A burning sensation coursed through my entire body.
The grueling exercise had driven my blood to circulate wildly through my system, and a metallic taste lingered in my mouth.
The fortunate part was that despite being drenched in sweat, there was no risk of emitting an unpleasant odor.
I wiped my face with the water rising up to my lower body, as if washing it.
Afterward, I clutched the support frame and moved forward.
Not sure if this could even be called walking.
An embarrassing motion that shouldn’t be seen by others.
To walk properly, my ankles needed to move as they should, but for me, it was difficult to move even a single toe, let alone the ankle.
If I went outside like this, my feet would probably drag on the ground.
It must be quite the comical scene.
There was this old game where one of the death scenes featured a snail, and right now, I’d probably end up walking like the zombie from that game.
“Haa, ugh! Haaa…”
“Patient, if it’s too strenuous, you can take a little rest. Pushing yourself too hard isn’t good.”
“Just a bit more, I’ll be fine, just a bit more.”
“Yes. But you’ll make sure to rest when it’s time, right?”
“Alright.”
Luckily, the therapist didn’t forcefully stop me.
It was a precious opportunity, after all, one that only came once a week.
I couldn’t afford to feign weakness even on such days, especially after living like trash.
I always regret during times like these, wishing I had exercised more beforehand.
My stamina is pitiable. Compared to my athlete days, this couldn’t even pass as a warm-up.
I should have listened to the Master more.
But, putting that into action is a different story entirely.
Training properly with my amputated leg would be incredibly difficult, anyway.
It’s not like I could walk without crutches now. What could I possibly achieve?
And besides, doing something reckless in that cramped room could lead to injury—an even bigger problem.
Meanwhile, inside the game, I could move freely.
I wanted to keep my time outside the terminal—the “real world”—to a minimum.
Whether physically or mentally.
“Ugh!”
“Patient! Are you alright? Would you like to be moved immediately?”
“No! It’s just… a minor mistake. I’m fine.”
“Alright. Then… I’ll support you from behind.”
“Thank you.”
This is the rehabilitation center of the Sigma Medical Group.
The Korean branch of the world-renowned medical company—also the place where most of my earnings go.
The only location where any progress has been shown among all the attempts I’ve made so far.
The advanced equipment here regulates the water flow meticulously, caring for my body.
Right now, fine electrical currents are likely collecting data, and I’m floating, submerged only from the waist down.
Yes. Here, even I can attempt rehabilitation.
It’s astonishing progress compared to the first medical opinion I received.
There’s something I could still do!
– Miss Dae-eun, I have something to discuss regarding the detailed examination results.
– Although it is difficult to make an exact medical diagnosis, judging from the symptoms alone, the patient seems to be experiencing left-sided paralysis…
– According to the results, it appears there are issues with the tissues or circulation system. Proper blood circulation is not occurring, so discoloration or necrosis could develop.
– We could not draw reliable conclusions regarding the pain and functional decline.
The explanation was complicated, so I couldn’t remember everything.
Frankly, I didn’t understand all of it anyway. My mind back then wasn’t clear enough to comprehend such medical terms.
However, the doctor’s despondent and powerless expression left a deeper impression on me.
To summarize, my left foot is practically in a comprehensive ward-like state.
It exhibits phenomena akin to being chronically poisoned, though there are no precedents for cases like this.
It’s no wonder the doctors recommended an amputation.
Still, today, I received a hopeful piece of news.
– The detailed examination conducted last week has produced results.
– How are they? Have things improved?
– There has been a very slight improvement. If you look at this data, you’ll notice that the nervous system…
The doctor stated that the numbers still weren’t significant, but even a tiny improvement, like an eyelash’s worth, was important.
That alone gave me more reason to cling to this tenacious life.
Even if it’s like pouring water into a leaky pot.
If I could reclaim my legs…
If I could stand and start anew with this body, I would ask for nothing more.
So, I can endure this level of training.
…That is, what my heart says. In reality, I couldn’t endure for hours.
The allocated time for my rehabilitation training is three hours.
As soon as the session ended, I was utterly exhausted, and I immediately collapsed in the break room.
