Chapter 106

The guild hall was filled with silence as soon as I entered.

Before I came in, the place had been lively with chatter. I may not be sensitive to other people’s emotions, but I can usually tell what they're thinking by the look in their eyes.

Everyone had a stunned expression on their faces.

Hmm. Why is that?

Was it my appearance? They’ve seen me before. Recently, I’ve even been appearing in advertisements and YouTube videos.

It must be the legs, right?

I pushed down the feeling that threatened to bring me down.

Eun Seolbi, don’t ruin this mood with personal emotions.

Today, I’m not Eun Seolbi. I’m Rain from *Astra Online*.

Everyone came here to see Rain, right?

How would Rain act around close friends?

She would smile, sometimes make a pouty face, occasionally exaggerate her emotions for effect, and take light, playful steps. Well, I can’t do that last one anymore.

For now, I guess a smile will do.

I tried smiling playfully, injecting a little humor into it.

"Why is everyone so quiet? Hehe. I’m here now!"

*Puff!*

The suffocating silence was released as if everyone had been holding their breath.

The hall quickly became lively again.

"Wow, it’s really her! Is that the real Rain?"@@novelbin@@

"Who else would it be?"

"Rain! Oh my... You’re so beautiful!"

"Hehe, but you’ve seen me in videos before."

Today, I’m strong.

I decided to combine Rain’s expressive emotions with a bit of Eun Seolbi’s more mature personality when dealing with people.

I smiled a little more, letting my eyes crinkle up.

"Kyaaa! She looks the same, but it’s different... She’s moving! It’s different in person!"

"Ah... she smiled at me! What should I do?"

*Redhot Chicken* and *Dalboreum*, the two women in front of me, squealed in delight, their eyes shining dreamily.

Chris and Beimerung cleared their throats and stepped forward to stand on either side of me.

"Uhm! As you can see, our Rain is for admiring only!"

"Ahem! Ladies, control yourselves!"

"Chris-unnie, Beimerung-unnie, it’s okay today."

I moved my wheelchair a little forward, reaching out to *Redhot Chicken* and *Dalboreum* to gently take their hands.

"Gasp!"

"Kuh!"

Both women clutched their chests with their free hands, clearly overwhelmed.

"Rain!"

"Oh my, look at this!"

Chris and Beimerung, startled, each grabbed one of my arms from either side, trying to assert their closeness to me.

I smiled, surrounded by the happy, squealing women.

It’s nice being around so many unnie-like figures.

---

I made sure to shake hands with the male guild members too, one by one.

They didn’t react as dramatically as the women, but they either smiled awkwardly or gave me a fatherly grin.

Looking up at the two large figures before me, I expressed my admiration.

"Wow, Hopkins-nim and Gandal-nim, you both look strong in real life too!"

"Haha! We work out hard in this world too, to play the role of powerful fighters in *Astra Online*!"

The two towering men laughed heartily. They were obviously *Hongbaek* Guild’s reliable tanking duo, though their real-life appearances differed a little from their avatars.

Then there were the two guys with mischievous grins, *Seopseop-i* and *Go Seung-woo*, the rangers. Behind them were *Yeon Mina* and *Eohaekryang Ilwi*.

"I couldn’t believe it. With such exotic looks and unique hair color, it felt like seeing the ultimate customization. But now, seeing Rain-nim in person, it’s hard to believe this is real."

"Right? Ha, Rain-nim could be a celebrity for sure."

"Uh, um."

I scratched my head.

Compliments about my looks always feel strange.

If I hadn’t lost the will to live and shut myself away, maybe I could’ve made a living using this face.

Could it be considered a gift, in a way?

The female players gathered to chat, and from the mention of my name several times, I could tell I was the main topic of their conversation.

The male players sat around me, listening attentively as I started my lecture on defensive techniques.

"...So, your regular battle stance is really important. While the invulnerability skills differ slightly between classes, every class has the common invulnerability skill, *backstep*. Although it’s instant, the timing of activation can vary slightly depending on the distance and position of your legs."

"Ooh!"

"Ah, so there’s a difference in the flow of the skill depending on whether you’re in the right stance beforehand!"

