Vol. 2 Chapter 23

Vol. 2 Chapter 23

Seer’s PoV

As the audience made their way towards the exits, they were greeted by a festive atmosphere outside the stadium. Food stalls and merchandise booths lined the walkways, offering a variety of snacks, drinks, and souvenirs for the fans to enjoy. Music played in the background, creating a lively ambiance and keeping the energy high even as the opening ceremony came to a close.

Transportation arrangements were also made to facilitate the audience's departure. Shuttle buses and taxis were available near the exits, ready to transport the spectators to their respective destinations. The organizers seemed to have coordinated with local transportation authorities to ensure a smooth flow of traffic and minimize any inconvenience for the attendees. This event is clearly well prepared, leaving me without complaints.

My team and I, along with other participants, are making our way towards the designated exit for players. The opening ceremony concluded early, granting us some free time. While it is not mandatory for us to return to the hotel immediately, most participants seem to be heading in that direction. Among them is our allied team, Paradigm, whose strategist, Katherine, is currently engaged in a conversation with Lucy and Aria about the ceremony, accompanied by their captain, Elizabeth. Katherine proposes the idea of collaborating on practice matches, which offers numerous benefits for both of our teams and a few drawbacks. Given the favorable terms, I see no reason to decline her suggestion.

On our way to the exit, I saw a familiar figure staring at me. When he saw me looking at him, he waved casually, providing a subtle clue to his identity. Despite his face being concealed, I could easily recognize him, as I had encountered that very same figure countless times within the game.

Abruptly, I stopped in my tracks, prompting my friend Blake to cast a curious glance in my direction.

"You guys go ahead," I informed him. "I have something I need to take care of first."

“What is it?” he asked, his curiosity winning over him again.

"No need for you to know," I replied bluntly.

"Tsk, alright, have it your way," he responded, slightly exasperated. "But are you sure you'll be okay on your own?"

"Yes, I'll be fine," I assured him. "I know my way around."

He shrugged, continuing on his path toward the exit with the others, leaving me behind.

I approached the shady figure close to the exit of the venue but far away from any eventgoers to interrupt our conversation.

"It's good to see you again, Seer. How have you been?" he casually greeted as I got near, all the while lifting his face mask, allowing me to see his face.

“...I’m perfectly fine, Master,” I replied respectfully.

He let out a sigh. "You're always so formal. I've already told you so many times to just speak to me casually."

"I apologize, but I hold you in such high regard that I find it difficult to speak to you in a casual manner."

He gave me a defeated look. “Alright, alright. So, how do you find your first grand tournament so far?”

We conversed for a while as we engaged in casual topics, but the majority of our discussion revolved around him checking up on me and my team, which I genuinely appreciated.

"Forgive me for asking, but what brings you here? I assume it's not solely to watch us play," I inquired during a lull in our conversation.

"I did come here to show my support for all of you, but you're right. I do have another purpose. Can you speculate on what it might be?" he inquired, employing the customary tone that he often used when challenging my critical thinking skills.

I pondered the question carefully, considering if there was any specific reason for him to be present. Suddenly, it struck me – I remembered that he was in the process of forming a team. It became clear to me that this was the underlying reason for his presence here.

“Do you plan to recruit members here for the team you plan to make?”

“Bingo,” he gave me a proud smile that made me feel... quite satisfied.

"You could always consider recruiting us. I'm confident that the others would be interested in joining if we approach them together," I suggested.

Upon hearing my proposal, his smile faded and transformed into a frown.

“Nah, your team would be flooded by sponsors after this tournament, especially since the CoA team has gone all out in advertising. I don’t have that much of a budget, and my facilities are not up to par compared to famous gaming organizations. I am confident that you and your teammates will have a wide range of options when it comes to recruitment, as any organization that brings you on board will benefit from the added publicity of being the protégés of the most iconic team in CoA history. Besides, I already have found one member on my team. She’s still currently a diamond in the rough but has a high potential for improvement. I would loathe to have to kick her if you four joined because of your team’s cohesion.”

“...I see,” I replied, unable to hide the disappointment in my tone.

I understand that he is making this decision for our benefit, to protect our promising future as e-sports players from the uncertainty of the team he is planning to make. However, I have always harbored a dream of teaming up with him, even before he took me under his wing as his apprentice. Even though he will only coach now, it doesn't matter to me as long as I have the opportunity to be a part of his team.

“Anyone you could recommend from the participants that you think has potential?” sensing my mood, he casually changed the subject.

At his query, one person instantly came to the forefront of my mind. An aberrant in the tournament. Someone who is not only strategically competent but also skilled enough to stall a hasted Ariadne for an absurd amount of time.

“Novo,” I murmured.

“Who?”

“Katherine Katyusha, in-game name Novo, a member of team Paradigm. The support player and strategist for their team. She survived a hasted Ariadne and with me giving support fire until she entered a fatigued state due to her lack of stats. This feat was accomplished without any assistance from her fellow teammates.

