Chapter 94: Chapter 94

In our brain, there is something called neuroplasticity.

The nervous system of the brain is not permanently fixed; it constantly reorganizes itself in response to environmental stimuli and experiences.

This means that human nerves adapt and modify their roles depending on the situation.

For instance, when you lie face down and close your eyes, your body perceives the absence of vision.

To compensate for the lost sense, other senses, like smell, hearing, and touch, heighten.

That’s exactly what was happening to me now.

I was lying face down on the bed, with my vision effectively blocked.

My sense of smell and touch had become more acute than ever.@@novelbin@@

A faint aroma wafted up from the herbs spread across the massage bed.

‘I’m not sure what this scent is, but it’s quite nice.’

The fragrance wasn’t too overpowering, but it helped to calm my mind.

I felt at ease, to the point where I was glad I had followed Elderen here.

Whatever it was, it was certainly better than crying alone in an empty room.

Is this what they call aromatherapy? Or is it herbs?

I wasn’t sure, having no prior knowledge of these things.

Elderen probably knew, but I couldn’t bring myself to ask her.

Moreover, the initial sensations of the massage weren’t that intense.

Even though I was lying on the bed, the massage started lightly, with just the palms of my hands.

It felt pleasant, but there wasn’t any particular reason for my body to react.

In fact, I was gradually becoming more drowsy.

I thought I’d be talking to Yuserin while lying down, but for some reason, I felt like speaking would break this calmness.

It seemed we both felt the same, as the room remained quiet, and with my eyes closed, I could almost imagine I was alone.

‘Should I just fall asleep? That seems like a waste.’

In a place like this, the goal should be to maximize your satisfaction.

I knew it was foolish to hold back just because it felt like a waste.

Even so, maybe it was because I had lived without much money for so long.

I didn’t like the idea of falling asleep in such an expensive place.

It didn’t take long to realize how pointless that worry was.

A warm towel was placed on my left leg.

And on my right leg…

“Hmmph.”

It was probably oil.

There’s probably a fancier name for it, but it was definitely some sort of oil.

A faint, pleasant-smelling oil was spread over my body.

My heightened sense of touch tingled in response.

It started at the tip of my big toe.

The hands that weaved between my toes, as if interlacing, massaged my foot from the sole to the top.

There was no hesitation as they moved up from my ankle to my calf.

Why is a woman’s body so sensitive?

Especially mine—it seemed unusually attuned to sensations.

When the oil was applied to the sensitive area beneath my hips and thighs, I had to grip the mattress tightly to endure.

The problem was, applying the oil was just the preparation for the massage.

The next step was the actual massage, as my skin, now smooth and coated, was ready to accept the therapist’s touch.

“Ahh… Huh…”

I exhaled softly, noticing the faint sweetness in my breath.

I distinctly remembered feeling cool before lying down, but now I felt a growing warmth.

Ah, she’s moving to my back.

That’s… really going to be a problem.

From below my shoulder blades to just under my shoulders—

The areas that even my own hands couldn’t reach were especially sensitive.

Even the slightest touch of the therapist’s fingers made me shiver.

My eyes kept losing focus, so I decided to shut them tight.

Though I found myself repeatedly opening them as my strength wavered.

At some point, my mouth had fallen open, and a thin string of drool slid down from the corner of my lips.

It wasn’t until I felt the dampness on my cheek that I realized what had happened.

“Hngh… Ah…”

It’s impossible to hold back sensations like this.

My muscles twitched involuntarily.

My back arched and then finally relaxed again after contracting.

Did I look like I was in pain?

The kind-looking therapist handed me a small card.

Does it hurt a lot?

If you’re uncomfortable, I can be more gentle.

No. That wasn’t the issue.

I appreciated her concern, but my dignity had already taken a huge blow.

Blushing furiously, I replied, “I’m fine,” and buried my face back into the bed.

A hellish heaven.

The massage wasn’t over anytime soon.

When I first arrived, they had mentioned that the session would last 120 minutes.

