Inside the guild, laughter spread uncontrollably.
Utaha and Eriri's daily clash had once again reached its peak, the sheer intensity of their verbal battle leaving no room for anyone else to intervene. Eriri, in particular, looked as though she might actually find a way to cross dimensions just to settle things physically.
Even Inori, who rarely showed any visible emotion, lifted her brows slightly. A faint spark of interest flickered in her otherwise calm eyes.
Eriri…
Was unexpectedly entertaining.
And this Interdimensional Guild—
Was far more interesting than she had initially imagined.
Her gaze lingered, almost unconsciously, on a single name.
Ryujin.
She had never met him.
Yet even a casually sent red packet from him contained items of such value—tools and techniques that could alter the outcome of a life-or-death situation.
That alone proved one thing.
He was not ordinary.
Perhaps…
Even stronger than the "target" she was preparing to capture in her upcoming mission.
After all, to stand as the Guild Master of something like this—
He had to exist on an entirely different level.
Inori lowered her gaze slightly, her fingers tightening around the weapon she had just received.
Before this, she had never truly questioned her own existence. She lived, she followed orders, and she worked for Funeral Parlor—because they had once saved her.
That was enough.
Or at least—
It had been.
But now…
That debt was nearly repaid.
So what came next?
Where should she go?
What should she do?
For the first time—
She didn't have an answer.
And yet, for the first time—
She felt something new.
A possibility.
A direction.
Maybe…
She could go to other worlds.
Meet them.
See more.
Understand more.
A faint light quietly ignited within her heart, subtle but undeniable.
Back in the chat, Linglong tilted her head in confusion, her voice filled with innocent curiosity as she questioned why some of Eriri's messages were turning into censored symbols.
Ryujin answered calmly, explaining that the guild had an automatic filter system that censored excessive profanity.
Linglong immediately understood.
"Oh… so Eriri-nee has been swearing this whole time…"
…
Eriri froze.
Her fingers trembled.
Her twin tails practically shot upward in outrage.
If you got roasted like this every single day—
Let's see if YOU wouldn't swear!!
Her frustration reached its peak, but before she could explode again, another voice entered the conversation.
Saeko.
She addressed Ryujin directly, thanking him for the taijutsu manual. After reviewing it, she admitted that the technique was incredibly refined—far beyond anything she had previously practiced.
Ryujin's reply was simple.
"You'll need it soon."
He didn't elaborate.
But he knew.
He remembered exactly what was coming.
The outbreak.
A world collapsing into chaos.
Where only the strong—
Would survive.
Asuna followed shortly after, expressing her gratitude as well. She had already begun studying the Great Fireball Jutsu and intended to start training immediately.
Ryujin gave a slight nod before asking casually—
"Has the full-dive game been released in your world yet?"
Asuna paused.
"…Full-dive?"
"No… not yet."
But something felt off.
Her expression changed slightly.
Why does he know this?
And not just her—
It felt as if he knew all of them.
Utaha's eyes narrowed immediately, her mind already moving.
"Guild Master… do you know our worlds?"
Her tone was calm, but probing.
"You seemed very familiar with Saeko's situation… and Inori as well."
Saeko added her own observation, her voice steady.
"Yes. You said I would 'definitely need it soon.'"
"…Why?"
Inori remained silent.
But she was listening.
Carefully.
Very carefully.
Before Ryujin could respond—
Eriri jumped in.
Loud.
Chaotic.
Completely off-topic.
"HAH?! Isn't it obvious?! Because Boss is SMART!"
"You think being Guild Master is easy?! If it were, I'd be the Guild Master already!"
Utaha responded instantly.
"Because you're too small."
Asuna followed.
"…Because you're too small."
Saeko paused for a moment before adding calmly,
"…I haven't seen her, but… I agree."
"…YOU GUYS!!!"
Eriri nearly exploded.
Linglong blinked, confused again.
"Eh? Why isn't Guild Master replying…?"
Asuna tilted her head slightly.
"He might have gone offline."
Utaha leaned back, her gaze thoughtful.
"…Yes."
"But next time he appears—"
"We're asking."
Her eyes sharpened slightly.
"Because that man…"
"Knows far too much."
Meanwhile—
Ryujin had already logged out.
A system notification appeared quietly before him.
+300 Reputation Points.
Just from a single red packet.
"…Not bad."
He leaned back slightly, a faint trace of satisfaction appearing in his expression.
Time had passed faster than he expected.
The bathwater—
Had already gone cold.
"This guild…"
He muttered softly.
"Not bad for passing time."
When he had first transmigrated into this world, everything had felt suffocating. There was no internet, no entertainment, no distractions—only war, survival, and endless power struggles.
He adapted.
He always did.
But now, with his strength approaching the peak of this world—
Something else had begun to creep in.
Boredom.
And this guild—
Added color to that otherwise dull existence.
Just as he finished drying himself—
A voice suddenly came from outside.
"Ryujin! I need to talk to you!"
Before he could respond—
The tent flap was pushed open.
Tsunade walked in directly.
Then—
She froze.
Her eyes widened instantly, her thoughts blanking for a brief moment as her gaze locked onto the scene before her.
"…?!"
As a medical ninja, her instincts kicked in immediately.
But instead of analyzing injuries—
Her mind stalled completely.
"…That's not… normal…"
"…Is it?!"
At that moment—
Ryujin turned his head.
"…Tsunade? What is it—"
A cold breeze passed through.
He paused.
Something felt…
Off.
Slowly—
He lowered his gaze.
…
"…Wait."
"…Hold on."
"…WHAT—"