Souls Online: Mythic Ascension
Chapter 170: Chaos Pantheon

Chapter 170: Chaos Pantheon

Leo could practically feel the weight of each stare digging into the back of his skull like daggers made of expectation and thinly-veiled threat. Slowly, reluctantly, he turned around and instantly wished that he hadn’t.

With the exception of Aria, they were all lined up. Like predators in a sales pitch deathmatch.

Luna was the first to step forward, Moku still tucked comfortably under one arm, now gnawing on the jerky like a contented infant. Her free hand curled into a fist and rested on her hip.

"Of course I should be the Vice Guildmaster, right Bro? I am strong, the one who makes food for everyone and I am also the most responsible one."

Leo averted his gaze as his thoughts didn’t quite align with that.

Responsible, huh...? This is the same girl who charged headfirst into a battle and was ripping literal limbs off a monster with her bare hands and a smile! Too Dangerous. No!

He forced a polite nod, hoping she wouldn’t notice the twitch in his eye.

Before he could say anything, Rachel stepped forward like a shadow with a plan. She tilted her head, offering that smug little smile of hers, the one he had learned that never meant anything good.

"Leo," she said smoothly, "we both know I’m the one who can handle things when they get... interesting."

’Rachel’s too unpredictable. One second she’s solving a problem, the next she is the problem. I trust her....mostly...I think..But putting her in charge would be like handing matches to a bored cat and hoping the house doesn’t burn down’

She didn’t wait for his answer, just took a casual step back with an infuriating wink, as if she’d already won.

From the side, Aria cleared her throat. When Leo glanced over, she shook her head gently.

"I’ll pass," she said quietly. "I’m not really... leadership material."

At least she’s honest about it.

And that left—

"Obviously I should be Vice Guildmaster,"

Lily chimed in, already halfway into her pitch before anyone asked.

Leo blinked and glanced at her, eyebrows raised.

Lily gave him a lazy smile, curling her fingers around the edge of the counter like she was barely interested in the whole thing.

I mean, who else is going to keep this mess together when you’re off doing whatever mysterious brooding stuff you do? I’m smart, I’m calm, and honestly, I know how to get things done without turning the place upside down.

Leo’s thoughts spiraled.

Calm? Hardly. She’s like a cat in a room full of rocking chairs, too laid-back to care but somehow still knocking things over. Getting things done usually means convincing someone else to do it for her.

He rubbed the back of his neck and sighed.

’What am I going to do?’

"You guys are still here? I thought creating a guild would take like 5 minutes? What’s taking so long?

Turning his head, Leo saw Adam approaching with a beautiful elvish girl following him from behind.

"Ouroboros!"

Leo called out immediately in a moment of cunning manner as the receptionist began to write.

Adam blinked.

Of all the outcomes he had anticipated when walking up to the counter, being voluntold into a leadership role was not one of them.

His eyes narrowed ever so slightly. "Leo," he said in a quiet, measured tone,

"What... exactly... Did you just do?"

Leo smiled. Not the confident kind. The desperate, cornered-animal kind.

"Delegated."

Silence.

Not the peaceful kind. The looming kind.

Leo could feel it. The heat of their stares. Not from Adam, but from the girls lined up behind him. Luna, Rachel, and Lily, each of them radiating a different flavor of disbelief and judgment like a perfectly cursed gourmet sampler.

Luna’s ears twitched once. She didn’t say a word. She didn’t have to. The expression on her face was pure betrayal. Moku paused mid-chew and looked up at her, mirroring her flat stare.

Rachel tilted her head slightly, arms folded, gaze unreadable but sharp. There was a smile on her lips, but it wasn’t one of amusement. It was the kind predators gave just before deciding whether or not you were worth the effort.

Lily, still leaning lazily on the counter, gave an exaggerated blink. Then she let her head loll to the side to look at Leo like he’d just poured tea into his shoe and called it strategy. She didn’t speak either. Just let out a long, slow sigh that somehow made him feel smaller with every second it dragged on.

Aria, who had wisely removed herself from the power struggle entirely, was the only one who looked mildly sympathetic. She gave Adam a soft shrug, like she wanted to say "good luck" but also didn’t want to draw attention.

Adam closed his eyes. Breathed in. Breathed out.

Then turned to Leo again.

"You’re forcing this on me, aren’t you?"

"Yes,"

Leo admitted instantly, not even bothering to lie.

"You know I don’t want it."

"Yes,"

he repeated.

"You know they’re all going to be insufferable about it."

A tiny nod.

"I’m aware."

Adam looked at the girls. Then back at Leo. Then at the slowly forming migraine pressing behind his eyes.

"...Fine," he muttered. "But if anything goes wrong, I’m putting your name on every complaint form."

Leo exhaled in relief like a man who had just passed a very dangerous, very silent trial.

From behind him, Rachel clicked her tongue softly. Luna’s brow twitched. Lily looked deeply unimpressed.

Before any of them could launch into a verbal war, a chime echoed through the guild hall.

World Announcement: Congratulations to the Founding Members of the First Official Guild:Chaos Pantheon.

Rewards: +1 Level, +100 Guild Reputation, +20 Fame

The argument that was brewing between everyone vanished into thin air as something more important had appeared. They had felt the surge of warmth course through their bodies as they leveled up.

The reason why it was so important was that this was an important milestone. They had collectively hit Level 10! That also meant it was time to learn some new skills