"Exactly. This applies not only to invulnerability skills but also to all damage-dealing skills. It can affect hit accuracy, critical damage, and activation speed. If you can naturally adopt the correct posture for skill activation, it will be a huge help."

"Hmm, so with *backstep*, you start by taking this stance? Even when dealing, you keep your legs spaced like this?"

I chuckled at Seopseop-i’s exaggerated stance.

"That’s not it, here, let me show you... Oh."

Wobble.

"Uh-oh!"

"Whoa!"

Thud!

I quickly grabbed the wheelchair as it tipped forward slightly.

Oops. Right. My legs don’t move here.

For a second, I thought I was Rain again.

"...?"

Everyone had gone quiet again?

Feeling the awkward silence, I lifted my head slightly.

The guild members were standing, hesitating in awkward positions, arms half-extended toward me as if unsure what to do.

"......."

An odd feeling rose in my chest.

Tingling.

What was this?

"...Oops."

With a clunk, I set the wheelchair back upright.

Then, I tilted it again, this time to the left.

Wobble.

Thud!

"Aah!"

"Oh no!"

Everyone freaked out and got up again.

That strange feeling in my chest intensified, and I was overcome with an odd emotion.

"Hah!"

Suddenly, I wasn’t myself. Surprised, I quickly made a timid expression and apologized to everyone.

"I-I’m sorry."

"No, no! There’s nothing to apologize for, Rain-nim!"

"It’s okay! Just be careful!"

Eun Seolbi, what did you just do?

What was that conflicting emotion?

Had I lost my mind for a moment?

This feeling is dangerous.

I exhaled deeply, calming myself.

---

Cherni approached me when I was left alone for a moment.

"The guild members seem to be having fun."

"Right? I’m enjoying myself too."

I never thought meeting and talking with people could be this enjoyable.

Everyone was cheerful as they began eating, and the atmosphere was light.

I looked at Cherni as he came closer. He scratched his head awkwardly before finally speaking.

"Uh, you were... great today."

"About what?"

"Well, I know more than anyone, right? I know what you used to be like."

"Oh."

The shell of a person that was once called Eun Seolbi, shrouded in gloom.

Cherni was probably the only one here who knew that past version of me.

"Ahem, I mean, it’d be nice if you stayed bright like this. Today’s mood is all thanks to you smiling. Uh, am I saying this right?"

Feeling embarrassed, Cherni scratched his head furiously, while I tilted mine in curiosity.

And then I realized.

"......."

When I smiled and acted warmly, Chris-unnie was happy.

When I was lost in the fragments of my past, Chris-unnie would be on edge, uneasy.

It wasn’t just Chris—everyone around me reacted the same way.

They were all deeply affected by my emotions.

That was it.

Today, all the guild members greeted me with smiles.

It wasn’t my body that mattered.

The pitiful looks of cheap sympathy and pity I had hated—I had created those looks myself.

"Anyway, enjoy the rest of today! I’d better go look after *Deathmaster* again. Look at him, he’s back to brooding by the window."

"Hehe."

I chuckled as Cherni walked away.

Thank you, Cherni-oppa.

I then gently cupped my face with my hands.

It’s still a bit embarrassing to call him oppa, even in my head.

It’s all because of the lingering ghosts of my past life. I can call people unnie, but calling someone oppa is still too much.

As Cherni left, I heard footsteps approaching.

*Click, click.*

The person who revived the dead Eun Seolbi.

The person who helped create new connections around me.

The person who is painting this familiar yet unfamiliar gray world with me.

That kind person’s footsteps.

It’s always the same.

Whenever she approaches, my body responds on its own.

Just as my emotions affect her, her emotions influence me.

When she smiles, my heart feels as light as a cloud.

When she hugs me, it feels like being wrapped in the warmest blanket in the world.

Hearing her voice makes my heart tingle, like listening to a sweet song. And every time she strokes my hair, my heart beats like a little bird’s wings.

If my legs worked, I’d probably be bouncing up and down right now.

The red-haired woman came to my side, smiling brightly.

"Rain, are you having fun? Let’s eat together now, okay?"

"Yes, I can’t wait to eat something delicious."