I Reincarnated as a Corrupt Guildmaster, Reformed the Organization Just to Save My Own Skin, and Accidentally Built the Greatest Guild—Now the Strongest Adventurers Won’t Stop Flocking to Me
Hey, don’t threaten my assets!
I reincarnated as the corrupt guildmaster Zilkein Oldray from the novel I was reading.
The greedy bastard who helped expel the original protagonist—and was doomed to get his just deserts.
But there’s a silver lining: Zilkein’s fortune and guildmaster title are mine now. A salaryman like me could never dream of this much cash.
If I evade his ruin, it’s all mine. So I’m rewriting his fate with everything I’ve got.
Step one: smash the protagonist’s expulsion arc.
Step two: expel the A-rank party leader who started it.
Skip the original events, force the hero’s awakening early—avoid my fated destruction, get my money.
And just like that, I secure my chill second life.
… Except, for some reason, everyone starts calling me “the ideal guildmaster.”
My hyper-competent secretary, the original heroines, even the rival girls—they all start crushing on me. I crush the corrupt assholes threatening the guild. I improve adventurer pay to shut up the whiners…
And suddenly top-tier talents flood in.
This is the story of a money-obsessed, corrupt guildmaster who somehow becomes beloved—and eventually hailed as the world’s greatest guildmaster.
The Corrupt Guildmaster Breaks the Banishment Play
I fell asleep at my desk in the office late at night, and the moment I woke up I couldn't believe my eyes.
Because I was in the world of the novel I had been reading —
~ A-Ranked Party Kicked Me Out ~ The Support Magic Called Useless Evolved Into the Legendary Skill “God Possession,” And I Became the Strongest Adventurer ~
— commonly known as "Godhost."
It seems I had been reincarnated. What's worse, I had been reborn as the corrupt guildmaster, Zilkein Oldray.
He was a man who, at the mere age of twenty-nine, had the talent to become a guildmaster, but his personality was the embodiment of desire with hardly any redeeming qualities. He was small-minded, clinging to money and power while remaining a guildmaster in a town—hardly admirable.
Of all people, why him?
Still, there were upsides to having been reincarnated into this guy. Namely, the hoarded wealth and the position of guildmaster. Last night, thinking there might be something, I checked his safe—and what I saw stunned me. The amount of gold Zilkein had amassed.
Even right after reincarnation I could tell: it was a pile of gold I, an ordinary salaryman, could never reach in a lifetime.
The job of guildmaster was attractive too. I could avoid danger and use adventurers to increase my fortune further… With those two things, I could live a carefree life I never could have had in my original world.
However, there was a problem I had to overcome.
It was the banishment spectacle of the A-rank party "Red Dragon's Wings" scheduled for tomorrow.
In the original story, the protagonist Aron is expelled despite possessing the legendary skill "God Possession." The story opens with him being unreasonably banished before that awakening.
The one who led that was Aron's childhood friend and the party leader, Bash. And the one who sided with Bash in that reckless banishment was me—Guildmaster Zilkein.
Because of that, Zilkein is buffeted by fate. Having collaborated with Bash, I'm exposed by the grown Aron, stripped of money and status… and ruined. The classic "serves you right" outcome.
When Bash came to consult me earlier, I realized something. Of all times to be reincarnated, it's the day before the certain-ruin event. I'm hanging by a thread.
… Serves you right, huh.
Screw that…! I don't deserve such treatment even after being reincarnated. Zilkein's misdeeds weren't committed by me.
I'll use this man's money and position for my second life. To do that, I'll do everything I can to prevent that banishment spectacle.
◇◇◇
The next day arrived—my day of fate.
"Aron Marondy! As of today, I expel you from this party!!"
"Ex—expel!? Are you serious, Bash!?"
That evening, when I went to the guild's first floor, I encountered exactly what I expected: the A-rank party Red Dragon's Wings in the middle of a quarrel.
"You're dead weight, you hear me?!"
"Hey, Bash. Don't say it like that—"
"Calm down, Bash."
"Shut up, all of you! Because of this guy being useless we almost died on today's quest!!"
With adventurers watching, party leader Bash was cornering Aron. The party's female mage Sylvia and the warrior Garius tried to intervene, but Bash wouldn't stop. He was verbally berating Aron over his mistakes on today's quest. He even went so far as to question the power of Aron's support magic.
Aron and Bash were childhood friends. Ever since Bash reached A-rank first, he'd grown to look down on Aron, who was C-rank.
But then Bash noticed Sylvia—the same party's Sylvia—liked Aron, and Bash's fragile pride was shaken. Panicked, Bash plotted Aron's banishment… that was supposed to be the scenario. In short, the wild reasoning was a cover for wanting to remove a romantic rival. What a nuisance.
