Formation of Guild

Ren fell silent, his eyes narrowing as he weighed Shiori's words. ‘A guild... only seven spaces. Allies or enemies-it all depends on who I choose.’

Shiori stood there with her hands twitching as though she was worried he would say no, her red hair fluttering in the moonlight. Her normally piercing aura shivered slightly with anxiety.

Finally, Ren let out a quiet breath and nodded.

"Alright," he said calmly, his voice carrying both caution and resolve. "Let's try. But remember this, Shiori-trust is fragile. Once broken, it never returns the same.”

Shiori's expression brightened, her eyes softening as the tension lifted. "I understand... I won't let you regret it.”

Above them, the crimson moon shone, shining as their guild's first spark emerged.

Ren lifted his hand, and opened a screen.  A translucent blue screen unfolded, lines of text forming across its surface. The title read: Guild Creation - Rules and Regulations.

Shiori leaned closer, her crimson eyes reflecting the glowing letters. Ren's expression stayed calm, his tone steady as he asked,

" Let's create a guild. Are you ready for this, Shiori?”

There was a brief pause in which the only sound was the slight hum of the interface. With a shy smile, Shiori raised her hand and gave a firm thumbs up.

Her simple gesture carried more weight than words-trust, determination, and the beginning of something new.

Ren pressed the Create button, and the system responded instantly. A soft chime echoed in the air as a guild emblem began to take shape. He opened the interface, selected Shiori's name, and sent the invitation.

A moment later, a small notification flashed across his screen- Shiori has joined your guild.

Two flags appeared side by side: the fierce Dragonoid emblem, representing Ren, and the dark Bat crest, symbolizing Shiori.

Ren leaned back slightly, studying the icons. So, I take three slots, Shiori takes two... that means only two remain. We'll have to use them wisely.

As Shiori asked, her red hair swayed slightly and she tilted her head. “"Ren, what are we doing now?”

Ren crossed his arms, thinking for a moment. "Hmm... I heard from some travelers there's a town to the northeast. Let's head there.”

The two made their way along the road until the sight of tall gates and busy streets welcomed them. The town was alive with chatter-merchants shouting their wares, children running about, adventurers boasting of hunts. But Ren and Shiori paid it no mind, walking straight toward a hotel.

Inside, Ren stepped to the counter. "Any rooms are available in this hotel.”

The receptionist smirked, tapping the desk. “ Yes sir, we have a room. One silver coin each. But looking at you two... you seem more like a couple. Wouldn't a single room be better? Our hotel's couple room is very comfortable and beautiful.

Shiori's face turned bright red in an instant.

Ren coughed lightly. "No, we're just adventurers. Two rooms, please.”

With a small laugh, the receptionist handed them two keys. Ren took one, passing the other to Shiori.

As they walked down the hall, just before Shiori entered her room, Ren called out calmly, "Shiori. After fifteen minutes, meet me in the dining area."

She gave a small nod, still red-faced, and slipped into her room.

soon settled on Ren, who was sitting by himself at a corner table, quietly drinking a glass of juice. His calm face was reflected by the warm glowing light, but there was a sharpness in his gaze that hadn't been there back at school.

Gathering courage, Shiori stepped forward and sat across from him. For a moment, neither spoke. The only sounds were clinking cups and the chatter of other adventurers. Then, Ren finally broke the silence.

"Hmm... Shiori, tell me something," he said, setting his cup down. "Why did you create a guild with me? Why not with your own friends?”

Shiori fidgeted slightly, her fingers brushing the edge of the table. "Because... my other friends aren't really good at games. Their strategies are weak, and they panic too much. Honestly..." she hesitated, then glanced at him nervously, "you're good with tactics. Your way of fighting, your calmness-it's... cool."

Her cheeks turned pink as her thoughts spilled inside her mind,  ‘And also, from the school start, I liked you... but I never had the courage to say it. I always acted like a cold girl, so you wouldn't notice.’

Ren tilted his head slightly. "Cool, huh? That's the first time I've heard for girl say that about me.”

Shiori gave a short laugh to cover her embarrassment. Then she leaned forward slightly, her voice soft. "At school, you always seemed bored. Unsatisfied. Like nothing ever caught your interest. But here... in this world, you look different. You look... alive. More energetic. Any reason”.

