Brielle grabbed her own arms, hugging herself as a cold sweat broke out on the back of her neck. "If this was a real combat situation... if she had drawn a blade... all of us, except for Aria, would be severely injured before we even knew we were under attack. Honestly, two of us would probably be dead in that split second."
A heavy, suffocating silence fell over the five girls. The chaotic noise of the clan house seemed to fade entirely into the background.
For Brielle, the terror wasn't just about a strong stranger. It was a complete shattering of her reality.
As the party's Thief, it was her sole responsibility to act as their radar. She was the shield that kept her friends away from unseen dangers.
But if there were people out there who were truly undetectable—people who emitted absolutely no Life Force, no warmth, no sound—then she was entirely useless.
Her heart pounded painfully in her chest. She was terrified of losing her comrades. The physics of the world she had studied her entire life had just been casually broken by a bored-looking girl walking out a door.
If someone could erase their own existence like that, what else was waiting for them in this city? How many monsters like that were lurking in the Imperial Capital?
They stayed pressed against the stone wall for five full minutes, letting the heavy, suffocating shock wash over them. Brielle took deep, ragged breaths, trying to steady her trembling hands.
The chaotic noise of the clan house slowly filtered back into their ears—the clinking of porcelain cups, the loud laughter of veteran Adventurers, and the sharp scraping of armor plates.
Once Brielle finally stopped shaking, Aria gave her a gentle nod. They stepped away from the wall and navigated through the crowded lounge, heading straight toward the grand reception desk at the back of the hall.
A regular female receptionist stood behind the polished counter, quietly sorting through a thick stack of bounty posters. She wore a clean, tailored uniform bearing the 'Hidden Origin' crest.
Elen stepped forward and offered a polite, respectful bow. She decided to get straight to the point. "Excuse me. We traveled here from the Kingdom of Aethelgard. We would like to meet the Level 8 Adventurer, Kian Astor."
The receptionist paused her sorting and looked up. She offered a practiced, sympathetic smile. "I see. You came from a very faraway place to meet the Clan Master. Do you have official business with him?"
"No," Elen admitted, her voice steady but hopeful. "But we owe him a lot. He saved our home. We would like to return the favor to him. Please, help us meet him."
The receptionist sighed softly, her smile turning apologetic. "I am sorry. I know you made a big effort just to travel here, but it is simply not possible. Our Clan Master is incredibly busy. His time is extremely valuable."
Elen frowned slightly, sharing a quick look with Aria. "I see. So we need an appointment first. Can we request one for later this week?"
"I am so sorry, but the Clan Master only talks to very important people," the receptionist explained gently. "I mean no offense to you girls, but that is just the honest truth. Appointments are only given to those with critical, city-altering business. Even high-level Adventurers here in the capital go their entire lives without ever seeing him in person. Many rookies consider it a literal blessing if they manage to catch a glimpse of him even once."
The party's Archer, who had been listening quietly, suddenly stepped up to the counter. Her pride was clearly stung. "Miss, I know we are just wearing our traveling clothes right now, but we are actually very important people in our own country. We were honorary guests of the King himself. At the Association branch back home, we are the absolute top party. We are the strongest. We are celebrities out there. The local nobles are willing to kill each other just to force us to attend their birthday parties. I am absolutely sure we qualify for your 'very important person' criteria."
The receptionist did not flinch or look impressed. She simply bowed her head deeply. "I truly understand your frustration. But the rules of this Clan House are absolute. We really cannot grant you an appointment. I am very sorry."
Brielle, completely forgetting the terrifying encounter she had just survived at the door, threw her hands up in the air. "What the hell is this? We traveled for six months straight across the continent just to return a favor, and we aren't even allowed to say hello to the guy?"
Before Brielle could yell anything else, Elen quickly grabbed her from behind and clamped a hand firmly over the Thief's mouth, dragging her a step back.
Aria stood frozen at the counter. She looked entirely shattered. Four years of brutal, nonstop training. Four years of bleeding in dirty dungeons, fighting until her bones ached, all to prove she was worthy of standing before the man who saved her and her entire village. And now, a simple receptionist was telling her she wasn't even allowed to look at him.
"What is going on here?"
A sharp, authoritative voice cut through the tension.
From a side door behind the counter, a woman stepped into view. She wore a sharp, dark business suit, carrying a thick leather ledger under her arm. Her dark hair was tied up in a strict, flawless bun, and a pair of wire-rimmed glasses rested on the bridge of her nose. This was the Vice Clan Master.
The receptionist quickly bowed to her and explained the situation in a hushed whisper, detailing the girls' demands and their long journey from Aethelgard.
The Vice Clan Master pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose. The moment she heard the story, a distinct, heavy shift occurred in her demeanor. Her merchant spirit toggled on.
"I see. I get it," the Vice Clan Master said, turning her sharp gaze toward the five girls. "That is too bad. Our Clan Master is your village's grand hero, and you came all the way to the capital to return the favor."
She leaned slightly against the wooden counter, her eyes gleaming with calculated interest. "Tell me. What exactly do you intend to give him in return?"
Aria's face instantly lightened. The crushing disappointment vanished, replaced by a fierce, desperate fire. She stepped right up to the wood.
"We... we will devote our lives to him," Aria declared, her voice ringing with absolute, unshakeable conviction. "We will do any demand he gives us without a single complaint, and without ever asking for a fee. If he wants us to hunt something dangerous, we will hunt it. If he wants us to deliver something across the world, we will deliver it."
Aria knew she had no political power or heavy bags of gold to offer in exchange for an audience with a Level 8 legend. She only had her sword, her loyalty, and her life. She offered the only things she had, praying with all her heart that her hero would hear her plea. "I will give him everything."
The Vice Clan Master stayed silent for a moment. She adjusted her glasses again, carefully reading Aria's body language. The girl was entirely sincere. There was no deception in her posture.
The Vice Master's eyes darted down to their chests. She noted the silver Adventurer Association badges. Level 3s, Level 4s, and a Level 5. They were genuine. They were young, but they had real, verified combat experience.
Then, her eyes locked onto the heavy silver pendant resting against Aria's collarbone.
The Vice Master's breath caught slightly. Her flawless merchant instincts instantly recognized the dense, terrifying mana signature leaking from the metal, as well as the sheer, absurd monetary value of the artifact. It was a priceless relic.
She looked at the five girls again. They were incredibly pretty, heavily armed, highly motivated, and carrying a top-tier magical artifact.
Five highly capable, beautiful girls who are willing to run errands and dedicate their lives to him for absolutely zero pay, the Vice Master thought, a slight smirk playing on her lips. This is an incredibly profitable asset. I hope Kian will accept these girls. They are practically throwing themselves at him.
"Okay," the Vice Master said aloud, tapping her fingernail against the ledger. "You can do chores and run errands for him. That is a start. What else can you give him?" She pointed a slender finger toward the grand, sweeping staircase at the back of the hall. "You know, as the Vice Master, I can walk right up those stairs and deliver a direct message to his private quarters. If he hears what you are offering to give him... he might accept. I cannot guarantee it, but who knows."
Feeling the immense pressure of the moment, Aria clenched her fists at her sides. This was it. This was her only hope. She looked the Vice Master directly in the eyes, her voice overflowing with raw courage and deep emotion. "I will give him absolutely everything I am."