Vol.3 Chapter 4

“Novo! Over here!” Clarissa suddenly exclaimed.

Currently, we were in the middle of a dungeon run to gain experience points and level up. Having been suddenly called, I glanced over at her and noticed her excitement. She had her usual innocent, picturesque look that was simply adorable!

“What is it?” I asked, intrigued by her sudden enthusiasm.

“Follow me! There is something I want to show you!”

My curiosity was piqued, so I followed her as she led me through the dungeon's winding passages. Eventually, we stopped in front of an unassuming section of the wall.

“So… what are we looking at?” I asked, glancing around for any clues.

“Uhm… wait a second,” she said nervously as she pressed a series of stones in a specific pattern.

To my astonishment, the wall slid open, revealing a hidden passageway.

“Is this… a secret entrance? I’ve never heard of this before,” I muttered, my voice filled with disbelief.

“Hehe, so there is something that even Novo doesn’t know about. It was part of a Valentine's event patch back in February. I just found out about it on a forum!” she replied with a giggle, which highlighted her cuteness even further.

I see. That explains why a veteran like me hasn’t heard about this secret entrance at all. It also explains why she was so insistent on running this specific dungeon for her experience grind, even though I had pointed out that it wasn’t the most efficient choice.

We ventured into the secret corridor, the walls illuminated by faint, glowing runes. The air was cooler here, and the sounds of the dungeon outside were muffled, creating an almost eerie silence. As we walked, the passageway twisted and turned until it finally opened up into a hidden chamber.

In the center of the chamber stood a magnificent altar crafted from polished mahogany and adorned with red and gold accents. The shrine was bathed in a soft, ethereal glow. Intricate carvings adorned its surface, and lanterns hung around it, casting a warm light. The air was filled with the scent of blooming roses, adding to the romantic ambiance.

Clarissa's eyes widened in wonder, and her breath caught in her throat.

“I-it’s beautiful!” she whispered, absolutely smitten by the sight.

So, she is interested in these kinds of things, huh? Well, she’s at that age, after all. I just hope Clarence never finds out, or else that overprotective brother or hers won’t be able to sleep with worry.

“I read on the forums that praying to this shrine brings luck in romantic endeavors,” she said, her eyes still fixed on the enchanting sight before us.

“Do you have someone you like?” I asked, my curiosity getting the better of me.

“M-me?” she stammered.

I seem to have caught her off guard as she glances at me bashfully a couple of times. I guess she’s still shy about talking about these kinds of things, even to a close friend.

“I-I… I think I do…” she replied hesitantly.

Hmm, that’s a weird answer. Isn't that supposed to be a simple yes or no? Then again, I've never truly fallen in love. I recall having a crush when I was younger, but that's about it.

“W-what about you, Novo? D-do you uhm… p-perhaps have someone you like?” she muttered so weakly that I almost wasn’t able to hear her voice.

“…Not really,” I replied calmly.

A soft breath escaped her lips, almost as if she'd been holding it in anticipation of my response. Her eyes softened, reflecting a subtle relief, and a faint smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. She tried to hide it, but my honed observational skills through outplaying countless opponents won in the end.

Why is she so pleased that I don’t have anyone I like? Could it be that she's relieved at the prospect of getting a boyfriend before me despite me being older? I never realized you were so competitive about such matters, Clarissa! Normie girls really are frightening sometimes!

As I was about to pursue the matter further, a sudden ping caught my attention. I glanced at the notification and saw that it was a message from our guild leader, FairyDust. Without a second thought, I ignored it, focusing back on Clarissa.

She seemed a bit distracted as well, glancing down at where the messaging interface was supposed to be.

Wait… don’t tell me.

“U-uhm, Novo, I got a message from our guild leader. She’s asking me to tell you to meet her at the guild office...” she said hesitantly.

