Vol.3 Chapter 16

Konn’s PoV

The sound of clashing blades and the sharp impact of strikes echoed across the open courtyard, blending with the occasional bursts of laughter and shouts from other players.

The guild’s courtyard was vast—far larger than I had expected—with stone pathways weaving between training dummies and weapon racks stationed near the surrounding walls. Sunlight poured in unhindered, casting shadows on trees and fluttering banners that lined the perimeter.

Nearby, a group of fellow guild members gathered with their eyes fixed on the fights. They offered cheers, critiques, or just casual banter as the matches carried on.

“They look like they’re having fun,” I murmured to no one in particular.

I, along with the other three players who seemed to be new recruits of the guild, was in a somewhat secluded area from the other sparing guild members. That’s probably the reason we all got called out, although I don’t know what exactly they want to do to us.

“They called us here, but no one's even showing up! What a total waste of time,” Jin, a rowdy-looking boy, grumbled while folding his arms as he leaned casually against one of the stone columns framing the courtyard.

Like me, he is one of the guild's new recruits. His messy, dark hair frames sharp, angular features that only seem to accentuate his perpetually annoyed demeanor. There is a confidence—or perhaps arrogance—about him that makes me wary. I have a feeling that I shouldn’t get involved with him.

“Now, now, don’t be like that. Patience is a virtue. Who knows, you might even get to see the famous streamer Lizbeth if you wait tolerantly!” Cole, another one of the players present, chimed in.

In stark contrast to Jin’s brooding energy, Cole had a relaxed, almost carefree aura. His short blonde hair was neatly combed, his boyish grin showing no signs of fading as he chimed in with his attempt at diplomacy.

“…They are probably going to want to test us,” Bleau, the only girl in our 4-player group spoke softly.

Bleau stood slightly apart from the rest of the group, her stance calm and composed. Her silver hair, tied back in a practical ponytail, caught the light in a way that made her seem almost ethereal. Her calm and collected demeanor stood in stark contrast to the chaos surrounding us. She didn’t seem the least bit phased by the noise or the fact that we were being kept waiting.

“Oh, really! I hope Lizbeth is our tester! I really wanted to meet her in person! I heard that she’s even more beautiful up close!” Cole said with unrestrained glee.

At first, I wasn’t completely sure, but his actions have made it pretty obvious—he’s definitely a Lizbeth diehard fan. Honestly, I can’t blame him for it. I’m a fan myself, but it’s their support, Novo, who I really admire.

Novo’s one of the biggest reasons I joined this guild. I’m a spellcaster type of player, too, and the way she plays—a spellcaster who could go toe to toe with melee players—inspired me to step up my game and try to play like her. Her Moniker ‘The Battle Mage’ is really on point, and I wish I could be as good as her someday!

She even defeated Lua, a monster of a player, and dueled with Murasame, an AC title holder, in a staged match and became the MVP of the tournament! I mean, who wouldn’t be a fan of a support who could play like that?! The difference is I don’t go around fanboying like he does. I’ve still got some pride.

“I doubt that. I heard that the Atelier organization scouted Paradigm’s captain, Lizbeth. She’s training to become a professional player as we speak. She wouldn’t be here wasting her time against us. Although… haven’t they already tested us before we joined the guild? Why test us again?” I tried to join in the conversation.

“Oh please, the tester back then was a weakling. I didn’t even have to get serious to defeat the guy,” the egotistical guy, Jin, spoke derisively.

I wouldn’t say the tester was weak, but he’s got a point. I beat the guy who tested our skills before I joined the guild, too. From what I heard, Concord of Heroes didn’t even do these tests back then. But when team Paradigm, with three of their members in this guild, made waves a little over a month ago, this guild suddenly became popular.

Their unexpected underdog run in the tournament had everyone talking—they even beat the new generation of Paragons, who were heavily favored to win. This resulted in many applicants wanting to apply for the guild, thus the heavy screening. It took more than a month for me to become a member of the guild. I guess four of us were the lucky ones selected.

 This is my chance to make an impression! I hope the MVP of the Champion’s Brawl is here to see my moves!

---------------------------------

Serendipity and I made our way slowly towards the guild courtyard’s training ground, a little bit later than I’d like to be. I'm not actually that busy. I would’ve liked to arrive there earlier, but Serendipity begged me to make the newbies wait. She said it would be a powerplay of some sort to make the newbies respect me more.

