Chapter 9: My New Target

The adventurers' guild was alive with its usual bustle, tables filled with adventurers exchanging stories of their quests, guild workers hustling to organize new assignments, and the clatter of mugs as drinks were shared over loud, animated conversations. But amidst the noise and energy, there was a certain tension in the air. Word had begun to spread about the Forest Behemoth, and everyone knew that when an S-class adventurer like Galeth Van Holland showed up in town, something serious was going on.

At the center of the guild hall, Galeth sat at a long table, his silver armor gleaming under the dim lighting. His broad shoulders and imposing presence drew curious glances from every adventurer present, but Galeth's focus was solely on the guildmaster sitting across from him.

The guildmaster, a grizzled man with a long scar running down the side of his face, regarded Galeth with equal parts respect and curiosity. "You're certain it was the work of magic?" he asked, leaning forward slightly.

Galeth nodded, his expression grim. "There's no doubt. I found the Forest Behemoth already dead, cut down by a blade enchanted with powerful magic. The burn marks on its head were unlike anything I've seen in recent years."

The guildmaster's brow furrowed. "And you're sure it wasn't one of our own?"

"That's why I'm here," Galeth replied, his voice low. "I need to know if any high-ranking adventurers have been in the area recently. S-class, maybe A-class at the very least. Someone with the kind of power it would take to kill a Behemoth like that."

The guildmaster stroked his beard thoughtfully before glancing toward a young guild worker organizing scrolls nearby. "Fetch the records for the past few weeks," he ordered. The worker scurried off, and Galeth sat back, folding his arms across his chest as he waited.

In the meantime, the door to the guild creaked open, and Amelia, along with a few of her classmates, wandered inside. Her eyes instantly lit up when she saw Galeth, her infatuation with the legendary hero clear on her face. She nudged one of her friends, whispering excitedly as they all stared at him from across the room.

"Isn't he amazing?" Amelia gushed, her voice filled with admiration. "Galeth Van Holland, the hero of the Crimson King battle. I've heard he once took on a whole dungeon of monsters by himself."

Her friends giggled, but none more so than Amelia, who could barely contain her excitement. Ryuto, sitting at a corner table with Celeste and Roland, couldn't help but notice the way Amelia's eyes practically sparkled as she looked at Galeth.

His chest tightened with jealousy. He clenched his jaw and looked away, pretending not to care. But it was hard to ignore how much Amelia admired Galeth, and it didn't help that she had been talking about him non-stop for the past few days.

"What's the plan, Ryuto?" Roland asked, leaning in and lowering his voice so only their small group could hear.

Ryuto snapped back to the conversation, grateful for the distraction. "We need to keep a low profile," he said quietly. "If Galeth is sniffing around, it won't be long before he starts asking the wrong questions."

Celeste nodded in agreement, her eyes narrowing slightly as she glanced over at the hero. "He's thorough. He won't stop until he finds out who killed the Behemoth."

Ryuto felt a wave of unease wash over him. They had managed to hide their involvement in the Behemoth's death so far, but Galeth was no ordinary adventurer. His sharp instincts and investigative skills made him dangerous. One wrong move, and their secret could be exposed.

"I don't like this," Roland muttered, his usual carefree attitude replaced with worry. "What if he figures it out?"

Ryuto stared into his mug of ale, lost in thought. He had to think of a way to divert suspicion, something to keep Galeth off their trail. But as his mind raced, another, more dangerous thought surfaced. What if he used the Affection Points system to manipulate someone close to Galeth? Someone who could influence the investigation from the inside?

His gaze drifted toward the guild quest giver, a young woman with striking features and an air of confidence as she handed out assignments to the adventurers. She was beautiful, with long dark hair and a sharp wit that kept everyone around her on their toes. Ryuto had noticed her before, and now, with the weight of the situation bearing down on him, the temptation to use his system grew stronger.

Increase her affection, Ryuto thought, his mind racing with the possibilities. If she had a soft spot for him, she could help steer Galeth away from his investigation. It was risky, but it might just work.

"You're thinking about using the system again, aren't you?" Celeste asked, her voice cutting through his thoughts.

Ryuto blinked, startled by how easily she had read him. He glanced up at her, unsure of how to respond.

