Former Hero, Solo Play Oriented-Chapter 211

I stared at the "female Golden Sun" with wary eyes tinged with a hint of fear.

Seulbi's body was weak and frail. If Golden Sun intended to take me away, I wouldn’t be able to resist. The faint mana that had recently surfaced within me was only enough to barely reconnect some of my nerves, far from being usable.

Golden Sun raised her hands, as if to reassure me, and approached slowly. Then, with a sharp clap, she dramatically removed her oversized sunglasses. Beneath them was, as expected, the face of a stunning blonde beauty.

“Was it the sunglasses? Look, look! Now you recognize me, right?”

“...Who are you?”

“Wha—!?”

Golden Sun began hopping up and down, flustered.

I tilted my head, skeptical. Was she really not dangerous?

With a deep sigh, she revealed her identity.

“I’m Han Yeoreum, Team Lead of the Marketing Department at Hana Games! We’ve met during ad contract discussions, remember? And in-game too!”

“...Oh.”

Only then did I recall who she was.

I should’ve recognized her sooner, given her... explosive proportions that even rivaled Chris’s.

I glanced at Han Yeoreum’s chest with a pout and muttered begrudgingly, “I suppose there aren’t many people walking around with such massive... lumps of flesh.”

“L-Lumps of flesh!?”

Han Yeoreum’s face crumpled as if on the verge of tears, but I kept my tone antagonistic.

“What are you doing here? And how are you even at this resort? Isn’t it Klaus Capsule Corporation’s property? When did you start your vacation, and how much time did you spend tanning?”

Unfazed, Han Yeoreum laughed breezily.

“This resort is open to outsiders as long as they pay. Where I go on vacation is my business.”

“Uh-huh, fair enough.”

Still, didn’t her company have work to do?

The odds of this being mere coincidence were slim. Running into someone who knew me, at this random seaside resort on Earth?

But then again, it wasn’t entirely implausible.

I already knew she was a god-like entity on Earth, or at least close to it. Knowing my whereabouts must be trivial for her.

Like an administrator in Astria Online, who could track players no matter where they were.

But still, it was irritating.

“I don’t have anything to talk about with you, Team Lead. Leave before Chris gets back.”

I turned my head away sharply, effectively dismissing her.

Rain in Astria may have been bound to gods and demons, ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ but Seulbi’s life wasn’t going to be invaded by such forces. This life belonged to Seulbi, free of heroes, divine beings, and otherworldly struggles.

“Aw, don’t be like that. Oh! You’re wearing a swimsuit under that shirt, aren’t you? How about giving this big sister a little peek?”

“Not a chance.”

The only person who could see me in a swimsuit was Chris.

Han Yeoreum smacked her lips, disappointed. Then, glancing toward the resort, she turned to leave.

“I just wanted to stop by to say hi. And give you a little warning.”

“...A warning?”

“Be careful in Astria. Don’t overexert yourself. I’ve told you to take care of your body before, haven’t I? Lately, you’ve been through some pretty horrific things. It might not always be possible to clean up after you.”

“Clean up?”

“Still, I’m relieved. Thanks to the foreign energy that seeped into this Earth, your life seems to have improved a bit. Haha. Of course, that power doesn’t belong here, but I can turn a blind eye to this extent.”

“......”

Her cryptic words left me baffled.

She seemed to be here to deliver some sort of warning.

What stood out was her knowledge of the mana flowing within me, reconnecting my severed nerves.

It only reinforced my certainty that Han Yeoreum was no ordinary human.

Tap, tap, tap.

Our brief exchange ended as Chris returned, carrying a plastic bottle in one hand, her figure growing larger as she approached from the resort.

“Oh no, here comes your scary sister. Guess I’ll make my exit now.”

Scurry!

Han Yeoreum turned tail and dashed off, quickly disappearing behind a rock near the beach.

I watched her retreating figure for a moment, then turned to greet Chris with a smile as she reached me.

“Sorry, Chris. I shouldn’t have asked for a drink. Was it tough?”

“Huff, huff! Not at all! I flew there and back in no time!”

