldn’t be fun to meet someone I play games with and not be able to talk about the game.

Honestly, I’ve been to many offline meetups, but meeting in a hospital? That’s a first.

And the person hosting the meetup is actually in the virtual world.

This isn’t really an offline meetup. Pinkubelly will probably find it ridiculous.

“Done! You look so pretty, Arang!”

I looked down at myself after Anna’s words.

I was wearing a white short-sleeve shirt and what looked like dolphin shorts.

The clothes are cute, but without limbs, it’s hard to look pretty.

The sleeves are loose, and the shorts have my missing legs dangling. It just looks off.

‘This is… never mind, let’s not think about it.’

With Anna’s help, I lay down on the bed, activated the MDB, and turned on the hospital room screen.

I saw myself lying on the bed surrounded by medical equipment and the MDB.

Thanks to Anna, I at least look like a living person now. Before, in the hospital gown, I looked like a corpse.

Alright, now all we need is Pinkubelly.

It’s been so long since an offline meetup. And it’s with Pinkubelly, who I’ve been enjoying the virtual world game Leore with!

I’m already excited.

==

As soon as I entered Seoul Asan Hospital, I was slightly overwhelmed by its size.

Countless people were bustling around. I walked to the information desk.

“Excuse me…”

“Please take a number and wait.”

The receptionist glanced at me, sighed, and spoke.

“No, it’s not that.”

“Take a number—”

The receptionist said impatiently.

“I’m here to see Arang!”

I quickly mentioned Arang’s name as she had instructed in her email.

“Oh, you mean Arang?”

“Yes, yes!”

“Just a moment!!!”

The receptionist suddenly dropped her annoyed expression, quickly got up, and ran off.

‘What’s going on?’

I remembered that the MDB device Arang uses is one of only five in the world.

Why are there only five in the world?

‘Come to think of it, the costume Arang wears… it’s given for free after reaching 10 million miles. 10 million miles is… 100 million… yikes…’

While I was lost in thought, the receptionist returned, panting.

“Ha… ha… follow this doctor here.”

“Hello, I’m Dr. Kim Hyesun, Arang’s attending physician.”

“Ah, hello.”

‘Wow, she’s pretty…’

“Follow me.”

The doctor who introduced herself as Arang’s attending physician looked like a celebrity.

As I followed her, she asked if I was Arang’s friend.

“Yes, I’m Arang’s friend.”

“Really? It’s such a relief that Arang has made a friend.”

“Is Arang hospitalized here?”

“Yes… it’s been three years since I became her attending physician.”

“Three… three years?”

“Yes. Arang has been here for three years due to her illness.”

“Illness…”

I had expected it.

I didn’t think Arang would use the MDB without a reason.

But hearing it directly from her doctor felt different.

After walking for a while, we arrived at a small building.

“This is where Arang stays.”

“Is this also a hospital building? It’s so small…”

“Ah, this building is exclusively for Arang. She’s the only patient here.”

“…What?”

I thought the building was small for a patient facility, but if it’s just for Arang, it’s actually huge.

‘Wait, the hospital has a whole building just for one patient…? What exactly is Arang’s background?’

As soon as we reached the building’s entrance, the doctor stopped.

“From here, you must follow my instructions carefully.”

From the entrance, I could see various machines.

First, I sanitized my hands, and as I passed through the door, something went *psshh!* and smoke-like gas came out.

“Don’t worry, it’s just for disinfection.”

After passing through various checks, we entered the building.

“Let me tell you some precautions before meeting Arang. First, don’t talk about her body.”

“…Okay.”

“Second, Arang is sick, but it’s not contagious. So don’t worry about that. Lastly, treat her like a normal child. Don’t treat her like a sick person.”

“Got it. I’ll keep that in mind.”

After hearing the doctor’s instructions, I entered Arang’s room.

The first thing I saw was various medical devices. Walking past them, I saw a large glass wall.

