Hirotsuka leaned back slightly in his chair, gaze steady on Ryu Hyun. He didn't answer immediately this time.
The faint clink of utensils and distant murmurs around them seemed to dull, as if the space at their table had been carved out into something separate—tense, waiting.
Ryu Hyun didn't rush him. He only smiled, patient, confident, as though he already knew the answer.
Akari shifted subtly beside Hirotsuka, her fingers tightening around her utensil before she noticed and forced herself to relax. Her eyes flickered between the two boys, reading the silence more than the words.
Hirotsuka exhaled softly through his nose.
"…Fine." He said at last, voice calm but firm. "An alliance makes sense. We're going to be forced into group scenarios sooner or later."
Ryu Hyun's smile widened—not surprised, just satisfied.
"I knew you'd see it that way."
Hirotsuka's gaze sharpened slightly. "Don't misunderstand. This is cooperation, not trust."
"Of course." Ryu Hyun replied easily. "That makes it more interesting."
Akari let out a small breath she hadn't realized she had been holding, her shoulders easing just a fraction.
"…Then we're really doing this." Akari whispers to herself. She knows for a fact that Hirotsuka had trust issues towards strangers so it seems like he won't be putting his guard down around Ryu Hyun for now.
Ryu Hyun tilted his head slightly, then lifted his hand.
"Nielle."
The air beside their table shimmered faintly.
In the next instant, the angel appeared as if she had always been there. Sheets of parchment rested neatly in her hands, edges glowing faintly. It seems like Ryu Hyun already talked to the angel beforehand.
[ It seems you have reached a decision. ]
She said, placing the contracts gently on the table.
The parchment unfurled on its own, lines of unfamiliar script shifting before settling into something readable.
[ To formalize a team, signatures are required. ]
Nielle continued. [ However, you must first appoint a leader. ]
There was a brief pause.
Ryu Hyun's eyes slid to Hirotsuka, amused. "Well? You were the one who agreed first."
Akari nodded slightly, agreeing with Ryu Hyun. "…It should be you."
Hirotsuka didn't argue.
He reached for the contract.
The moment his fingers brushed the parchment, a thin blade-like edge formed along the margin. Without hesitation, he dragged his fingertip across it.
A shallow cut opened instantly.
Akari flinched—but before she could react, a drop of blood fell onto the contract.
The parchment glowed.
The wound on Hirotsuka's finger sealed itself immediately, leaving no trace behind.
[ Leader has been designated. ]
The words appeared briefly across the surface before fading.
Ryu Hyun let out a quiet chuckle. "Efficient."
Nielle inclined her head slightly.
[ As the leader has signed first, the position is now fixed. ]
She gestured toward the contract.
[ For members to join, both the leader and the applicant must offer their blood. ]
Ryu Hyun didn't hesitate.
He reached out, letting the same blade form against his skin. A clean cut. A bead of red.
Hirotsuka watched him for a second—then, without a word, pressed his own finger against the parchment again, reopening the same spot as if the contract demanded it.
Two drops of blood met.
The surface flared softly.
Ryu Hyun's wound vanished just as quickly as it had appeared.
[ Member accepted. ]
Akari swallowed softly, then stepped forward. She still couldn't believe by how unbothered those guys are.
"…My turn."
Her movements were more careful, but steady. The blade kissed her skin, and she winced slightly as the cut formed. A small drop of blood trembled at her fingertip.
Hirotsuka didn't look away this time.
He pressed his finger down again beside hers.
The two droplets touched.
Light bloomed once more.
Her wound healed instantly.
[ Member accepted. Team formation complete. ]
For a brief moment, the air around them felt heavier—like something invisible had settled into place.
Nielle's voice followed, calm and unwavering.
[ Now that your team has been established, you must understand the rules. ]
The parchment shifted again, new lines appearing.
[ If an ally betrays their teammates while still bound to the team, a penalty will be enforced. ]
Her eyes moved between the three of them.
[ However, if they are no longer part of the team at the time of betrayal, no penalty will occur. ]
Akari's brows drew together slightly. It makes sense about the rules.
