Author's Note:

  Hello everyone,First of all, I sincerely apologize for the dey in releasing this chapter, and I want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart for your patience and continued support.

  I’d also like to share something important with you: I've been reflecting on the earlier chapters of the story, particurly the ones involving the points of view of Alicia's cssmates. I feel that they could be significantly improved to better align with the overall narrative and quality I’m aiming for.

  Because of this, I’ve been dedicating time to revising those parts, which contributed to the dey in this update.

  That said, I’d love to hear your thoughts—if I were to rewrite the first 20 chapters, would you be willing to re-read them? Your feedback and support mean everything to me, so please feel free to let me know.

  Thank you again for reading!

  _______________________________________________________________

  Chapter 25 – The Vow Beneath Frost and Silk

  When I opened my eyes, my thoughts were sluggish. A faint haze dulled my senses, as if I had just emerged from a long, deep slumber.

  Where… am I?

  The cold floor beneath me glimmered faintly, etched with glowing runes in a circur formation—a magic circle—no, an altar—a rge one. I sat at its centre, surrounded by several familiar shapes kneeling around me on their white, sharp eight legs, in solemn silence.

  Spiders.

  That’s when it all came rushing back. The fight. The Bone Dragon. The storm of bones and frost. The treasure hoard hidden in its ir, buried in ice and And… the mana core. That pale, icy blue core—radiating ancient mana like a still gcier under moonlight. Floating on the white altar of frost

  Right. I absorbed it.

  And in doing so… something changed.

  Not just in my body. In my mind.

  The moment the Ice Dragon’s core dissolved into my chest, fragments of its memories surged into me—centuries of slumber, spells, wisdom, and power carved into the coldest corners of its soul. It wasn’t just raw mana. It was knowledge. Experience. Legacy.

  Normally, it shouldn’t be possible.

  Mana cores—especially those of mythical beings—contain immense power, but trying to absorb a whole one? It’s suicide. The average human would either go insane, mutate into a monster, or die screaming.

  But me… I have that thing.

  The bck mana core.

  I don’t fully understand it. It’s not natural. Not from this world.

  But what I do know is this: it purifies. It consumes. It takes in everything from any core I absorb—not just the mana, but the essence itself.

  Just like it did with that Arcane Spider’s core I devoured earlier. That’s what gave me the powers of a so-called Spider Queen. When it evolved, still not fully sure what that means… but I get chills thinking about it.

  And now, I have the Ice Dragon’s core inside me too.

  I exhaled slowly, brushing silver-white strands away from my face.

  Ah, yes, my hair also turned silver white,

  I caught a glimpse of myself in a smooth wall—just a faint reflection, barely enough to see. But enough.

  My hair... it used to be bck, but now it is silver-white. Not the dull kind, either. It shimmered, like threads of moonlight had been woven through every strand. Frost clung to the ends, sometimes sparkling when the light hit just right.

  It was beautiful, in a strange, cold way.

  I reached up and touched it, fingers brushing through the pale strands. They felt colder than they should have. Not freezing—just… cool. Like they remembered the Ice Dragon.

  Because that’s what it was.

  I could feel it now. Not just the mana around me, but within me. Ice mana—no, frost mana—moving through my veins like a second bloodstream. It didn’t hurt. It didn’t burn or freeze. It felt natural. Like it belonged.

  I exhaled slowly, and there it was.

  A soft mist left my lips. Frosted breath.

  I stared at it, wide-eyed for a second. Not because it was dangerous, but because it wasn't. I wasn’t dying or shivering. It was just... part of me now.

  The Ice Dragon’s mana. The frost. The silver-white hair. The breath that turned the air cold.

  There was a new sensation when I focused inward—a quiet storm of energy spiralling beneath my skin. I could feel the cores inside me: the rge, heavy presence of the Ice Dragon’s pale blue core… and next to it, the bck mana crystal, now noticeably smaller.

  That worried me.

  Two cores. That’s the problem.

  According to the memories I inherited, it’s abnormal for anyone to possess more than one mana crystal. Most people only develop one in their lifetime. They grow it slowly, by meditating, absorbing pure mana, and casting spells over time.

  But me?

  I have two. And they’re completely different—ice dragon mana, and the bck mana core, which has a symbol of a spider on one side ( A white spider on the bck surface of the mana core glowing dimly).

