Reception

"Wait, wait—you all want me to lead you!?" Sean asked again, just to make sure he hadn't misunderstood.

"Yes," the four of them answered in unison, leaving Sean frozen in disbelief.

He sank into the couch, stunned and silent, turning their words over in his head.

The guild members exchanged glances. No one said anything, but their eyes were filled with curiosity—each one wondering what exactly Sean was thinking.

"Wanna see one more room on this floor, Sean?" Zane asked.

The question snapped Sean out of his daze. Still confused, he nodded out of pure curiosity.

They all followed Zane, who led them down the hall to a door at the end. On either side of them were doors labeled with the names of guild members, clearly indicating personal quarters.

Between those doors, however, were two others—strangely unmarked and spaced further apart than the others, making them stand out in contrast to the more tightly placed rooms nearby.

Zane stopped in front of one of the nameless doors and reached for the handle. Sean tilted his head slightly, wondering what Zane was planning to show him. Was this part of their strange recruitment tactic?

When Zane opened the door wide, Sean's eyes widened.

It was a laboratory. A massive one—fully equipped with machines and tools Sean had never even seen before, gleaming under soft white lights.

His jaw dropped. He never imagined he'd lay eyes on a place like this, let alone step into one.

Ryn strolled up beside him with a teasing grin.

"Well? Gorgeous, right? If you agree to become our leader, this whole place will be yours."

Sean swallowed hard. The thought of owning a private lab this luxurious made his palms sweat. Never had he dreamed of something like this becoming his personal space.

Just as he started to feel tempted, Xion grabbed his arm and pulled him toward another door—this one located inside the lab.

With great enthusiasm, she flung it open, revealing a spacious bedroom styled in elegant gray tones.

"Ta-da! This room is directly connected to the lab—your private quarters," Xion announced like a professional salesperson.

"And this door here is specially sealed so none of the lab smells ever reach your bedroom," Zane added proudly.

"Whoa… seriously?"

They all nodded, smiling warmly at him.

Sean's red eyes lit up, his lips slowly curling into a smile full of joy. His heart felt light—this was the room he had always dreamed of, the dream that had once been swallowed by life's cruelty. And now, it could be his.

The guild members were taken aback. This was the first time they had seen Sean so… radiant.

"So? What do you say? Will you accept?" Ryn asked gently.

Sean gave a slow, conscious nod.

"All right… I'll do it. I accept."

"Yay! Welcome aboard, Chief!" Kael threw an arm around Sean's shoulders, startling him.

"Huh? Oh—uh, thank you," Sean replied awkwardly. It was the first time he'd spoken directly to Kael.

"Now that Sean's one of us, let's celebrate with food!" Xion announced with glee, pulling out her phone to order something.

"No need, Xion. Let's cook ourselves!" Ryn cut in, determined.

"Yeah, homemade meals are way healthier," Kael added, already heading out the door.

Soon, Kael and Xion pulled ingredients from the fridge while Ryn and Zane discussed the menu. The four of them were going to cook the celebration meal themselves.

Sean was asked to relax in the living area, where a luxurious carpet and a low table awaited him. He wasn't allowed to help—they insisted he simply enjoy the hospitality as their newest member.

Sitting there, he watched as they bustled around the kitchen—some washing vegetables, others stirring sauces or slicing meat. Their teamwork was seamless, practiced, almost like choreography.

It made Sean uneasy.

'What do they really want from me?' he thought.

'Could this be... a setup? Am I the sacrifice they've been waiting for?'

His eyes narrowed. The situation seemed too perfect, and all the benefits seemed to be falling on him.

But after a moment of brooding, Sean let out a small sigh.

'Maybe it's fine. Even if they do plan to kill me, at least they paid off my debts. Maybe I can enjoy this lab for a few days before they harvest my soul or whatever.'

"Here it is! Soy-glazed roasted chicken—bon appétit!" Ryn proudly placed a large pot on the table, filled with two whole roasted chickens, glazed and golden, served intact.

The smell was incredible. Just one whiff made Sean's stomach growl.

Plates were neatly arranged, with rice, vegetables, and slices of the mouthwatering roast set before him.

"All right, let's dig in! Cheers!" Xion lifted her glass of water.

The others followed suit.

"Cheers!!" they said together, their voices ringing out joyfully.

They ate with gusto. The food was beyond delicious—it was dangerously good. One by one, they fell into silence, too busy stuffing themselves to talk.

---

"Ahhh, I'm stuffed!" Kael stretched with a groan of satisfaction.

"So, Chief, how was the food?" Ryn asked brightly.

Sean, leaning against the wall with a full belly, smiled.

"It was amazing. I've never eaten anything this delicious in my life."

But the moment those words left his mouth, the expressions of the others darkened.

"Huh? What's wrong?" Sean asked, confused.

"N-Nothing!" Zane replied quickly, straightening his back and starting to clear the table.

Sean stood to help, prompting the others to do the same. In just a few minutes, they had tidied up the room.

They gathered again in the living space, sitting cross-legged on the carpet around the central table.

"So, Chief, when are you moving in?" Xion asked, eyes gleaming with excitement.

"Just call me Sean," he said awkwardly, scratching the back of his head. "That 'Chief' title feels... weird."

They all stared at him. Silent. Intense.

"What…?"

The four of them smiled again and leaned slightly toward him—without saying a word.

"Okay seriously, when are you moving in, Chief?" Zane echoed the question.

Sean let out a sigh. So they weren't going to drop the nickname.

"Tomorrow, maybe. Just—please stop calling me 'Chief,' okay?" he said, his voice laced with a pleading tone.

"For real!? Yay!" Kael beamed with excitement.

"In that case, can you tell us your full name?" Ryn asked, arms crossed.

"Sean. That is my name," he said innocently.

Ryn sighed loudly.

"Come on, no way someone has a one-word name. No middle name? No family name?"

"But it really is Sean—just Sean," Kael confirmed, placing a hand on the table.

"You're totally hiding your surname, aren't you, Chief?" Ryn accused, pointing at him dramatically like a detective.

"What? I'm not!" Sean turned away to avoid their stares.

"Ryn, that's enough," Zane said firmly.

Ryn lowered her head, slightly ashamed. "Sorry. Anyway, how about we help you move tomorrow?"

"Yeah, you must have a ton of stuff to bring, right, Chief?" Kael chimed in to ease the mood.

"No, it's fine. I only have a few things—some trophies and a couple of tools," Sean replied modestly.

"Don't be shy, Chief. We're coming with you—right everyone?" Xion grinned, throwing an arm around Sean's shoulders.