Chapter 2.2

I saw the building again. The adventurer's guild, towering in front of me, always brings back a familiar sense of unease, much like it did during my SOLA Online days. I liked how the game developers implemented channel servers to reduce overcrowding in this vast open-world game. Yet, despite that setup, this building seemed perpetually full of players. Why? Because it was the place to get quests, claim rewards, and most importantly, recruit players to guilds and secure alliances among guilds.

As someone who dislikes crowded places, this was torture for me. Glancing at the invitation message from Ishigawa, I headed to Event Hall K on the fourth floor. It was a gathering of different guild leaders, so I wondered if I should prepare some kind of introduction. Although the thought stressed me, I quickly ran through different scenarios in my mind.

For instance, should I wait for everyone to arrive and then, BAM, make a grand entrance? Leave a lasting impression, perhaps? Or should I try sending friend requests to everyone there and hope they accept? Surely, if they accepted, that meant they'd consider me a friend, right? *Sigh*. This is what happens after being a solo player for three years—complete isolation.

I reached Event Hall K ten minutes early. Ishigawa had mentioned that this meeting was to form a new powerhouse alliance among solo guilds, sponsored by his mother. Looking around, I realized I didn’t recognize anyone. Not that I had many acquaintances in the PC version of the game, and now, with this VR version strictly implementing real-life body-to-avatar conversions, it was even harder. The game had also tightened identification registration to prevent the use of dummy accounts, which made sense. In a game where players could earn money like a job, this was the bare minimum standard, I suppose.

Scanning the room, I made my way to the table marked with my nameplate.

**[ Ryuujin Mizushiro - Ryuusei Guild ] (流星)**

The table was situated at the back of the hall, near the door. It was an ideal spot—quiet and away from the crowd. As I sat down, I noticed the room bustling with activity. Some players were glued to their virtual screens, engrossed in videos of battles, while others engaged in lively conversation, almost like businessmen at a networking event. They seemed familiar with each other, or perhaps they’d recently gotten acquainted. Should I attempt to socialize too?

Directly in front of me sat a young cleric. He looked hesitant, glancing at his tablemates who were deep in conversation. His discomfort was palpable, and yet, oddly, it was almost calming to watch. He wore an expression that screamed, *Please, someone talk to me too!* I knew that feeling all too well. I also understood the fear—what if you try to join, but only end up bothering them? Just like in a boss battle, timing was everything. But if you waited too long, the tank might die, or the healer could run out of mana. Should I take a chance and strike up a conversation? No, no... If I messed up here, I'd risk ruining any future plans.

Not good... I wanted to expand my social network, but fear held me back. Socializing was never my strong suit, and now I found myself trapped in this mental maze.

In the end, I spent the next ten minutes simply eavesdropping on the chatter around me. The way things were going, I was definitely going to fail at making connections. At best, I hoped to establish ties with one or two guilds—just enough to stay informed. What did friendship even mean, anyway? If someone sent me a friend request, I’d accept without hesitation, but would that really count as a bond? Where did these extroverts come from? Could you really become friends after just one conversation? And who would want to connect with a level-one guildmaster who had just registered in the game this morning, anyway?

The more I thought about it, the more it hurt. If only I were a bit more sociable, perhaps I could have built a strong network. If I had a strong network, I might have found a doctor for my daughter more easily instead of relying on this contract. I longed to be at her side in the hospital, but here I was, agonizing over social dynamics in a virtual game.

Before I knew it, the young cleric—Glasses-kun—had already struck up a conversation with his tablemates, laughter erupting from their group.

I forced a bitter smile. It was painfully clear that socializing wasn't my forte. Still, I was genuinely happy for him. It seemed like he had found a good circle of friends.

"This really isn’t my thing," I muttered.

Stress washed over me as I found myself spiraling into more useless thoughts. Instinctively, I let out a deep sigh, feeling the weight of it in my chest. My once-promising virtual experience was already circling the drain. My thoughts only cleared when someone sat down across from me at the table.

"That’s quite a heavy sigh, considering the event hasn’t even started yet. Are you alright? I forgot that these kinds of gatherings aren’t your favorite."

The voice belonged to the girl from the trading hall earlier.

