Sylara's violet eyes pinned Cha-Jong like a predator eyeing its prey, the authority in her voice as sharp as the edge of a blade.
"You heard me," she said again, her voice icy and calculated, each word dripping with precision. "Is Akira Shoto related to Shiro Shoto?"
Cha-Jong's chest tightened, though his face remained studiously impassive. His fists clenched at his sides. The air between them grew heavy, charged with unspoken tension.
"I don't know anything," he said firmly, meeting her piercing gaze. His voice was steady, but there was an edge to it—a warning not to push further.
Sylara's eyes narrowed, her voice lowering to a whisper that carried a potent threat. "Cha-Jong," she began slowly, enunciating each word with deliberate venom, "you know I can get others to confirm this for me. But for your own good, I'm asking you directly: is he related to Shiro Shoto? Yes or no?"
A sliver of bloodlust slipped from her, subtle but enough to make the air in the room thick and stifling. Cha-Jong ground his teeth, his mind racing. Memories flashed before his eyes—Akira's unwavering determination, his laughter as he played with Yuna, the torment he carried within from his past. And then there was the entity, the monster of creature that lurked beneath Akira's skin, barely restrained.
Cha-Jong had made a promise, and he would fulfill it until his last breath.
Cha-Jong's jaw tightened as Sylara's words hung in the air like a blade poised to strike. His mind raced, a storm of defiance and resolve swirling within him. "I will never sell that boy out," he thought, the words sharp and unyielding, echoing in the depths of his mind. "Not while I'm alive. He was there for me when I needed him. I owe him my life."He forced his expression to remain neutral. "Why does it matter?"
Sylara smiled, a thin, deadly curve of her lips. "It matters," she whispered, the words dropping like a knife pressed to his throat. "And you know why. You're here because of me, Cha-Jong. Your position, your stability, your family's safety—it's all thanks to me. Tell me the truth, or..." She leaned in ever so slightly, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Do you want to suffer alongside them?"
Cha-Jong's breath caught. Memories of Yuna's bright smile, his wife's warm embrace, and Akira's silent promise to protect them all flashed through his mind. The pressure inside him built, threatening to spill over.
"DIDN'T YOU HEAR ME THE FIRST TIME?!" Cha-Jong bellowed, his voice like a thunderclap that cut through the suffocating silence. "I SAID I DON'T KNOW SHIT!"
For a long, tense moment, silence hung in the air. The bloodlust in Sylara's eyes receded, and a slow, almost amused smile spread across her face.
"That's why I like you, Cha-Jong," she said, her voice smooth now, like silk hiding steel. "You never sell out your people. No matter what." Her smile widened, but her violet eyes gleamed with something unreadable.
"And for the record," she went on, her tone almost playful, "I already knew. The moment you told me about him, I researched him. I knew that boy was the dead son of Shiro Shoto."
"But do not worry," Sylara added with a light shrug, as if the conversation hadn't just been life-threatening. "As long as he does his job, his past doesn't matter to me." She tilted her head, her smile sharpening. "Now go. Bring that ghost boy tomorrow. I need to use him too."
Cha-Jong's fists clenched, his heart racing in his chest. "If she says she doesn't care and won't tell anyone about him, then that's good. It's the same as her not knowing the secret at all." A flicker of relief cut through the tension in his chest." I'm glad for this side of her. Akira's secret will be safe for a while now." But the relief was short-lived, quickly replaced by a gnawing unease. "But the boy… I think it won't be long until he's revealed to the world. No matter how hard we try to hide him, his past will catch up. It always does."
Cha-Jong swallowed hard, his lips trembling as he forced a strained smile. "Yes, Guildmaster. And… thank you."
Sylara waved him off with a flick of her hand, the grin still on her face as she turned her back on him. Cha-Jong left the room, his heart still racing as mixed emotions of relief and lingering dread washed over him.
Outside, against the wall, Cha-Jong let out a deep sigh. "That woman…" he muttered, shaking his head, a weak smile tugging at his lips. "She's terrifying." he pushed himself off the wall and walked away.
