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

“Because of the next round. People naturally form groups, so I anticipated that the next round would involve wars between these groups. That’s why I sought you out, to find a place to belong.”

A character thinking ahead to the next round. While any character with a bit of intelligence would consider the next round, it was rare for someone to take such proactive steps so early.

He lowered himself and treated me with utmost respect, resembling a knight pledging allegiance to their lord. Yet, his unwavering eyes showed undeniable conviction and confidence. This was not the look of a passive, obedient follower, but of someone making a conscious and confident choice.

I could understand that he judged me as someone worth following and proactively sought me out. But when had he observed me? What made him so confident that I would accept a complete stranger into my fold?

“I want to become one of your members.”

I knew nothing about this man called Kanel. Thus, outright rejection would be the prudent course. It aligned with my naturally suspicious personality.

But why was I hesitating to reject him outright?

In truth, I had been considering this for a while. The guild battle in the second round required a minimum of five members. But currently, I only had three companions. Including myself, that made four. Hence, I needed one more member.

There were still two days left, but it seemed too late to have an impressive meeting with someone new. As the first round was nearing its end, this seemed like the last opportunity to recruit a meaningful member.

Moreover, since he had come to serve me on his own accord, it would be good for my image in the future. After careful consideration, I decided to accept his offer, which I would usually have declined.

“Alright.”

A fleeting light of joy appeared on Kanel’s otherwise stoic face.

“However, until the end of the first round, consider it a probationary period. I’ll be harsh and wary towards you, so be prepared to endure it.”

“I am prepared. Thank you for the opportunity.”

Since I couldn’t completely rule out the possibility that he might betray me, I had to lay down some warnings. But I felt confident that I could handle any potential betrayal.

“And you need to show me your status window.”

To test him, I targeted a sensitive area first.

“But the other members haven’t shared theirs with me. Only you need to show me yours.”

I intentionally lied a bit.

Kanel took a brief moment of silence to understand my words.

“I’ll accept that as well.”

It’s incredibly unfair to have only one person reveal their entire status window. We might exploit it to our advantage. 

Yet, he agreed to it?

Just to join my ranks?

Kanel immediately sent me his status window, as if to show he wasn’t just speaking carelessly. 

…It seems he is indeed trying to earn my trust. For now, I’ll give it one more day.

If we decide to officially accept Kanel into our group, I’ll inform him that everyone else will also share their status windows with me.

“Also, you can’t come into the cave where my companions are yet. You’ll stay outside tonight.”

“Understood.”

Outside, the wind was biting cold, the dead of winter. However, Kanel obediently followed my instructions.

“…I’ll stay up outside with you. I need to hear more about you since I don’t know much yet.”

“It would be an honor.”

I plan to question him throughout the night. 

If he gets too exhausted, it might reveal any hints of betrayal.

Ah, but before that, I need to explain the situation to Unahar and Lilith and tell them to sleep in the cave first.

As I was about to return to the cave, I was blocked by someone’s chest.

“…Rudel.”

It seemed Unahar had been hiding behind and listening to my conversation with Kanel.

He blankly called my name and grabbed my arm.

Even then, the handsome man in front of me cast a hostile gaze at the stranger standing apart.

“Do you disapprove?”

I drew a soft smile, as if soothing a child.

If he seemed even slightly against it, I’d try to persuade him with a second round of discussion.

At that moment, Unahar’s golden eyes seemed to tremble slightly.

“…No. If that’s your decision.”

Kanel, who was behind, approached and nodded slightly to Unahar.

Though he showed courtesy, it wasn’t as respectful as when he did it to me, as Unahar wasn’t his master.

I was secretly pleased with Kanel’s conduct, but Unahar just stared at him intently.

Even though I had added someone without consulting him, he didn’t express any displeasure.

We haven’t known each other for long, but like Lilith and Gio, he followed my words entirely, which I appreciated.

Perhaps I seemed reliable to Unahar too? If so, that’s fortunate for someone who’s to become a future guild leader.

At that moment, Unahar turned his head and looked at me with a gentle smile. 

