Vol.3 Chapter 22

Serendipity’s PoV

As the eldest and only girl in a family of five children, growing up was nothing short of a wild ride. With four energetic and boisterous brothers, chaos was practically a permanent fixture of my upbringing.

Taking on the roles of referee and peacekeeper became second nature to me, and I often found myself needing to raise my voice to command the attention of my rowdy brothers. To be heard above the noise, I often had to raise my voice. This, in turn, gradually shaped my demeanor over time.

My tone and attitude have become sharper over the years, molded by years of holding my own in a lively and demanding environment. Although I make a conscious effort to keep things polite and composed, those rough edges inevitably show themselves now and then.

That’s why, amid all that, there’s a quiet yearning that never quite goes away. Every now and then, I’ve always wondered what it would have been like to have a little sister of my own.

I picture myself braiding her hair, teaching her things I had to figure out on my own, and being the kind and reliable big sister who could protect her from the roughness of the world.

They say people always want what they don’t have. And maybe that’s why my attention keeps wandering to the girl sitting across from me, perched confidently in the guild master’s chair in our office as she finalizes the guild lineups. Smart, capable, and undeniably adorable. Our guild master.

Why couldn’t I have a little sister like her?!

Honestly, my guild master can’t possibly be this cute! Her avatar is the definition of perfect, with those doe eyes and innocent charm. But then, the way her reliable and no-nonsense personality clashes with her cute avatar’s aesthetic creates the ultimate GAP MOE!

It’s a combination that is so effective that it feels like it should come with a warning label!

More than that, she’s extremely pretty in real life, too! Seeing her interviews and video footage during her tournament in the Champion’s Brawl caught me off guard at how aesthetically pleasing she is, not just in-game!

I’ve been following her closely since she joined the guild and beat Jarde, but that instantly made me a diehard fan of hers!

Naturally, as a devoted fan, I took matters into my own hands. I started a fan club, which is even gaining traction among non-guild members! That said, I’ve been extremely cautious not to let her find out.

Gushing over her would definitely freak her out, and the last thing I want is to get reported or banned. Let’s not ruin the one thing that brings me peace after work—my daily dose of admiring her in bliss.

This is happiness, distilled and pixelated. Honestly, if I could spend every day just like this, then life would be complete.

“Sere… dipity… Serendipity,” a voice pulled me out of my musings.

“Huh? Wha—?” I blinked, jolted back into reality.

I just spaced out in front of her, of all people! How embarrassing.

“You seem deep in thought. Is something bothering you? Maybe I can help?” she asked, her voice tinged with concern.

Looking at her, how could anyone be this cute?!

“Don’t worry, you’ve already helped a ton!” I blurted out, a little too quickly.

“Huh?” She tilted her head, her perfectly adorable head.

“N-nothing! Ahem, what were you saying again?” I stammered, desperately trying to claw back my composure.

Her eyes narrowed slightly, as if she were trying to read my fumbling behavior. Thankfully, she soon relented without much thought.

“…I’ve finished with the guild lineup. You can check it out if there’s anything you think needs adjusting,” she eventually said.

Reliable as always! A far cry from our previous guild leader, who had this magical ability to delegate all the work to me and then mysteriously disappear.

Wait, this is a good chance! I know the guild members better than she does, so I could totally give her some solid pointers. Plus, it’d make me look more reliable in her eyes!

Ahh, I can already see it now. Novo would look at me with those big, sparkling eyes and say, “Thank you, Big Sis Seren~,” in the cutest voice ever. And from there? She’d start relying on me more and more. My stock as the dependable big sis would skyrocket!

With that thought in mind, I dove into the lineups she put together. But, as I started reading, one thing became obvious—this wasn’t just a random mashup of picks.

In fact, her lineups showed an impressive level of strategic thinking. She even went the extra mile to list all the benefits, strengths, and weaknesses of each lineup. The way she explained everything made her advanced reasoning easy to understand.

Her approach is methodical and well thought out. Some of the lineups were even scaled down to only three-member party compositions, which I fully agree suits their playstyles.

I’ve seen bad decision-making where other guild masters force five-member teams under the assumption that ‘the more, the better.’ But this often backfires—it reduces the chances of all five players participating effectively since each player can participate up to ten times, and can worsen team coordination due to compatibility issues.

She’s also careful not to push for more matches by reducing team sizes unnecessarily, a tactic some guilds use to increase the participation rate of the entire guild.

