The tavern was loud.
Adventurers laughed over drinks while merchants argued over prices near the counter. A bard in the corner lazily strummed a worn instrument while desert travelers rested after long journeys through the endless orange dunes of Floor Two.
The smell of roasted sand lizard and spiced stew filled the air.
And yet—
despite all the noise—
the moment Rio sat down across from the black-cloaked girl…
the atmosphere somehow became colder.
Ryota quietly took the seat beside Rio while staring at the familiar crimson-haired assassin.
Even beneath the hood—
those sharp violet eyes remained impossible to forget.
Sayanaki leaned back against her chair while lazily spinning a dagger between her fingers.
"So?"
She tilted her head slightly.
"What business does the leader of the newest Apex Guild have with me?"
Rio rested her elbow on the table casually.
"Have you heard the recent announcement?"
Sayanaki smirked.
"The entire game heard it."
"The first Apex Guild in the Town of Beginnings."
She took a sip from her drink.
"Crowned Era."
Rio smiled faintly.
Then—
she disabled the hidden setting on her profile.
Immediately—
the guild emblem beside her name became visible.
[Crowned Era — Guild Leader]
Sayanaki's violet eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Oh."
Even Ryota noticed the tiny shift in her expression.
Not shock.
Interest.
Sayanaki slowly smiled.
"So it really was you."
Rio nodded calmly.
"I'm the leader of Crowned Era."
Sayanaki looked toward Ryota.
"I'm guessing the white-haired boy is also part of it."
Ryota twitched slightly.
"…White-haired boy?"
Rio laughed softly.
"Yeah."
"He's my vice leader."
Ryota looked proud for approximately two seconds before realizing Sayanaki still kept calling him white-haired boy.
Sayanaki chuckled quietly before leaning back again.
"Figures."
"You two really are interesting."
Rio smiled.
"And you're still terrifying."
That made Sayanaki laugh.
The two girls casually continued talking while Ryota sat there completely confused at how naturally they interacted despite the fact they nearly killed each other during their first meeting.
Then—
Rio's expression changed.
The smile disappeared.
Her blue eyes sharpened slightly.
"I want you to join us."
The dagger spinning between Sayanaki's fingers stopped.
Silence.
The surrounding tavern noise somehow felt distant.
Sayanaki slowly placed her drink down onto the table.
Then stared directly into Rio's eyes.
She wasn't joking.
She wasn't testing her.
She was serious.
"…Why me?"
Rio answered immediately.
"You're interesting."
Sayanaki blinked once.
Rio continued calmly.
"Other than Ryota…"
"I want you to be the first real member of our guild."
Ryota looked slightly surprised hearing that.
Sayanaki however remained silent.
Her gaze studied Rio carefully.
Like she was trying to peel apart every layer hidden behind her words.
Finally—
she spoke again.
"I'm an assassin."
"Not an adventurer."
"I kill players for profit."
"I hunt people."
"I take their loot."
"I sell it."
She leaned closer.
"A guild would never want someone like me."
"A walking target surrounded by enemies."
"A disaster waiting to happen."
Rio listened quietly.
Then answered without hesitation.
"I know."
"But I still want you to join."
The guild invitation window suddenly appeared in front of Sayanaki.
And the moment Ryota saw the rank attached to it—
his eyes widened.
[Guild Rank Assignment: Rank 9]
Second highest rank other than Ryota's Rank 10.
Even Sayanaki looked slightly surprised.
"…You're serious."
Rio nodded.
"Very."
Sayanaki stared at the invitation window for several seconds.
Then suddenly—
she smiled.
But this time—
the smile felt dangerous.
"I don't see why I should join."
"The way I am now is perfect."
"I enjoy doing what I love most."
Ryota frowned.
"…Which is?"
Sayanaki's smile widened.
Then—
suddenly—
every sound inside the tavern vanished.
A horrifying silence swallowed the room.
And a second later—
SPLATTER
Blood exploded across the walls.
Ryota froze.
Bodies collapsed everywhere.
Players.
NPCs.
Waitresses.
Travelers.
Merchants.
All of them fell lifelessly onto the floor at the exact same time.
The bard's instrument snapped as his corpse slumped sideways.
Blood slowly dripped across the wooden tables.
Ryota's face turned pale.
"…W-What…"
Sayanaki casually rested her chin against her hand.
"I killed them."
Ryota's entire body stiffened.
"…WHEN?!"
"The moment you two walked in."
She pointed lazily toward the bartender.
"Didn't want unnecessary ears listening."
Ryota stared at her in horror.
