Silla had barely finished shaking Rio's hand when a soft chime echoed throughout the headquarters.
Ding.
A translucent system window materialized before Rio.
Guild Position Assigned Successfully.
Head Receptionist
Assigned Member: Silla
The moment the confirmation window disappeared, gentle streams of white light surrounded Silla.
"...Eh?"
She instinctively stepped backward.
The light circled around her body before gradually settling into her clothing.
Her simple traveling attire slowly dissolved into countless glowing particles.
In its place appeared an elegant receptionist uniform.
It consisted of a fitted black blouse trimmed with white fabric around the collar and sleeves. A neat white ribbon rested beneath her collar, while a long black skirt reached below her knees. White gloves materialized around both hands, giving her an even more professional appearance.
On the left side of her chest rested a polished silver button engraved with the crest of Crowned Era.
The guild's emblem was also embroidered across the back of her uniform in silver thread, making her position immediately recognizable to every visitor who would someday walk through the headquarters.
The transformation finished with another soft glow.
Silla slowly looked down at herself.
"...I..."
She touched the crest on her chest.
"...My clothes changed..."
Ryota smiled.
"It suits you."
Rio nodded with a grin.
"You actually look like you've been working behind a reception desk for years."
"It looks perfect."
Even Sayanaki crossed her arms before giving an approving nod.
"...Not bad."
Ramos, meanwhile, simply stood there staring.
His cheeks slowly turned red.
"...S-Silla..."
She looked toward him.
"...Y-Yes?"
Ramos scratched the back of his head awkwardly before smiling.
"...You..."
"...You look really pretty."
The words came out far quieter than he intended.
Silla blinked.
Her face instantly turned bright red.
"...T-Thank you..."
Sayanaki couldn't help laughing.
"Someone's embarrassed."
"I-I am not!"
Ramos protested immediately.
Ryota chuckled beside Rio.
"They're hopeless."
Rio smiled quietly as she watched the interaction.
Seeing everyone laugh together...
Made the enormous headquarters feel far warmer than before.
Silla slowly turned toward Rio again.
Her expression gradually became serious.
She bowed deeply.
"So many things have happened since Lady Rio found us."
Her voice trembled ever so slightly.
"I lost my village."
"I lost my home."
"I didn't know what tomorrow would look like."
She slowly placed one hand over the guild crest stitched onto her uniform.
"But..."
She smiled.
"...You gave me another home."
Her eyes became slightly watery.
"Thank you."
Rio gently shook her head.
"No."
She smiled warmly.
"Welcome home, Silla."
The young receptionist nodded before taking a deep breath.
Then she walked toward the large reception counter.
The polished quartz desk towered before her.
She hesitated for only a second.
Then gently rested both hands upon its surface.
Immediately—
The reception desk came alive.
Golden magical circles spread across the counter.
Runes lit up beneath the quartz.
One after another, floating windows appeared behind the desk.
The entire reception hall glowed with soft blue light.
Ryota blinked.
"...Whoa."
"So that's what happens when a receptionist is assigned."
Silla herself looked surprised.
"So many menus..."
Rio stepped beside her.
"Those functions only activate once an official receptionist is appointed."
One of the larger windows expanded automatically.
Global Guild Quest Network
Status:
CONNECTED
Available Floors:
Floor 1
Floor 2
Floor 3
NPC Requests
Player Requests
Guild Requests
Special Requests
Ramos slowly stepped closer.
"So this is..."
"The Global Quest Network."
Rio nodded.
"Every registered guild headquarters receives access."
"Nobles."
"Villages."
"Merchants."
"Players."
"They can all submit commissions."
"And the receptionist manages them."
Silla's eyes sparkled.
"I'll learn everything."
Rio smiled.
"I know you will."
Without another word, Rio opened the guild settings.
She navigated through several menus.
Finally—
She reached one that had remained disabled until now.
Player Contract Requests
□ Escort
□ Item Delivery
□ Resource Gathering
□ Monster Hunting
□ Arena Requests
□ Assassination Contracts
Ryota glanced sideways.
