My belly is growing warmer gradually.
It’s a cozy, pleasant warmth, much like being wrapped in a blanket during a cold winter day.
This warmth feels far superior to anything like shower water.
Even amidst this warmth, the sensation in my palms remains vividly clear.
The happiness that started in my lower abdomen is spreading throughout my body… and without realizing, my mouth hangs slightly open like a fool.
There’s a dreamlike, hazy feeling.
The strength in my eyes gives way, and my focus begins to blur.
The world I see appears drenched in light, bright and milky.
At this rate, I might even drool a bit.
I tried to close my mouth, but it wasn’t as easy as I thought.
“Feeling better? Definitely less painful, right?”
“Ye-es…”
My voice sounds lethargic.
My body and mind have melted completely, elongating the ends of my words.
This is somewhat embarrassing.
I did expect to loosen up, but I didn’t anticipate becoming this defenseless.
Still, since I’m feeling good, it might be alright no matter what happens…
“Was the pain this severe from the beginning?”
“Since the first time. It was so painful and it bled, I thought I was dying… or maybe I had some illness.”
“It must’ve been tough.”
Ironically, it was around the time I was getting significantly better.
My body began changing after the car accident.
Due to the accident, I reached the brink of death.
Since there wasn’t a single unharmed part of my body, recovery became the top priority.
Immediate unnecessary functions, like reproduction, were halted first and gradually returned after a long period of recovery.
So, my first menstruation came surprisingly suddenly.
It caught me off guard at an unpredictable moment.
I still remember it vividly.
I woke up to an unbearable smell of blood.
To be precise, I woke up because of that smell and the pain.
What I saw immediately after opening my eyes was the blood stain on the white blanket.
My lower abdomen ached as if sliced by a knife, leaving me with the instinctive thought that something was wrong.
“Scary, huh?”
“…No, I don’t think so.”
“You’re brave. I cried a lot the first time I menstruated.”
At that moment, I didn’t feel fear.
Maybe it was different from what Elderlyn expected, but that was how it was.
As my physical health improved, my mental state deteriorated.
The things that pain had helped me forget began to resurface.
The things I lost in the accident, the things I would no longer be able to do in the future.
My mind, once consumed with the sheer effort of enduring pain, now found room to think.
Naturally, those thoughts leaned toward negativity.
Every so often, there were people in the hospital who were overly bright despite their circumstances.
Always positive, despite losing so much.
Some even said this was all a trial and that I would grow through this loss.
The unknowing might simply think, “Wow, they’re so strong.”
But I thought differently.
It was a form of defense mechanism.
The loss of something isn’t painless.
If you don’t think this way, the loss becomes meaningless, just something you’ve lost—so somehow, you attach significance to it.
In my case, I hadn’t even developed that level of defense mechanism.
The belief that I could overcome this someday was impossible for me to hold.
When the nurse arrived in response to the call,
I forced out the words with what little strength I had left. I vividly remember the trembling in my hand.
“Excuse me, is there something wrong with me?”
“No, don’t worry, patient. In fact, it’s proof that you’re getting better.”
“Getting better?”
“Yes, it means you’ve recovered enough to menstruate.”
“Ah… I see.”
I felt a sense of regret upon hearing the nurse’s words.
I had secretly hoped it was a fatal illness,
because if my body was broken beyond repair, my mind would’ve been at peace.
Once I leave the hospital, I’ll be all alone.
The dream I once held is shattered and dumped in the trash, and I don’t have any real skills.
It seems I’ll have to endure a long and lonely life from now on.
I was certain it would be a painful path.
I even thought that dying outright would be better.
For a considerable amount of time, I viewed it that way.
If it were an unavoidable death, then it would be something beyond my control.
Not because I’m weak… or because I’m throwing away the life my parents worked so hard to save.
Because I wouldn’t have to continue living this painful life.
Well, that’s all in the past now.
If I had died back then, there wouldn’t be this present me.
I no longer need to be envious of others to overcome my depression.
Let’s stop with these depressing memories here.
Just then, Elderlyn said warmly,
“If it hurts, you have to tell me.”
“Yes…”
Her extended finger gently pressed down on my lower abdomen.
It wasn’t a strong massage like ones I’d experienced before.
The pressure was very light, just enough to feel the gentle stimulation.
