The D-Rank Guild Master of the No. 1 Guild

Seeing Lilith following me, Gio also followed my instructions without question.

Soon, he was trudging along behind us, looking somewhat dejected.

Good, good. Very obedient.

Just then, branches fell from above, crashing through the trees over our heads.

“…!”

The sudden occurrence left Lilith and me unable to react, but contrary to expectations, nothing fell on us.

Looking up, we saw the huge man shielding us with his broad back, looking down at (Lilith) with gentle eyes.

“Are you okay?”

Oh, that was actually kind of cool, coming from a fool.

It was worth all the trouble I went through to bring him from the forest. Even without his unique ability, Gio makes a pretty good bodyguard.

Now Gio is completely Lilith’s. And Lilith is mine.

So, Gio is also mine.

I smiled to myself in satisfaction.

However, it wasn’t long before Gio started to rebel against me.

“You’re a liar. You promised I’d be full every day, but I’ve been starving for two days.”

“You just ate 3.5 servings in one meal.”

“Still, you lied.”

Gio had changed, but so had I.

Unlike yesterday in the forest, I changed my expression completely and tilted my chin up sharply.

Yeah, I’m a ruthless employer. Once the fish is caught, I don’t put in much effort.

* * *

It seems like all the characters are moving in groups now.

It’s become common to target weak-looking groups for collective kills and gather points.

Thankfully, Gio is quite large. Otherwise, I might have had to resort to my fire ability and cause more casualties.

More people are unlocking their unique abilities.

However, due to my rumor, successful unlocks of the Pure Nature ability have become even rarer. It was already a rare ability group, but now it’s even more scarce.

But the other two types of ability groups are seeing a lot of awakenings.

These two ability groups are the problem.

There’s a rumor going around that to unlock these unique abilities, you need to eat a ‘specific item.’

Gio brought this information to me, having overheard it somewhere.

“Gio, how did you hear about this?”

“I heard it because it’s about eating. But it seems the food doesn’t taste good.”

“…I see.”

Anyway, this is an unusual turn of events, much like the rumors I spread before.

Unique ability awakening items? There’s no such thing. It’s probably just a random rumor attached to some food item.

But as the rumor grows without being debunked, characters are now more focused on obtaining the item than on reducing the number of survivors.

Is this a rumor spread by the GM for the viewers’ entertainment?

Should I try to get that item myself? I need to find out why such a rumor started, at least.

“Is there any way to get that item…? I feel like I’m putting too much burden on you, Rudel. Do you have any good ideas?” 

Lilith was worried about herself and Gio not having unique abilities.

In truth, it wasn’t that they couldn’t unlock them; I just hadn’t allowed it yet because it wasn’t the right time.

It seemed best to unlock Lilith’s unique ability before she believed in that rumor.

Of course, I couldn’t let it be known that I knew the unlocking conditions for abilities other than Pure Nature, so it had to seem like a coincidence.

I waited for the right situation to arise naturally.

After some time traveling, we decided to rest against a large tree.

Feeling a bit hungry, I took out some cream buns and divided them equally, but Gio quickly finished his and started complaining.

“Give me yours.”

He immediately eyed my portion.

These days, after feeding Gio three meals, my inventory, which had been full in the morning, was nearly empty by the evening.

Without the rewards that came from viewers’ votes and collected points at night, we wouldn’t have food for the next day.

We were living day by day.

It was amusing to see Gio being tamed (?), and the viewers’ reaction had been enthusiastic, resulting in a flood of rewards.

But now those food supplies were exhausted.

I needed to create a similar situation to fill this beast’s stomach.

I quickly shoved the remaining bun into my mouth. Chewing with my cheeks puffed out, I showed my empty hands.

Gio looked annoyed.

Lilith, glancing around, broke her bun in half and offered it.

“Do you want more…?”

“No, Lilith.”

Gio blushed with gratitude. I yelled at him.

“Eat your own!?”

When Lilith looked at me with a very troubled expression, an idea flashed in my mind.

I found the timing to unlock Lilith’s ability.

“I just wanted to share…”

Lilith stammered, as if she had done something wrong. At that moment, I had a sudden realization.

