Chapter 64

I really want to just play Leore, but of course, I didn’t get permission.

If I enter the virtual world through the access device, the pain might lessen, but it won’t disappear.

Many people end up getting sick because they don’t think about their physical condition while using the access device. They said I can enter the virtual world once my menstrual period is completely over.

“Arang, don’t be surprised, I’m putting a hot pack on your stomach.”

“Okay. Got it.”

Baedeokgae hugged me and carefully placed a thin towel-wrapped hot pack on my stomach.

The warmth of the hot pack spread through my stomach, and I felt a bit more stable.

“Phew…”

“Arang, I was really worried about you. It’s a relief you’re talking now!”

“Yeah. But, unnie, aren’t you busy?”

From what I remember, Baedeokgae works as a track and field coach. Isn’t it hard for her to be here now?

“Right now, there aren’t many competitions, and I haven’t had much work lately, so it’s fine!”

“I see.”

“Does your stomach hurt a lot?”

“Yeah. It hurts so much. Honestly, I want to take painkillers right now.”

It feels like someone is continuously punching my stomach.

I knew periods could be painful.

I’ve seen girls struggling with it at school. But I didn’t know it could hurt this much.

I’m depressed. I have to endure this pain for about a week every month?

This is the worst. And thinking about not being able to play Leore during that time makes it even more depressing.

At least now I can talk somewhat like a normal person in real life, so the frustration of reality has lessened.

Well, my doll-like expression and empty eyes are still the same, though.

“The doctor said it’s tough… Sorry, Arang. Let me give you a massage.”

Baedeokgae gently rubbed my stomach with her hand. I thought there might be some ulterior motive, but her gestures seemed genuinely concerned.

“Baedeokgae.”

“Ah, Arang…!”

At my words, Baedeokgae flinched and pulled her hand away.

“I was just joking. And I don’t mind you touching my stomach. Keep going. The massage seems to ease the pain a bit.”

“Geez… you scared me! O-of course, I like Arang’s soft, smooth stomach! But I’m not harboring any desires in this situation!”

Your choice of words is a bit too full of desire, don’t you think?

Baedeokgae placed her hand back on my stomach.

Well, I said it, but having Baedeokgae massage my stomach really does ease the pain a little.

It’s lonely when there’s no one around when you’re in pain. When I was deeply immersed in gaming, there were times when I was in so much pain I couldn’t even play. Those were the only times I regretted living alone.

Baedeokgae unnie started massaging my stomach again, and when her hand pressed lightly on my stomach.

“Ugh…”

“Arang…!?”

“It’s okay. I just felt something flow out, and it was unpleasant…”

“Should I change it now?”

“Yeah.”

This is what I hate the most.

Having lived in Leore for so long without needing to adapt to a female body, I had forgotten I was a girl.

With modern technology, I don’t need to go to the bathroom, I can skip meals if I want, and I can live 24/7 in the virtual world.

So it felt like I was just playing an RPG with a female character.

Living as Arang, I never once felt like a girl. It was just like playing a character.

Today, for the first time, I’m realizing in real-time, with pain, that I’m actually a girl because of my period.

The sensation of the medical equipment during the examination earlier. The feeling of something flowing out from a part of my body I never paid attention to was extremely unpleasant.

Arang’s emotions are already overwhelming me with pain, and now it feels like someone is punching my stomach, and I’m getting inexplicably irritated, and the sticky menstrual blood keeps flowing out…

I feel like I’m going to lose my mind.

This is why you shouldn’t mess with girls during their period. If someone even slightly annoys me, I feel like I’d flip everything over.

Though it’s impossible since I don’t have limbs.

==

“Arang, say ah~”

“Hmm.”

Chocolate enters my mouth.

As the smooth chocolate melts in my mouth, the sweetness spreads.

I usually don’t prefer chocolate, but maybe because it’s my period, it tastes so good.

I wondered why girls like sweets, but now I get it.

The unpleasantness, irritation, anger—all these negative emotions melt away slightly with the chocolate.

It feels like I’m returning to normal…

I thought I’d be bored without Leore, but Baedeokgae is keeping me entertained better than I expected.

Right now, I’m playing chess in Baedeokgae’s embrace.

As I savor the chocolate and play chess, I realize that when Arang’s emotions are heightened, my mind feels calm.

Maybe because they’re emotions from a past life, they’re calm, composed, and cold. The information in front of me comes in easily and makes sense.

