For a moment—
No one moved.
The forest remained still, the aftermath of tension hanging in the air like a lingering echo.
Then—
The red hair girl moved first.
A soft chuckle escaped her lips as she twirled the dagger between her fingers before sliding it back into her satchel.
Casual.
Unthreatened.
As if the clash from seconds ago meant nothing.
Her crimson hair swayed slightly as she tilted her head, eyes locking onto Rio.
"…My name is Sayanaki."
A pause.
"…What's yours?"
Rio didn't lower her guard.
Didn't relax her stance.
"…Rio."
That was all she said.
Nothing more.
Nothing less.
But that alone—
Was enough.
Sayanaki's grin widened.
"…Rio, huh."
There was something in the way she said it.
Like she was tasting the name.
Testing it.
Rio's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…You're not afraid I'll attack?"
Sayanaki didn't hesitate.
"…No."
A simple answer.
Certain.
She glanced briefly toward Ryota.
"…You would've told white hair over there to attack me already if you were serious."
Then her gaze returned to Rio.
"…Besides."
A step forward.
Slow.
Measured.
"…You're curious too."
A small pause.
Her grin sharpened.
"…Just like me."
Rio didn't respond.
Sayanaki continued.
"…And I'm confident."
Her fingers brushed lightly against her satchel.
"…That I can draw my weapon and block you—"
CLANG.
Steel collided.
Rio's saber had already moved.
A precise strike—
Fast.
Clean.
And yet—
Sayanaki's dagger met it perfectly.
The blade she had just stored—
Now in her hand.
Positioned.
Ready.
The impact echoed through the trees.
Neither of them moved.
For a moment—
They were locked again.
Eyes meeting.
Smiles mirroring.
"…I guess you weren't bluffing."
Rio's voice was calm.
Amused.
Sayanaki chuckled.
"…Told you."
Then—
Her body blurred.
[Assassin Skill: Knightmare Phantoms]
The air distorted—
And two more Sayanaki's appeared.
Perfect copies.
No delay.
No difference.
All three moved at once.
Blades flashing.
Striking from different angles—
Faster than before.
Relentless.
Precise.
A storm of attacks.
But—
Rio didn't move much.
Her saber danced.
Minimal.
Efficient.
Every strike met.
Every angle covered.
Every attack—
Blocked.
CLANG. CLANG. CLANG.
The sound of metal rang out in rapid succession, echoing unnaturally fast through the forest.
Ryota watched.
Eyes sharp.
Body ready—
But unmoving.
Because Rio didn't need help.
She stepped forward.
One motion.
Clean.
Decisive.
Her blade cut through both figures in front of her—
A brutal slash across their chests.
The two Sayanaki's froze—
Then dissolved into fragments of light.
Gone.
Only one remained.
Standing a few steps away.
Smiling.
"…Nice."
Then—
She turned.
And ran.
Fast.
Straight into the forest.
Ryota reacted instantly.
"…Hey—!"
His body surged forward—
"…Coward—!"
But—
"Wait."
Rio's hand shot out.
Stopping him mid-motion.
He froze.
Again.
No hesitation.
"…What?"
He looked at her.
Confused.
Rio didn't answer.
Her eyes shifted.
To the side.
A bush.
Dense.
Unremarkable.
Then—
She threw her saber.
A sharp motion—
No hesitation.
The blade cut through the air—
THUD.
It pierced something.
Fabric.
A shadow.
Then—
A figure dropped.
Landing lightly in front of them.
Sayanaki.
The real one.
Her hood partially torn where the saber struck.
A grin already on her face.
Then—
She laughed.
Bright.
Genuine.
"…You knew from the start, huh?"
Rio stepped forward.
Slowly.
"…A player like you…"
Her voice was calm.
"…Doesn't attack without testing."
A pause.
"…The one that clashed with me first—"
Her gaze sharpened.
"…Was a clone."
Sayanaki didn't interrupt.
"…Then you summoned two more."
Rio continued.
"…To make it look real."
