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

Kanel, wearing a headset, greeted me as he turned from the controls. I returned a brief greeting and immediately looked at the monitor.

It was true. Gio and Unahar were running frantically, constantly looking back.

What kind of villains dared to chase our guild members? I watched Gio and Unahar’s pursuers on the screen with intense focus…

Do people chasing prey usually smile so brightly or have such solemn expressions as they charge forward?

“Kanel.”

Just calling his name was enough; Kanel understood and placed the headset he was wearing onto my head.

Now I could hear the sounds from the screen.

[“Wait a moment! Please wait!”]

[“Don’t run away! Please let us join your guild subordinates!”]

[“We’re confident in anything! My hobby is fistfighting, and my specialty is knocking people down!”]

…What is this situation?

Kanel stood next to me and quietly reported the situation.

“They are probably participants who were inspired by yesterday’s first-day video of Rudel.”

“My video?”

“Didn’t you heroically save a pitiful boy from a grotesque monster?”

“Ah, Ispan?”

No, yesterday, I got beaten up by Ispan and barely got by with the help of Akata, who awakened his abilities…

Am I really being so highly praised for just that?

The viewers might have been moved by my sense of responsibility, courage, and determination regarding Akata, but the players have a different perspective.

I didn’t even show off any exceptional strength, yet they want to serve me as their guild leader?

“Like how Rudel threw herself to save that fragile boy, they believe you’ll give them the same devoted care. They also seem to think you’re some sort of prophet for recognizing the boy’s uniqueness in advance. Well, my thoughts aren’t too different from theirs.”

Listening to Kanel’s explanation made some sense.

But what should I do? The criterion for joining our guild isn’t how desperately someone chases us.

Wouldn’t these average people who run well be treated well in another guild?

I only wanted to pick up those who would be treated worse than dogs in other guilds, so this is problematic.

Still, being looked up to like that isn’t bad.

Until now, our guild had few members and was practically unknown, with our abilities not properly recognized, so we were treated as nobodies.

[“Ahh, why are they running so fast!”]

[“They’re getting further away! No!”]

From the looks of it, Gio and Unahar seemed fit enough to shake them off on their own.

Should I check in with Lilith for a moment? I had instructed her to watch over the sleeping Akata.

“Lilith? Can you hear me? What are you doing?”

I connected to Lilith and greeted her warmly. However, she seemed a bit frantic as well.

[“Rudel, I was just about to look for you! Something’s wrong, what should we do?”]

“What is it?”

[“Akata has a high fever!”]

Hearing that, I set everything else aside and quickly headed downstairs.

Why does the guild fall apart without me? The official guild ranking competition hasn’t even started, and we’re already like this?

In no time, I entered the corridor leading to the private rooms and threw open Akata’s door.

“Akata has a high fever?”

I approached Lilith, who was fretting beside him.

I touched his forehead; it was indeed burning hot. The fever must have started recently since his face was red but there was no sweat.

How did Lilith notice so quickly? Did she feel it?

“I’ve been watching him closely, and his breathing seemed a bit different!”

She had followed my instructions to watch over Akata very diligently.

Even if a disaster alarm went off in reality, Lilith probably wouldn’t evacuate and would just stay to watch over Akata.

She’s really diligent. She follows my instructions too well…

Lilith clasped her hands together tightly, her eyes welling with tears.

“What if it’s because of me? What if he’s sick because of something I did wrong?”

That’s impossible! I waved my hand dismissively, finding the idea absurd.

“How could it be your fault? Do you think your watching him could cause a fever?”

I patted her shoulder, comforting her.

“On the contrary, because you watched him so closely, you noticed it quickly. Akata should be grateful to you.”

I turned back to look at the boy again.

Despite the bug issue being resolved, Akata remained unconscious and now had a fever for no apparent reason.

I wondered if Akata might be experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder, recalling the time when his wrists and ankles were crushed.

Typically, when a person undergoes a severe accident, the shock can cause brain damage, leading to ongoing psychological distress.

In reality, this would create significant challenges in progressing through a survival game, but this is inside a game.

In this game, where survival and ranking are battled daily, reacting to such trauma would hinder progress.

So, characters in this game are somewhat immune to such things, but it’s not entirely impossible.

As far as I know, the lower the grade of the ‘Stamina’ stat, the higher the likelihood of experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder.

