Chapter 54

"......."

All three people gathered in the emergency room waiting area couldn’t hide their anxious expressions.

Chris bit her nails, revealing her nervousness.

Had they arrived too late? Did they worsen Rain’s condition with their poor judgment? How long had Rain been unwell like this?

Countless thoughts floated in and out of her mind.

Chris loved games. She had eagerly awaited the release of *Astra Online*.

At first, it was just part of her market research as an employee for the capsule company, enjoying the game under the guise of work. She played to chase the sense of achievement that came from clearing difficult dungeons with reliable party members.

But in recent months, Chris had found another form of happiness while playing the game. She had begun to enjoy the continent of Astra itself.

And at the center of it all was Rain. She couldn’t deny that.

It felt like she had found her angel.

Rain's beautiful appearance, her delicate gestures, the silver-white hair Chris adored, the faint smile she occasionally flashed—her graceful swordsmanship, like a painting in motion.

The months spent with Rain on the Astra continent had made Rain's presence grow uncontrollably large in Chris's heart.

It was disappointing to see her only in the game, but Chris had hoped that one day, she’d be able to meet Rain in real life as well. Once Rain let her guard down and truly trusted her, she wished they could meet in person, perhaps at a guild meetup.

Their first encounter had been nothing like she had imagined.

And Rain’s real life was far harsher than she had ever anticipated.

A swan glides gracefully over the calm surface of a lake.

Its long, elegant neck and pure white feathers evoke the image of an angel, drawing admiration from all who see it. The swan's wings gently cut through the water, leaving soft ripples in its wake. Its appearance above the surface is peaceful and serene, like a picture-perfect scene. But beneath that elegant exterior, a completely different sight unfolds. The swan’s feet paddle furiously beneath the water, battling to stay afloat.

Of course, this image has become somewhat of a cliché. Truthfully, even a swan’s movements underwater are said to be graceful.

Rain, who seemed to blend perfectly with the beautiful world of Astra, giving the impression that the world itself existed for her.

Behind that facade, however, there was a desperate struggle for survival.

The door to the emergency room opened, and a middle-aged doctor emerged with a chart. Chris and the others stood up quickly and rushed over to the doctor.

"Rain, um... is she alright?" Chris asked anxiously.

"Her breathing and pulse have returned to normal, and the bleeding has stopped. Although she’s still unconscious, we performed a CT scan under a specialist’s recommendation. Fortunately, it’s not a serious condition like a brain hemorrhage. You can rest assured that she’s no longer in immediate danger."

"Haaa…"

Nam Dayeon and Jae-Wook let out deep sighs of relief, as if the weight of the world had been lifted off their shoulders.

Chris, still worried, pressed the doctor for more details about Rain’s condition.

"We’ll need further tests to determine the exact cause, but there are several possible reasons for her prolonged bleeding. It could be a blood clotting disorder, hormonal changes due to stress, or high blood pressure..."

The doctor adjusted his glasses and gave Chris a sharp look.

"And malnutrition could also be a factor. How are you related to the patient?"

Without being a close relative or legal guardian, she wouldn’t be able to inquire too deeply about Rain’s condition.

"Uh, um... we’re friends."

"It’s not just the bleeding. The patient’s body is in a severely weakened state. Is she eating properly? Malnutrition can lead to mental instability, delayed reactions, and even cardiopulmonary issues. We've taken emergency measures for now, but..."

Chris watched as Rain was transferred to a hospital room, and she led Nam Dayeon and Jae-Wook out to the hallway.

Jae-Wook scratched his head and grumbled.

"So we need a guardian or close relative to provide information? This whole privacy law thing is pretty complicated."

"In an emergency, the doctor can make decisions on urgent tests and treatments, but after that, the patient’s consent or the guardian’s approval is needed for further procedures. Medical law is tricky, isn’t it?"

"And the doctor scolded us earlier, saying it was risky to carry her like that. I had to listen to a long lecture about emergency procedures. Something about how the military used to teach this stuff, but now..."

"No, it was definitely my fault. In hindsight, it’s good we learned this. My poor handling of the situation could have put Rain in even more danger."

Chris bit her lip.

