The forest remained quiet after the confrontation.
The tension that had dominated the clearing moments ago lingered beneath the trees, refusing to disappear completely. Sunlight filtered through gaps in the canopy, casting long shadows across the moss-covered ground while leaves swayed gently overhead.
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Rio stood calmly with her saber in hand, her gaze fixed on the red-haired assassin before her. Ryota remained nearby, alert but no longer preparing to intervene. The fight had ended, yet neither side had fully relaxed.
Then the red-haired girl broke the silence.
A soft chuckle escaped her lips as she casually twirled her dagger between her fingers. The weapon spun with practiced ease before she slid it back into her satchel as if the battle that had just taken place had been nothing more than a friendly spar.
Her crimson hair swayed lightly as she tilted her head.
"My name is Sayanaki."
Her crimson eyes settled on Rio.
"What's yours?"
Rio did not lower her guard.
Her posture remained composed, ready to react at a moment's notice.
"Rio."
That was all she offered.
No surname.
No explanation.
Just a name.
Yet it was enough.
Sayanaki's grin widened.
"Rio, huh?"
The way she repeated the name made it sound as though she was testing it, committing it to memory.
Rio narrowed her eyes slightly.
"You're not afraid I'll attack?"
"No."
The answer came immediately.
There wasn't even a hint of hesitation.
Sayanaki briefly glanced toward Ryota before returning her attention to Rio.
"If you were serious about killing me, you would've already told white-hair over there to attack."
Her grin sharpened.
"Besides, you're curious too."
She took a slow step forward.
Measured.
Confident.
"Just like me."
Rio remained silent.
Sayanaki continued.
"And I'm confident that if you attacked me right now..."
Her fingers brushed the satchel hanging at her side.
"...I could still draw my weapon and block you."
The instant she finished speaking, Rio moved.
Steel flashed through the air.
CLANG!
The sound of metal colliding rang throughout the forest.
Rio's saber struck with incredible speed, yet Sayanaki's dagger was already in her hand.
The weapon she had supposedly stored away moments earlier intercepted the attack perfectly.
Neither girl yielded an inch.
Their weapons locked together.
Their eyes met.
Both smiling.
Both testing one another.
"I guess you weren't bluffing," Rio said.
Sayanaki chuckled.
"Told you."
The next moment, her body blurred.
A familiar system notification appeared.
[Assassin Skill: Knightmare Phantoms]
The air distorted around her.
Two additional Sayanakis emerged from thin air.
Perfect copies.
Every detail was identical.
The three assassins moved simultaneously.
Daggers flashed from multiple directions as they attacked in perfect synchronization. Their movements were swift and relentless, striking from angles designed to overwhelm even experienced fighters.
Yet Rio barely moved.
Her saber flowed through the attacks with remarkable efficiency.
She wasted no energy.
Every block was minimal.
Every movement precise.
Steel rang repeatedly throughout the clearing.
CLANG!
CLANG!
CLANG!
The rapid succession of impacts echoed unnaturally through the forest.
Ryota watched closely from the side.
His muscles remained tense.
His instincts urged him to step in.
But he didn't.
Because Rio didn't need help.
She stepped forward.
One clean motion.
One decisive strike.
Her saber cut across the two nearest attackers.
The clones froze.
A moment later they shattered into particles of light and disappeared completely.
Only one Sayanaki remained.
Standing several meters away.
Smiling.
"Nice."
Then she turned and sprinted deeper into the forest.
Ryota reacted instantly.
"Hey!"
He surged forward.
"Get back here, coward!"
Before he could take more than a few steps, Rio's arm shot out.
"Wait."
Ryota stopped immediately.
"What?"
Rio didn't answer.
Instead, her gaze shifted toward a seemingly ordinary bush nearby.
Without warning, she threw her saber.
The weapon sliced through the air.
THUD!
The blade struck something hidden within the foliage.
A figure dropped from concealment and landed gracefully on the forest floor.
Sayanaki.
The real one.
Part of her hood had been sliced where the saber had struck.
She looked completely unfazed.
In fact, she was laughing.
"You knew from the start, huh?"
Rio calmly stepped forward.
"A player like you doesn't attack without testing their target."
Sayanaki said nothing.
"The one that fought me first was a clone."
Rio's eyes remained fixed on her.
"Then you summoned two more to reinforce the illusion."
She took another step.
"After I destroyed them, you made one run."
Ryota blinked.
"Wait..."
Rio continued.
"You wanted him to chase it."
Understanding slowly dawned on Ryota's face.
Rio didn't stop.
"Once he got far enough away, you would've dismissed the clone."
Her voice lowered slightly.
"Then you'd isolate me and fight me alone."
For a moment, the forest fell silent.
Then Sayanaki began clapping.
Slowly.
"Perfect."
Her grin widened.
"You got everything right."
She paused briefly.
"No."
Her eyes gleamed with excitement.
"You figured out more than I expected."
Rio's attention shifted toward Sayanaki's neck.
A small necklace glimmered beneath her collar.
"That necklace."
Sayanaki raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
"Phantom's Pearl."
Rio's answer came immediately.
"It allows the user to create up to three clones at a significant mana cost."
Sayanaki's smile froze for the briefest moment.
Rio continued.
"And you've already spent most of your mana."
Her saber returned to her hand.
"Which means you're out of tricks."
The atmosphere tightened.
Sayanaki laughed.
Loudly.
Openly.
"You're right."
She clapped once more.
"No more games."
The playfulness in her expression faded.
