No one moved.
Not me.
Not Mira.
Not even the wind.
The Guild Master stood between us.
Calm.
Unshaken.
But the pressure in the air—
Was suffocating.
"...You're overstepping."
The man in front of Mira spoke.
His sword still raised.
Eyes locked on the Guild Master.
"...You're accusing royal-affiliated adventurers."
The Guild Master didn't blink.
"...I'm stating suspicion."
A pause.
"...And acting on it."
Mira exhaled softly.
"...This is troublesome."
Her eyes shifted toward me for a brief second.
Then back to the Guild Master.
"...Do you have proof?"
Silence.
The Guild Master didn't answer immediately.
That alone—
Said everything.
My jaw tightened.
"...Tch."
Of course.
We heard it.
We saw it.
But—
No proof.
No evidence.
Just words.
Mira smiled faintly.
"...Then this is nothing more than slander."
The man in front of her stepped forward.
"...We are 'Silver Eclipse'."
His voice carried weight.
"...Recognized by the Crown."
"...Decorated for retrieving royal assets."
A pause.
"...Be careful who you accuse."
The Guild Master finally spoke.
"...And be careful what you hide."
The two stared at each other.
Tension.
Pure tension.
I stepped forward.
"...She admitted it."
My voice cut through the silence.
Everyone turned to me.
"...She said everything."
My eyes locked on Mira.
"...You used them."
"...You set everything up."
"...You used me."
My grip tightened.
"...Say it again."
Mira looked at me.
Quiet.
Then—
She tilted her head slightly.
"...And if I did?"
Silence.
"...What can you do about it?"
Something inside me snapped again.
I stepped forward—
But a hand stopped me.
The Guild Master.
"...Not now."
"...Let go."
"...Not now."
His voice was firm.
"...You'll die."
I froze.
My teeth clenched.
"...Tch."
One of the guild adventurers spoke.
"...We heard it too."
Another nodded.
"...She admitted it."
Mira didn't react.
Instead—
She raised her hand slightly.
"...Witnesses?"
She smiled.
"...Or accomplices?"
Silence.
The room shifted again.
Doubt.
Just a little—
But enough.
"...What?"
One of the adventurers frowned.
Mira continued calmly.
"...You all arrived together."
"...With him."
Her eyes moved to me.
"...A Rank D who suddenly appears, kills bandits, and now accuses a royal party."
She paused.
"...Interesting coincidence."
My eyes widened slightly.
"...She's twisting it."
One of the men hesitated.
"...Wait…"
Another whispered,
"...That does sound strange…"
"...Shut up."
I snapped.
"...You heard her!"
Mira smiled again.
"...Emotional."
"...Unstable."
The words hit harder than they should.
"...Damn it."
The man in front of her lowered his sword slightly.
But didn't relax.
"...Guild Master."
"...You have no authority to detain us without evidence."
A pause.
"...And if you try—"
His eyes sharpened.
"...It will be considered interference with the Crown."
Silence.
Heavy.
Dangerous.
The Guild Master finally sighed.
"...Politics."
He muttered.
Then—
He looked at me.
"...This is the reality."
My fists clenched.
"...So we just let them go?"
"...For now."
"...That's bullshit."
"...Yes."
He didn't deny it.
"...But it's necessary."
I stared at him.
"...They're criminals."
"...Allegedly."
"...You heard it."
"...I did."
A pause.
"...But hearing is not proving."
My nails dug into my palm.
"...Tch."
Mira stepped forward slightly.
"...If we're done here…"
She brushed her hair back.
"...We will be taking the artifact."
The Guild Master's eyes narrowed.
"...That will remain here."
"...It belongs to the Crown."
"...And is under investigation."
The man in front of her spoke again.
"...You're making this difficult."
The Guild Master smiled faintly.
"...That's my job."
For a moment—
It felt like everything could explode.
Right here.
Right now.
But—
Mira raised her hand.
"...Enough."
Silence.
Her team stopped.
She looked at the Guild Master.
"...We'll cooperate."
A pause.
"...For now."
Then—
Her eyes moved to me again.
"...Take care of him."
My breath stopped.
"...What?"
She smiled.
"...He's unstable."
"...Dangerous."
"...And clearly obsessed."
My eyes darkened.
"...Say that again."
But she already turned away.
"...We'll meet again."
The tension slowly broke.
But the weight remained.
Later—
Back at the guild.
The atmosphere was completely different.
No cheers.
No noise.
Just whispers.
"...This is bad."
"...Really bad."
I stood near the wall.
Silent.
The Guild Master approached.
"...You're angry."
"...No shit."
He nodded.
"...Good."
I frowned.
"...Good?"
"...It means you're still thinking."
I looked at him.
"...They're going to get away with it."
"...Maybe."
"...Maybe?"
"...Or maybe…"
He leaned slightly closer.
"...We make it impossible for them to lie."
Silence.
"...How?"
He smiled faintly.
"...We play the same game."
My eyes narrowed.
"...Explain."
He walked past me.
"...That artifact."
"...It's real."
"...And dangerous."
I followed.
"...What does it do?"
"...Amplifies power."
"...But more importantly—"
He stopped.
"...It's traceable."
I blinked.
"...Traceable?"
He nodded.
"...If activated, it leaves a signature."
"...A unique one."
My eyes widened slightly.
"...So if they use it—"
"...We catch them."
A pause.
"...Or prove they had it."
My chest tightened.
"...So we wait?"
"...No."
He looked at me.
"...You move."
"...What?"
"...You wanted strength, right?"
Silence.
"...Yeah."
"...Then earn it."
He crossed his arms.
"...Because next time—"
His voice dropped.
"...You won't be stopped."
I looked at my hand.
Then clenched it.
"...Next time…"
My voice was low.
Cold.
"...I won't lose."
Far away—
Mira stood on a hill.
Looking down at the forest.
One of her members spoke.
"...That boy…"
"...He's a problem."
She smiled faintly.
"...No."
A pause.
"...He's useful."
"...Still?"
"...For now."
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"...But if he grows too much…"
Silence.
"...We cut him down."
Back in the guild—
I stood alone.
The noise around me faded.
"...So this is how it works."
Strength.
Power.
Status.
Truth didn't matter.
Proof did.
"...Fine."
A slow breath.
"...Then I'll get stronger."
Not just enough to survive.
Not just enough to fight.
But enough—
To crush everything in front of me.
"...Mira."
I whispered.
"...Next time…"
My eyes hardened.
"...I'll be the one deciding the truth."