Vol.3 Chapter 15

It has been a few days since I assumed the role of guild leader. The increased responsibility is demanding but also deeply fulfilling, like finding a new goal to strive for—making our guild one of the strongest in the game.

Besides, I served as Celeste’s de facto secretary back then, somewhat like what Serendipity was doing now but with fewer responsibilities. Therefore, I’m slightly familiar with handling guilds—one of the reasons I was doing fine even as a new leader.

During my review of the data Seren sent me, I noticed that our guild currently lacks individually skilled players compared to the Paragon guild. It can’t be helped, though; it’s not like we are a top guild—well, not yet, at least.

I have compiled the data provided and organized teams that align with each member's strengths. However, I am missing detailed information for some of our newer members, which has made precise assignments challenging.

No matter. The more challenging it gets, the faster it gets my blood pumping, like figuring out an impossible-to-beat hidden boss’ attack pattern after fighting multiple times… Wait, am I actually masochistic or something?

I shook my head away from such thoughts and called out to my guildmate, whom I had become close with over the past couple of days. Ever since Dust passed the baton to me, she rarely made appearances here anymore, leaving me to figure things out on my own. Thankfully, Serendipity is always reliable, unlike our former guild leader.

"Serendipity, can you set up a schedule for the training grounds with these players? I want to test them myself,” I asked, holding out a list of names I had prepared.

“I’ll handle the testing, Guild Master! Please just watch and gather data from the sidelines,” she declared firmly.

Her sudden insistence caught me off guard. Is this how Dust used to handle things? I wasn’t used to having someone fight on my behalf—it felt… strange. Besides, Serendipity already had so much on her plate, and I didn’t want to burden her with even more responsibilities.

“It’s fine. I can do it myself. I know you already have a lot to deal with,” I replied, trying to reason with her.

“No! It’s my obligation to uphold the guild’s hierarchy! I can’t let any small fry even have the chance to fight you, the strongest player in our guild, without going through me first!” Serendipity stood her ground, her voice unwavering.

You don’t have to go that far, though! What’s with this reverence!? And why would you call your fellow guild members ‘small fry’?! Isn’t that a bit too much!? Do you have a grudge against them or something?!

“Ahem,” I cleared my throat before I said something absurd to her. “A-alright, if it’s fine with you, then I’ll be counting on you again, Serendipity,” I finally conceded.

Besides, this might be better overall since I’ve never actually seen Serendipity in action, as there are no recordings of her battles. However, based on the data I’ve gathered, she has an impressive win percentage in one-on-one fights. Surprisingly, she’s also a top-ranker, holding the 941st spot in our North American region.

Liz and Chu’s rank is still higher, but the ranking system isn’t always the best indicator of skill. Our guild’s ace, Arroganz, is not even in the top 1 thousand rankers this PVP season simply because he hasn’t played many ranked matches. Nevertheless, his capabilities are unparalleled among our members, making him the strongest member of our guild, regardless of his rank.

“Leave it to me! I’ll thrash those newbies so hard that they would know their place.”

Please don’t! That defeats the purpose! At least give them time to showcase their skills!

After her confident proclamation, she positioned herself by my side, standing alert as if guarding me. I’ve seen her do this many times before. Now that I think about it, she always tries to stay by my side whenever she is online.

“Seren, you don’t have to stick around all the time. I’ve got things under control now,” I said, hoping to ease her sense of duty since she had been a lot of help after I became the guild leader.

“I know, but what if an assassin or a rogue guild member tries something? Someone has to protect the guild master,” she rebutted.

Logically, I knew the chances of that happening were slim. With the sheer size of our guild, any assassin bold enough to invade would be swarmed before they could act. It would essentially be a free loot giveaway for us.

Still, if it makes her happy to roleplay the guard, then who am I to dissuade her?

“You know, a friend of mine mentioned something about this one guild, the Order of Ragath—” she started, her words picking up momentum as she dove into yet another tale.

She had slipped into her talkative mode, not that I minded. Honestly, her stories about the players she knows are pretty amusing. I’ve never been too much for gossiping myself, but I’m starting to see why people find it so appealing.

She went on to share other stories about a guild leader she knows who was assassinated. These assassinations are often carried out as a form of advertisement for assassin guilds. Successfully taking down a guild leader serves as proof of their skill and boosts their reputation, which helps them secure more commissions.