  I closed my eyes, focusing inward again—deep, down to where the cold and heat of mana stirred within me. I could feel them now.

  The Ice Dragon’s core, pale blue, pulsing gently. Cold, but regal. Dignified.

  And then... the other one.

  The bck mana core.

  It throbbed like something alive. Silent, but endlessly hungry. It didn’t just contain mana—it devoured it. The spider’s mana, the dragon’s mana, even fragments of their will and memories were taken in and made mine. That wasn’t normal. That wasn’t human.

  It was a gluttony incarnate.

  But it didn’t feel hostile. Not to me.

  Still... I couldn’t just keep calling it the bck mana core forever. This thing was different. Dangerous. Mysterious.

  It deserved a name.

  I bit my lip and thought back to all the stories I used to read on Earth. Webnovels, RPGS, anime. When someone had a power like this—a cursed sword, a sentient grimoire, a soulbound artefact—they always gave it a name. A cool name.

  Something that carried weight. Mystery. Drama.

  Something like...

  Umbraheart.

  A heart of shadow. A core born of darkness and silence and hunger. It wasn’t just poetic—it fit. The thing pulsing inside me felt like a second heart, twisted and patient, feeding on every scrap of mana it could reach.

  I opened my eyes.

  "Yeah..." I whispered under my breath. "From now on, you're Umbraheart."

  And for a moment—I swear—I felt it pulse in acknowledgement.

  Like, it accepted the name.

  Or maybe... it had been waiting for me to say it all along.

  And then the ice dragon mana core, it also deserved a name.

  "And this core... it feels alive," I thought as I focused inward, sensing the rge pale-blue crystal resting near [Umbraheart]. It pulsed slower, calmer—but the mana inside was heavy. Cold. Ancient.

  Images flickered through my mind—snow-covered peaks, a dragon soaring over frozen valleys, a voice that echoed like a storm in winter.

  The name surfaced on its own.

  “[Gcienth]”

  I didn’t know where it came from—me, or the dragon. But it felt right.

  The Ice Dragon’s heart now pulsed inside me. And it had a name.

  I sighed, long and deep.

  “I don’t understand any of this anymore,” I muttered.

  I need a status pte. Maybe it’ll expin what’s happening inside me better than my intuition can.

  But first… I need to get out of this pce.

  I looked around, finally taking in the full scene.

  I was sitting on the cold floor again, but somehow, it didn’t bother me. The chill felt comforting. Familiar.

  The spiders surrounding me had all evolved—rger, sleeker, their presence radiating intelligence and power. Their Ivory carapaces shimmered faintly in the dim light of the magic circle.

  But it was Silk who truly shocked me.

  She had evolved far beyond what I imagined. No longer a mere spider, nor even a beast. She stood—no, knelt—in a form eerily reminiscent of a humanoid body from the waist up, her pale, ashen skin smooth like moonlight. Long white hair framed her cold, expressionless face—almost identical to mine. But her crimson eyes burned with a strange depth, four pupils swirling with eldritch crity. And in the centre of her forehead… a third eye. Quiet. Watching.

  From the waist down, her form shifted into that of a spider—sleek, deadly, majestic. An arcane spider, half-human hybrid… like some final-tier boss in an RPG.

  I blinked. And frowned.

  …Her chest was bigger than mine.

  By quite a bit.

  I tried not to feel weird about it, but there was something uncomfortable about seeing my face on someone with that kind of figure. Not that I think mine is small! I mean… It’s proportionate, I guess. But still. She’s my face but with those… things.

  coldLe’s not go there.

  As I stood, brushing frost off my cloak, I found myself looking at Silk the way a mother might at her child after she’s grown up—proud, bewildered, and just a little annoyed.

  I was about to say something—maybe thank her for watching over me while I was unconscious.

  But she beat me to it.

  In one synchronised movement, Silk and all the other spiders bowed low, the air suddenly turning heavy with mana.

  Then she spoke.

  “We, children of the Web, offer our eternal loyalty to the Spider Queen, Alicia Tsukihana. As long as breath and silk remain, we shall serve you—forevermore.”

  I blinked, unsure if I’d heard it right the first time.

  Their voices were unified. Calm. Absolute.

