NoveLight ™
Sigma Camellia
Shin Eun-chae was the most promising prospect in the current pro league.
She had talent from the very beginning. It all started when a friend coaxed her into trying out the game, and within just three months, she was on the verge of reaching the highest tier. After about half a year, Sigma offered her a trainee position.
The reaction from her seniors was something to behold. They were consumed with jealousy over her relentless growth. At some point, they stopped practicing with her altogether. Eventually, a large number of trainees were dismissed, and she was assigned her own dedicated coach. This led her to believe, at one point, that perhaps things weren’t so hard for her in this world.
She thought she would naturally reach the pinnacle that others only dreamed of. The result seemed certain; it was just a matter of when, not if. Looking back, she realized she had taken things too lightly.
When her strict coach acknowledged her, Camellia felt as though she had the world at her feet. She never once doubted her unwavering stance. As much as her coach believed in her, Camellia believed in herself. It wasn’t unfounded confidence—her talent was real. After all, she had proven it with results.
With unstoppable momentum, Camellia literally swept through the second division. She didn’t win every match, but she always performed well. But maybe she had become too intoxicated with success. Curious to see how far she could go, she entered the arena. There, Camellia tasted the bitter cup of defeat in the second round of qualifiers.
Her opponent wasn’t even on her radar. She had heard of some strange guy who had been killing pro gamers, but she barely ventured into the field herself. The nickname "Ka-Wol" only came to mind after the game had ended.
But she suffered a crushing defeat. So humiliating that she had no words to defend herself.
The unexpected failure struck her down mentally. Her body crashed, and it felt like a cold splash of water in the midst of agony.
As one streamer said, her opponent was simply better. While the public might have thought she "put up a good fight," Camellia saw it differently. That guy… was on a completely different level. The gap between them felt unbridgeable.
It was overwhelming.
‘How much stronger do I need to get to beat that person?’
She wondered if that day would ever come. No matter how calmly she thought about it, she couldn’t see a way. It was as if the universe had drawn a line, telling her, "This is as far as you go."
It was so frustrating that she buried her face in a pillow and cried. She cried until the pillow was soaked, and afterward, she watched all of Ka-Wol’s matches.
Could there be anything more ridiculous? Before she knew it, she had started rooting for Ka-Wol. When he lost consecutively to Cerberus, Camellia clenched her fists so hard her palms bled.
She admired his overwhelming swordsmanship. When he cut his own throat, she felt a deep, inexplicable emotion. And when he finally seized victory, she was as happy as if she had achieved it herself.
And so—she couldn’t forgive Ka-Wol.
‘I just can’t understand.’
Why, with such skill, wouldn’t he go pro? It wasn’t as if he had no desire—he fought like someone mad with the will to win! Even as his body trembled from phantom pain, Ka-Wol smiled more brightly than anyone else in the world.
She thought she would meet him in the next league. It didn’t matter if they were allies or enemies; either way, she would have the chance to fight him again.
But things turned out differently. Ka-Wol seemed to have forgotten all about the arena and was leisurely spending his time elsewhere. The only one burning with competitive spirit was her, while Ka-Wol had snatched victory and fled.
[IKL Match 2]
[Battleground: Hall of Duels (Winner Stays On)]
[Sigma eSports vs. Q Prime]
It was an ironic battleground. Ironic opponent. She encountered the assassin where she had faced her first defeat against Ka-Wol. Somewhere along the way, assassins had become the class she hated the most.
‘I will… I must win!’
She couldn’t bear to lose to an assassin, not when her ultimate goal was to tear Ka-Wol apart with her own hands. She needed to confront that cowardly escape artist and demand answers.
Though Sparrow was considered the best assassin in the country, compared to Ka-Wol, he was leagues below. Losing here would mean she wasn’t even qualified to challenge Ka-Wol. So, just wait a little longer.
If you won’t come to me, I’ll come to you.