While having fewer members in a single team does allow for more matches overall, it comes at a significant cost: it weakens the team’s chances of winning.

Striking the right balance is key, and as I read her suggestions, I could see that she had nailed it. The lineups she proposed feel like the optimal setups for the guild war, showing a deep understanding of strategy and team dynamics. It’s clear she put a lot of thought, time, and effort into making these the best possible team comps.

I gulped, which failed to escape her notice.

“Is something the matter?” she asked, her calm voice tinged with curiosity.

Yes, there is! How on earth am I supposed to appear useful when you’re this capable!?

“N-no, nothing at all. It’s… the perfect lineup for the guild war,” I stammered, forcing my true feelings down.

She gave me her signature, analytical gaze that felt like she was trying to decode my every reaction. Then, finally, she nodded.

“I see, that’s good then.”

No! Nothing is ‘good’ about this at all! My chances of hearing her say, ‘Thank you, Big Sis Seren~,’ with a sweet, admiring smile went down the drain! Oh god, why is life so cruel?!

“Oh, but I noticed you don’t have a team of your own yet,” I said, spotting the one detail that felt out of place amidst her otherwise flawless lineups.

“Yes, it’s still in the works, but I’m planning to create a team capable of achieving a ten-game win streak,” she responded confidently.

A ten-game win streak? That’s no small feat. It’s the best way to maximize points, thanks to the massive additional bonus awarded for going undefeated. Only the top guilds have managed to pull off a few of these streaks.

In the last guild war, our guild had just one team that accomplished it—a five-member squad made up of our guild’s top veterans: Arroganz, Photon, FairyDust, Diseuse, and myself.

I vividly remember how tense that final match was. We almost lost to a well-crafted composition from a Paragon team member. It came down to the wire, and we barely managed to secure the win, all thanks to Arroganz pulling off an incredible clutch play at the very last moment.

It’s a memory that still stands out as one of the most nerve-wracking and rewarding experiences I’ve had in the game. I’m not sure we could even recreate it again this time, even though I’m assigned to the same team.

I don’t doubt her skills, but finding a five-man party within our guild that can match her level of talent is simply out of reach. Still, knowing her, it wouldn’t surprise me if our capable guild master already has a strategy in place to make things work.

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Chu’s PoV

I sank into one of the oversized chairs in the lounge area of our e-sports team facility, stretching out my legs while taking in the room. The faint smell of coffee lingered in the air as it mixed with the soft buzz of chatter from a few staff members of our organization nearby.

My eyes drifted to the big Obsidian E-sports logo on the wall—a sharp, sleek design with bold black letters outlined in glowing silver trim, almost giving it a futuristic vibe.

Beneath the name, there was this subtle, fractured gemstone graphic that seemed to sparkle under the soft lighting. It screamed luxury, which is most likely the motif they’re going for.

“This is way fancier than what I’m used to back home,” I muttered, half to myself, feeling both impressed and a little out of place.

Obsidian E-sports is still relatively new to the VR scene, but it’s already garnering considerable attention, at least according to my teammates.

Their bold transition from dominating the PC gaming pro scene to venturing into the VR pro scene is causing quite a stir. With strong support from a few wealthy sponsors, this rising organization has captured the attention of many, solidifying its place as one to watch in the competitive gaming world.

I didn't care much about the hype. The real reason I signed on was the paycheck. They gave me the best offer by far. Everything else was just icing on the cake.

The sharp ting of my phone shattered my musings, pulling me back to the present.

Who could it be? I know myself pretty well. I’m not the kind of person who gets random messages for chatting, so if someone’s reaching out, it’s usually important or they need something from me.

I pulled my phone out of my pocket and glanced at the screen. It wasn’t a call—just a message notification. My interest piqued as I tapped the Messenger app and saw the sender’s name pop up.

Katherine Katyusha: Are you free right now? Can we meet up in-game? I’ll chat the coordinates there.

I frowned slightly. That was unusual. Novo wasn’t the type to send casual messages; if she was reaching out, she had a reason.

Without hesitation, I typed back.

Chu Xiaolong: Sure, give me a minute to log in.

Whatever this was about, it felt significant. I owe a lot to her, and while I’m not usually big on doing favors, I’d never leave her hanging if I could help. Doing that wouldn’t sit right with me.

I stood up from the lounge chair, stretching a little as I headed toward the exit. I’d have to log into the VR from my room to see what was going on.

Just as I was about to leave, a familiar voice stopped me in my tracks.