I’m a bit doubtful, though. To me, it just felt rude—and honestly, a little pointless. But I wasn’t exactly a seasoned leader. I’d only recently stepped into this role, and dismissing Serendipity’s advice outright felt unwise. She seemed to know what she was talking about, even if her methods weren’t exactly my style.

“You’re sure it’s okay to make them wait?” I asked, glancing at her.

“Of course! This is what the managers at my trial internship do all the time—it’s a classic move, tried and true throughout history!” she said with confidence.

I sighed mentally. Still, the delay wasn’t all bad. It gave me a moment to collect myself before stepping into the spotlight—or rather, into the scrutinizing gazes of the new recruits. Socializing wasn’t exactly my forte, and I hoped I could make a good impression as the Guild Master of their new guild.

As we passed through the guild halls, the atmosphere began to shift. The muted buzz of activity became sharper and louder, the sounds of sparring matches and animated chatter spilling into the air. It wasn’t long before we arrived at the training grounds, a sprawling expanse of open space bordered by weapon racks, training dummies, and scattered groups of guild members honing their skills with each other.

As I scanned the place, it didn’t take long to spot the new recruits. They were gathered in a quieter, more isolated corner of the grounds, far enough from the main groups that they wouldn’t disturb anyone—or be disturbed themselves. The four of them stood together in a loose cluster, each exuding their own distinct vibe.

As we approached, I couldn’t help but notice the lingering stares from nearly everyone around the training grounds. Their gazes followed me like a current I couldn’t escape. It was probably because I held the highest position in this guild—a title that, while flattering, often felt more like a spotlight I hadn’t entirely earned.

That said, I wasn’t the sole authority here. While I do have the highest ‘voting power’ among all of the guild members, veterans like Dust and Arroganz still carried weight in the guild’s critical decisions. Dust, in particular, had a knack for steering the ship from behind the scenes, her influence subtle but undeniably present even when she was not the leader anymore.

It made me wonder sometimes if she had specifically chosen me to be the “face” of the guild. Maybe my popularity among the members and the CoA community as a whole made me an obvious pick, or maybe it was one of her carefully calculated moves. Knowing Dust, she never did anything without a reason. That woman was always scheming.

Not that I minded that much, to be honest. If her strategies helped keep this guild strong and thriving, I wasn’t about to argue. Being the face of the guild wasn’t exactly a role I would’ve volunteered for, but if it meant keeping things running smoothly, I would gladly cooperate with her since I think she has our best interest in mind.

Still, the weight and expectations of their stares were something I was going to have to get used to—if that was even possible. I adjusted my posture slightly, trying to look more composed than I felt, and put my trusted poker face on. This is to play my part as our reliable Guild Master, after all.

As we approached the group of recruits, I ran through every possible scenario in my head, searching for the perfect words to make a strong first impression. Just as I was about to open my mouth to speak, ready to wing it if necessary, Serendipity beat me to the punch.

"Hey there, newbies! I’m Serendipity, one of the higher-ups around here. I help keep things running smoothly, and, well... let’s say I have a knack for handling all kinds of situations," Serendipity started, her voice upbeat as she stepped forward with a smile.

She paused just long enough to make sure all eyes were on her before continuing.

"And here we have the strongest player in our guild—our guild Master! She’s super busy managing all the important stuff, so consider yourselves lucky she’s taking the time to check in on you today personally. You guys better be grateful!" she said with an exaggerated gesture toward me.

What’s with the grand introduction!? You make me sound more important than I really am! Also, I’m not busy in the slightest; in fact, I could’ve come here sooner if it hadn’t been for you!

As Serendipity finished her introduction, I caught the spark of excitement that lit up the recruits’ faces. It was subtle at first—a slight widening of their eyes, the way their postures straightened, as if they hadn’t expected to see the guild master standing before them in person.

One guy in particular, Konn (as I glanced at his in-game name on top of his head), seemed like he’d just met a celebrity or something. The sheer enthusiasm radiating from him was so intense it was almost blinding, and I couldn’t help but blink in mild disbelief.

“Let’s not waste any more of our Guild Master’s time, so let’s start! You! The guy over there looking completely lovestruck!” she pointed towards Konn.

“M-me?” he stammered, his voice cracking slightly as he pointed to himself, as though hoping she might mean someone else.

