After confirming a mutual goal with Luche,
There wasn’t much change in my daily routine.
I still spent all my time outside necessities on the game.
If there wasn’t anything special, I would just sleep, eat, and go for a short workout.
The rehabilitation therapy that came around every weekend became easier since I settled into a residence through Sigma.
The new spare time I had was also entirely used for gaming.
Of course, there were slight changes.
I no longer needed to desperately accumulate gold like before.
[Training Mode – Mock Battle]
[Battlefield: Bamboo Forest]
[Rule: Duel]
[vs Sigma Luche (Paladin)]
Luche didn’t return home even during the vacation period.
She claims it’s because her home is close to her residence, so there’s no need to go back, but it’s hard not to think otherwise. She probably feels disgruntled about her performance in Prelude.
Iga-yun is the toughest on herself above anyone else.
The her I know is someone who doesn’t stop, driven by an unyielding spirit, and indeed, that was the case.
With the Summer League not in session at the moment, Luche didn’t waste the time when my schedule was most flexible.
Improving skills until the Championship is something Luche has to do as well.
I imagine she will push herself the hardest in this team.
[‘Whisper of the Black Moon’ effect activated]
[All attack power, movement speed, and counterattack judgments gain beneficial effects.]
[Some skills are enhanced…]
A radiant sword strikes fiercely.
The blade, sharp enough to rip through the air, shows great momentum. There was sound technique behind the clean sword movements, built on solid fundamentals.
Though the blade narrowly missed over my shoulder, her attack wasn’t finished.
She blocks my retreat with her shield while attempting a vertical slash with her sword.
It seems her goal is not to overextend and only aim for one of my arms.
I can dodge this.
But there is more than just that.
The target is the side of the blade.
By striking hard with my dagger, I deflect its trajectory and take control of the space above the blade.
Her weapon is now useless. I step forward and leave a shallow mark on Luche’s arm.
“Too slow! Faster next time!”
Her gaze wavered slightly.
It was because she had lost control.
Until now, Luche had the initiative in the attack.
Still, she received a decent counterattack, and the reason is clear.
Because I had room to recover my posture.
Giving the opponent room means the same as being too slow.
So we need to find out where the speed difference lies.
Is it because she’s a Paladin and I’m an Assassin?
Impossible.
If it were an insurmountable problem, I wouldn’t have even brought it up.
I pointed out the way Luche should progress.
“Your thinking was slower, I mean. Particularly, between attacks. If you don’t prepare for ‘the next’ move in advance, there will naturally be a gap.”
If physical speed cannot be increased further, then the thinking speed must become faster.
The mind cannot rest for even a moment during combat.
Continuously predicting the opponent’s actions and preemptively preparing for what’s next.
This small difference in time eventually creates an opportunity.
I aimed for her neck with my dagger, but she narrowly avoided it.
Dodging the retaliatory sword strike, I took a few steps back.
A weakness in the lower guard appeared, so I threw a throwing star.
“This doesn’t seem… easy.”
“So you need to practice. It might sound difficult, but once you become conscious of it, you improve quickly. After all, repetitive motions are set.”
“So, these kinds of movements should be ingrained in my body?”
“Yes! Eventually, your body will react even to minute movements automatically!”
Once the concept is learned mentally,
Through practice, it is ingrained in the body.
And when the mind becomes free again, new possibilities open up.
Once your skills reach a certain level, they stack bit by bit like this.
That’s why pro battles may seem like a razor-thin margin of difference but, upon closer inspection, there’s an overwhelming gap.
Just slightly, Luche’s sword technique changed.
“Alright, keep going!”
[Infinity Black has ended.]
[Thank you for using, Gawol.]
Training with Luche wasn’t solely for the benefit of others.
While teaching someone else, you often re-learn and regain awareness of things.
I also reminded myself of things I had been neglecting or had forgotten.
On a completely external level, I even found myself on the learning end.
Following Luche led me to a more regular lifestyle.
I learned a lot about time management as well.
There were differences in efficiency while living the same 24 hours.
“Are you going out next week?”
“Yes. It’s technically supposed to be a stream as well… but it might be brief.”
In a few days, I also have a holiday schedule set.
Including Elderlyn, Sansa, Soobin, and Ryeo-hee, whom I met before, five of us will meet in total.