"So, Ishigawa seated us together, huh?" I muttered.

With so many tables scattered across the hall, it would’ve made more sense for her to sit elsewhere, far away from me.

"Maybe Ishigawa was just being considerate." I continued.

"Concerned about us as a married couple? Or more about you checking out other women?" she teased.

"Well, this is an alliance formation event. Isn’t it perfectly fine for me to do so?"

I teased her back. My wife loved bringing up the idea that I was always checking out other women. Ha! Luck must be on her side today. I had wanted to introduce myself earlier and forge connections, but this sort of strategy suited her better than it did me, anyway.

"You’re still twenty-three. You’re handsome. And most importantly, you have a daughter on her deathbed. Do you mind if I refuse?" she said, her voice dropping to a serious tone.

"I don't think talking with someone guarantees they'll fall for me. Honestly, I have an unlikeable aura. Even after speaking with me, they won't contact me after the event." I tried explaining, my voice laced with quiet resignation.

"I disagree," she responded, her tone firm and unwavering.

Scowling at me, she picked up the glass of pineapple juice that had been served earlier, taking a sip. When did she even have time to change into that sleek business attire? Wait a minute... Is that why she arrived late? I wondered, my thoughts drifting as she casually scanned the room. Her disinterest in the other guild leaders was apparent as she quickly opened her virtual window. With a few taps, a surveillance video appeared in front of us.

It was the live feed from the camera installed in our daughter's hospital room. Ayaka, lying on the hospital bed, was watching a movie on the television. Beside her, two VR pods were visible—ours, where our real bodies were currently logged in.

"It's already ten in the morning. Has she eaten breakfast yet?" I asked, a subtle tinge of concern creeping into my voice.

"Yes. I'm constantly receiving updates from the nurses assigned to her." Her voice, usually calm and serious, faltered slightly. I could sense the fragile edge to it when it came to our daughter, like she was on the verge of breaking but holding it together with sheer will.

"Hello, Ryuujin Mizushiro, Reina Mizushiro—or rather, Reina Fujimura. How's your first log-in?"

At last, he appeared. "Mr. Oren Ishigawa."

A man, looking to be in his late twenties, joined us at the table. I noticed earlier that there were only two nameplates on our table: one for my guild, [Ryuusei], and one for Reina's guild, [MNS].

He always showed up wearing that same outfit—a long white coat, like some kind of mad scientist, paired with casual jeans and a T-shirt. At least his clean-shaven face and trendy glasses somewhat redeemed his eccentric style.

"It was alright," I replied curtly since he directed the question at me. "I've always played in the first-person perspective, so my vision motor skills were fine. It's just... I'm impressed by the stamina and fatigue system you’ve developed."

"Hahahaha, right?!" His eyes sparkled with excitement, clearly thrilled by my comment. "Even though stamina and fatigue have always been game mechanics, we had a hard time applying them to avatars. Can you imagine how many bugs our team squashed before we finally got the system running?!"

"I don’t think I can imagine. And frankly, I don’t want to."

"Sheesh! You just brushed off six months of our hard work like that. Keep that attitude up, and the other guild masters will avoid you. You really lack social skills, you know? Have you even talked to the cute guild leaders yet?" Ishigawa teased, giving me a playful pat on the back.

"Ryuujin is being encouraged to mingle with other girls in front of me? I pray that this will be the only misfortune today," Reina muttered, slightly annoyed.

"I’d like to sympathize with your prayers, but I think fate isn't on our side today," I said, casting a glance toward the nearby door. A warrior had just entered—

"Wow! This is certainly a grand event hall. It appears the sponsor behind this lives up to the expectations of the invited guild masters, hmm?" It was the crimson-haired young man from the trading hall who had caused a commotion earlier.

"I see... This certainly isn’t our lucky day," Reina frowned, her gaze darkening.

A troublemaker, and he's part of the alliance we're forming. Without acknowledging our table, which was nearest the door, he strode over to the table with the nameplate [Kazuma Enjin - Enryuu Guild].

I wondered if he would attempt to socialize with the other guild leaders, but he merely folded his arms, leaned back in his chair, and opened a virtual window. His entire demeanor screamed indifference, as though the crowded table around him didn't exist.

