Vol.3 Chapter 17

Clarissa’s PoV

As I entered our guild's smith, the air realistically smelled of molten metal and burning wood, even though I was just in a game. It was always chaotic but weirdly comforting whenever I stepped foot in this place.

“Miss Clarissa, you’re here. Here to pick up the set?” Reynolds, one of our highest-level guild blacksmiths, said with a gentlemanly smile.

Reynolds and my brother went way back—they were classmates in high school, so he used to swing by our house a lot back then, along with my brother’s other friends.

I was shocked when he introduced himself to me in the game. He looked completely different here compared to his real-life self, which, let’s just say, was way more low-key and, uh, rounder.

I’m probably the only one who did my best to replicate my appearance in real life in the game, and in hindsight, that might have been a bad choice.

I was totally new to RPGs at the time and didn’t realize that role-playing usually meant creating an avatar of someone cooler than your everyday self or something you wanted to be in a fantasy world. To make matters worse, I even used my real name to create this avatar.

“Uh, y-yes! Is it ready?” I asked, trying not to sound too eager.

“N-not that I’m rushing you or anything!” I quickly added, hoping he wouldn’t think I was being pushy.

Honestly, I’m super excited to get my new set and gear to match my current level, and it’s probably written all over my face. It can’t be helped, especially when Novo said she made it just for me with perfectly tailored stats to suit my play style.

“Of course! I rushed it as soon as you asked, Miss Clarissa. You know I’d do anything for Miss Katherine’s close companion,” he said, adding a playful wink.

“Uh… thanks?” I replied, unsure how to respond to that.

He always has an unusual way of talking, so I’m kind of used to it by now.

He traded me the mage set. I instantly equipped it to see how I looked in the character menu, and I was speechless.

The robes are a deep midnight blue with silver runes along the edges that glow softly like they’re breathing. The cloak looks pretty, and it flows behind me like it’s alive. The matching blue-colored fingerless gloves even give a boost in spellcasting speed, which is a rare stat to come by.

And the boots… They’ve got tiny crystals embedded in them to make them look more regal, and they also have added movement speed bonus stats, which are also rare! I’m pretty sure this set cost a fortune! I just hope I have enough gold to pay for all this.

“How do you like it? I helped Miss Katherine with the design blueprint. I wanted something a bit more… revealing, but she shut that idea down real quick. I even got a scolding from her,” he sighed.

“It’s perfect!” I exclaimed, unable to hide my excitement as I equipped the set.

“I’m glad you like it, Miss Clarissa,” he said blissfully as he watched my reaction.

“Uhm… how much is it?” I asked hesitantly, already bracing myself for a hefty price tag.

“No need to pay,” he waved a hand dismissively.

“What? But—” I started, my voice rising in protest, but he cut me off with a chuckle.

“Don’t get me wrong. I already received my payment. Miss Katherine already took care of it. She said it was a gift for your promotion,” he said with amusement.

My heart skipped a beat at his words, warmth flooding through me. A gift from Novo… I’ll be sure to treasure it!

“Thank you,” I said earnestly, looking up at him. “Really, thank you.”

“No problem at all. I’m sure you will put it to good use, Miss Clarissa,” he gave me a polite nod.

The sincerity in his voice made me smile, and I gave him a quick nod of gratitude before stepping out of the guild’s smith.

I couldn’t wait to try out my new gear, so the first thing on my list was hitting up the commission hall for a guild quest. Maybe I’d get to help out some players again—or, if I got lucky, make a few new friends like last time.

I was halfway there when a sudden burst of noise made me stop in my tracks. It was coming from the guild training grounds—not the big, flashy hall where they host official duels, like that time Novo faced off against Mr. Arroganz—but the more casual area where fellow guildmates usually hang out to practice and spar.

Curious, I changed course and headed toward the commotion. There, I saw the center of attention was a scary-looking boy with messy, dark hair holding a cool-looking glaive.

Then, as my gaze shifted to the person standing across from him, my breath caught in my throat.

“Novo?” I murmured, my voice laced with disbelief as I took in the situation unfolding before me.

They both appeared ready to fight by the looks of it. Are they going to spar? To gain a clearer understanding of the commotion, I tuned in to the chatter of the surrounding crowd.