Time passed, feeling both eternal and fleeting.

After finishing, the therapist left the room, saying she would bring us some tea.

I heard the sound of Yuserin, who had been lying next to me, slowly getting up.

If I stayed in this position, she’d have a full view of my back.

Feeling self-conscious, I decided to sit up as well.

“How was it? Not bad, right?”

“Ah, yes.”

My voice still sounded a little groggy from sleep.

As I sat up, wrapping a large towel around myself, I noticed faint marks on my body, where the oil had been applied.

In some places, the marks were more prominent, especially…

Never mind, nothing to worry about.

I shifted slightly to hide the marks on my body.

Thankfully, Elderen was too busy looking for a towel to notice.

“This is a place I come to often. There’s nothing better for relieving stress.”

“You’re right. It was much more pleasant than I expected.”

My mind definitely felt clearer.

My muscles had relaxed, and my body felt lighter.

Since injuring my legs, I hadn’t been physically active much.

Aside from my weekly rehabilitation exercises, I hadn’t done anything strenuous.

Even those exercises were done in water, so I didn’t think my body had been under much strain.

And yet, my body was so soft, without a trace of muscle tightness.

I had never even considered the possibility of muscle tension or fatigue.

I guess I should’ve tried this earlier.

Maybe I should’ve paid more attention to myself.

If I have the time and money, it might be worth coming back now and then.

“You must’ve enjoyed it, given how your voice…”

“Hah! Stop! Don’t say anything more.”

“Haha, alright, I didn’t hear anything.”

I take back everything I just thought.

I’m never getting a massage again.

There might be a reason why massages have such a strange reputation in Korea.

I’m not the weird one. Elderen, who brought me here, should be disappointed in herself—though, no, maybe that’s going too far.

Lying to myself wasn’t easy.

It’s just because it was my first time.

It’s normal to be sensitive when you experience something new.

Since it was my first time, my reaction was naturally exaggerated.

“From now on, think carefully.”

“Huh?”

“When you start to feel better, your bad thoughts disappear, too. If you want to plan for the future, it’s better to start from a positive place, don’t you think?”

Now that I thought about it, she was right.

Despite how embarrassed I felt, the weight of my previous worries had lifted.

At this moment, I could picture my future in a much more optimistic light.

But wasn’t her method a bit extreme?

It felt like she’d forcefully reset my brain, knowing I’d been in a dark place.

The problem was, it worked better than expected.

The hollow emptiness in my chest had somewhat filled.

Though things were still complicated, I no longer felt like the world had abandoned me.

“Do you think I should start streaming again?”

“Hm? Well, I wouldn’t go as far as to say you should.”

“Wait, really?”

Elderen was the one who had most strongly encouraged me to stream.

I’d been drawn to her shining presence and had thrown myself into it headlong.

Come to think of it, I’d embarrassed myself quite a bit back then, too.

Maybe Elderen was the one who’d created most of my cringeworthy moments.

“I just wanted to show you that this path was an option. I didn’t think you’d go all-in from the start.”

“….”

“Still, I think you’d be great at streaming if you did start. You’re not only pretty, but you’ve got a unique charm.”

“Even if you flatter me like that… Hmph. I’m not that easy, you know.”

“And that’s exactly why I think you’d be good at it.”

As Elderen chuckled softly, the therapist returned, carrying a tray of tea.

The tea had a strong aroma, a slightly spicy but sweet and bitter flavor—ginger tea.

I didn’t dislike the taste, so I sipped it slowly.

“I… still want to play the game.”

“Yeah, I get it. I’d like you to keep playing, too.”

“I don’t want to miss out on anything. I want to go pro, and sometimes I want to stream and feel loved.”

I wasn’t thinking about the "how."

This was purely about what I wanted.

It was still impossible to use a standard connection device.

It felt like I had iron shackles weighing down my feet.

This wasn’t a problem I could solve by simply getting used to it or improving my skills.

But I had to fight, regardless.

Since when had I ever only fought against easy opponents?