Sephera stared at me in confusion. "Taxis?"

I sighed. "Yeah. Were you not there when I first talked about it before joining Enigma? I don't mean literal taxis, I mean Enigma members who have dungeon cores can party up with me, enabling me to run the dungeon resonance."

Sephera nodded. "Ah, I see. So you're looking to build a network of taxis."

"For now. At least, until I get a bunch of monster cores myself." I began to walk towards the exit portal before a sudden thought occurred to me. "Hey, wait, you didn't recognize Lazarus at all, right?"

Sephera looked up, raising an eyebrow. "Should I have?"

"No, not necessarily. Are you able to view other Players besides me? Like, spectating the Earth and stuff?"

Sephera nodded. "The system allows me to keep tabs on all Players, but I tended to focus on those that were in the spotlight." She glanced at me curiously. "Why do you ask?"

"Well... Lazarus said that he was in the 34th Match. It just came to me that if you didn't recognize him, it probably means that you came sometime after the 34th Match, right?"

Sephera opened her mouth, surprise suddenly flickering in her eyes as she registered what I was saying. "Ah, yes, that's true. I came into existence during the 50th Match. Does that change anything?"

"Not... really. I guess I'm just trying to say that if Admins are also still being added... where are they coming from?" I mumbled, more to myself than to Sephera. "Lazarus also mentioned that Admins were similar to Players..."

Neither of us spoke a word, but I could tell we were thinking along the same lines. If Admins were once Players- no, humans, then what made them so special? How did they get here? Overly strong Players were absorbed into the game, while those who didn't make the cut couldn't come back to life.

My head began to hurt with how many questions were swirling around in my head. The whole time I had been playing Last Stand, I never once thought deeply about the origins of the Admins. They were just part of the game's framework, like the invisible walls that kept me from leaving the map.

"Screw it, I'll figure it out later," I shook my head, clearing my mind. "For now, let's get on with the quest."

"...Leaving already...?" Sephera's voice trailed off as I turned to leave. I could hear a bit of sadness in her tone.

"Er... did you want me to stay or something?" I hesitantly replied, glancing at my phone. Of course, no service, but the time was near late afternoon.

"Nope, not if you've got something to do," Sephera turned away. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

"Well, all I needed to do was go back to the Abyssal Bistro and see if Izu was there," I said, walking over and laying on her couch. I wasn't very good on social cues, but I was observant enough to realize just how lonely my Admin was. I mean, she was literally eating snacks alone by herself when I got here.

"But if you want, I could stay and keep you company," I offered, hoping to lighten the mood. "Got any snacks?"

----------------------------------------

As it turns out, Sephera was surprisingly... human. I mean, of course she looked and acted human, but her being an Admin had me viewing her as an entity that wasn't related to me and everyone else back on Earth.

But she was talking about things I experienced on Earth as if she had also lived there. We talked about movies, music, books, and even video games. It was a refreshing change from the usual seriousness of the Last Stand.

The more we talked, the more I couldn't shake the feeling that Sephera had once been a real human, living on Earth. If that was the case, then what did it mean for her now? Was she trapped here, like a digital ghost?

I pushed the thought out of my mind, since there was no way to find out for now. Instead, I turned my attention to the system quest. "Well, I guess it's time for me to get going."

Sephera bowed her head, almost sadly. "Okay, Player. I'll be here, watching your progress."

I felt kind of bad for leaving again, but I offered the Admin a reassuring smile. "Hey, I'll be back before you know it. And besides, we're just not gonna see each other physically."

"It's not the same," Sephera sighed, her eyes downcast. "It's fine. I'll be rooting for you, Luquier."

"Thanks." I waved goodbye and stepped through the portal to find myself back inside my room.

With everything I had gone through the past few days, I was tempted to just lay in bed to recover my mental energy despite it still being late afternoon. But then my stomach growled, and I figured it wouldn't hurt to tick one more thing off my to-do list.

