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Writhing, riddling, the corridors teeming with threats, therein lies our objective, creeping its way across the maze-like structure. The implications of having the boss outside its arena weren't exactly the most positive.
Those left behind that chose to keep at bay while we charge for the boss, what of them? Supposed the eight-legged monstrosity scurried its way over to them, what then? Add maniacal NPCs to the mix and we got ourselves a goose-chase to trump all goose chases.
All eyes were on me now, my brashness didn't go unnoticed. Everyone that had funneled in the room had funneled out in light of my impulse to run a 100-meter sprint to the exit.
Leading at the helm, Ayako stared at me quietly in assessment, glancing once at both Tayuma and Jin who stood closest to my side and who were also instilling the silent stare of judgment upon me.
If you were to squint your eyes and somehow overlook the heaps of people flooding the doorway, way past and beyond their piercing gazes, you'll find a flutter of red, skirting through the crowd unseen by all, rousing interest a bright glimmer in her ever demeaning crimson eyes.
Sentiments shared by all, anticipation suspending the deathly quiet stagnant, the suffocating ambiance nudging my idle self into making a move, to steadily confront the unspoken inquiries festering the open air.
It was a sensation foreign to me, paling even my past unprecedented acts - assuming direct command of over a hundred people. Usually, I'd relegate the formidable task to someone like Ayako, whose influence would be able to sway public opinion without qualms or much doubt.
But they weren't looking at her now. They were looking at me.
Like I have much of a choice now…
Hesitation was like a blanket wrapping me in its warmth. But it was time to let the blanket unravel and take a heavy step forward.
I took in a breath. "We're changing the plan."
Surprise was like a stone rippling in a pond, swiftly coursing by their expression. Despite how outrageous it might have sounded to them, none made to interrupt me. Bolstered by the fact, I continued.
"Boss was never in the room, it was outside crawling all over the place while we were in there the whole time. It's active, it's wandering and anytime it can accidentally stumble into the players that aren't with us right now."
Somewhere from within the crowd, a voice blared out. "How do you know?" followed by not so hush murmuring from the rest, expressing skepticism.
Skepticism that I quickly quelled with an immediate answer.
"I just saw it. It left, went running off in that direction there. You're free to check the place for prints after I'm done talking. Right now, we're going to need to do something about the boss first."
"What are you proposing?" Asked another, conveyed in the contemptuous tone of doubt.
"Stop interrupting me and you'll find out," I replied, feeling just a tincy wincy bit irritated.
I held back momentarily, rifling through the faces of many, allowing silence to linger for a while in case anybody else felt like saying their piece. When none did, I spoke again.
"We're splitting the guild," I said and immediately eyebrows were raised, expressions were baffled, and questions arose once more. I raised my voice, drowning out their own. "It's a maze out there, alright? It's faster, more efficient - tell me how the hell are orders going to be heard with over a hundred people? We're going to split, you don't have to like it… you just have to follow."
Regret hit me as soon as the words left my mouth.
Too late did I realize that breeding more resentment and animosity was not a good call here. If they weren't already dubious over the fact that I, of all people, was the person leading at the helm, well, they sure as shit won't follow me now.
So I tried to rectify what I could, breathing in deep for the next statement that would leave my big, stupid mouth.
"Okay, I realize a large majority would rather walk off a cliff than do what I say, so I'll say it now: Raise your hands, who'll follow me to hunt down the boss?"
Unsurprisingly, only a meager few had their arms raised… and those few consisted of people I already knew. Jin, a blank expression to the left. Tayuma, unhesitatingly, at the right. Ayako with hers timidly raised. And finally, far, far behind, seen by none, a flash of red shot to the air, faster than all the rest.
I sighed. "And those that would rather follow Ayako?"
Do I even need to mention what the turnout was here?
"Alright," I nodded my head. "I need time to come up with a sorting order. Do your own thing for now." I eyed the three closest to me as the rest dispersed. "You guys… with me now."
We settled into a secluded spot down by the corridor, nestled close together in the form of a circle. One by one, I looked on at their reaction. While Jin and Tayuma opted for slight bewilderment, the true highlight of the three was absolutely Ayako's utterly confounded look of terror, dumbstricken to the point of speechlessness.