  I stared at them—at Silk, kneeling closest to me, her crimson eyes glowing beneath white shes, her half-human form regal and terrifying. The others knelt in a perfect circle around the magic-etched altar, their eight legs folded like knights from some ancient order.

  For a second, I didn’t know what to say.

  Bewildered—that was the only word for what I felt.

  But then… their words sank in.

  There was no hesitation in their eyes. No madness. No manipution. Only reverence. Loyalty. Purpose.

  And if there’s one thing I understand, it’s purpose.

  I’ve always had my principles. I don’t take oaths lightly. And if they’ve knelt in sincerity, then it’s only right I face them with equal conviction.

  Alicia drew a quiet breath, cold mist slipping from her lips like frost-kissed fire.

  “I…”

  She hesitated, then lifted her chin—straightened her back. If they believed in her, then she had no right to doubt herself.

  Her voice was soft, but resolute.

  “Stand. All of you.”

  The spiders stirred, raising their heads.

  “I don’t know what the future holds,” I said, voice even. “But until the end of time, I shall treat you as mine.”

  My hand lowered slightly, palm outward. “And shall you be under my wings in this world I now step into?”

  The moment the words left me, the magic circle beneath our feet began to glow—golden, brilliant, divine.

  The altar pulsed with power. The magic circle beneath us began to glow—first a faint shimmer, then a deep, radiant gold that spread like wildfire across the altar’s surface. The light was warm but powerful, like the heartbeat of the very world itself.

  The golden light reached a crescendo, enveloping us all in a cocoon of brilliance. For a moment, the world was nothing but glowing warmth and radiant energy.

  When the golden light faded, I found myself standing inside a white room.

  A soft hum lingered in the air as the magic circle beneath us dimmed, its golden radiance slowly fading. The floor was smooth stone, etched with ancient runes, and directly ahead stood a closed door. There were no windows—just glowing lines of power tracing the circle, like veins of magic still cooling.

  All the spiders had come with me.

  Silk stood beside me, as still as a statue, her red eyes sharp and alert. I could feel her presence clearly, comforting in a way I never thought a spider could be.

  “Hm, Silk…” I spoke, my voice echoing slightly in the room. “I think that door might lead outside the dungeon. I can sense it—mana, faint, but alive… and the presence of several people beyond it.”

  That was new.

  Ever since I absorbed the Ice Dragon's mana core, I could feel the mana around me more clearly—flowing through the air, dancing over the stones. And more than that, I could feel presence—like a sixth sense for life beyond walls.

  “And I don't know how other humans will act when they see so many spiders, they might even attack, so you guys should hide for the time being”, I said, looking toward the silk.

  Silk gave a solemn nod, then turned to the others.

  “My Lady,” she said, her voice now more refined, carrying an eerie elegance. “We will remain near you. All of us can shift into smaller forms and cloak ourselves in stealth. We will not be seen… but we will be watching. Please, watch yourself as well.”

  “Okay,” I replied softly, still amazed.

  Then, before my eyes, Silk transformed.

  Her tall, half-human form shimmered briefly, then colpsed into a smaller, round shape—pure white with deep red eyes. She became a spider once more, no rger than a child's palm. She scurried up my leg, climbed my back, and disappeared into my hair—silken silver-white strands now perfectly matching her pale colour.

  I paused.

  "...You're kind of cute like this," I whispered under my breath. Small, round, and white like a marshmallow

  Then, I turned toward the door.

  It creaked open slowly without my touch, revealing a stone corridor beyond, lit brightly by torches burning with golden fmes. I stepped out.

  The moment I crossed the threshold, the door shut behind me with a soft click. When I turned, it was gone. Just stone.

  I pced my hand on the wall—cold, rough, and unyielding. No magic circle. No markings. No seam.

  “What am I supposed to do if I want to go back…?” I murmured to no one.

  A sigh escaped my lips.

  “I've come too far to go back now.”

  I didn’t even know if my cssmates would recognise me anymore.

  Back on Earth, my skin was pale. But now… it was snow-white, with a faint shimmer of ice when the torchlight struck just right. My silver-blue hair had lengthened slightly, and my eyes, once a gentle blue, now flickered with a cold, unnatural glow when I focused mana. And I had two mana cores inside me.

  I confirmed all the spiders had made it through. They scattered into the shadows, blending into cracks in the ceiling or walls, keeping watch.