It felt as if all strength had drained from my body, like some piece of marine debris floating on the sea.
Unable to lift a finger, I succumbed to the lethargic feeling and closed my eyes.
What woke me was a chill on my cheek.
“Nice to see you again?”
“Eh… uh, hu?”
I thought I had only closed my eyes for a moment.
Apparently, I had fallen asleep.
When I opened my eyes, I saw a blurred silhouette of a woman.
She was dressed elegantly, in a formal outfit quite different from the patient attire I wore. Her amiable demeanor was highlighted by her refreshing smile.
Her long chestnut hair framed her beautiful face.
The woman unscrewed a cap of what seemed like cold mineral water and handed it to me as if offering a drink.
“Thank you?”
“You’ve been working hard. You’ve endured a lot this week.”
“Y-Yeah… It’s something I have to do.”
“It’s not an easy task, both physically and mentally. I know that well.”
Ah, I shouldn’t do this.
But I couldn’t stop the corners of my mouth from curling in delight.
The cold water she gave me was plain, the kind you’d find in a convenience store.
Still, every drop sliding down my throat felt extraordinarily sweet.
And for good reason—because this woman was the one I admired most.
“Thank you. Your encouragement means a lot.”
“I’m glad if I could help. There will surely be a good result for you. By the way, were you here alone today? Would you like help going back?”
“I’m alright. A friend—I mean, an acquaintance brought me today. They’ll pick me up soon.”
Name: Iga-yun. Nickname: Luche.
A professional gamer under Sigma eSports, she was an unrivaled Paladin player in the domestic league.
As befitting the pinnacle of a league, her fanbase was vast.
Of course, I was one of those many fans.
I became a fan of Luche for reasons beyond simply her skill.
Infinity Black’s standing in Korea wasn’t particularly high.
No matter how dominant domestically, it didn’t translate to significant recognition in international leagues.
Yet, Luche had a story that resonated with me deeply.
If my legs were cursed, then Luche’s arms were cursed as well.
For two years, she could only barely wiggle a finger, until she managed to move her wrist.
It reportedly took another two years before she could even wield a shield in-game.
Her beginning was marked by derision—a lowly-streamer.
Repeatedly diving into Ranked Games despite barely being able to hold a shield.
Her initial reputation was that of “a streamer with no skill but plenty of audacity.”
But Luche never gave up.
Her skills, once abysmal, eventually surpassed ordinary people, culminating in her entry into the second-tier league.
Now, there was no need to explain further. Luche became the beacon of the domestic league.
A true triumph of the human spirit and, naturally, my role model.
“Well, I’ll take my leave. I have things to do.”
“Yes! I’ll stay hydrated. Thank you.”
She frequented this rehabilitation center for similar reasons.
Apparently, she periodically engaged in volunteer work. Today, it seemed she happened to cross paths with a patient.
Could I, too, one day shine like Luche?
I’d love to play with her, just once.
There have been numerous requests for me to defeat her in the game, but I’ve never accepted them.
I could steal viewers from other streamers, but I didn’t want to take anything from her streams.
If there ever was an opportunity, though, I’d love to face her once.
I want to test my skills purely.
A one-on-one duel against someone I admire? My heart races just thinking about it.
Still, I hesitated to reveal my nickname, infamous as it was under “Gawol.”
As I was lost in these thoughts, a new idea popped into my head.
“Ah, wait! So… will you also be participating in the upcoming event? The Infinity Arena?”
“Hm? So you’re an ‘Invul’ player too, Dae-eun? Yes, I’ll be participating.”
“Great…! I’ll definitely support you and make sure to watch your streams.”
“Thank you! I’ll do my best!”
I could participate in this tournament too.
With Luche’s skill level, there’s no doubt she’ll reach the top.
The higher you climb, the more the chances of encounter increase.
With some luck, I could face Luche in the event.
My heart raced. It felt like blood was boiling through my veins again after such a long time.
I tightly clenched my heart as I watched her leave.
Should I give Master a little nudge?
I have to rush back and finish the preliminary round.
