Paradise Lost (4)

The place I agreed to meet Luche was quite familiar to me.

My living radius is extremely narrow.

Even during my kendo player days, I wasn’t one to wander around much, but after my leg was damaged, it inevitably shrank even more.

Now, at best, I just go between home and the hospital? Other than that, occasionally going to the convenience store was about it.

So, there weren’t many places that were ‘familiar’ to me.

In this case, it was within the grounds of Sigma Medical Group. In other words, it was the hospital I frequently visited.

The place I usually went was the rehabilitation center, and this was the front gate, but anyway.

When I arrived, two women were already waiting in front of a luxurious car.

It wasn’t that I was late, they seemed to have come out early.

Of course, one was Luche. The one I didn’t know must be Camellia.

“Thank you for coming. This is Camellia. And this is…”

“I’m Gawol. It seems you already recognized me. Ah, my real name is Han Da-eun.”

“Camellia. Shin Eun-chae. I’m sorry about before.”

Camellia, whom I saw for the first time, had a much neater impression than I thought.

Unlike her fierce and vicious appearance in the game, in reality, she looked like a model student.

Seeing her fidget at the sight of my leg, she doesn’t seem to be a bad person.

I can sense doubt and confusion in her wavering eyes.

Well, I wonder if she’s curious about how I moved with this leg.

Surprisingly, action came before questions.

Shin Eun-chae bowed 90 degrees, and clear politeness was felt in her attitude.

Now that I see it, it’s not really a pleasant feeling.

After staring for a bit, haah.

I didn’t hold back the sigh that escaped.

“It’s fine. I vented a bit back then too. There’s no point in getting angry now.”

“I’ll be careful from now on.”

“Do something about your waist first.”

Was I always this soft-hearted?

Seeing her take such a humble attitude, it’s rather burdensome for me.

Only after I personally straightened her back did Camellia show signs of relief.

Right. Getting an apology is enough.

It’s not like I’m so innocent either.

I was already conscious of Luche’s gaze.

Whatever the reason, I lied to Luche too.

The day I appeared on Elderin’s stream.

I told Luche I was leveling up a fire mage.

But then I revealed my face that day, showing that Han Da-eun was Gawol.

When Luche found out, she must have been quite dumbfounded.

“Um, I’m sorry too. For lying about playing the game. I didn’t have bad intentions. The reason I did it was…”

“I understand. How you felt. Because I’ve experienced it too.”

Ah, I see.

This is why I liked Luche.

Because she too had gone through tough times like me.

Understanding that a sick body can feel like a kind of sin.

Thanks to that, I felt at ease.

“Shall we get in the car for now? It’s a bit awkward to keep standing here. Let’s go get something to drink.”

* * *

Sigma Medical Group is a globally influential medical foundation.

Its authority is proudly top-notch even within the country.

Just for me, there was nowhere else to get treatment for my leg or rehabilitation training.

Befitting such a large-scale place, there were several decent tea houses within the foundation.

Just a few minutes in Luche’s car. We arrived at a café about three stories high.

As soon as we got out, subtle gazes from around us pierced us.

It would be a lie to say our appearances, mine and Luche’s, had nothing to do with it.

But most of the gazes were directed at us even before we got out of the car.

More precisely, it would be correct to say they were directed at Luche’s car.

‘It’s not a car you see often, after all.’

It’s not new, but Luche is rich.

Even Elderin’s car wasn’t a cheap model, but… Luche’s is on a different level, you could say.

It wasn’t the kind of thing that could be explained simply by ‘earning well’.

Even in small things, from her behavior, she exuded what you’d call nobility.

Just as I can’t easily deceive my impoverished heart.

“What would you like to drink?”

Luche’s choice was cold brew.

Camellia chose Americano, and I chose a milkshake.

Since my body changed, sweet things have been particularly good for me.

A feeling like my head clears up when I eat them.

There’s also a strange feeling of tension rising, so I find myself looking for one whenever I get the chance.

While sitting and waiting for our drinks.

Luche spoke first.

She looked a bit troubled.

“Can I ask why you’re taking a break from the game, Da-eun?”

“Ah… that.”

So this topic comes up after all.

It was what I was prepared for.

I came out to this meeting because I had something I wanted from her too.

But I wasn’t prepared for the words that followed.

