Chapter 68: The Tryouts (11)

The two girls stared at each other.

"...Hi," Sophia said nervously.

"Hi."

Lucy smiled.

It was a perfectly polite smile.

...Perhaps a little too polite.

"I’m Sophia."

"I’m Lucy."

They shook hands.

Neither let go immediately.

Eden looked between them.

"...Everything okay?"

"Perfectly fine," Lucy answered.

Sophia nodded.

"Absolutely."

Eden narrowed his eyes.

’Why does this feel dangerous?’

Sylvia’s voice immediately appeared in his head.

[Master.]

[Don’t.]

’I haven’t said anything.’

[I know you were going to.]

Eden sighed.

The rankings suddenly appeared.

AWAKENED TRYOUTS — ROUND ONE

1. Elio

2. Jax

3. Alexis

4. Lucy

5. Sophia

6. Eden

7. Luvian

8. Sonne

9. Darren Holt

10. Marcus Vale

"We made it!"

Sophia’s face lit up.

Lucy practically jumped.

"Fourth!"

Sophia pointed at the screen.

"Fifth!"

They looked at each other.

"We’re both top five!"

Lucy grabbed Sophia’s hands.

"That’s amazing!"

Sophia laughed.

"It is!"

Eden watched them celebrate.

He couldn’t help but smile slightly.

He had expected the result.

Sixth wasn’t particularly impressive considering what he was capable of, but it was understandable.

He had spent a large portion of the round fighting strong opponents instead of farming weaker ones for badges.

Alexis alone had consumed a significant amount of his time.

And he’d fought Sonne afterward.

Meanwhile, someone like Elio had apparently accumulated badges almost effortlessly.

Jax had done the same.

Lucy turned toward him.

"You too!"

"Sixth isn’t exactly worth celebrating."

Sophia smiled.

"You still made it into the top ten."

Eden looked at her.

"You sound excited about that."

"I am."

He chuckled.

"Well, congratulations to you both."

Lucy smiled.

"Thanks."

The three continued talking for nearly an hour.

They discussed the fights, the strange battlefield, and some of the more ridiculous things they’d witnessed.

Sophia was especially curious about Eden’s fight with Alexis.

"You actually punched him through several platforms?"

"Well, the situation sort of called for it."

Lucy stared.

"That’s your explanation?"

"Yes."

Eventually, Lucy checked the time.

"I should probably head out."

She waved.

"See you guys."

"See you."

Eden watched her leave.

Then he turned toward Sophia.

"I’ll walk you back."

"You don’t have to."

"I know."

Sophia smiled.

"Okay."

Back at the infirmary, Sophia stopped beside her bed.

The two exchanged contact information before she suddenly opened her arms.

Eden blinked.

"...What?"

"A hug."

She smiled awkwardly.

"Is that okay?"

Eden hesitated before nodding.

"Sure."

Sophia hugged him.

It was brief.

Friendly.

But when she pulled away, her cheeks were slightly red.

"See you in a week."

"Yeah."

Eden eventually left the infirmary and headed toward the stadium exit.

He was almost outside when a familiar voice stopped him.

"Hey!"

Eden turned.

Alexis stood in the hallway.

Bandages covered parts of his face and arms, and he was wearing Association-issued hospital clothes.

He looked absolutely furious.

"You!"

Eden stared at him.

"...Yes?"

"You used dirty tricks!"

Eden blinked.

"Against you?"

"Yes!"

"You got knocked out."

"Because you cheated!"

Eden’s expression remained blank.

"I punched you."

"You used the debris!"

"Oh you’re so right. Debris and smoke versus a lightning dragon, that is such an unfair match-up."

"That was different!"

"How?"

Alexis opened his mouth.

Then closed it.

Eden tilted his head.

"Maybe invest more points into Vitality if you don’t want to lose like that again."

Alexis’s face twitched.

"You—!"

Lightning crawled across his arms.

Eden’s expression finally changed.

"...Are you seriously trying to fight me right now?"

"I’ll prove—"

"Alexis—!"

A strange pressure suddenly descended upon the hallway.

Eden’s knees buckled.

Alexis crashed down beside him.

It felt as though gravity itself had multiplied tenfold.

Eden gritted his teeth.

He knew this pressure.

Slow footsteps echoed through the hallway.

A man approached with an amused smile on his face.

Long blonde hair.

Green eyes.

A strange envelope held between his fingers.

Neville.

"My, my."

He chuckled.

"You two really are troublemakers."

Alexis struggled to lift his head.

"N-Neville..."

Neville stopped in front of them.

His smile widened.

"Alexis."

"Yes?"

"You’ll get your chance for revenge."

Alexis’s eyes brightened.

"Really?"

"Of course."

Neville leaned closer.

"After your little humiliation ritual earlier? Seems like you really need it."

Alexis’s face immediately fell.

Eden held back a laugh with all the strength he could muster.

Neville released the pressure.

Both immediately stood.

Alexis rubbed his knees.

Eden straightened his clothes.

Neville extended the envelope toward Eden.

"This is for you."

Eden took it.

"What is it?"

"An invitation."

Eden opened it.

His eyes scanned the elegant writing.

Gatewalkers Guild.

Invitation to the position of Executive.

And beneath it was a name Eden recognized immediately.

Luna.

Alexis stared over his shoulder.

His jaw practically dropped.

"What’s that?"

It took him a few seconds to process the words on the envelope.

Alexis looked at Eden.

Then the letter.

Then Eden again.

"You..."

Eden folded the invitation.

Alexis stared in disbelief.

"Do you understand what you just received?"

"Yes."

"That’s the Gatewalkers Guild!"

"I know."

"The Guildmaster personally invited you!"

"I know."

"She’s offering you an executive position!"

"I can read."

Alexis looked like his soul was leaving his body.

Eden glanced at the envelope one last time.

Then crushed it into a ball.

Alexis’s eyes widened.

Eden casually tossed it into a nearby trashcan.

"Tell Luna I’m not interested."

Neville stared at him.

Then he started laughing.

Full on laughter, tears forming at the corners of his eyes.

"Hahahaha!"

Alexis slowly sank to his knees.

He stared at Eden like he’d just witnessed something fundamentally wrong with reality itself.

"You..."

His voice trembled.

"You just rejected the Gatewalkers Guild?"

Eden shrugged.

"I guess I did."

Alexis grabbed his head.

"What is wrong with you?!"

Neville laughed even harder.

"Now this..."

He wiped a tear from his eye.

"...this is some comedy I’d pay good money for."

Eden looked at the two men with complete indifference.

He had no idea why they were making such a big deal out of it.

He had come to the Association to become stronger.

Not to sit inside a guild with a ton of responsibilities stripping his freedom down.

He turned toward the exit.

"Anyway, I’m going home."

Behind him, Alexis remained on the floor, staring into the distance as though he just witnessed the birth of the Antichrist.

Neville was still laughing.

And somewhere inside Eden’s mind, Sylvia quietly spoke.

[Master.]

Eden sighed.

’What now?’

[I think I like this Luna woman.]

Eden stopped walking.

’...Huh?’

[Anyone who can make Alexis look like that must be interesting.]

Eden rubbed his temples.

’Jeez.’

’Give the guy a break.’

[No promises.]

Eden sighed again.

It had been one hell of a day.

And somehow, he had a slight feeling the next round would be even worse.