Keep Ur Eyes Ahead Soldier
Chapter 26 – Keep Ur Eyes Ahead soldier
A week had passed since the truth about dungeons shook Argenia to its core. What was once mass panic had now settled into something else—opportunity.
At first, people feared dungeons as death traps. But as rumors spread about treasure, rare magic, and powerful artifacts, fear quickly gave way to greed. Adventurers, mercenaries, and even commoners looking for a quick fortune were now obsessed with finding and conquering dungeons.
To manage this sudden obsession, Argenia did something it had never done before—established guilds.
Guilds had existed in other countries, but Argenia had always relied on the royal army and noble houses to protect its people. With dungeons no longer a secret, that system wasn't enough anymore.
In just a few days, several new adventurer guilds opened, drawing in eager fighters, mages, and strategists. Some of the biggest names were:
• The Iron Fang – A brute-force mercenary guild focused on dungeon conquest.
• The Arcane Seekers – A guild of scholars, spellcasters, and researchers dedicated to studying dungeons instead of just looting them.
• The Silver Veil – A shadowy guild rumored to specialize in covert missions inside dungeons… and outside of them.
With guilds now in play, order slowly returned to Argenia. The economy boomed with magic equipment sales, training academies started accepting dungeon exploration courses, and society adapted to the reality that dungeons were just part of life now.
But while the country was changing, Phyro's focus was somewhere else entirely.
Phyro had been acting differently ever since his confession to Lana. He didn't want to rush things, but he also couldn't ignore his feelings anymore. And judging by the way she looked at him lately, she couldn't ignore hers either.
They still hadn't talked about it, but it was there.
The undeniable tension.
And today… it finally reached a breaking point.
After class, Phyro was walking through the halls when he noticed Lana standing alone near the academy gardens.
She was leaning against a stone pillar, looking at the sky—lost in thought.
Phyro took a breath and walked over. This time, he wasn't holding back.
Lana blinked as she noticed him. "Oh, Phyro—"
Before she could finish, he stepped right in front of her, his hand pressing against the stone wall beside her head.
She stiffened. "W-What are you—?"
Phyro leaned in slightly—not enough to trap her, but enough to make her heart race.
He wasn't teasing her. He wasn't joking. His expression was serious, his Crimson eyes locked onto hers.
"Lana," he said quietly. "I want you to stop pretending like you don't feel it."
She swallowed. "Feel what?"
He tilted his head slightly, his gaze never leaving hers. "This."
His free hand gently touched her waist, not gripping, not forcing—just barely there.
It wasn't just his words. It was the way he touched her.
Careful. Gentle.
Like she was something precious.
A shiver ran down her spine. Her face turned red, her breath hitched—and suddenly, she was aware of just how close he was.
Phyro was shorter than her, but right now, that didn't seem to matter. He owned the space between them.
"I…" Lana started, but her voice faltered.
She hated this.
Not him, but the way he made her feel so vulnerable with just a touch.
"I…" she tried again, but her body betrayed her. She could feel the heat pooling in her stomach, the way her skin tingled where he touched her.
Phyro's hand grazed her waist one last time before he pulled away, stepping back like nothing happened.
"…You'll figure it out," he said simply, turning away.
Lana was left standing there, her legs feeling weak, her heart hammering in her chest.
What… was that?
She clenched her fists, pressing her back against the wall.
One thing was clear.
She couldn't pretend anymore.