"So leaving the team removes the punishment…"
Hirotsuka gave a nod to her.
Nielle continued.
[ If a member wishes to leave voluntarily, they must smear their blood onto the leader's wound. This will dissolve the contract binding them. ]
Ryu Hyun's smile thinned just a little, interest flickering in his eyes.
"And if the leader decides otherwise?" he asked.
Nielle looked at Hirotsuka.
[ If the leader chooses to remove a member… ]
There was a brief pause.
[ He must make the member drink his blood. ]
Akari stiffened slightly.
[ That blood will become poisonous. It will not be fatal, but it will act as a penalty. ]
Nielle added, her tone unchanged.
Silence settled again.
Heavier this time.
Ryu Hyun let out a soft laugh under his breath. "That's… harsh."
Hirotsuka flexed his now-healed fingers, gaze lowering briefly to the contract before it faded completely from the table.
"No." He said quietly.
"It's balanced."
His eyes lifted to meet both of theirs—sharp, unwavering.
"So don't betray the team."
Akari nodded instinctively, tension still lingering in her chest.
Ryu Hyun only smiled again—but this time, there was something deeper behind it.
"Of course." He said lightly.
..
...
....
It's in the middle of the night. Hirotsuka just got back from visiting other floors. The hallway was quiet when Hirotsuka returned.
Not the comfortable kind of quiet—just empty. Everyone probably already fallen asleep in their room.
His footsteps echoed faintly against the polished floor as he walked back toward his assigned room, hands tucked into his pockets, expression unreadable.
He had gone farther than most would bother to.
Different floors. Different ranks.
Different conditions.
Not because he felt anything about it.
Just to see.
Just to confirm.
His gaze drifted slightly, as if replaying what he had seen.
At the very top which is his level, the difference was obvious. Spacious rooms. Clean facilities. Proper meals. No restrictions worth mentioning. Everything polished to the point it almost felt artificial.
Expected.
He hadn't lingered there long.
The floors just below—the upper half excluding the top ten, were… decent.
A cafeteria with an NPC handling orders. Limited menu, but functional. A practice room that wasn't impressive, but usable. Private bathrooms in each room. The assigned angels are nice and kind but not as friendly as Nielle.
No real complaints there.
Comfortable enough to keep people stable.
Predictable design.
Hirotsuka turned a corner, his pace unhurried.
Then came the middle ranks.
That's where the downgrade became clearer.
Shared bathrooms.
No privacy.
The cafeteria reduced to vending machines—rows of them, stocked with simple food and drinks. No cost, no limits. Just press and take.
Efficient.
Enough to keep them alive.
The practice rooms were there, but crude. Wooden equipment, roughly made. Replaceable.
Disposable.
Still usable, though.
The assigned angels are okay. Players can still ask questions and they still answer even though not as kindly as the first half.
Hirotsuka hadn't stopped there either.
He kept going.
Lower.
The lowest ranks.
That's where it shifted from "reduced" to "bare minimum."
No cafeteria.
Just vending machines again—but worse.
Plain rice. Eggs. Fish. Seaweed soup. Onigiri. Water. Ginger juice.
No variety.
No effort.
Just sustenance.
No practice rooms either.
If they wanted to train, they would have to figure it out themselves.
Even the bathrooms were shared—and in worse condition.
And the angels…
Hirotsuka's eyes lowered slightly, recalling it.
They were there.
But barely.
Watching, not managing. Existing, not assisting.
Indifferent.
Like the players down there didn't matter enough to monitor closely.
He stopped briefly outside his door.
There was no change in his expression.
No anger.
No pity.
Just a quiet acknowledgment.
"…Makes sense."
A system built like this wouldn't waste resources evenly.
Rank dictated value.
Value dictated treatment.
Simple.
Expected.
His hand rested on the handle for a second before he pushed the door open.
Warm light spilled out from inside.
Hirotsuka stepped in without hesitation, the door closing softly behind him.
Whatever happened on the lower floors, it had nothing to do with him.