Bloodbath Annual Guild Meeting

I Accidentally Became the Guild's Therapist

Chapter 21: Bloodbath Annual Guild Meeting

Livia Marcelline Quinn, Mental Architect Lv. 1, materialized in the Grand Guildhall of Bloodbath & Beyond as a golden hologram—her body a projection woven from light, emotion, and a lingering sense of uncertainty. She hovered above the marble floor, her HUD glittering with gold-accented skills. Soothing Aura. Verbal Hug. Group Therapy. Phobia Breaker. Reverse Psychology. Mental Defense. Instinct. And now: Inner Rebirth. A new title blinked above her name: Mental Architect Lv. 1 (Ascended). But the EXP bar beneath it remained empty.

> [Mental Architect Lv. 1: 0/6000 EXP]

Her presence, even in holographic form, shimmered faintly. She hadn't truly logged in. She told herself it was a cooldown. A healthy boundary. Emotional recovery, even. But truthfully? She was afraid. Afraid that now everyone saw her as something more than she was ready to be.

Below, the annual guild meeting was pure chaos.

The Grand Guildhall had been redecorated (read: defiled) with slime-shaped balloons, enchanted cake fountains, and glitching banners that alternated between raid stats and anime fanart. A massive pixelated mascot—a wyvern with a top hat and glitter cannon—spun wildly on the stage. NPC attendants marched in pre-programmed confusion, screaming error messages like, "Agenda Overload! Agenda Overload!" while trying to hand out bugged party favors.

All 75 members of Bloodbath & Beyond were in attendance.

Bron, the immortal tank, was leading a roundtable discussion about whether plate armor should have capes. Phina, with Glimmer the slime tucked into a crocheted pouch, was scrawling hearts on official guild parchments. Alaric, shirtless and sparkling from too many enchanted drinks, was trying to gamble with two goblins over slime wedding odds. Nyx huddled near a corner, shining his flashlight against walls and writing notes titled "Ways to Escape This Conversation."

Miles—the ever-smirking, always composed assassin leader—leaned against the bannister of the upper balcony. His arms were crossed. His eyes were trained on the golden projection hovering above them all. Livia.

He said nothing. But for once, the smirk wasn't there.

Livia hovered silently.

Her Therapist's Log pulsed faintly in her hand. A golden relic now, but no less heavy. She couldn't bring herself to fully rejoin the guild. Not yet. Not when her very existence had nearly been erased. Not when she had to confront what she'd become: not an NPC, not just a glitch, but something in between.

> [ Notification: Emotional Avoidance Detected. Devs Suggest Social Reintegration or One (1) Verbal Hug ]

"I swear if this system had a face..."

Livia muttered.

The energy in the room erupted when Alaric stood on a banquet table and yelled, " Motion: Can slimes marry humans legally under guild law?!"

Phina gasped and hugged Glimmer like a blushing bride. Bron dropped his shield with a clang. Nyx dropped his flashlight. Somewhere, an NPC fainted. Laughter burst through the guildhall like confetti.

Livia blinked.

"I leave for five minutes of existential crisis and we're legalizing slime marriage?"

Her sarcasm dripped through the audio filter. Below, the guild froze. Then, Bron bellowed with joy. "BUFFER!" he yelled.

"SHE LIVES!" shouted Alaric.

Phina wept openly. "Our golden light has returned!"

The crowd erupted in cheers.

Miles still hadn't moved. But Livia saw the corner of his mouth twitch—the tiniest of smiles. Not smug. Just... relieved. His Empathic Thread pulsed on her HUD: Warm. Grounded. Watching.

And maybe, just maybe, afraid to hope.

> [Emotional Echo Detected: Miles Vexley – "She came back anyway." ]

Livia dimmed her projection slightly.

"I'm not back back," she said, voice soft but amplified across the hall. "I just... couldn't let you all vote on slime marriage without me."

Alaric, undeterred, tossed his dice in the air. "Then vote, oh Glorious Golden Ghost!"

Bron raised his hand solemnly. "Let the Therapist decide."

Nyx peeked from behind a potted plant. "We trust you not to break our hearts... or the server."

Phina handed Glimmer a tiny veil. "Please. Make it real."

Livia felt laughter rise in her chest. Not sarcastic. Not hollow. Real.

She raised her holographic hand. "I vote yes on love, even if it jiggles."

The guildhall exploded in celebration.

Slime plushies flew through the air. Fireworks coded in rainbow glitter erupted from the ceiling. The wyvern mascot performed a perfect backflip. NPCs glitched into ceremonial robes and declared, "MARRIAGE ACCEPTED!"

> [Guild Policy Updated: The Slime Marriage Clause has been ratified. +100 Guild Morale. +25% Love-Based Buffs.]

In the midst of the chaos, Livia dimmed her projection. She hovered near the upper balcony, close to Miles, unseen by the guild now too busy partying to notice.

"You let them be ridiculous," she said quietly.

Miles looked at her hologram without turning his head. "They needed it. So did you."

She hesitated. "I still feel like a ghost."

"Even ghosts leave footprints, Livia."

A silence hung between them.

Then:

> [Prompt: Do you wish to deactivate Holographic Mode? Y/N]

Livia stared at it. Then, slowly, she clicked: Yes.

Her projection dissolved. A soft shimmer, then a figure stepped into the hall—solid, real, walking. Her.

The room went silent. Then someone whispered, "She logged in."

Bron dropped his drink. Phina dropped Glimmer. Nyx dropped his plant.

Miles didn't move. Just smiled. Fully.

Livia stepped forward, therapist's log in hand. "Alright, everyone line up. Group therapy starts now. And yes, couples count as one appointment."

> End Notification Ping : [Achievement Unlocked: Hologram No More. +100 EXP] [New Emotion Detected: Belonging]