17th of August, 2023
I never really liked uniforms; I felt uncomfortable in them and I still do now. But when in Rome, do as Romans do, and when in KoB, I guess we have to do as the KoB do, which includes wearing a pretty flashy red and white outfit. Compared to the one the commanders wear it isn't really flashy, but I feel really awkward in it, especially because everyone gives me looks when I walk into town wearing it. I've spent the whole game in basic anonymity, it feels weird people noticing me now. I know that they're just noticing the uniform and not me as a person so it doesn't really matter, but feeling their eyes on me is just slightly disconcerting.
It's interesting if you look at them closely, though. They all think differently when they see us with these uniforms. Sometimes they were admiring us, thinking that we were their heroes in shining armour, fighting to save them from this world. Others were curious, wondering who we were, and what kind of people we were. I'm pretty sure we'll get information mongerers spying on us for a while. Then there were those envious are pissed at us. Half of these were the Divine Dragon Alliance. They were the biggest, but KoB was the best. And made of better people, or at least people who hid their own desires better than the DDA did. Some of the rest were PK'ers or criminals who'd been locked up by KoB members. The rest were just normal people jealous of us for various reasons I didn't really care about.
This whole thing was pretty sudden. It was a few days after we'd cleared the 43rd floor boss, and we were practicing when Asuna approached us. I'm pretty sure KoB are using her as some sort of poster girl, especially since she's one of the only girls in the guild. She came out with it straight "Do you want to join KoB?"
Of course, Takuma accepted. Who wouldn't? I was a little apprehensive signing up, more because I thought we would have less freedom than before, but it turns out that for all the propaganda about KoB the only difference is that we get assigned a certain area of the dungeon to explore. We basically get to do what we want. Pretty rare with powerful people. In my experience, people in charge of a huge organization wants to control everything, making it clear who's the head honcho of all this.
This Heathcliff almost seems too good to be true; he's smart, moral, and unbelievably strong. Normally I would've walked away, but I want to be with Takuma and the rest, and even if I am suspicious I want to believe that there are people like that. He doesn't do much, leaving most of the work to his vice-captain, Asuna, and the rest of the captains. There's also a lot of admin staff for a guild, but I guess one of the things that's kept KoB running is organization.
They assigned the four of us to a part of the dungeon, where we had to clear away Dark Elves. They were pretty annoying, having agile frontliners with curved swords while archers sniped the hell out of us. It seemed a little unfair that they were allowed long range attacks and we weren't. We still went with the old strategy and had Masaki and I charge through to the archers while Tarako and Takuma kept the sword swinging elves off our back. Masaki covered me since he could regenerate his health, and when we got to the archers, killing them off was child's play.
I'm not sure how Heathcliff gets the money, but we get paid a little as well. Not as much as our loot normally yields, but more than a token gift. How does KoB function? Maybe it sends out some of the top players to loot the more dangerous spots repeatedly, or maybe it got discounts from merchants when they were buying stuff. I don't think it's the latter option. The thought of merchants giving discounts doesn't come easily, and I know it's not just cynicism when Takuma agreed with me.
Tarako and Masaki are happy again. I think they've forgotten the incident with the magpies. It's so easy to forget things. How we felt, what we did, how we saw the world. Maybe it's the security of being in such a big guild like the KoB that gives Tarako the reassurance she needs. Masaki's happy simply because Tarako's happy; but, that's Masaki for you.
He never really cares much about himself, drawing happiness from Tarako. Takuma seems the same as always, but I can tell he's happier as well. He's more relaxed, and more open with his feelings. Whenever he's been stressed he grins sardonically and stiffens up. When he's relaxed, he doesn't do much with his face, but he talks more and he even laughs occasionally.
So here we are, still fighting together, except we have KoB uniforms and much better equipment to boot. And here's me thinking that life is good.