“I have a guess. Did I ever mention what I was going to do before becoming a pro gamer?”

Ga-yoon started talking briefly.

So, thinking about it, it was a simple cause and effect.

I just couldn’t easily connect the natural flow.

Elderin, who earns huge income as a streamer.

Luche, who is much, far richer than even Elderin.

Is Luche’s wealth really only dependent on her salary as a pro gamer?

She said she did horseback riding before becoming a pro gamer.

Horseback riding was also a sport that required a lot of money.

“Originally, I was going to be a researcher working in the virtual reality field. But after the horse riding accident, I quit because I didn’t want to continue studying at all.”

“Hmm.”

“It probably had a significant influence on starting to play games after the accident.”

Sigma e-Sports is Luche’s team.

This is a fact that many people already know.

The reality was a bit different.

Although Sigma is a company that started in the United States, Sigma e-Sports belongs to the Korean league.

The timing of its start and Luche’s joining the pro league don’t differ much.

Lastly, Luche has been volunteering at Sigma for quite a long time.

Sigma, the medical foundation.

More precisely, the entire Korean branch was the background of the person Lee Ga-yoon.

To be more specific, you could say she’s the only daughter of the branch director.

“Recently, we received a request from a game company. The content was analyzing connection logs and verifying usage records. It’s quite rare to find someone who has expert knowledge in VR devices and can also verify pro gamer level movements.”

The vibration bell announcing that the drinks were ready buzzed.

Camellia naturally stood up.

“Sigma has a solid foothold in the virtual device field as well. The stability review of connection devices also has legal credibility. Of course, that area can’t be influenced privately.”

“……”

“This is all I know. That’s why I came with Eun-chae. I was worried I might be digging into your wounds too. I’m sorry for finding out without permission. It wasn’t intentional.”

I got a bit scared.

The secret I wanted to hide could leak out like this.

But, it’s rather good.

* * *

Camellia returned with the drinks.

I gently stir the white shake with a thick straw.

Meanwhile, I organized my thoughts.

It’s impossible for my leg to be cured overnight.

Similarly, it’s impossible to move as before using a regular connection device.

But officially protesting and fighting with the game company… it’s difficult, but possible.

“…Your guess is correct. I’m not taking a break from the game, I’ve been prevented from playing. I was using a brainwave connection device until now, but it was blocked due to stability issues. They say it’s okay to use other connection devices.”

“I see. The stability issue was beyond my abilities. It’s a matter of providing strictly factual information.”

“I understand that much.”

I’m not a complete fool ignorant of society.

It could become a legal dispute between companies, so it would have been conducted fairly and squarely.

I didn’t intend to push that kind of unreasonable demand.

But with that answer just now, I was certain.

My judgment was correct.

Luche was the person who could be the most reliable support for me right now.

Ga-yoon asked.

“You want to continue playing the game, right?”

“Yes. That’s why I’m here.”

An immediate answer. It wasn’t a question that needed contemplation.

Similarly, I didn’t hesitate to ask for help.

“Please help me. I… don’t want to end it like this. I don’t want to lose Gawol this way.”

I want to reclaim the lost paradise.

I want to return to the place where I can run with my own legs.

Even if just once, I want to regain what was taken from me.

I have always lost, and have been trampled by the world every time.

So, isn’t it okay to struggle just once?

It’s okay even if it’s ugly and messy.

If I get rejected here, I came prepared to cling to Luche’s ankle.

I intended not to let go unless I was beaten bloody.

“Do you have a method in mind?”

“Yes, I do.”

Game companies are not invincible.

In old fantasy novels dealing with VR games, game companies were often portrayed as some kind of extra-legal entities, but that can’t be the case in reality.

They too are members of society.

Then I too must fight in the realm of society.

It will be a tough and long fight, but there was a possibility.

After hearing the few plans I had set up – Luche gave her opinion.

“It’s a frontal approach. Straight and righteous. It will take a very long time. There’s also no guarantee that your skills will be maintained until then.”

“…I’m prepared for that.”

“But, couldn’t we just avoid going to court? Da-eun, you’re still innocent. There are more loopholes in the law than you might think. Surprisingly, principled people are very good at using tricks.”

I know well.

You just need to not break the rules, right?

Luche smiled brightly and took something out of her bag.

There was some kind of contract on a white paper.

“Shall we sign first? There’s no turning back.”