Aron was an adventurer who would awaken the strongest skill in the future. For now he was holding back out of consideration for his childhood friend Bash… but that only shackled him mentally. Calling him incompetent was absurd. Bash simply lacked discernment.
"Hey, Guildmaster? You think so too, right?"
While I observed them, Bash turned his gaze toward me with a smirking grin—surely the smugness of someone certain of Aron's banishment.
Pathetic. He has no idea what fate will befall him once he expels Aron.
"What's wrong, Guildmaster? That guy's useless, right? You should just expel him already."
Bash made a puzzled face at my silence. Now's the time to act. I spoke the lines I had planned.
"Bash. Aren't you misunderstanding something? Do you think all the party's achievements belong to you?"
"Huh?"
Bash looked stunned. No surprise—he wouldn't have expected such a response.
Normally, the right move would have been to stop him when he came to consult me yesterday. But I thought it through. Bash is cunning; even if I refused, he might lie and tell the party he had "obtained permission from the guildmaster" to persuade them. If that happened, my fate wouldn't change. That's why I decided to crush the banishment spectacle right here and now.
I drew a deep breath and continued.
"As far as I can see, Aron's support magic is no small thing. He could even contribute to a rank-up in another party. And yet he stands up for you… consider Aron's feelings. If you're truly the party leader, act like it."
"Guildmaster's defending Aron…!?"
"The guildmaster who never cared about adventurers!?"
"Wait, Aron's support magic is that amazing?"
"I've never heard that…"
"Stop it…! You don't know what the guildmaster will do if you catch his ire!"
The adventurers began to murmur. Zilkein's lack of popularity was expected. But that's fine. Drawing attention now is important.
"Therefore, as the guildmaster, I cannot stand by and allow such an unreasonable banishment."
"Ugh… ugh… you betrayed me, Guildmaster…!!"
Bash's face twisted like he'd swallowed something bitter. His talk of betrayal was probably about our consultation yesterday… but he couldn't say that here. He'd want to make this seem like an impulsive act—he wouldn't want Sylvia to know he'd been scheming to remove a rival.
I watched his party members. Sylvia, the one Bash had feelings for, looked confused.
Ignoring the yelling Bash, I walked over to Aron. I knelt and extended my right hand to him.
"Aron, I've always watched your work. I won't be part of this farce."
"Guildmaster… thank you."
Aron hesitantly took my hand. He looked bewildered, but relief showed on his face at the offered rescue… now I've gotten into the original protagonist's favor.
But Bash, you're not the kind to give up easily, are you? Then there's only one move you can make.
"Wait!!"
Just as I expected, Bash shouted. He pointed at Aron and glared at me.
"If you're going to talk like that, Guildmaster… I'll show you!! Duel me, Aron!! I'll show everyone that you're useless trash!!"
He's fallen for it. My true aim is here.
I would skip the original event. The duel between Aron and Bash that was supposed to happen months from now—I'll end it right here.
That way, my avoidance of ruin is assured. I'm impatient; I won't spend months fretting about a possible downfall before the original timeline event kicks off.
I'll crush it head-on. Anyone who tries to take the wealth and power I've gained will be dealt with.
… Hmm. Has Zilkein's personality seeped into me? I'm thinking rather villainous thoughts. Fine—this is perfect. To survive in this world, a bit of boldness like this is useful.
"Very well, Bash. I'll see your challenge."
"Guildmaster!? What are you saying…!? I—there's no way I can beat Bash…"
Aron stared in shock. At this point Aron hasn't awakened yet. He hasn't realized his potential, so his nervousness is understandable. That's my role.
I pat Aron's shoulder and whisper in his ear.
"Don't worry. I'll handle it."
"Huh?"
I glared at Bash. In that instant I noticed Bash's shoulder tremble slightly. Guildmaster Zilkein is a figure feared by adventurers. Bash must have needed considerable courage to declare this. That's why it's easy for me to get my demand through.
"Since Aron is not used to solo combat, the match will be in three days; I will train him up. Any objections?"
"F-fine!!"
Bash agreed as if cowed. To give him some pressure for having issued the challenge, I added one condition.
"However. I'll attach one condition."
"A condition…?"
I deliberately pointed out that everyone was present and reminded them of my position, so Bash couldn't argue. I exaggerated my movements and pointed at Bash.
"If you lose, you'll be expelled. No complaints, right? Bash Ramilton, leader of the A-rank party Red Dragon's Wings."
At my words, the entire guild fell silent.
What do you think about this chapter?
