The guild was louder than usual.
But this time—
It wasn't just noise.
It was tension.
"...So you're saying the bandits are gone?"
One of the adventurers leaned forward.
"Not gone."
I replied calmly.
"...Dead."
Silence.
Then whispers.
"...He's serious?"
"...That kid again…"
I stood in front of the counter.
The Guild Master beside me.
Arms crossed.
Watching everything.
"...Explain."
He said.
Short.
Direct.
I nodded.
"...Bandit camp. Deep forest. Around ten people."
I paused.
"...Leader confirmed dead."
The staff swallowed.
"...Any survivors?"
"...A few."
I glanced back.
The tied bandits were brought in.
Bruised.
Broken.
Terrified.
The entire guild went silent.
"...That's them."
"...No doubt."
One of the staff quickly opened a document.
"...These are the same group…"
He looked up.
Eyes serious.
"...They've been targeting transport routes for months."
The Guild Master nodded slowly.
"...And now they're finished."
Then he looked at me.
"...Good work."
Simple.
But heavy.
A moment later—
Another voice.
"...We should check the site."
I turned.
A middle-aged adventurer spoke.
"If they were transporting something… it might still be there."
The Guild Master nodded.
"...Agreed."
He looked at me.
"...You're coming."
"Of course."
Not long after—
We moved.
Me.
The Guild Master.
The driver.
A few Rank C adventurers.
The forest felt familiar.
But this time—
Something was different.
"...Stay alert."
The Guild Master said.
His voice low.
"...Something doesn't add up."
I narrowed my eyes.
"...Same thought."
When we reached the area—
I stopped.
"...Someone's here."
The others froze.
"...What?"
I raised my hand.
"...Look."
Through the trees—
Figures.
Several of them.
Standing near the carts.
My eyes locked instantly.
Silver hair.
"...Mira."
My voice dropped.
Cold.
The air around me shifted.
"...You know them?"
One of the adventurers whispered.
"...Yeah."
My grip tightened.
"...Too well."
The Guild Master suddenly raised his hand.
"...Don't move."
"...What?"
"...Wait."
I frowned.
"...Why?"
His eyes narrowed.
"...Look closer."
I forced myself to stay still.
Watching.
Listening.
One of the men stepped forward.
"...Everything went as planned."
Mira nodded calmly.
Her expression unchanged.
"...Good."
Another man spoke.
"...The goods are intact."
My eyes moved to the cart.
Covered.
Protected.
"...Goods?"
Mira stepped closer.
She placed her hand on the crate.
"...Do you even know what this is?"
One of the bandits laughed.
"...Something expensive, right?"
She smiled faintly.
"...This is a royal treasury artifact."
Silence.
Even from where I stood—
I felt it.
"...Royal…?"
The Guild Master's eyes sharpened.
Mira continued.
"...A fragment of the Crown Core."
"...A power amplifier used by the royal family."
My heart skipped.
"...That's not something bandits should even touch."
Another man whistled.
"...And we were about to sell it?"
Mira shook her head.
"...No."
Her voice turned colder.
"...You were never meant to sell it."
Silence.
"...What?"
She looked at them.
"...You were bait."
Everything stopped.
"...Excuse me?"
Mira smiled slightly.
"...The plan was simple."
"...You 'steal' the artifact."
"...Create chaos."
"...Attract attention."
She paused.
"...Then I retrieve it."
"...As the hero."
My eyes widened slightly.
"...So that's it."
Another man frowned.
"...And the money?"
Mira's eyes turned cold.
"...You were going to get your share."
A pause.
"...If everything went perfectly."
Silence.
Tension.
Then—
One of them laughed nervously.
"...Wait… what do you mean was?"
Mira didn't answer immediately.
Instead—
She looked at the bodies.
Scattered.
Dead.
Her expression didn't change.
"...Unfortunate."
My chest tightened.
"...She doesn't care."
Another voice spoke.
"...That kid."
Mira stopped.
"...The one from the village."
"...Kazu."
My body froze.
"...They're talking about me."
Mira tilted her head slightly.
"...Ah."
"...That one."
Her voice was calm.
Too calm.
"...Useful."
Silence.
"...Useful?"
She continued.
"...A perfect scapegoat."
My fist clenched.
"...I knew it."
One of them asked,
"...You set him up?"
She nodded.
"...Of course."
"...A foreigner. Weak. No background."
"...Easy to control."
Her lips curved slightly.
"...Easy to discard."
Something inside me snapped.
"...Enough."
I stepped forward.
The ground cracked under my foot.
Everyone turned.
"...What—"
Their eyes widened.
"...You?!"
Mira's eyes met mine.
For the first time—
A reaction.
Slight.
But there.
"...You're alive."
I didn't answer.
The black blade appeared in my hand.
"...Say that again."
My voice was low.
Cold.
"...Say it again."
Silence.
Then—
She smiled.
"...Still emotional."
That was enough.
I moved.
Fast.
Straight toward her.
The blade aimed at her neck.
"...DIE—!"
CLANG.
Something blocked me.
A sword.
Another man stood in front of her.
Tall.
Calm.
Eyes sharp.
"...That's enough."
My blade stopped inches from his.
"...Move."
He didn't.
"...No."
Our eyes locked.
Pressure filled the air.
"...You're not ready."
I clicked my tongue.
"...Get out of my way."
He smirked slightly.
"...Or what?"
I moved again.
Faster.
Stronger.
But—
He blocked everything.
Effortlessly.
"...Too slow."
My eyes widened.
"...What—"
He pushed forward.
Hard.
My body flew back.
"...GHH—!"
I hit the ground.
Pain exploded.
"...Damn it."
He stepped forward.
"...You improved."
"...But not enough."
I forced myself up.
"...I'll kill her."
My voice shook slightly.
Not from fear.
From anger.
"...Not today."
He raised his sword.
"...You're in the way."
Then—
He moved.
Too fast.
I couldn't react.
"...Shit—"
"That's enough."
A voice cut through everything.
Heavy.
Absolute.
The air froze.
The man stopped.
Mid-motion.
The Guild Master stepped forward.
Slowly.
Calmly.
"...You've done enough."
His eyes moved to Mira.
"...'Silver Eclipse'."
A title.
A name.
The air shifted.
"...Heroes of the Crown."
Silence.
Mira's expression changed slightly.
"...Guild Master."
He looked at her.
Cold.
"...You're under suspicion."
A pause.
"...Drop your weapons."
Tension exploded.
The man in front of her frowned.
"...Be careful with your words."
The Guild Master didn't react.
"...Or what?"
Silence.
Heavy.
Then—
He spoke again.
"...You will all be detained."
My breathing slowed.
But my grip tightened.
"...This isn't over."
I looked at Mira.
She smiled faintly.
"...Of course it isn't."
And for the first time—
I understood.
This wasn't just revenge anymore.
This was war.