SWNOVELXO Chapter 54
**Break time before the official start of the 2nd round.**
Most guilds were bustling with activity, preparing for the next round, and the top contender for the number one guild ranking, the Ice Castle Guild, was no exception.
The guild master of Ice Castle had also been asked by the deputy guild master to mentor the top ten ranked guild members for their growth…
“Where are you going, Aleon?”
“To the subordinates’ quarters…”
“They have their own supervisor! You should be mentoring the Pure Nature guild members instead!”
“They are already strong enough! Spending all my time on them isn’t fair!”
“We’re supposed to make strong allies even stronger!”
However, the Blue Saint had a tendency to prioritize the weaker members, wanting to pay attention to each soldier in the subordinates’ group.
Though it would be more efficient to focus on the unique abilities of the higher-ranked guild members during that time.
Apart from this minor friction, their training overall was proceeding smoothly.
After the training, they were given free time.
Guild master Aleon sat in the blue glass hall’s constellation seat, silently and comfortably.
Ding.
A notification sound broke his meditation.
It was a communication request from another guild.
“Where is Ifrea?”
“She went to take a bath, why do you ask?”
The guard answered.
“The deputy guild master instructed that if a communication comes from any guild master other than Rudel, it must go through her first…”
The alarm continued to ring incessantly.
“Oh dear, if the call gets disconnected and the person trying to reach me ends up frustrated…”
Aleon, growing anxious, finally accepted the communication.
[“Aleon?”]
A low, rich female voice came through. It wasn’t Rudel.
‘Oh no, this is bad.’
The guild member standing beside him quickly ran to fetch Ifrea.
‘We can’t let the other guilds see Aleon’s goofy side! Aleon is supposed to be the top-ranked individual!’
While the guild member rushed to fetch Ifrea, Aleon continued the conversation with the unfamiliar voice.
“I am Aleon. Who are you?”
[“You answered—? It’s an honor, Saint? I’m Shemarin from ‘Red Monarch,’ perhaps you’ve heard of it.”]
“Ah! It’s a pleasure to speak with you, Shemarin. I’ve heard about you. They say you’re as sharp and excellent a leader as you are beautiful. Is that why your guild is named ‘Monarch’?”
Aleon had an unconscious habit of complimenting others by mentioning their good reputation.
Shemarin, who had requested the call, seemed pleased with his flattery, as evidenced by the smirk that appeared on her face.
[“Thanks for the compliment—. I’ve heard you’re as handsome as an ice rose. Can I get to my point now—?”]
“Of course.”
[“The reason I contacted you is that, like you, we are in the midst of training for the 2nd round. But don’t you find it a bit dull to always train with the same team? So, how about a one-on-one duel between your guild and mine at the PK arena? It would surely benefit us both.”]
Aleon’s blue eyes brightened with enthusiasm.
“That sounds like a splendid idea! Naturally—.”
“Wait.”
At that moment, someone grabbed Aleon’s wrist.
“Let me handle this communication. Will you permit it?”
It was Ifrea, the deputy guild master.
She had just arrived, still wearing a bathrobe, and her short brown hair was dripping wet.
Despite her appearance, she hurriedly took over the communication.
While she couldn’t initiate communication with other guild masters, she could take over a call intended for her guild master.
“This is Ifrea, the deputy guild master of the Ice Castle Guild. Who is this?”
[“I’m Shemarin, guild master of Red Monarch—.”]
“Please state your business.”
[“Why should I—?”]
Upon hearing Shemarin’s identity, Ifrea’s eyes grew serious. She sensed Shemarin’s voice drop in intensity.
[“Do you think someone who isn’t the leader deserves to talk to me? You’re really annoying me.”]
Water droplets continued to fall, dampening the floor, but Ifrea remained unperturbed.
“Who initiated this call? If you’re displeased, you can simply hang up.”
A snide laugh echoed from the other side.
However, Shemarin wasn’t one to be easily swayed by such words, so it was obvious that the laugh was a facade to assert dominance.
[“So the rumors are true—? Your guild master is so incapable that a smart woman has to handle everything behind the scenes? Must be tough playing nanny—.”]
Ifrea’s eyebrows knitted together.
