The dust had barely settled from the battle. Adventurers were already cheering, boasting, and arguing over who had done the most damage—even though none of them had actually stepped forward.
I sheathed my maguns with a sigh. My arms were still trembling, not from exhaustion but from anger.
"Those bastards were just watching," I muttered. "If the Builder hadn't shown up…"
Erina placed a hand on my shoulder. "That's just how they are. Adventurers only recognize strength. If you can't stand on your own, they won't bother helping."
I scowled. "Some guild."
She gave a short laugh, though it lacked humor. "I warned you not to expect kindness." Then her tone softened. "Come on. Let's get you somewhere safer before you collapse."
We walked through the city streets again, though this time everything felt heavier. People whispered about the fight. Some pointed at me, others avoided my eyes entirely. I shoved my hands into my pockets, wishing I could disappear.
Erina led me down a quieter road, far from the crowded Adventurer Hall and noisy markets. The lively chatter slowly faded, replaced by the creak of old wood and the distant hammer of construction.
"So," she said suddenly, glancing sideways at me. "I've been dragging you around all day, and I still don't know your name."
"…Oh." I blinked. "Right. I guess I forgot to introduce myself."
She raised an eyebrow.
"It's…" I hesitated, the name tasting strange in my mouth. "Kael."
"Kael, huh?" She smiled faintly. "Not a bad name. Better than calling you 'that guy'."
I rolled my eyes. "Thanks, I guess."
We walked in silence for a bit, until I finally asked, "That Builder person… Who exactly are they? Everyone seemed… different around them."
Her expression grew serious. "You mean him? The Builder is one of the first to arrive here. Long before I came. Long before most of us. Alongside the other founders."
"Founders?"
"Yeah. Each faction—Adventurer, Merchant, Administrator—was shaped by a leader. People strong enough, or clever enough, to hold this strange world together. But the Builder…" She paused, her gaze drifting upward toward the towering city walls in the distance. "He's the one who created all of this."
I stopped walking. "Wait. What do you mean, created?"
"This city. Out of Boundary City." She spread her arms slightly as we walked past rows of sturdy stone houses, lanterns glowing with soft blue light. "Every building, every street, even the walls protecting us… all of it came from him. He shapes the land. Expands it. Repairs it. Keeps it standing."
"That's… insane."
She nodded. "It's not an exaggeration to say this place wouldn't exist without him. The Merchants trade, the Administrators enforce rules, the Adventurers fight… but the Builder? He makes sure we actually have a home to fight for. And he's still doing it. Alone."
I tried to picture it. One man, holding an entire city together. Creating it from nothing but his will. Compared to the rowdy Adventurers or the greedy Merchants I'd seen, it felt… different. Quiet. Steady.
And maybe a little lonely.
We turned down a narrow street. The air smelled faintly of fresh stone and wood shavings. Fewer people walked here, but I noticed the houses were well-kept, the roads clean. A sense of order clung to this district, as though unseen hands maintained everything without pause.
"Doesn't he ever… I don't know, ask for help?" I asked.
Erina shrugged. "He doesn't. Or maybe he doesn't trust anyone else with it. Nobody knows. The Builder doesn't talk much, even to the other leaders. He just… works."
"That sounds miserable."
"Maybe." She looked thoughtful. "But sometimes I think he likes it that way. Like building is his way of breathing. If he stopped, maybe this whole place would stop too."
Her words left a strange feeling in my chest. A mixture of awe and unease.
We finally stopped in front of a building. Compared to the other faction halls I'd seen, this one was surprisingly plain. No banners. No noisy crowd. Just a solid, stone structure tucked into a quiet corner of the city.
"The Builder Faction," Erina said.
I stared at it, waiting for her to continue. "…That's it?"
She smirked. "What were you expecting? Trumpets and a parade?"
I rubbed the back of my neck awkwardly. "Well… maybe something less… depressing?"
"Depressing, huh?" She chuckled. "You'll understand once you talk to him. The Builder doesn't need grandeur. His work speaks for itself."
I hesitated at the doorway, feeling a strange weight pressing down on me. After everything—the glitch, the orb, the fight—this felt like another turning point.
"Kael," Erina said suddenly, her tone more serious than before.
I looked at her.
"Whatever happens in there… remember that the Builder doesn't waste time. If he sees something in you, it's because it matters. If not… then you're on your own."
"…Comforting." I muttered, though my heart was already racing.
Taking a deep breath, I reached for the door.
The Builder was waiting.