Endless Evolution As A Skeleton In A Game-Like World

"One..."

When Olivia saw the look on Ark’s face, worry crept into her heart. She stopped eating as she stared at him. He had lowered his gaze, his ashy grey hair falling past his face, and his blue eyes were teary.

"Ark? What is the second requirement?" She glanced at Thalia who shrugged. Now she was almost afraid to hear what it was.

Would they ask him to bring back a Wyvern’s head? Or would they have to survive a death zone?

Ark let out a breath and raised his head, his jaw clenched tightly. "One million credits."

Olivia blinked. "You idiot! Is that why you are acting like someone died?" She flung a piece of chicken at his face.

Ark grabbed it with his teeth and began chewing.

"Whash do you meanh?" He said in between mouthfuls. "How can they charge me one million credits just to register a guild?!"

That was corruption at its highest form!

"But didn’t Lady Freude lend us ten million credits?" Thalia interjected with a confused look on her face.

"Well if you take one million out of ten, it won’t be one million any longer now, will it?"

Right now, the ten million looked pretty, sitting in his account like a new girlfriend.

If he took one million off, then it would become an ugly nine million...

"He’s just greedy." Olivia sat back as she crossed her hands over her chest.

Ark muttered something underneath his breath before continuing. "Anyways, apart from that there are three other things we need to do."

"These are not part of the association requirements, but they are important."

"I’m guessing a guild house is one of them?" Thalia asked.

Ark nodded. "That is one. We can’t keep renting an inn, we need a permanent location at least."

"Then members?" Olivia added. "We also need more members right?"

"Yes, at least seven more members." Ten guild members was the standard for a new guild.

They would still be able to operate without that many, but it was a good number to have if you wanted some system perks.

But Ark was in no hurry to quickly acquire ten members, they would come naturally as the guild grew, that was a fact.

He was not interested in weaklings who were looking for a guild to hide under, Ark’s plan was to recruit powerful players that could grow alongside him.

Thalia finished eating and pushed her tray towards Olivia, who happily added Thalia’s food to hers. "And what is the last one?"

"Well..." Ark’s fingers thrummed on the table. "I’m thinking of getting a guild manager."

"A guild manager?"

He nodded. Starting a guild was a necessary step to becoming number one in Eden, and it allowed him to even have peaceful moments like this.

But managing a guild was hard work, and it could be very distracting. Ark’s goal was still to become the strongest, so there would be times he would be locked away in training for weeks, or stuck in a tower for months or even years.

Ark needed someone capable of running the guild during those times.

And there was also guild politics, negotiations and forging alliances, all things he would rather not get too deep into.

Finding someone well versed in all these areas was undoubtedly difficult, but thankfully, Ark already had someone in mind...

When they were done eating, it was time to assign tasks.

"Thalia, can you handle finding the Iron-Rank dungeon that we will clear?"

She smiled. "Of course I can. I will visit the association to look through available dungeons immediately we are done here."

Ark nodded then turned his attention to Olivia. "We need a place to train, we aren’t jumping into a dungeon without proper preparation, can you handle that?"

Olivia had a smug grin on her face. "I already have a few places in mind, I’ll look into them!"

"Alright, then I’ll handle the first part of the guild registration." Ark frowned slightly. "It’s a shame I can’t join you guys, my sisters will kill me if I spend one more day in Eden."

And he had to admit, he was missing them already...

Olivia’s expression immediately dimmed. "You are... leaving?"

"Hmm?" Ark was surprised by her reaction. "Well, just for a little bit. One day or two at maximum, and then I’ll be back."

She frowned and averted her gaze. "I didn’t ask how long you will be gone, do you think I care?" She muttered in a low tone.

"Oh, and that reminds me..."

Tap!

Olivia kept staring in the other direction, but after a few seconds, she glanced at her table, only to see a leather-bound book in front of her.

The book had an orange leather cover, a green crystal embedded in the center of its cover page, and electric patterns etched into its sides.

The moment Olivia picked it up, her eyes widened slightly, the book was so light that it almost felt weightless.

And it was pretty...

"What is this?" Olivia frowned as she stared at him.

"It is a spatial diary, I bought it from the Mystery meat guy!" The moment Ark laid eyes on it, he knew that he could never let it go. "Cool right? No matter how much you write, it will never run out."

"As if, what am I going to do with a stupid book?" Olivia waved it in the air. "You should have gotten me a bucket of fried chicken and I would have loved it much mor—"

"Then can I have the book- -" Thalia was saying when Olivia suddenly hissed, slapped away her hand with her wings, before clutching the book close to her chest.

Thalia gave her a dumbfounded stare while rubbing her aching hand.

"It’s rude to reject gifts..." she nervously said as she eyed the diary.

Besides...

An unreadable emotion flashed in her eyes. This was exactly what she needed considering her condition, but...

She glanced at Ark, trying to read him. Had he bought the diary for that exact reason? Or had it simply been something he did on a whim?

Olivia sighed and opened the book. A magical pen suddenly appeared between its pages.

She grabbed the pen and brought the book close to herself, so that no one would be able to see it as she scribbled down.

— Fourth day of June, 206, The Steller Year.

Ark bought me a diary ㅤ♡٩(ˊ ᵕ ˋ )و

—

"So? What did you write?" Ark asked as he watched the pen disappear.

"None of your business!" She snapped the book shut, before storing it in her inventory.

And then a faint smile appeared on her lips.

<•••>

While Olivia immediately went to begin her task, Ark and Thalia decided to make one last stop before he left Eden.

He had promised Cracker a souvenir, and Ark knew that it would be the first thing she would ask about when he got back.

Although he stored a few treats he had gotten during the festival, he did not want to give her something that would only last a day.

And that was how they arrived at a rather peculiar shop. According to Thalia, it was the best place to go if you wanted to buy a gift.

"By the way." She asked as they stared at the sign board. "The diary you got Olivia, I think something like that would be very handy, especially for keeping records about the guild."

"How much did it cost?"

"Oh..." Ark grabbed the door to the store and pushed it open, the chime of the bell ringing above them.

"One million."