Chapter 92: Guildmaster

For several seconds, Eden simply stared at Obsidian’s status window.

The more he looked at it, the more ridiculous it became.

"...This is absurd."

Obsidian’s status window remained completely indifferent to Eden’s disbelief.

Eden’s smile widened.

Then something changed.

A memory surfaced.

It slammed into his mind.

The Death Knight Boss.

The massive creature standing before him.

Its body covered in black Dark Matter.

More importantly, its voice.

Eden’s smile disappeared.

He remembered the exact moment.

The creature had raised its hand.

That crushing force had descended upon him.

His bones had broken.

His body had been pressed into the stone.

And through the overwhelming pain, the creature had spoken.

Not in any human language.

Eden knew that.

He had heard Abyss Creatures speak before.

In his previous life, he’d encountered them countless times.

The language had always sounded alien.

Harsh.

Impossible to understand.

Yet this time...

He had understood every word.

Not a single sentence had needed translation.

Not even a single syllable.

He had simply understood.

"...Why?"

He looked toward the empty air in front of him.

’How did I understand it?’

The question had been buried beneath survival.

Then beneath unconsciousness.

Then beneath the excitement of reaching A-Rank.

But now there was nothing left to distract him.

And suddenly, another thought appeared.

A terrifying one.

’If I can understand the language of Abyss Creatures...’

Eden’s expression hardened.

’Then am I still human?’

The question felt heavier than any physical attack.

He looked down at his hands.

They looked normal.

Human.

Five fingers.

Warm skin.

A heartbeat.

Everything seemed exactly as it should.

But appearances meant little when faced with such a life defining Question.

’What if my original body actually died that day?’

His breathing slowed.

’What if the body that woke up after my regression isn’t really mine?’

’A clone?’

Or...

’A copy?’

’Perhaps a reconstruction?’

’Something Mendax created using whatever authority he had granted me?’

The possibility sent a chill down his spine.

If his original body had died...

Then what exactly had returned?

Eden swallowed.

"No..."

He shook his head.

There wasn’t enough evidence.

Understanding the Abyss language could have another explanation.

Perhaps Mendax’s authority had altered him.

Perhaps the System had translated it somehow.

Perhaps there was some connection between the System, Essence, and Abyss that he didn’t understand.

Or perhaps—

The hospital door suddenly opened.

Eden’s thoughts shattered.

A woman hurried into the room.

Dark purple hair.

Dark cyan eyes.

A posture that demanded authority without needing to announce it.

And a figure that made Eden’s eyes widen for an entirely different reason.

He immediately recognized her.

"...Huh?"

The woman stopped.

A calm smile appeared on her face.

"Good. You’re awake."

Eden stared.

Of all the people who could have walked through that door, she was near the bottom of the list.

’What’s Luna doing here?’

Eden slowly narrowed his eyes.

"What are you doing here?"

Luna’s smile widened.

"What’s wrong with checking up on a fellow Awakened?"

"That’s not an answer."

"I wanted to see you for myself."

Eden raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying her explanation.

Finally, Luna laughed softly.

"Oh relax, will you?"

"You’re exactly as suspicious as Sonne described."

"And you’re exactly as persistent as I expected."

"I’ve barely spoken to you."

"I’ve heard enough."

Luna’s smile became amused.

Five minutes later, Eden found himself sitting in the passenger seat of a luxurious black car.

He stared through the windshield.

Then slowly looked toward the driver.

Luna.

She was driving herself.

In the back seat, her actual driver sat awkwardly with his hands folded, looking like he wasn’t sure whether he was supposed to exist.

Eden glanced at him.

The driver looked away.

Eden looked back at Luna.

"...This is weird."

"I agree."

"Your driver is sitting in the back."

"Correct."

’Has she always been so...’

’Weird?’

Eden sighed.

"So I’m here... why?"

Luna smiled.

"Oh, No reason, really."

"Just driving you home after you’ve been discharged."

’Does she think I’m an idiot?’

Part of him had known this was coming the moment he watched her step into his hospital room.

He crossed his arms.

"Alright. Let’s skip the games."

Luna raised an eyebrow.

"The famous Guildmaster of Gatewalkers doesn’t personally drive an injured Awakened home just because she’s being charitable."

"Perhaps I do."

"No."

"Perhaps I wanted to make sure Sonne’s friend got home safely."

"You don’t believe that yourself."

Luna laughed.

"You’re sharp."

Eden leaned back.

"So?"

Luna glanced at him.

"I’m curious about you."

"That’s unfortunate."

"You’re an extremely unusual B-Rank."

Eden’s eyebrow twitched.

"A-Rank."

Luna’s eyes widened slightly.

"You’ve already advanced?"

"Yes."

Luna gave a low whistle.

"That’s impressive."

Eden shrugged.

"It was a productive week."

"A productive week?"

"You nearly died."

"That counts as productive."

That earned another amused smile.

Luna continued driving.

"I already told you why I’m here."

Eden glanced at her.

"To drop me home?"

"Exactly."

"And?"

"And I wanted to see the "B-Rank" Sonne is friends with."

Eden looked at her.

"The one who survived an S-Rank boss."

Luna paused.

"And apparently advanced to A-Rank immediately afterward."

Eden stared out the window.

’She’s definitely here because of the invitation.’

He remembered it.

The letter Neville had handed him after the first round.

A formal invitation from Gatewalkers.

He’d barely looked at it before tossing it into the trash.

At the time, he’d thought nothing of it.

Now he wondered if that had been slightly more offensive than he’d intended.

’Eh.’

’Probably not.’

He didn’t particularly care.

Luna continued.

"There’s another reason."

"I knew it."

"The third round of the tryouts will be broadcast nationwide."

Eden turned toward her.

"So what of it?"

Luna’s voice became more businesslike.

"Until now, the guild representatives were the primary audience. The third round is different. Millions will be watching."

She turned the steering wheel smoothly.

"That means the the participants of the third round will receive offers from nearly every major guild."

Eden said nothing.

"Some will offer money."

She continued.

"Others will offer equipment, resources, training, housing, connections..."

Luna smiled.

"Whatever they think will convince you."

"And you’re here early."

"I am."

They arrived outside Eden’s apartment building.

Luna parked the car.

The engine shut off.

For a moment, nobody moved.

Then Luna opened her door.

Eden followed.

The driver awkwardly climbed out of the back, but Luna gave him a look.

"Wait here."

The driver immediately nodded.

Eden almost felt sorry for him.

Luna walked beside Eden toward the entrance.

"The offer I sent after the first round still stands."

She stopped.

Then turned toward him.

Her expression became formal.

She extended her hand.

"Eden."

Her voice carried the weight of a Guildmaster.

"I’d like to formally invite you to join Gatewalkers."

Eden looked at her hand.

Then at her.

His face remained completely blank.

"I threw the letter away."

Luna froze.

"...What?"

"The invitation."

Eden turned and continued walking.

"I trashed it."

Luna’s hand slowly lowered.

"You..."

She stared after him.

"You threw it away?"

"Yes."

"Without reading it?"

"Pretty much."