I Became the Guild Leader in Exile

98 – 5# The Eve of the Storm (1)

The war between the Law Nation and Gideon has entered a state of ceasefire.

In reality, it’s a truce, but it’s not the end of the war. Because everyone knows that Odin will soon attack Gideon directly. However, Isaac has withdrawn his troops.

Bu Master Cain has already planned to use this as propaganda. After all, they have won the war. They plan to unite Gideon around this fact.

Moreover, they need to deal with the large guild alliance, Gerion, which had set a trap for the Master. It’s obvious that they can’t win a war with enemies within.

However, Isaac Silverter has returned, and when the Iron Shield and its allies returned to Gideon, there were no longer any traces of Gerion.

“Hmph, they must have noticed first and escaped.”

“That’s enough.”

“There’s no forgiveness for traitors.”

Cain’s words have some logic. Of course, Isaac himself had intentionally fallen into the trap because he needed to. However, the punishment for betraying trust must be paid.

Isaac also knew this, so he couldn’t say anything strong. Anyway, everything has been resolved well. Helen was also successfully rescued from Niflheim.

Moreover, in the Law Nation, Loki didn’t lose his life. Naturally, in the original Ragnarok, Loki had lost his life trying to save the children.

Children who lose their parents are consumed by anger and become complete monsters. However, they have succeeded in preventing that now. They can consider this the first step.

“I’ll express my gratitude first, Isaac.”

“No need to thank me.”

“That’s right. Then, let’s not make a mistake first. It seems like you still have some lingering feelings.”

“What’s that supposed to mean…?”

It was like when I was trying to guide Rocky, who had escaped with me, and suddenly Rocky started making a weird noise. It was as if Isaac was wondering what kind of noise it was, but soon grasped the meaning.

“Master, do you have something to say that needs to be done?”

“Yes, yes.”

“This time, I’ll join in too.”

Nods of agreement.

It was because the guild members showed an attitude that they wouldn’t just brush it off this time. It was only natural. After all, they had suddenly died and been missing for over a fortnight.

Of course, I knew it was a lie, but it was unavoidable to worry. Isaac, who knew this, gulped and averted his gaze.

“Well, it was unavoidable. To save Helen…”

Isaac made his own excuses. Niflheim was a place where even great heroes could break and become undead, and the opponent was Helen, who had been brainwashed by Odin.

To bring Helen back to her senses, someone had to take the full attack head-on and make her come to her senses. And the only one who could do that was himself.

Isaac made a somewhat reasonable excuse, but his excuse had an absolute weakness that couldn’t be hidden. And it was none other than Zig who pointed it out.

“Still, couldn’t you have at least given us a hint?”

That’s right. It wasn’t like he had a lock on his mouth, nor did he have to keep an absolute secret. He could have lied in that way, but Isaac couldn’t do that.

He didn’t want to lie to his family. Thanks to that, a fatal weakness was born in Isaac’s excuse, and Zig caught onto it. Isaac nodded.

“What do we do now?”

“I’ll leave it to Zig.”

“Yeah, it’s better to let the older sister decide.”

A strange atmosphere began to flow. Even Isaac, who was usually very dense, could sense it. On the other hand, Zig’s face had already turned bright red.

“But I don’t want to avoid it anymore.”

It was Zig, who had been unable to erase the thought of “what if” on the day Master disappeared, and couldn’t even sleep. And what he regretted the most was his own hesitation.

If I had just a little more courage…

Wouldn’t I have at least avoided regret?

Because I didn’t know that. Zig didn’t want to regret it now. Even if Master rejected him, he wanted to be honest with his heart. And so, Zig finally opened his mouth.

“Master! Would you like to have a meal with me?”

Isaac was taken aback by Zig’s passionate words and nodded.

“Ah, okay.”

Wait, a meal?

It was only after answering that I realized how strange it was.

* * *

Even Isaac, who was usually dense in this regard, couldn’t help but notice.

The situation had become like this, and the family members, who had been fiercely attacking, suddenly retreated, and Zig, who had become bright red, was the final blow.

“Even so, men are a little…”.

s*xual orientation was a personal matter that needed to be dealt with individually. It wasn’t something that others could meddle with. Unless the target was himself. Isaac thought deeply and thought again.

And the conclusion he reached was that men were not his thing. He felt sorry for Zig, but no matter how hard he tried to think positively, that wasn’t his taste.

But if he forced a positive response to avoid hurting the other person, that would be an act of disrespect. So, the only thing Isaac could do now was…

“To reject him as gently as possible.”

Isaac had already made up his mind and was preparing his response accordingly. Unaware of Isaac’s thoughts, a faint noise approached from behind.

“I apologize, Master. I’m a bit late.”

“No, it’s fine. Rather, it’s goo…”

Isaac’s words trailed off, unable to accept the sudden change. It was as if he had a preconceived notion. In Isaac’s mind, an image of Zic already existed.

And that preconception merged with Isaac’s dull personality, creating an enormous synergy. He just couldn’t bring himself to believe it, unless it was right in front of him. But even Isaac, who was dense, couldn’t deny it when he saw it with his own eyes.

Zic, who had bet everything, was now standing in front of him with a light, black-haired outfit. The ponytail that was tied up in the back was now completely undone, and Zic had shed his male disguise. He was showing Isaac his true self.

“Zic, you… Are you a girl?”

Even Isaac, who was dense, couldn’t help but notice the breasts that were visible through the clothes, now that the bandages were undone. Zic, a girl?

“Master?”

Zic looked worried and waved his hand in front of Isaac’s eyes. But Isaac’s mind was already blown, and he couldn’t think straight.

Zic thought it was okay for now, but soon came back to his senses and grabbed Isaac’s hand, leading him to the promised restaurant. Today was a day he couldn’t give in.

“Hot! Where is this?!”

“Have you come to your senses, Master?”

Isaac, led by Zic’s hand, finally regained his composure after arriving at the restaurant and seeing the food. The restaurant Zic had reserved was a place even Isaac had never been to.

Isaac slowly looked around. The sparkling chandelier on the ceiling, the golden decorations, and the musicians playing softly on stage.

“You knew about this place, didn’t you?”

“I did some research.”

Zic laughed, pushing away the guilt that was rising up inside him. In reality, he had received recommendations from Jin and Yulina, but there was no need to tell Master that.

Isaac, who had finally regained his composure, began to think again. So, Zic was a girl. Then, was he ready to accept Zic’s heart?

The answer to that question was a definite no. Because Isaac had seen Zic grow up from a young age to the present. In reality, Zic wasn’t just a child.

“Zic, I don’t know what you’re thinking, but to me, you’re not just a child.”

“Then?”

“In reality, I think of you as my daughter.”

Yes, over the past six years. Isaac had seen Zic grow up. During that process, Isaac had thought of Zic as his own child.

But now, that child was suddenly a girl. It was natural to be shocked, but it was hard to see her as a woman. Of course, Zic’s appearance was beautiful, and it was a fact that Isaac sometimes had impure thoughts.

The age gap between Isaac and Zic was around seven years, which wasn’t that big of a deal in modern times.

“I guess I find it a bit hard to touch you.”

“Then.”

It was a rejection, but Zic didn’t lose his spirit. Instead, he saw hope in Isaac’s weakened state. Zic looked at Isaac and said,

“Can I touch you, Master?”

He wouldn’t hesitate anymore.

Adding Master’s habit to that…

Just, with all his might.