She gaped at me, a weird croaking noise weakly emerging from her wide-open lips. I could only give a sheepish smile in return.
"Well, congratulations Ayako, by the power of pure democracy, you've just been promoted from guild mascot to guild leader. Everyone - a round of applause, please."
Tayuma readily clapped in a cheer, whereas Jin could only stare longingly at his missing limb. Yet Ayako was sadly unamused by this.
"Sora!" She screeched loudly with fingernails-scratching-on-chalkboard levels of grating. "Consent! Why do you keep forgetting consent?!"
"My bad," I muttered, caressing my poor, poor ears from the shriek of a banshee. "Did you wanted to make a speech first?"
"Oh, I'm going to fucking kill you…"
She took a step in my direction, the seething anger on open display was more than enough to have me shrinking in the other direction. Thankfully, Jin stepped in to try and wane the flames of rage so I may hopefully live to see another day.
"Relax, just relax," he said firmly but cautiously, careful not to tread the thin line. "It was going to turn out like this eventually and you know it. They don't listen to him, they only listen to you."
"That still doesn't give him the right to - "
"Would you have agreed if he asked you first?"
Ayako could offer no retort of her own, flustered beyond belief, as a strangling noise of indecision slipped past her pouting, trembling lips.
"Lead?" She finally burst out, shooting an arm to her would-be followers in battle. "Lead how?!"
"Join the club," Tayuma muttered wearily. "I ask myself that every time. It's a wonder I even managed this far."
"See? He's been doing alright so far. Don't see him complaining, do you?" I told Ayako.
If looks could kill, I'd have been dead a million times over just solely from the array of emotions overlapping her expression.
"No, Sora, not this time," She stared dead at me. "A hundred lives in my hands - you think I want that kind of pressure? One slip up and there they go… it'll happen and I can't let myself make that kind of mistake. I'm sorry, Sora but I can't handle that kind of burden."
Words weren't enough to convey the overwhelming fear in her voice, nor the utter panic darting her gaze downwards to the ground. Guild Leader she was not, fearless and bold, she was none of those things but to those she surrounded herself with, she was all of those things and more.
They looked to her and found comfort and assurance even when she herself had none. We were at opposite ends of the spectrum. Me, hated and scorned by their assumption, her, loved and adored also by their assumption.
Looks like both of us were victims to circumstance. Her reputation as a benevolent streamer admired by all made her a prime candidate to be a beacon of hope for the people in here.
And just like that, they casted her into a role she was never meant to play.
Feelsbadman.
Yet there was no chance in victory if I can't get her to inspire the people that needed her. Like it or not, she had to play the role.
"Ayako…" I began then paused. Guess we all have our own role to play here. I was never the type to be providing comfort, but I had to try something. "It's one last hurdle, just one more vault… jump it and we're done - we're free. Come on."
Her stance still hadn't wavered, outright refusal with a vigorous shake of her head. "Just one more, yeah, perhaps…" she gritted her teeth. "But fuck me if you didn't set the goddamn bar so high! Jump? Jump how?"
"Together," I answered calmly. "You didn't perhaps think I was going to let you do this alone, did you?"
"Wouldn't be the first time."
I waved a hand. "All in the past now. Anyway see, Tayuma here brought about 40 people with him. Fortunately they already see him as a leader of sorts so they'll listen to him. That'll lighten the load on you to about 60 people more or less."
"Ah great, monster hunting," Tayuma clasped his hands, breathing out another weary sigh. "My favourite pastime."
"Don't sweat it, man," I said, placing a hand on his back, "You'll find me walking among that little posse of yours, so lucky you, you'll have me for company."
"Delightful," He rolled his eyes.
"Hold on," said Jin, narrowing his eyes. "If you're heading off with him, where does that leave me?"
To that, I simply shifted my gaze from his to Ayako's and that was all it took for the both of them to get the message.
"Wait - so when you said together… you mean," Ayako's finger shot straight at Jin like a bullet. "Him?!"
"Her?!" Jin spat out as well, syncing almost in unison.
Well then, they're taking this rather well.