A Grave Request
"Unexpected."
I muttered to myself as I paced the lobby on the first floor of the guild headquarters. I hadn't thought Cha Eun-joo would accept the guild invitation so readily.
It was supposed to take a little time...
Of course, I hadn't brought her here on a whim. I was certain she wouldn't go back to Hyunwol Guild on her own. What choice did she have? With nowhere else to go, she needed somewhere to rely on.
She'd had only one option from the start.
...Even so, I didn't expect it to happen this fast.
Good thing our opinions align.
Cha Eun-joo had even bowed her head in plea, begging me to save this country from those corrupt bastards. She didn't even need to ask—I was already thinking the same.
If those blind fools swallowed up the country, I'd end up suffering too. Power-hungry types never take kindly to a third force that could threaten them.
In that sense, my existence must be like the worst thorn in their side. If my true nature ever came to light someday, they'd constantly keep me in check, always scheming to pull me to their side—or eliminate me.
Especially if an update hit. It was obvious how they'd react.
They'd pull out all the stops to get rid of me.
...At the very least, I can't let scum like that hold power forever.
"What a pain," I said, gazing up at the night sky visible through the glass window.
I understood this country's power structure well enough. A two-way standoff between the government and the anti-government forces. The government's side was so overwhelmingly strong that the opposition couldn't make a move.
Just look at what happened to Cha Eun-joo today. The government was rotten to the core—there was no saving it. They had to be purged.
In a national crisis, they shoved citizens' safety aside and oppressed players just to feed their own greed. It was pure madness.
But that comes with its own problems.
I could wipe them out right now if I wanted. But I lacked justification. Plus, according to Cha Eun-joo, even among Hyunwol Guild's executives, there were dissenters. Most regular members didn't even know about the conspiracy.
If I charged in blindly, innocents could get swept up. Sure, I could crush the government side either way. But it wouldn't look good internationally.
The problem with rule by overwhelming force is that it lacks public support. It's a sandcastle of power that crumbles when the ruler weakens.
Thinking long-term, I can't rule directly. I need to fill those seats with gentle types who won't chase personal gain.
At least people who won't point swords at me. Ones who'll stand as shields even under pressure from foreign powers.
To make that happen... I should do Silver Tree and Star Guild a favor.
The plan was to dismantle the corrupt power base and establish a new government. And in my view, they were the perfect candidates.
Heroes of the people who fought to the end against a regime that oppressed its citizens!
...It frames them nicely, making it hard for foreign powers to pressure them carelessly.
And if I show enough overwhelming momentum, they'll behave themselves.
First things first... the government collaborators.
The ideal scenario: pick off and execute only those glued to the government side. But that wouldn't be easy.
Once I fully revealed myself, some might panic at the mere fact that I was Sertina and side with the government out of fear.
My actions had to feel like righteous judgment, not merciless slaughter.
Or... make them reject the government's outstretched hand themselves?
Like what they did to Cha Eun-joo. Those guys would pull the same stunt on someone else soon enough. They had too much dirt.
No guarantee they wouldn't do it again. What I needed was... evidence!
One solid piece exposing Hyunwol Guild's executives and the government's reality would do it. If the government alliance got branded as trash not worth associating with—if it came out they'd tried to purge dissenting players—who would take their filthy hand?
"Perfect," I said with a nod, letting out a light breath.
"I can see the picture now."
I stepped into the elevator and headed to the top floor. Best to discuss this with Cha Eun-joo.
*
When I entered the room, Cha Eun-joo was asleep. Faint moans escaped her slightly open mouth now and then.
I approached carefully so as not to wake her and placed a hand on her forehead.
"She's got a slight fever..."
Tier's healing skills couldn't cure real-world illnesses. No wonder she'd looked pale earlier. It wasn't just fear of me this time.
I went to the bathroom, filled a basin with water, soaked a soft towel, wrung it out, and laid it on her forehead.
About an hour of replacing the towel passed. Her furrowed brow gradually relaxed into a peaceful expression.
I slipped a thermometer into her ear and checked her temperature.
[36.5℃]
Normal. She'd passed the worst of it?
Well, no one's dying from this. But seeing her suffer like that didn't sit right with me.
No restful sleep for me tonight.
And so, I stayed up wide-eyed until morning.
Cha Eun-joo rubbed her eyes and woke up. Her head had felt like it was splitting last night, but sleep was the best medicine, they said. In just one night, the headache was gone, and her body felt much lighter.
"Yawn."
She let out a small yawn and sat up. Something slid off her forehead.
She caught it quickly in her hand.
"Hm? A towel...?"
It was a pure white towel still damp with moisture.
As Cha Eun-joo tilted her head, she sensed someone breathing beside her.
"Gasp!"
She clamped her hands over her mouth in shock. There was Sertina, dozing off in a luxurious reddish-brown leather chair.
Right, this is the Eterna Guild headquarters...
Collecting her thoughts, she recalled yesterday's events. The betrayal by her own guildmate left a bitter taste.
Glancing sullenly at Sertina, she suddenly noticed something in the girl's hand—her eyes widened.
A towel? Identical design...
Cha Eun-joo compared the one in her hand to Sertina's. Then her gaze shifted to the bedside table.
A thermometer, fever reducers, painkillers, and more were laid out. Even a basin of water on the floor.
She stared silently at the towel in her hand.
She nursed me all night...
She'd thought of her only as terrifying. But receiving such undeserved care stirred guilt.
She's helped me this much, and all I did was fear her...
She'd heard monsters followed Astria Online's settings. Her own fights confirmed it.
But Sertina was different. What wind blew this way? It was the complete opposite of her horrific, brutal image.
Thoughtful and warm, instead.
Maybe there's a story behind taking half of another world's lives.
Gazing at the defenseless girl, such thoughts naturally followed.
Cha Eun-joo sneaked another glance.
Up close like this... she kinda looks cute...?
The innocent sleeping girl, oblivious to the world, stirred a mix of pity and flutter.
Worlds away from the monstrous beast she'd seen in the boss raid.
Whatever.
She shifted to get comfortable.
When else will I get to stare at Sertina's face?
Fascinated, she lost herself gazing. Porcelain-smooth, translucent skin. Mystical hair blending silver and blood-red. A pure, beautiful face devoid of ferocity.
A few minutes passed like that.
Sertina's eyes slowly opened.
"Gasp!"
Cha Eun-joo hurriedly sat straight and looked away to the distant mountains.
Sertina blinked drowsily, still half-asleep. After a big yawn, she looked at Cha Eun-joo and spoke in a hazy voice.
"Sleep well...?"
"Y-Yes! Great!"
Her voice came out unusually high-pitched.
Rubbing her half-lidded eyes, Sertina tilted her head at Cha Eun-joo's flustered state.
"...Something wrong?"
"N-No! Nothing!"
"Huh...?"
Sertina kept giving puzzled looks, but Cha Eun-joo desperately ignored her.
...In the end, Sertina learned nothing.