‘Then, it was inevitable for Akata, with all stats at F-grade, to suffer from aftereffects…’

Blaming myself for not anticipating this, I felt relieved that I had at least left Lilith by Akata’s side.

I immediately went to the living room to find the ‘Fortress User Manual.’ According to the instructions, I was able to retrieve a fever reducer from the dining room refrigerator.

After administering the medicine, the fever quickly subsided.

Once I confirmed that Akata’s temperature had returned to normal, I went up to the observation deck.

For the remaining time of day two, I wrapped up by monitoring Gio and Unahar as they safely recruited subordinates.

* * *

Round Over.

[“Starting tomorrow, a total of five days of rest will be provided. From the second round, each round will be named after its respective mode, and the official ranking competition will commence. From now on, all rounds will be collectively referred to as the ‘Guild Competition.’”]

All the guild leaders, including myself, were likely listening to the broadcast from their respective guild leader’s office.

Feeling a mix of excitement and stimulating tension, I smiled.

Good, now it begins.

I had boldly declared my intention to uncover the secrets of this intricate game, but I still had no idea what to do.

However, I wouldn’t lose confidence. For now, I just need to perform my role as a game character excellently.

I’ll gather information that couldn’t be known before entering the game, try everything, and elevate the guild’s ranking.

Eventually, the opportunity will come my way. Even if it’s a long and arduous journey, I believe in it now.

With that motivation, I will face this life, giving my best for myself and my comrades.

[“At 9 AM tomorrow, players’ unique abilities will be differentiated into stats. Simultaneously, the ‘Guild Ranking’ mode will open.”]

Finally, tomorrow.

The thought of waiting until tomorrow makes me anxious, but I try to calm myself.

Even tonight, before the Guild Ranking opens, I still have things to do. Let’s soothe my mind by handling the remaining tasks.

Round Summary Commentary

While other guild leaders might think of this as merely a “sponsorship indicator for the guild,” I see it differently.

Knowing it’s my only connection to reality, I always read it thoroughly.

Did the scene where I saved Akata and Akata saved me appeal to the viewers properly?

Unlike the nightly comments received during the first round, from round 1.5 onwards, they can be checked after the round ends.

Instead, the number of comments received at once has increased to dozens. Additionally, there is a difference in that they can be viewed not individually but on a guild-wide basis.

For a guild leader, it’s more convenient to receive all the guild members’ comments at once. It’s also advantageous for gauging public opinion about the guild.

As expected, the MVP of our guild in this 1.5 round is…

‘Rudel’s foresight is beyond a character level now…’

‘How did he recognize Akata? Do they have some connection because of their similar fire abilities?’

Is it me?

Just kidding. Of course, the highlight is our new character’s unprecedented debut.

‘Wow, seriously, that was freaking awesome…’

‘Fragile body with an S-class flame ability, what a gap!’

Indeed, I never imagined I would acquire another S-class pure nature character.

Moreover, having a similar type of ability to mine is both intriguing and unsettling.

‘Akata might look skinny, but his frame is broad-shouldered and narrow-hipped.’

‘?What does broad-shouldered and narrow-hipped mean?’

‘?Broad shoulders and narrow hips.’

‘LOL Akata’s a guy.’

The users wouldn’t just leave Akata alone.

I’m confident. No one can resist this boy character’s appearance.

These users are already looking five years into the future for a character that was released just a day ago.

‘Promise to eat four meals a day with two snacks and grow tall and work out hard.’

I had planned to manage him like that for stat growth anyway…

Oh, these real-world users.

They care more about a 15-year-old’s physique than his health.

Not that I’m entirely innocent either.

If Akata becomes healthier, I’m tempted by the popularity and sponsorship he will attract.

And because of Akata’s extraordinary awakening scene, we couldn’t avoid reactions like these:

‘Akata and Rudel, are they…’

‘Why does his awakening line make my heart flutter?’

‘LOL what’s with the awakening line, is he faster than Gio at falling in love?’

‘Gio had at least a few days for Lilith’s name to be engraved in his awakening line; Akata did it in seconds.’

‘Rudel holding Akata looked intense too.’

‘Unahar’s crying.’

This also happened.

So many things have been happening that I hadn’t paid much attention to Akata’s strange reactions toward me.