In an ice-built room of about twenty square meters,

the tidy space held only a table, two chairs, and a bed. This was the guild’s base.

No—precisely, it was just an inn room temporarily serving as headquarters.

“So, the guild’s name is Goddess of Snow and Ice.”

Qianxue Ruoxi stated this with utter seriousness.

“Guild Leader, that name is just too much… And I’m a guy. ‘Goddess’ doesn’t suit me.”

We were locked in a fierce debate over the guild’s name.

Sure, I was thrilled to be the first member invited. But honestly, her naming skills made me want to cry.

Snow White, Fairy Tale Town, Cinderella, Tadpole Prince, Angry Birds—it all screamed “pure storybook heroine.” Yet she seemed mature, elegant, poised.

“If nothing I suggest works, you name it then.”

“…”

She’d dumped the problem on me.

“Why silent all of a sudden? You make me name things, then disagree. Sneaky, Xiao Xue.”

“Hold up—forget the guild name. What’s ‘Xiao Xue’?”

I had endless complaints about this random nickname.

“The shorthand for Worldshaking Snow.”

“Don’t shorten it like that! It sounds girly.”

Worldshaking Snow and Xiao Xue meant completely different things.

Fine. I knew her naming skills now. I’d handle the guild name myself.

Sighing in resignation, I thought hard.

“How about ‘El Aier’? In myth, it means eternal and immortal—hope and dawn.”

“Mm. That works.”

Tapping her lips with a finger, Qianxue Ruoxi pretended to ponder for a second before agreeing.

…That fast? Hey, you didn’t even think three seconds! That “thought” was pure theater!

“I’ll register it now.”

Such efficiency. Must we rush like we’re at war?

“Mm.”

Whatever. At least the name was settled. I slumped into a chair, relieved.

If it’d been “Snow White,” I’d have cried. Who knew a guild name could exhaust you?

“Done.”

After Qianxue Ruoxi created the guild, its name floated above her head.

Wait… the last two characters were wrong.

“Guild Leader, this isn’t the name we agreed on.”

“What’s ‘El’s Radiance’? I said ‘El Aier’! Totally different meaning! And it gives off that Korean MMO vibe—you’re messing with me.”

“Eh? I thought it was this.”

Bull. You forgot instantly? You’re either joking or weren’t listening.

Tilting her head, Qianxue Ruoxi blinked cutely at me—so dazzling I couldn’t look away.

Stare too long, and you’d succumb to this cute assault. Classic evasion via adorableness.

“M-maybe I misremembered. Sorry.”

Why apologize for *your* mistake?

Unable to face that blinding gaze, I finally caved.

“Fine. Keep the name. Phew… so tired.”

Rising from her chair, Qianxue Ruoxi stretched. Her movements revealed a perfect bustline.

Such a simple act, yet she maximized her charms.

The Guild Leader was a flirtatious little vixen. I worried how long her boyfriend would survive—but hey, a visual feast beat everything.

“Next, we recruit members at the tavern.”

“Eh?!”

At my words, the Guild Leader gasped, her expression utterly bewildered.

“What’s with the shock?”

Eh my foot. Did you think this guild’d have just us two? Sister, we’re a battle mage and a DPS. Forget claiming the Emperor’s throne—we couldn’t even take a village guild hall.

I facepalmed internally. Wait—a flash of inspiration hit me.

Was the Guild Leader… an airhead?

“You’re alone with a stunning beauty. No recruits means you keep this beauty all to yourself.”

Hmm. Her words made me pause. She had a point.

Beauty won’t fill your stomach, but it’s easy on the eyes. As a normal guy, being favored by a goddess felt like a dream.

Still, sometimes a man must take that step.

“I’ve decided—no recruits. Cough. Two’s fine. Games are just for fun anyway.”

“Right? Right?”

“Yeah. Yeah.”

So the guild name stuck as “El’s Radiance,” with only two members.

Level 1 guild—room for thirty.

She’d wanted to upgrade it with crystals, but I stopped her. Even if money’s no object, that’s wasteful.

Two was enough for now. Upgrading cost over a hundred bucks per level.

1

Three days later, outside Ice City’s wilderness.

Frost-laden branches hung with crystal-like fruits.

The earthen ground occasionally froze into icy patches. The whole forest breathed chill.

Gurgling streams, crisp birdsong—clear as day. Sunlight refracting through the air painted rainbow hues.

Frostwood Forest

Near the elven city, beyond Ice City’s walls.

Blessed by the Elemental God Mira, the forest split into four zones. Every life and plant here formed from pure elements.

Monster Levels: 8–20

BOSS: Frost Lord (Lv. 33), Flame Troll Earthbear King (Lv. 33), Windrend Agony (Lv. 31), Earth Elemental (Lv. 31).

“Guild Leader—shield support!”

As I called out, a light barrier enveloped me.

After tanking an Icefang Beast’s strike, I finished it with “Spectral Slash.”

Phew. I collapsed onto the ground, drained. The Guild Leader rushed over to heal me.

A Lv. 13 monster. We’d taken seven minutes to kill it. Fighting with her was exhausting.

She was supposed to be an offensive mage, yet only learned support and healing.

Sister, why not pick priest at the start? I wanted to cry. At this rate, when would we level up?

“Hey.”

“What?”

Planting her staff down, the Guild Leader sat beside me, head tilted.

“Should we recruit some members after all?”

“Mm.”

Fingertip on her lips, she pondered briefly before nodding.

Hey—why think so long? I don’t care about levels, but I have dreams too.

Taking a deep breath, I grasped her hand and met her eyes.

“W-what is it?”

My gaze flustered her. She turned away, unused to such closeness, trying to pull her hand back.

“Guild Leader, we need a small goal first.”

“What goal?”

“Let me help you claim the ‘Emperor’ throne.”

Games without goals are boring. Playing just to play? That’s wasting time.

“Eh? Ehhh—”