Certainly not painful, but every time my womb was pressed, my body reacted subtly.
Why… why is this happening?
I struggled not to fidget or nervously rub my thighs.
Elderlyn’s soft laughter was heard.
“Did I press too hard?”
“No, it was fine. Mmm… it’s just such a sensitive area.”
“Da-eun, you’ve always been sensitive in certain places. Have you always been this… promiscuous?”
“That’s embarrassing to say…”
My body isn’t promiscuous.
I’m just slightly more sensitive to sensations, that’s all.
When the massage was over, the sun was slowly setting.
Beyond the window, the twilight painted a beautiful scene.
It was a perfect view to just sit on the sofa and daydream.
“Hey, sister. You’re really skilled at a lot of things, aren’t you? Where do you learn things like uterine massage…?”
“My younger sister also suffered a lot from her periods. Every month it was tough. It was heartbreaking every time I saw her suffer. I wanted to do anything to help.”
“I’m sorry for asking something inappropriate.”
“It’s okay. I’ve come a long way in overcoming that. And you’re doing pretty well compared to her.”
Elderlyn seemed to be enjoying her role as an elder sister today.
After pressing on my lower abdomen, she served a light cup of herbal tea.
I wanted coffee at first, but she explained that alcohol and caffeine are bad during menstruation, so I decided against it.
If she suggested drinking alcohol, I might’ve gotten in trouble.
I was somewhat tempted.
Now, she’s cleaning my ears for me.
The gentle sound of brushing in my ear feels soothing, like scratching an itchy spot.
“Did you know, your expressions have been much brighter lately?”
“Really? Have they?”
“Yeah. Your voice sounds much happier too. It’s nice to see.”
It’s true, my environment has changed, so I no longer harbor the same kind of persistent ill will like I used to.
I’m also getting along pretty well with my teammates.
Surprisingly, Hecate is also gradually getting closer to me.
Game-wise, it’s still a bit uncomfortable, but her character is naturally friendly and warm.
She has a high basic affinity.
“Is pro life fun?”
“It is. It was my dream.”
“That’s great. I’m really glad it turned out well. Still, it’d be nice if we could do some streaming together sometimes. Even if you become more successful, you won’t forget about me, right?”
“I would never do something so ungrateful.”
Elderlyn helped me through my hardest times.
I was genuinely moved when she rushed over just because I made a phone call.
Even if I become more famous in the future and my life improves, that fact will never change.
“Alright, let’s do the other ear. Can you turn over?”
The same gentle, ticklish sensation started in the other ear.
Looking back, I realize I rarely let my guard down and rest like this.
After the accident, I would always fall asleep out of exhaustion, and since becoming a pro, rest was more about recovering strength.
Even during our villa trip not too long ago, I was so tired that I practically passed out.
I’ve been running non-stop all this time.
I tend to be impatient and lack self-esteem.
When I’m still, I feel like a human is rotting, making it hard to endure.
But… maybe it’s alright to take a day off like this.
Just as I was about to close my eyes, all of a sudden, Hoooww—
Elderlyn blew into my ear.
“Ummmm…!”
“Wow, that’s an intense reaction. Da-eun, is your ear also extra sensitive?”
“That… if you touch like that, anyone would… Hmm.”
“Nah, I don’t think so.”
Anyway, the ear cleaning is over.
After having porridge for lunch, I quickly felt hungry.
Changing the topic, we decided on the evening menu, and I stayed until late at night before heading home.
A few days later.
The third strongest team in the Korean league, Galaxy Gaming, clashed with ACL.
The overwhelming power of Sigma was understood.
But what about the ranking between these two teams?
—This match was the answer to that question.
The spring league concluded with ACL’s victory.
The power difference between the two teams was literally paper-thin.
And in this spring league, Galaxy Gaming made a very successful acquisition.
The commentary team expressed their heightened excitement alongside the game results.
“Recently, both teams have been getting consistently stronger. There has been plenty of excitement with continued growth.”
“Today’s match seems to have fulfilled those expectations. Both teams performed exceptionally well despite the close fight.”
“The decisive factor was, indeed, Galaxy Gaming’s teamwork, I believe. Especially the sisters Azure and Crimson, showing impressive coordination between them.”
Galaxy Gaming defeated ACL with a 2:0 victory.
They would be Sigma’s next opponent.