Meanwhile—
Rio remained completely calm.
Not afraid.
Not shocked.
Just watching.
Then Sayanaki casually pointed toward the kitchen.
"Don't worry."
"The NPCs respawn immediately."
Sure enough—
a janitor casually walked out carrying a mop while grumbling about blood stains.
Another waitress appeared and began cleaning tables like nothing happened.
Ryota's brain completely gave up understanding this game anymore.
Sayanaki looked back at Rio.
"Still want me to join?"
Rio answered instantly.
"Yes."
That genuinely surprised Sayanaki.
For the first time—
her playful smile faded slightly.
Then—
without warning—
Sayanaki's dagger flashed.
She moved so fast Ryota couldn't even react.
The blade headed directly toward Rio's throat.
But Rio didn't move.
Didn't flinch.
Didn't blink.
Instead—
she calmly spoke.
"Backlash is a double-strike skill."
Sayanaki stopped.
The dagger halted less than an inch from Rio's neck.
The entire tavern became silent again.
Rio looked directly into Sayanaki's eyes.
"The first time we fought…"
"You only used the first strike."
Sayanaki's smile slowly disappeared.
Rio continued.
"The second hit normally comes from the opponent's blind spot."
"The ghost strike."
"But you canceled it intentionally."
Ryota blinked.
"…You can do that?"
Rio nodded slightly while still staring at Sayanaki.
"You hid information."
"For assassins…"
"Wrong information is more dangerous than no information."
Sayanaki slowly lowered the dagger.
Now her eyes truly looked interested.
Rio leaned slightly forward.
"I'm serious about wanting you in Crowned Era."
"But if it's a fight you want…"
Her left eye suddenly glowed blue.
Chronos Eye activated.
The temperature inside the tavern seemed to distort.
Time itself felt heavier.
"…then you can have one."
The instant Rio finished speaking—
a slash suddenly appeared across her left cheek.
Blood dripped down her skin.
At the exact same moment—
two deep cuts opened across Sayanaki's shoulder.
Both girls remained perfectly still.
Ryota's eyes widened.
He didn't even see either of them move.
Not a single motion.
Not a single attack.
Yet both had been wounded.
Silence.
Then suddenly—
Sayanaki burst into laughter.
A genuine laugh.
Not fake.
Not mocking.
Real amusement.
"Alright."
"You made your point."
She leaned back while wiping blood from her shoulder.
"I'll join your guild."
Ryota sighed in relief.
Then Sayanaki raised three fingers.
"But under three conditions."
Rio deactivated Chronos Eye.
Her glowing blue eye returned to normal.
"What conditions?"
Sayanaki crossed one leg over the other.
"Number one."
"I work alone."
"I'm an assassin."
"I function better hidden than grouped with people."
Rio nodded.
"Fine."
"Number two."
"I continue my player-killing work."
"That's how I make money."
"I kill players."
"I sell their loot."
"I convert the coins into real-world cash."
Ryota looked uncomfortable.
But Rio answered calmly.
"Fine."
Sayanaki raised her final finger.
"Number three."
"Crowned Era opens player-killing quests and escort missions."
Rio thought for a moment.
Then nodded.
"No problem."
Sayanaki smirked slightly.
"But."
Rio raised one finger.
"You don't kill players under level five."
Sayanaki blinked.
Rio's expression became serious.
"A lot of people on Floor One are casual players."
"Some are just having fun with friends."
"Some are new to gaming entirely."
"I won't let stronger players ruin their experience."
Ryota quietly stared at Rio.
Sayanaki watched her silently.
Rio continued calmly.
"Everyone enjoys games differently."
"And I don't want Crowned Era becoming a guild that destroys that."
Sayanaki slowly smiled again.
"…Interesting."
Rio shrugged slightly.
"Now…"
She leaned back.
"If someone attacks you first?"
A small smirk appeared on her face.
"You have permission to absolutely destroy them."
Sayanaki laughed loudly.
"You really are insane."
Rio smiled back.
"So are you."
Silence lingered for a few moments.
Then Sayanaki quietly spoke.
"…You figured it out, huh?"
Rio nodded.
"The players you target…"
"They're never harmless."
Sayanaki didn't answer immediately.
Instead—
she looked toward the tavern window where the desert sunlight poured inside.
Finally—
she smiled faintly.
"Who knows."
Then—
the guild invitation window reopened.
Sayanaki stared at it for several seconds.
Before finally—
she pressed accept.
[Player Sayanaki has joined the Apex Guild: Crowned Era]
A small crown icon appeared beside her name.