  The hallways were wide and quiet. My boots echoed on the floor, the sound bouncing softly down the stone paths. After a few right turns… then a left… then right again… I realised I was lost.

  I found no exit.

  Only the most basic monster imaginable—slimes.

  Small, jelly-like creatures wobbled uselessly across the floor.

  They weren’t a threat. They didn’t even notice me before Silk and the others sniped them down with ease. I reminded them—mentally, through our connection [Sensory Link]—not to attack humans. To remain hidden. I’ve read enough light novels to know how humans react to monsters.

  Especially intelligent ones.

  I closed my eyes briefly, focusing.

  Mana… where was it gathering?

  There. Around the corner—bright, active, moving. Voices, too.

  I moved toward them silently. My steps are light. My presence cloaked.

  Peering around the stone edge, I saw them.

  —Three young adventurers facing down a handful of weak slimes. A priest muttered chants of healing, a swordsman swung his bde with clumsy enthusiasm, and a girl loosed arrows with surprising precision.

  But the one who truly stood out… was her. Who was keeping watch on the three young adventurers?

  A tall woman, taller than the rest and me by a head at least. She wore silver armour, clean but somewhat worn by battle, lightly enchanted, judging by the soft shimmer of mana across its surface. A massive shield rested on her back, and a well-maintained longsword hung at her waist. Her golden hair was tied in a tight braid, no nonsense. Her light green eyes scanned the battlefield like a hawk watching fledglings learning to fly.

  She didn’t speak, didn’t coddle—only offered small hand signals, quick flicks of the wrist, precise nods of correction. Her posture screamed discipline. Authority. Control.

  Then, without warning, her head turned.

  She looked directly at me.

  Our eyes met.

  Alicia stiffened.

  That gaze… sharp. Cool. Not hostile, but it cut through shadows like a bde honed on command. It wasn’t the gaze of a simple adventurer. It was the gaze of someone used to commanding soldiers.

  And then she spoke.

  “You can come out.”

  The tone was calm, but strict. Like a teacher who’d already marked your present, whether you liked it or not.

  I stepped out from behind the corner, the soft tap of my boots echoing in the stone hallway. The flickering torchlight lit up my figure, revealing the white hooded cloak draped over me, spun from the silk of my spider companions; it shimmered faintly, cascading down to my knees.

  The woman in silver armour turned her full attention to me.

  She stood tall—a wall of steel and command. Her golden hair was bound tightly into a braid, her light green eyes sharp and unreadable as they slowly travelled from my hooded head to my boots.

  I could feel it.

  She was on guard.

  There was no opening in her stance—shield on her back, sword at her hip. If I made a single wrong move, I had no doubt she’d strike without hesitation.

  Behind her, the three young adventurers stood in a loose formation, curiosity and suspicion flickering across their faces now that the st of the slimes had been dealt with.

  Then, the silence broke.

  “Did you enter the dungeon without permission?”

  Her voice was heavy. Stern. No kindness in it, just the sharp edge of authority.

  I didn’t know how to respond.

  No, I didn’t have permission… but I didn’t come here by choice, either. Should I tell her I was summoned here? Would she even believe me?

  So, I said nothing. I fidgeted with my fingers, eyes cast downward. My silence said more than any words could.

  She stepped forward once. Calmly. Commandingly.

  “Show me your adventurer’s ID,” she said. “Or I’ll have to turn you in to the guild for unauthorised entry.”

  That made me flinch. My throat felt tight, but I forced the words out.

  “I… I don’t have an ID.”

  Her expression didn’t change.

  “Then expin what you were doing inside the dungeon.”

  Again, silence. I had no idea what to say. My mind swirled.

  But then, a faint tingling in my right palm drew my attention.

  I opened my hand—and there they were: a few small, dull-glowing mana stones, warm with residual energy.

  Oh… right. The ones Silk gathered from the monsters we encountered. Thanks, Silk, I whispered through our Sensory Link.

  Without a word, I raised my hand and showed them the stones.

  The woman’s gaze flicked to my outstretched palm, then slowly back to my hooded face. Her brow furrowed slightly—not in suspicion this time, but something more like resignation.

  And then… of course…

  My stomach growled. Loudly.

  I froze. Clutched my stomach in sheer embarrassment. Traitor, I mentally hissed at it. I hadn’t eaten since—well, I couldn’t remember when. Days? Weeks?

