The Extra's Rise-Chapter 567: Master (2)

I arrived at the Ouroboros guild headquarters with my usual efficiency, my heels clicking against the polished floors as I made my way through the familiar corridors. After weeks of intensive intelligence gathering and coordination work, Arthur had finally given me some time off—something I had initially protested but had come to appreciate. The brief respite had allowed me to catch up on personal matters and recharge my mental batteries, but now I was ready to dive back into the complex web of information management that kept our operations running smoothly.

The guild building was bustling with activity, as usual. Staff members moved purposefully through the halls, coordinating various projects and maintaining the intricate systems that supported our Gold-rank status. The aetherite mining project had everyone energized—the potential applications were staggering, and being part of such a groundbreaking venture had elevated morale throughout the organization.

As I approached Arthur’s office, I noticed Elias at his desk in the outer administrative area, his phone pressed to his ear with a somewhat urgent expression on his face. He looked up as I passed, his eyes widening slightly as he recognized me.

"Kali, wait—" he started to say, raising his free hand in what appeared to be a gesture meant to stop me.

But I was already in motion, my hand on the door handle to Arthur’s private office. I had been coming and going from this space for months without ceremony, and the habit of simply entering when I needed to discuss important matters was deeply ingrained. Arthur had never minded my direct approach before—if anything, he seemed to prefer the efficiency of skipping formal announcements when we had guild business to discuss.

"I need to speak with Arthur about intelligence networks," I called back to Elias without slowing down. "It won’t take long."

I turned the handle and stepped through the doorway, already formulating the briefing I needed to deliver about some concerning developments in the political landscape. The words died on my lips as I took in the scene before me.

Arthur was seated at his desk, apparently working through some paperwork, but that wasn’t what caused my brain to momentarily short-circuit. It was Reika—beautiful, devoted Reika with her distinctive violet hair and those mesmerizing violet eyes—who was positioned on the floor beside his chair, her head resting comfortably in his lap while his hand moved through her hair in gentle, rhythmic strokes.

For a moment, absolute silence filled the room. My mind raced through possible explanations for what I was witnessing, each one more unlikely than the last. They both looked completely comfortable with the arrangement, as if this was the most natural thing in the world. Arthur’s expression showed mild embarrassment at being discovered, but there was also something protective in the way his hand stilled in Reika’s hair. As for Reika herself, she looked utterly content, practically glowing with satisfaction.

"Oh," I managed to say, raising one hand to cover my mouth in an automatic gesture of surprise. "I... apologize for disturbing you both. I should have knocked."

Arthur’s face was flushing a becoming shade of pink. "Kali, wait—" he started to protest, but I was already backing toward the door.

"It’s not urgent," I said quickly, though my investigative mind was already filing away every detail of what I had just witnessed. "We can discuss it later. Much later. When you’re... less occupied."

I retreated from the office with as much dignity as I could muster, closing the door behind me and leaving them to whatever unconventional arrangement they had developed. As I stood in the corridor, processing what I had just seen, I became aware of Elias watching me with a knowing expression.

"I tried to warn you," he said simply, hanging up his phone. "He’s been... busy with guild matters."

"Guild matters," I repeated slowly. "Is that what we’re calling it?" freewebnøvel.coɱ

Elias shrugged with the diplomatic neutrality that made him so effective in his administrative role. "It’s not my place to question the guild master’s methods, as long as they don’t interfere with operations."

I found myself thinking about what I knew of Reika’s feelings for Arthur. It hadn’t exactly been a secret among those of us who worked closely with her. The way she looked at him, the devotion in her voice when she spoke about him, the obvious adoration that colored every interaction—anyone with eyes could see that she was completely enamored with our guild master.

And honestly, I was happy for her. Reika had been through so much, had suffered in ways that few people could truly understand. If Arthur’s attention brought her joy and comfort, who was I to judge the form that happiness took? She deserved every bit of love and care she could find.

But I had to admit, the scene I had just witnessed was... unexpected. Even knowing about Reika’s feelings, I hadn’t anticipated this particular development in their relationship.

Then again, perhaps I shouldn’t have been so surprised. Arthur had an almost supernatural ability to attract the affections of remarkable women. Rachel Creighton, Cecilia Slatemark, Seraphina Zenith, Rose Springshaper—four of the most extraordinary young women of our generation, all completely devoted to him. And now Reika, with her unique beauty and fierce loyalty, had apparently found her own place in that constellation of affection.

Five wonderful women, each remarkable in her own way, all drawn to the same enigmatic young man. It was honestly impressive, in a way that defied conventional understanding.

Whatever the explanation, I couldn’t deny the pattern. Arthur was a magnet for exceptional women, and they all seemed to find ways to coexist rather than compete. It was politically advantageous, strategically sound, and apparently emotionally fulfilling for everyone involved.

I made my way to the guild’s common area, settling into one of the comfortable chairs with a cup of tea while I waited for Arthur and Reika to conclude whatever they were doing. The administrative wing was quieter now, with most of the staff either out on assignments or focused on their various projects.

About twenty minutes later, I heard the soft sound of Arthur’s office door opening. Reika emerged first, her violet hair slightly mussed but her expression radiating the kind of deep satisfaction that comes from perfect contentment. She practically glowed with happiness, her distinctive flower-shaped pupils seeming to shimmer with inner light.

"Reika," I called softly as she began to walk past the common area.

She turned toward me with a warm smile, her entire demeanor relaxed and peaceful. "Kali! I didn’t realize you were back from your break."

"Just returned," I confirmed, studying her face with professional curiosity. "You look... happy."

"I am," she said simply, settling into the chair across from me with fluid grace. "It was wonderful to serve Master today."

The way she said ’serve’ carried undertones that made me raise an eyebrow. There was something almost reverential in her tone, a satisfaction that went beyond simple professional duty or even romantic affection.

"What exactly do you mean by ’serve’?" I asked carefully, my intelligence-gathering instincts engaging despite my attempt to maintain casual conversation.

Reika’s smile widened, and there was something almost childlike in her joy as she replied. "I’m just so happy that he’s accepted me as his pet."

The words hit me like a physical blow. I felt my eyes widen in pure shock, my teacup freezing halfway to my lips as I processed what she had just said. Pet. She had actually used that word, with complete sincerity and obvious delight.

"Your... pet?" I managed to whisper, my voice barely audible.

"Mmm," Reika hummed contentedly, either oblivious to my shock or simply too happy to care about my reaction. "It’s perfect, really. I get to stay close to him, to serve him in whatever way makes him happy, and he takes such good care of me. I feel so... fulfilled."

I stared at her, my mind struggling to process this revelation. This went far beyond the romantic devotion I had assumed she felt for Arthur. This was something else entirely—a dynamic that operated on levels I hadn’t even considered.

But even as part of my mind recoiled at the implications, I couldn’t ignore the obvious truth staring me in the face. Reika was radiant with happiness. Not the nervous joy of someone caught up in an uncertain romance, not the desperate satisfaction of someone clinging to scraps of attention. This was deep, abiding contentment—the peace of someone who had found exactly what they needed.

Her violet eyes sparkled with genuine fulfillment, her posture relaxed and confident. Whatever this arrangement was, whatever unconventional dynamic she and Arthur had developed, it was clearly working for her in ways that conventional relationships hadn’t.

Who was I to judge what brought her such obvious joy?

"I... see," I said finally, though I wasn’t sure I saw anything clearly anymore.