“Aleon is a perfect and irreplaceable leader. Mind your language.”
Aleon, standing nearby, looked at her with moist eyes. Ifrea pretended not to notice.
[“So, the reason for my call is— I’d like to formally propose a friendly match with your guild. How about two days before the 2nd round?”]
Caught up in responding to Shemarin’s derogatory remarks about Aleon, Ifrea had inadvertently let Shemarin steer the conversation. Now, she calmly spoke up.
“Friendly matches are for guilds with amicable relations to foster camaraderie and entertainment. Since when have Ice Castle and Red Monarch been such acquaintances? Why propose a PK to Ice Castle?”
[“Ah, it’s because I’ve trained my men so well that it’d be boring if the strongest contender, your guild, doesn’t match up with them—.”]
“…….”
[“Or are you afraid you might lose to us, and that’s why you’re being so lukewarm?”]
Shemarin pressed on during the brief silence.
However, Ifrea wasn’t one to be easily drawn in.
“Such an absurd provocation. If you’re so confident, why not wait until the 2nd round to test that confidence and see the results?”
She’d heard the proposal and had enough reason to decline. Ifrea seized the moment to end the call.
“Consider looking elsewhere. Goodbye.”
She ended the communication decisively.
Since inter-guild communications couldn’t be used consecutively, there was no risk of Shemarin calling back to argue.
Ifrea felt relieved that she had intercepted Shemarin’s call, and she looked at Aleon with a warm gaze.
“I’m glad you’re safe.”
“What do you mean, protecting me? There was no danger here.”
“You don’t need to know.”
Giving a vague answer to the bewildered Aleon, Ifrea, annoyed by the lingering bath foam on her body, returned to her private quarters.
* * *
Today had been a tough day.
Late at night, I lay on the living room sofa, taking a short rest. Next to me, a golden-haired man hung his head in shame.
“This is the third day, and as a wolf, I’m just a hopeless mutt.”
“I’d prefer if you didn’t belittle yourself. I don’t like hearing it, and I don’t like you thinking that way.”
When I firmly scolded him, Unahar lifted his head. He turned his face towards me, his golden eyes, previously muddled with frustration, began to clear.
“Don’t you feel frustrated inside? Because things aren’t going well? Because I’m not doing it right—.”
“It’s not something you can control, listen.”
I tried to squeeze out words of encouragement for the despondent man.
“Three days of effort is hardly enough to wield a powerful weapon like you, Unahar, the great wolf.”
Unahar’s expression hardened at my words.
Hmm, maybe that wasn’t the right thing to say?
As I reconsidered my previous statement, he suddenly spoke.
“Rudel.”
“Yes?”
“I think I have something to say—.”
Beep.
At that moment, a loud notification sound echoed from my status window, interrupting Unahar.
It was a communication request from another guild. I checked the caller and motioned for Unahar to continue.
“Unahar, go ahead with what you wanted to say.”
But he closed his mouth again.
“No, it’s nothing. I wasn’t going to say anything.”
Really?
Meanwhile, the communication alert continued to ring persistently, indicating they wouldn’t stop until I answered.
“It’s from Red Monarch, Shemarin.”
As soon as I mentioned the caller, Unahar looked alarmed.
Reflecting on a slightly humorous yet dark history, Unahar and Shemarin had a deep, unfortunate connection.
To Shemarin, Unahar might have been just a former flame she missed out on.
But for Unahar, she was the terrifying figure who nearly caught him trying to steal an item, a situation that almost ended with shackles on his ankles.
Considering the emotional state Unahar was already in due to his wolf ability, I decided to spare him further distress.
“It’s a guild master call. You should rest and not worry about this. I’ll report what was discussed in the morning.”
“Thank you.”
Unahar didn’t hesitate and left promptly.
[“Rudel, how have you been—?”]
It was the first time we communicated since parting ways after the 1st round.
Despite our seemingly friendly conversation back then, this was the first contact in a while.
“Busy, as usual. Just like you, Shemarin. What’s up?”
[“Nothing much, but even though Agasa has fewer members, I imagine you’ve trained them to be top-tier—. Rudel, are you interested in a friendly PK match?”]