“Can I stay by your side too, Rudel? I’m worried.”

I felt I couldn’t refuse this, so I nodded agreeably.

Unahar immediately took his place beside me, openly displaying his guarded attitude as he glared at Kanel. Was this a form of territorial behavior? 

Kanel seemed to accept this as a trial he had to endure with calm composure.

Thus, I sat in front of the cave with Kanel and Unahar, listening to Kanel’s story of how he survived the first round.

* * *

Aleon, even as night fell, didn’t check the results of the settlement but continued to hunt monsters. 

He wanted to process as many as possible quickly, since there were still many characters who hadn’t received their points.

He ran late into the night, finally collapsing into an ice bed deep within the Ice Castle, a bed only he could use. 

Just before falling asleep, many thoughts flooded his mind. The most troubling were the whispers he heard from the characters during the day.

“If you kill someone with a unique ability, you can steal it…”

‘How did such a bizarre rumor start? Who would kill someone for their unique ability?’

This newly born, kind character didn’t understand that people could kill others for their own benefit.

Aleon was so tired that he soon fell into a deep sleep.

At the same time, inside the Ice Castle, some people were still awake, creeping into Aleon’s bedroom with knives.

Aleon, with his heightened senses, felt their presence and quickly woke up, but he didn’t act. He couldn’t believe they had come with ill intentions.

Even when he saw multiple raised blades, he didn’t avoid them.

‘How, why…?’

He was dazed even as he saw a knife plunging into his chest.

The intruders, who hadn’t expected him to be awake, flinched in surprise.

“What did I do wrong to you…?”

Even the saint of blue light bled red when stabbed.

Aleon, clutching the wound that pierced his ribs, looked deeply hurt, as if his heart, not just his ribs, had been wounded.

Seeing their assassination target awake, the intruders’ expressions twisted with fear.

Having failed to assassinate a great warrior, they now faced the price of their failure: their lives.

Yet, they couldn’t completely abandon their fleeting hope.

Still, wouldn’t this kind and forgiving saint, if they pleaded sincerely enough, forgive them, thinking it was all a misunderstanding?

The moment it became clear that Aleon was gentle and merciful, people swarmed around him, hoping to take advantage of his kindness.

“…..”

But Aleon was human too. He could turn cold and ruthless, like the biting ice, given the right circumstances.

Just like now.

“I shared my power with you, so why…!”

As the blue eyes, once reflecting the ocean, grew murky like the depths of the sea, the characters holding knives trembled and dropped their weapons.

Should they beg for forgiveness?

Should they admit they did this to survive?

Or should they be more honest, confessing that their admiration turned to jealousy, and they wanted to steal his unique ability?

At that moment, one of the characters dropped to their knees and squeezed their eyes shut, shouting.

“Murder is rampant inside the Ice Castle!”

Aleon’s clenched fist loosened slightly.

Seeing an opportunity, another character hurriedly added.

“I’m sorry. We sinned to survive. But it’s not just here. As the final 12th day begins, the Ice Castle is filled with the stench of blood. Many are being killed.”

The blue saint’s face showed even more shock, too overwhelmed to compose himself.

“Why…?”

“A rumor spread. ‘If you kill someone with a unique ability, you can obtain it.’ They say it’s the special condition for unlocking unique abilities.”

At that moment, a character came running to the main hall of the Ice Castle. He was out of breath and stood behind the kneeling characters, directly in front of Aleon.

“Huff, Aleon…?”

Seeing Aleon bleeding, he was shocked to his core, but he still conveyed the news in a hushed voice.

“It’s false! Even those who killed people with unique abilities didn’t unlock them! They’ve killed about five people, but none of the five who were killed had their abilities unlocked! It’s a baseless rumor!”

The character ran up to Aleon, dropped to his knees, and bowed his head.

He quickly grasped the situation.

“Lord Aleon, we’ve all been deceived! Please, punish those who spread the false rumor and forgive us!”

Since when was Aleon a judge who punished wrongdoers?

Moments ago, these people were exposing their greed by attempting to assassinate him, but now, as the situation changed, they were suddenly bowing and begging for his protection.