The Corrupt Guildmaster, Meeting a Female Guildmaster
Three days later. I was granted an audience with King Fress, with Fiel accompanying me as my guard.
Fiel and I knelt. When I lifted my face at the soldier’s signal, an elderly man with a full beard sat before us.
“Well met, Guildmaster Zilkein-dono. It has been a long time, Fiel.”
“Yes! I have come to repay the kindness I received back when I belonged to the Knights Order!”
“No need to be so formal… The Fress Kingdom Knights Order has grown far larger than when you were with them. Captain Lafrea, who succeeded you, said it was thanks to you lighting a fire under them.”
“Haha, I did nothing… It’s the result of everyone’s hard work.”
“When I heard you were leaving the Knights Order, I did try to stop you… but in the end, everything turned for the better. And it seems you have found a good place as well.”
“It is all thanks to the Guildmaster here, Zilkein-dono.”
Still bowing, Fiel glanced at me from the side.
(Truly… it’s all thanks to Zilkein-dono…)
Fiel kept looking at me.
Staring.
What’s with this pressure…?
When I glanced back at her, she flushed bright red and lowered her head. King Fress noticed and smiled.
“Oh my! It seems Fiel has also found someone good. This is a joyous thing indeed!”
“P-please don’t tease me, Your Majesty…!”
“Hah, hah, hah! I see, it has not borne fruit yet? Then I shall cheer for you.”
Fiel turned even redder as the king teased her. I wasn’t sure what they were talking about, but bringing Fiel was the right choice. Having someone familiar present is always an advantage in business. This would make things easier.
While I thought that, the king cleared his throat.
“Then let us get to the matter at hand. The reason I summoned you, Zilkein-dono, is none other than this: a Demonic Void Dungeon has appeared in Ajif Village within the Fress territory.”
… So the national-issue quest really is tied to a Demonic Void Dungeon.
A Demonic Void Dungeon appears only when this world overlaps with the domain of the demon race from another dimension. They are like natural disasters that occur across the land.
Unlike normal dungeons, the monsters inside belong to the demon realm and are far stronger. In the original story, when the party challenged a Demonic Void Dungeon, it served to explain the demon world and foreshadowed the final arc.
… Hmm?
Something felt off. But before I could think it through, the king continued.
“I want you to destroy the core that sleeps in the deepest part of this Demonic Void Dungeon. Do so, and the dungeon will disappear within twenty-four hours, preventing any monster damage to the surroundings.”
I searched the original Zilkein’s memories for information. A Demonic Void Dungeon maintains its form through a core saturated with mana. Destroying it collapses the dungeon in twenty-four hours, and if all adventurers escape by then, the quest is complete.
The Ajif Village dungeon was treated as more of a side story chapter. The dungeon shouldn’t be that large. Still, I should confirm.
“King Fress, what is the scale of the dungeon?”
“Hmm. When we had court mages perform a scouting spell, it was found to be twenty-five floors underground. There may be more beyond, but the spell was cast by five mages at once. Its accuracy should be high.”
Twenty-five floors. That matches the original. Next is selecting the adventurers… but first, confirming the payment.
“The reward is six hundred gold coins after deducting the administrator’s fee, correct?”
“Yes, no problem there.”
At the mention of six hundred gold coins, Fiel beside me grew restless. She’s serious to a fault; hearing the original sum must have made her uncomfortable.
“I will select the adventurers. May we have about one week before the dungeon assault?”
“There are no signs yet that the dungeon will overflow. In the meantime, my Knights Order will guard it. But… they are not accustomed to fighting monsters. I ask that you proceed as soon as possible.”
Looking at Fiel, it’s obvious the kingdom’s soldiers are useless against monsters. One day’s rush by carriage, then briefing the adventurers… Not much leeway.
“Understood. Our Luminage Guild will accept this request.”
“Good. I am counting on you, Zilkein-dono.”
◇◇◇
We left the castle and headed to the carriage depot in the castle town. As we walked past the lively market, Fiel spoke hesitantly.
“Was it truly all right, Zilkein-dono… letting me hear the reward discussion?”
“No issue. I planned to set the guild’s commission at ten percent from the start. The quest reward will be five hundred forty coins after payment, split equally among participants. No adventurer will complain about that.”
“E-even!? Five hundred forty!?”
Fiel shouted, drawing eyes from around us. Embarrassed, she hunched down and continued in a whisper.
“I-is that wise…? The guild’s commission is far too low…”
“This quest also serves as a promotion for our Luminage Guild. If a guild personally entrusted by the king completes a quest without issue, requests specifically for Luminage will increase. That’s where we make our profit.”
And since it’s post-payment, the guild’s coffers aren’t strained. Raise the adventurers’ motivation, gain the king’s trust, and win fame. Cheap for the return.
“But, items and materials obtained from the dungeon should be sold to the guild, all right? If the adventurers pocket everything, even I would be in trouble.”
“I know. I will tell everyone…!!”
Fiel clenched her fists with determination. Good, already seeing the effect. If she spreads the word, adventurers will cooperate more. Success chances will rise.
And items from a Demonic Void Dungeon are valuable. With such a large payout, they’ll gladly sell to the guild. The profits… will easily exceed six hundred gold.