“There you are! We’ve got a scrim match in ten minutes. It’s against some unknown team—one of the weaker ones, apparently. The coach is likely using this to build team cohesion,” Clarence announced, his tone laced with its usual arrogance as he approached.

A scrim match in ten minutes? Still, due to preparations, it usually starts longer than the scheduled time. I could afford to be slightly late if it meant prioritizing something more important. Repaying my debts is more substantial than a scrim match.

“…Understood. I’ll be there shortly. However, I need to attend to something first,” I replied evenly.

“What’s that? Off to meet another one of your fangirls?” Clarence shot back, trying to sound casual, but the hint of jealousy in his voice was hard to miss.

I ignored his jealous remark. He can be extremely competitive sometimes, and it’s not my problem that, despite the success of our previous tournament, he didn’t garner that many female fans.

“I’m meeting Novo,” I replied honestly.

As soon as the name left my lips, Clarence’s expression changed in an instant. His usual cocky attitude gave way to something more serious. His brows furrowed slightly, and there was a flicker of curiosity-or maybe even something deeper—behind his eyes.

“Katherine? You guys have something to talk about?” he asked, his voice quieter this time.

“Yes. Want to come along?” I offered while keeping my tone neutral.

Novo hadn’t mentioned this was a private meeting, and honestly, I didn’t see a problem with bringing Clarence along. If anything, reconnecting with her might actually do him some good.

He crossed his arms and glanced down at the floor, clearly deep in thought. His usual quick-witted retorts and banters against me were nowhere to be found, replaced instead by a rare moment of indecision.

Finally, after what felt like a full minute, he exhaled sharply.

“…No,” he said while looking away.

I paused for a moment, gauging the shift in his demeanor before speaking.

“Are you still holding onto resentment about the team disbanding?”

I knew him well enough to understand the layers beneath his outward prickliness. Despite his sharp-edged personality, he cared deeply about the team. He’s the one who most wanted us to stick together even after the tournament, and his boisterous exterior was a facade that masked a softie deep inside.

It was no surprise that when he learned I was joining the Obsidian e-sports team, he accepted their offer as well. I made my choice because the monetary compensation far exceeded anything offered by other recruiters. For him, though, he probably still clings to the notion that our team would hold if at least two members were on the same team.

After a moment of silence, he finally spoke, his voice subdued but tinged with emotion.

“I… I just feel betrayed,” he confessed while his gaze was fixed on the floor.

“Why? When we formed the team, none of us made a promise to pursue the pro scene together. Besides, you know as well as I do that we only won the tournament because of her,” I asked calmly.

“That’s exactly what makes it even more disappointing! She’s throwing away all that talent! With her on board, our pro team could’ve been unbeatable,” he burst out, frustration evident in his tone.

I paused for a moment to meet his eyes directly.

“I understand what you’re saying. I feel the same way,” I admitted.

He looked up at me, surprised by my response.

“You… do?”

I nodded with a thoughtful expression.

Although we’ve never had a proper duel, it’s easy for someone like me, who knows this game inside and out, to recognize the gap in skill. Whether as an ally or an opponent, I’ve always wanted her to step into the professional gaming world. Her talent deserves that stage, and from our time together, it’s evident she has what it takes.

“But at the end of the day, it’s her choice. We all walk our own paths. It’s not up to us to dictate the path she should take just because it aligns with what we want.”

“I know that, but still…,” he frowned.

It looked like he wanted to say more, but I decided to give him the space to work through his thoughts. Some feelings need time to settle.

“Let the team know I might be a little late for practice. They can start warming up without me,” I said as I turned toward the door.

“Tsk! So bossy… fine, I got it,” he muttered, his voice trailing off as I exited the lounge.

After a couple of seconds of walking, I finally arrived at my room—a space provided by the e-sports organization. Compared to my old room, it was noticeably more spacious, with just the right amount of simplicity and functionality. Well, anything is infinitely better than my room back at my house.

Taking a deep breath, I walked over to the VR pod. Sliding my hand along its smooth surface, I climbed inside and let the machine's hum surround me.

Logging in to CoA was second nature by now, and I had done it almost instinctively without giving it much thought.

As the VR world loaded around me, I was greeted by the sprawling medieval city of Grandleu. The endgame hub was as impressive and realistic as ever, no matter how many times I saw it.

A soft ping interrupted my musings, and a notification popped up in my HUD. It was from Novo, and the message contained the server, location, and exact coordinates to meet.