As I thought! That schemer has a backup plan in case I ignore her again like I usually do. Tsk! I had forgotten that Clarissa was now part of our guild because Clarence and I had recommended her. I hadn’t anticipated that the decision could have its drawbacks, though.

“Tell her that we are busy,” I responded flatly.

“Uhm… she said it was important. A-anyway, I’m fine on my own. I can grind solo for a while! I also want to take pictures of this shrine for a bit, so I think you should go meet with her,” she pleaded.

Tsk, that schemer! She's using Clarissa to ensure I can’t refuse her request. I can’t possibly ignore Clarissa’s wishes now, or she would think she was the reason I couldn’t meet Dust. This would make her feel like she is the one at fault, given her personality.

“…Fine, I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

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As I walked through the familiar corridors of the guild on my way to Dust’s office, I unexpectedly encountered Clarence. He had become a rare sight these days due to his rigorous training sessions with his new mentor, Vlad, according to Dust at least.

That’s good for him. He would learn a lot from someone as good and knowledgeable as Vlad with the spear. He definitely needs the experience. It’s essential for honing his skills to professional levels since he is planning to go pro.

Our eyes met briefly, and Clarence's gaze quickly shifted away.

Determined to bridge the growing distance between us, I initiated a conversation as he approached.

"Finished a guild mission?" I asked, aiming for a casual tone.

“Hmph, don’t act as if you care about me,” he defiantly said before walking away without looking back.

Why are you acting like a petulant child that just got scolded by his mother?!

I sighed heavily. It seemed that he was still mad at me for quitting the team. Well, time heals all, and I’m sure he will soften up in the future. I thought that as I continued on my way.

Arriving at my destination, I stepped inside the guild leader's office after giving my customary polite knock despite feeling that the person inside was hardly worthy of such civility.

The room was dimly lit, the only light coming from the flickering candles on the desk. The scent of aged wood and parchment filled the air. FairyDust, our guild leader, was sitting behind the large oak desk, her expression as mischievous as usual as she met my eyes.

“Oh my~ you’re here! How has the MVP of the Champion’s Brawl been feeling these days?” she asked, her tone playful.

“If you need something, make it quick,” I replied apathetically.

She pouted at my response.

“As unfriendly as ever, I see,” Her pout then flawlessly transitioned to a fake sobbing. “Boohoo, why do I receive a different treatment from my cousin? Oh, the injustice!”

“For starters, Liz is not as scheming as you…” I deadpanned.

“Fair point,” she said, dropping the act as quickly as it had started.

“Also, you ruined my peaceful, healing, tranquility time with Clarissa! You know how stressful school is for me now that I’ve somehow become the talk among the students! This afterschool VR time of mine is the only time I could unwind, and you stole it from me!” I aired out my grievances.

“A-all right, calm down; I'll cut to the chase then. I want you to be our next guild leader,” she said as casually as one might comment on the weather.

“H-huh?” I exclaimed, not quite sure if I heard her correctly.

“I said I want you to be our next guild leader~ pretty please~,” she repeated playfully as if it were the most normal request in the world.

“Are you insane?! Why me? What about Liz? Wasn’t she supposed to be your successor?” I raised my voice, struggling to grasp the absurdity of her request.

“It’s in her contract that she has to join the Atelier guild; therefore, she has to quit our guild when the next season run for the AC starts,” she explained as a matter of fact.

“She hasn’t told me about this...” I trailed off, feeling a bit surprised that Liz hid it from me.

“Well, she is probably looking for the right time to talk about it,” she replied nonchalantly with a shrug that only adds to my irritation.

“And you thought it better to just casually reveal the news to me…” I deadpanned, my frustration evident.

“Well, you needed to know the reason why I’m asking you to do this. So… you’re welcome?” she said with a smug smile.

I sighed, trying to process the information. “Why me? I know you need a substitute, but there are a lot of guild members who are more qualified, right?”

