The D-Rank Guild Master of the No. 1 Guild

When I came to my senses, I found myself trapped in Unahar’s arms. I struggled briefly to see his face, but realizing his firm grip wouldn’t loosen, I relaxed, letting him lean on me for support.

“Rudel…”

Initially, I intended to forcefully drag Unahar out and reassure him that Kanel’s situation wasn’t his fault. But seeing him so gaunt, my resolve melted away. This time, I didn’t push him away as usual and allowed him to hold me.

“Rudel.”

Unahar called my name repeatedly before finally saying something surprising.

“What did you do in Akata’s room every night?”

His question left me bewildered, and I glanced sideways in his embrace, trying to comprehend.

“Tell me. What did you do alone with Akata in ‘that form’?”

Not only had Unahar seen me visiting Akata’s room, but he also knew Akata transformed every night?

A wave of shock hit me. I quickly realized the misunderstanding and swallowed hard.

“It’s not like that. I was just… keeping an eye on Akata. He doesn’t even know he transforms every night.”

Speechless, I hurried to clarify the situation. Though I couldn’t fully disclose what I did in Akata’s room, I needed to clear the misunderstanding. It seemed ridiculous, but from Unahar’s perspective, it was understandable.

Especially if he had been suffering alone with this misunderstanding…

Even after my explanation, Unahar neither acknowledged nor questioned my words. He simply buried his face in my shoulder.

“If you don’t have feelings for anyone else… you could accept me, right?”

His murmured words sent a shiver down my spine, making me freeze.

I had come here to console Unahar over his distress from the raid. That was why I had allowed him to hold me.

But it seemed that Unahar, driven to the brink of madness, sought a different kind of comfort.

“What’s wrong with me? Is it my personality? Did I bother you too much?”

He clung to me, speaking erratically, still holding me tightly. He gazed down at me, blocking the light and dominating my view.

“Or is it that you don’t find me attractive enough?”

His white fingers began unbuttoning his shirt. For a moment, I stupidly thought he might be changing clothes, unable to grasp his intention.

Then, realizing his intent, I panicked. As his shirt fell to the floor, I turned my head away in an attempt to avoid looking at him. His hands moved down to his waist.

Seeing this from the corner of my eye, I grabbed his wrist to stop him.

“Stop. …Please, don’t.”

My head was spinning.

When I prevented him from undressing further, Unahar took my free hand and placed it on his bare chest, trying to move my stiff fingers.

“Spend the night with me.”

It was his most desperate plea and… his most sorrowful request.

“Please, save me.”

His golden eyes pierced through me, filling me with anguish.

Unahar was attractive enough without resorting to this. He didn’t need to do this for anyone.

But no matter how much he pleaded, I couldn’t succumb to his advances.

“No. I can’t do that.”

I was rejecting him not because he wasn’t worthy, but because I couldn’t see him as more than a comrade. He was a great man who didn’t deserve rejection from anyone.

Even if I explained this, it wouldn’t make him feel any better.

There was no right way to reject someone.

As long as the wolf continued to suffocate Unahar, he would cling to me, and I would have to push him away.

…it was all over.

I swayed slightly and leaned against the wall for support.

Unahar was the one who should be sad. I felt guilty for appearing worn out, so I tried to compose myself.

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

Memories of our time together flashed before my eyes, from the first moment we met until now. I had always tried to be there for him.

Whether it was to show our chemistry to the viewers or genuinely wanting to be his support, my intentions didn’t matter now.

I also remembered the times Unahar had been there for me, the many smiles he had shown.

Those were precious memories, but they didn’t make me see him as a romantic interest.

Even if being just friends couldn’t cure his depression, I couldn’t force myself to be with him for that reason.

‘I’m sorry I can’t love you as a man.’

Unahar began to cry. Tears fell, soaking the wrinkled fabric of his pants.

If he were crying about anything else, I might have been able to comfort him. But the fact that I was the cause made it impossible.

