The cheering had faded, but the impact lingered in Roy's chest like a distant echo.
He stood still in front of the towering World Tree at the center of the city, his gaze locked on the shimmering screen that had just displayed the final rankings of the first official NewWorld Online event. The digital lettering still glowed faintly in his memory:
1st: Payne
2nd: Dread
3rd: Maple
4th: Roy
Roy.
His own name, broadcast in glowing silver across the sky for all the game's players to see. It was a moment of pride, perhaps. A milestone.
And yet…
It wasn't enough.
He turned from the crowd still gathered under the projection, their laughter and animated chatter irritating him more than it should. He tightened the strap of the leather satchel slung over his shoulder, his lips pressing into a thin line.
I could've done better.
Not in terms of kills—his ambushes had been flawless. He used his trap-based class to isolate targets, manipulate their movements, and dispatch them quickly. What cost him a higher spot was simple: Maple.
Roy's eye twitched just thinking about her. The walking fortress with an innocent smile, who somehow stumbled her way into ridiculous skills that made her virtually unkillable.
He remembered watching the end of the event on the replay broadcast. Maple had turned into a literal machine of destruction, armored and flying and breathing lasers. It made no sense, but somehow she had clawed her way up to third place with sheer absurdity and overwhelming defense.
The strangest part was, it wasn't even unfair.
That's just… Maple.
Roy sighed, walking away from the plaza toward the outskirts of town, where the training cliffs overlooked the endless forest. He needed to train. To refine. To find new methods—new traps, new abilities, new edge cases in the system he could abuse to his advantage. That was the only way to catch up.
He cut through a wooded path just north of the town square. Few players came this way—most were still celebrating. His boots crunched gently over gravel and dried leaves.
I should be stronger than this. I know this world. I've lived it once before. If I'm still in fourth, something's wrong with my progress…
That was when he stopped.
Voices. Familiar ones.
He ducked quietly behind a thick maple tree—how ironic—his cloak blending with the shadows.
Two figures stood near the gentle stream that cut through the forest clearing. One of them, with bright red eyes and wild black hair beneath a whimsical helm, was unmistakable.
Maple.
And beside her, standing tall with a navy blue tunic, long red hair tied in a ponytail, was a girl Roy had almost forgotten to look out for in the rankings:
Sally.
Roy blinked, brows furrowing slightly.
Wait… she didn't enter the event?
He double-checked the rankings again in his interface. No Sally anywhere. That was… actually right. In the original timeline, she didn't join the first event because of her heing grounded.
Roy's fingers loosened a little at his side.
So things are still mostly on track…
That meant there was still time. Time to prepare. Time to align things—if not perfectly like the original route, then at least favorably.
He crouched slightly, not out of malice but curiosity, watching the two girls speak beside the water.
"I think we should go back to that cave again tomorrow," Maple said, waving her hands excitedly. "It's so quiet there. And I still want to try catching that big fish that got away!"
"Yeah, the one that pulled you halfway into the water?" Sally laughed, kneeling beside her and poking the surface of the stream. "I thought you were going to fall in completely."
"I almost did! But it's fun, right? Just sitting and fishing together. It's so peaceful compared to all the chaos."
"True," Sally said with a thoughtful smile. "And that cave you found nearby… I still think it might lead to something. Maybe a secret boss, or hidden loot."
"Let's go again! I have more bait this time. Oh, and I'll bring some food. We can have lunch there!"
"Deal."
Roy slowly stood up, leaning against the bark of the tree, processing what he'd just heard.
A cave… fishing spot… and Maple didn't mention anyone else coming.
He remembered the part of the story this could be tied to—Maple and Sally discovering a hidden dungeon entrance near a fishing spot. That location had unique monsters and treasure, including an underwater tunnel that eventually led to a rare boss fight.
It had been one of the events that strengthened their bond and pushed them to become an unstoppable duo in the original timeline.
Roy exhaled slowly.
So it's still happening. Despite my presence here… the story's not derailed yet.
That gave him options. Real ones.
He thought about rushing ahead, trying to find the cave first. But that would only antagonize them, especially Sally, who had a sharp sense for reading people's motives.
Instead… what if he joined them?
What if, instead of resisting the world's progression, he leaned into it—altered it from the inside?
He had admired Maple from afar before, when he watched the original anime, but now she was real. Her goofy, unpredictable charm, her friendliness, and her terrifying power… they were all real. And so was Sally—calm, intelligent, and lightning-fast.
In the end, they became central pillars of this world's future. So why stand on the outside, clawing at the top, when he could be by their side?
"...Alright," Roy whispered to himself. "Let's try something different this time."
He stepped out from behind the tree.
Maple spotted him instantly. "Oh, hey!"
Sally stood up quickly, eyes narrowing slightly—instinctively cautious.
Roy raised both hands peacefully, smiling as warmly as he could.
"I'm not here to fight," he said. "Just passing through. You two seem to be having fun."
Maple tilted her head. "You're Roy, right? I saw your name on the rankings!"
"Guilty," Roy chuckled, scratching the back of his head. "Fourth place. I guess I need to work harder."
"I got third!" Maple said proudly, puffing out her chest. "And I had no idea what I was doing."
"That's what worries me," Roy said with a laugh. "You're terrifying in a way no strategy can prepare for."
Maple giggled. Sally relaxed a little, watching him with interest now.
"So… what brings you out here?" Sally asked.
"I usually train near the cliffs to the north," Roy replied. "But I overheard you talking about fishing and a cave… sounded peaceful."
"It is!" Maple said. "We found this nice spot with a hidden cave. There might be treasure. Or maybe just fish. But either way, it's fun."
Roy hesitated. Then took a step forward.
"Would you mind if I joined you sometime?" he asked. "Not to intrude, I just… could use a break from stabbing things."
Maple turned to Sally. "What do you think?"
Sally folded her arms, examining Roy for a few long seconds.
"You were sneaking earlier," she said.
"Force of habit," Roy admitted. "I'm built for ambushes, and I didn't want to interrupt. But you have my word—I'm not here to steal kills or loot. Just… looking to meet people I can trust."
Maple beamed. "Well, I trust you!"
Sally raised an eyebrow.
"You trust everyone."
"Yeah, but he seems nice! And he's not all scary like Payne."
Sally exhaled softly, her eyes locked on Roy's.
"One chance," she said. "You try anything sketchy, and I'll kick you off a cliff."
Roy grinned. "Fair deal."
Maple clapped her hands. "Great! You can come with us next time we go fishing."
"Looking forward to it," Roy said, genuinely.
As the sun dipped lower, casting a golden light across the stream, the three of them sat beside the water's edge. Maple chatted endlessly about her food-eating contest with monsters, Sally spoke about dodging training, and Roy added small, humorous notes of his own, carefully weaving himself into their rhythm.
Inwardly, he knew this was a pivotal moment.
The timeline hasn't collapsed. The world still moves forward. But now... I'm part of it.
And maybe, just maybe, with the right choices… he wouldn't just place fourth next time.