His rude behavior at the trading hall was apparently an accurate reflection of his true nature. Within seconds, everyone at his table avoided making eye contact with him. His presence dominated the table, and the others seemed afraid of him. Well, compared to the other guild masters, he certainly had the best equipment.

"Well, I need to go now. My mother’s at the front table."

Ishigawa excused himself and hurried off to join the table near the front row. There, I saw an elderly woman, her gaze lingering in our direction. She looked regal, with rich, embroidered garments that seemed to speak of wealth and influence. The fine details of her clothes shimmered in the light, and even from a distance, she exuded an air of undeniable authority. Her posture was straight, her presence commanding, as though she were used to being the center of attention, both in the game and outside it.

If I had to guess, she was somewhere between fifty and sixty years old. But what was someone her age doing in a game like this? So, the rumors of this game being influenced by money were probably true after all.

I glanced back at my wife. She was jotting down notes in her notepad, her face focused and determined. My wife is beautiful. Her pale skin, complemented by her long black hair cascading down her back, gives off a cool beauty-even in the virtual world. I can only hope Ayaka grows up with her mother's strong genes stronger than mine.

Suddenly, the lights dimmed, and the low background music playing abruptly turned off, catching everyone’s attention as a woman stepped onto the stage. When I first laid eyes on her, she immediately gave off an impression of strict rules and discipline. She looked like she was in her thirties, wearing a gray suit that contrasted with her delicate features—more mature than my wife. Her short silver hair barely reached her shoulders, giving her an air of a Russian foreigner.

"Ahem. Good morning to you all, guild leaders. I will be your supervisor for this alliance, the [7th Alliance]," she began, her voice firm. "First of all, why do we call it the 7th Alliance?" she asked, scanning the crowd. The room fell silent, and no one dared to respond.

With a firm grip, she clutched the mic tightly, her expression unwavering.

"It’s because we are going to become the 7th powerhouse alliance of this game," she said, not with excitement, but with a sense of absolute certainty, as if stating a fact that could not be questioned.

I had already received the intent of this event in the invitation, just like the other guild masters. They exchanged hesitant glances, unsure if they were truly in the right place.

"My name is Nia Vespera. I usually oversee the adventurer’s guild reception hall here in Covewood City, but I’ve been reassigned to supervise this newly-formed association of low-level guilds. For the next season, until the end, we have only one goal: to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the other powerhouse alliances. It’s a pleasure to meet you all. If you have any inquiries, I will entertain them later. For now, please check the guides and overview of the information about our alliance’s special rules. I will also hand out the contract template."

Suddenly, a notification popped up. I opened my virtual window, seeing that attachments were included.

As I browsed through the contents, it was almost identical to the contract I had signed with Ishigawa, with only minor differences—especially regarding the demands I had made for my daughter.

The contract stipulated that all players would be required to treat this as if they were working in a corporate environment. In other words, we were going to become professional e-sports players.

They would require us to live in the team building. Exceptions were only made for emergencies or international travel. We were expected to stay within Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan.

Furthermore, as part of our employment, they would monitor our outside contacts. Although they claimed it wasn’t forbidden, they were strict about preventing information leaks regarding the alliance's plans and activities.

To offset these restrictions, the building and its surrounding premises offered a variety of amenities. There was a gym, a pool, and a restaurant inside. The area around the building featured various businesses like cafes, fast-food chains, malls, and more. It was a prime location for the alliance’s headquarters.

Another notable feature was the alliance’s unique benefit: the 7AA-System, short for 7th Alliance Achievement System.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

"Your player ID cards will be issued after you transfer to the 7th Alliance Building. These cards give you access to any facility inside the building or allow you to make purchases at partnered stores. They also function like an ATM card. You can withdraw money directly from ATMs within the building. What’s special about this card is that it allows you to convert Kipo coins directly into real money, with no deductions and no weekly limits."

The money would be loaded onto our player cards, functioning almost like an allowance. Additionally, there were several merits to this system that caught my attention.

"Your player card can be used conveniently at any partnered store. Should you encounter any issues, you can contact the support team immediately. Money is automatically deposited every Monday, and each guild receives 500,000 yen. Be mindful of your budget."