"Hoh?" he exclaimed, clearly impressed by the information. "Are you certain that Ariadne didn't go easy on her?"

"That's what I initially suspected as well, but upon analyzing the replay of the practice match, it doesn't appear to be the case," I explained.

He gave me a stern look in response to the unsatisfactory answer.

"Allow me to explain first," I quickly interrupted him before he had a chance to voice his complaint. "Before you can make significant improvements and progress, I believe it is crucial for us to address your greatest weakness, which is your mindset."

“...What do you mean,” he queried, his interest clearly sparked.

"What I’m getting at is that it doesn't matter how good your stance is if you can't effectively apply it to your advantage during matches. Do you know what the greatest strength of a spear is?" I inquired.

“How cool it looks?” he answered immediately without even giving a second thought to his words.

It’s my turn to stare daggers at him. "Don't tell me you chose the spear as your main weapon solely because you thought it looked cool," I judgingly asked.

"N-not entirely," he stammered, attempting to reason out of my arbitrary glare. "I also have experience with javelin throws from my high school days, so I do possess some knowledge of how to throw spears... if the situation calls for it."

"You do realize that if you throw your weapon at the enemy, you essentially render yourself unarmed and probably already lost the fight, right?" I pointed out.

“Hey! I outplayed you back then when we first fought by throwing my spear at you though!”

The memory of the time when he desperately clung to me, as if his life depended on it, while unknowingly sacrificing himself as Chu's suicide bomber resurfaced in my mind.

"...Please don't remind me," I involuntarily shivered at the memory.

"Hmph, it's your fault in the first place. Don't blame me for bringing up the past to emphasize my point," he retorted, turning his head away in embarrassment.

We remained in an uncomfortable silence for some time until I made a deliberate effort to shift the conversation back to the main topic.

"Ahem, getting back to the matter at hand. The greatest advantage of a spear is its extended reach compared to other weapons. It is essential to constantly be aware of your distance from your opponent," I emphasized.

"I already do that though," he confidently replied.

"No, you don't," I firmly disputed. "You often find yourself getting swept up in your opponent's pace. As the one who has the reach advantage, it is your role to establish and control the pace of the fight."

He paused, lost in thought, perhaps reflecting on the times he had lost his matches.

"I... I suppose that's true," he admits. "But I feel like it would be seen as cowardly to refuse a close-up melee fight against an opponent who wishes for it."

“There is a thin line between bravery and stupidity, and giving your opponent the advantage in pace and distance is extremely stupid,” I immediately countered.

"Ack!" he exclaimed, clearly taken aback by my straightforward and blunt response.

“Why do you want to look good in a fight anyway? It’s not like it’s necessary to win?” I pried.

"Hmph, you won't understand because you're a girl. A real man doesn't back down from a challenge,” he unhelpfully explained.

“.... You’re right, I really don’t...”

As someone like me who is willing to do whatever it takes to win, I genuinely don't understand why he is so preoccupied with appearances and the notion of looking "manly."

I took some time to contemplate my next words, hoping to find a way to persuade him to at least consider his perspective.

“But I do think that someone who doesn’t care what other thinks too much of how they look, someone who is unaffected by others’ perception of them and only strives to win while doing their very best and achieving victory in the process, looks a whole lot cooler compared to those who are hindered by trying to keep up appearances," I expressed my honest opinion.

He gave me a perplexing look, his expression difficult to decipher. There was a prolonged silence before he finally spoke up again.

"You certainly have a way with words," he murmured, taking a moment to reconsider my earlier statement.

It took a while before he came to a definite conclusion. "Alright, I'll give it a shot,” he sighed defeatedly. “But if I end up looking uncool and still lose, I'll hold you accountable, understood?!" he exclaimed.

I gave him a grateful smile. “That is all I ask, and I’m sure it will greatly increase the chance for our team to win our matches,” I approvingly replied, causing him to turn his head in embarrassment.

"Now that we've addressed your problematic mindset, let's proceed to the practice. Repeat both stances I taught you earlier a thousand times until they become ingrained in your muscle memory," I unceremoniously ordered.

“Are you insane?!” he shouted.

Hmm... It does seem overwhelming for him. However, for me, practicing intensely every day for more than two months before the AC cup was a normal routine. Reflecting on it now, I kind of realize how absurd it was that I was able to maintain such dedication. I can't imagine going through that level of practice again in my current state. Looking back, my drive to win during that time was incredibly intense, to the point where it could be described as borderline suicidal. But I guess that anything is possible when you have the drive and determination to achieve something.

"I'll give you a choice then. Either perform both ‘The Guardian’s Pose’ and “The Striker’s Stance’ a thousand times or simply land a hit on me while transitioning from one stance to another," I proposed.

This seems better to motivate him to practice instead of just repeatedly practicing the stance. It also provides him with a proper training partner for him to learn faster and more efficiently. It also helps me practice my dodges, even just a little.

He smiled savagely, “You’re on! Don’t you dare regret it!”

I smiled in response. I get the feeling he is the one who will regret that decision later.