"So..."
Rio nodded.
"It's time."
She looked toward Sayanaki.
"I made you a promise."
Back when Sayanaki had first joined Crowned Era...
She had only accepted because Rio promised one thing.
Eventually—
Their guild would officially support player assassination contracts.
Rio pressed the final option.
A warning window appeared.
Enable Assassination Contracts?
Only guild-approved assassins may accept these missions.
Guild Master bears responsibility for contract moderation.
Proceed?
Rio pressed YES.
The menu shimmered.
Then updated.
Assassination Contracts
Status:
Enabled
Sayanaki immediately opened her own guild interface.
Her crimson eyes scanned dozens of newly available contracts.
A faint smile slowly appeared.
"...Finally."
She scrolled casually through the list.
Most contracts were ignored.
Minor disputes.
Petty revenge.
Personal arguments.
She skipped all of them.
Then—
She stopped.
"...Found one."
Without hesitation—
She pressed Accept.
A confirmation chime echoed.
Quest Accepted.
Target information transferred.
Sayanaki closed the menu.
The smile on her face widened ever so slightly.
Ramos slowly backed away.
"...I..."
"...I suddenly feel sorry for whoever that poor person is."
Sayanaki glanced toward him.
"...You should."
Ramos swallowed nervously.
"...Remind me to never make you angry."
Ryota laughed.
"I think that's a rule everyone should follow."
Sayanaki casually adjusted the dagger resting against her waist before walking toward Rio.
"So."
She folded her arms.
"Anything else you need me to do?"
Rio thought for a moment.
Then shook her head.
"Nothing."
"You've already helped enough."
Sayanaki nodded.
"Then I'll head out."
She began walking toward the guild teleport crystal standing proudly in the middle of the hall.
Just before she reached it—
Rio called out.
"Sayanaki."
She stopped.
Without turning around.
Rio smiled faintly.
"You remember the rule?"
Sayanaki rolled her eyes dramatically.
"...Yeah."
"Yeah."
She lazily waved one hand.
"Don't kill beginners."
"Don't target casual players."
"Don't ruin someone's first experience with Evermount."
She finally turned around.
A mischievous grin rested across her face.
"I know."
"I mostly hunt rich scumbags anyway."
Royta laughed.
"That's... surprisingly ethical."
Sayanaki shrugged.
"They usually deserve it."
Rio couldn't help smiling.
"I trust your judgment."
Sayanaki stepped onto the teleportation platform.
White light slowly gathered beneath her feet.
She looked back one final time.
"If anything comes up..."
"Just message me."
"I'll be here faster than they can scream."
Ryota chuckled.
"...Comforting."
Sayanaki smirked.
"For us."
"Not for them."
The teleportation crystal erupted into brilliant white light.
Her figure dissolved into glowing particles.
A heartbeat later—
She was gone.
Silence settled over the headquarters once more.
Rio looked toward the now-empty teleportation platform.
One raid party had departed.
Sayanaki had left for her contract.
The headquarters was now officially operating.
For the first time...
Crowned Era wasn't just a guild.
It had become an organization.
The headquarters gradually settled into a comfortable silence.
Only four people remained inside the vast guild hall.
Rio.
Ryota.
Silla.
And Ramos.
The lively conversations that had filled the mansion only minutes ago had disappeared after Kiraya, Hinabi, and the three combat squads departed on Crowned Era's first official dungeon raid. Sayanaki had also left to complete her newly accepted assassination contract, leaving the headquarters unusually quiet.
Outside, the rhythmic footsteps of armored NPC patrols echoed faintly across the white quartz bridge.
Inside...
Only the gentle hum of the guild's teleportation crystal could be heard.
Ryota stretched both arms above his head before looking around the enormous hall.
"It already feels empty."
Rio smiled faintly.
"It won't stay that way for long."
She slowly walked toward the guild master's desk overlooking the reception hall.
Stacks of glowing documents immediately materialized above the polished quartz table.
Guild applications.
Construction reports.
NPC assignments.
Resource requests.
Territory management.
Financial records.
