“What’s there to think about?”
All attention went to Ren when he spoke.
Ren didn’t mind the gazes in his direction and chugged a glass of wine in one gulp. “Sumeri Richers, a pro gamer in Clash of Guilds.” Ren knew who she was since the woman was a popular player in her days. He often saw her face and Scar’s on magazines and billboards.
“If you have the talent in gaming, then use it in COVENANT. Earn big and buy back your hotels. As simple as that.”
. . .
. . .
Sumeri laughed a little. “It’s not that simple.”
“It is. All things are easy if they are done willingly. You just lack the resolve.”
There was silence for a moment, and Leonel didn’t know where to put his eyes. Ren was being sarcastic again. “H-Hoi, Ren . . .”
Sumeri’s smile dropped, and she faced Ren with a serious expression. “It’s just a game, and I can’t earn that big amount enough to buy back our company. I need billions.”
Ren stared back at Sumeri, and the intensity in his eyes made the latter’s heart skip a beat, but not in a romantic kind of way. Something in his gaze peered right through into her thoughts, scaring her in the process. Like he knew her greatest fears and weakness.
“Maybe you can’t because you’re already giving up without even trying. But look at us. In a matter of one month, we bought a unit in this place. Us, who didn’t have anything before, lived in the slums and working part-time to make ends meet. We’re living proof that COVENANT isn’t just a game. It changed our life.”
Another round of silence hung in the air. Looking at Ren, Sumeri couldn’t fathom how he excluded so much confidence more than Ragnar himself. Like everything he said was the law. He looked so young but so mature.
She, on the other hand, had lost all confidence. She was kicked out of her previous team. Abandoned by the man she loves. And now, she had lost everything she had. She felt like a failure.
It looked like the past her –– confident, aggressive, assertive, and one hell of a fighter, was a ghost of the past.
Sumeri looked at Nikolai for a moment. He was all that she had left. Was she going to lose him too?
A fire burned in Sumeri’s heart and blazed even brighter when Nikolai blinked in her direction and flashed a small smile.
“Such confidence from someone so young.” Sumeri chuckled, and her face blossomed into a genuine smile for the first time after like forever since her parents had died. “You’re making me embarrassed about myself.”
Ren shrugged. “It’s not about age. It’s about what you want to do and stick to it.”
Sumeri giggled before looking at Silvia. “I think . . . I might give this game a try after all.” She was scared of facing Scar for fear of rejection. Afraid of facing the gaming world again for fear of failure. Afraid of knowing that she wasn’t that good as she made out to believed.
But with Nikolai . . . it seemed like all of it were irrelevant and everything was going to be alright as long as they were together.
Silvia’s face brightened. “Then!”
“But I won’t be entering a guild.”
Silvia’s smile dropped. “Why not?”
“I want to explore the world first,” she then looked at Nikolai, who was silent at the side, “with my brother.”
It was only when Sumeri realized she was neglecting Nikolai in pursuit of their company in the past few days. Their parents were already dead, but she was blindingly following their shadows even though she wasn’t good at business. She wasn’t even a business graduate.
And the one she must protect and take care of was Nikolai. Not her parent’s legacy. She mustn’t remain in the past forever.
Sumeri looked over at Ren. He looked young but had an aura of maturity far beyond his age. And how he carried himself with indifference and confidence attracted a lot of attention.
She was used to seeing men like that, but he was something different entirely. Scar’s confidence was ironed to him by his upbringing, while Ren was forged with something else. Something that Sumeri couldn’t quite put her finger on.
While everyone was busy chattering, Ragnar suddenly noticed a girl with white hair wearing a face mask. Though she was hiding her appearance, Ragnar was sure that he knew her.
“Evie,” he called.
Ren’s cool disappeared, and he choked on his drink. A good thing that he just drank a little. He immediately put down his glass and flicked his attention at the approaching girl.
Evie sighed before she pulled down her mask below her chin. “I was hoping that you wouldn’t recognize me.”
Silvia’s eyes widened. She was about to acknowledge Evie’s appearance when she was surprised that Ragnar smiled. His no nonsense face actually broke into a smile.
“Did you wear a mask because you saw me here?”
Evie shook her head. “My face is troublesome, so I hide it mostly in public.”
Ragnar chuckled. “Glad to know I’m not the only one having a problem with my face.”
Ren’s forehead crumpled at their exchange while Silvia’s smile faltered a little.
“You know Evie too?” she asked Ragnar.
“Hello, Silvia. Nikolai,” Evie greeted before she flicked her attention at the man with a scowl on his face. “Ren.”
Though Evie’s expression remained dead. She was surprised inside that Ren and Ragnar knew each other, and her hope was ignited that he might really be the Ren she knew in the game. He just didn’t want to tell her.
But, of course, it was merely her conjectures. There was still a fifty percent chance that the Ren she knew in the game was a different person entirely.
“I’m getting confused,” Sumeri hid her feelings of being left out behind a laugh. “You guys know each other?”
“Evie and I met on the game,” Silvia explained.
“Likewise,” Ragnar said before he gave Ren a meaningful glance.
Ren grumbled under his breath. “She’s my classmate.”
“Whoa.” Leonel shifted his eyes at Ren and Evie before he settled his gaze on the girl. “Why didn’t you tell me that you have a classmate that can pass out as a fairy queen?”
Ren ignored Leonel while Evie asked Ragnar the question she wanted to ask.
“How are you acquainted with Ren?”
It was a slip of the tongue, and both Ragnar and Ren paused for a brief second. They realized that Evie was starting to become suspicious.
Ren couldn’t blame her. His voice, his built, and him together with Ragnar would plant that suspicion in her head.
Ragnar cleared his throat before he answered, “We’ve cleared Gargantuan Cave together.”
“. . .” There was a short silence before Evie’s lashes turned low, almost hiding her eyes. Her expression was blank, but disappointment radiated from her slumped shoulders. “Is that so?”
“Anyway, do you want to join us?” Silvia asked, all smiles. “I haven’t repaid you back at Vulcan’s Cave.”
Evie merely shook her head. “It’s fine. I only need the EXP and Gil. And I need to get back to work.”
Evie excused herself before she left while Silvia and Sumeri chattered.
“What a beautiful girl. She reminds me of a porcelain doll,” Sumeri said with a laugh.
“Tell me about it,” Silvia seconded while elbowing Ragnar, whose eyes strained at Evie as she walked away. She had to admit that she was jealous that Ragnar smiled to another girl beside her. But there were no romantic feelings between the two of them, so she didn’t feel any bad blood with Evie if the latter did manage to steal Ragnar’s attention.
Too bad that any love between them, if ever, would cease to exist the moment that Ragnar’s parents knew his feelings.
Silvia shook her head in pity. They may have all the things in the world, but in exchange for that, they must sacrifice their freedom.
While Silvia and Sumeri chatted, Leonel elbowed Ren when he saw the latter’s eyes constantly peeking at the girl called Evie.
“I don’t blame you if you like her. But don’t make it so obvious,” he whispered with a laugh.
Ren retrieved his gaze and merely shook his head. He then noticed that Nikolai was quiet throughout while occasionally glancing at him.
“What is it?” Ren asked when he couldn’t stand Nikolai’s fervent stares anymore.
Nikolai’s big eyes shone with enthusiasm. “Mister. You really sounded like the Ren, I know!”