Beyond the glass was Arang, the person I’ve been wanting to meet.

“Gasp…!”

I covered my mouth with both hands at the sight of Arang.

I had somewhat expected her appearance based on the doctor’s words and the MDB information, but…

Her condition was far worse than I imagined, and my body trembled.

Arang was lying on a king-sized bed.

Her appearance was shocking.

Arang had no arms or legs. That alone was shocking, but the MDB setup was equally startling.

The MDB, integrated with the bed, was massive compared to the usual choker-sized access devices. The MDB was as big as the bed.

Various machines extended from the MDB and were attached to Arang’s body.

There were machines on her eyes and neck, and multiple lines ran under her clothes, likely sensors.

Medical devices, like those seen in movies and dramas, were monitoring Arang’s condition in real-time.

“What is this…”

“Are you Pinkubelly?”

“Who… who are you?”

A woman’s voice came from beside me. I turned and saw a woman even more beautiful than the doctor calling my nickname.

“Hello, I’m Ian-na, Arang’s older sister. Thank you for coming all this way to see Arang today.”

“Hello… I’m Ihayan, the one using the nickname Pinkubelly.”

“Welcome, Hayaan. Arang has been waiting for you.”

“Really…? Am I being a bother…?”

“Not at all. Arang has been talking about you so much. Come in.”

“Ah, yes, okay!”

As soon as I opened the door and entered, Arang’s voice echoed through the machines.

[Ooooh! Pinkubelly, you’re here! Or should I call you unnie since it’s real life…?]

On the large screen in the room, Arang, who I always see in Leore, was waving and smiling.

Arang’s appearance in the access device’s personal space was exactly like in Leore. Cute and mischievous-looking Arang.

Looking at Arang, I then saw her real body, fused with the massive machine.

Is this how Arang always lives…?

The contrast between Arang’s real-life condition on the bed and her lively, bright self in Leore was stark.

‘Oh no, I’m overthinking…!’

[Pinkubelly unnie?]

‘Ugh…!’

Arang calling me “unnie” and tilting her head slightly while speaking was unbearably cute.

“Ah, Arang, hi.”

[Was it hard getting here? Do you want to eat something? Let’s have lunch.]

“Huh? Lunch? You, Arang…”

I agreed to have lunch with Arang. But then she suddenly asked if there was anything I wanted to eat. Is it okay to say?

Arang’s condition doesn’t seem like she can eat anything.

[Me? Why? Oh! I can eat too, don’t worry!]

“R-really…? Then how about we eat what you want?”

[Eh, it’s fine. You came all this way, so let’s eat what you want.]

“Then…”

‘What should I choose…!?’

I quickly ran through delivery food options in my head.

Given Arang’s condition, anything heavy on the stomach is out. So fried foods are naturally excluded.

Korean-style fast food?

That’s out too. It’s loaded with seasonings.

‘Ugh…! What should I…!’

Then, a savior appeared.

“How about bossam?”

[Bossam sounds good! Do you like bossam, Pinkubelly unnie?]

“Y-yeah, bossam is good!”

“Then I’ll order bossam.”

“Okay, sure!”

[Pinkubelly unnie, what’s your name? I can’t keep calling you Pinkubelly.]

“I’m Ihayan. I’m 25.”

[Oh, Hayaan unnie.]

I was nervous and worried about how to talk to Arang, but she was as lively as she is in Leore.

But I know.

She’s holding on like this because she has to…

Arang is only 15.

At an age where she should be going to school, running around with friends, and hanging out, she’s stuck in a hospital, living without limbs.

And that’s not all. Her condition is so severe that she uses the MDB, and she’s not even in reality but in the virtual world.

No matter how mentally strong someone is, overcoming this without scars is hard. And a 15-year-old is going through this…

Arang is holding on.

Trying to stay as bright as possible because she has to…

And I realized this the moment Arang came out of the virtual world.