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

From one day on, mysterious entities began to live in Han Nayeon’s apartment. Some of them enjoyed unprecedented leisure and relaxation, while others became completely engrossed in modern amenities, leading busy lives.

Kanel immersed himself in reading a ten-volume fantasy novel series, lent to him by their considerate host, Han Nayeon. However, as he read, his pace slowed until it eventually came to a halt. His mind was distracted by past memories.

He recalled the polished practice room floor, always spotless and free of dust. Kanel had been practicing dance moves there, trying to catch up on a class he was falling behind in, as usual. A boy with red hair sat on the bench, resting his chin in his hands and watching him. When the boy’s red hair reflected off the mirror, it looked like flames flickering all around.

“Is it that hard?”

Unable to bear watching any longer, Akata got up and demonstrated the dance moves. Despite his lack of strength, he hit all the points and rhythm perfectly, moving gracefully like leaves fluttering in the wind.

“How can you do this so well?”

Kanel looked at him as if betrayed, but the boy pouted.

“I’m just weak, not clumsy.”

The sense of betrayal was short-lived as Kanel quickly adjusted his attitude.

“Can you teach me?”

“Sure.”

It was the one training subject that the boy, who struggled with both physical training and special ability exercises, excelled at. Kanel remembered several one-on-one lessons with the boy afterward.

Kanel dropped the fantasy novel, lost in his thoughts, and chuckled to himself.

‘It’s funny to reminisce as if he’s dead.’

Because he’s very much alive.

Recently, the Mijon website posted an official extra video for viewers eagerly waiting for the next round. This short clip stirred both the viewers and those hiding out in Han Nayeon’s apartment.

[Live]

[Excuse me! Would you mind dancing for a moment?]

An overly enthusiastic NPC ambushed characters in the marketplace, asking them to dance in a guerrilla interview. Most who were there to shop, date, or hang out were taken aback by the request. Even though they knew they thrived on fan engagement, being asked to dance without music on the spot made them want to run away.

The reactions of the characters who claimed they couldn’t dance were endearing, but there was one character who never declined such a request.

Akata, grabbed by the NPC, glanced at Shemarin, who was with him. After a brief hesitation, he stepped back a few paces to ensure the NPC could get a good shot of him.

Then he began to dance with confidence.

[“Ahaha-!”]

Shemarin, rarely seen laughing so freely, let out a joyous laugh.

Akata’s dance moves were elegant and bold. Despite his large, muscular frame, his dancing was reminiscent of a girl group performance.

The adult Akata was a natural entertainer.

Akata drew attention wherever he went. He balanced charisma with a charming smile and matched perfectly with Shemarin, like a painting. Since becoming an adult and dating Shemarin, he seemed different. Like a completely different person…

Kanel, recalling the video he’d seen on the homepage, was once again drawn into memories of the past. He remembered the boy who corrected his dance moves.

“Hey, Akata? Were you helping Kanel with his dancing?”

The boy had jumped in surprise at the sight of the person entering the practice room, his face quickly turning red.

When it was just Kanel, the boy danced casually, but as soon as Rudel was watching, he danced with more determination, like an idol with intense facial expressions.

Even back then, Kanel could see it was the look of a boy in love.

‘I noticed because I was perceptive.’

Kanel congratulated himself and decided to clear his head.

He chose to stop thinking about it.

Since he couldn’t focus on reading, he decided to take a nap.

At the same time…

‘…Kanel has not a speck of consideration!’

After their argument, Kanel and Unahar had been in a cold war. Although they had reconciled thanks to Unahar’s efforts, he was still fuming inside.

Even if Unahar had hated Akata to death in the game, now he genuinely wished for Akata to return to his old self.

Kanel had been harsh and insensitive, which was undeniably wrong.

‘Ha, I miss my friends from the subordinates group. The guys in the guild are all just a bunch of idiots…’

While Unahar missed his absent friends, Lilith spent her days thinking about Gio.

Food felt like sand in her mouth, and she couldn’t find a comfortable position to lie down in.

[2~4 Round Gio Compilation]

Lilith watched this video repeatedly, as it was the only way to soothe her longing.

Though there were countless media pieces featuring them together on the internet, she preferred the official videos.

They were real.

‘I don’t want to see how others view me and Gio.’

She watched them secretly, always crouching under the desk to check for any signs of others, reducing the brightness and muting the sound. She also knew how to delete the viewing history.

It wasn’t because she was embarrassed.

‘I can reminisce about Gio, but… Rudel can’t even watch Akata’s videos without feeling hurt.’