The event hall buzzed with excitement.

Upon checking my own card, I realized we had already received 500,000 yen for the week. Over the course of the month, we were guaranteed 2,000,000 yen—nearly a leap compared to what I was earning through our fishing business.

"Surprised by the amount?" Nia continued, addressing the crowd. "Our sponsor evaluates the talent of its players. Everyone here has passed the initial screening, which speaks volumes about your value. The amount you’ve received reflects our assessment of your worth—so far. You can use the money however you see fit, whether transferring it to other banks without interest or converting it back to Kipo points if needed. Do as you please. But one thing: we do not tolerate extortion or violent behavior. We monitor closely. Remember, we are one alliance. Divided we stand; together we fall."

The noise inside the event hall grew louder as Miss Nia glanced over the players.

"If you have any questions, feel free to approach us here at the front. Take your time to consider the offer, but before you leave, you must make a decision. Do you want to be a part of our legacy, or not?"

Many of the guild masters couldn’t hide their shock at the generous wage.

"This alliance sure is financially loaded," I muttered to myself.

I couldn’t help but think how this would benefit my daughter and me. There were now two of us playing, me and my wife, and this far exceeded what we could earn from our fishing business, where we had only one income. I thought I had been talking to myself, but I noticed Reina glancing my way.

"This alliance offers way too many perks for its players, doesn’t it?" she remarked.

As I mulled it over, despite the restrictions of living in the team building and having our outside contacts monitored, the other guild masters seemed unbothered. In fact, after reading the detailed overview, it became clear that the alliance would even cover dungeon rental fees for the areas we were tasked with dominating. It felt as if the players were being given far too much preferential treatment. Was killing supreme bosses really worth this much?

With such a large number of guilds forming this alliance, won't they be financially strained? We have at least 30 to 40 guild masters here. And each guild can have at most ten members. In the end, this would drop each player's earnings to just 50,000 yen per week.

As Reina pointed out, I sensed there was a catch. We hardly knew what the alliance management wanted us to do or what our daily activities, missions, or goals would be. There was only one vision the sponsor seemed to aspire to: to stand equally with the six powerhouse alliances of this game that reign on the upper levels.

If that’s the goal, there should be some kind of risk involved.

But even with all that realization, there's only one way to move: forward. I must do this for my daughter and her medical needs. We only have ten months left. The fear of what I stand to lose if I back out now outweighs whatever I might lose by playing.

"Hey! Let’s go ask them to reserve some rooms immediately. We’ll relocate tonight. Let’s do some shopping on the way!" One of the girl guildmasters near us jumped in joy, pulling another guildmaster towards the front.

"Sure! With this much, I can finally buy the shoes I’ve wanted to wear!" her companion chimed in.

Once the supervisor left the stage, the now wealthy guild masters could no longer contain their joy, becoming restless. An hour had passed, and the event was nearing its end.

"Everyone, can I take a bit of your time?"

Suddenly, a man’s voice echoed through the microphone. He raised his hand as he walked towards the stage. His black hair was not dyed, and the equipment he wore signaled that he was a warrior-class player. From the way he carried himself, I got the impression that he wasn’t a toxic player.

"I’ve spoken with our supervisor, and I’ve got permission from her. Starting today, we’ll be partners in this alliance. So, I suggest it would be a good idea for us to introduce ourselves and become friends as soon as possible. We should also share what kind of guilds we’re each running. We still have some time before the ceremony ends. What do you say?"

I was surprised. He had just taken a bold step. The majority of the guild masters, on the other hand, were at a loss, looking around at each other.

"I second the idea! After all, we don’t know a thing about each other—not even our names!" someone shouted.

That guildmaster was the icebreaker, and the previously hesitant guildmasters began to speak up.

"My name’s Kaito Harukawa, warrior class aiming to be a Lunar Knight. I’ve been playing this game since its first release on PC. Feel free to ask me anything! My guild cap is originally level 50, but we reset to join this alliance. My guild focuses on ‘Supreme Boss Raids,’ ‘Dungeon Raids,’ and ‘Level Pushing.’ If you need help clearing hard dungeons, we can raid together."