However, when a guild’s leader is assassinated, it has the unfortunate effect of tarnishing the guild’s reputation. After all, who would trust a guild that couldn’t even protect its own leader from an assassin’s attack? It reflects poorly on the guild’s overall capability and teamwork.

Additionally, it seems to act as a sort of bragging right for those guys. Within their tight-knit community, they share stories of their successful assassinations to showcase their skills and accomplishments.

Honestly, I can’t understand what goes through the minds of these assassin fanatics. Maybe spending too many hours playing VR stealth games has warped their sense of normalcy or something.

While she chattered on, I listened half-heartedly to her stories. My focus was divided as I worked on finalizing the guild war lineups to ensure the teams were balanced and synergized.

Every now and then, I nodded or murmured a vague “mm-hmm” or “yes” to let her know I was still listening. Her stories about guild drama and quirky player antics were amusing in the background, even if my full attention wasn’t on her at the moment.

As she had just begun another tale, this one involving a friend who apparently owed her a couple of loot from a dungeon run, a sharp, insistent ring broke through my concentration, piercing the otherwise calm atmosphere. It was a call from someone.

Curious, I glanced at the culprit and saw it was Aria. She probably wants to check up on me again. She’s been calling me a lot lately after the tournament. Without hesitation, I tapped the answer button.

“Katherine, congratulations on becoming your guild’s leader,” she talked over immediately after I answered.

Her voice was steady and composed, yet I could catch a hint of warmth and happiness behind her tone.

“I… didn’t think you’d know about that,” I responded casually.

It wasn’t that I was trying to hide it, but I didn’t go around announcing the promotion either. Besides, our guild isn’t exactly a major contender in the game, and it is certainly not on the same level as hers. I never expected it to catch her attention.

“It’s my duty to stay informed about any changes in our alliance guilds,” she replied with a confident chuckle, her words carrying the weight of her role.

“Well, that’s true. You are a guild leader now, too,” I said, a smile tugging at my lips.

It’s big news among all CoA players. Paragon, one of the strongest guilds, has a new leader after Celeste handed the position to Aria. Even though I’m not one for gossip, it’s impossible to miss something everybody talks about within the community.

We spent some time discussing CoA-related matters, delving into the advantages and challenges of leading our respective guilds. It was surprisingly enjoyable to exchange insights, knowing we both shared similar experiences and responsibilities.

After catching up for a while, her tone shifted, shedding the casual ease it had carried before.

“Uhm… Katherine. I have a request to make,” she said hesitantly.

The change in her demeanor immediately caught my attention. It seems she wants to talk about something important. Does it involve guild-related matters she can’t do on her own? If it's just that, then I would help her the best I can.

Still, it would be prudent to ask what she wants, just to be sure.

"Go on," I said helpfully, giving her the space to speak at her own pace.

She looked a little hesitant at first but eventually started explaining, giving some backstory before getting to the point.

“So, before every guild war season, one of the top Italian-based guilds hosts this big event. It started a while back—Italians and their customs, you know—and now it’s become a regular thing. Only the top ten guilds get invited, and each guild can bring up to two players to join," she said, pausing for a moment before continuing.

"With the new patch coming out—and it’s supposed to shake things up in CoA—I feel like this is the perfect chance to build connections with other strong guilds. Staying ahead of the game is always a good idea, so... I’m thinking of going."

“So... you’re asking me to join you at that event?” I said, already sensing where this was going.

She hesitated, then nodded. “If you’re okay with it. Having another guild leader with me would be... super helpful,” she said, her tone so hopeful it made it really hard to say no.

Stay strong, Kat! You’re awful at social events. Don’t let the peer pressure get to you!

“Don’t you have someone else to bring? What about Lucy and the others?” I asked hurriedly, wanting to find a way out of this situation.

“…They’re all… busy training,” she said tersely.

What’s with the long pause?! Is she hiding something?

But before I could suggest another player to invite, she pressed on.

“Besides, you’re aiming to bolster your guild’s rank, correct? It’s a good idea to keep tabs on the top ten guilds out there. It’ll help you understand the competition better. You could also know the queuing time of the guilds you’d like to avoid, giving you a better shot at racking up the longest win streak possible in the upcoming guild war,” she made a good point.