Early the next morning, Cha-Jong and Akira left the house, walking through the early sunlight that cast long shadows behind them. The air was crisp, the faint scent of dew clinging to the grass. Akira's expression was as unreadable as ever, his dark eyes scanning the path ahead with a detached calm.
Inside the Guildmaster's office, they found Sylara—though not alone. Three others stood with her, each radiating a distinct aura.
The first was a small girl with hair and eyes in contrasting shades of blue. Her fair skin and youthful appearance belied the sharp daggers clutched in her hands, their edges glinting ominously. Beside her stood a tall, slim man with long hair neatly combed back. His unassuming attire was offset by the strange-looking bird perched on his shoulder, its bright, curious eyes darting around the room. The third figure was a tall, lean man draped in an assortment of blades, axes, and other lethal weapons. His dark hair framed a serious face, and his piercing gaze seemed to scrutinize everything in the room.
Sylara greeted them with a warm smile, though her violet eyes lingered on Akira a beat longer than necessary. "Welcome, Cha-Jong and Akira. I trust that you are prepared for today." Her gaze settled on Akira. "You will work with these three. All of them are B-rank. You'll be attempting a high-level C-rank dungeon. If you clear it, you'll receive 25% of the magic stones and rewards. You cool with that?"
Akira didn't flinch. His dark eyes locked onto hers, calm and unyielding. "Yeah, works for me," he said, his voice flat and emotionless.
Sylara nodded, her smile widening slightly. "Good." She then turned to Cha-Jong, her tone shifting to one of command. "As for you, Cha-Jong, you'll be accompanying me to another dungeon. We'll set off in an hour."
Cha-Jong gave a slight nod. "Understood."
Sylara gestured toward Akira's new teammates. "Take this time to familiarize yourselves with each other. Trust will be essential when you're out in the field."
The slender man with glasses was the first to speak, his voice soft yet distinct. "So, you're the one who smacked Captain Imzar, huh? Impressive." A faint smirk danced at the corners of his lips. "I'm Grido, a specialist in beasts and a tamer. Nice to meet you."
Akira tipped his head slightly, his tone polite but cool. "Nice to meet you, too."
The heavily armed man stepped forward, his serious expression softening into a slight smile. "I'm Victor, a warrior. Nice to meet you, kid. I'm expecting big things from you, especially since you handled that conceited Captain Imzar."
Before Akira could respond, the blue-haired girl shot Victor an indignant glare, her cheeks puffing with annoyance. "You shouldn't be talking about Captain Imzar that way, Victor! That's very impolite!"
Victor shrugged, unrepentant. "Truth hurts, Anna."
The girl, Anna, turned toward Akira, her expression softening. When her gaze met his, her cheeks flushed pink, and her voice faltered. "I...um...I'm Anna. Nice to meet you."
Akira's sharp features relaxed slightly, and a faint smile crossed his lips. "Nice to meet you all," he said, his voice calm but carrying a hint of assurance.
Anna's blush deepened, and she looked away, fidgeting with one of the daggers in her hands.
Sylara clapped her hands lightly, drawing everyone's attention. "Good. I like the energy here." Her sharp eyes lingered on Akira for a moment longer before she addressed the group. "Akira and the rest of you leave in an hour. Be ready."
As Sylara stepped out of the room, Victor broke the silence with a smirk. "Let's hope you're as good as they say, Akira. This dungeon won't go easy on us."
Akira remained silent for a moment, his calm gaze locking onto Victor's. After a pause, a faint smirk appeared on his lips. "I'll let my actions speak."
The weight of his words lingered in the air, and for a brief moment, silence enveloped the room before Grido broke it with a low chuckle. "This is going to be interesting."
Akira's eyes flicked toward the door where Sylara had exited, a flicker of irritation crossing his mind. Her interest in him was obvious, and while he didn't care for her games, he couldn't ignore the subtle tension she brought into the room. For now, he pushed it aside, focusing on the task ahead. Whatever Sylara's intentions were, they wouldn't distract him from what needed to be done.