Harukawa introduced himself and his guild smoothly. He seemed exceptionally confident. Even the sponsors were applauding him. He was just what one would expect from a guild master. But doesn’t his guild sound a little too competitive? His level of social popularity must be skyrocketing. Just look at the female guildmasters—they seem charmed by him. I wonder if this is the birth of the alliance captain. I just hope he can keep everyone motivated and fighting until the last boss.

Hmmm... He reminds me of my old alliance captain. Harukawa resembles him in a way. And just like my old captain, Harukawa will probably hook up with the prettiest female guildmaster here.

Not that I’m jealous or anything. After all, I have the most beautiful wife I could ever pray for.

"And that’s all for me. I’d like to get to know everyone. Hello, how about you introduce yourself next?"

He passed the microphone with a wide smile to a female guildmaster at his table. Who could say no to that approach? Although the girl was taken by surprise, she quickly took a deep breath and stood up. I could feel the pressure weighing on her.

"M-My name is Ruka Inugami!"

Her voice suddenly went high-pitched, and the mic produced a sharp static sound. Because of that, she froze on the spot. As her words seemed to get stuck in her throat, her face began to pale. It was rare for me to see someone so nervous. Ah, it reminds me of how our priests used to tense up whenever our tanks’ health dropped too low.

"Hey, you can do it!"

"Don’t panic, girl! You can start over!"

Words of encouragement filled the event hall, but words like those seemed to add more pressure. Miss Inugami grew even more nervous.

"Hello, it’s okay. I’ll help you."

The universal rescuer—the mage from before—stood up from her table and came to the girl’s side.

"Let’s take a deep breath first, okay? Inhale… Exhale…"

She helped Inugami calm down. After the girl had calmed down and regained her composure, the mage looked directly into her eyes.

"Are you alright now? Shall we try again?"

Inugami nodded and readied herself to speak again. The mage quickly went back to her table.

"My name is Ruka Inugami. I'm the guild master of the [High Elves] guild. We mainly focus on nature-related quests. P-Please take care of us!"

She finished in one go, and there was no change in her pitch. She looked rather relieved, delighted, and embarrassed. After her introduction, she quickly passed the mic to the next person at the table.

More and more introductions of guild masters and their guilds followed. I was surprised by the diversity of guild activities here.

"I'm Warren Ferrer. Our guild mainly focuses on pushing ourselves to the limit. Last week, our guild fought the western sea serpent supreme boss. I received invitations from multiple powerhouse alliances as well, and we finally decided to give this alliance a shot and reset levels. We have not missed any chances for a Supreme boss raid every month. After all, our guild is focused on 'Supreme Boss Raiding' and 'Dungeon Raids' as well. If you have trouble clearing dungeons, just call me, and we will help! Nice to meet you!"

I couldn't help but be suspicious of his claimed achievements. He had not missed any supreme boss raids, huh?

I didn't think it was relevant to boast about the invitations from other powerhouses, either.

Was he trying to leave an impression by cracking a joke? He seemed like a very talkative guy, and the conversation was going nowhere.

"Yay, it's finally my turn~"

The cheerful mage was beaming with a smile. How could someone radiate so much positivity? From the ruckus in the trading hall to helping the panicking female guild master earlier, I wondered what guild she ran.

"My name is Makazuki Seirene. It seems like none of my peers and friends from the level 50 cap passed the qualification for the alliance, so I'm alone here. I'd like to get close to all of the members of the alliance, so let's all become friends as soon as possible!"

It seemed like she had really prepared her introduction message because she kept going, unlike the others who had short messages only.

"Our guild focuses on 'Dungeon Raid Clearing,' 'Farming,' and 'Manufacturing.' We mostly produce healing potions, antidotes, and buff potions, so please don't hesitate to buy from us. I'll give discounts to our alliance members! I'd like to get to know you all really, so please accept my friend request."

By the way she was introducing herself, I could feel that she genuinely wanted to make friends. She helped other people because she truly wanted to make connections. Well, at least I could exchange a friend request with at least one person before this event ended.

In any case, I was amazed by her feats. If it were me, I couldn't have done all of that. Even now, I was agonizing over how to introduce myself.

"So after this, please invite us for any dungeon raids, or if you have any potion requests, please don't hesitate to message me. Anyway, I've talked too much, hahaha. I'll end my introduction here!"

