The Extra's Rise-Chapter 406: Silver-Rank Guild (2)

Then, in a display that clearly shocked Kali and Elias, Reika crossed the room in three swift strides and threw her arms around me. Her embrace was fierce, desperate, like someone who had been drowning finally reaching the surface.

"You came back," she murmured against my shoulder. "You actually came back."

I stood stunned for a moment before awkwardly returning the embrace. This was not the Reika I remembered—the woman who maintained professional distance and spoke primarily in terms of duty and service.

When she finally pulled away, there was a hint of embarrassment in her eyes, but no regret. "Forgive my impropriety," she said, regaining some of her usual demeanor. "I... worried for you."

"Worried?" Kali scoffed. "That's the understatement of the century. She nearly killed herself trying to find you."

Reika shot Kali a rare glare before turning back to me. "When you disappeared, I searched. When the trail went cold, I trained. I needed to be stronger—strong enough that next time, I could follow you anywhere."

The devotion in her voice was unmistakable. Not to Ouroboros, not to some abstract ideal of duty, but to me personally. In Reika's world, I was the center—the purpose around which everything else revolved.

"I found your research notes," she continued, a hint of pride entering her voice. "About Cursed Script applications and theoretical limits. I implemented your theories."

I studied her more carefully. The script I could see with my enhanced vision was both brilliant and dangerous—modifications that pushed her capabilities far beyond normal limits. The cost must have been tremendous.

"You took an enormous risk," I said quietly. "Those theories weren't meant to be applied without supervision."

A soft smile touched her lips. "For you, any risk is acceptable."

The simple declaration hung in the air, its implications unsettling. Reika's dedication went beyond loyalty or even friendship. It was absolute, unconditional.

Kali cleared her throat loudly. "Now that the touching reunion is over, maybe we can discuss how our supposedly dead Guild Master returns with a seven-star license?" She pushed herself away from the wall, circling my desk with deliberate steps. "While you were off doing whatever in the Northern wilds, we've been building something here."

She tapped a folder on my desk. "Guild membership has tripled. Contract revenue is up 450%. We've expanded into new territories and established training facilities. We've even negotiated alliances with three minor guilds."

"All according to your contingency plans," Reika added, her voice soft but no longer without emotion. There was pride there, and something else—a warmth when she looked at me that hadn't been present before my disappearance.

I raised an eyebrow. "Contingency plans?"

"The ones you left in your private files," Kali smirked. "Did you think we wouldn't crack your encryption eventually? Please. You were gone three months before we accessed everything."

"Two months and fourteen days," Reika corrected, a hint of smugness in her tone. "I broke the primary encryption. Kali handled the secondary layers."

I couldn't help but smile. "I'm impressed."

"You should be," Kali retorted. "Now about your mysterious resurrection and that fancy seven-star license—care to explain?"

I leaned back in my chair, considering how much to reveal. "It's a long story."

"We've got time," Kali challenged, crossing her arms. "Eleven months' worth, in fact."

Reika moved to stand slightly behind my chair—close enough that I could sense her presence, a silent statement of her position by my side rather than across from me.

"Before I explain," I said, picking up the folder Kali had indicated, "I want to know everything that's happened here."

As I flipped through the documents, even my expectations were exceeded. The growth wasn't just in numbers—it was strategic, methodical. Ouroboros had expanded in exactly the directions I would have chosen, sometimes implementing plans I'd only theorized about.

"You've done remarkable work," I acknowledged, looking up at both of them. "Both of you."

Kali shrugged, though she couldn't quite hide her pleasure at the recognition. "Someone had to keep this place running."

"We preserved what you built," Reika said simply. "For your return."

There was something in her tone—absolute faith. She had never doubted I would come back, even when others had given up hope.

I continued examining the reports, one figure in particular catching my attention. "These qualification scores..." I murmured, looking up at Kali.

She grinned. "Yeah, we've been busy. The Guild Authority conducted their quarterly assessment last week."

"And?" I prompted.

"And we're on the verge," she replied. "With our current metrics, we'd qualify for Silver-rank status. But with your return and that seven-star license..." Her eyes gleamed with ambition.

