NoveLight ™
Each ripple of the water made my body sway. Floating aimlessly like a boat adrift at sea, I felt my mind slowly growing fuzzy.
Still, the warm, soothing sensation was delightful. I found myself laughing along with Sansae and Elderin’s conversation, or sometimes drifting off into my own thoughts. The drowsy, relaxed feeling nearly lulled me to sleep.
After blinking a few times, I noticed Elderin looking at me with a concerned expression.
“Da-eun, your face is all red. Are you feeling alright?”
“Oh… hmm? Huh.”
Is there something off about me? I shook my head lightly to check, and immediately felt a bit dizzy. I couldn’t be sure, but it definitely didn’t seem like a good sign.
“Maybe I stayed in too long.”
I hadn’t accounted for this. My body, smaller and more delicate than when I was male, had different limits, especially for how long I could withstand the heat.
I’d been so proud of myself for getting into the bath that I’d let my guard down. This is exactly why one shouldn’t get carried away.
I needed to get out of the water. As I held onto the edge to stand, a sudden wave of dizziness hit, and I lost my balance.
“Oh…?”
“Da-eun!”
It took me a second to understand what was happening, and another three seconds to realize I hadn’t fallen flat onto the floor. Sansae and Elderin had quickly reacted, catching me from both sides.
If I’d actually fallen, it would’ve been dangerous.
I probably would’ve hit my head against the edge. Getting hurt in a place like this, at this timing, would’ve ruined the whole atmosphere.
Relieved, I managed to express my gratitude.
“Thank you… you saved me.”
“Be more careful. That was close.”
“Yeah. But… um, I’m fine now. Could you… let go?”
“Oh, sorry. Did that hurt?”
“It didn’t hurt.”
It was just… a bit embarrassing.
Traveler’s move to the UK was a legitimate trade. The timing had been right before roster submission, and under the terms, he could immediately participate in international matches. Naturally, Traveler entered the Prelude tournament with his new team.
[Champion's Prelude Group B – Match 2] [Acid Gaming vs Qingyun Club] [Map: Ruined City] [Mode: 6-Person Deathmatch]
In Korea, his transfer caused a stir, but it barely made waves in the European league. Traveler might have been a star player in Korea, but not all leagues viewed him as such.
Foreign aces were hardly rare in this league. They’d seen enough “stars from afar” fade without fanfare. By now, it was no longer surprising.
Of course, public opinion could always change. The rapid shifts in eSports meant that perceptions were always in flux. This was part of what fueled people’s fascination with eSports.
“This has been a common narrative, right? Pro gamers can be split into two types. There are those who lead and those who follow.” “At Q Prime, Traveler was undoubtedly the team leader. But if we’re being honest, his skills as a commander weren’t his standout strength.” “Usually, players who can give orders see their ratings rise… but in this case, it’s quite the opposite.”
In his first match after moving to the UK, Traveler had fully relinquished his role as a commander, focusing solely on combat.
No longer did he need to divide his attention or take risky gambles. Now, he had teammates who not only supported his moves but sometimes even led the charge.
With this burden lifted, his strength began to truly show.
“It’s brutal. The deathmatch score is currently 15 to 2. China’s third-seed team, Qingyun Club, hasn’t managed much resistance.” “They’re really in a bind. Traveler’s relentless assault backed by his support priest in the front, while Ripper is slowly closing in from behind!”
The shield grew sturdier, and the spear sharper. Traveler’s strength had never been in strategizing.
Driven by a raw instinct to win—an innate, almost animalistic talent that he himself could hardly explain. Supported by his relentless practice, this raw power was Traveler’s true weapon.
“And there it is! Counter Strike! The lancer’s counterattack lands!”
Even in an incomplete state, he’d managed to put up a “good fight” against Cerberus. And Ripper, who specialized in disrupting the enemy’s psyche, was the perfect partner for him.
Ripper’s fog gradually expanded, and Traveler’s overcharged attacks rained down. The three mages from Qingyun Club continuously fired off spells. Their fighter and warrior made several attempts to fight back… but it simply wasn’t enough.
“Their vision is compromised. They’re unleashing merciless bombardments under cover of darkness!” “This looks tough. They’ll need to rethink their approach.” “Qingyun’s build is strong in melee combat, but lacks breakthrough power. With continuous losses and mistimed respawns…”
A strong showing from a Korean player. Traveler’s fans must have been thrilled, though not everyone welcomed it.
In the world of competition, last year’s teammate could be this year’s rival. In fact, familiarity often fueled a desire to crush each other even more intensely. Traveler’s success meant an added threat to the Korean teams.
And besides, there was already precedence in the Korean league.
Luche and Traveler’s previous generation—veteran players with even longer careers. Where had the golden age stars gone?
“Next up, Group C. Veiled Nightmare, featuring Phantom, against Korea’s ACL.” “A clash of fates…”
In Korea, saunas typically fall into two categories. One is the steam-heavy, wet sauna; the other is the dry sauna, usually what people think of as a jjimjilbang.
My master had enjoyed the steam sauna in the bathhouse, but I preferred the dry ones, which didn’t feel as stifling.
Though, even if I’d preferred the steam sauna, I’d have skipped it this time. The dry sauna required a separate area where you could wear the sauna clothes, but steam saunas, located in the bathhouse, didn’t allow clothing.
For now, though, I was sprawled out on a bench, letting the heat dissipate. Sansae tapped my cheek with a cool drink.
"Here, something to drink. How’re you feeling?"
"Much better."
Though I said that, the bath’s heat still hadn’t fully worn off.
I held the ice-cold drink with both hands and pressed it to my forehead. The chilling sensation felt almost shocking, but it cleared my head and relaxed my body.
"Thanks, I’ll enjoy this."
"Were you watching the InBlack tournament just now?"
"Yeah, just wanted to see how things were going. I’ve talked with Traveler a few times, so I was curious."
After all that, the best he could say was, “I’ll crush you.” I’d found it a bit ridiculous at the time, but I’m not so sure anymore.
It looked like he’d adapted well to a top-tier team. He’d gain invaluable experience and wield the privileges of being on a strong team.
Compared to that, I hadn’t even gotten off the starting line. One-on-one, I might not lose to Traveler or Ripper, but Infinity Black was a team game. In sports, one plus one could sometimes equal three in terms of effectiveness.
“Doesn’t matter. If I practice enough, I won’t lose.”
A burst of motivation filled me. I wanted to stand on a stage like that, too.
How many times had I dreamed of facing off against other strong players and claiming victory on the international stage? To win and prove that all the years I spent in kendo weren’t in vain.
I jumped up and took a sip of the icy sikhye, feeling its chill cool me down. Just as my condition improved, Elderin returned with a tray of snacks.
"Let’s eat these and head into the jjimjilbang."
"Are you sure you’re okay? Maybe rest a bit more?"
"I’m fine."
The brown eggs were surprisingly filling.
With a piece of ice, I felt I’d be fully refreshed. As I opened the lid of the plastic cup and went to pop a piece of ice into my mouth, a few cubes slipped down my shirt.
"Ack! So cold… aah!"
The fallen ice wasn’t a big deal; I could just pick it up. The problem was one piece slipping between my chest.
It was slipperier and colder than I’d expected. As I tried to grab it, it darted around on my chest, evading capture. In the end, I picked it up with my whole chest and popped it into my mouth.
Both women were staring at me with concerned expressions.
“Da-eun… what are we going to do with you?”
“Huh?”
“Just promise you’ll never be alone with a guy.”
“…?”