  And right in front of this shining, beautiful knight? Couldn’t it have waited?!

  But she didn’t mock me. Didn’t scold.

  She sighed. Deeply. Then turned to the three behind her.

  “Training’s over for today. Go home. I’ll take this girl to the Adventurer’s Guild—and feed her first.”

  The three young adventurers gave me varying looks—curious, wary, awkward. The swordsman squinted like he didn’t trust me, the priest whispered something under his breath, and the girl with the bow hesitated before stepping forward.

  She pulled out some dried meat, wrapped in rough cloth, and offered it to me.

  Like I was some pitiful child. Like a stray dog in the alley behind their warm homes.

  I wasn’t sure whether to feel insulted or grateful.

  But the smell hit me, and I gave in.

  It was… surprisingly good.

  We moved through the winding stone halls, step after step, following the rhythmic tap of the knight’s boots leading us forward. She walked with perfect posture, every step measured, echoing power and authority through the corridor.

  I followed just behind her, still clutching the small bit of dried meat in my hand.

  Behind me were the two young men—the sword-wielding boy and the quiet priest—and beside me was the girl with the bow and two short pigtails, her leather armour creaking slightly with each movement. Her brown eyes occasionally gnced my way with cautious curiosity. A small pouch swung from her wrist, and when I finished the earlier piece of meat, she silently passed me another from it. I nodded in thanks, chewing quietly.

  Not bad… salty, but warm.

  We passed turn after turn—right, left, then another left—until the hallway finally opened up into a much rger corridor. Adventurers moved in and out of side tunnels, chatting, ughing, cnking in armour, or carrying sacks of monster parts. There was a rhythm to this pce—a sense of purpose in every movement.

  And then… the light.

  A great pair of open stone doors stood before us, and sunlight streamed through the gap, warm and almost blinding after the dim dungeon.

  We stepped out.

  I blinked several times, shielding my eyes.

  What y before me was not what I expected.

  A wide pza buzzed with life—adventurers of all shapes and sizes moved in groups or sat on benches, eating, talking, trading. Stalls lined the edges, some with weapons, others with potions or armour, and many more with roasting meat, steaming soup, or spiced skewers. It smelled… amazing.

  A warm breeze carried the scent of grilled food and the sound of ughter. Smoke from cooking fires drifted zily into the air. It was like one of those street market scenes from fantasy RPGS—only this was real.

  I caught myself staring.

  The three adventurers who had been walking behind us paused, gave quick goodbyes to the knight, and scurried off into the crowd, disappearing into the flow of the street like children released from css.

  Now it was just the silver-armoured knight and me.

  We descended from the stone ptform that surrounded the dungeon’s entrance—a circur stone structure, manned by a few guild guards and staff who barely gave me a second gnce, probably assuming I was just another rookie being escorted out.

  The knight didn’t speak.

  Neither did I.

  We moved forward—into the heartbeat of the town, the thick press of adventurers, merchants, and opportunity.

  We passed by a few more shops and clusters of adventurers until we reached a small open-air restaurant. The scent of grilled meat wafted through the air, rich and mouth-watering. An old man stood at a rge grill, turning a massive bull-like creature slowly over a fire. The meat crackled as juices dripped onto hot coals, releasing bursts of fragrant smoke.

  I took a seat on one of the wooden benches, unsure if I should be there, and tried to sit as still and small as possible. A moment ter, the female knight returned from speaking with the old man and sat across from me.

  She leaned her shield against the bench and looked me straight in the eyes. Her expression was calm, but firm—she was used to being obeyed, not questioned.

  “So, little girl,” she said, her voice steady but not unkind, “what’s your name? And where did you come from?”

  I hesitated only a second before answering. “I’m Alicia,” I said quietly. “And… I don’t know where I came from.”

  Her light green eyes narrowed slightly, thoughtful. Then she nodded slowly. “Hmm. Alicia, okay. I’m Crystilena.” She rested her elbows on the table and ced her fingers. “Well then, Alicia—we’ve got a lot to figure out.”

  After finishing the food—a steaming, tender slice of meat that practically melted in my mouth—I sat back with a satisfied sigh. It was the first real meal I’d had in… I didn’t even know how long. The taste lingered pleasantly on my tongue, warm and rich with spices.