“Yes, you. You’re the only one staring at our Guild Master like a lovestruck fool. Don’t think I didn’t notice. Now, get in here and show me what you’ve got!” She gestured toward the center of the training grounds, already moving to take her position with the confidence of someone who owned the space.

I could see the embarrassment in the poor guy’s face and body language as he slowly walked to the sparring ground. His shoulders hunched slightly as he shuffled forward, clearly wishing the ground would swallow him whole.

Isn’t that a bit too much, Serendipity?! Even I’m feeling secondhand embarrassment at your absurd statement! Good thing I’m a thousand times better at hiding my emotions compared to him!

As Konn finally took his position opposite Serendipity, the atmosphere shifted. Gone was the nervous recruit shuffling forward in embarrassment. His posture straightened, and though there was still a faint trace of unease in his eyes, it was now tempered with determination, as if wanting to prove himself.

On the other hand, Serendipity’s playful demeanor melted away as she planted her feet firmly, her expression hardening into something sharper. She exuded the presence of someone who had been through countless matches and knew exactly what she was doing.

With a casual flick of her hand, she summoned her weapon, a massive bastard sword that seemed to shimmer as it materialized in her grasp, then let it rest on her shoulder with only one hand while placing her other hand on her hip in a relaxed position. Its sheer size was enough to make any opponent hesitate, especially if she held it effortlessly like that.

“Ready when you are!” she called out with a loud voice that cut through the momentary stillness.

Konn summoned his wizard staff in response, the orb at the top glowing an ominous black with a hint of violet—a dead giveaway that he was a shadow mage.

Shadow mages are all about quick-casting spells and nasty debuffs, which make them pretty solid in one-on-one fights. The downside? They don’t pack as much firepower or have those big AOE attacks like fire or ice mages, which is probably why they’re not exactly the most popular choice for spellcasters.

Although, that doesn’t stop people with 3rd-grade syndrome from picking up and learning the arts. Though he probably isn’t one of them… I hope.

Konn started to cast a spell, but Serendipity seemed unbothered; it was as if she was giving him a head start in the match.

The chant was quickly completed, and Konn cast spikes of dark shadows erupted from the ground, racing toward Serendipity in a straight line. It was ridiculously fast—way too quick to dodge unless you were already prepared. But, of course, Serendipity was a step ahead.

Without missing a beat, she slammed the tip of her sword into the ground and used it like a pole, vaulting herself high into the air. The shadow spikes shot past harmlessly as she soared above them. Then, mid-jump, she twisted her body into a smooth somersault, the momentum of the flip adding extra power to her downward swing.

BOOOM*

Wha!” Konn exclaimed as he frantically stepped out of the way of the attack.

Props to Konn for dodging what would’ve definitely been a one-hit KO. But the shockwave from the impact was an entirely different matter. It hit him hard, knocking him off balance as he stumbled backward, clearly struggling to stay on his feet.

Konn

HP: 94%

Serendipity could have ended the match then and there, but she stood back and waited for Konn to recover. She was probably remembering what I told her earlier about wanting to get a better read on the new member’s gameplay. While I appreciated it, I couldn’t shake the slight pang of guilt. It was obvious she was holding back, limiting herself in the duel to humor my demands.

Even with the handicap, the gap in skill was glaringly obvious. Konn was a spellcaster—a role best suited for long-range combat and strategic positioning. Without someone to cover him, his vulnerability against close-range melee players like Serendipity was clear.

Every time he cast a spell, Serendipity was ready, shutting him down with perfectly timed counters and flawless execution. She made it effortless, too, as though she were always two steps ahead.

That is when something unexpected happens. As Serendipity closed the distance between them once again, Konn unleashed a dark, pulsating shadow ball, aiming to force her back. But Serendipity wasn’t having it.

In a move that was equal parts practical and showy, she swung her massive sword like a baseball bat, deflecting the orb mid-air with the side of its blade and sending it hurtling harmlessly to the side.

Holy! I didn’t even think that move was possible! I had a basic idea of her gameplay style, but I didn’t realize she was this good. Still, there’s something about the way she moves that’s really bugging me—it feels so familiar. Like, I’ve seen this style somewhere before.

Her gameplay has this weirdly chill vibe as if she’s just casually swinging that massive sword around with a carefree attitude. This causes her opponent to be caught off guard after she then does bursts of speed that contradict her calm demeanor and insanely huge bastard sword.