Yesterday’s match ended with Luce’s victory. Though I felt sorry for Traveler, who must have been roaring with anger, I was still a fan of Luce. If someone asked me which win made me happier, I wouldn’t hesitate at all.
That joy became my strength. After finishing my scheduled rehab exercises for the weekend, I was completely drained.
“Ugh, I’m going to die...”
I had planned to go straight home today, but I suddenly craved something to eat.
My daily routine had improved in many ways lately. Exploring the New Continent meant I had to adjust my schedule to match that of my party members. Thanks to my regular sleep, my appetite had also increased.
Alright, let’s go to the convenience store. Some bread and milk should fill me up.
“Welcome.”
The store clerk greeted me absentmindedly while scrolling on their phone.
That’s why I like hospital convenience stores. Patients come and go all the time, so no one cares about a girl on crutches. I didn’t have to worry about people’s stares.
I picked out a packaged bagel and some milk. Not the usual carton, but a glass bottle this time. The design was inspired by the recovery potions from my game, so it naturally caught my attention.
‘I shouldn’t fall for this marketing…’
Oh well, what can you do? It’s a gamer’s instinct. Whether I like it or not, when there’s a product that collaborates with my game, I have to try it at least once.
The concept of eating in-game food was particularly tempting. In the past, I wouldn’t have dared, but now I allow myself a daily budget of about ten thousand won. I had the freedom to indulge a little.
Standing confidently at the counter, I completed my purchase. The milk I drank was…
‘Just milk.’
It wasn’t particularly delicious or bad. I had fulfilled my wish of trying it once, so that was that. After all, in the game, potions and other items never had any flavor.
In the game, I could never taste regular milk. With my synchronization rate, the flavors always seemed exaggerated, making everything too salty or intense to enjoy.
The taste was designed for players with a maximum synchronization rate of 30%, so it was only natural.
Still, I liked the glass bottle that resembled a potion vial. It felt as though the game had blended into reality a bit. I kept the bottle as a souvenir in my bag and left the store.
The bus stop was near the hospital’s back gate. As I walked out of the store and headed toward it, I noticed a large, unfamiliar animal.
“…?”
A Golden Retriever, as big as my body. Its size classified it as a dog, but it was so cute I almost wanted to call it a puppy. Its golden fur stirred an indescribable urge in me.
I wanted to touch that fluffy creature. It would definitely be soft and warm, lifting my spirits. Even though it was a large, powerful dog… it smiled at me with that silly grin.
It must be safe. I’ve heard Golden Retrievers are all friendly.
“Come here, come on.”
I extended my hand, and the dog approached with eager steps. Its warm, panting breath brushed against my fingers as it licked my hand. The rough sensation made me smile involuntarily.
This is strange. Have I always liked animals this much? My heart raced, and I suddenly wanted to hold it close all day.
“Heh. I would’ve given you a treat if I had one.”
With that greedy thought, I took a step closer, allowing the dog to rest against my stomach as I gently petted its head. The warm body and silky fur were addictive.
How long had I been stroking its neck and head? The dog seemed pleased, wagging its tail furiously. Then, suddenly, it lunged at me, playfully knocking me down. Of course, my weak body couldn’t withstand the weight of the large dog.
“Eek! Ah…!”
I fell over, my vision flipping as I hit the ground. Fortunately, I managed to protect my left leg by lifting it slightly, but my hips and back took the brunt of the fall.
My whole body ached, but the real issue was the dog. Now that it had pinned me down, it was too big for me to handle. Its playful antics were overwhelming.
“Hey, hey… you’re heavy. Don’t touch my left foot. And stop licking my neck, ugh!”
“Jessie? What are you doing– Jessie! No!”
Thank goodness. The owner was nearby and pulled the large dog off me just in time. But the person who appeared to help was someone familiar.
“Da-eun?”
I take back my relief. Seeing Luce looking down at me made me cover my face in embarrassment. It felt like the universe was out to torment me again.
So humiliating...