I quickly changed and stepped out of my apartment, ready to take off.

[Are you planning on eating again after going through half of my snacks??]

"Er, yeah," I replied to Sephera's message, feeling a bit sheepish. "But I figured, you know, might as well eat while I finish up that quest. Izu did say I'd be able to find her at her restaurant..." I chose not to mention that I hoped she'd let me eat again for free.

The sun was setting, casting an orange glow over the city as I made my way to the Abyssal Bistro. The quiet streets were a stark contrast to the chaos I had just left behind in the simulation. My thoughts were racing with questions about Sephera and the Admins, but I pushed them aside for now. I had a quest to complete.

I headed inside the themed restaurant, greeted by the same host once again. The place looked just as eerie and extravagant as before, but now it was bustling with customers. I scanned the place for Izu, hoping she wasn't busy with her patrons.

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"Ah, I didn't expect you to be back so soon."

I jumped, hearing her voice behind me. "Izu," I turned around to face her. I didn't even sense her creeping up on me, nor was there a system alert. She looked just as radiant as she did the first time I saw her, her dark violet gown beautifully pairing with her deep caramel skin. "I've given your offer some thought, and I've decided to accept."

Izu's golden eyes twinkled with excitement. "Wonderful! I'm thrilled to have you join us. What do you know about our Noble guild?"

"Well, not much," I admitted, "But, when I informed representatives of the two mainstream guilds, they strongly encouraged me to join Noble."

Izu nodded, her smile never wavering. "They're quite aware of the benefits of our unique approach. Let's talk in my office."

All I did was blink once, and I found myself in a dimly lit office, a luxurious space that smelled faintly of vanilla and something else I couldn’t quite place. The walls were adorned with various paintings, depicting scenes that seemed to shift and move as I looked at them. It was quite disconcerting, but I tried to focus on the task at hand.

"Please, have a seat," Izu gestured to a chair opposite her desk. The room was elegant, with a large wooden desk in the center, surrounded by bookshelves filled with tomes that looked as ancient as the game itself. A single candle flickered on the desk, casting dancing shadows on the wall.

I sat down, feeling the plush velvet beneath me. "So, tell me more about the Noble guild," I prompted, eager to get started. "I want to know exactly what I'm getting myself into."

Izu smiled softly. "For one thing, I can assure you that Noble is no ordinary guild. We do not participate much in global rankings, competitions, or any of the like. Rather, once you are a member, you are basically free to do whatever you wish. However, we are often sought out to manage tasks that others cannot do."

"That sounds... interesting," I said, leaning forward slightly. "What kind of tasks are we talking about?"

"Do you know the difference between covert guilds and overt guilds?" Izu fired back with a question of her own.

"No, I don't," I admitted, feeling a bit out of the loop.

"In layman's words, overt guilds are what you're normally used to seeing," the Abyssal Walker leaned back in her chair, "Inanis and Helianthus are overt guilds, official organizations that the public recognize."

I nodded, following along as best I could. "So, I'm guessing covert guilds are lesser-known? I remember you saying that Noble is strong enough to compare to the top two mainstream guilds."

"I'm glad you're quickly catching on," Izu praised as she gave me a smile that made me blush, "and you're right. Noble is a covert guild that isn't publicly advertised. We work behind the scenes, cooperating with the world's governments and other forces. Essentially, because we have to take on jobs that would normally put other guilds in a bad light, we and other similar guilds are the ones who keep the balance of the world."

"I see," I nodded, taking in the information. "So, what exactly would I be doing if I joined?"

"Pretty much the same thing I assumed you've been doing. The only catch is, if there is an emergency task or such cases and you are called upon, you are required to answer. You are also officially recognized as a member of Noble, therefore you are a representative of its name."

I grunted in acknowledgement. She didn't say it outright, but it meant I'd be on standby, having to respond to every call should that be the case. It also meant I'd have to be more careful with what I did or said, since that would reflect on the guild's image. Honestly? It sounded exactly what an overt guild did, save for the fact that Noble seemed more lax on rules.