Panting slightly, Chris handed me the bottle, grinning ear to ear.

As I twisted the cap open, the soft hiss of carbonation filled the air. Rising bubbles teased my nose—it was cola, the perfect companion to fried chicken. Even after all that running, the bottle hadn’t shaken too much. Chris’s care was evident in the smallest details.

Gulp, gulp.

I quenched my thirst with the fizzy drink, feeling the sharp carbonation tickle my throat.

But then...

“...Huh?”

Something about the taste felt off. I glanced at the label on the bottle.

“Zero Sugar.”

“Chris!”

I pouted, holding up the bottle and pointing indignantly at the offending words.

Chris, startled, jumped in place.

“Ah! I’m sorry! I forgot you don’t like diet drinks. I’ve been dieting lately, and—wait, I’ll go back and get a regular one!”

Thunk.

She turned sharply, crouching into a starting position like a sprinter.

“W-Wait! I wasn’t serious!”

“No! It’s my fault! I’ll fix this right away, as fast as I can—”

“Stop it!”

I lurched forward from my wheelchair, grabbing the back of her shirt before she could dash off.

“It was just a small complaint! I’m fine with whatever you got me!”

“Really? You sure?”

“Yes. Watch this!”

Gulp, gulp.

I chugged the Zero Cola dramatically, gripping the bottle with both hands.

“Ahhh!”

Wiping my mouth like a connoisseur savoring fine wine, I exaggerated my enjoyment.

Chris burst into laughter, clutching her sides. I couldn’t help but smile through the prickling fizz in my nose.

“Here, your turn!”

“Huh...! But that’s—! Isn’t that... indirect...!?”

Blushing fiercely, Chris hesitated, the bottle hovering near her lips.

“You’re acting like a bashful teenager, you know?”

Our laughter echoed across the beach.

The day ended with a luxurious meal at the resort.

The dining hall was filled with rich, delicious dishes that tantalized my taste buds.

I eagerly gobbled up the food Chris brought to the table, my small mouth working diligently.

“Mmm!”

The sushi, topped with white fish, sent a wasabi kick up my nose, making me shiver.

“Wow, this sushi is amazing!”

“Right? Now that I think about it, you haven’t had much seafood before. I’ll order some for us when we’re back home, too.”

Chris watched me with a soft smile, barely touching her own food. She claimed just watching me eat was enough to fill her up.

Suddenly, I felt a faint tremor in my legs.

“Huh.”

This sensation had only occurred in Astria before, when Rain’s body reacted to delicious food. Now, even Seulbi’s legs were expressing joy in their own subtle way.

I pointed under the table at my trembling legs.

“Chris, look at this.”

“Eek!”

“Wait! What are you doing under the table?! We’re eating!”

Chris dived beneath the table, fussing over my legs while I flushed in embarrassment. Thankfully, the dining area was mostly empty, and no one noticed.

It was chaotic but joyful—just like the rest of our day.

That evening, I sat on the terrace, gazing at the night sea.

The lights from nearby resorts painted the water in vibrant colors, creating a striking contrast with the timeless vastness of the ocean.

The scene was surreal, a blend of nature’s eternity and humanity’s fleeting brilliance.

Chris emerged from the bathroom in a bathrobe, towel-drying her damp hair.

She looked at me, a hint of a pout on her face.

“I said I’d help you bathe, didn’t I? We’ve already bathed together before.”

“N-No more!”

I turned away, my face burning. My mind couldn’t handle it. The last time had ended with me fainting from sheer embarrassment.

Chris’s expression crumpled like a child on the verge of tears.

“Really? You won’t bathe with me anymore?”

“Ugh...”

Her pitiful look tugged at my heartstrings.

“...Maybe once in a while.”

“Really?”

Chris’s face lit up as she sat beside me on the terrace, pulling me snugly into her embrace.

Nestled against her, I gazed out at the glittering sea.

For the first time all day, neither of us spoke.

Wrapped in warmth, I felt a deep sense of peace.

In this moment, there were no heroes, gods, or dimensions—just the comforting stillness of now.

Pat, pat.

And so, time flowed gently, wrapped in quiet serenity.