Crest blinked as the girl’s grip on his collar loosened.
Her eyes were fixed on the insignia sewn onto his jacket, the silver and crimson crest of New Horizons.
"Wait a sec... you’re... you’re one of them, right?New Horizons."
He gently adjusted his collar, stepping back and smoothing his shirt.
"Yeah. Crest, from New Horizons. My teammates think wearing the insignia is kinda flashy, but I wear it anyway. I feel stronger and better as an official member of this family."
The girl crossed her arms, tilting her head with a sharp glare.
"Stronger and... Ah... The roleplay type uh? Did you feel better when you gave me a midnight bath?"
Crest winced.
"That was an accident. I already apologized, didn’t I?"
She tossed her head, red hair flipping over one shoulder.
"Whatever. I’m soaked, my boots are ruined, and I’m not in the mood for your dumb commentary."
Then she turned slightly and jabbed a thumb at her chest.
"Name’s Airi. Just Airi."
Crest blinked.
"Airi, huh?"
"What, something wrong with that? You want me to change it to Mistress Watersplash or something?"
He coughed, startled.
"N-no, it’s a great name! Totally suits you."
She turned away, arms still folded.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever. I came from Arenthal."
Crest’s eyes widened.
"Wait, Arenthal? In the North? That’s pretty far out. From the... uh... Drelwood region, right?"
She nodded curtly.
"Good, you studied a little geography. Yeah, that’s pretty far. Took me two weeks to get here."
He frowned.
"Hm... but why come all this way?"
She tilted her head at him, as if it should be obvious.
"Well... of course, to join New Horizons."
Crest’s mouth opened, then shut.
"You came all the way to the capital... to join us?"
Airi shrugged, looking off to the side.
"Yeah, I heard about your group. A bunch of newbies from different parties forming a clan, rising like wildfire through the rankings. You guys eat dungeons like snacks every day. Pretty impressive."
"Okay, that’s... flattering," Crest admitted, scratching the back of his head.
For a second, he felt a bit of pride swell in his chest, someone came all this way just to join them? It was nice.
But...
The feeling vanished as fast as it came.
Eating dungeons like snacks? Never, he barely walked in three dungeons a day, and he never did anything anyway.
This reputation was Bel’s doing.
The party was just riding the wake of his power. Still, he tried to keep his smile, hiding the unease.
"I’m very glad we have this reputation, but we’re not just letting people in anymore. We’re kind of... well, exclusive now."
Airi blinked, looking genuinely caught off guard for a moment. Then she tilted her head sharply, her voice rising.
"Exclusive? What, are you messing with me now because I yelled at you earlier? Seriously?"
Crest raised both hands quickly.
"No! No, it’s not like that, I mean it. It’s not just my decision to make. We’ve grown, and new members... it’s more complicated now. There’s a process."
She crossed her arms again, glaring like a firecracker on the edge of exploding.
"Right. Complicated. Got it. Because I’m obviously the problem. Typical."
Crest exhaled slowly.
"Look, I’m just being honest. It’s not personal. We’ve had some... issues before, so the leaders are stricter about letting people in. But why joining us? There are stronger parties out there with more experience. Why don’t you join them instead?"
She shrugged, folding her arms with a pout of visible frustration.
"Because I don’t work for people who underestimate me," she said sharply. "I worked with some, and you know what they made me do? Carry their bags. Watch the backline. Stand around like some kind of decoration while they all played hero. They didn’t even ask what I could do. Until they saw it with their own eyes."
She grinned, smug and satisfied.
"And then they started begging me. Begging! To join their teams like nothing happened. Can you believe that? And then... I refused."
Crest stared, stunned.
"Wait... you refused? You joined real parties, they accepted you, they even begged you... and you turned them down?"
Airi tossed her hair with a little scoff.
"Of course I did. I’m not going to work for people who already decided I was worthless until they got slapped by my greatness. I want a team that sees me first, not after I carry their sorry asses. Someone on my speed. Same level. So yeah, a fresh clan like yours? Perfect. At least we’d be even."
Crest rubbed the back of his head, still processing.
"Okay, I think I’m starting to understand why you got kicked out of those parties..."
She frowned.
"Kicked out? Are you dumb? I left them."
He held up a hand, sighing.
"Right, sorry, so "you" kicked them. Let me tell you something. Being in a party isn’t just about being strong. It’s about being a team. Trusting each other, growing together. Fighting for one another. We didn’t just slap a name on our group and call it a day. We trained together. We struggled. We earned what we are."
"Ughhh," Airi groaned, throwing her head back. "Here we go again."
"What?!"
"You sound like that guy in class who reminds the teacher about homeworks when everyone else hoped they forgot."
Crest flinched.
"What the—! I do not!"
She smirked.
"Bet no one ever invited you to a party either. Not the kind where we fight, I mean. The kind, where people get surrounded by people they like, which you aren’t."
"Okay, seriously! What is your deal?!"
She poked his chest again.
"Don’t get all weepy now, crybaby. You’re the one who crashed into me and decided to be my moral compass."
"I was just saying you could start your own team. Make some friends. Grow strong together. Like we did. It’s not easy, but it’s worth it."
She huffed, half exasperated, half anxious again.
"You don’t get it. I’m not just looking for any group. I want yours. The Demons are back, there’s no time. I need to get stronger fast. Your team, your style, your speed... it matches mine. I don’t want to wait around anymore."
Crest hesitated, lowering his voice.
"It’s not that simple... You can’t join because... Your... Your rank! Your rank’s probably too low."
Airi blinked.
"How low? Aren’t you guys, like, Copper Rank?"
Crest suddenly realized how ridiculous his own excuse sounded.
She said she did dungeons. That alone meant she had to be at least Copper Rank.
He stammered, trying to piece together a backup explanation.
"We... were Copper Rank."
She narrowed her eyes.
"Were Copper Rank?"
Crest coughed.
"I mean... technically we’re Iron Rank now. It’s just not updated yet."
She raised a finger, pointing squarely at herself.
"I’m Iron Rank."
Crest froze, eyes wide.
"... What?!"