  Miss Crystilena, the knight, stood up and handed a few brown coins—I assumed they were copper or bronze—to the old shopkeeper with a polite nod. Then she motioned for me to follow.

  We stepped back into the busy street, weaving through the flow of adventurers, merchants, and townsfolk. As we walked, I overheard two passing adventurers mention the rge stone building in the centre of the town.

  “—Better report that to the Silver Veil Guild Hall, they’ll know what to do.”

  I looked up at the towering structure ahead. So this was the guild building. The Silver Veil Guild Hall—the heart of the adventurer's district, and my first real step into this world’s society.

  Just then, I heard a familiar voice echo softly in my mind—Silk, speaking through our Sensory Link.

  “My dy… this female knight is quite on guard against you. She is watching you with suspicion, though you've done nothing wrong.”

  I nodded subtly and replied in thought. “I can see that, Silk. Her eyes haven’t left me once. Let's act normal for now.”

  Then a thought occurred to me, and I gnced around, careful not to look too obvious. “What about the others? I can feel you hiding in my hair… but where are the rest?”

  “Only a few of us exited with you, my dy. The others remained in the dungeon, hidden for now. It was too risky to bring the full web.”

  “Understood,” I replied, keeping my expression neutral. “Stay hidden. As Crystilena said, she’s taking us to the guild… and I’ve read enough stories to know how important first impressions can be.”

  Silk’s voice echoed with soft amusement. “Yes, my dy. I’ll remain alert.”

  My heart beat faster with a mixture of excitement and nerves. A real fantasy-style guild hall stood tall and proud before me. I didn’t know what was waiting inside, but one thing was certain.

  I was finally stepping into the world I used to only dream about.

  We stepped into the guild hall, and I immediately felt like I’d walked straight into a scene from one of the anime or light novels I used to binge back home.

  The building was huge, crafted from thick timber and stone, with high ceilings and beams that stretched like ribs across the air above. The double doors were wide open, letting in sunlight and a steady stream of adventurers walking in and out. Inside, it was lively and loud: the sound of chatter, clinking armour and distant ughter filled the room.

  Just like I imagined.

  There was a long counter at the front where several guild receptionists worked, organising paperwork and talking to adventurers. A quest board stood to the side, pinned with posters and job requests. Around the hall were wooden tables and chairs, filled with adventurers either pnning their next quest or just enjoying food and drink. A wide staircase at the back led up to the second floor.

  As soon as Crystilena stepped in, the atmosphere shifted.

  Like—visibly.

  Every male adventurer in the room turned. Heads swivelled, jaws subtly dropped. Conversations paused. It was like the air rippled. Understandable, I thought, gncing at her from the corner of my eye. Golden braid, shimmering silver armour, and a calm, commanding presence—she was like an angelic knight dropped into a sea of ruffians.

  A woman approached us with a bright smile. She had bouncy chestnut-brown hair, rge brown eyes, and an enthusiastic energy that almost felt like it sparkled.

  “Crystilena! Thanks again for escorting the trainees through the dungeon. You're always such a huge help!”

  “It’s no trouble,” the knight replied, her tone cool and composed.

  Then the receptionist looked at me.

  “And who’s this cute girl with you?” she asked, tilting her head, her bubbly smile widening. “I haven’t seen you around before.”

  She’s very… energetic, I thought, my eyes drifting toward the way her chest bounced with every step she took closer. I instinctively leaned back a little. And kinda… overwhelming.

  Before I could answer, Crystilena spoke for me.

  “I need to speak with the Guildmaster,” she said, tone suddenly more formal. “Is he in?”

  The guild worker blinked, then her cheerful demeanour shifted slightly into professional mode. Her eyes flicked back to me for a second longer than necessary before she nodded.

  “Yes, he's in. Right this way.”

  She led us upstairs to the second floor. The noise of the hall faded as we climbed, the steps creaking softly under our feet. We stopped in front of a tall wooden door with a brass pte that read:

  Guildmaster’s Office

  The receptionist gave two polite knocks. “Sir, Crystilena is here. She wishes to speak with you.”

  A firm voice from inside answered. “Enter.”

  The door creaked open, and we stepped into the next stage of this strange new life.

  The Guildmaster’s office was exactly what I expected—and not.