She charged forward after beautifully deflecting the Shadow Ball spell. But just as she reached him, Konn made a shocking move. Discarding his staff in one fluid motion and throwing it to the side, his hands disappeared into his robes.

When they reappeared, they weren’t empty. Two gleaming daggers—slim, sharp, and glinting with an ominous light—caught the fading sunlight as he revealed his hidden weapons.

The switch was so sudden that even Serendipity wasn’t ready for it. Before she could react, Konn struck. One of his daggers sliced cleanly across her side, a move that caught her off guard and chipped her HP for the very first time in the duel.

KACHACK*

Serendipity

HP: 78%

Simultaneously, Konn’s second dagger was aimed straight for her head in what would have been a critical hit. But Serendipity wasn’t the kind to go down that easily. On pure instinct, she shot out her free hand and caught Konn’s wrist mid-swing, redirecting the blade just in time.

It missed her by a hair, the rush of air brushing past her face. She winced, feeling the sting of the first slash on her side, but her focus never wavered. Without wasting a moment, she retaliated with a swift, calculated kick. Her boot connected with Konn's torso in a brutal, almost effortless motion.

The force of the blow was enough to shatter his balance completely, and he tumbled to the ground in an awkward heap, his daggers scattering slightly out of reach.

As Konn tried to push himself up, Serendipity quickly stepped forward. In one fluid motion, she raised her weapon high above her head, the blade gleaming ominously under the training ground lights. Then, with a power-packed swing, she brought it crashing down toward him.

THUNK*

I could see Konn’s instincts taking over as he squeezed his eyes shut—a reflex, even in the VR world, where pain was simulated but never real. The sound of Serendipity’s sword hitting the ground rang out throughout the courtyard.

When Konn dared to open his eyes again, he found the massive blade embedded in the dirt mere inches from his head. The earth beneath it cracked under the sheer force, sending small tremors rippling out from the point of impact.

Even though all weapon stats were normalized in this training match, everyone knew the raw power of a bastard sword. These weapons were infamous for their crushing damage output, second to none in terms of sheer destructive force.

The catch, of course, was their weight—a challenge for anyone without the proper strength stats to handle them effectively. But in the hands of someone like Serendipity, a single critical hit was more than enough to obliterate a squishy mage’s health bar, even in this practice setting. It was clear Serendipity was sending a message that the match was already over.

“That was a nice move! You almost caught me off guard there,” Serendipity said with a grin as she put her weapon back in her inventory, disappearing into motes of light.

I had to agree—the last attack was solid. His style during that final stretch reminded me a bit of my own, though it was pretty clear he didn’t have much experience handling daggers as a backup weapon.

“T-thank you for the match!” Konn stammered as he scrambled to his feet.

He gave Serendipity a quick, respectful bow, but not without sneaking a glance in my direction before hurrying back to join the other recruits.

Wait a second. What was that glance about? Was it supposed to mean something? Judging by the way he fought, it kind of feels like he’s been studying my play style. Could he be hoping I’ll take him on as a protégé? Yeah, sorry, that’s not happening—I’ve already got Clarissa as my official protégé. Still, I wouldn’t mind giving him a few pointers to help him improve.

As the sparring match wrapped up, I realized the atmosphere had totally changed. What started as just a handful of guild members hanging around the training grounds had turned into a full-on crowd.

More and more onlookers had gathered, drawn by the clash of weapons and the sheer energy of Serendipity’s fight. Their chatter rose above the usual training ground noises, and I could hear snippets of their conversation floating through the air.

“Woah, that newbie got destroyed!”

“He’s fighting Seren, so that’s to be expected.”

“Yeah, he didn’t stand a chance.”

“I agree. That’s Arroganz’s protégé for ya’!”

Wait, did I hear correctly?! Serendipity never told me that our Vice Guild Leader was her mentor! That’s why her playstyle was familiar! That explains a lot!

Meanwhile, Serendipity was already heading toward me with a grin plastered on her face. She didn’t seem fazed in the slightest by the attention she was getting.

“Well?” she said as she stopped in front of me, resting her hands on her hips.

“How was that?” her smile widened, her tone laced with pride as she tilted her head slightly as if expecting praise from me.

“Yeah, that was a good fight,” I said, keeping my tone casual but sincere.

