The Final Boss Has Returned 170

Chapter 170

Tears streamed down Sharp’s face as she closed the president’s office door and walked down the hallway.

Betrayal welled up in her throat, realizing that her love had meant nothing, that he had been toying with her all along.

Sharp gritted her teeth, her footsteps trembling as she moved forward.

“Sharp.”

It was Verda who found her.

Seeing Sharp’s tear-streaked face, Verda instinctively knew something was wrong.

And she quickly realized the cause stemmed from the article she had just seen on her phone, the one mentioning “playing the field.”

“What happened?”

Hearing Verda’s question, Sharp stopped in her tracks.

Her gaze turned towards Verda.

Verda.

The famous “Great Sage,” Lightwing Guild’s magician and the chief operating officer, effectively in charge of the guild’s operations.

And she, like Sharp, had feelings for Eugene.

Sharp laughed.

The memory of their past rivalry over ‘him’ flashed through her mind.

Looking back, Sharp thought, nothing could be more ridiculous.

They had been fighting over scraps when he had no intention of offering a feast.

“He knew all along.”

A hollow sentence escaped Sharp’s lips.

He knew all along.

The moment Verda heard those words, she froze, as if rooted to the spot.

Her mind, which had been racing just moments before, came to a sudden halt.

The hidden meaning behind those words was clear.

The article about playing the field.

It wasn’t a rumor. It was the truth.

Sharp laughed, watching the stunned Verda.

It was a rare sight to see the ever-calculating Verda’s mind grind to a halt.

“What are you going to do now?”

But only for a moment. Verda quickly regained her composure, her face expressionless as she questioned Sharp.

Sharp smiled weakly at the question.

“I don’t know what I’ll do yet…… but at least I don’t want to stay here anymore.”

Eugene.

The face of the man she had loved so dearly, but now she found it hard to even look at him.

She was reluctant to remain in the same guild as him.

Verda hesitated at Sharp’s answer.

Sharp, the Divine Archer.

The undisputed number one ranked Elf user and Lightwing Guild’s ranged damage dealer.

Her role in the guild was significant. If she left, it could be a huge loss for the Five Eyes.

No, her departure was more than just a guild member leaving.

Lightwing Guild.

The undefeated guild that had always boasted unwavering unity, bound by strong camaraderie. Her departure was like a signal flare, marking the beginning of the guild’s fragmentation.

Verda barely managed to keep her composure as she spoke.

“You…… can’t do that.”

“Why?”

Sharp asked back.

“That’s……”

Verda faltered at Sharp’s question, then continued.

“If we become divided like this…… the only one who will benefit is Drakan.”

Drakan.

Hearing the name, Sharp laughed.

It reminded her of the World Revolution long ago.

The Revolutionary Army that rose up to liberate the Ard World, then ruled by the Guild Alliance. Eugene was at its center.

But back then, Sharp hadn’t joined Eugene’s revolution because she agreed with his cause.

Eugene.

It was because she loved him.

For years, Sharp’s world revolved solely around Eugene.

She continued playing the game because he wanted her to, maintained the title of Divine Archer because he wanted her to, and stayed in the guild because he wanted her to.

But now, Sharp no longer loved Eugene.

“It’s just a game, anyway.”

Sharp muttered, biting her lip.

Her words were not wrong.

No matter how many flowery words were attached to Ard Saga Second, it was still just a game.

Of course, it was a game with immense influence, but countless people in the real world lived their lives without playing it.

Just a game.

If it weren’t for Eugene, she wouldn’t have even considered continuing.

That’s what Sharp thought.

“Whoever wins, it doesn’t matter to me.”

She had given him everything.

She had vowed to live her life for him.

But the reward for her love was a single sentence, more devastating than the rejection of ‘family.’

With that answer, Sharp finally realized.

The years she had dedicated to him were wasted, her heartache a futile endeavor.

She had been played by Eugene.

Of course, she knew Eugene was a good person.

But that didn’t change the fact that he had knowingly played with her feelings.

And now, Sharp could not forgive him.

Verda was speechless.

Sharp’s heart had already turned away. Moreover, the hard-to-swallow truth that Eugene had ignored her feelings despite knowing them was turning her world upside down.

“Goodbye.”

Sharp bid farewell to Verda and continued walking.

