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

I returned to the guild leader’s room, a mandatory space assigned to every fortress. Here, I could check the guild ranking (still not open), items in possession, financial resources, and accumulated support. The concept of play points assigned to each person had now changed to support points.

Thanks to this, viewers could no longer directly intervene in the game like in round 1. Instead, the points earned through individual efforts were accumulated as support for the guild, which could then be converted into potions, special items, experience points, and so on. Ultimately, receiving and utilizing support depended entirely on the characters’ abilities and discretion.

Additionally, comments that could be received every night were now bundled together and reviewed at the end of each round. Game characters generally perceived the existence of comments in the following manner:

“It seems there are beings watching us.”

“If we respond to what they say, our points increase.”

Even intelligent characters like Unahar and Kanel were no exception. I was the only one aware of the real-world entities, so there was nothing to be done about it.

I quietly looked into the ‘Support Details.’ There was a lot accumulated for Lilith. Although she didn’t have any notable accomplishments and therefore no comments, it seemed the viewers were each stopping by to give a vote because she was just so beautiful.

Our Lilith… the viewers must be hoping for her to make an impact soon.

While Gio and Unahar had become known powerhouses, Lilith had not yet reached that status. For my dignity to be upheld, she needed to become an excellent combatant too, which worried me greatly.

Even though everyone now had their own private rooms, Lilith still came to me every night, hugging her pillow. It was as if we were having a pajama party, rolling around in bed in our sleepwear. Watching Lilith’s clear, smiling face as we lay down filled me with a nostalgic, poignant feeling.

“Lilith… I’m sorry. I haven’t been able to pay much attention to you lately.”

Lilith tilted her head as she lay down.

“Not paying attention to me? You worry about me the most. Whenever there’s something delicious, you always give it to me first before Gio, and you always take care of me when things look dangerous. I only feel grateful to you.”

“No, it’s just… I’ve left you out of the battles. Because you’re weak and inefficient in combat, I’ve neglected to increase your stats.”

Even now, I am planning to focus on Gio and Unahar. After round 1.5, when the unique ability training opens, I’ll prioritize training them. Kanel and Lilith will stay at the fortress and receive remote support training from the watchtower. 

Kanel, being very objective about himself, would accept such instructions without issue. He would be comfortable sitting in the watchtower, thinking it convenient to watch Gio and me in action. His indifferent nature would make him fine with this setup.

However, I wasn’t sure how the tender-hearted Lilith would feel. She might be hurt inside and feel a sense of self-reproach.

I made a promise to Lilith.

“It’s because I don’t have enough strength yet. Once our guild ranking is established, I will definitely study your unique ability, Warmth. Can you trust me?”

At my words, Lilith smiled beautifully, curling her lips.

“See, you always think of me. Rudel, you’re really a good person.”

Soon, she grabbed my hands under the blanket and shook them enthusiastically.

I smiled back at her cheerful demeanor.

One great thing about our guild fortress being themed like a villa was the large skylight on the second floor ceiling. Because of it, we could look up at the starry night sky. Since it was a clear night, we opened the skylight and gazed at the stars together.

It was right then.

[Notification]

A visit request has been received from another guild.

Requesting Guild: Aleon Guild

|Accept| |Decline|

A visit at this starry night? From Aleon Guild?

At first, I thought Aleon himself might be coming, but that wasn’t the case. The visit request notification window clearly stated the name of the visitor and the purpose of the visit.

Visit Request

Isabel -> Kanel

I didn’t know who Isabel was. But she wanted to see Kanel?

Was she someone Kanel knew from the early stages of round 1 before he joined under me?

Knowing that the visitor wasn’t from a hostile guild and that PK (player killing) wasn’t possible within the fortress, I readily accepted the request.

Then, I went up to the lookout with Lilith to watch Kanel head towards the villa entrance.

The lookout served a good purpose besides remote support—it was great for enjoying the surrounding scenery.

I also turned on the ‘sound collection’ feature, which allowed me to hear their conversation as if I were standing right next to them.

Isabel appeared to be a cute girl around nineteen years old. She stopped when she saw the black-haired man emerging from the entrance.

Kanel’s back also halted a couple of steps away from Isabel. Soon, he spoke.

