The Guild Headquarters towered above them like a fortress — tall stone pillars, enormous banners, and guards at every corner.
Normally, Kuro would've stared in awe.
Today, he felt nothing.
Just cold.
Empty.
Mika walked beside him, unusually close. Lucien walked on Kuro's other side, alert, scanning everything with narrowed eyes. Mirei led the group with the confidence of someone who didn't need permission to kick down a door.
As they stepped inside, the entire guild hall froze.
Every adventurer stopped talking.
Every head turned.
Mika's presence always did that — but today, the sharp anger still clinging to him made people flinch back.
They walked straight toward the Guild Master's office.
Kuro kept staring forward, barely aware of all the eyes on him.
[You know… you're being stared at like you're a cursed museum exhibit.]
{…It's fine. I've had worse.}
[You shouldn't have. That's the point, genius.]
Mika's eyebrow twitched.
Kuro blinked.He forgot Mika could hear.
Mika leaned just slightly closer, voice soft and low."Kuro… don't listen to him when he talks like that."
Kuro blinked in surprise. "I wasn't—"
"You were."Mika's tone was gentle, but firm."You're allowed to be upset."
Kuro looked down.
…He didn't know how to answer that.
Lucien slowed, glancing back over his shoulder. "You okay back there?"
Kuro quickly straightened. "Y-Yeah. Sorry—"
Mirei turned sharply. "Stop apologizing. It's pathetic."
Lucien whispered to Mika, "Your sister's terrifying."
"She was dropped on purpose," Mika muttered.
"I heard that," she said without turning.
Kuro almost laughed.
Almost.
They reached the Guild Master's door.
Mirei knocked once.
No response.
She knocked again, harder.
Still nothing.
[Kuro, should I scream? I can scream. I WANT to scream.]
{Please don't.}
Mika's jaw clenched. "He's ignoring us."
Lucien groaned. "Perfect. Wonderful. Excellent leadership."
Finally, Mirei lost patience.
She kicked the door open.
Hard.
The Guild Master — an older man with greying hair and bags under his eyes — yelped and nearly fell out of his chair.
"Wh-WHAT IN THE—!? MIREI! YOU CANNOT JUST—"
"We can," she corrected. "And we will."
Mika and Lucien pushed Kuro inside, then closed the door behind them.
The Guild Master rubbed his forehead, already stressed."What happened… this time?"
Mika didn't bother softening the blow.
"The ancient gate under the ruins woke up."
The Guild Master froze.
Lucien added helpfully, "And it whispered to Kuro."
"And he started floating," Mika said.
"And glowing," Lucien added.
"And nearly got possessed," Mika finished.
The Guild Master stared at them like they had just told him the moon exploded.
Very slowly, he turned to Kuro.
"…Is all of this true?"
Kuro hesitated.Mika nudged him gently.
He nodded.
The Guild Master slumped into his chair."Oh gods… oh no… why him…?"
[Wow, rude.]
{It's fine. He's right.}
Mika shot Kuro a sharp look, eyes darkening.
Kuro immediately shut his mouth.
The Guild Master sat up, suddenly serious."What exactly did the voice say?"
Kuro swallowed. "It said I was 'chosen again.'"
Silence.
Heavy, suffocating silence.
Lucien whispered, "That doesn't sound good."
Mirei folded her arms. "It isn't."
The Guild Master stood slowly."Mika. Mirei. Lucien. Protect him. Do not let him near that gate again. And do not let anyone else know what happened."
Mika nodded immediately. "Understood."
Lucien raised his hand. "I'll help too."
Mirei nodded approvingly. "Good. You'll stay with us."
Kuro blinked. "W-Wait— stay with—?"
"You're not leaving our sight," Mika said.Not a request.A command.
Kuro went silent.
[Wow. Possessive. Forward. Bold. I like it.]
Mika's eye twitched violently.
The Guild Master rubbed his face. "This is a disaster…"
Kuro stared at the floor.
His hands trembled.
He didn't even realize they were shaking until Mika placed a hand over one, steadying it.
"Kuro," Mika murmured, "you're safe."
Kuro looked up, startled by the calm warmth in Mika's voice.
Mika locked eyes with him.
"…I won't let anything take you."
Lucien blinked, cheeks slightly pink."Okay wow, that was… intense."
Mirei opened the door. "Meeting over. We're leaving."
They began to walk out.
But Kuro paused.
Just for a second.
That voice from the gate echoed faintly in his mind again.
We are not done.
Kuro shuddered.
Mika grabbed his wrist.
"You're not facing anything alone."
Kuro nodded weakly.
And together—
They left the Guild Headquarters.
The quiet dread followed them like a shadow.