"…To sell the illusion."
Another step.
"…After I destroyed them…"
Her eyes locked onto Sayanaki.
"…You made one run."
A faint smirk.
"…Hoping he'd follow."
Ryota blinked slightly.
"…Wait—"
Rio didn't stop.
"…Once he was far enough…"
"…You'd dispel the clone."
"…Leave him lost."
Her voice lowered.
"…And face me alone."
Silence.
Then—
Sayanaki clapped.
Slowly.
"…Perfect."
Her grin widened.
"…You got everything right."
A small pause.
"…No."
Her eyes gleamed.
"…You went beyond what I expected."
Rio's gaze flicked downward briefly.
To Sayanaki's neck.
"…That necklace."
A faint glint.
"…Phantom's Pearl."
Sayanaki raised a brow slightly.
"…Oh?"
Rio continued.
"…Gives you the ability to create up to three clones."
"…At a heavy mana cost."
A pause.
Her saber returned to her hand.
"…And you've already used it."
Her stance relaxed—
Just slightly.
"…Which means…"
A faint smirk formed.
"…You're out of tricks."
Silence.
The forest felt smaller.
Tighter.
"…And you don't like drawn-out fights."
Rio added.
"…That's why you wanted him gone."
Her eyes shifted briefly toward Ryota.
"…One less variable."
Sayanaki stared at her.
Then—
Laughed.
Loud.
Unrestrained.
"…You're right."
She clapped once more.
"…No more games."
Her expression changed.
Not playful.
Not teasing.
Focused.
"…I only want one thing."
A pause.
Her eyes locked onto Rio.
Sharp.
Intense.
"…You."
Silence.
Ryota's body tensed instantly.
But—
Sayanaki raised a hand.
"…Relax."
A grin returned.
"…Not like that."
A small step forward.
"…You're interesting."
Her voice softened—
Just slightly.
"…More than anyone I've met so far."
A beat.
Then—
She smiled.
Wide.
Unfiltered.
"…I want you as a friend."
The forest didn't react.
The wind didn't move.
But the atmosphere—
Shifted.
Because this time—
It wasn't a threat.
It wasn't a hunt.
It was something far more unpredictable.
An offer.
From someone dangerous.
To someone even more so.
And somehow—
That made it even more tense.
For a moment—
Silence lingered between them.
Not hostile.
Not tense.
But uncertain.
Sayanaki's words still hung in the air.
I want you as a friend.
Ryota blinked.
"…That's it?"
He looked between the two girls.
"…After all that?"
Sayanaki shrugged lightly.
"…What? You expected me to try and kill you again?"
A grin.
"…I already tested what I needed."
Her eyes shifted back to Rio.
"…And I got my answer."
Rio said nothing at first.
She simply looked at her.
Studied her.
Measured.
Not her strength.
Not her skill.
But her intent.
Then—
A small smile formed.
"…Fine."
Sayanaki's grin widened instantly.
"…Oh?"
Rio opened her system.
A soft glow appeared between them.
[Friend Request Sent: Sayanaki]
A brief pause—
Then—
[Friend Request Accepted]
A faint chime echoed.
Just like that—
It was done.
Sayanaki let out a small laugh.
"…That was easier than I thought."
Rio shrugged.
"…You're useful."
A beat.
"…And interesting."
Sayanaki placed a hand on her hip.
"…I'll take that as a compliment."
Ryota sighed softly, shaking his head.
"…This game really is something else…"
Sayanaki glanced at him.
"…You'll get used to it."
Then—
She stepped back.
"…I won't follow you this time."
A small pause.
"…But we'll meet again."
"Message me if you ever need me"
Her gaze returned to Rio.
"…I'm looking forward to it."
Rio didn't respond.
But she didn't deny it either.
Sayanaki turned.
Her figure slipping back into the forest—
Silent.
Gone.
As if she had never been there at all.
The Forest's Edge
The tension faded as they walked.
Step by step—
The dense trees thinned.
Light returned.
