The Corrupt Guildmaster, Acknowledged by the Female Guildmaster
“Ahh!! I lost, I lost!! The people in this guild are strong!”
When Zeiss declared his defeat while sprawled flat on the ground, the plaza erupted in cheers. Cassandra, gazing over the plaza, muttered quietly.
“I charged in full of confidence, only to suffer a crushing defeat because of me… how embarrassing.”
Gone was her earlier sullen expression; Cassandra had returned to her refined features. Yet in her eyes lingered just a trace of sorrow.
“No, that’s not true. I understand very well now why the Ilios Guild has remained the top guild in the western nations until now.”
The unity of the guild centered around Cassandra, combined with the overwhelming strength of Zeiss Rickelsen. Fangs of the Great Beast, the group he belonged to. On top of that, Wilx, a promising young talent. It was truly an ideal guild. No doubt, among the adventurers who hadn’t participated this time, there were still many powerful ones.
“You’re kind, Zilkein-chan. This test itself is like giving form to that kindness.”
“Hm? This test… kindness?”
The boy swordsman Wilx folded his arms.
“Hehe, I told you it would be ‘educational,’ didn’t I? I’ll explain it to you.”
Wilx looked up at Cassandra with a puzzled expression. She slowly opened her mouth while sweeping her gaze across the members of the Ilios Guild and the adventurers gathered here.
“A stamina test, a round-trip obstacle course, and then a free-for-all. All of these tests are a scaled-down version of conquering the Demonic Void Dungeon.”
“Wha!? Scaled down!?”
Wilx reacted with exaggerated surprise. After pondering for a moment, he suddenly exclaimed.
“I see… the stamina test checks whether you have the endurance to clear it. The obstacle course recreates escaping after completing a quest, and the free-for-all assumes battles against multiple monsters inside a dungeon… is that it!?”
“Exactly. According to the explanation before the test, the Demonic Void Dungeon this time goes down to the 25th floor. If you assume powerful monsters are packed in there, then you’d need to be able to run five full laps around this town. And the reason we made you carry heavy loads was to simulate carrying a companion who can no longer move.”
… As expected of a Guildmaster. Even the running distance had been calculated.
Cassandra continued her explanation. In the Demonic Void Dungeon, one faces dangers several times greater than those of a normal dungeon. It’s entirely possible that companions won’t receive sufficient healing and become unable to move.
“The obstacles recreate unpredictable elements within a dungeon. And the final free-for-all… that’s meant to make adventurers think about how to deal with being surrounded by enemies. And the key contributor to clearing the free-for-all was Sylvia, the leader of Red Dragon’s Wings.”
That’s right. Sylvia of Red Dragon’s Wings had given precise instructions. From the way she spoke to me, it was clear they knew from the very start of the free-for-all that they would be targeted by Fangs of the Great Beast.
Sylvia and Galius, who were weaker than Aron, paired up with Fiel and Lizette to surpass their opponents’ individual combat strength. And Sylvia had also spoken to the elderly mage Yorm Andersen, whom I had been watching closely, to have him hold back. She likely inferred that since Fangs of the Great Beast moved so boldly, Zeiss had a trump card up his sleeve.
In other words, she had improvised a formation specifically to counter Fangs of the Great Beast.
“Her analytical ability… and her command skill are powerful weapons when conquering unknown dungeons. Because of me, Zeiss-chan and the others moved as ‘the takers,’ and they were perfectly cast as the dungeon boss.”
“Zeiss was the best possible opponent as a simulated boss.”
“Oh, honestly, you’re saying it so bluntly! But… hehe, you’re right. If I were in your position, I’d say the same thing.”
Cassandra laughed. The tension that had existed between us thinned, and I felt I’d come to understand a little more about the woman named Cassandra Farlane.
“… Hehe.”
Cassandra stared at me in silence. I met her gaze, wondering what her intent was, but she said nothing. After a brief silence, for some reason Emidia and Wilx stepped in between us.
“Z-Zilkein-sama? Please step back a little.”
“What’s with this atmosphere!? Cassandra-sama! Step back, step back!”
