Chapter 34
“When you slide this panel here, it activates the roster function over on this side,” Kaede explained, her finger tracing the interface with practiced ease.
A blonde girl stood beside her, listening with focused attention.
“Each member has a profile,” Kaede continued, tapping the roster. “When you click on them, it displays their rank, achievements, traits, and point total.”
The blonde girl nodded silently.
“Over here is the storage function,” Kaede said, gesturing to another tab. “Right now, we’re mostly just placing crystals in it, but we’ll expand its use soon.”
She moved on to the next section. “And this is the training function. Some of the training chambers are still grayed out, that means they’re under construction and shouldn’t be used.”
She tapped one of the chambers. “Using a chamber costs ten points, regardless of how long it’s used. A session runs for a minimum of thirty minutes and a maximum of three hours. No one can go over that limit, but again, the cost stays the same. Ten points per session.”
The blonde girl nodded again. “Yes, Guild Master.”
“As you can probably guess, points are the primary currency within the guild,” Kaede added. “They can be exchanged for yen, but yen or any other outside currency can’t be used directly. You’ll need to keep a record of every member’s point usage, there’s a function for that too.”
She paused, studying the girl’s face. “I hope this isn’t too overwhelming? I know it’s a lot to handle.”
“Not as hard as what the Hunters go through out there every day,” the girl replied with a small smile. “I’ll do my best, Guild Master.”
Kaede smiled warmly. “Thanks, Kaguya-san.”
Just then, the door opened, drawing Kaede’s attention as Kaguya moved behind the receptionist desk.
Her eyes brightened when she saw the new arrivals. “Onee-chan... and Korra-san?”
Kanae walked into the building with Korra following close behind, a small smile playing on her lips.
“Hey, sis,” Kanae said, embracing Kaede in a quick hug. “I don’t have much time. My flight’s in a few hours.”
Kaede nodded. “Yeah? Then why are you here? And with Korra-san, no less?”
Korra stepped forward, her tone light. “Well, Maple Tree’s been gaining quite a bit of attention lately.”
Kaede blinked, puzzled. “Really? We haven’t done anything major recently. We’ve barely even left Musashino.”
Korra raised an eyebrow. “You don’t know? The new Japan Hunter rankings just dropped. Goto Ryuji’s no longer number one, you are.”
Kaede took a step back, eyes wide. “Already? But… I haven’t done anything that impressive.”
“Kaede, you cleared an S-Rank Dungeon,” Korra said with a scoff. “That alone outstrips everything Goto’s ever accomplished in his entire career.”
“Not to mention,” Kanae added with a smile, “the strongest Hunter in Japan is now officially you. I don’t love the publicity the Hunter Association forced on you, but I have to admit, the perks aren’t bad.”
“With your new public image, your status is almost untouchable,” Korra said. “The Association will have to concede to you on a lot more decisions now. Plus, you’ll gain access to more dungeons.”
Kaede frowned. “We don’t even have that many members yet…”
“Anyway!” Korra interrupted brightly. “That’s why I’m here. I’m joining Maple Tree. You need more Hunters, right? One more S-Rank shouldn’t hurt.”
Kaede’s eyes widened. “S-Rank? You reawakened too? That’s amazing! What system did you get?”
Korra tilted her head. “System? You mean what ability I got? Yeah, and it’s a really good one.”
Kaede’s excitement dimmed slightly, though she smiled. “Right. Ability. That’s what I meant.” She gave Korra a warm hug. So... she didn’t get a system.
She gestured toward the reception desk. “Just head over to Kaguya. She’ll get you registered.”
“Alright then,” Korra said, making her way to the receptionist.
Kanae turned to Kaede with a smile. “I’ve got to get going. Like I said, flight soon.”
Kaede hugged her tightly. “Be safe out there, okay? Don’t do anything reckless. Please, your life comes first.”
Kanae raised an eyebrow. “That doesn’t sound like you. You’re still a protector, right?”
Kaede smiled and adjusted the cap on Kanae’s head. “You know what I mean. It’s still an S-Rank dungeon. And Maple Tree isn’t stable enough to send Hunters overseas.”
Kanae smirked. “Who's the older sister here? Because it sounds like I’m the one being looked after.” She turned toward the exit. “I’ll be fine, sis. Gotta go. Byeee!”
Kaede sighed as she watched her sister disappear through the doors.
“Being a Guild Master is exhausting,” she muttered. “I really need a vice guild master.”
The door opened again.
Kaede glanced up, raising an eyebrow. “Did you forget something, sis..?” She stopped mid-sentence.