The effect was instant—she practically lit up, grinning like she’d just won a trophy. She clearly loved hearing praises.

“But I didn’t know you were Arroganz’s protégé,” I added, blurting out the thing I’d been dying to ask.

Her smile slipped for just a second before she covered it with a quick laugh.

“Oops, you caught that, huh? I didn’t want to bring it up because I didn’t want you to think I only got to where I am because of, you know, connections or anything like that. This… doesn’t change anything, right?” she said, her tone suddenly more serious.

“Of course not. You’re extremely capable and skilled. I could tell you earned the right to be a high-ranking officer of our guild,” I met her gaze evenly, speaking with as much honesty as I could.

Her eyes widened a little at my words, but then her smile came back in full force.

“Phew, that’s a relief!” she said, letting out an exaggerated, dramatic sigh.

Still, my mind was racing. If she’s Arroganz’s protégé, could she be holding a grudge about me beating her mentor and taking the title of the guild’s strongest? Don’t tell me… what if she’s only sticking close to me to find my weakness, waiting for her chance to get back at me?! I should always remember to keep one eye open!

“Breaks over. Next up is you!” she pointed at the other new recruit whose IGN was Cole.

They both moved to their positions on the training grounds. The tension in the air was palpable as the crowd of onlookers shifted their focus to the next match.

Just as the match was about to begin, Cole raised his hand and excitedly blurted out, “Oh-oh! Before we start, I have a question! I have a question!”

Serendipity arched a brow, clearly caught off guard by his sudden outburst.

“What is it?” she asked curiously.

“Is Miss Lizbeth going to spar with us, too?” Cole asked, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

It was as if he had been holding onto that question for the entire day, and now that he finally had the chance to ask, he wasn’t going to let it slip away.

The reaction was immediate. Serendipity froze for a moment, staring at him as though he’d just grown a second head. Her expression quickly shifted to one of disbelief, and honestly, I couldn’t blame her since I was thinking the exact same thing. Note to self: keep this weirdo far, far away from Liz.

“Not a chance. She’s too busy practicing with her team to entertain the likes of you. I’ll be your opponent instead,” Serendipity thankfully denied his request while materializing her giant bastard sword.

This time, her opponent was a tank with a heavy shield, an extremely good matchup for her. No tanks could withstand a pure DPS strength build as Serendipity.

I made mental notes of every movement, watching closely for any hidden potential in Cole. Serendipity moved first, closing the distance with alarming speed for someone wielding such a heavy weapon. Cole braced himself, raising his shield just in time to block her first swing.

To his credit, Cole held his ground better than I expected. His shield absorbed blow after blow as Serendipity pressed forward with relentless attacks. But it didn’t take long to see the difference in skill. Serendipity was overpowering him in every aspect.

It wasn’t that Cole was weak—not at all. These recruits were the strongest we could find, after all. But Serendipity was on a completely different level. At this point, it felt less like I was evaluating the new recruits and more like Serendipity was putting on a show.

The match with Cole concluded as anticipated, with Serendipity securing victory by executing a precise arc swing that effectively disarmed his shield.

Following that, the evaluation continued, with the third recruit being called out by Serendipity.

“Alright, next. Bleau, you’re up!”

The only female player among the new recruits stepped forward, her IGN glowing faintly above her head. Bleau walked quietly towards the spotlight, her posture straight and her expression calm. She simply moved into position, making it clear she wasn’t one for unnecessary small talk.

Serendipity raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued by the recruit’s no-nonsense approach.

“Not much of a talker, huh? Alright then, let’s get to it,” she said curtly.

As the match began, Bleau immediately summoned her staff, its jewel glimmering with a soft golden light- a clear sign that she was a healer. Serendipity paused for a moment, glancing at me for confirmation before turning back to Bleau.

“Since you’re a full support mage, let’s keep it simple. Focus on surviving my attacks for as long as you can,” she instructed firmly.

The fight began, and it was clear from the start that this match would be very different from the last. Bleau had little to no offensive spells to rely on—her entire strategy revolved around her ability to evade and endure.

Serendipity didn’t hold back too much, sending quick, calculated strikes her way to test her reflexes. To my surprise, Bleau dodged with surprising agility, weaving between attacks and keeping her distance.