I heard that top guilds had different queue times during guild wars to prevent them from facing each other and sabotaging each other’s chances at getting high win streaks, so I guess that’s really true, huh?

Looks like there’s no real downside to going with her—only upsides. Gathering intel on enemies is always a smart move in any battle. Even if I’m not big on the whole socializing part, I’ve got to step up and do my job as the guild leader. I mean, I do get a share of the guild’s profits… even if I end up donating half of it right back to the guild.

“…Alright, I’ll go with you,” after much deliberation on the pros and cons, I finally relented.

“It’s a promise!” she suddenly declared with glee, as if not wanting me to break my word, which shows how much she knows my personality.

“Once it's finalized, I’ll send you the date and time via private message. Talk to you later!” she ended the call, which cemented my fate of going with her to this event.

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

Yuna’s PoV

“One of your special, please,” I said in a muffled voice due to the face mask I wore.

It’s been a few days since we won the AC, and I’ve been touring parts of the US I’ve never visited before. My Father wanted me to bring a couple of bodyguards along, but honestly, there’s no need for that—I’m in disguise anyway.

I’m sick and tired of bodyguards following me around ever since I can remember, especially since they serve as my Father's surveillance people to monitor everything I do. I always felt like a caged bird whenever those guys were around.

Luckily, now that I’ve made a name for myself due to our recent momentous win, there’s no way he can talk me out of it since I don’t need to rely on him anymore.

That's a good thing, too, because right now, I can enjoy eating my fill without anyone tailing me at this highly rated pastry cafe, indulging in some absolutely amazing sweets.

I never realized just how enjoyable it could be to go on tours and explore fantastic food spots. Growing up, I only ever saw this kind of lifestyle in social media posts by travel and food bloggers. My strict upbringing always emphasized business over pleasure, even during trips abroad, so I never had the chance to experience it myself.

Thinking about it now, if I hadn’t become a professional player and got involved in the Atelier organization, I’m pretty sure I would’ve ended up as a food blogger. It’s hard not to imagine myself sharing stories and photos of incredible meals from all over.

“Here you go, miss! Our special pastry for the day!” The cheerful voice of the waitress pulled me back to the present.

She placed the plate in front of me with a delicate flourish, along with tea.

The cake she served was a masterpiece—each layer perfectly stacked, vibrant in color, and topped with a swirl of frosting that could have come straight from a magazine.

I looked up briefly and caught her bright, friendly smile.

“...Thanks,” I murmured, keeping my voice low and deliberately different from my usual tone, which prompted another bright smile from her.

After the waitress left, I carefully lifted my mask just enough to take a bite. The moment the flavors hit my tongue, my eyes widened in pure delight.

The cake was divine—rich, moist, and perfectly balanced in sweetness. The creamy frosting melted like a dream, and the subtle hints of fresh fruit added a refreshing burst of flavor. It was overwhelming in the best possible way.

I let out a small, almost inaudible sigh of contentment as I savored the bite. For that brief moment, nothing else seemed to matter but the pure joy of this incredibly delish cake.

That was… until a voice pierced through the haze of bliss.

“Hey, isn’t that Yuna?!” someone murmured from a nearby table.

Panic surged through me like a jolt of electricity. Oh, shoot! I forgot to put my mask back on to cover my whole face! I blame it on the cake for being super heavenly!

“No way, dude. You’re probably hallucinating because you’re such a frigin’ die-hard fan of hers… although I gotta admit, she does have a similar figure,” one of them said, his tone skeptical but laced with curiosity.

I froze for a moment, my mind racing. It was only a matter of time before someone connected the dots. Seems like it’s time to bail, I thought, suppressing a sigh. And I was actually enjoying my time here.

But before making my exit, I couldn’t resist. I picked up my fork and took one last bite of the cake, savoring the rich, decadent flavors as if it were my last meal. Then, I reached for my tea, taking a quick sip to wash it down.

Standing up, I adjusted my mask back into place, making sure it was secure this time. I reached into my purse and left a generous tip on the table—more than enough to show my appreciation for the delectable dessert.

As I stepped out of the café, the cool air hit my face, and I let out a long, frustrated sigh. I wanted to finish that cake so badly. But now, all I could do was hope that my brief slip-up wouldn’t cause too much of a stir.