  Wooden floors creaked underfoot, and the walls and ceiling were lined with aged, polished timber. Bookshelves stood like sentinels along one wall, packed with thick tomes and scrolls. A desk dominated the space, buried beneath a mountain of papers, maps, and sealed envelopes. The only thing that seemed in order was the sword resting beside it.

  A man in his fifties sat behind the chaos, partially buried in it, like a weary schor caught in an avanche of bureaucracy.

  He looked up.

  The moment his eyes nded on me, his expression shifted.

  Wide-eyed. Alert.

  His hand moved—instinctively—toward the sword beside him.

  I froze.

  But Crystilena spoke, cool and firm, before he could draw it. “Sir Albert, I need to talk to you about something.”

  The tension in the room thinned slightly. The man blinked, then coughed as if clearing more than just his throat. “Right,” he muttered, waving a hand at the receptionist. “You can go now.”

  She hesitated—her posture stiff—but obeyed, backing out and shutting the door behind her.

  “Sit,” the Guildmaster said gruffly, gesturing toward a table near the side wall.

  Crystilena moved without a word, her silver armour clinking softly as she took a seat. I followed, quietly lowering myself into the chair beside her, unsure whether I was more nervous or just cold. The room felt like it held its breath.

  There were three cups of tea already id out on the table. Crystilena picked hers up and took a sip without hesitation, then gave me a subtle nod.

  I followed her lead, fingers wrapped around the warm porcein. The tea was faintly herba, —earthy, calming—but it did little to settle the pounding in my chest.

  Then the Guildmaster—Sir Albert—leaned forward.

  His gaze fixed on mine.

  Sharp. Weary. Not unkind, but filled with a deep, pressing weight.

  Silence stretched thin between us like a drawn bowstring.

  And then—

  “What are you?”

  The question hit like a stone.

  Not who.

  Not Where are you from. But what.

  A heavy pressure settled in the room like frost on my shoulders. Crystilena said nothing, watching quietly beside me. I held my cup tighter, searching for the right words, but… even I didn’t have a real answer yet.

  I didn’t know how to respond. The question—What are you?—still echoed in my head like a drumbeat.

  But Crystilena answered in my pce.

  “Sir Albert,” she said evenly, “I don’t think she’s doing it on purpose. Whatever it is… she’s releasing it unintentionally.”

  The Guildmaster turned to her with a tight expression. “Where did you even find her?”

  “First floor of the dungeon,” Crystilena replied. “She was just there. No idea how she got in—and I’m confident she’s not lying.”

  His eyes shifted back to me. “Name?”

  I lowered my gaze and answered softly. “Alicia.”

  “Alicia, huh?” he repeated, tapping his fingers against the table before leaning slightly forward again. “And what were you doing in the dungeon, without permission at that? Also, could you please try to lower the magical pressure you’re releasing? It’s stifling.”

  I blinked. “Magical… pressure?”

  I looked between him and Crystilena in confusion. I didn’t feel like I was doing anything. Just… sitting here.

  “My Lady,” Silk’s voice echoed in my mind through the Sensory Link, calm and ever-helpful, “you’re unintentionally releasing magical pressure from your body. It’s overwhelming them.”

  Then she showed me.

  A ripple of vision flooded my mind—the room was covered in a dense, glowing aura, like frost ced with shadows. It was mine.

  “Try to concentrate it into your core—the umberheart,” Silk instructed gently.

  I closed my eyes and focused. The frost-like mana that surrounded me began to draw inward, folding into the space just beneath my chest. Like breathing in a cold mist.

  The moment I did, the atmosphere in the room changed.

  Both Crystilena and the Guildmaster exhaled visibly, as if they had been holding their breath.

  “…You have quite a lot of mana,” Albert muttered, eyes now less suspicious, more… curious. “And you learned how to control your magical aura that quickly?”

  Crystilena gave me a sideways gnce, her expression unreadable. “Not just mana. She has presence.”

  Albert nodded slowly, studying me again. “You’re not just some simple girl, are you?”

  I didn’t know how to answer that, either.

  The Guildmaster reached into a pocket on the side of his desk and pulled out a small, transparent crystal, polished and glowing faintly with inner light. He pced it on the table in front of me with deliberate care.

  I tilted my head, unsure what it was. My confusion must’ve shown on my face, because he expined, “This is called a Verdict Crystal. It’s a device enchanted by the Guild. When someone touches it, it reveals if they have any criminal history, wanted status, or…”

  He paused, gncing at Crystilena.

