The forest could wait.
Rio turned slightly, her gaze drifting back toward the distant outline of the city walls barely visible beyond the fields.
"…Before anything else," she said, "we're stopping by a shop."
Ryota blinked.
"…Now?"
Rio nodded once.
"…Now."
There was no hesitation in her voice.
So he didn't question it.
"…Alright."
The Town of Beginnings — Outer District
The city was louder than before.
Far louder.
The moment they stepped through the gates, noise crashed into them like a wave.
"Hidden dungeon—!"
"Search the outer zones!"
"Check the plains again!"
"Find the couple—!"
Players rushed past them in groups, some armed, some barely equipped, all moving with urgency.
Panic.
Excitement.
Greed.
It filled the air.
Rio walked through it all without reacting.
Unbothered.
Uninterested.
Invisible.
"…This way."
She led him away from the main roads, toward the quieter edge of the district where beginner shops lined the streets.
They stopped in front of a modest storefront.
No decorations.
No crowd.
Just—
Function.
Rio stepped inside.
Equipment Shop
The shopkeeper barely looked up.
"Hello Adventurer, What would you like to buy?"
Rio didn't waste time.
Her eyes scanned the rack once—
Then stopped.
"…That one."
The shopkeeper turned, pulling a weapon from the display.
A standard blade.
Clean.
Balanced.
Unremarkable.
An Imperial Saber.
The default weapon for level 2 players.
Reliable.
Replaceable.
Efficient.
Rio took it.
Tested its weight.
Adjusted her grip slightly.
Then—
"…I'll take it."
The sound of coins hitting the counter was quiet.
But final.
Six copper.
Gone.
Ryota watched.
"…You really spent everything."
Rio didn't even glance at him.
"…Yes."
She turned immediately.
"…Let's go."
Leaving the City
They didn't linger.
Didn't stop.
Didn't look back.
The noise faded behind them once more as they moved past the gates and onto the open paths leading away from the Town of Beginnings.
For a while—
They just walked.
Side by side.
Until—
Ryota spoke.
"…About the hidden dungeon."
Rio didn't stop.
"…What about it?"
He scratched his head.
"…Why not clear it?"
A pause.
"…You just spent six copper coins on a weapon."
He looked at her.
"…We could've used that to push it, right?"
"…Then sell the recipe."
Another step.
"…Probably make a lot."
Rio exhaled softly.
"…You're thinking like a solo player."
Ryota blinked.
"…Isn't that what we are?"
"…No."
She stopped.
Turned slightly.
"…We're thinking ahead."
She opened her system.
A panel appeared between them.
"…It's not the recipe that matters."
Ryota frowned.
"…Then what is?"
Rio's eyes sharpened.
"…The dungeon itself."
She tapped the panel.
"…Clearing a hidden dungeon gives guild credits."
Another tap—
The screen shifted.
"…And not just for the guild."
"…For every player inside it."
Ryota leaned in slightly.
"…So the more members—"
"…The more points."
Rio nodded.
"…Exactly. The more members who cleared a hidden dungeon the guild has, the higher points they are ranked"
The panel expanded—
Revealing a leaderboard.
Guild Rankings:
Rank 1: Astryx Dominion
Rank 2: Oblivion Edge
Rank 3: Honorable Vow
Rank 4: Royal Knights
Rank 5: Grave Monarch
Rank 6: Ironblood Pact
Rank 7: Eterna
Rank 8: Verdant Crown
Rank 9: Black Horizon
Rank 10: Scarlet Oath
Rio closed the panel.
"…That's what the chaos is about."
Ryota let out a low whistle.
"…So it's not about loot…"
"…It's about ranking."
Rio nodded.
"…Control."
She turned and continued walking.
"…We could clear it."
A pause.
"…Sell the recipe."
Another step.
"…But it's not worth it."
"…Because of the guilds?"
"…Because of the attention."
Her voice remained steady.
"…Right now, every major group is trying to claim it."
"…And anyone involved—"
She didn't finish.
She didn't need to.
Ryota nodded slowly.
"…Gets dragged into it."
"…Exactly."
