Former Hero, Solo Play Oriented-Chapter 197

The gentle hum of the motorized wheelchair accompanied me as I rolled along the neatly paved sidewalk.

Modern wheelchairs were impressive—light yet durable, equipped with special wheels that absorbed even the smallest bumps. Although slower than walking, the advanced mechanisms allowed it to climb stairs using a special track system.

With this wheelchair, I could explore the city freely. It wasn’t as convenient as walking on my own, but it was liberating nonetheless.

"Wow," I murmured, my eyes widening as I took in my surroundings.

The urban jungle around me was a forest of skyscrapers. From this low vantage point, I couldn’t fully grasp the city’s contours, but its towering structures loomed all around me.

Had I ever wandered through a city like this before?

For the first year after arriving in this world, I’d been confined to a small hillside home. Even after becoming Chris’s "precious doll," my outings were limited to trips in her car to hospitals. The occasional park visit or flower-viewing excursion had been rare exceptions.

Now, I gazed around like someone fresh from the countryside, overwhelmed by the towering buildings. Chris’s office was among them, but the entire area was packed with high-rises.

South Korea: a forest of skyscrapers.

Astria: a forest of trees, with towering giants forming the elven groves.

The two were polar opposites yet shared an uncanny resemblance.

For the people of Earth, "Astria" was another world.

But for me, reborn in that land, this modern Earth felt like the alien world.

If I were to live as Isulbi in this future South Korea, I’d need to adapt.

"This is... fascinating," I whispered.

As I wandered the clean sidewalks for about five minutes, a bustling shopping district came into view.

I pulled out my smartphone, opening the map app to confirm my location.

Chris hadn’t noticed my escape yet—there were no missed calls or messages from her.

"There should be a game center nearby," I muttered.

I was heading toward a capsule room I’d researched before making my getaway. It was advertised as a game center, likely offering other amenities too, but my only interest was the capsules.

The shopping district was vibrant.

Open storefronts lined both sides of the street—convenience stores, clothing shops, accessory stores, restaurants, and shops with cryptic signs I couldn’t decipher.

"Wow."

The dazzling array of lights and activity left me gaping, my eyes wide with wonder.

As I rolled forward, I suddenly felt it—a peculiar sensation.

A gaze.

"...?"

Feeling unsettled, I shifted my attention from the stores to the people walking nearby.

Many of them were looking at me. When our eyes met, they quickly averted their gaze, hastening their steps.

I shrank slightly, instinctively hunching my shoulders.

It was a stark reminder of the difference between Astria and Earth.

That unwelcome gaze...

Pity.

Their sympathetic looks weighed on me, and I missed the comforting presence of Chris, who usually shielded me from such stares.

I wasn’t as strong as I thought.

Someday, I’d have to leave Chris’s care and live independently. Could I handle these feelings and face the world alone?

Right now, I just wanted to return to Astria.

Taking a deep breath, I steadied my emotions and rolled on.

I cut my exploration of the shopping district short.

The stares were too much to bear. Without looking back, I headed straight for the game center I’d set as my destination.

The glass automatic doors opened with a soft whoosh as I entered the building. Finally freed from the oppressive gazes, I let out a sigh of relief.

"Phew."

I glanced around the first floor. Despite being a game center, it seemed rather bare.

Were the capsule facilities upstairs?

A counter stood near the entrance, staffed by two people. I wasn’t sure how to proceed—how did I pay?

In this era, most things were automated. Maybe I could use a kiosk to pay for time-limited access?

As I fumbled with my wallet, one of the staff at the counter noticed me and approached.

"Huh? Rain?"

"Ah!"

Startled, I turned toward the familiar voice.

Someone here knew me?

I hesitantly looked toward the source of the voice. A tall, [N O V E L I G H T] broad-shouldered man came into view.

I recognized him.

But who was he?

"Rain, it’s really you! How did you end up here?"

"Um... who are you again?"

"Seriously? You don’t remember me? We even met at a guild meetup! I’m Hopkins from the Red-White Guild."

"Ah! Hopkins."

My face lit up. Meeting a familiar face in this unfamiliar city brought a sense of relief.

Hopkins seemed pleased I remembered him, breaking into hearty laughter.

Meanwhile, a young woman who had been at the counter walked over to us.

"Boss, do you know her?"

"Of course! You play Astria Online, right? You’ve seen the ads, haven’t you?"

"Wait...!"

The woman, apparently an employee named Ji-hye, gasped as she stared at me, covering her mouth with her hands.

"Oh my gosh, it’s really you! Rain, the swordswoman from the ads! You look exactly the same in real life! How is that even possible?"

"Hahaha! She’s one of our guild members."

As Ji-hye bounced excitedly, Hopkins chuckled proudly.

Her gaze briefly flickered to my wheelchair, and her expression shifted to one of surprise and pity. That familiar look dampened my mood again, but Hopkins quickly spoke up.

"Rain, you’re here to use the game center, right?"

"Yes. Is this your place?"

"Of course! Let me show you around. Come on, let’s head upstairs."

Before Ji-hye could pepper me with questions, Hopkins took hold of my wheelchair and guided me to the upper floors.

I glanced back at him and bowed my head slightly in thanks. He responded with a broad grin.

"So, Chris didn’t come with you?"

"Nope. She’s acting like an overprotective big sister trying to keep me locked up."

"Hah, I can imagine."

"...You won’t tell her, will you?"

"Of course not."

This was, after all, a sort of rebellion—a small act of defiance.

Hopkins’s playful grin reassured me that my secret was safe with him.

The second floor was a haven for claw machine enthusiasts, with rows of machines displaying plush toys and other prizes.

"Do you like any of these? Want to try your luck?"

"Not really. Plushies aren’t my thing."

I shook my head. Cute hobbies didn’t suit me. I preferred battles—bloody, intense ones.

Hopkins then pointed to a machine filled with boxed figurines.

"How about figures?"

"Figures?"

Curious, I rolled closer. One figure caught my eye—a character from the Space Warrior series.

"Wow, Space Warrior," I said, pointing to the box.

It was one of the few classic series I recognized. The story followed a protagonist sent to Earth as a child who grew up protecting his new home from alien invaders.

The parallels to my own life were striking. Like the protagonist, I had grown up in Astria after being reborn there and had fought to protect it from invaders.

"I like this one. I used to watch the anime."

"Really? That’s an old series, but it’s still popular. I’m not surprised you like it—you’re a fighter at heart."

"Fighter at heart...?"

I blushed slightly. He wasn’t wrong, but still.

Taking the game center card Hopkins handed me, I positioned myself in front of the claw machine.

Astria Online was a game.

This claw machine was also a game.

I was good at games.

Therefore, I’d conquer this claw machine too.

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"Ugh!"

I groaned, frustrated.

Despite multiple attempts, the claw kept missing its mark, leaving me empty-handed.

Hopkins laughed so hard he had to clutch his stomach.

Pointing at the machine, I protested.

"This thing’s rigged! It’s impossible to win!"

"Haha! It’s tricky, but it’s fair. Keep at it!"

Stubbornness took over as I continued trying to grab the figure.

Wait... wasn’t I here to use the capsule?