I bowed my head and turned to open the door.

“…!”

As soon as I opened the door, something collapsed outside with a loud crash.

Akata, who had been eavesdropping, fell and hit his knees.

“You…!”

My voice came out as a shout. Behind me, Unahar stopped crying and stared in shock.

Akata, equally pale, stammered, “Uh, uh,” before bowing repeatedly, still sitting on the floor.

“I’m sorry. I was just worried about Unahar skipping meals, so I came to check. I’m sorry. Please forgive me.”

Akata wasn’t the type to be scared by us getting angry, so his reaction surprised me.

He knew that eavesdropping on our conversation was a serious mistake and that he had disrespected both me and Unahar. That’s why he was apologizing so earnestly.

I rubbed my forehead, feeling the weight of everything crashing down on me. I was at a loss for how to fix the situation or where exactly it had all gone wrong.

“Akata. Go back to your room.”

The boy scrambled to his feet and ran down the hallway to his private room. Behind me, Unahar’s door slammed shut.

* * *

[Please check the announcement for the Champion Challenge Round.]

The broadcast to the Agasa Guild woke him. Unahar lifted his cheek from the still-damp bedsheets. Having not eaten properly and cried throughout the night, he felt dizzy and unsteady as he got up.

“…”

His face in the bathroom mirror was a mess. Despite his despair and struggles, he had always tried to maintain his beauty, now marred by tear streaks and swollen eyes.

Last night, the final shield protecting him from the wolf’s madness had shattered.

He was in such a state that he couldn’t even process or recall the sad expression Rudel had worn.

Even after abandoning him so cruelly, Rudel would be checking the Champion Challenge announcement and talking with Gio, the main participant, because she was the guild leader.

Right, she was never going to be his alone.

Now, while Rudel’s attention was elsewhere, was his chance.

Surely, she wasn’t standing outside his door, worrying about him, when the Champion Challenge notice had just been posted.

Unahar opened his door slightly.

‘See? I was right.’

The hallway was empty. Instead, there was another breakfast prepared by Rudel, left by his door. He almost kicked it as he walked past, his golden eyes wild, nearly resembling those of a frenzied wolf.

This hallway was lined with the private rooms of the male guild members. Unahar impulsively knocked on the last door.

The red-haired boy peeked out cautiously.

Seeing who it was, Akata recoiled slightly, his gaze dropping to the floor. His heart pounded erratically, and he pressed his lips together tightly.

The sight of Unahar’s tear-streaked face filled him with guilt for the mistake he had made the previous night.

“You, talk to me. Follow me.”

Without question or resistance, Akata complied, not even asking why. He simply followed.

Unahar led him through the winding paths of the guild fortress, out into the empty PK arena.

There, they stood side by side in one of the rings, as if ready to face off at any moment.

Unahar despised the boy standing across from him.

Akata’s belated apology after eavesdropping infuriated him. He thought Akata was secretly mocking him.

“You transform into an adult at night. What did you do with Rudel?”

Even though he had already asked Rudel and received an answer, he demanded confirmation from Akata again.

The response he got was—

“Huh?”

Akata’s tone was genuinely perplexed.

“…Oh, Rudel has stood by my bed while I slept. But I’ve never heard of transforming into an adult. Why would you say that? Based on what?”

“Because I saw it with my own eyes.”

Confirming Akata’s bewildered reaction, Unahar muttered to himself.

“It really seems like nothing happened.”

Then he revealed his true intentions.

“…Let’s have a match. I need to practice controlling the wolf, and I want you to help.”

Akata noticeably tensed up.

This was not his usual bright and cheerful demeanor but something unsettling.

He had just recently injured Kanel and was anguished over it, yet here he was, suddenly dragging Akata into this again.

It was suspicious. Any reasonable person would think so.

Especially Akata, who could sense the malice from the recent atmosphere and yesterday’s events.

“Alright.”

But the boy agreed. He accepted it as if it were his fate.