Sigma Camellia.
Shin Eun-chae was currently the most promising up-and-coming star in the Pro League.
She had always possessed talent from the very beginning.
She started gaming at the urging of a friend and, in just three months, was already on the brink of reaching the highest tier. By the half-year mark, Sigma eSports had offered her a trainee contract.
The reactions from the seniors were something to behold. Jealousy abounded due to her unstoppable growth.
At some point, they even stopped practicing with her. Ultimately, the trainees were dismissed in bulk, and she was assigned a dedicated coach.
There was a time she had mistakenly believed that the world was not so difficult for her.
That she would naturally reach the pinnacle, the ‘summit’ that others dreamt of. With the results predetermined, it had merely been a question of timing.
In hindsight, she had taken things far too lightly.
– I can guarantee this with my entire coaching career: you are going to achieve greatness.
– As long as you don’t veer off onto some strange path, you will undoubtedly find success.
– Like our team’s Luche or Q Prime’s Traveler. In fact, perhaps you could surpass them.
When that strict coach acknowledged her, Camellia felt like she had the whole world at her feet. She never doubted her unwavering attitude.
Camellia trusted herself as much as her coach believed in her. Her self-confidence wasn’t unfounded; her talent was genuine, and the results had proven as much.
Her rise was inexorable.
Camellia literally swept through the second-tier leagues. While she didn’t win every match, she consistently put on a strong showing.
But had she become too intoxicated by her success? Curious about how far she could go, she entered the Arena and was eliminated at the second preliminary stage.
It wasn’t someone she had taken seriously. She had heard about a peculiar individual who had been killing professional gamers, but she rarely ventured onto the battlefield anyway. She barely remembered the nickname “Gawol” until after the game had ended.
And yet she suffered a humiliating defeat. She lost so badly that it left her speechless with shame.
– But here, Gawol makes a sudden dash. How dare you test me?
– To summarize, it boils down to ‘I am good at fighting. I am confident. All-out attack!’
– Earlier, did you hear Gawol’s build? Yes, they really were exceptional at fighting.
The unexpected failure crushed her spirit. It was as if her body had shattered upon falling and she was hit by a cold splash of water in her pain.
A certain streamer had simply said that the opponent played well. To the public, it looked like she had fought admirably, but Camellia thought differently. That individual was… of another caliber. There was an unbridgeable gap in ability that was evident.
It was baffling.
‘How much more must I improve to defeat that person?’
Will there ever come a day when I can? Calmly contemplating, it seemed impossible to measure. It felt as if God had marked a line where she would stop.
This frustration was overwhelming.
Camellia buried her face in her pillow and cried. After soaking it with her tears, she went back and watched all of Gawol’s matches.
What could be funnier? Somehow, she ended up cheering for Gawol. When Gawol suffered consecutive losses to Cerberus, her fists clenched so hard she almost drew blood.
She marveled at the overwhelming swordsmanship. She felt something indescribable at the sight of Gawol self-destructing. When they finally triumphed, she was as joyful as if she had achieved it herself.
So… Gawol became someone she could not forgive.
‘I just can’t understand it.’
Why didn’t they enter professional gaming with such talent? They weren’t lacking in intent. Gawol had fought as though they desperately wanted to win! Even while trembling with phantom pain, Gawol had beamed with the happiest expression anyone had seen.
She had thought they’d meet in the next league, whether as allies or rivals. Either way, she would have the chance to face Gawol again.
But it was different. Gawol seemed to have forgotten about the Arena altogether and was living casually. While she was burning with the desire to compete, Gawol had fled with their victory.
[IKL Match 2]
[Battlefield: Duel Corridor (Victory Tournament)]
[Sigma eSports vs Q Prime]
An ironic battlefield. An ironic opponent. This was where she had met Gawol and suffered her first defeat. She now faced an Assassin.
Somewhere along the way, this had become the class she hated the most.
‘I must… I must win!’
She had no intention of losing to an Assassin. She intended to tear Gawol apart with her own hands someday. She had to confront this cowardly runaway and ask for their reasons.
Though Sparrow was considered the top Assassin in the country, they were far inferior to Gawol. If she lost here, she wouldn’t have the right to challenge Gawol. So, just wait a little longer.
