Former Hero, Solo Play Oriented-Chapter 200

A week.

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday.

The names of the days of the week are tied to celestial bodies: the moon, the sun, and planets like Mars and Saturn.

According to the internet, the modern system for days of the week originated from ancient Babylon.

Wars have both started and ended within the span of a week, and the Apollo 11 lunar mission took roughly the same amount of time.

A week, though fleeting in personal routines, is significant enough in history to bring about events that can change the fate of nations or communities.

"...Oh, I see."

I delved into the profound meaning of a week while scrolling through a wiki site.

...All while sprawled on the sofa with my limbs stretched out, doing absolutely nothing.

Exploring knowledge like this is fascinating.

Back when I lived on the continent of Astria, I thought about studying its history and culture once everything was over. After all, even a peaceful hero must occasionally make public appearances, and I didn’t want to be dismissed as someone who only knew how to fight.

I tapped the knee of the person whose lap I was using as a pillow and shoved my phone screen in her face.

"Chris-unnie, look at this. A week is a very important amount of time."

"...Since when were you interested in things like this?"

"I just got curious recently."

"Heh, so are you saying you're upset about spending this important week doing nothing?"

"I’m just saying, that’s all."

Slbi-ssi?

Lately, Chris-unnie had been calling me Slbi more often than Rain.

I smacked my lips and put my phone down. It wasn’t working.

After the chaotic outing to the game center, I had been quietly staying at home, satisfied for the most part.

But I couldn’t even last two days before the itch to do something started eating at me.

Sure, there was a time when I had gone a whole month without gaming—back when my weak body, Isulbi’s, had reached its limit after years of neglect.

Back then, I had spent time recovering, trying to adapt to unfamiliar surroundings, even if it came with a bit of fear.

But now, I was just bored out of my mind.

I wanted to run around, short legs and all, as soon as possible. I wanted to settle things with Melissa once and for all.

Being with Chris on Earth was nice.

But the act of walking—that was something I could only do on that continent.

Chris, whether she knew how I felt or not, seemed oblivious and uncaring.

So I kept shooting her pitiful glances and rolling around, trying my best to pass the time.

Late at night.

Nearing dawn.

On Chris’s bed.

*Rustle.*

I opened my eyes wide and carefully raised my head.

For the duration of this week-long break, I had been sleeping in Chris’s room.

Sharing a bed with her was comforting. Being held in her warm arms helped me relax.

But if this was part of her strategy to restrict my movements, I couldn’t be entirely happy about it.

"Snorrrrk."

Chris was a bit noisy when she slept.

Not constantly, but occasionally she would let out an impressively loud snore.

I gently lifted her arm, which was wrapped around me, and set it aside.

Good, she didn’t wake up.

*Shuffle, shuffle.*

I twisted my body carefully and reached the edge of the bed. From there, I quietly climbed into my wheelchair.

Rain. Isulbi.

Almost there.

Chris-unnie is in a deep sleep and won’t wake up until morning.

I just need to silently wheel myself to my room.

*Slide, slide.*

Finally, I reached the door to Chris’s room.

I opened it carefully and just as carefully shut it behind me.

*Click.*

"Phew."

I exhaled the breath I had been holding.

Tonight’s mission: Operation Sneak Capsule.

Maybe I should shorten it to SneakCap for fun.

Chuckling to myself at the silly thought, I quickly wheeled toward my room.

I couldn’t endure three more days of this.

I had to escape from the clutches of the overbearing Chris.

Chris’s home was vast.

A luxurious penthouse in the middle of the bustling city.

It was divided into two main areas by a wall with a pillar—a clear separation of spaces.

My personal quarters consisted of a living room and two connected bedrooms.

Smaller than Chris’s area, but enough for some privacy and personal space.

Not that it mattered much anymore. Chris often barged into my space, and I now often slept in her room.

The boundaries had blurred.

Where had my personal space gone?

Maybe I should start setting stricter limits.

But I didn’t really want to.

Lately, I could only sleep peacefully in Chris’s arms.

I knew I needed to regain independence someday, but why was I becoming so dependent on her?

At this rate, I’d never be able to part from her.

Sighing at my own thoughts, I maneuvered my wheelchair and finally reached the door to my room—a place I hadn’t visited in days.

I hadn’t had much reason to go there, spending most of my time in Chris’s room or the living room. I didn’t have any personal items I needed, aside from my phone.

Inside was my capsule.

The gateway to Astria.

Smiling in anticipation, I reached for the doorknob.

*Thud.*

"Eek!"

I was so startled I nearly screamed.

My heart felt like it had stopped.

Worse than the time I encountered a vampire in a pitch-black demon lair back on Astria.

In the dark silence of the penthouse, a hand suddenly grabbed the handle of my wheelchair.

Panic-stricken, I fumbled at my waist.

An undead enemy might have appeared from the darkness.

I needed a sword.

But Isulbi didn’t carry one.

"I. Sul. Bi."

A voice, familiar yet terrifying, called my name.

I turned my head slowly.

Under the faint light spilling through the window, crimson hair glowed ominously.

And within it, a pair of green eyes glinted like a predator’s.

I whimpered the name of the person before me.

"C-C-Chris-unnie..."

"What do you think you’re doing?"

"Uh, uh, I can explain!"

Chris’s forehead seemed to throb with veins.

This wasn’t like last time when she caught me sneaking out and laughed it off.

This time, Chris was clearly angry.

Still gripping my wheelchair, she spoke in a low, stern voice.

"Turn the chair around. Let’s talk on the bed."

"...No!"

I felt wronged.

If I lived alone, no one would be restricting me like this.

No matter how much she cared for me, °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° I was still an adult, an independent person—Isulbi.

Sure, it was partly my fault for pulling off reckless stunts during dungeon raids and worrying her.

But that didn’t give her the right to control my actions.

Chris seemed momentarily taken aback by my refusal but then softened her tone, speaking gently.

"I’m willing to let you have your way with many things, but not this. You need to stay away from that world for now."

"But I’m perfectly fine!"

"You know I’m not talking about just your physical condition."

The conversation circled back to the same points as always.

I saw no need to continue talking.

*Whirrr!*

I shoved the wheelchair forward, trying to shake off her grip.

*Bang!*

Bursting into my room, I headed straight for the capsule.

"Tsk!"

Follow current novels on ƒreewebηoveℓ.com.

Chris, who had somehow managed to follow me, spread her arms wide and blocked the capsule.

"Grrr!"

I had reached my limit.

I would show her my determination—even if it came to a physical struggle.

Though weakened, my body still carried the experience of countless battles.

Chris, who had lived a peaceful life on Earth, would be no match.

I grabbed her hands and pushed forward with all the strength my wheelchair could muster.

*Whirrr!*

"Out of my way!"

"You’re not getting past me!"

What unfolded was an unexpected test of strength in the dead of night.

Chris’s unyielding defense was like a fortress, and I was determined to breach it.

We struggled fiercely, locked in combat for what felt like an eternity.

Sweat dripped from Chris’s face as she blocked me with everything she had.

Suddenly, I had an idea.

I’d use her strength against her.

As she pushed back, I loosened my grip and twisted her arms downward, using her own momentum.

*Thud!*

"Ahh!"

Chris stumbled past me and collapsed to the floor.

Ignoring her, I turned back to the capsule.

*Clunk!*

"You sneaky little...!"

But Chris wasn’t giving up.

From the floor, she grabbed onto the base of my wheelchair, halting my advance once again.

"You... stubborn... woman!"