The van hummed softly as it carried them back toward the city, the afternoon sun casting warm golden light through the windows. The team was tired but satisfied, the weight of the gate finally lifted from their shoulders.

Andrey sat in the passenger seat, his eyes half-closed, his body still heavy with exhaustion. Inside his soul, he could feel Morgana’s presence—a warm, steady pulse, like a second heartbeat. She was resting, but he knew she was aware of everything happening around him.

Hope sat in the back beside Lisa, her greatsword resting across her knees. Her voice carried a note of gratitude as she looked at the team.

"I want to say thank you. All of you. If it weren’t for your team, those trapped heroes wouldn’t have made it out alive. You did something incredible today."

Sein leaned back in her seat, arms crossed, a smug grin on her face. "Of course we did. We’re the ones you can always count on."

Hope smiled, her gaze turning thoughtful. "Your strength has grown tremendously. You’re already operating at a level comparable to A-rank heroes. Maybe even higher. I’m curious—do you plan to apply for a rank promotion soon? Or would you prefer to wait until you’re ready for S-rank?"

Sarah’s eyes went wide, her voice rising in surprise. "S-rank?! That’s way too fast! We were just D-ranks a few months ago, and now we’re already talking about S-rank? This feels like a dream..."

Lisa nodded in agreement, a soft, amazed smile on her face. "It really does feel surreal. We’ve been leveling up nonstop, but I never imagined we’d reach this point so quickly."

Sein let out a short, arrogant laugh, gesturing at herself with a grin. "Obviously, it’s because of me. If it weren’t for my brilliant leadership and training, none of you would have leveled up this fast. You’re welcome."

Andrey opened his eyes, his voice calm but carrying a hint of sternness. "Leveling up quickly is good, but it’s meaningless if you don’t master your skills. Today’s fight proved that. If Morgana hadn’t been there to help, we would have been in serious trouble."

He glanced toward Hope, his gaze steady. "And I know you were holding back, Hope. You let yourself get hit on purpose. I’ve seen you fight S-rank demons—you move differently when you’re serious."

Hope’s eyes widened slightly, caught off guard by his observation. She let out a soft, awkward laugh, a faint blush creeping across her cheeks.

"Hehe... you noticed that, huh?"

Andrey’s gaze didn’t waver. "You were hesitating. Deliberately leaving openings. That’s not like you."

Hope’s smile softened, her voice gentle. "I wanted to see how far you’ve come. And I have to say—you’ve grown more than I expected."

Sein scoffed, though there was no real bite in her voice. "Tch. You could’ve just said that instead of playing around."

Hope laughed, the sound warm and genuine. "Where’s the fun in that?"

Sarah leaned forward, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "Speaking of ranking up... do you really think we could make it to S-rank?"

Hope’s smile turned thoughtful, her gaze steady. "I’ve been watching you grow, and I can see the potential. You have the skills, the coordination, and the determination. If you keep improving at this pace, S-rank isn’t just a possibility—it’s inevitable."

Lisa’s cheeks flushed, her voice soft. "That’s... really encouraging to hear."

Sein crossed her arms, her grin returning. "Well, duh. I could’ve told you that."

Hope leaned back in her seat, a thoughtful smile playing on her lips. "You know, after everything you’ve accomplished today, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Guild Master decides to give you all a special reward. He’s been watching your progress closely. So keep your expectations high—you might be in for something good."

Sarah’s eyes lit up with excitement, her exhaustion momentarily forgotten. "A reward? Like what? New gear? Rare items?"

She practically bounced in her seat, her imagination already running wild. "I can’t wait! This could be huge!"

Lisa placed a gentle hand on Sarah’s arm, her voice soft and calming. "Sarah, try not to get your hopes up too high. It’s better to be pleasantly surprised than disappointed."

Sarah pouted slightly but relented. "Fine... but I’m still going to hope for something amazing."

Sein let out a short laugh, her tone teasing. "Look at you, acting like a kid on Christmas morning."

Sarah shot her a glare, though there was no real heat in it. "At least I’m excited about something. You’re always so grumpy."

"I’m not grumpy. I’m just not interested in getting my hopes up over nothing." Sein crossed her arms, but a faint smirk tugged at her lips.

Hope chuckled softly, her gaze warm as she watched them. "You four really are a team. It’s nice to see."

Andrey adjusted his glasses, the familiar motion grounding him as he spoke. "Compensation is always welcome. It helps us grow, and we’ve certainly earned it after everything we’ve been through."

Hope’s smile brightened, her golden hair catching the fading afternoon light. "Exactly! You’ve worked incredibly hard, and you deserve to be recognized for it." She paused, her expression turning more serious. "But I should warn you—once you reach A-rank, other guilds will start approaching you. They’ll offer contracts, promising benefits, resources, and prestige. But be careful. Some of them will try to lock you into restrictive agreements that benefit them more than they benefit you."

Andrey nodded, his voice calm and steady. "I’ve already anticipated that. We have no intention of joining any guild. We work better as an independent team."

Hope’s eyes softened with approval. "I thought you’d say that. It’s a wise choice." She paused, then added more gently, "Speaking of offers—some S-rank guilds have also reached out to you, haven’t they? Did you ever consider visiting them?"

Andrey’s expression remained neutral, but his voice carried a hint of coolness. "They invited me, yes. But the way they approached me felt... condescending. Like they were offering me a favor rather than seeking a partnership. I don’t respond well to that kind of attitude. If they want my cooperation, they should treat me as an equal—not as someone beneath them."

Hope studied him for a moment, then nodded slowly. "I understand. You value respect over status. That’s rare in this world."

Sein snorted from the back seat. "Tch. Those S-rank types are always like that. They think they’re better than everyone else just because they have a higher rank. Even though I used to be an S-rank myself."

Sarah crossed her arms, her voice firm. "Well, they can keep their offers. We don’t need them."

Lisa smiled softly, her voice gentle. "We have each other. That’s more than enough."

Andrey’s gaze drifted toward the window, the city lights beginning to flicker on as evening approached. "Exactly. We’ll continue building our own path."