The D-Rank Guild Master of the No. 1 Guild

The boy leaned against the doorway, waiting patiently. Only when he confirmed that I was looking for him did he approach.

He has grown quite mature. He used to push his way in and grab my hand no matter who I was talking to.

“I wanted to greet you alone, without anyone else around.”

I was about to greet Akata but momentarily lost my words.

What Akata had just said sounded very peculiar.

‘He wanted to be alone with me… Has he always said things like this?’

Then Akata smiled slightly and grabbed my hand.

Since Akata and I always held hands, I didn’t think much of it.

So, I was slightly dazed when Akata lifted my palm and kissed the hollow of it with a smooch.

“…What are you doing?”

“I tried to imitate what Rudel did for me. It’s to cheer you up for the event round.”

At that moment, Akata’s emotional state became unusually clear in my dazed vision.

[Emotional State] Affection

If I haven’t misunderstood the definition of affection.

Akata, since when…?

As I stood there stiffly, his brown eyes narrowed slightly, seeming concerned about me.

Akata brought my hand to his cheek. The edge of my palm touched his upturned lips.

I managed to speak naturally without stammering.

“It feels a bit different from what I did.”

“How is it different?”

“I did it as a simple expression of affection, but you…”

For a moment, the youthful face of Akata was overlaid by the mature features of a young man. I flinched.

“Tell me how it’s different.”

He dared to say such provocative words and even tilted his head adorably while looking at me with clear eyes.

No matter how much I racked my brain, I couldn’t find anything to say.

“You too… it’s an expression of affection. Right?”

“Then what’s the problem?”

“Just don’t make a habit of it. Because, honestly, people’s hands are dirty. I’ll let it slide just this once.”

I brushed it off with any excuse. My feelings were quite complicated.

‘…Do I need to draw a line with you too, Akata?’

I don’t understand at all. I feel like shouting out loud to Unahar, Akata, and others.

I’m not a good person to date!

Why do you like me instead of the lovely, beautiful, kind, and attentive Lilith?

(Of course, you shouldn’t like Lilith. As much as I hate to admit it, Lilith is for Gio…)

And even if I don’t say it, I can’t date game characters!

Ah, wait. Akata… came from reality, so it might not be entirely accurate to call him a character?

What am I even thinking specifically? Still, I can’t date him!

Just a moment ago, the system’s command to join the field immediately after the role announcement felt oppressive, but now I thought it was rather fortunate.

I was genuinely relieved to have an excuse to leave immediately.

It was just as I was about to break away from Akata and enter the field.

“Do well, it’s Rudel’s dream, right? To grab first place in all rankings and defeat the champion. I regret not being able to help, but I hope this round brings you closer to that goal, even if just a little. I’ll keep waiting and cheering for you.”

For some reason, Akata’s last words held me back. I looked back involuntarily.

The boy had a serene smile that seemed unchangeable no matter what.

Though I’ve heard my guildmates tell me not to get hurt and to have fun many times, this was the first time someone gave such an ambitious encouragement…

Hesitating, I gave a brief response, “Thanks for the support.”

I then leaped into the field.

Let’s go, to make money for the game company!

And for my personal popularity and a huge amount of points—which is honestly the most important!

* * *

Group 2: Lesia/Blance

A dignified-looking female grand duke wearing a fur cloak adorned with jewels glanced over the knights lined up in the training ground.

They all exuded a disciplined and sharp aura, like well-honed swords.

Guild Leader Mission 2

After thoroughly training the 50 knights, gather with them at the final destination of the round in two days.

“Captain Blance, you must have worked hard training the knights. Just a bit more effort.”

At this, the middle-aged knight captain in silver armor at the front saluted and stepped forward.

“Everything according to Your Highness’s will.”

“Hmm, very well. Knights, you are dismissed. Captain, follow me.”

Thud, thud.

The heavy footsteps of two pairs of boots echoed on the ground, walking in the same direction at a few paces apart.

Clank, clank…

Every time the heavy armor decorations on their shoulders moved, they made a resonant sound.