A blue-haired girl stood in the doorway, tears streaming down her cheeks.
“It’s really you,” the girl whispered.
Korra, seated at the receptionist desk with Kaguya, turned toward the entrance.
Kaede’s breath caught as a name struck her like a thunderbolt. “Iz?” she said, stunned.
A sharp throb flared in her head, fragments of memories flashing through her mind. She winced. “Damn… my head.” Her gaze remained fixed on the girl. “It’s really you… but how?”
Before she could process it, Iz ran forward and slammed into her, wrapping her in a tight embrace.
“I thought I was the only one,” Iz whispered, her voice cracking. “God, I’m crying so much…”
Kaede stood frozen, instinctively wrapping an arm around the trembling girl.
“Iz… how? How are you even here?” she murmured, holding her gently.
They stood like that for nearly five minutes, locked in silence.
Eventually, Iz pulled back, wiping at her eyes with the sleeve of her jacket. “Right. It’s good to see you, Maple-san. I’m just… relieved I’m not the only one.”
“Yeah… about that,” Kaede said, the throbbing in her head intensifying. “How…?”
Before Iz could respond, the already open door pushed wider. A group of people waited outside.
Iz turned to glance at them, then back at Kaede. “Right, uh… those are my former guildmates. From the Brass Den. We’re here to join Maple Tree.”
Kaede blinked, then narrowed her eyes. “How many?”
“Forty-seven,” Iz said simply. “Including me.”
Kaede stared for a moment before nodding. “Well… they should come in.”
The group began to shuffle inside as Kaede turned to the front desk. “Kaguya, start registering them. I need to catch up with… an old friend.”
Iz gave a faint nod.
“Let’s go up,” Kaede said, placing a hand on her shoulder. “To my office. We need to talk.”
Together, they made their way up the stairs, the crowd murmuring behind them.
---
Guild Management System – Maple Tree
Guild Name: Maple Tree
Guild Level: 3
Guild EXP: 0400 / 5000
Max Members: 120
Current Members: 59
Vice Guild Master: [Vacant]
Guild Status: Active
GP: 37,890 (Earned through Guild Level up, Recruitment of Members, and Dungeon Raids.)
---
Guild Overview
Current Members: 59
Kaede Tawata — LV69 — Guild Master
S Rank: 4
A Rank: 20
B Rank: 8
C Rank: 10
D Rank: 14
E Rank: 3
---
Kaede shut the office door behind them with a soft click, the sound muffled by the thick wooden walls. The hum of voices downstairs faded, replaced by a heavy silence between the two girls.
Iz stood near the window, arms crossed tightly around herself, staring at the skyline of Musashino. Kaede leaned against her desk, watching her carefully.
“Start from the beginning,” Kaede said gently. “How did you get here, Iz? When?”
Iz took a long breath before turning to face her. “I 'awakened' my memories in this world about four years ago. At first, I thought it was just some hyper-real VR sim or maybe another New World expansion. But then I got hurt. Actually hurt. It was real.”
Kaede frowned, stepping forward. “You were brought here like I was…”
Iz nodded. “Can you imagine a world where Hunters, Dungeons, magic, it’s all real? For a while it felt like a fever dream. Then I awakened as an A Rank hunter. I kept waiting to see someone else from our world. But it was just me for months. I thought I'd go crazy if I stayed alone much longer, so I created a guild.”
Kaede was silent for a moment, before she spoke. "So how much of Iz are you?” she asked. “I mean… we made those avatars as games, but now that we’re here, does she feel like you?”
Iz turned to Kaede. “You must’ve just awakened your memories, then.”
Kaede offered a faint smile. “You can tell?”
Iz nodded with a gentle grin. “I had the same feelings at first. There were times I felt completely dissociated from the Elizabeth I remembered, like we were two different people. Honestly, I thought it was just a simulation.”
She lifted a lock of her hair, letting it fall through her fingers. “I mean, look at me. I look exactly like my game character.”
Leaning against the wall, she continued, “It took a while, but I eventually accepted it. Somehow… I think ‘reincarnated’ is the right word.”
Kaede nodded slowly. “Yeah, I guess so. I still feel that dissociation sometimes.” She glanced down at her hand, flexing her fingers. “There are days when I wake up and I’m Maple. Then I blink, and I’m Kaede again. Sometimes I think I’m just pretending to be her. And other times… it’s like she’s bleeding into me. Her instincts, her fearlessness, the way she protects people without thinking. Eventually, I stopped questioning it.”
