Natsume Maruyama [NOEL]

The rhythmic clang of swords clashing and the distant echo of battle cries filled the training grounds.

At the center of it all stood Noel’s uncle.

The moment his eyes spotted her, his entire being radiated joy.

“Ohhh, my beloved niece. What on earth has brought you here today?”

Noel took a deep breath,

"I have learned magic. I have learned the rapier. I have trained in swordsmanship. But now, I need something specific." Her eyes burned with determination. "I want to learn how to counter a spear."

Her uncle raised an eyebrow. "Huh? Why? Who’s been coming at you with spears? Just say the word, and I shall—"

"That’s not it, Uncle." Noel’s voice was steady, unshaken. "I simply want to learn."

His fingers tapped thoughtfully against the hilt of his sword.

"A spear, huh…" He exhaled, folding his arms. "It’s one of the most common weapons out there. Efficient, deadly, and easy to produce. With its reach advantage, even an amateur can keep a skilled swordsman at bay. But…" His gaze sharpened. "True spearmanship? Now that’s an art of its own. People think it’s just about thrusting, but a real master can turn it into a whirlwind of death."

Noel remained unfazed.

"So, are you really determined to learn how to counter it?"

"Yes."

There was no hesitation.

Her uncle observed her for a moment before sighing, scratching his beard.

"Alright, fine. But I warn you, I will not go easy on you."

Noel simply nodded.

The agreement was made.

Training would begin tomorrow.

Back to the Other World

Noel closed her eyes.

When she opened them again,

She was back.

Same World. Same Skies.

And waiting for her, was Leon.

The moment he saw her, his expression brightened but only briefly.

As she stepped closer, she noticed something off.

He looked uneasy.

"Welcome back, Noel,"

"Yeah, I’m back."

Seeing him again brought an instant warmth to her chest. The memory of the previous night, the way he had stood beside her, helpless yet desperate to support her should have lingered in her mind, but strangely, it didn’t feel as shocking anymore.

To her, this was nothing new.

But to Leon…

His hands clenched into fists. His eyes darted downward.

Then, finally, he spoke.

"Noel… I’m really sorry."

His voice was thick with guilt.

"I couldn’t do anything last night. I just stood there, watching you fade away. I was useless."

Noel stared.

For a brief second, she was genuinely shocked.

Then she sighed,

"Oh, come on. What could you have even done?" She folded her arms. "You couldn’t see what was happening. You couldn’t hear what I heard. And yet, you still tried to support me. So what exactly are you apologizing for?"

Leon stared at her for a moment before sighing in defeat.

The tension in the air lifted.

"Alright then. Since you’re in such a good mood, what’s the plan for today?"

Leon smiled.

"Let’s just hit the game center toda," Leon suggested.

Noel nodded without hesitation. She didn’t mind spending another day like this. It had become something of a routine now, one she found strangely comforting.

They walked to the game center.

They arrived, stepping inside the familiar space filled with flashing screens, the muffled sounds of virtual battles, and the distant cheers of gamers locked in intense matches. But their destination was clear.

The VR MMORPG.

Noel slipped on the headset, and within moments the world changed.

It was always a strange sensation.

No matter how many times she played, the feeling of entering this world never ceased to be unsettling.

A medieval fantasy MMORPG. One with knights, adventurers, sorcerers, and mythical creatures.

Goblins, direwolves, kobolds, lizardmen, ogres, orcs, trolls, cyclops, slimes, harpies, venomous snakes, dragons… Undead creatures like skeletons, liches, death knights, wraiths, bone dragons, vampires… Then there were the demihumans, elves, dwarves, beastkin… And of course, the kingdoms, nobles, guilds, and adventurers.

It was a fully fleshed-out world.

A world that was far too similar to her own. Noel had never questioned it openly before.

For others, it was just another game.

For her, it was different.

She never spoke about it, never voiced her thoughts, but the moment she first played it, It felt like someone had taken fragments of her world and turned them into a game.

They played for hours.

Leon took the lead as always, guiding her through quests, strategizing for battles, keeping the pace lively. But unlike the other times, Noel wasn’t just playing, she was observing.

Every structure. Every city name. Every legend written in the lore.

It wasn’t exactly the same, but the similarities were undeniable.

By the time they logged out, the thought had settled deep in her mind. And this time, she couldn’t ignore it.

They left the game center, stepping back into the real world, and for a while, they just walked.

Noel then turned to Leon.

"Leon, I wanted to tell you something."

Leon glanced at her, curious. "Huh? What is it?"

She hesitated for only a moment before speaking.

"This game… This particular game is different from the others."

Leon raised an eyebrow before letting out a small chuckle. "Oh? Even you’ve grown attached to it? I knew you’d like it. I love it too."

Noel shook her head, her expression serious. "No, that’s not what I mean."

Leon blinked, caught off guard by her tone.

"This game is too similar to the world I came from."

A silence stretched between them.

Then, to her surprise, Leon let out a small laugh, but there was something off about it.

"So, even you noticed that."

Noel’s breath hitched. "Wait…what do you mean?"

Leon rubbed the back of his head, his usual carefree demeanor barely intact. "Actually, one of the reasons I introduced you to this game was because of that. Even I felt it."

A shiver ran down her spine.

"He’s talking as if he has experienced my world… but how? What’s happening?"

Leon continued, his tone too casual. "But don’t worry, it’s probably just a coincidence."

A coincidence.

Could it be?

Before Noel could question him further, a group of excited youngsters passed by.

"I really can’t wait to meet Mr. Natsume Maruyama!"

Noel’s attention immediately snapped toward them.

A name she had never heard before.

"Leon," she called, her voice unwavering. "Who is that?"

Leon followed her gaze, then answered smoothly. "Natsume Maruyama? Ah, he’s a game developer. Actually, the game we played today was created by him."

Noel frowned slightly.

"He also got involved in everything related to the game," Leon added. "Every single aspect of it."

The words lingered in her mind,

A developer.

Why did she feel like this was important?

She didn’t say anything more, though the thoughts wouldn’t leave her.

They arrived at the apartment complex.

The walk had been quieter than usual, though neither of them commented on it.

Just as Noel was about to head inside, Leon suddenly turned to her.

"Noel, want me to stay with you again tonight?"

His tone was light, but she could tell, he wasn’t just asking for no reason.

There was something beneath his words.

A quiet worry. A silent question.

Noel studied him for a moment before smiling.

"It’s not really necessary. I’m fine, so don’t worry."

Leon stared at her for a bit. Then, with a sigh, he ran a hand through his hair.

"If you say so."

And just like that, he turned and walked away.