"Plus, along with basic guild benefits, you'll be given a stipend that can be raised, full access to Noble's headquarters, and mentorship from Nephilim, me, or anyone else you want," Izu gazed at me, grinning softly as if she was reading my mind. "Not to mention access to monster cores you could use for dungeon resonances. Though I'm sure finishing that main quest was also on your bucket list."

[!!!]

I stared at Izu in shock. "How'd you–"

Izu brought a finger to her lips, her smile widening. "Let's just say I have a form of mind reading. Don't worry, I won't use it on you often."

I was more worried about the 'often' part. I took a deep breath and cleared my head. "Alright, I'm in. What do I need to do to join?"

This time, Izu looked a little embarrassed as she scratched the left side of her cheek. "Well, technically, you're not official until you meet with Nephilim, our guild leader. I can induct you as an intern, but don't worry! You still receive the full benefits- it's just your position title that needs to be changed. Other than that, just sign the papers and you'll be a part of Noble."

I nodded, eager to get the formalities over with. Izu handed me a piece of paper, and I swore I could see the red in her face. I took it and stared at the rather... brief contract. It was only a page long, and the language was simple enough that even a fifth grader could understand it.

"Welcome to Noble. If you can read this, you are strong enough to join. Benefits will be listed by the recruiter. I will personally check your abilities once an appointment is made. Sincerely... Jethro Cagliostro, a.k.a, Nephilim."

Izu had a hard time looking at me as I read the words aloud. The informal tone was a stark contrast to the grandeur of the office, and I couldn't help but chuckle at the absurdity of it all. "Nephilim has quite the sense of humor," I noted, handing the paper back to her after I signed my name.

"That he does," she agreed, taking the contract with a knowing smile. "But don't let that fool you. When it comes to the serious stuff, he's as sharp as they come. He's the strongest Player in the world, after all. Though I think perhaps you may be right on his tail."

She leaned closer, raising an eyebrow. "You may even surpass me at some point."

I blinked, understanding the meaning behind her words. That meant that her billion stats I saw earlier were most likely Shrouded. If that was the case, then just how strong was she? Granted, she seemed to move around effortlessly, and even teleported me into her office without me catching it.

But Nephilim was the strongest? The thought was mind-boggling. I had only just gained double digits in the billions. Yet, here Izu was, implying she was still stronger than I was. I cleared my throat.

"So... do you know what'll happen when you reach–"

"The maximum value for our stats? Yes, I know of Ascension."

Sephera sent a shocked message, but I ignored her. I knew there were bound to be other Players that discovered this mechanic as well, and I was glad that Izu was in the know.

"If you're also aware of Ascension, then I assume you're working towards that as well?" Izu continued, her gaze piercing into me as if she was trying to read my thoughts.

"Y-yeah," I admitted, realizing that hiding the truth would be useless. "Except that I can only get as close to the peak as possible before the 50th floor."

Izu nodded. "That is what myself and Nephilim, among the other few in the Noble guild, are working towards as well. Not a lot of Players are aware of this, which is why the GPA have tried to emphasize farming as much as possible before pushing the floors."

That made sense. I could understand why the GPA would be reluctant to spread information about Ascension, considering most Players would've had to have been exposed to a being that reached it.

With that thought, a question popped into my mind.

"Hey, how'd you learn about Ascension?" I asked. "I was only aware of it when I met... an NPC that had it."

I desperately hoped that Izu wouldn't read my mind- if she was actually capable of that- but she appeared to respect my privacy as she tapped her chin thoughtfully.

"I guess you could say the same for me. I was running a dungeon resonance when an extremely powerful being was pulled in to adjust to my strength. I assume it was the same for you. However, for Nephilim... two beings actually came forth," Izu shivered as she met my gaze.

"One was Bathalt, the Devil King. The other was Ameroth, the Heavenly Commander."