Quick and efficient as always. As expected from her.

After a quick scan of the map, I spotted the teleportation hub in the distance, and with steady steps, I began weaving through the crowd toward it.

Players of all levels hurried past me, some players chatting excitedly in voice channels while others focused on their in-game tasks.

Grandleu was as lively as ever due to it being the endgame city, and most players are already max leveled. I heard that there will be an increase in level cap for the next patch, though I’m not entirely sure if it’s true.

Upon reaching the hub, I quickly designated the server and location Novo sent me: the town of Alcove, a quiet resting area in the mid-level range. The interface shimmered as I confirmed the details, and the teleportation process began. A brief hum surrounded me, growing louder until the screen faded to black.

The transition was instantaneous—one moment, I was enveloped in darkness, and the next, the familiar town of Alcove appeared before me.

Alcove was a peaceful quite tranquil compared to Grandleu. The cobblestone streets stretched before me, lined with quaint medieval-style buildings. Players here also wandered about with much slower movements compared to the high-level veteran players that prioritize efficiency.

With a quick glance at my map, I set out to navigate through the winding streets, and a few seconds later, the pub we were supposed to meet came into view.

I pushed open the heavy wooden door and entered. Inside, the dim lighting cast shadows across the rustic furnishings, and the faint murmur of conversations filled the space. It wasn’t crowded—just a handful of players scattered around, absorbed in their own interactions.

I spotted Novo sitting alone, her avatar leaning casually against the edge of the table near the back of the room. She noticed me as I approached.

As I tried to gauge her response to my arrival, her countenance stayed calm and unreadable. I honestly can never tell what’s on her mind with the way she manages her facial expressions.

I took a seat beside her, the silence between us settling naturally—a familiar dynamic, given that we’re both the reserved type. After a moment, I broke the quiet.

“…What is it that you wanted to discuss in person rather than through messages?” I asked, keeping my tone direct yet composed.

I’m not one for small talk, and neither is she. I’m sure she would appreciate a more straightforward approach like this. Besides, I have a scrimmage match with my teammates after this, so we shouldn’t waste both of our time.

As if proving my point, she went down to business.

“I want you to join our guild,” she requested.

Joining a guild, huh? I’ve never been one to join guilds. I usually handle commissions on my own since the pay is better without a guild taking a cut. Sure, it takes a bit more effort to find clients without the backing of a guild, but the independence and higher payout make up for the extra work. It’s a system that’s worked well for me so far after I became a ranker, especially now that my name is well-known throughout the game.

Even so, if she’s asking for my help… For her, I could make an exception.

As I mulled it over, she spoke again, her voice breaking through my thoughts.

“Just for the duration of the guild war. You can quit whenever you want. I’ll also compensate you for your efforts,” she added.

She must’ve interpreted my silence as hesitation.

“…You don’t have to. I’ll help you regardless,” I said plainly.

She looked genuinely shocked by my response, a rare moment where her composed demeanor gave way to surprise. It wasn’t often I saw her expression change like that.

Her surprise felt unnecessary. At the very least, I owe her this much. Our victory in the Champion’s Brawl served as the cornerstone for launching my professional career, and this pales in comparison to the opportunities she created for us after carrying the entire team through that tournament.

Still, I couldn’t help but wonder whether I’d be going solo or teaming up for the event since my playstyle leans heavily toward solo matches. It would be hard if I were matched with teams of three to five, but I could probably manage if they were not skilled enough.

Besides, very few players can match my movements, and teaming up with someone less skilled would only slow me down.

“…Do you have a team in mind for me?” I asked slowly.

She paused, her gaze steady as if carefully measuring her words before speaking. When she finally did, her tone was calm but resolute.

“Yes, I’m bringing the team back together.”

There’s no need for further questions. We both know the members she’s referring to.

“…I see,” I replied, keeping my response short.

My thoughts drifted to Clarence. He’d be pleased to hear this, no doubt about it.

A thought occurred to me—if she’s aiming for a ten-win streak, as I’m assuming she is with the members she’s assembling, then having five compatible players would significantly boost our chances of success. Four just wouldn’t cut it for something this ambitious.

“Who’s the last member?” I voiced the question that had been nagging at me.

“No need to worry about it. I already have someone in mind,” she replied confidently.

Her answer left me wondering who the last person could be. It’s rare to find someone outside of a top-tier guild who can keep up with our movements and strategy.

I can only hope that whoever Novo had chosen was up to the task and would not end up holding us back.