Chapter 85

I looked at Team Leader Han Yeo-reum with a nervous gaze.

She bowed to us and sat down across the table, her lowered eyes slowly lifting, revealing long eyelashes that framed her wide, curious eyes.

Our gazes met.

Her eyes widened, and she covered her mouth with both hands.

“Kyah!”

Han Yeo-reum stifled a high-pitched scream.

“Oh my, oh my! You look exactly like you do in-game…! So… so cute!”

Her eyes sparkled with excitement, and she let out more small squeals.

*Huff, huff.*

It looked like she was about to start hyperventilating.

I could only stare at her blankly.

Her reaction was oddly similar to how Chris sometimes reacted to me.

Chris immediately pulled me closer to her, glaring at Han Yeo-reum with a wary look.

Han Yeo-reum, still squealing, finally noticed Chris’s piercing gaze.

“You must be Chris, right? Seulbi’s guardian and senior researcher at Klaus Capsule Corporation.”

“Yes, and?”

Chris responded in a sharp tone, pulling me protectively into her arms as she eyed Han Yeo-reum.

“My youngest is also super cute! I always argue with my second child over her. Would you like to see a picture?”

“…Really?”

Chris glanced at the smartphone Han Yeo-reum was holding out, and the two of them began cooing over the pictures.

“Oh my, your youngest is absolutely adorable!”

“Right?! Hehe, Seulbi is really beautiful too!”

“Right? Right? Haha!”

Suddenly, Chris and Han Yeo-reum were hitting it off, laughing together as if they’d been friends for years.

“…?”

Watching the two of them chatter away, I felt an unfamiliar sensation rising in my chest.

It wasn’t a pleasant feeling.

Why am I feeling like this?

I acted on my feelings.

*Yank.*

I grabbed Chris’s shirt collar and pulled her away from Han Yeo-reum, tugging her down into the sofa beside me.

“Eek!”

Chris landed on the sofa with a thud, caught off guard by my tug.

Feeling slightly miffed, I muttered under my breath.

“We’re supposed to be talking about the advertisement, aren’t we?”

“Ah, right. I almost forgot.”

Chris looked at me with a puzzled expression before suddenly breaking into a mischievous grin.

“Rain, are you upset because I complimented someone else instead of you?”

“I-I don’t know.”

“Haha! Don’t worry! You’re the only one for me.”

“…”

I lowered my head, feeling a bit embarrassed.

Chris, however, seemed absolutely delighted by my reaction.

It seemed that I really didn’t like seeing Chris complimenting someone else for being cute or pretty.

But why?

---

Together with Chris, I carefully reviewed the proposal and draft contract that Han Yeo-reum had presented.

“The objectives… scope of the contract… contract duration…”

My head was starting to spin.

It was all so complicated.

When would I have ever thought I’d be in an advertisement?

“The schedule for the shoot is important too. But since the shoot is just capturing footage in specific locations in-game, it seems like all you need to do is play in *Astria Online*.”

“Really? So, I don’t have to physically go somewhere or enter another capsule to shoot?”

“Nope. It’s all filmed in the metaverse world. Pretty convenient.”

It was a very favorable contract.

I wouldn’t need to leave my current setup or struggle with my frail body to shoot the ad. Everything could be done from within my capsule.

There were new scenes I’d have to film in the Astria world, but much of it would be reused footage from the Green Dragon raid where I had been the focus.

“And here’s clause four: Compensation and Payment Conditions.”

This was the most important part.

How much money would I be paid?

If they were offering a good sum, I’d definitely have to take the deal to pay back my debt to Chris.

The figure was 50 million won.

There was also the potential for additional incentives based on the ad’s performance.

Was that a lot?

Chris’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Rain, even though you’re technically part of Klaus Capsule Corporation, this is practically your first ad shoot, and the terms are incredible!”

“I’m not a celebrity, though…”

And when did I officially become part of Klaus Capsule Corporation?

“Ha, Rain, you’re going to be a famous influencer in the metaverse. Hanwa Games is lucky to have you.”

From Chris’s reaction, it seemed like a very good deal.

I glanced at Han Yeo-reum, but she was simply smiling pleasantly. I couldn’t gauge much from her expression.

She was probably just doing what she was told from higher-ups, as she was merely in the marketing department.

But still, why were they offering me such favorable terms?

Was there some other motive behind this?

After mulling it over, I nodded.

“I’ll sign the contract.”

With the potential for incentives and future advertising opportunities, it seemed like a good decision.

After all, with Rain’s body, there was a lot I could achieve.

I’d use everything I could—my face, my skills—anything to earn the money I needed.

“As long as Rain is okay with it, I’m fine too.”

“I need to make money.”

“Rain, my money is yours too, but… okay, fine. I’ll go take care of a few things. Be right back.”