She says the commission is low, but I’ll earn plenty. By using the adventurers’ goodwill. Work hard for my sake, everyone.
(To limit your own gain for everyone else’s sake… Zilkein-dono… how wonderful…)
Fiel murmured something faintly. Then she absentmindedly took my hand.
“What is it, Fiel? Is there something on my hand?”
When I tilted my head, she jolted, looked around frantically, and let go.
“Ah—ahhh! This! Umm! Well! I was just trying to gauge your combat ability!!”
“I won’t be joining the dungeon, though.”
“A-aaahhh!!! R-right! Yes! How careless of me!”
She let go of my hand. I spoke, but she was hardly listening.
(Ahh… would it trouble him if someone like me confessed…? No, Emidia-dono also… And Lizette sneaked into the Guildmaster’s office, I heard… ahhh… what do I do…!!)
Soon Fiel crouched and began lightly hitting her own head. What kind of movement is that? I remember seeing it described in text before.
Indeed, when the original heroine Fiel developed feelings for her love interest, the protagonist, she’d do comedic gestures like this. Nostalgic, that I can recall it so clearly even from the text format.
Feelings for the protagonist… huh.
… Ah.
That reminds me, Fiel was talking with Aron and the others yesterday. Maybe the original protagonist Aron and original heroine Fiel made progress? Perhaps that’s why she’s flustered.
(Zilkein-dono… I… I…)
I should leave her be. That’s what an adult does. And it’s a happy thing if those two come together.
While I watched her, a voice came from behind.
“Oh my? Isn’t that little Zilkein-chan? So the rumors were true.”
A woman’s voice that made my back tense. When I turned, a noblewoman stood there—wide-brimmed hat, fan in hand, a seductive smile. Searching Zilkein’s memories, I recognized her.
“… Cassandra. Why is the Guildmaster of the Ilios Guild here?”
“Hehe, I heard~ You were personally summoned by King Fress for a request. How unfair… Normally, quests to a guild must go through the guild administrator, you know? Hogging a tasty job all to yourself~”
Where did she learn that information?
Cassandra Farain is not in the original story, she exists only in the memories of the original Zilkein whose body I now occupy.
At twenty-five, she became Guildmaster even younger than Zilkein, and for three years kept the Ilios Guild at the top of the Western Five Great Guilds before I took the throne at Luminage. Arrogant, greedy, unreadable… That’s the impression burned into Zilkein’s mind. What is she planning?
“This request is for a Demonic Void Dungeon that requires immediate action. The administrator is already informed. Other guilds have no standing to complain.”
“That’s not what I mean~ You toppled Administrator Raltos, didn’t you? Because of that, all western guildmasters are thinking the same thing~ That little Zilkein-chan is putting in an administrator under his own influence to tilt things his way~”
“Zilkein-dono would never do such a thing!!! Do not insult our Guildmaster!”
Fiel burst in angrily. Cassandra opened her fan, hiding her mouth as she chuckled.
“Of course you’d think so as someone belonging to his guild~ That’s why I brought you a good suggestion, Zilkein-chan.”
“… What is it?”
“The king personally issued this quest. Naturally, you intend to conduct a selection exam for adventurers, right?”
A selection exam. For important quests like this, the Guildmaster is allowed to administer one to maintain fairness and safety. I see—now I understand her intention.
“That is my plan.”
“I thought so! I’ve heard you’ve been kind to adventurers lately. I knew you’d hold an exam!!... But.”
Her excited tone vanished, and Cassandra’s smile dropped.
From behind her fan, sharp eyes peered out, as if testing me.
“Allow adventurers from other guilds to participate, Zilkein… If you keep going like this, the Guild Association will isolate you.”
A cold voice. Gone was her playful demeanor.
“Other guilds told you to say that?”
“Let’s say… I came as a neutral party to warn you. Refuse, and your future will be in danger.”
A threat.
All that insistence on propriety was for this. She’s posing as a messenger of warning, but in truth, she’s scheming to snatch my job. If Ilios adventurers join my exam and are chosen formally, Cassandra could twist the king’s ear however she likes.
… Very interesting.
Perfect chance to see where Aron, Fiel, and Lizette currently stand in this world.
“Fine. But the dungeon request is urgent. The exam will be in four days. Adventurers who cannot attend are cut. None will complain, I assume?”
“I appreciate it~ Then I’ll go gather adventurers right away~”
Cassandra giggled and slipped into an alley. That woman is a money-grubber like the original Zilkein, maybe even more skilled. A fox who spins schemes for profit.
“Zilkein-dono… will this be all right? You worked so hard to secure this request…”
Fiel looked at me with worry. I smiled to reassure her.
“Worry not. I understand your talents better than anyone. I accepted her provocation to show other guilds your strength.”
“F-fwaa…!!”
Fiel brightened instantly. Truly… such an expressive girl.
Still… for the Guildmaster of Ilios to interfere. People with a nose for profit exist in every world.
A money-grubber, huh. Minds that revolve around gold think just like me—simple. Profitable or not. Depending on that, one can be foe or ally. She might… be someone useful.
Good. Then I’ll show you.
That I am someone worth betting on.
When this exam ends, will you still claim to be “neutral,” I wonder?
What do you think about this chapter?