As they turned into a deserted hallway where there were no servants, the grand duke in the lead stopped.

“Hahaha…”

Then, Lesia, the guild leader of Anawing, began to laugh heartily, her heavy armor clanking.

“This is fun! Sir, what do you think? Isn’t this ridiculous?”

“The Grand Duke should be mindful of her conduct,” Blance responded curtly, as if determined to stay true to his role. Lesia, however, continued laughing, swaying her lanky frame back and forth.

Blance regarded her silently, thinking that her behavior was not only careless but outright vulgar.

He was used to sitting in the cocktail bar located in the basement of the guild’s fortress, watching and meticulously analyzing every character’s footage, recording every detail.

His predictions were remarkably accurate, reflecting his dedication.

Thus, in terms of assessing opponents’ abilities, Blance was often considered second only to Rudel among the real-world users.

Considering Rudel’s hidden privileges with the status window, Blance’s ability to predict stats was arguably the best in the game.

“This player was expelled from their guild and moved to a neighboring one.”

He didn’t dismiss any character, no matter how weak. Blance collected and recorded as much information about everyone as possible.

“Zaet of Redmonarch. Basic stats are C/C+/C+, and the output of his unique ability might increase in the next round.”

Even without looking at a status window, his insight into accurately estimating stats from mere combat footage was almost supernatural.

Naturally, Blance did not neglect analyzing his forcibly assigned partner, the guild leader of Anawing.

Even in this moment, his keen eyes were busy observing and assessing his partner.

“Know thyself and know thy enemy, and you shall win a hundred battles.” Blance’s victories came from such meticulous information.

[“My life is a game. Everyone should entertain me.”]

She truly is a straightforward individual who doesn’t deviate from her awakening line. Ranked fourth in the personal rankings.

‘She claims her favorite game is the “game of love.”‘

Lesia’s love story began the moment she unintentionally grabbed the back of a man with long pink hair in the forest of the first round.

She promised to bring the moon and stars to the man she fell for. Since then, Lesia had shown an outstanding track record.

Especially her performance in the second round, Death Run, was astonishing. Her incredible wind abilities and her affection for her vice guild leader were on full display.

Although she was regrettably pushed to second place by Agasa’s guild in the end.

‘And in the third round’s commander’s battle… she was so focused on teasing her newly befriended guild members that she forgot her duties as guild leader.’

Her lack of leadership in the cave resulted in a dramatic drop in the third round’s performance.

Yet, in the fourth round, she surprisingly displayed significant prowess.

The moment she covered the capture spot with her wind abilities, it felt as if a giant had stomped down with incredible force.

The fourth round was the perfect opportunity for Blance to observe Lesia’s unique ability in detail.

However, even then, Blance couldn’t pinpoint any specific weaknesses in her wind ability.

Most people had some flaws in their unique abilities.

‘This knight training mission will be leisurely… I should use this childish round to investigate Lesia’s weaknesses.’

Meanwhile, Lesia, who had been laughing so hard she nearly cried, casually draped an arm over Blance’s shoulder and said,

“Come on, old man! Don’t be so stiff. When we’re alone, just speak comfortably, okay?”

But Blance, his expression still devoid of any warmth, merely raised an eyebrow coolly as if to say, ‘What nonsense are you spouting?’

* * *

Group 3: Aleon/Yudirei

In a dark corner of the tower’s staircase, the whispers of apprentice wizards spread.

“Isn’t it strange? My junior Maya disappeared yesterday.”

“Didn’t she go on leave?”

“I didn’t hear anything about her going on leave…”

Their chatter ceased abruptly as a tall figure ascended the stairs below them.

“Oh, Aleon! Your cleaning area extends to these stairs!”

A man wearing a large conical hat and a robe cinched with a belt approached. His peculiar blue hair, not entirely hidden by the hat, flowed downward.

“Are you giving me a broom too? Thanks! Leave the rest of the cleaning to me.”

“Uh, sure. Good luck!”

The blue-haired saint, hiding his magical charisma beneath a ridiculous conical hat, began sweeping while humming a tune.