"What's wrong with you two? Your faces are all red?"

"N-nothing! Absolutely nothing!"

>_< ← This kind of expression.

The Guild Leader waved her hands frantically—making herself look even more suspicious.

"Really? Glad to hear it. Listen! I saw super gorgeous elves dancing in the city! So lifelike! I really wanna keep an adorable little elf as a pet."

*Sorry, I forgot this idiot exists…*

I covered my face. All that panic for nothing.

"Elves? If you like it, don’t chicken out. Love means splurging! Not 990,000, not 880,000—just 88,000 to bring a cute elf home today!"

I blurted out that old ad slogan after getting back on my feet.

"Tch! Where can I buy one? Tell me! Just 88,000 each? I’ll buy a hundred! Hmph, I’m only upset because you *can’t* buy them!"

My random ad interruption clearly ruined her mood. Alicia poked my cheek with her fingertip, scowling.

"You said it. Don’t come crying later begging to cancel the order."

I swatted her hand away, smirking.

"Tch. I, Alicia, swear on my name—if elves cost 88,000 each and I don’t buy a hundred, I’ll spell my name backward."

"Backward? ‘Silly Ai’?"

*Sounded like some 18+ novel character… Wait, no—Airi.*

"Exactly."

Watching us bicker, the Guild Leader stifled a giggle nearby.

"Guild Leader, what’s so funny?"

"N-nothing! Nothing at all!"

She waved her hands, trying to hold back laughter. Her cheeks puffed up like overfilled balloons from the effort.

"Guild Leader’s our witness! Deadline: one day. If 88,000-coin elves appear tomorrow and I don’t buy a hundred, Alicia’s name gets reversed."

"Y-yes, yes! No need for a day—if no 88,000-coin elf pets appear by midnight, I’ll change my name to ‘World-Flipping Flyer’."

"Now *that’s* guts!"

"Right back at you. Let’s make it big."

Alicia and I locked eyes, sparks practically crackling between us.

"Um… should we still clear the dungeon?"

The Guild Leader cut in, uneasy under our heated glare.

"Clear it. Today’s goal: level the guild to Tier 3."

"Why not just use crystals? Way faster."

Alicia shot me a look, sticking her tongue out when she thought I wasn’t watching.

"That kills the game’s soul. Bonds are built moment by moment."

"Y-yes, oh mighty one. Your wisdom shines."

Alicia clearly wasn’t listening. The Guild Leader just kept smiling.

Today’s targets: Level 15 monsters in Frostwood Forest.

*Sorry my low level’s holding the guild back.*

"I’ll draw aggro. Alicia deals damage. Guild Leader buffs and heals."

"Got it."

"Wait! Why isn’t the Guild Leader attacking? She’s a Holy Mage! Two DPS would be faster!"

Ignoring Alicia’s protests, I pulled a monster and retreated fast.

"ROAR—"

The beast’s fury echoed, but only one Froststripe Tiger broke from the pack to chase me—others stayed put, confused.

"*Phantom Step*"

Boosting movement speed while nullifying 30% physical damage.

Shrouded in spectral energy, I dodged the tiger’s pounce like a ghost.

"Attack!"

"In the name of the Twin Goddesses, Haruya—I beseech thy grace! Sacred radiance, descend! *Sacred Shield*!"

Her staff traced glowing runes midair. Two pillars of light enveloped Alicia and me.

"In the name of the Elemental God, Mira—I call upon flame! *Fireball*!"

Scorching fire gathered at Alicia’s staff tip. She swung it like a blade, slamming the orb into the tiger.

-235

A crimson number floated above the monster’s head. Its health bar dropped nearly a fifth.

"*Spectral Slash*"

As the tiger turned its rage on Alicia, I circled behind it and struck—a blow wreathed in deathly violet energy.

"GRAA—!"

-75

The tiger howled, whirling to bite. But I’d already slipped beyond its reach.

Under three minutes. Two DPS truly crushed solo grinding.

The fight was effortless. Alicia’s skills were sharp. Only the Guild Leader mostly watched—aside from that one *Sacred Shield*.

"Not bad."

"Likewise."

*Seriously, if you love melee so much, why play a mage? Smacking monsters with a staff looks ridiculous.*

"Hey! You still haven’t answered me! Where’s the Guild Leader’s DPS? Wasting a Holy Mage on support? Her heals and buffs are half a Priest’s! DPS is her *main* job!"

*Says the Icefire Mage who only uses fire spells. And tries to be a melee caster like some trash web novel protagonist. Wake up, girl—fiction lies.*

Alicia’s loud complaining made the Guild Leader shrink back, flustered and speechless.

I stepped forward and flicked Alicia’s forehead.

*Can’t you read the room? The Guild Leader’s too gentle for fighting. Probably thought ‘Holy Mage’ meant ‘Priest’.*

"She’s the guild’s mascot. You’d make a mascot fight?"

"Ow! That hurts!"

Alicia clutched her head, tears welling—but quickly flashed the Guild Leader a thumbs-up.

"Mascot’s perfect! Honestly, wasting someone like you on combat? Beauties are for admiring."

"T-thank you…"

Gripping her staff tightly, the Guild Leader stammered her thanks. Being understood felt wonderful.

After that, we smoothly cleared ten monsters. Alicia and I both leveled up.

Solo pulls couldn’t satisfy us anymore.

"I’ll pull next!"

Overconfidence burned in Alicia’s eyes. She practically glowed like a shonen protagonist.

"You sure?"

Her reflexes were flawless. *Such a waste—not being a Swordmaster.*

"Who do you think I am? Wait here!"

"Alright."

Her blazing confidence was hard to dampen. Besides… pulling *was* exhausting.

*Finally. A break.*

I sat down, easing my stiff muscles.

Perfect time to open the customer service tab and submit my feedback.

As one of only ten special accounts in *Emperor*, I had direct access to the dev team.

A reply wouldn’t take long.

But in that short time…

"HELP! RUN! Why are you just standing there?!"

Tears streaming, Alicia sprinted toward us—ten monsters hot on her heels.