"And you—why don't your pro friends take those so-called rare classes if they're so amazing? Instead, you're trying to shove them down our throats in exchange for a spot in your guild. Let me guess—an errand boy position until we somehow evolve into a Necrolyte or Chrono Mage. And if that never happens, we'd stay errand boys forever, right?"
Mike and Saya's jaws drop.
Scar's eyelid twitched.
Leonel choked on his drink.
When no one answered, Ren's smirk deepened.
"Want to know why?" he said. "Even with your Beta Tester's guide, you're not certain those rare classes can actually evolve. What's more, the quests required to make that happen are grueling—far more time-consuming than sticking to a generic class you know will advance. You just can't afford to take that risk, not when you're in a guild where wars, dungeon raids, and boss fights can happen at any moment. A guild can't wait around for a classless Mage to catch up. Fall behind, and your prestige goes down the drain."
Ren crossed one leg over the other, voice steady but cutting. "But if you can convince a few clueless newbies to take the plunge for you, suddenly your problem's solved. They take all the risks while you reap all the rewards. If they evolve their class, great—you win.
"If not, they stay stuck at the bottom, forever your errand boys . . . bound by a crappy contract."
. . .
. . .
Everyone was stunned at Ren's remarks.
Leonel and the others had indeed known Ren as ruthless when it came to his arguments, but he was so soft when it came to them. Soft enough that he wouldn't even say a word of protest. He would just nod his head before as long as he would benefit from the deal, no matter how small, all for the sake of his friends.
What happened overnight that he suddenly changed, and he treated them like he was treating strangers?
"Ren you . . ." Mike didn't know what to say. Ren usually followed his orders without question. What's gotten into him that he was all antagonistic today? Did he woke up on the wrong side of the bed?
"Ren, don't you think you're being too mean?" Saya chimed in with a pitiful voice and downcast face.
Mike was inwardly feeling happy. He knew that Ren couldn't possibly let down Saya like that. He would come around for her and would definitely try to console her into compromising instead.
However, things were just not going with Mike's plan when Ren stifled a laugh and said, "Mean?"
"I'm being mean?" Ren's tone stayed calm, but his words cut deep. "Your boyfriend's the one who brought a stranger to what was supposed to be a friends-only reunion—without even telling us. Then he tried to convince us to change our race and class just so he could get into a guild, at our expense."
Ren gave a small shake of his head, a faint, mocking smile curving his lips. "Tell me—did you ever really see us as friends? Or were we just errand boys you could boss around whenever it suited you?"
Mike was speechless while Saya caught her tongue. It was the first time that Ren was so harsh on her. Was the man really Ren or some kind of imposter.
The Ren they knew would never say something like that, especially to her.
Ren shifted his legs, crossing one over the other, and laced his fingers together. "Anyway, if you want to join this guild, be my guest. I won't stop you . . . just don't force us to change our classes. Try taking the challenge yourselves for once."
"Ren!" Mike's voice cracked in surprise. He didn't know what to say. Ren had never been this stubborn before, and the sudden resistance completely threw him off. He hadn't expected Ren to oppose him so firmly, and for a moment, he was at a loss.
Saya snapped out of her daze and clapped her hands together, trying to dispel the heavy tension that had settled between them.
"W-why don't we eat first? I'm sure Ren is just hungry, and he would be in a better mood later when his stomach is full." Saya released an awkward laugh, but no one smiled, nor did the heavy atmosphere cleared.
Ren's eyelid twitched, and Saya clamped her mouth shut.
Ren could be so intimidating with his cold eyes and indifferent face.
Saya looked the other way to escape Ren's scrutinizing gaze and pretended to drink her empty glass of water.
Ren silently released a breath. Saya was always like that. She would always take Mike's side. Even if he was wrong.
A good thing that he was long over her. The only good thing that came out of her betrayal was him losing all feelings towards her.
So even if Saya went on her knees and begged with all the tears she had, Ren would still ignore her.
"Whether I'm hungry or not, my decision is final." Ren rested his back on his seat and tilted his head to the side. "Rather, if you really wanted to join his guild, then why don't the two of you take up the role since you two haven't entered the game yet?"
"Ren . . . y-you . . ." Mike was annoyed, and his lips were twisting at the side. Then he faced Leonel when he couldn't get Ren to his side. "Leo, put some sense into his head. He couldn't see it now, but his future is riding on this."
Ren stifled a laugh. "My future? You mean your future."
Ren then ignored Mike and Saya's gaping mouths and looked at Leonel, whose face was sweating buckets. "What about you, Leo? How do you really feel?"
Leonel was shifting his head between Ren, Mike, and Saya. He was getting dizzy from all this back and forth, and his brain was hurting that nothing was coming into his mind. He was really on edge and wanted to cry from his current predicament. Why can't just everyone play the game however they want?
Or like normal teenagers who just wanted to enjoy the game and not think about guilds, money, and complicated stuff like the future.
It was meant to be played to escape the real-life stress. Not adding to it.
Since when did games became so complicated?
"Leonel!" Mike urged.
"Leonel . . . ," Saya implored.
"Leo . . . ," muttered Ren in a soft voice. He closed his eyes before opening them with a smile. "Just say what you truly desire."
". . ."
"I . . ." Leonel looked at every nook and cranny that he could lay his eyes and mind to rest before he stared down at his fidgeting hands. He enclosed his fingers together, breath shaky as he said, "I . . ."