Was that piece of bread not just a gesture of kindness but a sign of affection for Gio?

‘Could Lilith possibly… like Gio?’

But Lilith’s face was so innocent and pure. She seemed too young to harbor romantic feelings for the man in front of her.

Relieved, I sat down next to Lilith.

“Lilith, you need to stop giving things away so easily. It’s a disadvantage to your life.”

Lilith gazed steadily at me, then smiled so beautifully that I was momentarily at a loss for words.

“Sorry for making you worry. But I can’t help it. This is who I am. And it’s okay to give everything to you and Gio.”

Ding.

A small sound effect played, followed by the broadcast notification chime.

[Congratulations! Your unique ability has been unlocked!]

Lilith’s eyes widened in surprise, her mouth agape. I feigned a suitable amount of bewilderment.

In reality, the method to unlock a ‘Soul’ ability is quite simple, yet incredibly profound. It might be very difficult for some people.

It’s all about—

‘Realizing oneself, establishing a life’s conviction, and making a vow.’

The game broadcast congratulated Lilith on unlocking her unique ability and played her dedicated line.

[“I want to give love and be loved. I like this world.”]

A thought only someone as kind-hearted as her could have.

I chuckled.

“Yeah, that’s you, Lilith. That’s your undeniable soul.”

Talking about a soul with a character… I thought it was odd but decided to overlook this minor grammatical error for now.

I needed to check what Lilith’s unique ability was.

Gio was also watching us intently from above.

A moment of silence passed.

Usually, a unique ability manifests automatically upon being unlocked, just like how I breathed fire at Ispan as soon as my ability awakened.

But all I could sense around Lilith was…

A bit of warmth. Like the gentle heat from a heater.

Unable to resist, I opened Lilith’s unique ability status window.

[Ability Group] Soul

[Unique Ability] Warmth

[Potential Grade] D

Once again, I was at a loss for words upon seeing Lilith’s status.

It was just a bit of warmth, this so-called ‘Warmth’ ability.

“Oh… I’m sorry, Rudel. I unlocked my unique ability, but it just makes things warm. It seems useless. I don’t know what it does. I still can’t be of any help…”

“No!”

Gio, without fully understanding, jumped at her last words.

Yeah, it’s fine. Even though it’s not useful in combat, it could serve as a makeshift boiler, right?

Perhaps, with further research, there might be a hidden twist to the ‘Warmth’ ability…

“I think the ‘Soul’ ability group unlocks when you say something with conviction about yourself. That’s what I just did.”

Lilith fervently analyzed her thoughts.

Of course, I knew that, but her effort to be helpful was endearing.

Gio scratched his head. After a moment of thinking – so Gio can think – he spoke.

“Then that method won’t work for me. My ability is—”

I quickly covered Gio’s mouth.

“Hold on, don’t say it out loud.”

You never know who might be listening in.

I glanced around cautiously and warned Gio.

“Just don’t worry about it. I’ll handle your ability when the time comes. Trust me, okay?”

The best thing Gio is good at is “living without thinking.” Gio nodded obediently.

“Good, since you understood, have this candy.”

* * *

Someone else must have unlocked their unique ability.

The broadcast played the awakening line of someone unknown to me.

[“May someone appear who will shake me to my core.”]

It was a deep, resonant male voice.

At that moment, Lilith, Gio, and I were resting under the shade of a large tree.

As I wondered what kind of ability had been unlocked, I suddenly noticed a massive, dark figure charging towards us from afar.

“…?”

If I wasn’t mistaken, it was getting closer to us.

When it was close enough for me to make out its shape, I realized it was a giant wolf.

I was about to shout at the others to get out of the way, but Lilith, who had also noticed the beast, screamed.

Gio immediately reacted to Lilith’s scream.

Whoosh!

In an instant, as if a gust of wind had blown, Gio had Lilith tucked under his arm and leaped into the trees. He jumped so high it felt like he was flying.

Gio landed on a branch above, avoiding the wolf’s charge.

Wait a minute.

‘So he doesn’t care if I get mauled by the wolf?’