Chris grabbed a copy of the contract and left the room to handle some paperwork.

Han Yeo-reum, meanwhile, was busy with her holographic smartphone, working away.

I stared at her and asked, “What are you doing?”

“Hehe, there are a few more steps, like legal review, before we finalize the contract. But for today, Seulbi, your part is done.”

“Ah.”

So, I wasn’t going to just sign on the spot and be done with it.

Still, I’d learned a lot from this meeting. Next time, maybe I’d be able to handle such things on my own.

Left alone in the meeting room with Han Yeo-reum, I thought about everything that had happened today.

It seemed like she was genuinely just here for the advertisement contract.

Was that really all she had to say?

If they weren’t going to bring up my synchronization rate, was this it? Could I just continue enjoying Astria like always?

But I still had some questions.

Han Yeo-reum.

Was she really just a marketing director, or did she have more influence than that?

How much did she really know about *Astria Online*?

I didn’t know.

Maybe I had to bring it up first.

Nervously swallowing, I decided to ask her.

“Team Leader Han, I have a question. Can you answer it for me?”

“Yes? Hehe, what is Seulbi curious about?”

She smiled warmly at me, her eyes filled with kindness.

Should I ask her about my abnormal synchronization rate? No, it wasn’t wise to stir the pot just yet.

I needed to ask a fundamental question.

Even if the chances of her knowing were slim.

I gathered my thoughts and asked the question that had been on my mind.

“…Is *Astria Online* really just a game?”

The room fell silent.

Han Yeo-reum continued smiling at me, her expression unchanged.

Then, she spoke.

“It’s a game.”

“Really?”

“Yes. A game, and nothing else.”

Of course, it was a game. I already knew that.

There was a status screen, stats, and monsters with set patterns that appeared in instance dungeons.

And there were the countless times I had died and revived.

Death wasn’t the end in that world.

But still, I couldn’t see *Astria Online* as just a game.

That’s when Han Yeo-reum added something.

“…For now.”

“…!”

My eyes widened in shock.

She knew something.

“In the Astria continent, adventurers from the stars help overcome the crises that arise. Their actions will rewrite Astria’s history. It’s a land of thrilling adventure and magic.”

She spread her arms wide as if delivering a grand speech.

“In that world, everyone is the protagonist. No matter who saved it in the past, who disappeared, or who rediscovered it—no one bears the burden alone. The mission to save the world belongs to everyone.”

“…”@@novelbin@@

“All you need to do is enjoy it without overthinking. What more could you be curious about, Seulbi?”

I opened my mouth, but then I closed it.

Behind her pleasant smile, I felt an unspoken warning—don’t ask any more questions.

At that moment, Chris returned.

“Rain?”

Chris looked back and forth between me and Han Yeo-reum, sensing the tension.

“Well then, I look forward to working with you, Seulbi.”

Han Yeo-reum gathered the documents and stood up, bowing to both of us.

As she was about to leave the room, she turned and spoke to me one last time.

“Oh, Seulbi, you’re keeping an eye on your health, right?”

“…Yes.”

“Hehe, don’t overdo it.”

---

On the way home, Chris and I exchanged a few words.

“Phew, I had so many counterarguments prepared, but in the end, all that worry about your synchronization rate was unnecessary.”

“Yeah, they didn’t seem like they were going to take any action.”

“Do you think they know and are just letting it slide? I mean, a marketing director wouldn’t know much about the technical side of things. Ugh, I feel relieved but also uneasy at the same time.”

“…”

I felt the same.

My questions weren’t fully answered. Today’s meeting with Han Yeo-reum had left me with more doubts.

But one thing was clear.

Whether anyone else knew or not, Han Yeo-reum herself knew a lot more about me than she let on.

She was aware of my synchronization rate.

And she implied she wouldn’t interfere.

Who was really behind this game company? Could it be some divine entity from this world?

*Sigh.*

My head hurt.

I took a deep breath and decided to keep things simple.

There wouldn’t be any penalties or action taken.

For now, that was enough.

I’d continue to learn more through Rain’s experiences.

At least, I had implicit permission to do what I wanted.

At the same time, I felt a slight twinge of irritation.

“A world saved by everyone,” she had said.

It seemed like there was no longer a need for a lone hero to bear that burden.

I didn’t mind that.

But suddenly, I had an amusing thought.

If I could do whatever I wanted, why not show them what only *I* could do?

I’d have to wait for the next dungeon, though.

“Chris Unnie.”

“Hmm?”

“I’m going to do the same as always in the next elite dungeon.”

“Still planning to solo-clear it? Just don’t overwork yourself.”

“I think it would be fun to broadcast my solo first clear.”

Chris’s eyes widened in surprise.

For the first time since arriving in this world, Seulbi smiled confidently.