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

“Let’s rest for a bit. The cave’s terrain is exhausting.”

Given that they were the physically weakest in the guild, all three agreed to take a break. They soon sat against the cave wall, with Zaet and Kanji massaging their sore legs.

“……”

Lilith buried her forehead into her knees, her face dark. The sharp words from those who had surrounded her before Zaet and Kanji came to help kept echoing in her mind, making her feel dizzy.

“What’s her name? Lilith? She’s probably the highest-grade trash among the lower ranks. Instead of wasting time on her, why don’t we just go after Akata?”

“Or how about we use her as a hostage? Would Akata react then?”

“Akata isn’t Gio, though.”

“Still, they keep blabbering about family or whatever.”

Her heart grew darker and darker. Negative emotions are highly addictive, and once contaminated, they become uncontrollable.

No, snap out of it.

Lilith lifted her head abruptly.

“Hey, you said you were tired, right?”

As she spoke, the translucent, shimmering figure returned. It was Rudel’s doppelganger. After confirming that Akata had completed the third round and returned safely, Rudel’s doppelganger had come back to the remaining guild member, Lilith.

“Rudel, can I show them my ability?”

With her hands raised, she looked at Rudel. Since Rudel had chosen ‘sight’ and couldn’t speak, her form hesitated slightly before nodding. Permission granted.

Originally, Rudel planned to reveal Lilith’s unique ability as a dramatic twist during the fight with the tentacle monster. So, allowing Lilith to reveal it now was against Rudel’s initial intention. Yet, Rudel gave her consent. 

If Lilith had been more shrewd and less consumed by inferiority, she might have questioned this decision.

‘Is it because Akata already made such an impact that revealing my ability now doesn’t matter anymore?’

…Of course, Rudel didn’t think that way. She simply allowed it because Lilith wanted to use her ability for the allied guild members, Zaet and Kanji. 

The thought of proudly displaying her previously secret ability brightened Lilith’s expression a little. It was the exact look Rudel wanted to see.

“My ability is…”

Zaet and Kanji looked at her with curiosity, though not seeming particularly expectant. Nonetheless, Lilith spread her hands wide. Normally, a warm glow would emerge from her palms, revealing the ability she and Rudel had discovered. 

Rudel, watching with folded arms, narrowed her eyes. 

Lilith, now confused and biting her lip, stammered, “Why, why isn’t it working?”

Her unique ability did not manifest. This was the first time such a thing had happened.

* * *

In the end, Lilith was of no help to Zaet and Kanji. However, they didn’t seem to mind and suggested they continue after their rest. Lilith, dejected, nodded her head. The exit wasn’t far now. Though their first place in the third round was essentially secured, the game wasn’t over yet. Players in the lower ranks were still fiercely competing.

As they walked, Lilith quietly asked Rudel’s doppelganger beside her, “Rudel… why did my ability disappear?”

Rudel, bound by the rules, couldn’t respond. However, her concerned gaze conveyed her sympathy. Rudel had a theory about Lilith’s question, but it was difficult to communicate through gestures alone. Through a series of body language, she managed to convey one word to Lilith: ‘psychological.’

Lilith stood stunned for a moment, reflecting on her ability, which was warmth—an ability to radiate warmth to others. Each step she took brought introspection and clarity. Many thoughts swirled in her mind, like the moment right before she entered the third round.

“I don’t think I can do it.”

When Lilith was suddenly told she had to participate in the third round, she was terrified and shut herself in the library. She had to perform like Rudel or Gio. 

Rustle, thump!

At that moment, a potted plant fell over. A large, muscular man hiding behind the plant had knocked it over, his entire body showing his embarrassment. He clumsily tried to gather the spilled soil with his hands. He could have easily used his abilities to clean up, but he didn’t.

A small laugh escaped Lilith as she wiped away her secret tears and motioned for Gio to come closer. The man, who had been frozen for a moment, approached her with a pounding heart. Lilith took Gio’s calloused, dirt-covered hands in her own gentle hands and brushed off the soil. She looked at him and asked softly, “Gio, with what resolve have you faced the rounds so far? Weren’t you scared?”