I nodded slowly, understanding the implications. Bronze-rank guilds were common—hundreds operated throughout the continent. Silver-rank guilds were considerably rarer, commanding respect, resources, and territory that Bronze-rank could only dream of.

"With my return and this license," I said, placing the seven-star card on the desk, "Ouroboros will become a Silver-rank guild immediately."

The statement hung in the air, heavy with significance. It wasn't just advancement—it was transformation. Silver-rank meant entry into a different realm of power and influence. It meant the Twelve Great Guilds would finally take notice of us.

"Silver-rank," Kali repeated, a slow smile spreading across her face. "From the lowest Bronze to Silver in less than two years. That has to be some kind of record."

"The fastest previous advancement was four years, three months," Reika supplied, her hand coming to rest lightly on the back of my chair. "We'll have halved that."

I looked between them—Kali with her fierce ambition, Reika with her unwavering devotion. They had taken what I started and elevated it beyond expectation, waiting for my return to take the final step.

"Then it's decided," I declared. "Tomorrow, we formally apply for Silver-rank status. Today..." I paused, allowing myself a moment to appreciate how far we'd come. "Today, we prepare. There's much to discuss about the future of Ouroboros."

The future I had planned before my abduction, and the new possibilities that now stretched before us with my return and this seven-star license—a gift from a princess that would change everything for our guild.

The serpent was rising, just as I had always intended.

"Before we dive into guild business," Kali said, settling into one of the chairs across from me, "there's something else you should know about your devoted sword over there." She gestured toward Reika with a mischievous glint in her eyes.

Reika shot Kali a warning glance, which Kali promptly ignored.

"Our Reika here has been quite busy outside of guild activities," Kali continued. "Tell him, or should I?"

When Reika remained silent, her lips pressed into a thin line, Kali grinned broadly.

"Fine, I'll do the honors. While you were gone, your protégé here didn't just focus on guild work and searching for you. She also managed to become rank one at Slatemark Academy for her year."

I turned to Reika with surprise. "Is that true?"

"It's not significant," Reika murmured, though I could detect a hint of pride beneath her modest response.

"Not significant?" Kali laughed. "She finished first in the fourth-year rankings and is now dominating the fifth year. The Academy instructors are beside themselves trying to figure out how she's advancing so quickly."

"The coursework is merely challenging enough to be interesting," Reika said, still avoiding my gaze. "I had to occupy my mind somehow while searching for you."

I studied her more carefully. Slatemark Academy was among the most prestigious educational institutions in the Empire, second only to Mythos Academy in terms of difficulty and reputation. To rank first in her year was an extraordinary achievement—especially while simultaneously helping to run Ouroboros and conducting searches for me.

"That's remarkable, Reika," I said sincerely. "Truly impressive work."

The effect of my praise was immediate and striking. A deep blush spread across Reika's cheeks, the color vivid against her normally pale complexion. Her eyes widened slightly, meeting mine for a brief moment before darting away. Her fingers twisted together in an uncharacteristically nervous gesture. freewёbn૦νeɭ.com

"I—I only wanted to improve," she stammered, her usual composure completely abandoned. "To be worthy of being your sword."

Kali rolled her eyes dramatically. "And there it is. All that hard work, all those sleepless nights studying, and it all comes down to 'being worthy' of you." She turned to me with an exasperated expression. "Do you have any idea what it's been like dealing with this level of devotion for eleven months? Everything—and I mean everything—has been about becoming strong enough to find you, support you, or serve you."

I glanced at Reika, who seemed to be struggling to regain her composure, the blush still coloring her cheeks. The depth of her dedication was both touching and concerning.

"The Academy achievements are your own, Reika," I said gently. "You should be proud of them for yourself, not just for how they relate to me or the guild."

"But they're not just for me," she insisted, her voice soft but unwavering. The blush remained, but her eyes met mine with surprising intensity. "Everything I've done—the training, the studying, implementing your theories—it's all been with purpose. My strength only has meaning when it serves you."

Kali threw her hands up in surrender. "And this is where I tap out of the conversation. When she gets like this, there's no reasoning with her." Despite her words, there was genuine affection in Kali's tone.