Dove POV

I woke up at two in the morning, my mind finally cleared. I lost. The feeling finally sunk it. While brooding over my defeat I noticed Hawk’s absence.

I first checked on the upper floor and didn’t find him. I went down and searched but he was nowhere to be found.

Finally, I found him at our backyard seated in an Indian seat.

As I approached him, I said, “Sorry for losing.”

“It’s alright. You did better than expected.”

I sat down behind him and lay my back to his. I said, “Even if our life wasn’t on the line, losing sucks, huh?”

“Indeed, it does. In any case, we have to fix ourselves. While our explorations slowed due to the tournament, it shouldn’t be that long before we discover the next location.”

“It was just confirmed it wasn’t the city, right?”

“Yes. So it means a dungeon. The city is probably next though.”

“Yeah. About the prize, what do we do with it? Do you want the Diamond Sword?”

“Let’s share it like we always do in Duels. If we’re both fighting though you should use it.”

“Okay. Do you mind if I make a request?”

“Depends on the request of course.”

I sent a Duel proposal to Hawk to which he immediately accepted.

Rem POV

“Why don’t you join ARF already?” I asked as I ate dinner with a certain girl scouted by ARF.

We were eating in a private room at a certain restaurant. Across the table was a girl normally known hide her face with a hood and her hair; however, right now, her face was clear for me to see. Crow was cuter than most. This was coming from me who was considered one of the prettiest girls in Naut City. Crow’s face was simply adorable and made people want to cherish her. With her eyes and hair blacker than the darkest abyss, she could charm the hearts of many if she wished. In fact, she already had.

“Indeed. That would be the optimal choice; however, I would be in the limelight, which I dislike.” Replied a girl.

“It’s Hawk you know. He has probably gotten a good grasp on why you are how are you are.”

“I know. With their amazing performance in the tournament, no longer is ARF the dark horse they were before. If I joined them now, all eyes would be on me.”

“I guess you’re right. But I’m telling you as one of your few friends here, you can’t keep going solo forever. Especially since you’re a healer. Speaking of which, why did you choose to be a healer when you don’t want the attention of others?”

Crow, with surprised eyes, took a while before replying, “It seems my regret on failing to save them outweigh my disdain of being in the limelight.”

“So you really are her.” I said, finally confirming Crow’s identity.

“So, you do know. By transitivity, Hawk knows as well.”

“He’s trying to save you. You should let him, before it’s too late.”

Finally finishing her meal, Crow stood and returned to her attentionless look. “I hope so too.”

Liza POV

Liza’s childhood friend Alcor finally mustered the courage to tell Liza what happened. His eyes bowled from the hurt and sadness he felt. Liza patted his head in an attempt to calm him, but it proved ineffective.

“How do you deal with it?” asked Alcor.

Liza pondered long and hard for the best reply. Saying the incorrect words may break him completely.

“There is one fundamental difference between you and Liza: Liza and Dove are friends, you and Hawk are not. The moment Liza saw Hawk look at Dove, somewhere in Liza’s heart I knew it was over for Liza. Not only that, Hawk never had a need to manipulate Liza in a painful way. This is not only due to Hawk being better at manipulation but also because Dove’s character is way more stable than Hawk’s.”

“I guess it is my family’s destiny to fall in love with the wrong person.”

“Destiny… Liza wonders what Players would think if they heard Characters conversing about destiny.”

Kin POV

I arrived in our designated meeting place ahead of time. Even so, Swan was already there waiting for me.

“It’s half an hour before our designated meeting time.” I told her.

“Hawk told me you would arrive ahead of time.” Replied Swan.

“You told him about our meeting?” I asked since it would imply that Swan revealed unnecessary information.

Despite not specifically discussing it, we Players had a consensus that any information exchange between Players should be kept private as much as needed. Information should only be announced to many when necessary.

“No, Hawk made me confirm we were meeting by directly asking me whether we would meet or not even though he just had a hunch.”

“I see, so he got his groove back quite fast. He laid low for a few days after losing the tournament.”

“Hawk has Dove supporting him now making him a lot more stable.”

“Indeed, speaking of men supporting women, I have a request to you. I need you to help me fix Gin. Since you’re the strongest female character here, it has to be you.”

“I figured as much. So? What do I get in exchange?”

“Location of an Artefact Rarity Medium Armor.”

Swan’s eyes lit up for a while from what I said. It took a while before she replied, “If you’re telling me something this valuable, it means you cannot acquire it yourself.”

“You got me. But the knowledge itself is valuable, is it not?”

“Fine, I accept the offer.”

“Where do we start?

“Tell me what made Gin this way.”

I spent the rest of the day recounting to Swan the events that led to Gin’s attitude.