“That rookie’s got guts for challenging our guild master,” one member remarked, their tone brimming with admiration and skepticism.

“If Arroganz couldn’t beat her, I seriously doubt this new guy stands a chance,” another quipped, shaking their head knowingly.

“Ten thousand gold says he won’t last more than five minutes,” someone declared, prompting a ripple of laughter and murmured agreements.

“He won’t even last a minute if our leader decides to take him seriously,” a voice countered, eliciting chuckles from those nearby.

“Let’s wager on how long he’ll survive, then,” another enthusiast suggested, and soon, the crowd was buzzing with bets and speculation.

As I continued to listen, their conversations revealed the truth. The boy had challenged Novo to a duel, and I couldn’t help but feel concerned and anxious for her.

No, calm down… I’m sure Novo would be fine. She is strong, and she would never lose to that guy.

As the duel began, the boy first launched himself forward with remarkable speed and then made a vertical slash toward Novo.

He was quick, no doubt about that, but I could still follow his movements, unlike when Novo got serious during our sparring sessions. Her speed back then was something else entirely—impossible to track and overwhelming in every sense.

Novo sidestepped his opening strike with ease. Her body moved effortlessly out of harm’s way—a perfect dodge, as she usually does.

As if not wanting to lose that easily, the scary-looking boy pressed his assault with even more intensity than before. He pivoted on his heel, following up with a sharp horizontal slash aimed at Novo’s midsection. Novo sidestepped effortlessly, barely exerting herself as the blade missed its mark.

His next strike, a diagonal cut downward, produced the same result. Novo leaned back gracefully, letting the glaive’s edge pass harmlessly in front of her with a calm, bored expression. It’s her usual unreadable face when battling opponents, but something tells me that she seems somewhat disappointed.

As the fight continued, I could see why she would feel that way. It was as if her opponent was performing a routine he had memorized, and each strike was rehearsed a thousand times. There was no variation nor spontaneity, which is crucial to land a hit on someone of Novo’s caliber.

As I looked at his footwork, something that Novo always reminded me to pay attention to whenever we sparred, I saw that it mirrored his attacks—repetitive and rigid. He always planted his feet firmly with every swing, telegraphing his next move before it even began.

I sighed in relief; that meant he didn’t stand a chance against Novo, who is capable of easily predicting patterns. Still, it doesn’t take away how easily Novo dodges his attacks since that guy is incredibly fast, even if predictable. I don’t know if someone like me could even dodge one of his attacks.

It didn’t take long for her opponent to get pressured since he wasn’t making progress with his attacks. In his haste, he attempted a risky spinning strike. Novo’s response was flawless; with impeccable timing, she took a single step back just as the glaive’s blade arced dangerously close.

The weapon whistled harmlessly past her, its momentum throwing the boy slightly off-balance since he probably thought the attack would finally land, causing him to stumble for a bit.

I held my breath, expecting Novo to retaliate and seize the opportunity. But instead, she remained still, her expression calm and unreadable. She made no move to strike back, simply observing him without a word. The crowd, however, wasn’t as silent as her.

“She’s… toying with him,” someone muttered, their voice tinged with disbelief.

“Yeah, poor guy,” another chimed in, barely concealing their amusement.

“That’s what you get for being arrogant,” a guild member remarked dryly.

“I guess he’s all bark and no bite,” someone added, eliciting a few chuckles from those nearby.

Despite the murmurs and jeers echoing around me, I couldn’t shake the feeling that they had it wrong. I had known Novo for a long time, and one thing was certain: she never took matches lightly.

She wasn’t messing with him—she was studying him. With every move he made and every swing of his glaive, she watched closely, figuring out exactly what he could do. To the others, it might’ve looked like she wasn’t taking him seriously, but I knew better. It was just like that whenever we spar—she always watched me carefully to pick apart my movements and show me what I could improve.

The scary-looking boy definitely heard the crowd—there was no way he could ignore their comments, especially since they weren’t exactly trying to be quiet about it. I could see it getting to him as his expression hardened and his grip on the glaive tightened. These are the subtle changes in the opponent’s demeanor that Novo always reminded me to pay attention to whenever in a battle.