The path ahead darkened.
Trees thickened.
The forest began.
Unseen Above
Far above the canopy—
A shadow moved.
Silent.
Watching.
A raven of dark crystal feathers, glinting faint purple under the light.
Its eyes locked onto two figures below.
Tracking.
Following.
Unnoticed.
They continued to walk deep into the forest
The moment they entered—
Everything changed.
Sound dulled.
Light dimmed.
Even the air felt heavier.
Rio slowed.
Just slightly.
Then—
Stopped.
The deeper they walked, the quieter the world became.
Gone were the distant voices of players.
Gone was the noise of the city.
Even the wind seemed reluctant to pass through the dense forest, as if wary of disturbing something that did not wish to be seen.
Light filtered weakly through the canopy above, scattering into thin, fractured beams that barely reached the ground. The path beneath their feet had long since disappeared, replaced by uneven soil, roots, and patches of moss.
Rio slowed.
Not enough to be obvious.
Just enough.
Ryota noticed.
He always did.
"…You picked this path on purpose, didn't you?"
Rio didn't answer.
Her gaze shifted slightly to the side.
Then forward again.
"…Maybe."
It was neither a denial nor an admission.
Ryota let out a quiet breath.
"…Right."
Silence followed.
Not uncomfortable.
Not tense.
Just—
Waiting.
"…Ryota."
Her voice had been quiet.
Measured.
"…Pick up a pebble."
He hadn't questioned it.
Didn't hesitate.
Didn't ask why.
Just bent down—
Picked one up.
"…Now what?"
A pause.
Then—
Her voice changed.
Colder.
Sharper.
"…Take out their eyes."
Understanding came instantly.
Not confusion.
Not doubt.
Just—
Action.
[Skill Activated: Scalular Impact]
The pebble vanished from his fingers.
No—
It didn't vanish.
It accelerated.
The air cracked.
A faint ripple trailing behind it as it tore upward with terrifying speed.
For a fraction of a second—
Nothing.
Then—
A sharp, brittle sound.
CRACK.
A cry followed.
High-pitched.
Unnatural.
Then—
Shattering.
Fragments of violet light scattered across the sky like broken glass, dissolving before they even touched the ground.
Silence returned.
But this time—
It wasn't empty.
It was watching.
Rio turned slowly.
Her new blade already in her hand.
The Imperial Saber gleamed faintly in the dim forest light, its polished edge catching just enough illumination to reveal its presence—
And its readiness.
"…The three of you are bad at hiding."
Her voice cut cleanly through the trees.
No hesitation.
No uncertainty.
"…Come out."
A pause.
The forest held its breath.
"…Or we'll treat this as an ambush."
Behind a cluster of thick trees—
Three figures stood frozen.
"…They knew?"
Sumi's voice was barely above a whisper.
Her gray eyes widened, darting toward the direction of the shattered familiar.
"…That was—"
Ayame didn't respond.
Her gaze was fixed ahead.
Sharp.
Focused.
"…She's not guessing."
Fayzan exhaled quietly.
A small smile tugged at his lips.
"…Yeah."
No point hiding anymore.
"…Guess we're done playing ghost."
Without another word—
He stepped out.
Hands raised.
Relaxed.
Casual.
As if he hadn't just been discovered in the middle of a covert tailing operation.
"…Well, this is awkward."
The tension in the air tightened instantly.
Rio didn't move.
Didn't blink.
Her blade rose—
Pointed directly at him.
"…State your business."
No greeting.
No courtesy.
Just a line drawn.
Fayzan stopped a few meters away.
Not too close.
Not too far.
A calculated distance.
"…Relax."
He tilted his head slightly.
"…We're not here to fight."
Rio's grip didn't loosen.
"…Then talk."
Her tone didn't change.
Didn't soften.
If anything—
It sharpened further.
Behind him, Ayame and Sumi stepped out as well.
Ayame moved quietly, her posture composed, observing everything without interrupting.
Sumi, on the other hand—
Was visibly tense.
Eyes flicking between Rio and Ryota, measuring, judging, waiting.
Fayzan didn't look back.
"…Alright."