“You decided to follow Aleon, and I chose to follow Rudel, so our connection is over. What’s your business?”

Isabel blushed at the sight of Kanel and, seemingly unable to make eye contact, bowed her head.

“I heard our guild leader and your guild leader have a strong friendship! They’re allies!”

“Technically, your guild leader owes Rudel a debt.”

“Anyhow! Even though we’re in different guilds, we can still head down the same path, right? We might ally in future rounds, don’t you think?”

Hmm, I felt sorry for the cute girl, but for the sake of our ranking, I wouldn’t hesitate to abandon Aleon.

Of course, I didn’t mean betrayal. We’d ally with Aleon Guild until only our two guilds remained.

Then we’d clash, and I’d take first place while Aleon would take second.

“I’m not sure about that; it depends on Rudel’s opinion.”

“Then I have something to say!”

Whether Isabel heard Kanel or not, she bowed her head even deeper and shouted.

“I like you! Let’s date! Even if it’s a long-distance relationship!”

A confession in front of the villa…?

It felt like a school trip.

There was a familiar feeling, though I couldn’t quite remember.

From up here, I couldn’t see Kanel’s expression when he was confessed to since he had his back to the lookout.

“He shouldn’t accept that confession.”

I muttered unconsciously. Lilith, beside me, tilted her head.

“Why?”

“If he gets involved in a relationship, he might have trouble focusing if we end up against the Ice Castle Guild. He could get distracted with guild affairs due to being preoccupied with romance…”

I suddenly felt like I was being too cold, so I mumbled my next words.

“Of course, if Kanel likes her too, I can’t stop him.”

At that moment, I heard Kanel’s calm voice.

“That’s troublesome.”

His resolute refusal brought me a sense of relief.

I hoped he would reject her gently to avoid breaking her heart.

Thankfully, Kanel seemed to be in an ‘on’ state and spoke smoothly.

“I can’t be in that kind of relationship with you. Not just with you, but with anyone.”

Isabel’s eyes quickly filled with tears, and she asked, “Why?”

“I’m Rudel’s loyal subordinate. From the moment I decided to follow her, I resolved to obey all her commands.”

Kanel continued in an even tone.

“Since there’s a 0.2% chance that Rudel might want me, I plan to save myself for her.”

…What?

I was momentarily dumbfounded, and Lilith, beside me, turned to look at me.

Although Lilith was pure, she was smarter than Gio, and it seemed she quickly grasped the meaning behind Kanel’s shocking words.

Soon she looked at me with a meaningful smile on her face.

“No, no.”

I stuttered, flustered.

“That’s absolutely not something I told him to say! This is the first time I’m hearing it too! Lilith, why are you looking at me like that? I don’t know anything!”

What’s with that specific and subtle 0.2%? What kind of calculation is that?

And why is Kanel like this? Was there ever such tension between us when we were alone? Not even a bit!

Just as I was panicking, I heard Isabel’s sobbing voice.

“Why are you so loyal to Rudel? The Kanel I knew wasn’t someone who would follow anyone. You were cold, unshakable, and that’s what made you cool…”

Kanel answered her firmly.

“You misjudged me. Back then, I just hadn’t found anyone worth following. Aleon, Shemarin, no lord suited me. I thought I’d be alone forever.”

Kanel turned to look at the fortress.

I was surprised to see his lips curve up slightly in the moonlight.

It was the first time I’d seen Kanel smile like that. Surprisingly, it was a playful and refreshing smile.

“But when I found Rudel, my worries disappeared. She undoubtedly won’t abandon those loyal to her and will lead them to greater heights.”

He continued without blinking.

“The part about giving my body to Rudel was a joke… but it’s true that I think I wouldn’t mind if it were Rudel.”

Does he really have to say that to a girl who just confessed to him?

Isabel couldn’t hold it in any longer, bursting into tears and turning away.

Soon after, a [Visit Ended] notification appeared on my status window.

…Well, it was a bit chaotic, but at least I learned Kanel’s true feelings.

I still had some reservations about him, but hearing what he said when I wasn’t around made me feel like I could fully accept him as an ally now.

But those true feelings…

With Kanel saying things like that and Isabel leaving, what would the other guild think of my image?

At least the viewers didn’t see this. Long live the guild fortress.