Ch.42Someone’s Memory (E)+

# 42. Someone’s Memory (E)+

*Splash- Splash-*

Setting aside the game that felt emptier with the vacant spots, I immersed myself in a bathtub filled with hot water instead.

When my heart felt harsh and cold, warming my body became a habit that solidified over time.

When I was younger, I used to crouch alone in the tub and cry a lot, but now it helped me feel better and think more clearly.

Half-body baths are nice.

‘I wonder why I feel like those two are in the same place as the Guild Master.’

I mulled over the information in the message from the kind mister. It was now certain that their disappearance wasn’t just them going radio silent.

Of course, someone I acknowledged as decent wouldn’t do something so inconsiderate. I believed in that.

As for cursing them out, well…

I was angry.

After going through all that trouble to recruit me, disappearing without a word—I have every right to be angry. Yes. That’s what they’d call “facts.”

Still.

If it had been just them ghosting me, I would have dragged them out somehow and given them a piece of my mind.

At twenty-seven, this was the first time I’d worried so much about people whose faces I didn’t even know.

This behavior completely contradicted my rational personality, formed since childhood to avoid criticism and gain approval.

It kept clashing with my concern for the Guild Master and the other two missing people.

“No matter how much happiness one finds in an escape, it’s just a fleeting virtual space. This too shall pass. It has nothing to do with my real self.”

No, that’s not right.

“I am the Vice Guild Master of Veritas. Even if I reconsider personal relationships, it’s natural to worry about guild members’ situations. This is… yes, management. The Vice Guild Master works with the Guild Master to run the guild and manage its members.”

*Brrrr-*

I’m irritated. The more I think about it, the more this feels like a one-sided loss for me. Aren’t I the only one spending both absolute time and relative worry?

A man like the Guild Master would surely be alive.

‘It would be troublesome if he weren’t alive.’

Once I meet him, I’ll demand compensation.

Not just for myself, but also for PhysicalTherapist, StolidBackdoor, and IKnowTheAnswer.

And the most important claim will grow larger with each passing day.

“How foolish.”

My body, heart, and head all felt hot. I got out of the tub, dried myself, and put on a robe. I took a beer can from the refrigerator, wiped the opening with a tissue, and popped the lid.

*Gulp-*

The cold beer after a half-body bath brought back my cool rationality with incredible refreshment.

“Starting tomorrow… I should live a little less intensely, right?”

Despite the refreshing beer, I wasn’t feeling particularly good. I decided to skip today’s homework and log out early. Just as I was about to press the Enter key to say a quick goodbye…

[JoanOfArcIsASaint has invited LawfulPath.]

“…”

[Accept invitation?]

“You, what is this?”

[Accept invitation?]

“What is this, you?”

[Accept invitation?]

“What is this!”

[Accept invitation?]

*Slam-*

I ended up hitting the keyboard in frustration at the message windows that kept popping up playfully.

[Accept invitation?]

“Fine. I’ll listen carefully to everything—where you’ve been, what you’ve been doing, and why. Just wait.”

**

[You have peeked into E’s memory.]

*Thud-*

“Guild Master, you son of a— Ouch.”

‘Ow. I’m glad to see you, but first, let’s keep some distance.’

Having experienced this three times already, I adapted to the change in perspective faster than anyone. And seeing the intelligent woman who had just been expressing her anger at me in a bath robe materialize in that exact same appearance, I backed away as far as possible.

In the current situation, the fact that LawfulPath was a woman wasn’t particularly surprising. Even if it was surprising, it was a low priority.

“…So LawfulPath was a ‘sister’?”

“Yeah. LawfulPath was a ‘sister’ too.”

For the other two, LawfulPath being a woman seemed to be an important issue as they whispered, but anyway, LawfulPath, the protagonist of this memory, furrowed her brows at the sudden change in perspective and quickly surveyed her surroundings.

Then, seeing the two women staring blankly at her and one man standing at a distance…

“Veritas.”

She muttered in a cold, low voice like frost had formed.

Despite not giving any introduction or explanation of the situation, she seemed to have grasped what was happening.

“KillThemAll.”

“SeaX.”

“…Um, your Guild Master?”

The slender beauty with intellectual and calm features (in a bath robe), with burning dark red hair reaching down to her waist, silently offered handshakes to KillThemAll and SeaX before striding toward me.

Frozen under her intimidating presence, she came right up to me, grabbed both my cheeks with her hands with a *slap* sound, and said:

“Hey.”

“Yes!”

“This is because of you, right?”

“Well, I could say it is…?”

I unconsciously used formal speech. From behind, I heard sounds like “whoa-” and “look at that intensity-“.