She looked up at Iz, her expression softening. “Honestly, I didn’t even believe those memories were real, deep down. But now that you’re here… I know they were. I was real.”
Iz smiled and ruffled Kaede’s hair affectionately before pulling her into a warm hug. “You’re still so adorable. That’s definitely real.”
Kaede’s voice dipped into a whisper. “Do you… remember what happened? Before we ended up here?”
Iz paused, her eyes distant. “Fragments, really. I know I was with someone. But who? I have no idea anymore.”
Silence settled over them like a comforting blanket. Then Kaede stood and offered a hand.
“Well… no point in waiting. You’re back. You’re home, if you’ll call this place that. And if you’re willing… I want you at my side. Not just as a guild member.”
Iz looked up, curious.
Kaede smiled. “Be my Vice Guild Master?”
Iz raised a brow, her lips curling into a smirk. “You know, the way you said that… it’s like the solution to your problem just fell into your lap.”
Kaede glanced away, trying to look innocent. “What? Nooo. I would never.”
Iz chuckled softly. “Sure, Maple-chan.”
Kaede froze. “Please don’t call me that in public.”
Iz turned, stepping toward the door with a mischievous grin. “I don’t think I will, Maple chaaaan!”
A flush crept up Kaede’s face. “Stooop it.”
---
Party: 3/9
Name: Elizabeth Urahara
Level: 1
Job Class: None^
HP: 1100 / 1100
MP: 2100 / 2100
Attributes:
• STR: 90 (+60)
• AGI: 105 (+10)
• VIT: 70 (+30)
• DEX: 210 (+30)
• INT: 85 (+65)
• END: 97 (+25)
• PER: 77 (+10)
• LUC: 30
Physical Damage Resistance: 40%
EQUIPMENT
Blacksmith Hammer X (STR+40, END+25, ATK+20)
Alchemist Goggles: Faustian Alchemy (INT+30, PER+10)
Alchemist Long Coat: Magic Workshop (INT+35, DEX+10)
Blacksmith Leggings X (VIT+30, STR+20)
Alchemist Boots: New Frontier (DEX+20, AGI+10)
Potion Pouch
Item Pouch
SKILLS
Strike, Craft Dusting, Enhance Success Rate Boost (L), Gathering Speed Boost (L), Mining Speed Boost (L), Crafting Quantity Boost (L), Crafting Speed Boost (L), Affliction III, Sneaky Steps V, Keen Sight, Smithing X, Sewing X, Horticulture X, Synthesizing X, Diving X, Shearing, Godsmith's Grace X, Crafting Mastery X, Crafting Secrets X, Augmentation X, Cooking X Mining X Gathering X Swimming X, Observer's Eye, Attribute Endowment VII, Botany Mineralogy, Marksman VII, Quick Assembly, Bullet Dance.
SP (Party Leader Use Only): 0
---
Vivi received an apple as she handed over the required yen. Her hands, wrapped in worn hand wraps, tightened around the fruit.
She stepped aside for the next customer, biting into the apple as she moved to the sidewalk. Cars rumbled past in the afternoon light, their engines a steady hum beneath the city's noise. With one hand in her jacket pocket, she pulled out a card.
Her Maple Tree Guild card.
She had registered that very morning.
Vivi glanced at the information printed on it, taking another bite of her apple. A faint smile touched her lips before she tucked the card away.
Then, she saw it. A flash of grey hair.
She froze, eyes narrowing as a lone figure descended the stairs into the subway.
Chewing slowly, she followed, casual in her gait, the apple still in hand.
The figure navigated through the thinning crowd, weaving deeper into the station. Vivi shadowed him at a distance, her gaze fixed, trying to confirm what her instincts already told her.
Soon, the bustle died down, and they were alone in a quieter section of the platform.
The figure came to a stop. Vivi did too.
Another bite of the apple.
Then, a crack of electricity sparked across the empty air, and suddenly, the figure held a spear.
Vivi’s eyes locked onto the weapon, narrowing further.
"Honestly, I had hoped they hadn't gotten to you," she said, her voice calm as she took yet another bite.
The figure slowly turned, a faint smile on his face. "So... she’s not one of them," he muttered. "She looks familiar though."
"Good," Vivi said, nodding. "It would be weird if you didn’t recognize me barely two months after we met."
A train roared past them, wind whipping through Vivi’s hair and tugging at the figure’s cloak.
She remembered the look in his eyes back then, cold, unrepentant. Nothing had changed. "Isn’t that right... Gin?"
Vivi smiled, as she stared down the false ranker who had started it all.
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