  “…if they are bound by a sve contract.”

  His voice was heavy with something unspoken—maybe guilt, maybe caution.

  I stared at the crystal. My hand twitched in my p.

  What would happen if I touched it?

  Worse—what if I accidentally devoured it like I did with the spider’s mana core and the ice dragon's?

  Silk’s voice echoed in my head through Sensory Link, “Don’t worry, my Lady. That only happens with raw mana cores, not stable magic artefacts.”

  Are you sure? I asked mentally.

  “Mostly sure.”

  That wasn’t… entirely comforting.

  Still, the Guildmaster and Crystilena were watching me. Waiting.

  I reached forward, my hand hovering above the crystal. Then, slowly, I pressed my fingers against its cool surface.

  I held my breath.

  No strange pull. No rush of energy. No core devouring.

  Just a faint green glow, and then… nothing.

  The Guildmaster leaned forward, exhaling audibly. “Green. She’s clean.”

  Crystilena also let out a quiet sigh. “Thank the Light.”

  They both looked visibly relieved.

  Meanwhile, I just blinked, still unsure what exactly could’ve happened. But at least I didn’t swallow the crystal.

  That was a win.

  The Guildmaster led us into a side room tucked behind the office. Unlike the warm, wood-panelled office, this room felt colde, —older. Runes were etched into the floor in concentric circles, faintly glowing like slumbering stars. In the center stood a pedestal with a dull crystal, nearly as tall as my torso. Its surface looked cloudy, like it hadn’t been used in a while.

  “This,” the Guildmaster began, gesturing toward the artefact, “is a Status Crystal. It reads the core information of a person—your name, species, skills, magical aptitudes, blessings, affiliations… and more.”

  He turned to look at me, serious now. “We never force adventurers to reveal their status without consent. But… given your situation, this is the safest way to understand who-or—or what you are.”

  I nodded slowly, my heart pounding with a strange mix of nerves and anticipation. This was it.

  I finally get to see what kind of protagonist I’ve become.

  I stepped forward, pcing both hands on the crystal’s surface.

  A beat.

  Then, light bloomed—a soft, cool white glow, pulsing from the centre of the crystal like a heartbeat.

  Letters formed in the air, the pedestal—runes reshaping into nguage I could somehow understand instinctively, as if the crystal transted it for me.

  My Status Screen appeared, clear and crisp:

  [STATUS SCREEN]

  Name: Alicia Tsukihana

  Age: 17Gender: Female

  Race: Human Title(s): [Whisperborne Sovereign] Affiliation: None Level: 12

  Magic Aptitude: ★★★★★★★★★★ (10/10) Elemental Affinities:

  Ice

  Wind

  Water

  Lightning

  Fire

  Unique Magic:

  Frost Magic

  Arcane MagicSprite magic [Wind Elemental]

  Skills:

  Devour

  Sensory Link

  Magic Rey

  Web Sovereignty

  Mana Regeneration

  Mana Absorption

  Monsters/Spirits in Contract:

  Arcane Spider (Linked via Web Sovereignty)

  Wind Sprite (Contracted Spirit – Pact of Whispers and Currents)

  Status: Stable Emotional State: Alert, Curious

  ?? Attributes:Stat

  Value

  Trait

  HP

  1,340 / 1,340

  Rapid regen in frost or web zones

  MP

  2,800 / 2,800

  Massive reserve;

  SP

  1,950 / 1,950

  Never fatigues in webbed terrain

  STR

  176

  Enough to crush armoured foes

  VIT

  213

  Resistant to physical and magical harm

  DEX

  298

  Precise thread & magic control

  INT

  402

  Arcane mastery, fast spell synthesis

  WIS

  375

  passive magic regen

  LCK

  ??? (System Error)

  Obscured

  ??? Resistances:Cold Immunity

  Poison Resistance Lv. 4

  Paralysis Resistance Lv. 4

  Mental Attack Resistance Lv. 3

  Web Entanglement Immunity

  Soul Damage Resistance Lv. 2

  [Whisperborne Sovereign] by wind sprite [***********]

  Type: Bond / Elemental Recognition

  Effect: Increases agility, stealth, and air magic affinity.

  ___________________________________________