"You're not seriously considering that, are you?" Celeste continued, her tone sharp. "This isn't the time to be playing games with your system, Ryuto. We're dealing with someone far more dangerous than a guild worker."

Roland looked between them, frowning. "Wait, are we talking about… the Affection Points?"

Ryuto sighed. "I'm just… thinking about my options, okay? Galeth isn't going to stop until he finds out who killed that Behemoth, and if we don't do something, it's only a matter of time before he figures out it was us."

"But using the system to mess with people's feelings?" Roland scratched his head. "Isn't that a bit… much?"

Ryuto remained silent for a moment, staring at the quest giver across the room as she handed out scrolls to a group of adventurers. Was he really going to do this? Manipulate someone's feelings just to protect himself and his friends?

But then he thought about Amelia. How she swooned over Galeth, how she never paid Ryuto much attention unless it was about something superficial. The frustration and jealousy boiled beneath his skin. Maybe this wasn't just about avoiding suspicion anymore.

Maybe it was about winning.

"I'll think about it," Ryuto muttered, though his mind was already made up. If Galeth got too close, he'd use the system to protect himself. He had no other choice.

Celeste sighed, shaking her head. "Just… be careful, Ryuto. You're walking a fine line."

But Ryuto wasn't sure he cared anymore. He glanced at the guild quest giver one last time before turning back to his friends. "Let's just keep our heads down for now."

Across the room, Galeth rose from his seat, the guildmaster handing him a scroll. The conversation was over, but Ryuto knew it was only a matter of time before Galeth started closing in.

The air in the guild hall grew thick as Galeth Van Holland scanned the room, his sharp eyes watching every adventurer, every movement, as if he could detect a hint of the truth just by staring. Ryuto could feel the pressure of that gaze even from across the hall, and it only heightened his already tense nerves.

Galeth turned his attention back to the guildmaster, who handed him a sealed scroll. "No S-class adventurers have been active in this region for the past several months," the guildmaster said in a low voice. "A-class either. This… doesn't make sense."

"Someone killed that Behemoth," Galeth replied, his voice steady but firm. "And they weren't just powerful, they were skilled. I don't care if they're registered or not. Whoever it was, they're dangerous."

The guildmaster nodded solemnly. "I'll put the word out, but in a town like this, someone would've noticed a stranger with that kind of power."

Galeth didn't respond right away. His jaw tightened as he pocketed the scroll, his thoughts clearly elsewhere. As the conversation ended, he turned away, his eyes sweeping over the adventurers one more time before heading out the door. Ryuto felt a wave of relief as the hero finally exited the guild, but it was short-lived. The investigation was far from over, and Galeth's relentless determination was sure to bring him back.

Across the room, Amelia had finally sat down with her friends, though her gaze lingered on the door through which Galeth had just left. Her cheeks were flushed, and she was practically glowing with excitement.

"He's so amazing, isn't he?" Amelia said dreamily, not bothering to lower her voice. "A real hero, here in our town. I wish I could just talk to him, hear all about his adventures…"

Ryuto clenched his fists under the table. He tried to ignore the way Amelia kept swooning over Galeth, but it was impossible. Every word felt like a jab to his pride, and he couldn't stop himself from glancing over at her every few seconds, wondering why she couldn't see past Galeth's heroics and notice someone like him.

Celeste noticed too. "Forget about her," she whispered, leaning in so Roland couldn't hear. "You know she only likes him because of his reputation. That's not real."

"Easy for you to say," Ryuto muttered, his gaze dropping to the table. He had tried to let it go, but the jealousy gnawed at him. And with Galeth now investigating so close to the truth, everything felt like it was spiraling out of control.

Roland took a sip of his drink, oblivious to Ryuto's inner turmoil. "What do we do if Galeth finds out it was us?" His voice was hushed but laced with concern. "He'll report it to the guildmaster, right? I mean, we're just kids. Killing a Behemoth isn't exactly normal for people our age."

Ryuto ran a hand through his hair, frustration bubbling just beneath the surface. "I don't know. That's the problem. We can't exactly go up to him and say, 'Hey, we killed the Behemoth, please don't tell anyone.'"

