A Hot and Humid Place (4)

Every time the water flows, my body moves.

Floating, floating. I felt like I was swaying weakly like a ship adrift at sea.

Strangely… my thoughts are becoming hazy.

Still, this warm feeling is so pleasant.

I smiled vaguely at Sansae and Elderin’s words, and sometimes just spaced out.

The strange drowsiness made me feel like I might fall asleep gently.

How many times had I blinked like that?

Elderin asked with a worried expression.

“Da-eun. Your face is red. Are you sure you’re okay?”

“Ah… hm? Oh.”

Is my condition a bit strange?

To check, I gently shook my head, and felt oddly dizzy.

I wasn’t sure, but it was certainly not a good sign.

“You’re right. I guess I’ve been in too long.”

I hadn’t thought of this.

My body is much smaller and more delicate compared to when I was a man.

So there must have been a difference in how long I could endure in the bath.

I let my guard down too much after successfully getting into the water.

This is why people shouldn’t get too excited.

I should get out of the water first.

Just as I was about to grab the edge of the bath to stand up slowly.

A wave of dizziness came over me and I lost my balance.

“Huh…?”

“Da-eun!”

It took a moment to understand what had happened to me.

It took another 3 seconds to realize that my headlong fall towards the floor had stopped.

It was thanks to Sansae and Elderin quickly reacting from both sides.

It would have been dangerous if I had fallen like that.

I think my head would have hit the edge directly.

If I got injured here, at this timing, it would be a disaster.

It would completely ruin the fun atmosphere we came for.

Now that I was relieved, there was something I needed to say.

“Th-thank you. You saved me.”

“You should be careful. That could have been serious.”

“Yes. But, my body… is fine now. Could you let go of me?”

“Ah. Sorry. Did it hurt?”

“It didn’t hurt.”

I was just a little embarrassed.

* * *

Traveler’s contract to move to England was a proper trade.

The timing was just barely before the roster submission, and given the nature of the contract, he could immediately participate in international competitions.

Naturally, Traveler competed in the Prelude with his new team.

[Champion’s Prelude Group B – Match 2]

[Acid Gaming vs Qingyun Club]

[Battlefield: Abandoned Castle Ruins]

[Rule: 6-person Deathmatch]

A transfer that caused quite a stir domestically.

However, it didn’t receive as much attention in the European league.

Traveler being the highest-paid player was only a story in Korea.

In this league, an ‘ace from a distant foreign country’ is not a rare existence.

Having seen countless distant foreign stars fade away helplessly, it’s not so surprising anymore.

Of course, public opinion can always be overturned.

E-sports, with its rapid meta shifts, was always ready to change evaluations.

This is probably one of the reasons why people are passionate about e-sports.

《 It’s been a story for quite a while, hasn’t it? That pro gamers can be largely classified into two types. One is the commander-type player, and the other is the soldier-type player. 》

《 Traveler at Q Prime was certainly a player who held the baton of command. However, objectively speaking, I don’t think he was a player whose skills as a commander stood out. 》

《 Usually, if a player can give orders, their evaluation goes up… but in this case, it’s the opposite. 》

Traveler’s first game after moving to England.

He completely put down the baton of main order and became a warrior focusing solely on combat.

He no longer wastes concentration on unnecessary areas.

There’s no need to take risks unnecessarily anymore.

He met teammates who can seize opportunities together with him. No, teammates who can even be ahead at times.

The tank that has shed its heavy load starts to exert its true power.

《 It’s devastating. The current deathmatch score difference is 15 to 2. China’s third seed, Qingyun Club, can’t even put up proper resistance. 》

《 The phrase ‘caught between a rock and a hard place’ comes to mind. From the front, there’s pressure from Traveler supported by the priest. From the rear, Reaper slowly tightens the noose! 》

The shield has become sturdier, and the spear sharper.

Originally, Traveler’s forte wasn’t using his head anyway.

The instinct moving towards victory.

An innate sense in an area that even he can’t clearly explain – rather, at a level that should be called bestial.

The ‘force’ supported by practice volume second to none is the true weapon of the warrior called Traveler.

《 As I was saying, a counter strike! The lance knight’s counterattack erupts! 》

Its power was enough to have a ‘good match’ with Cerberus even in an incomplete state.

Especially Reaper, who specializes in rear disturbance and psychological warfare… was like his perfect partner.