What are these two panicking about?
“A jealous man isn’t very attractive, you know?”
“Please don’t say such ominous things!”
Wilx clung to Cassandra with tearful eyes. She looked at him and smiled gently, like a mother.
“Do you understand? If you feel frustrated, then study, become smarter, and grow stronger.”
“Y-Yes, I understand!”
Wilx sharply pointed at me.
“I’ll get revenge for Zeiss-san and the others! … And besides! I won’t let Cassandra-sama go!”
Cassandra? What is Wilx even saying?
Still, today’s events must have made a huge impression on him. In that case, I might as well fan the flames a little.
To force Wilx to give an answer, I deliberately asked a spiteful question.
“And how exactly do you plan to take that revenge?”
“U-Umm… Guildmaster Zilkein! I’ll become an adventurer so amazing that you’ll be shocked!!”
“Specifically?”
“Huh? Specifically?”
Wilx stood there with his mouth hanging open. So he hadn’t thought that far…
Before I knew it, his loud voice had drawn everyone’s attention. That included Zeiss and Aron as well. All the adventurers were watching the boy swordsman Wilx with warm smiles.
After thinking for a while, Wilx glanced at Zeiss and raised his voice.
“I will! Become an S-rank adventurer!!”
Voices of admiration spread through the plaza. Realizing all eyes were on him, Wilx’s face turned bright red.
“Uhh, umm… I’ll do my best…”
Embarrassed, Wilx lowered his head, his voice barely audible. Seeing that, Cassandra relaxed her lips into a delighted smile.
“… Thank you, truly. What Wilx has gained this time is almost too much.”
… This boy is easily carried away. Making him declare something like that in a setting like this might just lead him to great success in the future. And if that happens, it could mean money flowing to me as well. I’ll take my thanks then.
I thought this woman was a fox who moved purely for money, but that’s not the case. She has a “purpose” behind why she earns it. And unlike me, it’s surely not a selfish one.
When she pushed to participate in this test, I sensed something beyond simply stealing quests. In her position, she could have incited the other Guildmasters and raised objections to my designated commission. Depending on the situation, she might even have moved to push me out of the Five Great Guilds.
But she didn’t. Which means she wanted to test my abilities… she was expecting something from me.
You can tell by looking at her guild. Cassandra is a rationalist, yet unable to abandon her ideals, that’s her weakness. I have no heartfelt ideals. Precisely because of that, I can surpass her. I’ve proven that I’m not someone beneath her.
Once she realizes that, how will Cassandra act?
“… Hehe. Let’s go home, everyone.”
Cassandra led the adventurers away. She stopped and flashed a sly grin.
“Oh, right. I mentioned the recommendation letters for out-of-region activities, didn’t I?”
Cassandra opened her fan, hiding her mouth. Beyond it, her eyes narrowed.
“This is what I’ll do. As long as the Guildmaster of Luminage is Zilkein Oldray, the Ilios Guildmaster will grant unconditional recommendation letters to any adventurer he approves of. I’ll send a memorandum later.”
So that’s how you play it. Granting us benefits… I understand your thinking.
“Understood. I am grateful for the consideration of the Ilios Guildmaster.”
“You say that so insincerely. Still, I’m looking forward to your conquest of the Demonic Void Dungeon.”
She waved lightly, and Cassandra and the others boarded the waiting carriage.
……
Everything went perfectly.
When I predicted that she would bring powerful adventurers, I thought this: I wanted those adventurers.
But there was a problem. This guild had been the top in the western nations until now. I had expected their internal unity to be strong. Breaking that apart to take Zeiss and the others would be extremely difficult… so what should I do?
I just needed to acquire them in a different form. The Ilios Guild itself.
That’s why I made this a test from which they, too, would gain something. I even played the role of lecturing them myself.
Including Guildmaster Cassandra, they’ll all be cooperative with me from here on. That’s far easier than crushing Ilios outright. And I’ll make even more money.
Through this incident, I gained something different from adventurers, a business partner.
What do you think about this chapter?