Roland chuckled nervously, but it didn't ease the tension. "Yeah, probably not the best plan."

"That's why I'm thinking of using the system," Ryuto said quietly, leaning in so no one else could hear. "If I can get someone close to Galeth on our side, we can control what information he gets."

Roland raised an eyebrow. "You mean the Affection Points system? You're really going to use that again?"

Celeste shot Ryuto a warning glance, but he ignored it. He was tired of playing it safe. Every day they waited, the risk of being caught grew larger. And with Amelia constantly fawning over Galeth, it was getting harder to focus on anything else.

"Who would you use it on?" Roland asked, glancing around the room as if looking for someone Ryuto might target.

Ryuto's eyes flicked toward the guild quest giver again. She was standing by the counter, speaking to a group of adventurers, her long dark hair falling in waves over her shoulders. She had an air of confidence about her that made her stand out from the other guild workers, someone who could influence things behind the scenes. Ryuto had noticed how she interacted with the higher-ups, always in the know about important quests and who was doing what in the guild.

Her name was Elena, and if Ryuto played his cards right, she could be the key to steering Galeth's investigation away from him and his friends.

Roland followed Ryuto's gaze, then smirked. "Oh, I get it. You've got a thing for the hot guild worker."

Ryuto rolled his eyes. "It's not like that."

"Sure it's not," Roland teased, nudging him playfully. "Just be careful. The last thing you need is getting caught up in some weird love triangle with the guild master's favorite."

Celeste, who had been silent for a moment, leaned in closer, her voice sharp. "This is dangerous, Ryuto. You shouldn't be using the system like this. You're messing with people's emotions. It's going to backfire if you're not careful."

Ryuto frowned. "I know the risks, but what choice do we have? If we don't do something, Galeth's going to find out it was us. And then what? We get reported to the King? Sent off to some magic academy for training? No, thanks."

Celeste looked like she wanted to argue more, but she bit her tongue. She knew Ryuto was right. They didn't have many options, and Galeth was already too close to the truth for comfort.

"Just… don't push it too far," she warned, her expression softening slightly. "And be smart about it."

Ryuto nodded, though his mind was already spinning with the possibilities. He knew what he had to do. And as much as he hated the idea of manipulating someone's feelings, it felt like the only way to keep their secret safe.

He glanced at Elena again. She was laughing with a group of adventurers, completely unaware of the fact that Ryuto was already planning to use her as part of his next move.

"Tomorrow," he muttered under his breath, already forming a plan. "I'll start tomorrow."

The next day arrived faster than Ryuto had anticipated. As he made his way to the guild, his mind was racing, replaying every scenario where this plan could go wrong. Using the Affection Points system was always risky, but now, with Galeth poking around and his group being at the center of suspicion, the stakes felt impossibly high.

When Ryuto entered the guild hall, he spotted Elena immediately, standing behind the counter and chatting with a group of adventurers. Her dark hair caught the sunlight streaming through the windows, and she was smiling, confidently handling the adventurers' requests as if she was perfectly in control of everything happening around her.

Ryuto swallowed the lump in his throat. He'd never actually talked to her for more than a minute or two before, but today, that was about to change. As he moved toward the counter, his fingers twitched, hovering near his pocket where his smartphone was hidden. The Affection Points system was right there, just a tap away.

"This is crazy," Ryuto muttered to himself. "But I have to do it."

He approached the counter just as Elena finished with the adventurers, her gaze flicking toward him with mild curiosity.

"Ryuto, right?" Elena said, offering a professional smile. "What can I help you with today? Looking for a new quest?"

Ryuto hesitated, caught off guard by her directness. "Uh… yeah, I guess. Just seeing what's available."

Elena nodded and pulled out a scroll of current quests, spreading it across the counter for Ryuto to examine. "We've got a few low-tier requests, nothing too difficult. But if you're feeling confident, there's also a, "

Before she could finish, Ryuto slipped his hand into his pocket and quickly opened the Affection Points system. He selected Elena from the list of people he had recently interacted with and hovered over the "Increase Affection" option. His heart raced as he debated how many points to allocate. Too many, and it could backfire spectacularly. Too few, and it might not work at all.

Just a small push, Ryuto thought. Enough to get her to notice me and maybe steer Galeth in the wrong direction.