And just like that—
the most dangerous assassin in Evermount officially became part of Crowned Era.
Sayanaki looked at the emblem beside her profile.
Then toward Rio.
"…This guild is going to become something absurd, isn't it?"
Rio grinned.
"That's the plan."
Ryota sighed.
"…Why do I feel like my life expectancy just dropped?"
Sayanaki immediately pointed at him.
"I like him."
Ryota looked horrified.
Rio laughed.
The journey toward Floor 3 officially begins.
Warm desert wind drifted through the streets of Safar Village.
Outside the tavern, orange sand rolled endlessly beneath the blazing sky while distant sandships traveled across the dunes like ships crossing an ocean.
Inside—
the atmosphere was strangely calm.
Especially considering dozens of corpses were still scattered across the tavern floor.
Ryota sat frozen in his chair.
"…I still can't believe you killed everyone in here."
Sayanaki lazily spun her dagger between her fingers.
"Well technically they're already respawning."
A nearby NPC waitress walked past carrying bloody cups.
Another NPC janitor sighed while dragging a mop across the floor like this happened every Tuesday.
Ryota stared.
"…This game is insane."
Sayanaki laughed.
"You're only realizing that now?"
Rio ignored the corpses entirely.
Instead—
she opened a holographic map above the table.
A massive projection expanded into the air between them.
The deserts of Floor 2 stretched endlessly across the display.
Then—
far beyond it—
a massive dark region appeared.
Floor 3.
Sayanaki's violet eyes narrowed slightly.
"…So."
"What's the plan now?"
Rio pointed toward the northern edge of the map.
"We head for Floor 3 immediately."
That immediately caught Sayanaki's interest.
"Already?"
"Most guilds are still exploring Floor 2."
Rio nodded.
"Exactly."
"Which means nobody else knows what's waiting ahead."
Sayanaki leaned her chin against her hand.
"And you do?"
Rio smiled faintly.
"A little."
Ryota looked at her.
"A little?"
Rio ignored him completely.
Instead—
she opened her inventory.
A glowing white crystal appeared in her hand.
The crystal floated gently above her palm while emitting soft silver particles.
Sayanaki's eyes immediately locked onto it.
"…That's not a normal item."
Rio nodded.
"It's a Guild Quarters Crystal."
"Single-use."
"It allows us to claim territory and establish a guild headquarters."
Ryota looked impressed.
"So this is the thing Apex Guilds get?"
"Yep."
Rio looked toward the Floor 3 section of the map.
"There's a special location there."
"A hidden area."
"One of the best possible places to build a guild headquarters during the early game."
Sayanaki stared at Rio carefully.
"…Floor 3 literally released today."
"How do you know this much already?"
Rio smiled.
"I have my ways."
That answer somehow felt more suspicious than reassuring.
Sayanaki laughed quietly.
"You really are hiding something interesting."
Rio didn't deny it.
Instead—
she zoomed the map further inward.
A massive canyon-like region appeared.
Large portions of the map were still blacked out.
Unknown territory.
Unexplored zones.
Ancient ruins.
Desert canyons.
Collapsed structures.
Then Rio pointed toward one particular hidden region.
"Here."
"This is where I want to build Crowned Era's headquarters."
Sayanaki looked interested.
"What's special about it?"
Rio's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Resources."
"Fast travel positioning."
"Hidden access routes."
"Rare monster zones."
"And something else."
Ryota blinked.
"Something else?"
Rio smiled.
"You'll see when we get there."
That somehow worried Ryota more than reassured him.
Sayanaki leaned back in her chair.
"So basically…"
"You want me to help you reach some ridiculous dangerous location nobody else knows about."
Rio nodded.
"Correct."
Sayanaki laughed.
"…Alright."
"I'll come along for now."
Ryota blinked.
"That was fast."
Sayanaki shrugged.
"You two are entertaining."
"And honestly?"
She rested her chin on her hand while smiling toward Rio.
"I want to see what kind of monster creates the first Apex Guild this early."
Rio laughed softly.
"Well I'm glad you accepted."
Sayanaki then raised a finger.
"But after the headquarters is established…"
"I walk my own path again."
"I'm not staying attached to a party twenty-four seven."
Rio nodded immediately.
"I have no issues with that."
"Actually…"
"That works perfectly."
Sayanaki smiled.
"Good answer."
Rio then sighed slightly.
"Unfortunately I can't activate player-kill contracts yet."
"We still don't have a headquarters."
Sayanaki shrugged casually.
"No rush."