“That’s true~ but ~ you’re the most competent person I could think of. With your recent exploits in the tournament, all members of our guild think highly of you. And without Liz, I can’t find anyone else who could substitute for her without getting any backlash from our members. Especially since we need to be more united than ever this time.”

Her statement piqued my curiosity.

“And why is that?” I asked, trying to understand what made a person like her so vigilant.

She hesitated, unsure whether to share her thoughts with me, but eventually, after giving her a cold look, she finally relented.

“I’ve heard rumors from reliable sources and insiders about a massive expansion patch after this year’s AC tournament, the largest one we’ve ever seen up to date. Many top guilds are even moving as of now, consolidating their manpower in preparation for the update, teaming up with each other, and expanding their sub-guilds,” Dust explained, her tone uncharacteristically serious.

“That does sound quite intriguing and honestly… a bit exciting, but what does it have to do with me becoming the guild’s leader?” I asked again.

“As I mentioned, we need a competent leader now more than ever,” she began, her tone getting more solemn.

“Furthermore, to not only survive but thrive during the impending upheaval, we might need to forge an even stronger relationship with the Paragons, one of the top ten guilds. Given your close ties with them, if you were to become our figurehead, it would grant our guild significant political leverage among their many affiliated guilds, especially with their top members who know of your real identity. They wouldn’t be able to refuse your requests so easily, now, would they?” she added with a sly smile.

Can you please temper down your scheming a bit?!

“So, want to accept the role now?” she asked again.

I carefully considered her request, weighing the costs and benefits as well as the pros and cons. It didn't take me long to make a decision.

“Seems bothersome. I refuse,” I stated flatly.

“I figured as much…” she sighed, sounding defeated.

Still, something tells me that she wasn’t done yet.

“You know, when we discussed this, Liz specifically wanted you and no one else. Considering you declined her request to be her support in her team, it's the least you can do for her, isn't it?”

There it is! I knew it was coming!

“Urk! I know what you’re doing. Please stop guilt-tripping me…” I protested, trying to resist her manipulative tactics.

“But it’s working, right?” she replied with a smirk.

This devious witch!

“Additionally, I’m sure Liz would have peace of mind knowing you’re the one leading her beloved guild.”

“As tempting as it sounds, it’s still a no. I’m busy with college as it is,” I responded, trying to remain firm.

“Now, now, it’s not like you will need to do a lot of work. I’ve already trained some people to help manage the guild; think of them as your secretaries. Being the guild leader just means you’ll make the important decisions when necessary. Besides, you’re a good figurehead because of your charisma and popularity within the guild and the CoA community at large.”

Sensing that she was getting through to me, she pressed her advantage.

“I know that I might be asking too much, but with the future so uncertain, our guild really needs you. I would be forever grateful if you did this for the guild... please,” she implored.

Her usual playfulness was gone, replaced by a rare and uncharacteristic resoluteness. It seemed genuine and without any pretense; that’s how I see it, at least.

I realized that she truly wanted what was best for the guild and was willing to do anything for it. The guild clearly held significance for her, so much so that she was willing to play the villain just for its survival.

I’d be lying if I said I wasn't fond of this guild. The members have always been kind to me, and it's the guild of all my friends from college, the whole gang except for Lena, who doesn’t play CoA. It’s also the guild of Clarence, Clarissa, and Liz, who I consider very close to me. Above all, there’s no harm in trying. I can always resign if it doesn’t suit me.

"...Alright, but you owe me one," I said, resolutely accepting the role.

“R-really?” she stammered, her eyes wide with surprise.

“What? Are you really that surprised that I would accept your request?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Yep~ pleasantly surprised. I had a few persuasion plans ready in case you rejected my request, but I’m glad I didn’t need to use them,” she admitted, looking a bit relieved.

I sighed heavily. That’s so typical of her. Well, I guess that personality of hers is what makes her a competent ally, so I shouldn’t complain too much.

Although hopefully, I won’t regret this decision in the near future.