My Alt Account Became the World's No. 1 Hunter

The room fell quiet, filled only by the ambient beeps and low noises of the clinic’s machines.

For a second, it felt like the argument had left a crater between them, something neither of them knew how to cross without saying something they might regret.

Then, unexpectedly, Theodore let out a low scoff, the sound almost like a laugh.

Lea blinked. "Why are you laughing?"

He shook his head, still smirking like he was surprised by his own reaction. "It’s nothing. I just... I didn’t think you cared that much."

Her eyes went wide, face pulling into a look halfway between outrage and disbelief. "Are you an idiot?" she snapped. "I was just—"

But before she could finish laying into him, Theodore raised a hand in surrender, the grin fading into something gentler. "I know. I know. You don’t have to say it. I get it."

Lea hesitated, thrown off by the shift in energy. "Then what did you mean, when you said I didn’t need to worry?"

Theodore leaned back slightly, folding his arms across his chest. "Because I’m not joining just any guild. I got contacted by a really good one. After the Eastern District Gate Challenge, someone reached out."

Lea squinted. "What’s the Eastern District Gate Challenge?"

He blinked, face blank. "...Don’t worry about it."

His deadpan delivery made her snort in disbelief.