Without a moment’s hesitation, he suddenly roared.

“Dragon’s Descent!”

The glaive lit up with an eerie, dark green glow, humming like it was alive. The crowd went quiet for a moment, the tension so thick you could feel it.

Judging by the way it looked, it seemed like some kind of combo-type weapon skill that boosted both attack power and speed for the duration of the move. If even one of those strikes landed, it would be bad news for Novo. The thought of her losing made my stomach twist—I was seriously nervous.

Without wasting a single second, the scary-looking boy moved. His speed shot up instantly, and his footwork seemed quicker and sharper than before. He charged in, swinging his glaive in a horizontal slash aimed right at Novo’s midsection. But she casually stepped to the side, her cloak shifting ever so slightly as the blade missed her by inches.

He didn’t stop there and followed up with a diagonal swing, but Novo ducked low with ease, her movements so smooth and so effortless, like this was just the norm for her… which I suppose is true.

His next attack was a sharp vertical arc, the blade hissing as it cut through the air. Novo pivoted out of the way, the glaive missing her shoulder by what looked like a hair’s breadth.

His final attack was a thrust aimed straight at her, a desperate attempt to land something—anything—but she simply leaned back, letting the glowing glaive pass harmlessly in front of her.

The crowd erupted, gasping and cheering with every dodge Novo pulled off. Their excitement mirrored my own—but if I’m being honest, my feelings went beyond theirs. I wasn’t just thrilled; I was completely mesmerized. The elegance and precision in Novo’s movements were so graceful and refined that they left my heart fluttering.

No! Stop it, Clarissa. Now’s not the time to daydream! I mentally chastised myself as I tried to reign in my emotions. I let out a shaky breath, finally starting to calm down as I turned my attention back to the match once more.

Sure, the intimidating boy's skill was impressive. His strikes were fast and powerful, and I’m sure every one of his attacks would have hit me if I was the one in Novo’s place. But I think none of it matters if he couldn’t adapt to change his attack pattern to match Novo’s.

Novo had read him like an open book, and she dodged his attacks as though the outcome had been decided long before he even made his move.

After doing his combo, the aftereffects of his attack seemed to trigger a fatigue debuff found on most offense-type weapon skills, leaving him vulnerable for a second or so.

This is why Novo always reminds me to let the opponents exhaust their move set first before going on the offensive in a duel. Slow and steady wins the race, as she would sometimes say.

For her part, Novo, who had remained composed and observant throughout, seemed to decide that the time for watching was over and didn’t waste the opening.

In the blink of an eye, she closed the spear-length gap between them, her speed so incredible that I could barely process it. One moment, she was still, and the next, she was already within her dagger’s striking distance.

She stabbed the guy three times in quick succession with her twin daggers, leaving him helpless to defend himself due to the debuff. It was all perfectly executed as expected from Novo, aimed at his head—all critical hits.

Jin

HP: 39%

“Ack!” The scary-looking boy stumbled back, a look of shock and disbelief flashing across his face.

The confidence he had earlier was completely gone, replaced by a frantic attempt to pull himself together. Meanwhile, the spectators near me went wild, roaring in excitement at Novo’s flawless counter.

The fatigue debuff started wearing off, and I could see him trying to steady himself. He tightened his grip on the glaive and shifted his stance, clearly trying to make a comeback. But Novo wasn’t about to let that happen. She stayed on him, giving him no time to recover.

He tried to block her next strike, raising his glaive to defend, but she was way too fast. She adjusted mid-strike, switching her angle and speed of the attack, successfully slipping right past his guard, landing another hit that forced him to stumble back.

It is one of the techniques she taught me. Deliberately slow down your movement and shift it into a burst of speed to catch your opponent off guard. However, I’m far from mastering it like she just did.

Novo didn’t stop there, though. She kept up the pressure, striking three more times in quick succession.

The first stab came low, slipping right through his shaky defense and knocking him off-balance even more. The second strike hit higher, a clean critical hit to his head. The third strike was swift and final, carving through his remaining defenses with merciless precision, stabbing his head once more.