“But it’s not your fault, right?”

“That’s also, um.”

“Why can’t you speak? Answer me. I said answer.”

It wasn’t my fault that I was brought to this world, but it was my fault that I brought guild members, including her, LawfulPath.

I couldn’t lie.

“No. No, it’s not. I brought you, LawfulPath, here. I brought Seyeon and Yuri here too.”

“Why?”

“At first, it just happened. Later, because I wanted to survive.”

“You bastard.”

I nodded. I stopped the other two who were about to speak. Actually, this was the normal reaction I had expected, and it was KillThemAll’s calmness and SeaX’s positive attitude that were unusual.

“But you know what?”

“What?”

“On one hand, I’m relieved you’re alive and well, but on the other hand, I’m annoyed that you seem too fine, and I’m also wondering what happened to the other three back there who suddenly lost me too. It’s complicated. Too complicated. Is it right for me to be angry with you right now? I want to be angry. It is right to be angry since I was essentially kidnapped. But still.”

After sighing deeply enough to sink the ground, LawfulPath glared at me for a while before finally releasing my face.

“We’re clearly meeting for the first time, but it doesn’t feel like it, so excuse my rudeness. I roughly understand the situation, but for a proper conversation, I should at least know your name.”

Her self-control and situation assessment abilities were impressive. When I gestured, the two who had been watching approached.

“I’m Seon Seyeon, using the nickname KillThemAll. I’m twenty-one and was attending university. I was also the tank here. I’m really happy, grateful, and sorry to meet you.”

“I’m Ah Yuri, SeaX. Twenty years old, also attending university. Strictly speaking, since I’m the one who called LawfulPath sister, I hope you won’t blame Guild Master oppa and Seyeon unnie.”

“I’m Ban Seonghyun, twenty-seven, Guild Master and an ordinary office worker who likes games. No need to mention my nickname, and despite what Yuri says, it’s my fault and my responsibility, so direct everything at me.”

“After I defended you so much, why are you kicking it away!”

“That’s just how the Guild Master is.”

“No, it’s not!”

“Yes, it is?”

As I shrugged, LawfulPath gave a hollow laugh, then brushed her hair back and said:

“I’m Eun Subin, twenty-seven, Vice Guild Master and office worker for whom the game was an escape. You probably know my nickname already, and I was going to blame you alone anyway, Ban Seonghyun, so there’s no need to worry.”

LawfulPath, Eun Subin, who had mimicked my speech, extended her slender white finger and pointed at my mouth.

“So, I trust you’ll explain everything from A to Z. Without omission.”

Guild. Master. Sir?

I shook my head vertically with complete sincerity.

**

“I see.”

After all the explanations were finished, with KillThemAll and SeaX adding details here and there but mostly led by me, LawfulPath’s first response was simple.

“I have a lot to say, but first, let me say this. You’ve been through a lot. And I’m glad everyone is safe.”

“Unnie…”

“Subin unnie!”

The women had already sorted out their terms of address. KillThemAll and SeaX embraced LawfulPath from both sides. LawfulPath was currently wearing a spare robe over her bath robe, so any awkward situations were avoided.

LawfulPath seemed uncomfortable with the intense skinship but soon hugged them back.

Truly the dignity of a ‘big sister’—

“Seonghyun.”

“Huh?”

By the way, LawfulPath called me by my real name, not Guild Master. She said that if she called me Guild Master, she might reflexively add “you bastard” afterward.

Plus, we were the same age, so I didn’t mind. There was no rule saying she had to call me Guild Master, so I told her it was fine.

When LawfulPath and I called each other by our names, KillThemAll and SeaX gave us strange looks, but only briefly, and soon a party invitation message appeared.

[LawfulPath has requested to join the party.]

[Accept?]

‘Of course I accept.’

[LawfulPath has joined the party.]

“Is my Vice Guild Master position still valid?”

If LawfulPath—my first recruited guild member, the #1 ranked Elemental Sorcerer, and excellent as both a DPS and Vice Guild Master—didn’t take the Vice Guild Master position, who would?

“Of course.”

“Good. Seyeon, Yuri. If Seonghyun bullies you from now on, tell me everything. Got it?”

“Wow!”

Now there were more people here than back on Earth. And today, in many ways, we gained a capable sorcerer, ‘LawfulPath,’ who could fill the guild’s shortcomings.

‘Good job recruiting, Yuri!’

Let’s keep it a secret forever that when LawfulPath grabbed my cheeks, her bath robe opened slightly, revealing half of what was inside. Yeah. It was amazing.

Tonight, we all went to sleep.