He lowered his hands slowly.
Carefully.
"…Let's skip the nonsense."
His gaze locked onto Rio.
"…You two."
A pause.
"…You're the ones who triggered the hidden dungeon."
The forest fell silent again.
Even the faint rustling of leaves seemed to stop.
Ryota shifted slightly.
Not forward.
Not back.
Just enough to position himself between Rio and the unknown variables.
Subtle.
But deliberate.
Rio didn't react.
Didn't even blink.
"…And how are you so sure?"
Her voice was calm.
Too calm.
Fayzan smiled.
"…Simple."
He gestured lightly.
"…Your statuses are hidden."
Behind him—
Sumi froze.
"…What?"
Ayame's eyes narrowed slightly.
They hadn't noticed.
Not once.
Not even a hint.
Fayzan continued, tone almost conversational.
"…No normal player hides their status this early."
A step forward.
"…And you knew we were following you."
His gaze flicked upward briefly, toward where the raven had been destroyed.
"…Then you brought us here."
"…A place with no witnesses."
He tilted his head.
"…That's not coincidence."
Silence.
Rio stared at him.
For a long moment—
Nothing happened.
Then—
The corner of her lips lifted.
Just slightly.
"…Not bad."
Fayzan chuckled.
"…I'll take that."
Rio lowered her blade a fraction.
Not enough to relax.
Just enough to acknowledge.
"…Alright."
A pause.
"…You've impressed me."
Then—
Her eyes hardened again.
"…But information doesn't come for free."
"…Tch."
That was all it took.
Sumi stepped forward, irritation flashing across her face.
"…Who do you think you—"
Her stance dropped.
Weight shifted.
Killing intent flickered.
[Assassin Skill: Wolf Pounce]
Her muscles coiled—
Ready to explode forward.
Ryota moved.
Not visibly.
Not dramatically.
But his weight shifted.
Center lowered.
Eyes locked.
He didn't prepare to attack.
He prepared to intercept.
To stop.
To end it—
Before it even began.
But before Sumi could launch—
A hand grabbed her.
Firm.
Unyielding.
"…Not now."
Fayzan.
He lifted her.
Off the ground.
Effortlessly.
Her feet kicked in the air.
"…Put me down!"
"…No."
His tone didn't change.
"…This is a negotiation."
She struggled.
Pouting.
"…That girl is clearly—!"
"…And you're clearly not thinking."
A beat.
"…Shortie."
"…I'M NOT SHORT—!"
Her voice echoed through the forest.
Completely at odds with the tension from seconds ago.
Fayzan sighed.
"…You're proving my point."
He held her there a moment longer—
Then set her down.
Carefully.
"…Behave."
"…Tch."
She crossed her arms, cheeks slightly puffed in annoyance, but didn't move again.
Fayzan exhaled slowly.
Then—
His expression shifted.
Slightly more serious.
"…Sorry about that."
He glanced briefly at Sumi.
"…She's got a short temper."
Then his gaze returned to Rio.
This time—
Focused.
Measured.
"…Let's try this again."
A pause.
"…We don't want trouble."
His voice lowered just slightly.
"…But we need information."
The forest seemed to lean in.
Listening.
"…So."
His eyes met hers.
Steady.
Unwavering.
"…What's your price?"
"…For information on the hidden dungeon?"
Rio didn't answer immediately.
She studied him.
Not his words.
Not his tone.
Him.
His posture.
His reactions.
His restraint.
Then—
Her gaze shifted.
Briefly.
To Ayame.
Calm.
Observant.
Dangerous in a quiet way.
Then—
To Sumi.
Impulsive.
Sharp.
Unrefined.
Then—
Back to Fayzan.
A small breath left her lips.
"…You're interesting."
A pause.
"…But not enough to get it for free."
Her fingers tightened slightly around the saber.
"…Information has value."
Her voice lowered.
"…And this—"
A faint, almost imperceptible smile formed.
"…Is expensive."
The forest remained silent.
But the tension—
Only grew heavier.
Because now—
It wasn't about being discovered.
It was about negotiation.
And neither side intended to lose.