"I've survived this long already."
Then suddenly—
Rio opened her inventory again.
Ryota immediately recognized the item she pulled out.
His eyes widened.
"…Wait."
"That's—"
A dark crimson dagger appeared in Rio's hand.
The blade emitted a faint black aura while silver wolf markings glowed along the weapon's edge.
Sayanaki's smile slowly disappeared.
Even she could tell instantly—
this weapon was absurd.
Rio placed it on the table.
Fenrir's Fang
Type: Dagger
Rarity: Epic
Required Class: Assassin
Physical Attack: +1.5
Attack Speed: +0.4%
Skill — Blood Pact of the Twin Wolves
Summons two spectral wolves:
Skoll — A black wolf specialized in frontal assault and pressure attacks.
Hati — A white wolf specialized in tracking, blindspot attacks, and debuffs.
Trait:
The wolves synchronize with the wielder's combat patterns.
Warning:
Non-compatible users suffer severe stat penalties.
Sayanaki stared at the dagger silently.
Then slowly looked up at Rio.
"…You're giving this to me?"
Ryota looked equally shocked.
That dagger was one of the strongest items they had obtained during the beginning of their journey.
Rio nodded casually.
"It's wasted on me."
"I can't even use it properly."
"But you can."
Sayanaki looked genuinely surprised for once.
"Are you sure?"
"This thing is insanely valuable."
Rio leaned back in her chair.
"You're part of Crowned Era now."
"That means your strength matters too."
Sayanaki stared at her for several seconds.
Then laughed quietly.
"You know…"
"I could literally leave right now and keep this."
Rio instantly replied.
"You won't."
Sayanaki smirked.
"And why are you so confident?"
Rio smiled calmly.
"Because we're far more interesting than anything else in this game right now."
Silence.
Then—
Sayanaki burst out laughing.
Ryota laughed too.
"…Honestly?"
"She's not wrong."
Sayanaki grabbed the dagger.
The moment she equipped it—
a dark aura briefly surged around her body.
Two wolf-shaped shadows appeared behind her for a split second before disappearing.
Her violet eyes widened slightly.
"…Oh."
"This thing is beautiful."
Rio smiled proudly.
"Told you."
Sayanaki examined the dagger carefully.
Then suddenly grinned.
"Alright."
"I'm officially invested now."
Rio stood from her chair.
At the same time—
she disabled the visible guild emblem on her profile again.
The small Apex crown icon vanished from above her name.
Ryota blinked.
"You're hiding it again?"
Rio nodded.
"I'd rather not get hunted by every guild in existence."
"Not yet anyway."
Sayanaki stood up as well.
"I'll follow your lead for now."
Rio smiled.
"Then let's go."
"Floor 3 is waiting."
The three of them began walking toward the tavern exit.
As they reached the doorway—
Rio suddenly glanced back toward Sayanaki.
"Aren't you going to loot them?"
She pointed toward the dead players scattered around the tavern.
Sayanaki shrugged casually.
"Nah."
Ryota blinked.
"…Seriously?"
Sayanaki smirked.
"You're the one who told me not to ruin people's experience."
"Some of those guys were just unlucky players who failed quests."
"If I steal everything from them now…"
"They'll probably quit the game."
Rio looked slightly surprised.
"…You actually listened."
Sayanaki grinned.
"Don't misunderstand."
"I still kill people."
"But there's a difference between hunting idiots…"
"…and crushing beginners."
Ryota stared at her.
"You really are insane."
Sayanaki pointed at him immediately.
"Back at you, white hair."
Ryota pointed toward Rio.
"RIO HAS WHITE HAIR TOO."
"Yeah," Sayanaki replied instantly.
"But she at least looks intimidating with it."
Rio burst into laughter.
Ryota looked betrayed.
"…What does that even mean?!"
Sayanaki walked past him toward the blazing desert sunlight outside the tavern.
"It means you look like a lost snow rabbit."
Ryota gasped.
Rio was still laughing as they stepped outside together.
Warm wind swept across the village.
The desert stretched endlessly before them.
Somewhere beyond those dunes—
Floor 3 awaited.
And for the first time—
Crowned Era was no longer just two people.
Now—
the guild finally had its first true recruit.
An assassin feared by players themselves.
Sayanaki looked toward the distant horizon while spinning Fenrir's Fang casually in her hand.
Then smirked.
"…This is going to be fun."
And somewhere far beyond the desert—
the gears of Evermount quietly began to shift once again.
Because the moment Rio recruited Sayanaki—
the future had already changed forever.