The match quickly turned into a display of survival skills, with Bleau expertly timing her movements to avoid the worst of Serendipity’s onslaught. She utilized defensive spells to reduce damage and maintain her stamina, showing a level of composure that was rare for a spellcaster. Her survival skills were good—really good—but not quite on the same level as Clarissa. Of course, I’m definitely not biased or anything!

In the end, Serendipity stepped back, her grip on the massive sword loosening as she lowered the blade to her side. The tension in the air dissipated as she glanced toward Bleau, her expression calm but slightly thoughtful.

“I think we’ve seen enough. Good work,” Serendipity praised.

Bleau straightened up a bit as if the compliment had taken a load off her shoulders. She gave a quick nod and slowly headed back to join the other recruits.

Before Serendipity could even call for the last recruit, Jin stepped forward, cutting through the space with a sense of purpose. His stride was confident and overbearing, while his posture was upright and collected.

I tried to remember the data I had on him. Jin… ranked 894 in solo play and is the strongest of the new recruits. He’s about as strong as Chu was when we first met in terms of solo rank. If Serendipity doesn’t take him seriously, she’s in for a tough fight.

That reminds me that I hadn’t been in contact with Chu recently. Well, that guy has always been a reclusive edge lord, so I’m not all that surprised. I heard he’s already joined a pro team, but that’s all I know.

“Finally, it’s my turn. I was already getting bored watching weaklings fight,” Jin said as he arrived in the center of the sparing ground.

Serendipity’s eyes narrowed slightly at the remark, but she kept her composure. While clearly annoyed, she chose to let the insult slide.

“Are you ready?” she asked, skipping over the provocation entirely.

“Sorry, but I’m not interested in fighting you. I’m here to fight only the strongest of the strong,” he said while materializing his weapon of choice, a glaive.

The glaive he summoned was nothing short of majestic—its blade gleamed with intricate carvings, and the shaft was wrapped in dark, polished leather, giving it an almost regal appearance.

I’m pretty sure it’s a unique weapon according to the data we have on him, although it’s probably a new one since I’m not familiar with it. But I didn’t have time to think much about it as Jin raised the glaive and pointed it directly at me.

“I only joined this mediocre guild 'cause I heard your skills are almost on par with Murasame’s. Though, let’s be real—I’m sure the rumors are blown way out of proportion. No way you would hold a candle to an AC title holder, but hey, I’m here to see if you’re at least worth my time,” he said derisively.

His intentions were obvious—he wanted a one-on-one duel with me. Although he was pretty rude about it, he seems to have the skills to back it up. Players like him, though, tend to let their talents go to their heads. It's not the first time I’ve dealt with someone like that before.

“Wha-! Show some respect! It’s our Guild Master you’re talking to, newbie! Trash like you should know your place!” Serendipity berated him for his actions.

What the heck, Serendipity! Now I’m sure you’re Arroganz’s protégé! You’re as much of a trash-talker as he was back then!

Jin, however, remained unfazed. If anything, her words seemed to amuse him. He tilted his head slightly, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

“Respect isn’t something that’s handed out so easily. Besides, I only respect those who are stronger than me,” he said, his tone dripping with mockery.

My observant eye caught Serendipity’s expression darkened while she clenched her fist at her sides.

“Listen here, you lowlife fuckin’ piece of-”

As Serendipity was about to have a… heart-to-heart talk with the guy, I stopped her immediately.

“Very well,” I said while trying to make my voice as clear and as authoritative as I could.

I would appear weak if I declined it. I don’t want that to happen, especially in front of so many guild members. As our guild’s leader, I need to be their role model after all.

“But-” Serendipity tried to protest, but I held out my hand to stop her.

“It’s fine, Serendipity… and besides…” I said while walking confidently to the middle of the courtyard.

Arriving face to face with Jin, I pulled my trusted concealed daggers from their holster placed within my mage robe with a flourish.

 “I’ll make it quick,” I declared confidently as I settled into my fighting stance.

Judging by the reactions from the new recruits and the buzz from the other guild members watching, my posturing was definitely working.

It’s not like I wanted to look cool in front of them or anything! It’s just that I got to play the part of a respected guild leader, after all. This much bravado is only necessary!

Plus, I’ve been craving a real challenge ever since my duel with Arroganz. Although I loathe to admit it, Tactical was right that it is just in my nature to seek out the strong.

Hopefully, this guy can at least give me something to work with.