Reaper’s fog gradually widens its range.

The lance knight bombards, risking overheating. Magic shot by three mages explodes incessantly.

The fighter and samurai struggle a few times but… honestly, it’s not enough.

《 It’s difficult to secure vision. They’re blinding the opponent’s eyes and pouring out merciless bombardment! 》

《 Ah, this game is getting tough. It seems they need to think of another method. 》

《 Qingyun’s composition is specialized for close combat, but lacks breakthrough power. As losses keep occurring, even the resurrection timing is off… 》

The strong performance of the Korean player.

While it would be very pleasing for Traveler’s personal fans, not everyone welcomed it.

In the world of competition, there are no last year’s teammates or close friends.

Rather, the more connections you have with an opponent, the more gamers instinctively burn with the desire to ‘definitely crush them’.

Traveler’s strong performance meant nothing different from saying that Korean teams have gained a strong opponent.

Moreover, doesn’t the Korean league already have one record?

The previous generation of Luche and Traveler.

Veteran players with more experience than the two.

Where did the main players who led the golden age go?

《 The next game will be in Group C. There will be a match between Veiled Nightmare with Phantom and Korea’s ACL. 》

《 …It’s an ill-fated match. 》

* * *

There are largely two types of saunas popular in Korea.

One is the wet sauna filled with steam. The other is the dry sauna that comes to mind when you think of ‘jjimjilbang’.

Master said he enjoyed the wet sauna inside the bathhouse.

I much preferred the dry sauna where I didn’t feel suffocated.

Well, even if I liked the wet sauna, I would have given up this time.

In the dry sauna, you enter a separate space wearing sauna clothes.

But the wet sauna is in a separate room inside the bathhouse, so you can’t wear clothes.

Well, right now I’m just sprawled out on a bench anyway.

Sansae brought a cool drink container to my cheek with a tap.

“Here, something to drink. How are you feeling?”

“Much better.”

I said this, but the heat from the bath hadn’t fully dissipated yet.

I grab the drink full of ice with both hands and place it on my forehead.

A coolness that’s even stimulating.

It felt like my head was clearing up, and my body relaxed a bit.

“I’ll drink it well.”

“Is that the INBL tournament you were watching?”

“Yes. I was just curious how it’s going. I’ve talked with Traveler a few times too.”

– You’re one of the people I really want to beat.

– So, let’s definitely meet in an international competition.

– I’ll definitely crush you, so wait for it.

That guy who said “I’ll crush you” when we finally met.

Honestly, it felt a bit ridiculous at the time.

I’m not sure how it would be now.

From what I glimpsed, he seemed to have adapted well to a team that could be called the best.

He’ll probably gain a lot of good experience from now on.

He’ll properly wield the privileges of a strong team as a member of one.

Compared to that, I haven’t even properly stood at the starting line yet.

Whether it’s Traveler or Reaper, I don’t think I’d lose in a 1:1, but INBL is a team game.

In sports, it’s not strange for one plus one to have the efficiency of three.

‘Fine. I just need to practice too. I absolutely won’t lose.’

I started feeling motivated for no reason.

I want to stand on such a stage soon too.

How many times have I imagined facing other strong players in international competitions and grasping victory?

Winning, and winning again to prove that the time I spent on kendo.

That the life I poured out wasn’t meaningless.

I sit up abruptly and drink the icy sikhye.

The feeling of my chest cooling down. My condition has definitely improved.

Just then, Elderin returned with a tray of snacks.

“Let’s eat this and go into the jjimjilbang.”

“Will you be okay? Shouldn’t you rest a bit more?”

“I’m fine.”

Eating the brownish eggs makes me feel subtly full.

It feels like I’d be completely fine if I ate an ice cube too.

I open the lid of the plastic container, and just as I’m about to put one in my mouth.

A few ice cubes that slid down the container spilled onto my clothes.

“Ah, cold. Nng, ah!”

I could just pick up the ones that fell and throw them away.

The problem was that one ice cube fell between my breasts.

It’s slipperier and colder than I thought.

Even if I try to grab it with my hand, the ice slides across my chest as if it has feet.

In the end, I just lifted my chest and put the ice in my mouth.

After that, the two women looked at me with worried eyes.

“Da-eun, what are we going to do with you.”

“What?”

“You should never be alone with a man.”

“…?”