Ren stared at her for a moment, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully and said. “I don't know”

Shiori said , “ Ahhhhh” her face hide a true emotions and she thought ‘Its very difficult to understand boys.’

Ren sighed, resting his elbows on the table. His tone grew more serious. "Shiori, I need to talk to you about something important.”

Her heart skipped a beat at his words, her body tensing as she waited for what he would say next.

Then ren said, “ You notice shiori, everyone in town are very tense and whispering something. Notice your surroundings.”

The atmosphere in the dining hall was heavy. Shiori finally noticed what Ren had mentioned-every table, every corner was filled with whispers, pale faces, and tense expressions. People weren't eating with joy or chatting about quests like normal adventurers. Instead, fear lingered in their voices. Tankards of ale sat untouched. Even the innkeeper's hands shook while serving food.

Shiori leaned closer to Ren, lowering her voice. "You're right... everyone looks tense. Something must've happened."

Ren's gaze swept across the room, sharp and calculating. He didn't answer right away, only finishing his drink before speaking. "I don't know the details... but I have one way to find out."

"What way?" Shiori asked.

Ren stood, gesturing for her to follow. "Come with me."

The two slipped out of the crowded hotel and into the night. Unlike the noisy dining hall, the streets outside were eerily empty. The lamps flickered against stone walls, and the silence was so deep it made Shiori shiver.

Just then, a staggering figure appeared at the far end of the street. A soldier, armor dented and stained, swayed unsteadily as he walked, clutching a half-empty flask. His eyes were glassy-clearly drunk.

Ren and Shiori exchanged a glance. They both leapt silently, climbing opposite buildings in perfect sync. Ren landed on the ground in front of the soldier, blocking his path, while Shiori dropped behind him, cutting off his escape.

The soldier blinked at them, confused, before slurring, "W-What are you doing? I'm a soldier of this town! How dare you block my path?”

Ren's voice was calm, steady. "Shiori, your character has a unique ability, doesn't it? You can manipulate NPCs, draw out information... even secrets."

Shiori's crimson eyes glimmered faintly. She nodded with a smile. "So that's why you brought me here. Hm... nice idea, Ren.”

The soldier narrowed his eyes, suddenly suspicious. "What are you planning?!" His movements were slow and unfocused as he reached for the the handle of his blade.

Shiori raised a hand, her aura flickering with a dark red glow. "Don't worry, soldier... just answer me." Her voice shifted, soft yet commanding, like a vampire's whisper. The air grew heavy, and the soldier's body stiffened, his resistance crumbling under her ability.

Ren crossed his arms, watching intently. “ Now... let's see what secrets this town is hiding.”

Shiori held out her hand to the stumbling soldier, her eyes glowing a faint crimson. Her voice was soft but commanding. "Tell me... what is happening in this town?”

The soldier's body stiffened. His glassy eyes lost their focus, and his voice became flat.

"Everyone is tense... because gods-godlike entities-have descended to this world. Only a few days ago, many gods appeared, declaring they came to save humanity. Most of them have already allied themselves with the greatest empires. These empires... their strength has increased a hundredfold. With such power, war... and even genocide... may erupt. That is why people tremble in fear. Yet, others rejoice, believing salvation has arrived.”

When Shiori released her control, the soldier collapsed unconscious, his flask rolling across the stones.

Shiori bit her lip, her expression uneasy. "How... how is that possible? Ren, we just arrived here a few hours ago.”

Ren's gaze darkened. "It's because of the void. Remember? When we were first teleported, a system Glitch person forced us into that strange meeting option. The teachers conducting meeting, and many students joined too. What felt like fifteen or twenty minutes inside that void... was actually several days in this world. During that time, manys students didn't join meeting they gain chance to align with empires, prove themselves as gods, and rise to power. All of it-every piece-was part of the Glitch's plan, and they enjoying.

Shiori's eyes widened. "So... that means many of our classmates already have armies, resources, and the backing of empires..."

Ren nodded grimly. "Exactly. Which makes things dangerous for us. They aren't just players anymore-they have nations behind them.”

Ren shook his head. "No. That would only expose our location, our abilities, everything. Resources mean nothing if you're a marked target. First... we return to the hotel. Then we decide our next move.”

Then both are going to hotel for rest.