Slurp—
Ivsa lightly licked her fingertips, a look of deep satisfaction blooming across her breathtaking face. Her gaze softened, drifting into a hazy, languid reverie, as if savoring the aftertaste of what had just occurred.
"Mr. Kurose Akira, you really should eat less sweets~"
At Ivsa's advice, Kurose Akira merely cast her an indifferent glance.
Lowering his voice, he said, "Ivsa, you're a nun. You should pay more attention to your demeanor and conduct."
What he meant, of course, wasn't moral reproach—but technique. He wanted her to be gentler, more refined, to use finesse rather than brute force when drawing from him.
"But~ my master~ I'm not just a nun, you know~ I'm also a succubus~" Ivsa replied with a playful smile, though she carefully committed his words to heart.
"Alright. Hurry up and get dressed. A new adventurer will be arriving soon."
"Mmm~"
Kurose Akira shrugged, urging Ivsa to put her clothes back on.
He himself headed toward the washroom, tidying up his appearance in preparation to welcome the new adventurer.
As for whether Ivsa's succubus identity caused him any concern—
He didn't give it much thought.
The existence of the [Unwavering Loyalty] trait ensured that Ivsa's interest was directed solely at him.
That alone earned this game a solid endorsement in his book. As a self-professed ML-type player, Ivsa's character design was absolutely on point.
When he finished composing himself and returned to the guild hall—
Ivsa had already changed back into her nun's habit. The neat black robe accentuated her pure, refined aura, completely erasing the overtly sensual presence she'd exuded just moments before.
The abrupt transformation caught Kurose Akira slightly off guard. Her ability to switch modes was impressively swift.
"Mr. Kurose Akira," Ivsa asked curiously, "what kind of person is the new adventurer…?"
"It…"
Kurose Akira froze for a second.
Truth be told, he wasn't entirely sure himself. All he knew was that the phrase Oathbound Knight suggested someone extremely serious.
In that instant of thought, he summoned the new adventurer to the guild.
A brilliant light flashed.
The guild doors slowly opened.
A heavily armored Oathbound Knight clad in white-gold plate stepped inside with measured, weighty strides—and instantly seized Kurose Akira's attention.
The thick armor wrapped the figure's frame completely, giving off an impression of overwhelming solidity. The white-gold helmet concealed the face entirely, radiating an air of mystery.
Unable to see the knight's appearance, Kurose Akira focused instead on admiring the armor itself.
It was exquisitely crafted. The family crest engraved upon it, along with the gilded golden trim, conveyed nobility and authority. The chest plate bulged outward distinctly—one could easily imagine that it once carried a heavy burden beneath.
But now…
Kurose Akira's gaze shifted to the knight's hands—the only exposed part of the body.
What he saw wasn't flesh.
It was bone—hand bones that gleamed like cut diamonds.
Undead.
Exactly as the trait combination implied—
"Undead Crystalline Construct of the White Rose and the Oathbound Knight."
An undead knight built from crystalline bones.
Inside that imposing suit of armor was nothing more than a skeleton.
Ivsa, standing nearby, was also staring intently at the new adventurer. A deep-seated sense of pressure and fear flickered in her eyes. This new companion emitted an invisible aura that made her feel faintly suffocated.
"You—"
Just as Kurose Akira was about to speak, the adventurer's information panel appeared in his vision.
[Lotherin (Legendary)]Level: 10 (0/2000)Race: Undead / HumanStrength: 200 / Agility: 200 / Magic: 200 / Constitution: 200Growth: 12 (Gains +12 to all attributes per level)Skills: (Expand)Traits: [White Rose and Oathbound Knight][Undead][Crystalline Construct]
"A level 10 Legendary adventurer!?"
Kurose Akira's eyes lit up.
He'd actually recruited a Legendary-tier adventurer!?
[White Rose and Oathbound Knight]: Once received the Oath Rite of the White Rose. While under the White Rose state, all attributes +100%, danger perception +100%, but pain perception also +100%.
"Danger perception +100%? Pain perception +100%?"
[Undead]: A necrotic being. Immune to pain. Immune to mental control effects. Damage taken from holy magic increased by 100%.
"…Perfect synergy!?"
[Crystalline Construct]: A body constructed of crystal. Hardness +100%, Strength +100%, immune to elemental damage.
"…?"
Kurose Akira was utterly stunned by Lotherin's absurdly powerful trait set.
It was outrageous.
A pure, unfiltered powerhouse.
"Lotherin! Welcome to my guild!"
Kurose Akira greeted her enthusiastically—
But received no response.
The knight simply stared at him in silence. An eerie glow leaked from the slits of the helmet.
"Mr. Kurose Akira… it seems like she can't speak?" Ivsa observed, noticing the anomaly as well.
"Uh…"
Kurose Akira didn't answer immediately, his eyes fixed on the newly displayed prompt.
Because—
[Due to becoming undead, this adventurer suffers from memory defects. She has lost the ability to speak, and only retains fragmented remnants of her past memories.]
Amnesia?
Mute?
Kurose Akira frowned slightly. That wasn't good news.
However, judging from the status display, it seemed to be a temporary condition—one that could potentially be resolved through certain means.
"Lotherin?"
He called her name again, attempting to establish some form of connection.
This time, she reacted.
Her crystalline finger bones twitched faintly, then slowly extended—straight toward Kurose Akira's eyes.
The gesture startled him. He had no idea what she was trying to convey.
"Can you write?"
He asked again.
Lotherin nodded gently, as if responding to his voice—
Then shook her head.
That contradiction left him confused.
Moments later, she extended a bone finger and carved words into the surface of the counter.
I do not require payment. Please help me recover my memories.
"No payment?"
Kurose Akira raised an eyebrow, surprised—but also quietly pleased.
At least from a guildmaster's perspective, that was undeniably a plus.
All things considered, her strengths and weaknesses were crystal clear.
Though Lotherin couldn't speak and had lost her memories, her overwhelming combat power alone was more than enough to serve as a solid pillar for the guild's future.
The moment Kurose Akira successfully recruited his second adventurer, the familiar ethereal voice echoed in his mind once more.
[Your current Player Rating: F+][You currently have five Commission Quests and two Character Quests available!]
[Commission Quest]Commission Quest I (E): Protect Loshia! (Time Remaining: 72h)Recommended Level: 8Rewards: Silver Coins ×10, EXP ×1000Special Reward: A Memory Fragment…