Jin

HP: 0%

His glaive slipped from his hands as the last attack took its toll and completely destroyed his balance. He stumbled back, his legs giving out beneath him, and he ended up sitting awkwardly on the ground.

Novo stood over him, her daggers catching the light as she stayed as calm and collected as ever. Her breathing was steady as if the whole fight hadn’t even been a challenge for her.

“…You’ve got skill, but you’re too easy to read. A fight isn’t just about raw ability; it’s also a battle of strategies and wits. Learn to read your opponent, predict their moves, and figure out how they’ll counter you,” she said, her voice calm, her expression giving nothing away.

At first, he looked angry, his frustration written all over his face. I thought he was about to blow up, but instead, he took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and let it go.

“You’re right. I acknowledge my defeat. Your skill is every bit as remarkable as the rumors suggest,” he admitted, his tone laced with newfound respect.

I noticed the change in his demeanor immediately. The frustration and defiance that had been in his eyes earlier had faded, replaced by genuine admiration. It was clear that he now viewed Novo in a different light.

Honestly, the outcome left me feeling relieved. If things go well, they could even be friends after this fight!

Novo gave a small nod in acknowledgment before turning her attention to another group of players gathered nearby. Judging by their hesitant postures and unfamiliar faces, they appeared to be new recruits.

“That was a solid effort,” she said, her voice firm yet composed. “You all displayed remarkable skill, but there’s always room for improvement. Each of you has aspects of your playstyle that could be refined further. I’ll compile a list of suggestions for improvement and share it with you once it’s finalized. It’s up to you whether you choose to take these recommendations seriously or disregard them entirely.”

I could easily tell from their wide-eyed looks that they hadn’t expected Novo to put in this much effort. The fact that she not only watched them closely but also took the time to offer personalized feedback was way more than they thought she’d do. The tension in the air faded, replaced by a mix of surprise and gratitude as they nodded along, clearly appreciating her guidance.

“Additionally, I’ll be grouping the four of you for the upcoming guild war. I expect you to focus on improving your teamwork and coordination before then. That will be all. I look forward to working together to strengthen our guild.”

“Yes, Ma’am!” one of the new recruits, a purple-haired boy, responded enthusiastically.

“Roger that!” the other, a blonde guy, chimed in with equal fervor.

Meanwhile, the lone girl in the group gave a subtle nod of acknowledgment, her expression calm yet resolute.

Novo observed their reactions with a subtle nod of approval, the faintest trace of satisfaction glimmering in her eyes. Without another word, she turned and began making her way out of the training grounds.

A green-haired woman whom I’ve always seen with Novo followed close behind her, walking quickly but with clear purpose as she tried to catch up to her. Her vibrant green hair swayed with each step, catching the light like a ripple of color against the otherwise muted backdrop. The woman didn’t say a word, but her posture and determined expression made her intent to stay close to Novo unmistakable.

As I watched them leave, an unbidden pang of jealousy crept in. It gnawed at the edges of my thoughts, leaving a bitter taste I couldn’t quite ignore.

Shaking my head, I forced the thoughts away. There was no use in entertaining them. With a deep breath, I straightened my shoulders and turned toward the guild quest commission hall.

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“That was a great showing back there!”

Serendipity suddenly blurted out, her voice brimming with enthusiasm as we made our way down the corridor toward the guild leader’s office. Her excitement caught me off guard, and I glanced at her, unsure how to respond.

“…I guess?” I muttered, keeping my voice low.

Compliments had never been my strong suit when it came to handling them. But Serendipity wasn’t the type to hold back.

“I really meant it!” she insisted. “You absolutely put that egotistical guy in his place. Everyone in the guild chat is buzzing about how you even toyed with him during your duel!”

What the heck?! Is this guild always this hungry for gossip? That wasn’t what I was going for at all! I just wanted to see what the guy could really do, so I played passively to observe his moves—not to disrespect him!

Ugh, now that I think about it, it totally looks like I humiliated him during our spar. I really hope he doesn’t quit the guild or end up resenting me for that. Honestly, I just want him to improve after our match—it’d be a huge boost for the guild if he does.

Well, knowing his type, I doubt he’d quit the guild until he’s managed to surpass me. So, I guess I just need to make sure I don’t lose to him.