“Enough of this,” Ao Yu declared, shedding the solemnity from his face as he burst into cheerful laughter. “Just tell my brother that we’re safe and sound, that’s all.”
Fire Finch was utterly bewildered, yet she still nodded in agreement.
The call ended.
Fire Finch leaned back in her chair, pressing a hand to her forehead as she pondered Ao Yu’s cryptic words. The ‘rats’ of the Imperial Capital—her grandfather had spoken of them when she was a child. They were seemingly deranged individuals who fanatically insisted that the world within the dungeons was the only reality, while the current world was an illusion, and humanity merely outsiders. Those monsters, they believed, were the true masters of the world.
These ‘people’ had, at one time, fomented a perverse trend. It spread with alarming speed; by the time it was discovered, it had already permeated nearly every corner of the nation. Initially, it was merely an ideological issue, one that could have been resolved with a simple arrest and re-education. However…
These ‘rats’, lurking in the shadows, had inexplicably acquired a vast quantity of demon cores. Colluding with rogue guild members, they secretly smuggled these cores into the dungeons, causing a sudden, volatile surge of energy within, which led to a monstrous rampage. Hordes of monsters poured out into the night. Traitors emerged among humanity, and calls for aid were deliberately delayed. By the time a proper response could be mounted, tens of thousands had already perished. It became a tragedy that shocked the world.
Mercifully, the various cells of ‘rats’ weren’t centrally coordinated. Thus, after the incident, other regions swiftly took action, extinguishing the nascent flames of rebellion in time.
“It seems I need to prepare.”
From a safe hidden beneath the floor, she retrieved a black, push-button phone. It possessed only one function: making calls, a device capable of connecting anywhere, regardless of location. Stored within it was the contact information for every branch guild master.
“Hello, hello, this is Sparrow Head. Respond if you receive me.”
“…”
****
“Mmm~ ahh~”
Having put away the black phone, she stretched languidly. With all matters finally settled, Fire Finch glanced at the time.
2:53 PM.
Then, as if nothing were amiss, she subtly swept her gaze towards the door.
‘Oh, dear… After such a demanding day, leaving work early is only reasonable.’
With that thought, she already had her bag in hand and was rising from her seat. ‘Hmm… it definitely wasn’t because she was eager to rush home and nurture her relationship with Aya Tone.’
The veteran guild members passing by watched their guild master wave goodbye, and their faces collectively darkened. The boss was happy, leaving on a whim, while they, the employees, were left to toil to death. “Is there no justice in this world?!”
They hadn’t received their ‘little darling energy’ compensation in quite some time, and thus felt utterly drained while working. One day, they would surely pin those two mascots down in the guild and never let them leave. Everyone fiercely anticipated the arrival of that day. Impossible. But such was life; it was precisely because it was impossible that they yearned for it.
When Fire Finch finally pushed open her apartment door, the sight before her made her pause in surprise.
“Are you moving?”
Before her, boxes of varying sizes were piled up like mountains, leaving no space whatsoever to walk. A mattress even leaned against the floor-to-ceiling window. It was hard not to suspect that Aya Tone was preparing to move out because she had moved in.
Just as she was about to push aside a box in front of her, a soft, sweet voice, tinged with a hint of petulance, stopped her.
“Guild Master, don’t move!”
Then, a white-haired figure emerged from the pile of boxes.
“Aya Tone?” Fire Finch asked, looking uncertainly at the tablet.
“Yes, now I’m certain.”
“What are you doing?” She intended to navigate through the myriad obstacles to get a proper look at what Aya Tone was up to. But boxes of all sizes filled the entire living room, leaving no space to even set a foot down.
Aya Tone extended a finger and lightly tapped several boxes. “I’m making a room for you. You can’t keep sleeping with Big White.”
Under the pull of magic, those boxes floated over to her.
“Guild Master, if you have nothing else to do, just stand still for a moment. I’ll be quick.”
With that said, she, carrying the boxes, scurried along the narrow path she had cleared and trotted into a room. Leaving Fire Finch somewhat at a loss.
If she wasn’t mistaken, there were only a few rooms in the apartment. Aside from two bedrooms, only the study remained. When she had come to care for Aya Jiu, she had been told not to enter the study. Though intensely curious, she hadn’t dared to trespass. ‘Was Aya Tone now clearing out that study, dubbed a forbidden zone, to be her room?’ A pleasant surprise blossomed within her. ‘Was Aya Tone finally willing to open up to her?’
But soon, she realized she had celebrated too soon. Aya Tone, as if tending to a beloved spouse, carefully controlling a miniature figurine, slowly walked back into the master bedroom. Each step was steady and deliberate. Upon seeing this, Fire Finch’s face fell. How could she not know what kind of sight awaited her in that so-called study? ‘No wonder I wasn’t allowed in; she was clearly harboring a secret treasure within!’
After a long while, after placing the last figurine back in its spot, Aya Tone let out a sigh of relief. ‘Finally, the transfer of her ‘wives’ was complete. Next up was making the Guild Master’s bed.’
When she walked out into the living room, half of the boxes outside had been cleared, and a path was barely discernible. However, the area near the door was still jam-packed.
“Guild Master, why are you still standing there?”
Fire Finch clenched her fists, desperately trying to quell the urge to hit someone. ‘You ask why I’m standing? Wasn’t it you who told me to stand still!?’
Noticing Fire Finch’s displeased expression, Aya Tone suddenly remembered it was her own fault and hastily cleared a path. ‘She couldn’t let the boss feel wronged.’
“Guild Master, please sit.”
Watching Aya Tone, who had once again immersed herself in arranging the room, Fire Finch asked, puzzled, “Where’s Big White?” Having stood by the door for so long, and with only the tablet moving back and forth, she couldn’t help but be curious.
“Big White said she went out to buy groceries. There are fewer people outside at this time, and it’s a good chance to pick up Aya Jiu too.”
“Oh…”
“Need any help?”
“Help?” Aya Tone glanced at the room, which was nearly finished. “Guild Master, could you bring in the mattress from outside?”
Fire Finch’s attention landed on the mattress by the floor-to-ceiling window. The plastic film was still on it; it must have been a new purchase today. ‘Happy~’
With Fire Finch’s assistance, the remaining finishing touches were quickly completed. The former study was now completely transformed into a room containing nothing but a bed.
Fire Finch: “…”
Her brows furrowed deeply, her gaze flickering between the sparse room and Aya Tone, who stood with hands on her hips, beaming with pride. Finally, she voiced the most crucial question, still with a hint of uncertainty.
“Is that it?”
“Yes, it’s done.”
Their eyes met, and in each other’s gaze, they both saw bewilderment.
“Just a bed?”
From Aya Tone’s perspective, ‘Weren’t rooms meant for sleeping? Wouldn’t a bed suffice?’
“Oh—!” ‘She seemed to understand.’ With her short legs, she waddled over to the cleared pile of miscellaneous items and pulled out a desk and chair set. This was her old computer desk. ‘A cherished treasure.’
“Hmph, hmph, now it’s perfect.”
Fire Finch: “…”
‘She didn’t want to speak, yet she desperately wanted to curse this fool.’ One bed, one desk, one chair. ‘She was being treated like a prisoner, wasn’t she?’
“Guild Master, are you satisfied?” Aya Tone asked, her eyes narrowed, her face practically begging for praise.
“Heh heh, perfectly satisfied.”
It wasn’t insincere at all; every word was gritted through her teeth. ‘Forgive her, for there was truly a fleeting moment when she thought this simpleton might actually know how to decorate a girl’s room.’
My he’s bad st that