Her eyes became focused.
Serious.
"I only want one thing."
Her gaze locked onto Rio.
"You."
Ryota instantly tensed.
Sayanaki noticed and raised a hand.
"Relax."
A grin returned.
"Not like that."
She took a small step forward.
"You're interesting."
Her voice softened slightly.
"More interesting than anyone I've met since this game launched."
A moment passed.
Then she smiled.
Wide.
Honest.
Unexpectedly genuine.
"I want you as a friend."
The statement caught even Ryota off guard.
He blinked several times.
"That's it?"
He looked between them.
"After everything that happened?"
Sayanaki shrugged.
"What? Were you expecting another assassination attempt?"
She laughed.
"I already tested what I needed to test."
Her gaze returned to Rio.
"And I got my answer."
Rio studied her quietly.
She wasn't evaluating strength anymore.
She wasn't measuring skill.
She was measuring intent.
Eventually, a small smile appeared.
"Fine."
Sayanaki's eyes immediately lit up.
"Oh?"
Rio opened her system menu.
A notification appeared.
[Friend Request Sent: Sayanaki]
A second later—
[Friend Request Accepted]
A soft chime echoed through the clearing.
Just like that, it was done.
Sayanaki laughed.
"That was easier than I thought."
Rio shrugged.
"You're useful."
She paused.
"And interesting."
Sayanaki placed a hand on her hip.
"I'll take that as a compliment."
Nearby, Ryota sighed.
"This game really is something else."
"You'll get used to it."
Sayanaki took a few steps backward.
"I won't follow you this time."
Her gaze settled on Rio once more.
"But we'll definitely meet again."
She pointed toward her friend list.
"Send me a message if you ever need anything."
Rio didn't answer, but she didn't reject the offer either.
Satisfied, Sayanaki turned and disappeared into the forest.
Within moments, she was gone.
Silent.
Invisible.
As though she had never been there at all.
The atmosphere gradually relaxed as Rio and Ryota continued their journey.
The dense forest slowly thinned around them.
More sunlight reached the ground.
The air felt warmer.
The distant sounds of village life became audible once again.
"We're done here," Rio said.
Ryota glanced at her.
"That was... a lot."
"Yes."
She nodded.
"But productive."
Soon they emerged from the forest entirely.
Ahead stood a small village nestled near the edge of the wilderness.
Simple wooden houses lined dirt roads. Thin streams of smoke rose from chimneys while NPC villagers carried out their daily routines peacefully.
The contrast was striking.
Only minutes ago they had been negotiating with guild officers and fighting assassins.
Now they stood before a quiet settlement untouched by the chaos spreading across Evermount.
Rio exhaled.
"Let's rest."
She looked toward a nearby inn.
"And eat."
Ryota raised an eyebrow.
"You're satisfied?"
Rio nodded.
"Both encounters went well."
Ryota laughed.
"You call that going well?"
Rio glanced at him.
"We gained information."
She counted calmly.
"Coins."
"An ally."
A faint smile appeared.
"That's efficient."
Ryota shook his head.
"You're unreal."
Meanwhile, far away in the Town of Beginnings, activity within the Eleo Guild Hall had reached a fever pitch.
The massive doors opened.
Fayzan entered first, followed closely by Ayame and Sumi.
Guild members immediately turned toward them.
Whispers spread throughout the hall.
"They're back."
"Already?"
"Did they find something?"
At the center of the room stood Elias.
Waiting.
Watching.
"Report."
Fayzan walked forward without wasting time.
He opened his system menu.
A projection appeared before everyone.
A detailed map.
Marked routes.
Coordinates.
Terrain notes.
Every piece of information Rio had provided.
The hall immediately fell silent.
Ayame stepped forward.
"The source is reliable."
Sumi folded her arms.
"And the information is extremely detailed."
Elias studied the projection carefully.
His sharp eyes examined every note and marker.
"This level of accuracy..."
He looked up.
"Who gave you this?"
Fayzan smirked.
"The players who triggered the hidden dungeon."
The hall exploded with reactions.
"You found them?"
"Already?"
"Who are they?"
Elias raised a hand.
The room fell silent again.
"Explain."
Fayzan crossed his arms.
"They're dangerous."
His expression became serious.
"Both of them."
A brief pause.
"Especially the girl."
Ayame nodded.
"Exceptional awareness."
"Outstanding combat precision."
Sumi reluctantly added,
"And terrifyingly calm."
Elias processed the information quietly.
Then he asked the next question.
"And the cost?"
Fayzan chuckled.
"Forty-two copper coins."
Several guild members winced.
"That's expensive."
"For information?"
"Was it worth it?"
Fayzan's eyes sharpened.
"It was."
He pointed toward the map.
"Because it's real."
Silence returned.
"We already paid thirty."
"The remaining twelve after confirmation."
Elias nodded decisively.
"Then we move."
The entire guild straightened.
Orders immediately followed.
"Scouting teams, prepare."
"Combat units, stand by."
"Support personnel, gather supplies."
His commanding voice filled the hall.
"We confirm the location first."
He looked at the map one final time.
"Then we take the dungeon."
The Eternal Lions moved into action.
Far away, in a quiet village at the edge of the forest, Rio and Ryota sat down to enjoy a simple meal.
Whether they realized it or not, the information they had sold had already begun changing the course of events throughout Evermount.
The hidden dungeon was no longer a secret.
The guilds were mobilizing.
The pieces were moving across the board.
And the game had only just begun.