Her mind had gone blank, preventing her from making rational decisions. Fortunately, Rain was safe due to the quick actions they had taken, but it hadn’t been the right move to carry her recklessly to the hospital.

Chris, Nam Dayeon, and Jae-Wook—despite being university students and technically adults—were still fresh and inexperienced in the real world.

After letting out a sigh mixed with relief and regret, Chris clapped her hands like a guild leader, drawing the attention of Nam Dayeon and Jae-Wook.

"I’ll stay with Rain. You two can head back."

"Wouldn’t it be better if we stayed too?" Nam Dayeon asked, looking at Jae-Wook for his reaction. Jae-Wook didn’t seem eager to leave either, but Chris shook her head.

"I’ll contact you when Rain wakes up. From her perspective, though, it’s probably weird to wake up in a hospital after being carried here by people she doesn’t really know, right?"

"Well, when you put it like that… yeah, I guess so."

Chris looked toward Rain’s hospital room with a resolute expression.

"I’ll be Rain’s guardian."

After Nam Dayeon and Jae-Wook left, Chris’s legs gave out, and she sank down into the hallway.

Though she had tried to appear strong in front of her friends, Chris had been more worried than anyone else.

The image of Rain collapsing, covered in blood.

The idle wheelchair.

The doctor’s words, giving her a glimpse into Rain’s condition.

A young girl, too frail to even stand on her own, struggling to survive in such a harsh environment, all alone.

These thoughts tore at Chris’s heart.

For a long time, Chris sat in the hallway, clutching her chest.

Tatatat.

Urgent footsteps echoed down the hospital hallway.

Finally, the footsteps stopped in front of the hospital room.

"Huu…"

The person took a deep breath before carefully opening the door.

Chris’s eyes immediately fell on the girl sitting up in bed, gazing out the window.

The sun had already risen.

The girl’s silver-white hair shimmered in the sunlight streaming through the curtains.

An IV was inserted into her slender arm.

Her long hair, reaching down to her waist, spread out over the white bedding.

The girl turned her head, her eyes meeting Chris’s.@@novelbin@@

Chris swallowed hard.

She had always thought of herself as quite attractive, but now, standing before this girl’s beauty, her confidence seemed to fade away.

A girl even more serene than Rain sat before her, moving as if she were alive from a painting.

Her beauty seemed unreal.

Those calm, dark obsidian eyes. The way they looked at her, as if they were seeing something far away, reminded Chris of Rain’s eyes, yet they also felt a little different.

Chris felt a strange sense of unease.

There couldn’t be two people who looked like this with the same hair color.

Surely, this girl had to be 'Rain' from *Astra Online*.

"Rain...?" Chris’s voice rose slightly, tinged with doubt.

The girl’s obsidian eyes widened ever so slightly.

And then, after a brief pause, a familiar soft voice came from the girl’s lips.

"...Lee Seulbi."

Lee Seulbi.

That must be the girl’s real name.

Chris slowly walked over to the girl and sat down beside her, looking into her eyes.

She gave the same bright smile she often sent Rain in-game.

"...Hi, I’m Chris."

A long silence followed. Rain said nothing, simply gazing at Chris.

And then, at some point, a light flickered in the girl’s eyes.

Her lips parted, and she uttered the word.

"Chris… unnie."

"......!"

At that moment, an overwhelming wave of emotion surged within Chris’s heart.

It was Rain.

Without a doubt, this was her angel, Rain.

Chris took Rain’s hand, bowed her head, and trembled.

Rain didn’t reject Chris’s touch. She gently held Chris’s hand.

Then, with her other hand, she reached out and stroked Chris’s bowed head.

"Thank you for taking care of Rain."

Who should cry?

Who should be comforted?

"Thank you for saving Lee Seulbi."

A fragile girl, her body battered and unable to move, had lived in this world with no one to lean on.

And here was Chris, foolish and blind, only now realizing the depth of her friend’s suffering.

She didn’t know.

But Chris cried.

Rain didn’t.

She simply stroked Chris’s head in silence as Chris sobbed.

Chris’s red blended with Rain’s white.

Here, not in another world, but in this reality.