In the end, I wasn't a fan of overly dramatic people. I felt strangely uncomfortable with the way she insisted on being connected with others, and I wasn't sure why.

Somehow, her introduction pressured me. Is that the reason? Why was our table at the back, anyway? Should I crack a joke too? Should I also be overly active? In the first place, I was still a lone wolf in my guild. Ahh, how nice that my wife had the same circumstances as me.

The introductions continued, and it approached the back row tables sooner than I expected. Some people said they would pass first and introduce themselves at the end.

"And that is our guild. Please take care of us!" A female mage guild master bowed.

It was another nice introduction. The crowd was obviously waiting for the next introduction.

The female guild master held the mic toward the next player, but her hand met with air. The next player had black spiky hair. He both looked and sounded like a troubled player.

"Introduce my ass. What are we? Students? I don't want to introduce myself and leak information. This alliance is not yet stable. Those who want to introduce themselves can go ahead; just leave me out of it."

The black-haired guy looked at us, annoyed, especially at Harukawa. As I guessed, he had problems, both with his attitude and himself.

"Okay, just like the players that have passed earlier, we cannot force you to introduce yourself. However, I encourage all to be open so we can help each other grow. If I've made anyone feel pressured or forced, I deeply apologize."

Harukawa bowed deeply, standing at the front. Some of the girls reacted, looking at the black-haired boy with intense glares.

"Hmp! This will make the alliance weak. If you don't want to cooperate, then don't join!" one of them snapped.

"Yeah, yeah!"

As expected, the charismatic Harukawa captured most of the girls' hearts during his introduction and initiative. What surprised me was that the sponsors didn’t seem to care at all.

"What? I'm here because I passed the qualifications and got invited! Not because I want to make friends. And the event period ended half an hour ago. I can leave now, right?" He stood up from his seat. It seemed like he was firm about not socializing with any of the other guild masters. He annoyedly walked out through the exit door. Surprisingly, several other guild masters followed him. Those who passed earlier looked like they shared the same sentiment.

Reina glanced at me and seemed to be waiting for my decision. When she realized I wasn't standing up, she finished drinking her pineapple juice.

"I have to meet someone," Reina whispered as she also stood up and exited.

Wait a minute, she hadn't done her introduction yet?! Wouldn't this event be the best place to make connections? How about expanding our social network? Isn't that a priority right now? Eh? Was I mistaken?

"Hey guys, don't give them such bad glares. It was my fault for forcing them to open up on the first day. But we can take things slowly inside the game."

Harukawa kept apologizing after some guild masters left the event hall.

"No, no, no, Harukawa. You didn't do anything wrong. Let those guys leave. They don't understand what an alliance is."

Although some guild masters left and didn't like the idea of introductions, there were still more than half of the guild masters left in the event hall. They looked eager to continue. In the end, things didn't get heated that much.

"Hello to everyone! I'm Haruto Yamaoka-Thief Class aspiring to be an Assassin. I love female mages and priestesses, and I hate handsome male warriors. I'm playing for fun, but I'm also looking for my future loved one. And it would be much better if you're a cutie or a beauty!"

The introduction continued with the next guild master. I was having a hard time understanding the context of what he said about playing. Surprisingly, there wasn't much backlash from the females.

"Whoa! Amazing!" a female guild master shouted, and I could feel how plastic her statement was, like a cheap prop in a low-budget play.

"Oh?! Seriously? I mean, man, my guildmates don't say I'm that bad at all. I mean, I participated in the Cerberus Supreme Boss raid last month also... Heh... Heh... Is this the start of my debut?"

Apparently, he thought that the female guild master was serious. He turned tomato red, and the females around him began to laugh, their giggles echoing like a mischievous melody.

"Oh wow! Everyone heard that? He said he participated in the Cerberus run and is looking for a girlfriend!"

Man... They are making fun of you... Stop blushing and enjoying their words... But he didn't seem like a toxic player, either.

Oh? That person didn't leave, huh? Next was a crimson-haired young man clad in crimson armor, wielding a crimson axe. His feet were already up again on the table as he watched some videos in his virtual window, the glow of the screen reflecting in his eyes.