The mountain of paperwork made even Ryota wince.
"...That's..."
"...a lot."
Rio let out a long sigh.
"...Unfortunately."
She sat down in the chair before the floating documents.
"This is the part nobody talks about."
Ryota blinked.
"...Being Guild Master?"
Rio nodded.
"Everyone thinks the Guild Master only gives orders."
"They don't realize most of the job is paperwork."
She picked up one glowing document before placing it into another pile.
"Guild finances."
"NPC wages."
"Supply requests."
"Guild permissions."
"Construction upgrades."
She looked at Ryota.
"If these aren't handled..."
"...the guild eventually falls apart."
Ryota scratched his cheek.
"I suddenly respect guild leaders a lot more."
Rio laughed quietly.
"You should."
"They suffer."
Silla had already begun organizing several floating documents beside Rio.
Despite only being appointed moments earlier...
She looked surprisingly natural standing behind the reception desk.
She carefully sorted papers into different categories while occasionally asking Rio questions.
"Lady Rio?"
"This request belongs under Logistics?"
Rio glanced over.
"Correct."
"And that one goes under Recruitment."
"I understand."
Watching Silla adapt so quickly...
Rio couldn't help smiling.
"...She's going to be amazing."
Ryota nodded.
"I was thinking the same thing."
He watched the two women work together for a few moments before scratching the back of his head.
"...So."
"What's the plan now?"
Rio continued signing another document before answering.
"For now..."
"I'll be busy."
She gestured toward the mountain of paperwork.
"This won't finish itself."
Ryota nodded.
"...Makes sense."
Rio finally looked up.
"But..."
She smiled.
"The moment I'm finished..."
"...you and I are going back out."
Ryota's eyes brightened immediately.
"Really?"
Rio nodded.
"We still haven't explored most of Floor Three."
"There are dozens of places I want to show you."
Ryota grinned.
"I was hoping you'd say that."
He leaned against the reception counter.
"So..."
"Can I help with anything?"
Rio paused.
She looked toward the floating paperwork.
Then toward Silla.
Then back at Ryota.
"...Actually."
"I do have something."
Ryota immediately straightened.
"What is it?"
Rio opened her inventory.
A detailed world map unfolded into the air between them.
Several familiar locations appeared.
Floor One.
Floor Two.
Floor Three.
She zoomed toward Floor Two.
The desert region expanded.
Villages.
Oases.
Canyons.
Ruins.
One location suddenly flashed.
Rio pointed toward it.
"South of Espana Village."
She traced her finger along a narrow stretch of desert.
"Near the Sandy Oasis."
Another marker appeared.
"This."
"...is a hidden dungeon."
Ryota leaned closer.
"...Hidden?"
Rio nodded.
"Very few people know it exists."
"It wasn't discovered until much later in my previous life."
She folded her arms.
"I originally planned for us to explore it together."
"But..."
She glanced toward the paperwork again.
"I won't be leaving this desk anytime soon."
Ryota looked at the glowing marker.
"So you want me to scout it?"
Rio nodded.
"I trust you."
Ryota smiled.
"...Thanks."
Rio couldn't help laughing.
"And besides..."
She crossed her arms.
"Knowing your ridiculous luck..."
"The odds are extremely high you'll find the rare item hidden inside."
Ryota pointed at himself.
"...My luck?"
Rio stared at him blankly.
"You accidentally found fighting style for my Chronos Eye."
"You accidentally discovered Scalular Impact's offensive application."
"You accidentally launched a boulder into a town."
"You accidentally keep finding hidden content."
She sighed dramatically.
"And may I remind you of your relationship with drop rates of items"
"I've stopped questioning your luck."
Ryota rubbed the back of his head awkwardly.
"...When you say it like that..."
"It sounds kind of ridiculous."
"It is ridiculous."
Rio smiled.
"So go prove me right."
Ryota looked toward the map one final time before nodding confidently.
"Leave it to me."
"I'll scout the dungeon."
Rio reached forward.
The map split into two identical copies.
One remained floating before her.
The other drifted toward Ryota.
