The One-Eyed Silent Swordsman
Arc 7: Dungeon Arc
Chapter 25: The Invite From The Guild Master
Morning.
The guild is loud.
Voices overlap.
Boots hit the floor.
Metal clinks.
Paper shifts.
Normal.
But not completely.
"…He said he is going on Floor 100…"
A pause.
"…He is the first human to clear Floor 99…"
"…Multiple A-Rank parties tried to clear that dungeon…"
"…But no one reached after Floor 87…"
A chair scrapes slightly.
"…Even an S-Rank party went there…"
Silence lowers.
"…All were S-Ranks…"
"…And they barely reached Floor 93…"
"…They came back just to report…"
"…Half-dead…"
A breath.
"…Do you really think that brat can reach Floor 100?"
A scoff.
"…He won't even reach 95…"
"…That place isn't meant to be cleared…"
Silence lingers.
Then—
CREAK
The door opens.
Everything stops.
Not instantly—
But enough.
Heads turn.
Conversations break.
Eyes shift.
I step inside.
Same as before.
Same pace.
Same expression.
But the air—
Different.
Behind me—
Footsteps.
Multiple.
Those who followed me.
Those who saw it.
They don't speak.
They don't need to.
Their faces say enough.
Fear.
Shock.
Disbelief.
I walk forward.
Toward the counter.
No hesitation.
No interest in their reactions.
"…Here."
I place the card down.
"…I finished it."
The clerk looks up.
Routine.
Unaware.
"…Report?"
She takes the card.
Looks at it casually.
Then—
Stops.
Her eyes freeze.
"…What…"
She reads again.
Slower.
Her hand trembles.
"…This…"
Her voice drops.
"…This isn't possible…"
Silence spreads again.
Closer this time.
People lean in.
Trying to hear.
Trying to see.
"…H-How?"
She looks at me.
Not as a clerk.
As someone trying to understand something impossible.
"…This is impossible…"
I answer calmly.
"…You can see it."
A pause.
"…It's real."
She looks down again.
Checks the seal.
The mark.
The record.
Everything.
Nothing changes.
"…Wait."
She steps back.
"…I have to call the Guild Master."
No hesitation.
She turns.
Runs upstairs.
—
Second Floor.
Guild Office.
The door opens quickly.
"…!"
"Guild Master… there is an urgency."
A man sits inside.
Calm.
Experienced.
He doesn't react immediately.
"…What urgency?"
She's breathing fast.
Unstable.
"First be calm."
He lifts a cup.
"…Drink it."
She hesitates.
Then drinks.
Breathing slows.
"…Now."
A pause.
"…Tell me what happened."
She exhales sharply.
"…Someone reached Floor 100…"
Silence.
The man doesn't move.
"…What?"
A pause.
"…Floor 100?"
His eyes sharpen.
"Call him up."
—
Downstairs.
She returns.
Still shaken.
"…Ren."
A pause.
"…Guild Master is calling you."
Murmurs rise instantly.
"…Guild Master?"
"…He got called directly?"
"…This is serious…"
I turn.
"…I'm coming."
—
CREAK
The office door opens.
"…May I come in?"
"…No need for formalities."
"…Come in."
I step inside.
The door closes behind me.
Silence.
The Guild Master watches me.
Carefully.
Measuring.
"…Why did you call me?"
He leans forward slightly.
"…I heard you cleared…"
A pause.
"…Floor 100."
"Yeah."
No hesitation.
"…I cleared it."
A brief silence.
"…But…"
His eyes narrow.
"…What but?"
"…It's not showing dungeon complete."
Silence.
That lands heavier than anything else.
He leans back slowly.
Thinking.
"…Explain."
"…There was no completion message."
"…No system confirmation."
"…It ended… but didn't end."
A long pause.
The Guild Master's expression changes.
Slightly.
More serious.
"…That can only mean one thing."
"…What?"
"Let me finish."
Silence.
"…That dungeon isn't complete."
A pause.
"…There are more floors."
The words settle.
Heavy.
Real.
I nod slightly.
"…Yeah."
"…That's what I thought."
The Guild Master exhales slowly.
"…Then this is bigger than a promotion."
Silence.
"…And I have a proposal for you."
"…What proposal?"
He looks directly at me.
"…I can promote you to S-Rank."
Silence.
No reaction.
"…Immediately."
A pause.
"…Without standard trials."
Another pause.
"…Based on your achievement."
The room feels heavier.
Even without others.
"…Can I say something?"
"…Go ahead."
"…I don't want it."
Silence.
Complete.
For the first time—
He's surprised.
"…Why?"
"…It doesn't matter."
A pause.
"…Rank doesn't change anything."
His eyes narrow slightly.
Interested now.
"…Then what do you want?"
"…If you're giving something…"
A pause.
"…Give me A-Rank."
He doesn't interrupt.
"…With full quest access."
Silence.
Then—
A faint smile.
"…Interesting."
He leans back.
"…You're refusing power…"
"…and choosing control."
A pause.
"…Most would choose S-Rank instantly."
"…I'm not most."
Silence.
Then—
"…Approved."
No hesitation.
He reaches to the side.
A card slides forward.
Golden.
Different.
Heavier.
"…A-Rank."
"…With unrestricted access."
I take it.
The surface feels… different.
More refined.
More stable.
"…This card looks unique."
"…Because it is."
A pause.
"…It's not standard issue."
"…It reflects your status."
Silence.
He places something else on the table.
A coin.
Heavy.
Shining.
"…Take this."
"…Commission for clearing Floor 100."
I look at it.
"…A platinum coin…"
A pause.
"…This amount is huge."
He shakes his head slightly.
"…No."
"…It's not."
Silence.
"…For what you've done…"
"…this is the minimum."
A pause.
"…If word spreads…"
"…this dungeon will change the world."
The words settle.
Heavy.
Real.
"…Then don't spread it."
He looks at me again.
Carefully.
"…You're not interested in fame."
"…No."
"…Power?"
"…Already have enough."
A pause.
"…Then what are you aiming for?"
Silence.
I don't answer immediately.
Then—
"…Beyond this."
A brief pause.
"…Whatever comes after Floor 100."
The Guild Master watches me.
Long.
Then—
"…You're dangerous."
"…Maybe."
A faint smile appears.
"…Good."
Silence.
"…Because we'll need someone like you."
A pause.
"…If what you said is true…"
"…and that dungeon isn't finished…"
The air tightens slightly.
"…Then something bigger is coming."
I turn slightly.
"…Then I'll reach it first."
No hesitation.
No doubt.
The Guild Master nods.
"…I believe you will."
—
I leave the room.
The guild waits.
Silent.
Watching.
The moment I step out—
All eyes lock onto me.
"…Well?"
No answer.
I walk past them.
The golden card in my hand.
The platinum coin in my pocket.
"…He's different…"
"…Not normal…"
"…Not human…"
I don't stop.
The door opens.
Light enters.
I step outside.
The world feels the same.
But it isn't.
"…Recognition…"
A quiet thought.
"…doesn't matter."
A pause.
My grip tightens slightly.
"…Only what's ahead."
No hesitation.
No doubt.
The path continues.
Chapter End
Next Chapter: The Unfinished Dungeon
Time: Thursday, 6 PM GMT +5:30