If you won’t come to me, I’ll come to you.
*
– Camellia, Sparrow annihilated! The perfected Assassin Combat
– Sigma eSports, a stunning 2-1 comeback victory over Q Prime
– Camellia “There is an opponent I want to meet.”
Yesterday’s match ended in victory for Luche.
Though I feel sorry for Traveler’s cries of rage, I am still a fan of Luche’s. If I were asked which of their victories brings me more joy, I would not hesitate.
That joy became my strength. After the scheduled weekend rehabilitation training, I had completely exhausted my stamina.
“Ugh… I’m dying…”
Today, I had planned to head home directly. But for some odd reason, I was craving food.
Recently, my lifestyle has improved in a positive direction. Exploring the new continent meant I often had to coordinate schedules with party members. Regular sleep patterns have led to an increase in my appetite.
Alright. Let’s head to the convenience store. A bread or milk will surely fill my stomach.
“Welcome.”
The part-timer greeted me with a half-hearted nod while looking at their phone.
What’s great about hospital convenience stores is familiarity. Since all sorts of patients frequent them, someone leaning on crutches—like me—isn’t much of a spectacle. I don’t need to care about others’ gazes.
At the counter, I picked a packaged bagel and a glass bottle of milk instead of the usual carton I usually grab. It was because the bottle reminded me of a potion in the game—an instinctive reaction.
‘This marketing is too enticing…’
Well, what can you do? It’s a gamer’s instinct. If a product collaborates with my game, I can’t help but buy it at least once.
Particularly, the concept of eating food from the game is irresistible. Although I wouldn’t have dared to choose it before, now that I allow myself a budget of about ten thousand won per day, I could indulge in my desires.
With pride, I paid for my items at the counter. The milk I drank was…
‘Just regular milk.’
It was neither particularly delicious nor particularly bad. Still, it was a wish I wanted to fulfill. At least in the game, all items—whether potions or otherwise—are flavorless.
In the game, I can’t taste the original flavor of milk. My sensory assimilation rate makes the implemented flavors exaggerated. Everything tastes overly seasoned, causing adverse effects.
These flavors are tailored to the maximum assimilation rate of regular users at 30%, so it’s only natural.
Still, I liked the potion-shaped glass bottle. It felt like the game had seeped into reality. I placed the glass bottle in my bag as a souvenir before leaving the convenience store.
The bus stop is at the rear hospital gate. As I walked straight out of the store, I noticed an unfamiliar animal in the distance.
“?”
– Woof, woof!
A golden retriever around the size of my body. Technically, it’s big enough to be called a dog, but with its cute appearance, why not call it a puppy? The sight of its golden fur stirred an inexplicable desire within me.
I want to stroke that fluffy object. It’s sure to be soft and comforting. It’s a powerful dog, but it greeted me with a friendly wagging tail.
It must be safe.
Golden retrievers are always gentle, after all.
“Uh, hee hee. Come here…”
I approached and extended my hand, and the puppy came right to me, panting happily and licking my fingers. The slightly coarse touch made me unconsciously smile.
Odd. Did I actually like animals this much? My heart raced so much that I wanted to keep it in my arms all day.
“If only I had some snacks, I’d give you some.”
Encouraged, I stepped closer. I let it lean on my lower abdomen and gently stroked its head. The warmth and smooth texture were addictive.
How long had I massaged its neck and head? Feeling better, it wagged its tail violently and jumped on me.
Naturally, my weak body couldn’t support the weight of such a large dog, and I fell over.
“Ugh… Ack…”
As my vision flipped, I collapsed, managing only to protect my left leg at the last moment. Instead, my back and buttocks took a hard hit.
My whole body hurt, but the issue was the dog. Now underneath it, it was too big for me. It seemed to be deliberately playing rough.
“Hey, hey… It’s too heavy. Don’t touch my left leg or lick my face! Aaah!”
“Jesse? What are you doing there… Jesse! Stop it!”
Fortunately, its owner was nearby. The large dog’s body moved away from mine, but now an all-too-familiar face was looking down at me.
“Da-eun?”
The relief is canceled. When I saw Luche looking down at me, I wiped my hands on my face. It felt like the world was conspiring to torment me.
It’s embarrassing…