Pulling my hood a little lower, I briskly walked down the dimly lit street to create some distance from the shop. As I turned a corner, my eyes caught something familiar—a giant digital billboard glowing brightly against the night sky. There I was, plastered on the screen, striking a confident pose and winking playfully at the camera.

Oh, right. That’s the ad for the fashion designer brand I collaborated with not too long ago, I thought, pausing for a moment to take it in. Ever since my popularity skyrocketed, they’ve been replaying my advertisement nonstop, capitalizing on the momentum. Not that I could blame them. Exposure is exposure, and the more people see it, the better—for both of us.

As I continued walking, I noticed a guy coming from the opposite direction. His gaze fell on me for a second, curious but fleeting. Then, his eyes shifted to the billboard above us. Slowly, his gaze came back to me, lingering for just a beat longer this time.

For a moment, I thought I was going to get busted again, but he just shook his head and kept walking.

Phew! I guess my disguise isn’t as bad as I thought. I was probably just unlucky back at the café.

As I walked toward the train station, I glanced at my phone, pulling up the directions to my next destination. The soft glow of the screen lit up my face as I double-checked the route.

Next stop, Philadelphia City.

A small smile tugged at the corner of my lips as the thought crossed my mind. Now that I think about it, Summit Peak Academy—the school where that girl our organization has been eyeing for recruitment—is in that city. Their promotional t-shirt was hard to miss, and while her current address wasn’t publicly available, the knowledge of where she studied was an advantage I planned to use.

It was the perfect opportunity to cross paths with her and even persuade her to join us. I’m positive that she won’t say no to me in person. Every CoA player greatly admires the best of the best, and it would be a dream come true for her to spend time with someone who holds an Andartha Cup title like me.

I’m pretty sure she was already my fan before I even became a title holder. I mean, who isn’t? Adding someone of her caliber would be a massive boost for my guild, and opportunities like this didn’t come often.

Guess it’s time to call in a favor, I thought as I stopped by the side of the road, pulling out my phone. Scrolling through my contacts list until I found a familiar name. I tapped on the number, brought the phone to my ear, and waited as the call began to ring.

After a couple of rings, the line connected.

“Hi~ hi~! Jonas!” I said in a playful, sing-song tone, hoping to ease into the conversation naturally.

“Oh! Miss Eun! It’s been a while! What a pleasant surprise! I haven’t even had the chance to properly thank you for that generous donation! And, of course, congrats on the win! You and your team are all over the news these days—everyone’s been talking about you!” came the delighted response on the other end.

“Thank you~!” I responded, my genuine emotion resonating with my voice this time.

We exchanged pleasantries. There was a certain ease to our conversations that made it feel like no time had passed since we’d last spoken. But eventually, the moment came to shift gears and get to the real reason I had called him.

“Oh~! Before I forget, I have a little favor to ask!” I said, leaning into the playful tone I often used when I wanted something done.

“Of course! Ask away, and I’ll do my best to deliver!” came the cheerful response from the other end.

“Well,” I began, drawing out the word just slightly, “can you ask someone over at Summit Peak University in Philadelphia City to help me find a student’s address?” I kept my tone light and casual, hoping it would ease the ask.

There was a brief pause on the line, and I could practically hear the gears turning in his head.

“Uhm, you know that’s against the privacy rules,” he said cautiously, his voice tinged with hesitation.

Time to bring out the charm.

“Pretty pleeeaaaaase~! I’m on my way to Philly right now, and there’s this girl I’ve been friends with online for a while! I only know she goes to Summit Peak Uni in that city. I don’t want to ask her directly where she lives because I want it to be a surprise~! I just know she’d be super-duper happy if we met in person!”

He stayed silent for a moment. I could tell he was mulling it over.

“Hmm, all right, since it’s you,” he said, relenting at last. “I’ll ask someone I trust to check into the student’s schedule. But I can’t promise anything beyond that—I definitely can’t ask for her address. That’s way out of my bounds. I don't want to face any legal charges.”

“That’s perfectly fine! Thank you~!” I assured him quickly, not wanting to push my luck any further.

“Hehe, not a problem at all! So, who’s this lucky friend you’re so eager to surprise?” he replied, his tone light and playful now.

“Oh, her~? It’s Katherine Katyusha.”