A notification appeared.
Map Shared Successfully.
Ryota accepted it.
The copied map dissolved into blue particles before entering his interface.
Rio smiled.
"Hopefully..."
"...by the time you return..."
"I'll finally be free."
Ryota nodded.
"And then..."
He smiled brightly.
"We can go exploring together again."
Rio's expression softened.
"...Yeah."
"We've still got a whole world waiting for us."
For a brief moment...
Neither of them spoke.
They simply smiled.
It was enough.
Ryota turned toward the guild teleportation crystal.
"Well..."
"I'd better get started."
He took several steps toward the crystal.
Then—
"Ryota."
He stopped.
Turned around.
It wasn't Rio.
It was Ramos.
The young farmer stood nervously beside one of the quartz pillars.
His hands fidgeted together.
"...Can..."
"...Can I come with you?"
Ryota blinked.
Ramos hurriedly continued.
"I know I'm not strong."
"I'm not a swordsman."
"I'm not a fighter."
He lowered his head slightly.
"But..."
"I know Floor Two."
"I've traveled through parts of the desert before."
"I know the roads."
"The villages."
"The safe wells."
"I promise..."
His voice became more determined.
"...I won't get in your way."
"I'll listen to everything you say."
"If you tell me to hide..."
"I'll hide."
"If you tell me to run..."
"I'll run."
"I just..."
"...don't want to be useless."
Silence filled the hall.
Ryota slowly walked toward Ramos.
Then smiled warmly.
"Ramos."
The young farmer looked up.
"You've never been in the way."
Ramos blinked.
Ryota placed a hand on his shoulder.
"I'd actually be happy if you came."
"It'll be more fun."
A huge smile spread across Ramos' face.
"...Really?"
"Of course."
Ryota laughed.
"Besides..."
"You know the desert."
"I don't."
"I think you'll end up helping me more than you realize."
Ramos nodded repeatedly.
"I won't let you down."
"Good."
Ryota turned once more toward the teleport crystal.
Just as both of them were about to step onto the platform—
"Wait."
Rio's voice stopped them.
She walked over while reaching into her inventory.
A small crystal no larger than a thumb appeared in her hand.
It glowed with a faint silver light.
She handed it to Ramos.
He accepted it carefully.
"...Lady Rio?"
"What is this?"
Rio answered immediately.
"An Emergency Crystal."
Ramos looked at it curiously.
Rio explained calmly.
"If you're ever in danger..."
"...break it."
"The moment it shatters..."
"A barrier will form around you."
"It won't last forever."
"But it'll buy enough time."
She pointed toward the guild crest carved into the crystal.
"It also connects directly to Crowned Era's emergency network."
Ryota looked surprised.
"...Emergency network?"
Rio nodded.
"The crystal will immediately alert the guild headquarters."
"It'll send your exact location."
She glanced toward the doors where the remaining combat NPCs continued their patrols.
"I'll dispatch the combat squads stationed here."
"They'll come to your rescue immediately."
Ramos stared silently at the crystal.
His grip tightened slightly.
"...Thank you."
Rio smiled.
"I'd rather prepare for the worst."
"Than regret not preparing at all."
Ramos carefully placed the crystal inside a pouch at his waist.
"I'll protect it."
Rio nodded once.
"Good."
She stepped back.
Ryota and Ramos both stood upon the teleportation platform.
The crystal beneath their feet began glowing.
Rio folded her arms.
"...Be careful."
Ryota smiled confidently.
"You too."
"Don't drown in paperwork."
Rio laughed.
"I'll try."
Ramos bowed respectfully.
"We'll be back."
"I know."
The teleport crystal erupted into brilliant white light.
Wind swept across the guild hall.
Blue particles surrounded both adventurers.
Then—
They vanished.
Silence returned once again.
Rio watched the empty teleport platform for several seconds.
Before quietly turning back toward the enormous pile of paperwork waiting on her desk.
Silla smiled gently.
"...Shall we begin?"
Rio let out one long sigh before sitting back down.
"...Why does paperwork keep coming back into my life"