The next morning, the atmosphere inside Emily's house felt calm, almost peaceful compared to everything that had happened before. Hena slowly woke up, rubbing her eyes as she sat up, still unaware of the changes from last night. Igna was already awake, sitting near the window, thinking quietly, while Emily lay on the floor nearby, watching him with a playful smile like she had nothing better to do.
Emily: "You didn't run away… I'm a bit disappointed."
Igna: "Why would I run…?"
Emily: "Because I might actually kidnap you today."
Igna didn't respond. He just looked away, already used to her teasing. May stood near the door, stretching lightly, while Yash leaned against the wall, calm as always. Sele stood silently, her presence still new to everyone.
Hena finally noticed her.
Hena: "Who is she?"
May: "Sele… she joined us yesterday."
Hena looked at her for a moment and nodded slowly.
Before the moment could settle, Emily suddenly sat up.
Emily: "Alright, I'm bored… I'll join you guys from now on."
She said it so casually that it almost sounded like a joke.
Yash looked at her for a second.
Yash: "If you want."
There was no resistance in his tone.
Just acceptance.
But that was exactly what made Igna react.
He stood up slowly.
Igna: "Wait."
Everyone turned toward him.
His voice wasn't angry.
Just serious.
Igna: "We can't just let anyone join like that."
The room grew quiet.
May stepped slightly forward.
May: "Igna…"
But she stopped when she saw Yash wasn't interrupting.
Yash looked at Igna, not with authority, but calmly, like he was waiting.
Igna continued.
Igna: "I'm not saying she's bad or anything… I just mean… we should think about it properly."
There was a short pause.
Yash nodded slightly.
Yash: "Fair point."
That alone surprised Igna.
Yash pushed himself off the wall and stepped a little closer.
Yash: "But tell me something… do you really think Emily is just 'anyone'?"
Igna hesitated.
He looked at Emily, then back at Yash.
Igna: "I don't know her."
Yash gave a small smile.
Not mocking.
Just understanding.
Yash: "That's normal."
He paused for a second before continuing.
Yash: "She's not new to us. Me, May… even Hena… we've known her for a long time."
Igna looked slightly surprised.
Yash continued in a relaxed tone.
Yash: "She's annoying, loud, and doesn't take things seriously."
Emily raised her hand slightly.
Emily: "I agree."
Yash ignored that.
Yash: "But when things get serious… she doesn't mess up."
That line stayed in the air for a moment.
Igna listened carefully.
Yash continued, a bit more slowly now.
Yash: "You saw how we are in the dungeon… we don't carry people who can't keep up."
Igna nodded slightly.
Yash looked toward Emily.
Yash: "She's far beyond that level."
Igna frowned a little.
Yash noticed and added calmly.
Yash: "She's SSS rank. Rank 18."
Igna's eyes widened.
But this time, it didn't feel like pressure.
It felt like information.
Yash continued, not stopping there.
Yash: "A few years ago… she was in the top ten."
A short pause.
Yash: "A Destroyer."
Igna looked at Emily again.
This time differently.
Trying to match that title with the girl who kept teasing him.
It didn't match.
At all.
Emily stretched lazily.
Emily: "I retired from being scary."
Igna blinked.
Yash gave a faint smile.
Then looked back at Igna.
Yash: "I get what you're saying."
That made Igna focus again.
Yash: "You don't want the team to become random. That's good."
A pause.
Yash: "But this isn't random."
Another pause.
Yash: "She's someone we trust."
That word mattered.
Trust.
Igna stayed quiet for a few seconds.
Thinking.
Processing everything.
Then he exhaled slowly.
Igna: "…Alright."
He didn't look defeated.
He looked like he understood.
Yash nodded slightly.
That was enough.
Emily immediately walked toward Igna again.
Emily: "So I'm officially in?"
Igna: "…Looks like it."
Emily smiled brightly.
Emily: "Good. I was getting bored alone."
Igna: "That's not a good reason…"
Hena laughed softly, and even May relaxed a little. Sele remained silent, observing everything carefully.
After some time, they all walked toward the guild together. The moment they entered, the atmosphere changed. Conversations slowed, and whispers spread as people recognized Yash.
They walked to the front desk where Silvi stood. She looked up and froze slightly.
Silvi: "You're alive…?"
Yash: "Yeah."
May: "We're updating our team."
Silvi nodded and started writing.
Silvi: "Team name?"
Yash: "Distro."
She paused briefly, then continued.
Silvi: "New members?"
May: "Sele and Emily."
Silvi looked at them carefully, clearly aware they weren't ordinary.
After finishing, she handed over the updated pass, then spoke again.
Silvi: "There's something important."
They stopped.
Silvi: "A tournament is being held between the ten kingdoms."
Igna looked up.
Igna: "Tournament…?"
Silvi: "Top teams will compete. The top five will be allowed to explore the seventh floor."
Silence followed.
Hena spoke softly.
Hena: "No one has cleared it…"
Emily: "And the ones who tried didn't come back."
Silvi: "Only one returned… and he died soon after."
The weight of it settled.
Yash didn't hesitate.
Yash: "We'll join."
May smiled.
May: "Of course."
Igna looked at all of them, then slowly clenched his fist.
This time—
It didn't feel like something far away.
It felt like something he had to reach.
Sele stayed quiet, but her eyes showed interest.
Emily grinned.
Emily: "Now this sounds fun."
Distro stood together, stronger than before, stepping toward something far greater.