Every move Baedeokgae makes in chess, the thoughts and meanings behind them, naturally come to mind.

That’s probably why I can’t lose.

“I lost again… What have I been doing all this time…”

“Unnie, you’re bad at chess.”

“Ugh…! Arang, you’re being unreasonable…! Oh, by the way, how’s the Assassin class? Is it worth trying?”

“Yeah. It seems fun. I’ll probably go as an Assassin in the next raid.”

“Then we’ll have four pure DPS? Ugh…”

“…We need to adjust that. If four out of six are pure DPS, that raid party is doomed.”

At least I’m not planning to change!

“Arang~”

While playing with Baedeokgae, Anna unnie returned after finishing her work.

“Unnie, you’re back?”

“Thanks, Miae. For staying with Arang today.”

“No problem! Arang’s having a hard time, so I need to be by her side!”

Baedeokgae handed me over to Anna unnie.

As soon as I was in Anna unnie’s arms, I buried my face in her chest.

“Unnie, did you finish work well?”

“I finished well. Did Arang have a good day?”

“Yeah. Baedeokgae unnie played with me.”

“Ah, Arang!”

“Baedeokgae unnie…? Baedeokgae…? Miae, don’t tell me…”

“N-no! It’s a misunderstanding!”

==

I can’t sleep.

This damn period pain won’t end.

Since I can’t use the access device, I can’t even sleep.

“Arang, can’t sleep?”

Anna unnie, who’s holding me, noticed I couldn’t sleep and spoke carefully.

“Yeah. It’s tough.”

“That’s a problem… Should I rub your stomach?”

“Yeah…”

While receiving Anna unnie’s gentle rubs, I still can’t sleep. I started thinking about what to do in Leore.

First, mastering the Assassin class is my primary goal.

The problem is what comes after. There’s nothing to do.

The chronic issue of RPGs—content.

The most important thing in an RPG is the endgame content, the raid. Once that raid is updated and completed, there’s nothing left to do.

We usually call endgame content like raids vertical content, and collection or life elements horizontal content. I have no interest in horizontal content.

Especially since once I complete the Assassin gear for this raid, there’s nothing left to do.

This time, since it’s the last raid of the season, we’ll have to wait for the next season, so the update time will be much longer.

Next season, a new continent, new main quests, new bosses, new raids, new gear, new skills—there’s a lot to look forward to, so the wait is inevitable.

No matter how fun an RPG is, interest wanes during this period.

So, what should I do?

Obviously, play other games.

Honestly, since Leore was the first game I played when I opened my eyes, I went all out on it. But now, I’m curious about other games.

Leore’s impact was so big that I didn’t even think about other games.

The virtual world.

The virtual world realized through the access device my parents created.

Of course, besides Leore, many other virtual world games have come out. Since there’s a lot of time until the next season and nothing to do, I’m thinking of trying other games.

Since it’s the virtual world, immersion is a given, and most games should at least be decent.

Once my period ends and I enter the virtual world, I’ll have to check out what’s popular.

==

Because of my period, I can’t enter the virtual world for a while, so my daily life is naturally spent in reality.

On the first day, Baedeokgae and Anna unnie were by my side, and today, on the second day, Hyeseon unnie is with me.

I thought the pain would lessen a bit when I woke up, but this damn period is worse on the second day.

If yesterday felt like someone was punching me, today feels like someone is squeezing me.

I could handle it yesterday, but today it’s so painful that I’m getting really irritated. Even though the illness is gone, I really want painkillers.

I called out to Hyeseon unnie by the bed.

“Unnie…”

“Yeah. Arang.”

I took a deep breath and tried to summon the most pitiful expression in my mind.

I recalled the emotions Arang had when she gave up on life and cursed the gods in her pain.

Having felt Arang’s emotions again because of my period, I’ve gained control over them, and I recalled the terrible days of Arang’s past.

With Arang’s emotions, my face moves like a doll’s, so I thought summoning these emotions would at least make me look sad… but contrary to my expectations, tears flowed.

“I… it hurts so much…”

“Ah, Arang…!”

Just as I was about to ask for painkillers, Hyeseon unnie quickly got up and pressed the emergency call button by the bed.

The urgent siren sounded as Hyeseon unnie lifted me up.

“Arang, hang in there!!!”

‘Huh? This… this isn’t what I meant…?’

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