The D-Rank Guild Master of the No. 1 Guild

“Though I don’t know who spread the rumor—” one of them lifted his head, eyes filled with suspicion.

This character, who had failed in his attempt to kill Aleon due to lacking a unique ability, had a strong will to survive, even at the cost of sowing discord among the stronger ones.

“If there’s anyone who would spread a rumor detrimental to Lord Aleon, isn’t there only one suspect?”

“Who?”

“Rudel.”

A nearby character questioned, but instead of looking at him, the man continued to look up at Aleon, speaking with a sly tone.

“My acquaintance Aichen spied on Rudel two mornings ago. Rudel and her followers were frantically running around trying to get the ‘First Monster Slayer’ title. But when Lord Aleon woke up, he claimed the title, rendering their efforts futile. She must have been enraged by that.”

He spoke as if he had seen Rudel himself, like a detective presenting evidence.

“And didn’t Lord Aleon encounter Rudel just yesterday afternoon? She was hiding among the people in stealth mode, wasn’t she?”

He subtly tried to lead the conversation, involving Aleon.

“Doesn’t it strike you as suspicious that she was hiding in stealth? Rudel might have come to eliminate you, Lord Aleon. Seeing your abilities, she might have realized she couldn’t match you and decided to spread this rumor instead. To eliminate her competitor without lifting a finger. It must be Rudel; there’s no other suspect!”

As he finished speaking, silence fell over the room.

Aleon’s hand, which had been pressing on his wound, stiffened. In the cold air, his blood had already frozen, binding his hand to his chest.

“Rudel is probably still in the cave she always stays in. If you, Lord Aleon, were to personally deal with someone who dared to slander you…”

It was clear that his tone wasn’t of someone pleading for a divine judgment from Aleon. Rather, it sounded like he was trying to manipulate Aleon, seeing him as a pawn.

Aleon looked around, sensing the malevolence in those surrounding him, something he hadn’t noticed during the day.

Once trust was broken, Aleon quickly grasped the harsh reality.

‘Is this the world I was trying to embrace?’

‘Was it foolish to try to protect the weak?’

The blade hadn’t reached Aleon’s heart directly, so it didn’t inflict a fatal injury. However, Aleon was breathing heavily, cold sweat streaming down his face. His complexion darkened.

Would he die from his injuries? The characters were startled by his rapidly changing condition.

They frantically ran about, asking for health potions and bandages.

Aleon watched them running around in a daze.

Then, with a grinding noise, Aleon clenched his teeth.

Most of them turned around in surprise.

But Aleon had already vanished like the wind.

* * *

We listened to Kanel’s past deeds late into the night.

We were surprised several times. I knew nothing about Kanel, yet he knew quite a bit about me.

He knew my every move as if he had been keeping track of them closely.

“Have you been tailing me all this time?”

“No, if I had been tailing you, I would have been caught. Either by you or that giant man. All the information I have on you was gathered through my own efforts.”

He moved around discreetly, mingling only with those who weren’t too conspicuous. Meanwhile, he would eliminate those wandering alone to avoid suspicion and accumulate kill points to survive.

If I had no awareness of being a possessor or any information about the game, wouldn’t I have survived just like Kanel?

That thought crossed my mind as Kanel seemed to be a character similar to me.

It wasn’t just me who realized this.

“You resemble me a lot,” Kanel said.

I noticed Unahar subtly crumpling his clothing beside me, but the conversation with Kanel was more pressing, so I didn’t pay it much mind.

“But there is one significant difference between us. Do you know what it is?”

“What is it?”

“You stand tall on your own, but I live under someone else’s rule,” he said, his black eyes rarely showing such intensity as they looked at me.

What I slowly came to understand was that Kanel almost saw joining me as a destined path.

To understand him more clearly, I asked, “What was your awakening phrase?”

“You mean the phrase for my unique ability?”

Kanel hesitated before speaking.

[“I will always make the right choice.”]

It was the ability to accelerate bullets. The ability to cause immediate consequences with just the pull of a trigger. Thus, making the right judgment in a moment was crucial.

This phrase alone gave me a sense of Kanel’s character. 

Once he decided to follow me, he would support me blindly, but if he felt I was going astray, he would undoubtedly stand up to me.

Alright, let’s keep him close for now. 

I must remain cautious, but he’s not someone I need to distrust and push away immediately.

“I’ve heard your story. It’s late, so if you push through the bushes over there, you’ll find a small cave just big enough for you. Sleep there.”

