NoveLight ™
Footsteps echoed through the wide corridor.
This was Sigma’s player dormitory, currently deserted except for me. With the coach, manager, and players all on vacation, it was quiet and dimly lit.
It would likely stay this way until the Summer League. For the time being, I’d probably have the whole place to myself. The office staff might come in sporadically on the lower floors, but I rarely had reason to go there.
Technically, I should be vacating the dorm too, but it’s tough for me to play anywhere outside Sigma’s setup. Luche, who understood my situation, had kindly arranged things for my convenience.
It’s a pity I can’t use the players’ cafeteria, but that’s something I can live with. The nearby amenities were pretty decent, so I was content.
Luckily, my room is close to the elevator, just a few steps away. But as the doors slid open, my attention was immediately drawn to the end of the long hallway, where a light was on.
"If that’s over there… that must be Luche’s room."
There weren’t many people residing on the eighth floor. The dorm itself was spacious with plenty of vacant rooms, and, as the de facto owner, Luche preferred a quiet environment. The only other ones I could think of were Camellia, Hecate, and Outlaw.
Most players preferred the floor below, mainly because having Luche around made them a bit more cautious in their actions. She was always polite but not exactly the easiest person to approach.
As I approached quietly, I could hear a faint rustling sound. Peeking inside, I saw Luche busy unpacking her things. She must have come straight back to the dorm after arriving from her trip.
I knocked softly on the door to announce my presence, and Luche looked up, surprised.
"Did I wake you?"
"No, I just came up from the practice room."
"Good. I thought you might be asleep since it’s pretty late, and your stream ended a while ago."
The digital clock on the shelf read 2:15 a.m. I wasn’t exactly aware of the time, but most people would’ve been fast asleep by now.
Lately, I’d been trying to get back into a normal routine. I didn’t need to wake up at six in the morning like I did during my kendo days, but I had to start aligning my schedule with others’. The days of gaming alone, detached from the world, were over.
Still, there was a reason I hadn’t slept and was instead spending time in the simulation.
"I had to go over things… I took an unexpected hit."
"From Hero, I assume?"
"You saw that, huh? Yeah, that’s right."
That unexpected hit from Hero had left me wanting to test a few things in practice mode. It was more than just sheer power or strength—there was an entire realm that I couldn’t quite grasp yet.
"I only caught the edited replay on my way here. Daeun was impressive too."
"Ah…."
That simple comment lifted my spirits. Fresh from her trip, she must’ve been exhausted. I sat beside her suitcase to offer some help, but she gently declined.
"I’m fine. I’ll take care of the unpacking. You must be tired from practice too."
"Just sitting here feels a bit idle."
"In that case, how about grabbing a drink? I’m thirsty anyway."
"Sounds good."
Even at this hour, there was always an unmanned café open nearby. Just a short walk from the dorm, we found an empty one that suited the quiet, late-night ambiance. Luche settled in comfortably, clearly familiar with the place.
A cool breeze accompanied our light conversation.
Mostly, we talked about the game. With Luche, there wasn’t much else to discuss, not that there needed to be. Other than that, maybe streaming.
Before turning pro, Luche had done her fair share of personal streaming and still turned it on occasionally.
"About that drinking stream… if you’d like, I could help you with it."
"Really? You don’t mind?"
"It’s no big deal. I’ve streamed before too."
A tricky task resolved in an instant.
With Luche, I could feel at ease asking for help. She’d handle viewer questions with just the right amount of insight, especially when it came to professional matters, providing an ideal balance.
In every sense, she was the perfect person for the job. There was a filming setup in the dorm for team vlogs, and we decided to borrow it for a day. Things always seemed to fall into place when talking with Luche.
It felt right to say it now.
"Thank you, truly."
"No need to overthink it. I’m doing it because it sounds fun."
"Sure, but… from helping me with the simulation setup to my pro debut, it’s all been incredibly meaningful for me. No one knows how much I’ve longed for this moment."
Luche smiled softly. Saying something so vulnerable made me want a distraction, and the milkshake in my hand served as a convenient one.
I swirled the straw, letting my tangled thoughts dissolve like the melting ice. The sweetness on my tongue had a calming effect.
This was the professional scene I’d always dreamed of. To be on the same team as the person I looked up to, and now she was right here, sharing a drink with me. All I could hope for was that this moment wasn’t just a dream.
"I’m not sure if this is the right way to put it, but I was just lucky. It just so happened that you were within my reach, and it was something I could help with. Nothing too grand."
But that so-called “nothing grand” had changed my life.
"I had my own ambitions too. Maybe it sounds unrealistic, but I want to win the championship. From the bottom to the very top, standing tall with a shield I can wield confidently."
Dreams aren’t exclusive to me, after all.
Luche has her dreams. Traveler set out on a new journey in search of his own. Even Cerberus, who seemed to have achieved everything, must still hold onto some aspiration. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be fighting so fiercely from the top.
He once asked, “Do dreams really come true?” But in the end, someone’s dream is bound to become a reality. Dreams are even more beautiful and precious when they overcome adversity.
"The Prelude didn’t work out, but that’s okay. If not today, then tomorrow. And if not tomorrow, then the day after. My determination hasn’t wavered, but I have realized one thing."
"Do you feel this won’t be enough as things are?"
"Yes. That’s why I wanted to have a candid talk like this with you, Daeun."
Objectively, Sigma isn’t a weak team. Some might argue, but they’ll have to stay quiet once the Summer League starts. Now that I’m here.
But as for whether we can win the championship with our current lineup… that’s hard to say.
Dune Sentinels, who defeated Sigma, is practically a one-man team led by Hashashin. His strategy hinges on dominating the sides and rejoining the main squad. Yet, even with his elite assassin skills, he still fell to Falcon.
Infinity Black isn’t a solo game. Everyone’s capabilities need to elevate. I’m no exception.
"Give it to me straight. From what you’ve seen, what do you think of our team? You’ve done personal training with us even if we haven’t competed together."
It wasn’t a question I could answer right away. I needed a moment to gather my thoughts, so I took another sip of the milkshake. The conclusion was straightforward.
"If our target is someone like Cerberus, Phantom, Reaper, or Hero… honestly, we’re not ready as we are now. Those are the opponents we’d inevitably face for a championship."
Cerberus’ AT, Reaper’s Acid Gaming, Phantom’s Veiled Nightmare—they each had clear aces, but they weren’t solo teams. Any team with weak points wouldn’t stand a chance at the championship.
Luche, for instance, was well-rounded with a nearly perfect hexagon rating, but she didn’t stand out in any particular area. Camellia had good physical abilities, but she was sorely lacking in technique and experience.
Hecate was meticulous with her skill management but struggled with survival. Outlaw, while consistent, had a tendency to hesitate, limiting his potential.
"Still, I think our lineup is strong. It’s not that we lack talent or effort; it’s just that the league hasn’t provided a clear path for growth. Our team has a strong drive to improve."
Camellia had even followed me here; the dedication was evident. The other members had also shown a solid work ethic.
"Don’t worry. I’m here, aren’t I? Luche brought me this far, so from here on, I’ll open the path."
It was a relief to know that our goal wasn’t mine and Luche’s alone. If every Sigma teammate shared our vision.
I would lead us.
To the very top of the world.