Was it that late already?
I looked at the hanging moon out the window and stopped working. After a good, long stretch, I rolled my stiff shoulders. Another day, another mountain of paperwork to tackle. I knew that in my position, paperwork was a better use of my time than being out in the field, but it seemed outright cruel that my guildmates were risking their lives and wellbeing while I, their superior, sat safe in the guild. They were all like children to me, and I hated that they were the only ones in danger.
I wished I could aid them more directly, but I knew they’d stop me and send me back inside in a heartbeat. Did they really think I was that useless? It hurt more than I wanted to admit. I wasn’t anywhere near as strong as them, obviously, but I’d been traveling on my own before forming the guild, and I often relied on my own strength to break out of trouble. I was confident that I, at least, wouldn’t be useless to them.
I pulled out a small portrait from within my desk—a rough drawing of my guild members. I had drawn it myself, in fact, and despite not being good at much of anything, it turned out decently well. As I looked each of them over in turn, I found myself smiling. In the end, I would always do what they wanted me to. I didn’t have the mental fortitude to see them sad or upset.
Still, I was struck by how different I was compared to when I’d drawn the picture. I barely ever smiled back then, and I frequently intimidated my guildmates by accident. I didn’t think I was that scary, but apparently I was wrong. It would’ve been weirder to smile, considering my work—and yet, after seeing the girls’ reactions, I resolved to always smile, no matter what. Ever since then, they stopped crying or growing somber at the sight of me, instead smiling readily in return. It was certainly difficult at first. I was never the type to show my emotions; without good reason at least, but now it felt wrong to not smile.
A woman’s voice sounded from behind me. “Hey there. Done with work, are you?”
She had long, flowing black hair and a broad smile. Her face held all the beauty of a goddess, and she had a remarkably voluptuous figure. Lesser men would’ve been spellbound, but I was utterly unaffected by her appearance.
My guildmates were all just as attractive, and they all enjoyed being near me, for whatever reason. I wasn’t so crass as to see them in such a carnal light. They would hate me if I did, no doubt, and I was hellbent on avoiding that at all costs. In the process, I had developed something of a resistance to so-called “womanly charms.”
“You’re quite passionate, aren’t you? I don’t know anyone else who’d still be poring over quests this late.”
I couldn’t tell if she was impressed or disturbed—perhaps both—but I wasn’t about to be swayed by the late hour. My guildmates would risk their lives on these quests. If the reward was insufficient, or if it seemed unusual or unsafe in any way, I couldn’t let them take it on. It was the least I could do to make up for never taking the field myself.
She grimaced a little. “You seem to think that’s reason enough to spend twenty hours a day at your desk. It’s not.”
I smiled back at her. Was she worried about me? I was flattered, really. More than that, I was impressed that she’d somehow snuck all the way into my office. She wasn’t a member of the guild, but she frequently came to visit me nonetheless.
She chuckled. “It’s not all that hard to make it in here, Master. I just need to leave before anyone notices me.”
She was referring to my guildmates, no doubt. They were all incredibly powerful and very sensitive to unwelcome presences.
“Of course, it’s not normal for anyone to detect me so easily,” she muttered awkwardly.
By that same token, it was unusual for anyone to be able to slip past their security so easily.
“Well, that’s awfully nice of you to say, but…”
But what?
She drifted closer to me. “Have you decided to take me up on my offer?”
Her offer? The only offer I could think of was when she asked me to become hers.
“Yes, that,” she replied with a nod. “I can assure you that it comes with all kinds of benefits. Would you like to know a spell to extend your lifespan? Or perhaps you’d prefer to spend some more… intimate time together? I’ll do whatever you ask.”
I wasn’t aware there were benefits involved. Unfortunately for her, I was already far longer-lived than any ordinary human, to the point where I wouldn’t be dying for a great many years. So, I turned her down.
“Oh, you!” She pouted unhappily.
How many times had I declined her offer already? I wished that she’d just give up. No matter what she promised me, I would never belong to her. I had my guild to look after.
She let out a sigh of resignation. “You like this place that much, do you?”
I did—though to be precise, I loved the people in it.
“No wonder they like you so much. You’re infuriatingly kind.”
Wait, they liked me? I had no idea. Most of my time was spent working, after all, and most days I hardly even saw them. Still, I was happy to hear that, and more than a little bashful.
“I think I understand why they want to give you the world.”
It took me a moment to process what she said. I was happy to receive any kind of present from them, but I had to have misheard what they were giving me.
“Oops, I’d best be going. I wouldn’t want them to find me here.”
She pulled away from me, and from the way she… jiggled… it was clear she was trying to leave a strong, lasting impression. But she had to wait. I needed to know what she said!
“I’ll see you later then, Master. You’ll be mine sooner or later!”
With that, she smiled alluringly and disappeared into thin air.
Wait! What exactly did she mean by “the world”? What were those girls planning now?! I’m so worried that it feels like my heart is going to stop. Come baaack!!