Heroes Guild. Lisa rushed into the Guildmaster’s office in a panic.
“Guildmaster! Disaster! Even Senior Roland couldn’t handle the monster inside the city!”
Sharin, buried in paperwork, lifted her head at the words. The golden chains dangling from her glasses swayed faintly.
Then she lowered her gaze again, replying calmly:
“Roland already informed me.”
Lisa nodded, waiting for Sharin’s next move. But after a long pause, she realized the Guildmaster remained focused on her documents, showing no intention of stepping in personally.
“Guildmaster, that monster has reached Fifth Rank! If you don’t act now, this city might—”
She ventured a cautious reminder. A faint smile curved Sharin’s lips.
“Celia’s squad is there too. Someone will handle it for us. I trust her.”
*Celia’s squad?*
“You mean… *that* senior?”
Lisa’s mind immediately flew to the mysterious black-robed figure.
Sharin merely smiled without answering. Yet Lisa’s anxiety dissolved.
*Right. With that senior there, what’s a mere Fifth Rank monster?*
---
On the battlefield, the newly ascended Fifth Rank monster overwhelmed the Heroes, leaving them gasping for breath. Below, citizens watched as renowned Heroes fell one after another. A shadow of despair settled over them.
*Could this monster really be beyond even the Heroes’ power?*
High above, the ever-composed Roland cursed aloud.
“*Just hold it off? Someone will handle it?* What in blazes is Sharin playing at?!”
She’d contacted Guildmaster Sharin—only to receive a reply that chilled her to the bone.
Sharin wouldn’t come. She claimed someone else would deal with the Fifth Rank monster. No need to worry about Vedona’s destruction.
*Ridiculous!* Roland knew of no Hero in the city capable of slaying a Fifth Rank beast!
Clenching her silver teeth, she froze mid-panic as a cool voice whispered beside her ear:
“Its weak points are the unarmored flanks. Focus magical fire there to kill it.”
“Who’s there?!”
She whirled around, scanning frantically—but found no one nearby.
“What’s wrong, Captain?”
A teammate rushed over, noticing her distress. Calming herself, Roland shook her head. “Nothing. Just… my imagination.”
Yet when she studied the monster again, she saw it: thin magical barriers—not armor—covered its sides.
*Its flanks really are vulnerable!*
“To me, Heroes!” Roland shouted. “Target its sides!”
Their eyes sharpened. After barely weathering the monster’s next assault, they unleashed spells at its flanks.
The beast faltered. It retreated, shielding its sides with its armored back.
*It worked!*
Hope flared in Roland’s chest.
“Again!”
Roland’s squad surged back into battle. Now that they knew its weakness, they seized control. The monster that had crushed them moments ago was now pinned down. Explosions roared endlessly. Vedona’s sky blazed with multicolored magic, casting a surreal glow.
Even a Fifth Rank monster couldn’t withstand their relentless barrage. Its flank barriers shattered under the assault.
*Now.*
The cool voice echoed in Roland’s ear once more. This time, she didn’t search for its source. Instead, she chanted silently. A crimson Magic Array flared before her.
As the monster began regenerating its flank barriers, a pillar of fire erupted from the array—like an arrow released from a bow. It pierced straight through the beast’s side, tearing through its heart.
Giant limbs tore free. Where its heart had been, only a gaping hole remained.
The monster shuddered, claws scraping weakly at the air. Then it collapsed, lifeless.
*Truly dead this time.*
The Heroes exhaled in relief. Most were only Third Rank—facing a monster two ranks above them had shaken them to their core.
After the cheers died down, several Heroes approached Roland, eyes shining with admiration.
“We owe you everything, Senior Roland! Without you, we’d never have beaten that thing.”
“Yes! If not for you spotting its weak points, who knows how long it would’ve ravaged Vedona?”
“You’ll surely become a Fifth Rank Hero soon! One of Vedona’s only two!”
Roland merely shook her head, her tone icy. “I didn’t kill it. Thank the wrong person.”
Without further explanation, she turned and strode toward the Guild with her teammates. The Heroes stood frozen, bewildered by her words.
---
“Seriously? What *was* Guildmaster Sharin thinking back there?”
Her brown-haired teammate grumbled as they walked.
Sharin was Vedona’s sole Fifth Rank Hero. Yet when a Fifth Rank monster appeared, she hadn’t lifted a finger—just spun tales about “someone else handling it”?
In the end, *Roland* had saved the city.
“Let’s go. We’re settling this.” Roland’s eyes narrowed, unreadable.
“Absolutely! As Guildmaster, she should’ve been there! If you hadn’t found that weak point, Vedona would be rubble!” The brown-haired girl puffed out her chest, ready for a fight.
Inside the Guild hall, Roland ignored the celebrating Heroes. She stormed straight upstairs to the Guildmaster’s office, her teammate trailing close behind.
*BANG—!*
The door slammed open. Sharin set down her pen, greeting them with a warm smile. “Roland. You’re back.”
*THUD.*
Roland slammed her palms on the desk. Papers fluttered to the floor.
She locked eyes with Sharin. After a long silence, she asked lowly: “Who was that senior?”
Her teammate glared at Sharin too. *There was no such person—it was just an excuse!* Roland’s question would corner the Guildmaster!
Sharin shrugged. “I’m afraid I can’t tell you.”
“Not even a hint?”
“She asked me to keep it secret.”
Disappointment flickered in Roland’s eyes. She studied Sharin’s sly fox-like smile, then snorted. Turning on her heel, she walked out.
Her teammate gaped. *Since when did Captain let things go this easily?*
Unless…
“Captain… was there really… a senior helping us back there?”
“Mm.”
Roland’s single syllable stole her voice.
*A senior… stronger than Guildmaster Sharin?*
*In this Guild?*
