"Haaah—"

Soaking in the hot spring was incredibly relaxing. Lying by the edge, my whole body felt like it was melting away, indescribably comfortable.

After a long while, I stepped out of the hot pool and looked in the mirror.

A neat scar ran across my chest from my right shoulder to my left abdomen, without a trace of excess marks.

Every time I touched it, I couldn’t forget the memory of almost dying. Who was that person, really?

After a long silence, a bitter smile curled on my lips. I’d left the battlefield—chances were, I’d never meet them again in this life.

As I turned, the mirror reflected a sword-shaped brand on my back.

After leaving the bathroom, I lay on the bed wearing only boxers.

Tonight, I could finally get a good night’s sleep. In the game, I was locked in prison, so morning play was out of the question. I’d have to continue in the afternoon.

7

The ice-covered room was filled with plush toys and decorations.

Posters of game bosses adorned the walls, and a shiny golden bell hung on the door.

The original table and chairs had been replaced with an expensive-looking ivory table and a very comfortable chair.

Faced with this unfamiliar-looking guild base, I froze. Had I walked into the wrong place?

If not for Guild Leader and Alicia still decorating the room, I’d have gone out to check.

“What’s the occasion today? It suddenly became so festive.”

This guild had only been around for a few days. I’d never seen them this serious. Decorating an inn room this well—was it really necessary?

“Hmph! Of course it’s to celebrate this young lady officially joining the guild!”

Standing on the table, Alicia was hanging star pendants from the ceiling. But she insisted on showing off, lifted her foot to strike a pose, lost her balance, and fell flat on her butt.

“Ow, ow, ow!”

Watching Alicia rub her sore backside, I could only describe her with one word: stupid.

Well, though I didn’t feel like moving, I went up to help Guild Leader hang decorations.

“What’s going on?”

Celebrating Alicia joining the guild? Impossible. She’d joined three days ago. Celebrating now? What’s the deal? I didn’t buy it.

“I just felt the guild should be more formal.”

“That’s true.”

Guild Leader’s words were pleasant. After I finished hanging things, I opened the guild page. El’s Radiance was already a level 3 guild.

As expected—it couldn’t escape the fate of upgrading with crystals…

“Sorry… it just felt too slow, and…”

With her head down, Guild Leader fidgeted like a child who’d done something wrong.

“It’s fine. I was planning to upgrade the guild directly with crystals anyway.”

We’d already been targeted by the Wind Mercenary Corps. Leveling up properly was tough now. Even if Guild Leader hadn’t upgraded, I would have.

“And what else?”

“Yesterday, I was killed out of nowhere. When I logged in, neither of you were there. So I wondered if something happened.”

When Guild Leader logged in, Alicia and I were probably offline.

“Didn’t Alicia tell you?”

“Hehe, I forgot.”

Sitting on the floor, Alicia stuck out her tongue and tapped her head with a hollow fist.

“…”

I jumped down from the table and raised my hand.

“Don’t hit me! Guild Leader isn’t tall!”

She covered her head with her hands like an ostrich.

“What does ‘Guild Leader’ not being tall have to do with it?”

“Of course Guild Leader isn’t tall!”

Like a tongue twister, Alicia looked up and shouted.

Thud. Like whacking a mole, I tapped her head.

“Guild Leader’s already tall enough. She doesn’t need to grow taller.”

“What? I didn’t say Guild Leader! I meant… eh? eh? eh? eh?”

After a moment, she realized she’d been tricked and started chasing me, baring her teeth.

“Hey hey hey! Are you a dog? Even if you don’t get rabies, it hurts!”

“I’ll bite you to death, you bastard! You’re the one with rabies!”

Watching us fool around, Guild Leader sat on the table, resting her chin on her hands and swinging her legs.

“You two get along so well.”

As she said this, a trace of loneliness flickered in her eyes.

“Me and him? Impossible. We don’t get along at all—he always bullies me. Hmph. I’m telling you, people like you will get what’s coming to you.”

“It’s my fault for bullying you? Who told you to be so stupid?”

I shrugged helplessly. Maybe teasing Alicia was one of the guild’s greatest pleasures.

“You’re the stupid one! Your whole family is stupid!”

“Yes, yes, yes—you’re smart.”

“What? That look like you’re humoring a retard! I’ll bite you to death!”

“Hey, you’ll get rabies.”

Again, Alicia chased me wildly. After a long time, tired out, we stopped.

I sat on the left side of the table, Alicia on the right, Guild Leader in the middle.

“Actually, I have something to say today.”

“Me too…”

Guild Leader and Alicia suddenly spoke at the same time.

“Uh.”

What was with these two today, showing such unusual expressions?

“Let Alicia speak first.”

“Okay.”

“I want to leave the guild temporarily for a few days. And—it’s not that I’m quitting! This place is quite fun. I could stay forever if I had to. But this incident made me realize my weakness. That feeling of powerlessness against enemies—I never want to feel it again. Our guild is going to be the strongest. I must become stronger, strong enough to match the name of the number one guild.”

Alicia clenched her fists, her voice serious.

“Mm, if you think so, approved. But how exactly can you become stronger?”

Guild Leader tapped her cheek with her fingertip, tilted her head, and asked puzzledly.

“When I changed to Icefire Mage, I accepted a quest: the Tower of the Magic God. Training inside it will make me stronger. Since I decided to help Guild Leader become Emperor, how can I stay put? Besides, I’m not the same as when I first treated this game as just entertainment. Now, I’m treating it as a new life—seriously.”

A genuine smile blossomed on Alicia’s face, as beautiful as a blooming petal.

“Come back anytime when you’re tired. This will always be your home.”

“Mhm mhm mhm. When I return, it’ll be the day I wash the Wind Mercenary Corps in blood.”

“Don’t disappoint me and Guild Leader. I look forward to your growth.”

“Hmph, you’ll be amazed then.”

Standing on the chair, Alicia patted her flat chest. Even though she hadn’t started training yet, where did this confidence come from?