Chapter 46 – Shadows of Rivalry

The guild hall buzzed with excitement that morning. A new mission had just been posted, and even the veteran adventurers were whispering about it.

> **Mission:** Cleanse the Ogre Nest in the Marshlands.

> **Recommended:** Two full parties.

> **Reward:** High-grade gear tokens + Guild Reputation Bonus.

Normally, a quest of this level would require two full parties to clear safely. But today, the guild master simply crossed his arms and smirked at the gathered adventurers.

“With Gino in the team,” he said, “one party will be more than enough.”

Laughter and cheers broke out around the hall, but Zareen remained quiet.

He exhaled softly, gripping the strap of his staff. *So even the guild master trusts him completely now…*

---

### Journey to the Marsh

The trip to the marsh felt strangely quiet for Zareen, though everyone else seemed unusually lively. The ground grew soft and wet beneath their boots, the air damp and heavy with the smell of moss and stagnant water.

Sari, ever the chatterbox, walked right beside Gino, bombarding him with questions.

“So, back at the academy—was it true that Zareen used to stay up late practicing spells?” she asked, grinning.

Gino chuckled, the sound low and warm. “Yeah. He was stubborn. Half the time he’d faint from exhaustion, but the next morning he’d be right back at it again.”

Sari laughed so hard she almost tripped. “Hahaha, so that’s what he was like? I always thought Zareen was more of the lazy type.”

Zareen’s cheeks turned red. “Hey! Don’t just assume things about me!”

Doni leaned in, starry-eyed. “Bro Gino, teach me your secret. How do you get that strong? I need tips to power up. I want to look that cool too.”

Zareen muttered under his breath, “You barely even train properly, Doni…” but his protest was drowned out by more questions and laughter from the group.

Even Yuna, usually quiet, turned her head toward Gino several times. But her gaze wasn’t one of admiration. Her dark eyes were cool, assessing—like she was silently weighing the strength of a potential opponent.

*Of course she’d take him seriously,* Zareen thought, watching her from behind. *She’s probably already imagining what it would take to fight him if things went wrong.*

---

### Battle in the Ogre Nest

The marsh was thick with fog, water sloshing around their boots. The ogre nest loomed ahead: a crude encampment of bones and wooden stakes.

And then they came—hulking creatures with green-gray skin, tusks jutting from their mouths, and clubs the size of tree trunks.

Gino stepped forward, his hand on the hilt of his sword. “I’ll clear the path.”

With a single fluid motion, his blade flashed through the mist. The first two ogres dropped before they could even roar.

Sari’s jaw dropped. “What the—he cut them down in one swing!?”

Doni nearly fumbled his bow. “That’s insane. I didn’t even have time to notch an arrow!”

Zareen forced himself to focus, planting his staff into the muddy ground. “Defense Up! Regen active!”

The marsh shimmered with lavender light as his buffs settled on the party.

Yuna stepped in, dark sword clashing with Gino’s bright blade as they fought side by side, cutting through ogres like a synchronized dance of light and shadow.

Sari darted around their flanks, her chains slicing through tendons and binding limbs. Doni’s arrows struck any ogre that tried to escape the slaughter.

Zareen hung back, hands never still, cycling barrier spells and healing pulses.

But no one was watching him.

All eyes—friend and foe alike—were drawn to Gino.

---

### Feeling Left Behind

By the time the last ogre fell with a heavy thud, Zareen’s robes were splattered with mud and sweat.

Sari immediately ran to Gino, her eyes shining. “You were amazing! I barely had to use my chain skill at all!”

Doni shook his head in disbelief. “Yeah, even my Meteor Rain felt pointless. You already cleared half the nest before I could even charge it.”

Their words were cheerful, but to Zareen, they hit like stones.

He stood a little apart from the group, gripping his staff until his knuckles turned white. *What am I even doing here if Gino can handle everything on his own?*

For a brief moment, he wondered if maybe the guild master had been right—maybe one person really *was* enough, as long as that person was Gino.

The thought left a bitter taste in his mouth.

---

### Gino’s Challenge

Then, unexpectedly, Gino turned toward him.

“Hey, Zareen,” he said, his grin sharp but not unkind. “Don’t sulk. You’re still the same reliable support you’ve always been. Without you, half of us would’ve been limping by now.”

Zareen blinked, startled. “You… really think so?”

Gino clapped him on the shoulder, hard enough to make him stagger. “Of course. Back in the academy, you were the one chasing after me, weren’t you? Don’t stop now. If you feel like I’m outshining you, then catch up. Show me what the real Zareen can do.”

Zareen stared at him for a long moment. The words sounded like a provocation, a challenge—but there was no mockery in Gino’s tone.

If anything, it sounded like he *wanted* Zareen to rise to the occasion.

---

### Return to the City

When they returned to East City, the guild hall erupted with cheers at their flawless victory.

“Already done with the marsh ogres? Incredible!”

“They said Gino was strong, but this is ridiculous…”

“That whole party must be unstoppable!”

The praise kept coming, but most of it wasn’t for him.

Everyone’s attention was on Gino—the hero of the hour, the golden warrior whose swordplay had stunned the marsh into silence.

Zareen sat at their usual table, his expression unreadable as he listened to the chatter around him.

*So this is what it feels like to be left behind,* he thought, gripping his staff. *But if this is what rivalry means between us… then I won’t let it end here. I won’t let myself stay in his shadow.*

Somewhere deep inside, a quiet flame stirred—one that had nothing to do with magic and everything to do with pride.