He tapped the screen, adding 10 affection points to Elena.

Nothing happened at first. Elena continued speaking, oblivious to Ryuto's internal turmoil. But after a few seconds, Ryuto noticed something subtle, a slight shift in her posture, the way she tilted her head toward him just a little more, the warmth in her eyes increasing as she met his gaze.

"You've been taking on quite a few quests lately, haven't you?" Elena said, her tone softer, more personal than before. "That's impressive for someone your age."

Ryuto forced a smile, trying to act casual. "I'm just trying to get some experience, you know? Get stronger."

Elena nodded, her expression brightening. "Well, you're on the right track. It's not easy out there, but I can tell you've got potential."

Ryuto felt a small surge of relief. The system was working, and for now, it seemed like things were going smoothly. He decided to push his luck just a little further.

"So, uh…" Ryuto started, trying to sound nonchalant. "I overheard that Galeth Van Holland is still investigating the Forest Behemoth. Is he still looking for whoever killed it?"

Elena's smile faltered slightly, but she quickly recovered. "Oh, Galeth. Yes, he's been around the guild every day, asking questions. He's convinced it wasn't just some random adventurer who killed the Behemoth."

Ryuto's stomach twisted. "Does he have any leads?"

Elena hesitated, glancing around as if to make sure no one was listening. "Not really. He thinks it's someone with powerful magic, but no one in town seems to fit the description. It's strange, honestly. You'd think someone capable of killing a Behemoth would stand out, right?"

Ryuto nodded, his nerves on edge. "Yeah… strange."

Elena leaned in slightly, lowering her voice. "Between you and me, I think Galeth might be barking up the wrong tree. I mean, we don't have anyone that powerful around here. He's probably overthinking it."

Ryuto couldn't help but feel a flicker of hope. Maybe Elena could actually help steer Galeth away from him and his friends after all.

"Anyway," Elena continued, her tone lighter again, "if you hear anything, let me know. Galeth is a great hero, but even he could use some help sometimes."

Ryuto nodded, his heart pounding in his chest. "Of course."

As Elena turned to help the next group of adventurers, Ryuto stepped back from the counter, his mind racing. The system had worked, Elena seemed friendlier, more willing to share information with him. But there was still a long way to go before he could breathe easy.

He turned to leave, only to find Roland and Celeste waiting by the entrance, their expressions a mix of curiosity and concern.

"Well?" Roland asked, his voice low. "How'd it go?"

Ryuto shrugged, trying to act casual. "It's working. Elena's going to keep an eye on things, maybe steer Galeth away from us. But it's not a sure thing yet."

Celeste crossed her arms, her gaze sharp. "You better hope it works. If Galeth finds out, there's no telling what he'll do."

"I know," Ryuto muttered, his stomach churning with nerves. "I'm doing the best I can."

They made their way out of the guild and into the bustling town streets, the weight of the situation pressing down on them. Ryuto couldn't shake the feeling that things were spiraling out of control. Galeth was getting closer, and even with the system, it was only a matter of time before the truth came out.

As they walked, Amelia passed by with a group of her friends, her eyes lighting up when she saw Ryuto.

"Hey, Ryuto!" Amelia called, waving enthusiastically. "Guess what? I saw Galeth again this morning! He's so cool, right?"

Ryuto forced a smile, though inside, he felt a stab of jealousy. "Yeah… cool."

Amelia grinned, completely oblivious to his inner turmoil. "Anyway, I've gotta run! See you later!"

As Amelia and her friends disappeared into the crowd, Ryuto felt a deep sense of frustration building inside him. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't shake the jealousy gnawing at him. Galeth was everywhere, and now even Amelia was caught up in the hero's orbit.

"Forget about her," Celeste said quietly, watching him carefully. "She's not worth it."

Ryuto sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It's not just her. It's everything. Galeth, the system, the Behemoth… It's all too much."

Roland placed a reassuring hand on Ryuto's shoulder. "We'll figure it out. Just keep your head down, and we'll get through this."

Ryuto nodded, though the weight of the situation still pressed heavily on his shoulders. As they made their way back to the estate, he couldn't help but wonder how much longer they could keep this up.