“Thank you for listening.”

After confirming Kanel had entered the small cave, I returned with Unahar to the cave where Gio and Lilith were sleeping.

* * *

I closed my eyes briefly and woke up before dawn. Perhaps because I hadn’t done much yesterday, three hours of sleep felt sufficient.

As I got up from my sleeping bag, I noticed Gio was missing from the cave.

“Gio?”

Touching the sleeping bag where he had lain, it was still warm.

He hadn’t been gone long. Where could he have gone?

“Rudel, what’s this? Is it yours?”

At that moment, Gio’s voice came from outside the cave.

He must have just woken up too, stretching as he pointed at the figure near our cave.

Ah, it’s not a lump but a person.

Kanel, diligent as ever, was already up and sitting at the cave entrance, standing guard.

I quickly responded to prevent Gio from sending Kanel flying.

“Yeah, he’s with me!”

Gio blinked and yawned at my words.

“I’m already short on food, and Rudel brings another one to take care of…”

While Kanel looked up at the muscular beast, raising his thick eyebrows in surprise, Gio grumbled and snatched the bundle hanging above Kanel’s head.

Inside the bundle were frozen fruit popsicles.

Soon, he was chomping down on the ice in this freezing winter, without proper clothing.

That fool isn’t even cold.

He had already stopped paying attention to Kanel.

“You’ll get a stomachache. Thaw it before eating.”

“What’s a stomachache?”

“It doesn’t mean you should find out firsthand!”

I called him over and had him thaw the ice from the fruit by the fire.

Despite the fruit losing its flavor from freezing and thawing, Gio ate it well.

I thought feeding him lots of tasty things had refined his taste buds, but they were the same as ever, thankfully.

From now on, any food that tastes bad will go to Gio.

I discreetly signaled to Kanel, making sure Gio didn’t notice.

When Kanel approached, I handed him a delicious-looking piece of beef.

“Give this to Gio. It’ll win his favor.”

“Understood.”

Kanel immediately prodded Gio’s back with the beef in hand.

“Rudel asked me to give you this.”

Gio, delighted, took it and immediately started eating.

Exasperated, I smacked my forehead and pulled Kanel by the collar.

“You’re supposed to say it’s from you, not me! Make it look like you’re the one giving it.”

“Oh, I understand now.”

This time, Kanel received a spicy chicken drumstick from me. He prodded Gio’s back again.

“I’m giving this to you.”

Is he a robot?

For a moment, I imagined a beeping scrap metal robot on the usually stoic man’s face.

Did I just recruit a strange guild member?

Fortunately, Gio, being a fool, alternated his gaze between the meat and Kanel’s face, then beamed.

It was as if he was saying, ‘You’re a good guy.’

So, he successfully won over Gio.

Now I wondered if Kanel would get along well with the remaining members, Lilith and Unahar.

At that moment, Gio suddenly lifted his head and stared intently at the forest outside the cave.

What’s he looking at?

Rustle.

Soon, there was a noise from the bushes where Gio was staring.

“Stand back!”

In an instant, Kanel stepped in front of me and drew his pistol.

Wow, he’s like a full-on bodyguard!

I hadn’t even ordered him to protect me, yet he reacted automatically. For a brief 0.1 seconds, I felt proud of Kanel’s response, despite my recklessness.

But who was watching us?

Soon, a head popped out from the bushes. Leaves and twigs fell from the blue hair.

…What are you doing here?

The unexpected guest was Aleon, the Saint of Ice.

The master of the Ice Castle in the northern region and currently suspected to be the number one in the rankings. 

Why is such a strong man covered in foliage here?

I then noticed bright red blood stains on Aleon’s blue body.

Startled, I inhaled sharply while Kanel narrowed his eyes and aimed his gun at Aleon.

Aleon’s eyes seemed unusual. 

He was not the mysterious and gentle man I met two days ago. His face was twisted in distress, and he was clenching his teeth.

The unusual tension and an ominous feeling crept down my spine.

And I wasn’t the only one who felt it.

“Answer. Are you here to slander Rudel?”

Kanel, like a loyal knight, questioned the powerful man without any fear.

When Aleon, with his head bowed, raised his hand, I hurriedly summoned flames to my own hand.

At that moment, the Saint spoke slowly.

“No, I am…”

His voice was hoarse and broken.

“Could you… help me…?”

Now that I looked closely, Aleon didn’t seem like a berserk man but one who was about to give up on everything.

The Saint collapsed to the ground.