Rudel hadn’t said much, but since finding out that Akata had lost his memories, she had become noticeably more depressed.

She probably thought it was her fault.

‘And Akata used to follow Rudel so devotedly… It must be a huge shock that he now follows someone else.’

Lilith’s eyes filled with tears as she paused the video on a close-up of Gio’s face.

She cried for Gio and for her friend.

‘I can’t do anything to help Rudel.’

So, I will pray even harder.

I pray that Akata remembers you again.

* * *

<12th Round: Target Battle>

The 11th round, “Maze Battle,” saw Akata’s guild, Red Monarch, dominating the field. Now, they were heading into the final round of the third quarter, the 12th round, with a significant lead.

“Does the 12th round even matter?”

“Red Monarch already has a landslide victory…”

“Queen Shemarin has given wings to Akata the Phoenix…”

“Should we check the research lab on the homepage? They say Akata’s stats will surpass Aleon’s.”

Akata was already being touted as the next top-ranked player. While Aleon was the top ranker in the first quarter and Gio in the second quarter, Akata was poised to take the top spot for the third quarter.

The management had confirmed that Gio wouldn’t appear in the third quarter.

Viewers had initially assumed that Aleon would reclaim the top spot, but Akata’s emergence changed everything.

Unlike the second quarter, there was no need for a direct showdown with Aleon. Statistically, Akata was expected to take the lead.

Users were beginning to speculate that the Soul attribute might be superior to Pure Nature, considering both the champion Taggiros and the emerging top player Akata were Soul attribute users.

“So is Red Monarch going to challenge the champion?”

“They have to… Even if Akata loses, the guild won’t disappear. There are 12 members.”

“Ugh, that’s a trauma trigger.”

“LOL…”

“Come to think of it, Akata is challenging the champion for the second time.”

“…But he won’t remember it, right?”

The 12th round, “Target Battle,” was set in an abandoned city.

[Abandoned City – Plaza]

A gray ruin left after an unknown catastrophe wiped out humanity.

Numerous battles took place near the dried-up fountain in the collapsed plaza.

On top of a streetlight, someone stood, watching the battles below.

Akata’s unbound red hair fluttered in the desolate wind.

Tian, alternating between lightning and sword, sensed a gaze and looked up.

Her sharp eyes were caught on the viewers’ screens and in Akata’s view.

Crash! Bang!

The streetlight was struck by lightning and turned black.

Akata was no longer there.

Despite the ambush, he leaped away at the perfect moment, blocking Tian’s follow-up attacks. Shimmering graphics crystals flew.

In that instant, their clash seemed to last for minutes as they exchanged blows mid-air.

This round appeared to be a stage where characters purely tested their strength.

Special rules were minimal.

<12th Round: Target Battle>

-The final round of the ranking evaluation is always an open stage where you can showcase your true potential. Fill the stage with your power.

-The only special rule added to the basic combat rules is “Target Setting.”

-All players, including the subordinates group, can set a target on someone ranked higher than themselves.

-Once a “Target Setting” request is approved, and if the target isn’t already someone else’s target, the target and the requester are moved to a private black space.

-After five minutes or if one of them dies, they are returned to their original location.

-Any attempts to indiscriminately “Target Setting” to check if the opponent is ranked higher will be penalized.

While the Target Setting function offered high freedom, how it was utilized could significantly impact the round. For instance, if a weak player used it to hold down a stronger opponent.

[“…!”]

Tian’s eyes widened. During the battle, Akata suddenly vanished.

It wasn’t an intentional retreat or escape; it was the result of someone else’s Target Setting.

* * *

[Abandoned City – Black Space 34]

Akata, transported to the black space, looked around in bewilderment until he found the one who had summoned him.

[“…Hello.”]

The voice was oddly gentle, as if soaked with emotion.

The person had a distinctive appearance, with vertical, cat-like pupils.

They seemed to be about the same age as Akata.

[“You’re the vice leader of the Ice Castle guild’s subordinates group, right?”]

Akata recognized his opponent, much to Nahean’s discomfort, who flinched as if pricked by a needle at Akata’s words.

[“I’m not of Ice Castle…”]

Nahean instinctively began to protest but couldn’t complete the sentence, bound by the rules.

He bit his lip.

[“Did you bring me here to hinder my performance, to stop me from achieving anything? It’s surprising you’d do it yourself rather than send a subordinate. You must value them highly.”]

[“…No, the reason I targeted you was-.”]

Clang!

He threw his gleaming spear weapon to the ground, indicating he had no intention of fighting.

[“I just… I just wanted to see your face.”]

Akata’s eyes widened in surprise.