I grasped my shirt tightly, trying my best to keep my breathing in check. I became more self-aware of the stares as I kept my head slightly lowered.
’Guild Master...? Me?’
What sort of ridiculous thought was this?
It made no sense at all.
Not only would such a job require me to take on massive amounts of responsibilities, but above all, it would mean meeting a bunch of strangers to discuss useless things every day. I was content with what I had.
Why would I want something that was so... inconvenient?
’I must be going crazy. There’s simply no way.’
And yet⎯
<strong>Ba... Thump! Ba... Thump!</strong>
The moment the thought crossed my mind, it simply refused to leave. My heart seemed to squeeze against my chest as it grew faster and faster with each passing second. It got to the point where it felt uncomfortable, and in such discomfort, a certain voice broke me out of that state.
"Mr. Thorne...? Is something the matter?"
"Ah."
I raised my head back up, looking around the room. The attention fixed on me felt even more scrutinising, with several people eyeing me with certain looks.
I realised quickly just how I must’ve looked and apologised quickly.
"...I apologise for that. My thoughts at the moment are on the Guild Master and his passing. I haven’t had the time to assess all the other things."
"So you’re not sure? Or are you not willing to divulge?"
The reporter pressed on.
In return, I smiled at him.
I simply smiled.
"There’s some news that states that some Section Chiefs are thinking of using the external power of several other Guilds. What do you think about that? Are you okay with something like this happening?"
He kept going.
He didn’t stop.
"In the future, if you don’t choose your side carefully, it might be possible that the winner will stop you from advancing further. If that happens, your streak will end there. Not that things are looking good at the moment."
Would you look at this guy?
No, not just this guy.
Would you look at everyone present?
Not a single person was stopping him. He simply said whatever he wanted, and the silence from the rest only meant one thing...
He was asking the things that they all wanted to say but couldn’t.
"Let me ask you again, who will you⎯"
"And if I said myself?"
Silence.
The entire venue fell into complete and utter silence, the eyes of many widening, with several shifting in their positions.
Even the atmosphere underwent a complete shift, and as I took in such a sight, I smiled.
"...What about Kyle? He would make a good Guild Master, too, right?"
The room shifted once more, Kyle’s expression changing as question marks popped on top of his head.
"Then, what about Cather... hm, on second thought, not her."
I looked at Zoey.
"Ah, you could be a good Guild Master. What do you say?"
Zoey didn’t react, but I could see her body tensing at my sudden proposal.
"Then what about the Team Leader over here?"
I looked at Soran.
"Would you mind being Guild Master?"
"Ah?"
Catching on to what I was doing, Soran was quick to speak.
"Dearest..."
She chuckled.
"If I were to be the Guild Master, the entire place would fall within the next week."
"So you won’t?"
"The first thing I’d do is wage war against the nearest Guild."
"War?"
"Ye, ye. I’ll wage war and take over their stuff. It’s like, you know... in those movies or shows. Turf war, they call it? I’ll do that."
"Oh, that sounds cool. And what will you do after that?"
"What?"
Soran looked at me as though I was an idiot.
"I’d obviously attack the next Guild!"
She slapped her thigh.
"The goal is world domination. Let me repeat. World. Domination."
I slapped the podium.
"Alright, I’m in!"
After that, I looked back at the cameras and the reporter. I could see a noticeable shift in the expressions of many, with Kyle and Zoey both pressing their hands against their forehead. Only Rowan seemed to applaud with a glint in his eyes.
The hell...?
No, never mind.
"Did you all see that?" I asked aloud. "That’s what I call an amazing pitch! I’m hooked. You asked me who I’d vote for? There’s my answer. Guild Master Soran!"
Soran looked back and waved her hand.
With the most professional smile she could muster, she finished things off with: "Worry not, fellow Guilds and members. I’ll come for your Guild."
*
So, the incident didn’t go down well. Most understood that we were messing around, although I had some doubts as to whether Soran did or not. But, well, the higher-ups were certainly not happy.
After all, today was supposed to be a serious day. Today was supposed to be a day to remember the former Guild Master. And yet, on such a day, Soran publicly proclaimed war on all the Guilds whilst I cheered her on.
I didn’t get an earful. At least, not yet.
But I was certainly going to get one.
’It’s your fault for letting him continue.’
By’him’, I meant the reporter. I was certain someone had planted him.
"Ugh, well."
Stretching my body, I shrugged. What was done was already done. There was no use regretting what had happened.
’For now, I’m happy that I can leave.’
Naturally, because of the events that had unfolded, I was kicked out of the venue. This worked out quite well for me since I was already tired of the place.
’...Kind of weird that Soran didn’t get kicked out too.’
Was this what they called’sexism?’
’Nah, who am I kidding. They’re just afraid that we’d stir some trouble if they let us leave together.’
The joke was on them. The worst that could happen would be her dragging me out to drink again, which I didn’t think I’d be able to handle. In that regard, they had actually saved me.
’That said, what should I do now?’
The event was held inside the Guild, in the auditorium on the second floor. Because the Guild expected similar situations to occur, they had a separate route that allowed people to leave without meeting any reporters or those waiting outside.
I took that exact tunnel, and waiting for me at the end were three elevators.
I naturally called for one of them and waited in silence, my thoughts occupied by what I was going to do next. But my thoughts were soon broken by the sound of footsteps, a figure stopping next to me as they stared at the number screen hovering above the elevators.
I kept my distance, not wanting to make any small talk.
But⎯
"It was a nice speech that you gave there."
My body reacted the moment I heard their voice.
It was a familiar voice, albeit more hoarse than I remembered.
And when I turned, my eyes widened slightly.
"...It’s good to see you again, Seth."
A pair of dimples greeted me.