The air felt lighter.
Warmer.
The distant sound of life slowly came back.
"…We're done here."
Rio's voice broke the silence.
Ryota glanced at her.
"…That was… a lot."
Rio nodded slightly.
"…Yes."
A pause.
"…But productive."
They stepped out of the forest.
Ahead of them—
A small village.
Simple wooden houses.
Faint smoke rising from chimneys.
NPCs moving about quietly.
Peaceful.
A stark contrast to everything they had just experienced.
Rio exhaled softly.
"…Let's rest."
Another step forward.
"…And eat."
A small pause.
"…I'm satisfied."
Ryota blinked.
"…Satisfied?"
Rio nodded.
"…Both encounters went well."
Ryota laughed.
"…You call that 'well'?"
Rio glanced at him.
"…We gained information."
"…Coins."
"…And a potential ally."
A faint smile.
"…That's efficient."
Ryota shook his head, smiling.
"…You're unreal."
They walked toward the village.
For the first time since the announcement—
There was no urgency.
No pressure.
Just—
A brief moment of calm.
Eleo Guild Hall — The Eternal Lions
The atmosphere was different here.
Controlled.
Focused.
Heavy with anticipation.
The large doors opened.
Fayzan stepped in.
Ayame and Sumi followed closely behind.
Several members turned.
Eyes locking onto them instantly.
"…They're back."
"…Already?"
"…Did they find something?"
Whispers spread.
But none approached.
Not yet.
At the center—
Elias stood.
Unmoving.
Waiting.
"…Report."
Fayzan didn't waste time.
He walked forward, stopping just short of the center.
Then—
Opened his system.
A projection appeared.
The map.
Detailed.
Precise.
Marked clearly.
"…Hidden dungeon location."
Silence filled the hall.
Ayame stepped forward slightly.
"…Confirmed source."
Sumi crossed her arms, though her expression was more serious than before.
"…And it's not just a rough guess."
Fayzan smirked slightly.
"…It's exact."
Murmurs spread.
Elias stepped forward.
His eyes scanned the projection.
Every detail.
Every mark.
"…This level of accuracy…"
A pause.
"…Who gave you this?"
Fayzan exhaled softly.
"…The ones who triggered it."
The hall froze.
"…What?"
"…You found them?!"
"…Already?!"
Elias' gaze sharpened.
"…Explain."
Fayzan's smirk returned slightly.
"…They're dangerous."
A pause.
"…Both of them."
He crossed his arms.
"…Especially the girl."
Ayame nodded.
"…High-level awareness."
"…Extreme combat precision."
Sumi added, quieter this time—
"…And terrifying calm."
Elias remained silent.
Processing.
Then—
"…And the cost?"
Fayzan chuckled.
"…Forty-two copper."
A ripple of reactions spread.
"…That's expensive."
"…For information?"
"…Worth it?"
Fayzan's gaze sharpened slightly.
"…It is."
A pause.
"…Because it's real."
Silence returned.
He continued.
"…We already paid thirty."
"…The rest after confirmation."
Elias nodded once.
Decisive.
"…Then we move."
The entire hall straightened.
"Scouting team—prepare."
"Combat units—stand by."
"Support units—ready supplies."
His voice carried across the room.
Clear.
Commanding.
"…We confirm the location first."
A pause.
"…Then we take it."
The guild moved instantly.
No hesitation.
No wasted motion.
Ayame stepped beside Fayzan.
"…You trust them?"
Fayzan watched the map.
Then smiled slightly.
"…No."
A pause.
"…But I trust what I saw."
Sumi frowned slightly.
"…And if it's a trap?"
Fayzan chuckled.
"…Then it'll be fun."
His eyes gleamed.
"…Won't it?"
Far away—
In a quiet village—
Rio and Ryota sat down for a simple meal.
Unaware—
Or perhaps fully aware—
That the information they sold…
Had just set something much bigger into motion.
The board was set.
The players were moving.
And the hidden dungeon—
Was no longer hidden.