Verda watched Sharp’s retreating figure in silence, then turned towards the president’s office with trembling steps.

Damage control.

She had to somehow salvage this situation.

▄ ▄ ▄

After Sharp left.

Eugene stared blankly at the ceiling, his eyes lifeless like a dead fish.

Where did it all go wrong?

Eugene’s mind was in turmoil.

He didn’t want to hurt anyone.

He wanted to maintain their current relationship.

That’s what he thought.

He believed that if he conveyed his true feelings, everyone would understand.

But then, why?

Why did Sharp leave him so cruelly?

“What did I……”

What did I do wrong?

Eugene ruffled his hair in frustration.

He couldn’t believe this reality.

Lightwing Guild.

He had hoped that the happiness of this guild, where five became one, would last forever.

But Eugene couldn’t accept the reality that his dream had been shattered.

Just then.

The door opened with a sound of footsteps.

Verda entered the room.

“Eugene-nim.”

Eugene’s gaze shifted towards Verda, drawn by her cold voice.

“Verda……”

Verda bit her lip, seeing Eugene completely broken.

Sharp.

Was her departure that much of a shock to him?

As someone who loved Eugene just like the others, she couldn’t help but feel a pang of jealousy.

But at the same time, she felt sorry for him.

Eugene.

It was the first time she had seen him in such distress.

“That article…… is it true?”

Even so, she had to ask for the sake of damage control.

Verda forced the question out, feeling as if her heart was being stabbed repeatedly.

From her encounter with Sharp, she already knew the answer.

That’s why she had a feeling.

No matter what answer Eugene gave, the situation would change drastically.

Eugene stammered at Verda’s question.

Even he, as insensitive as he was, couldn’t forget the mistake he had just made.

‘It’s all because of my lies.’

Eugene blamed himself.

He shouldn’t have lied, especially in that situation.

That was the reason Sharp left.

That’s what he thought.

So, Eugene decided not to lie this time.

But despite his resolve, he couldn’t bring himself to say it out loud.

He had ignored her feelings despite knowing them.

To put it bluntly, he couldn’t confess to ‘playing the field’ right in front of the person involved.

Eugene broke out in a cold sweat, unable to speak properly, just mumbling and remaining silent for a long time.

And Verda just stood there, silently watching him.

After a considerable amount of time, Eugene finally squeezed out an answer.

“……It’s true.”

It’s true.

Verda felt her vision blur as she heard those words.

She had suspected it, but deep down, she had clung to the hope that it wasn’t true.

But the moment she heard the confirmation from Eugene’s own mouth, she felt her heart pounding as if it would burst.

Did he ignore her feelings all along, knowing how she felt?

Verda couldn’t accept that reality.

Just like Sharp, she loved him and had dedicated everything to him.

Verda mumbled, then spoke slowly.

“Why…… did you do that……?”

Why did you do that?

Eugene’s mind was already a mess.

It all started with a white lie, based on Drakan’s advice.

And that ‘white lie’ had worked quite well until now.

A small burden he had to bear for everyone’s happiness.

That’s how Eugene had viewed his ‘white lie’ until now.

“I, I wanted to be happy…… with everyone……”

A weak voice escaped Eugene’s lips.

He wanted to be happy with everyone.

That was his true intention and his greatest desire.

And it was also a futile hope, nothing more than a mirage.

“Happy…… you say.”

Verda muttered, biting her lip.

She had sacrificed everything for this man.

She loved him despite his idealistic nature, detached from reality, and she worked harder than anyone else to realize his ideals.

Eliminating potential rivals, distributing profits to maintain the ‘alliance,’ manipulating public opinion to create a favorable environment for Eugene, and constantly checking Drakan.

All of it was what Verda had done for Eugene.

Eugene may have overturned the world with the revolution, but it was Verda, not him, who maintained the world order after the revolution.

She did all this for one reason: she loved him.

But the answer she received was that he had ignored her feelings for the sake of everyone’s happiness.

Just as Verda’s hands started to tremble.

Creak.

The door to the president’s office opened again.

And there stood a beautiful girl with a cute impression, characterized by her twin tails, her face hardened.

“Ele, Elena……”

Saint Elena.

Lightwing Guild’s healer and one of the three, along with Verda and Sharp, who loved Eugene.

“Oppa…… is what I just heard true?”

Elena’s cheeks twitched as she spoke.