I did invite Luche as well, but it seems she’s planning to take her own separate trip, likely matching her schedule with someone else.
When the holidays are over, the team members might return during overlapping times.
“Have a great trip. Don’t think about anything else when you’re resting. Just go with joy.”
After the accident, this is the first time I’ll be going on a trip like this.
Naturally, I was getting excited.
“Where are you going?”
“I heard we’re going to Gapyeong. They said we’d rent a pool villa.”
“Pool villa? That’s nice. If no one else is around, you could even dip into the water.”
As the summer heat becomes severe,
It seems Elderlyn was really wanting to take a dip in the water.
She must have been scheming, considering my presence.
I don’t dislike water.
In fact, I quite like it. Most of my water-related memories have been warm and happy.
So maybe that’s why I was a little thrilled.
If I want to go into the water, certain conditions are necessary.
I need someone by my side, and crowded places are problematic.
If I accidentally bump my left leg, all the fun would be ruined, after all. When I lived alone, I wouldn’t have dared to even attempt it.
I guess I’ll owe Sansa again this time, but just once more.
I won’t ask too often.
There’s a part of me that wants to float around, wearing a life jacket.
Luche poked and teased a corner of my heart then.
“By the way, Da-eun, do you happen to have… a swimsuit?”
“Yes?”
“Just checking.”
“Can’t I just go in with a short-sleeved tee?”
“Given that your skin will show through anyway?”
“Ah, then, I’ll just wear a long-sleeved tee-shirt…”
Luche began to look at me with a dubious expression.
An ‘Are you serious?’ kind of look.
That’s when I realized my mistake.
If I wore just a shirt, my skin would be revealed.
It seemed that the privilege to expose one’s upper body fully was reserved only for men.
Ashamed, I lowered my head, and Luche gave me one last chance.
“Shall we go buy one?”
“Yes…”
The place we arrived at was the usual 44th floor high-level dungeon.
In other words, the mall near the terminal.
Now that summer had arrived, many people were preparing for vacations.
There was even a section themed around water sports.
Because of this, we didn’t need to visit multiple stores.
When buying underwear, there’s always this strange sense of guilt.
It feels like you’ll be considered a pervert merely by wandering around.
Looking at the displays is unimaginable, but I had to, given that I was buying my own clothes.
“Da-eun, what’s your favorite color?”
“Not particularly, but if I have to choose, black… maybe.”
“A mature look. Nice. Let’s pick one together.”
The swimsuits in the store came in a variety of bright, striking hues.
I even saw women my age browsing the racks with bright expressions.
Those bright and pretty colors must be what the popular crowd wears.
But who am I?
I am Ha Da-eun who has been a hikikomori in a corner of a room for years.
Pretty swimsuits? That’s out of the question.
Even when I go out, I prefer black or white clothing.
Generally, anything with color beyond achromatic tones is something that draws attention, and wearing attention-grabbing clothes feels uncomfortable.
So at first, I picked a plain swimsuit, akin to what athletes use.
Then, I shifted my interest to rash guards that come in short sleeves or shorts forms.
“Da-eun. I got a few options, so… what’s that in your hand?”
“It’s a swimsuit. This way there’s minimal exposure and it’s fine.”
“Is that right? I respect Da-eun’s choices.”
Luche didn’t push me further.
Then, should I go with this?
Maybe even look for a long-sleeve version.
“Still, it’s a little disappointing.”
“Disappointing?”
“Well, as a streamer, showing what your viewers want to see is also important. With Da-eun’s figure, you’d look good in anything.”
Luche’s words stuck in my head.
To be honest, the compliment made me happy.
Igyun isn’t just impressive as a professional but an amazing person as well.
Still, I’m not into overly feminine clothing, no matter what.
“You could cover up with a cover-up if exposure feels uncomfortable.”
There was such an option, right?
Still, it’s…
“I’d like Da-eun to wear a pretty swimsuit.”
…
Hmm.
“Thank you for your purchase!”
In the end, I decided on a bikini.
But I bought a thin, white cover-up to go with it, so it should be alright.
For some reason, I feel conflicted inside.
Or am I overthinking it?
“You made a good decision. It suited you wonderfully.”
“Ah…”
Guess not.