"Excuse me, would you like to give it a shot? I mean an introduction?" Harukawa asked, his voice cutting through the tension like a knife.

"Hmm. Okay, I guess so."

He smirked as if he was the one with the highest authority here. Not changing his sitting position, he accepted the mic and introduced himself.

"My name is Kazuma Enjin. I chose the warrior class and I'll be a Berserker Warrior in the future. I am the guild master of the Enryuu Guild. Also, I will soon inherit the Enjin Group of Companies in the future. For now, I'm assessing the potential of this game to earn money. I sincerely look forward to making connections with our female guild masters, though~"

Did his introduction aim purely at the female guild masters and not towards the whole alliance? Well, it seemed effective because some of the girls looked seriously at him, their expressions a mix of intrigue and admiration.

"Starting today, I will try this alliance thing. And please keep in mind that I will mercilessly punish anyone who blocks my way. Please keep that in mind and avoid it at any cost."

"Um, Enjin-san... What exactly do you mean by 'mercilessly punishing anyone that blocks your way?'" Harukawa asked, his hands resting on the hilt of his sword at his hip. He seemed genuinely worried when he asked.

"Hmm? I thought it was a simple statement. I will punish those who do me wrong. For example, when someone tries to steal my dungeon rights or someone hinders my guild's work schedule. If it results in significant downtime for our workload, it will really piss me off."

Swoosh. He swung his large crimson axe in the air, as if threatening someone, the blade glinting dangerously in the light.

"Ah, okay. We will take note of that. In any case, here in the alliance, we are promoting working with other guilds to increase efficiency and game progress." Harukawa looked relieved, wiping sweat from his brow.

There were a lot of bizarre guild masters here for an alliance you chose to make, Ishigawa. I knew that it was built in a hurry when I accepted the contract last week, but I couldn't help but feel that this guild was full of idiosyncrasies. There was that black-haired boy, and then someone bragging about fighting the Cerberus Supreme Boss, and also that one boasting about battling the Sea Serpent Supreme Boss.

They say not to judge a book by its cover. I guess I just need to trust Ishigawa and the team that his sponsor built.

But speaking of being bizarre and not credible at first sight, I, too, looked out of place. In an event hall full of guild masters wearing high-quality armor and clothes, I was the sole one clad in leather armor, the soft material barely making a sound as I shifted.

I didn’t actually want to be here. If I were going to spend my time playing with others, I would do so with my daughter. It would be much more fun that way. Just like what we did for the past three years. Ayaka... after you have recovered, I promise I'll play this game with you again. Anyway, that is if I can deliver results to the sponsor of her medical treatment research.

"Well then, who is next again? Ahh, the person at the table next to the door. Would you like to introduce yourself?"

"Huh?"

That surprised me. Was Harukawa looking at me now?

"Yes, you, the man with brown hair." Harukawa smiled as he directly pointed at me, the spotlight feeling painfully bright.

This is bad. Oh my... My turn to introduce myself has come while I was lost in thought. The other guild masters turned to look in my direction, their gazes expectant.

Don’t look at me with such expectations... I'm just a lowly starting guild master, even wearing a leather armor set.

Croooik... The chair made a strange sound as I stood up, its creak echoing in the silence.

"Um... Hmmm.... Well.... My name is Ryuujin Mizushiro.... And .... uh... I have played the PC version of the game... And... I'll do my best to work alongside all the players in this alliance. It's... uh... nice to meet you all."

And that was my introduction.

I know. I failed.

I did a quick reflection. It hit me hard, and I quickly accepted it. I returned to my seat without feeling any sense of victory. If I hadn’t been entertaining all those nonsensical thoughts, I could have constructed a better introduction. I think my introduction was the worst possible introduction. I hadn’t even introduced my guild, either. I doubt my introduction even stayed in the minds of any guild master here.

"O-Ohhh... Yes. It's nice to meet you, Mizushiro-kun. I also want to get along with everyone in the alliance. Let's do our best, okay?" Hirukawa also seemed surprised but caught my failure with his ever-refreshing charisma, his smile brightening the room.

And everyone even applauded. Their applause felt like pounding salt into my open wounds. Well, despite that, this doesn’t feel that bad.