Blushing even more, Gio stammered, “I-I did it… thinking of you… trying my best…”

His response mirrored the viewers’ reactions, who saw Lilith as nothing more than Gio’s shadow. They dismissed Gio’s pure feelings for her with disdain. But at that moment, Lilith had smiled brightly. Not even the harsh letters from the sky could affect her then.

“Then should I try my best for you too?”

She recalled the look of pure astonishment on Gio’s face when she said that.

Finally, Lilith was able to face her true feelings hidden beneath the dark exterior.

‘I don’t hate you. Those words can’t diminish us… you’re really cute.’

Neither Gio nor Lilith had done anything wrong. The real problem was the people spewing such hateful words.

“‘I can do anything to protect Lilith.’ Wasn’t that the signature line of that Tarzan guy? That girl is Lilith?”

“Yeah, it’s her. The girl that Tarzan guy is head over heels for.”

“So, if we capture her later, we can make that monster Tarzan helpless, right?”

“Ha! She’d be really upset if she heard that.”

“No. I’ve never thought badly of Gio, not even once.”

Finally, Lilith could voice the rebuttal she couldn’t express then, even if only to herself.

“I just felt a bit upset because I thought I was worthless!”

At this moment, the group reached the exit of the cave.

Screech!

The tentacle monster clung to the walls, lashing out its tentacles in all directions as players scattered, trying to attack.

“To get through that, we need to dodge the tentacles and land a decisive blow.”

Zaet and Kanji, tense, hesitated to step forward. But, surprisingly, the small girl who had never taken the lead before stepped forward boldly.

“Now I understand why my ability didn’t activate earlier! And now, I’m okay! I can do it!”

Lilith brushed off the hostile gazes of the crowd who recognized her. She turned to Zaet and Kanji and shouted,

“My ability is to convey warmth to people!”

At that moment, Lilith firmly realized that her purpose and mission in life were to share this warmth with others. Her heart was now solidly filled with the image of a pure-hearted man, Gio, who blushed so easily he couldn’t even make eye contact.

Her ability, ‘warmth,’ didn’t make any sound or create any visible effect. However, in this damp and cold cave, the heat emanating from Lilith spread rapidly, causing everyone to feel goosebumps on their skin.

‘It’s warm,’ Zaet muttered unconsciously.

The warmth not only raised their body temperatures but also made them feel as if they were enveloped in a comforting embrace. Suddenly, things like the tentacle monster, damage, and battles seemed unimportant.

But in the next moment, seeing Lilith’s tightly pressed lips, Zaet snapped out of his relaxed thoughts.

Flash!

Out of thin air, the metal staff Lilith had used earlier reappeared, firmly grasped in her hand.

‘Lilith is going to fight…?’

Kanji, watching, was so astonished that his eyes widened. He couldn’t move from his spot. The metal staff, initially the length of her forearm, extended to her full height as Lilith pulled it. The smooth rod reflected the light from the cave’s fireflies, casting a dazzling glow.

“What can she do with a metal stick?”

Others, who had hesitated for a moment, soon rushed at the girl holding the staff, mocking her. 

“Getting hit by that weakling’s stick will only tickle!”

They didn’t move cautiously or plan their attack; they simply charged recklessly. Several hands reached for her at once. 

Whoosh! At that moment, Lilith swung the staff wide. Her timing matched almost perfectly with their advance. Her beautiful green eyes now held an unprecedented resolve, yet she maintained her inherent kindness.

This was her first battle, her first attack, and her first preemptive strike.

Smack!

The staff struck one of the attackers’ heads with precision.

“Argh! What the-!”

He was momentarily stunned. The impact was so great that he was knocked back immediately. The only known weak link in Agasa’s guild had landed an effective hit with unbelievable strength for someone of D-rank physical ability. Everyone was collectively shocked.

“That didn’t even hurt!”

The guy who had been hit tried to stand bravely, but only for a moment.

“……!”

Suddenly, he vanished as if sucked into a black hole, his bewildered expression disappearing with him. A notification soon appeared for the members of his guild:

[Guild member Kiheana has been forcibly returned to the guild]

“What, what just happened?!”

The attackers, shocked by the sudden disappearance of their comrade, froze in place. 

Thud!

While they were paralyzed, the silver-haired girl boldly stepped forward, raising her staff.

“Hiya!”

With a loud battle cry, she thrust her staff directly at the tentacle monster.