The Corrupt Guildmaster, Loved Too Much by the Original Female Rival and the Original Heroine
The day after the selection exam.
I had summoned Sylvia-san and participated in a strategy meeting for conquering the Demonic Void Dungeon.
In the Luminage Guild’s conference room, the three members of Red Dragon’s Wings, Aron, Sylvia, and Galius, had gathered, along with Fiel, Lizette, and Yolm.
Sylvia-san began explaining the party formation. Fiel would handle defense on the front line, with Galius and Lizette on offense. Aron would be positioned directly behind them, providing support magic and covering fire, while Sylvia and Yolm would take the rear, essentially sandwiching Aron between the front and rear lines.
“…… That’s the formation I have in mind. Fiel-san, you’ll be taking on the most dangerous role, but……will you accept it?”
“Yes. That’s why I’m here. It’s my job to make sure my comrades from the Luminage Guild return here safely.”
Fiel glanced at me briefly, but immediately looked away. Her expression was more serious than usual. Was she nervous? I was about to ask if she was all right, but my voice was cut off by Sylvia-san.
“Yolm-san, if I remember correctly, you’ve challenged the Demonic Void Dungeon before, haven’t you?”
At Sylvia-san’s question, the elderly mage Yolm stroked his white beard.
“Hohoho. How nostalgic. That was back when I was still an adventurer in the Eastern Nations.”
After the exam, I had looked into Yolm Andersen’s background. He joined the Eldorado Guild of the Eastern Nations at the age of fifteen and was active there for eight years. After that, he apparently traveled from place to place as a solo adventurer.
Then, ten years ago, he arrived at this guild, and since then he has been affiliated with the Luminage Guild.
Nowadays, aside from those with special circumstances like Bash, there aren’t many who wander from region to region. But according to Yolm, back then, traveling adventurers were far more common.
Adventurers who traveled sought work. Those who commissioned jobs from them formed networks, which eventually became guilds. Adventurers would take on work at guilds in various regions, save up travel funds, and then head to new lands.
That’s why those who took jobs at guilds came to be called people who go on adventures, “adventurers,” apparently.
He’s currently sixty-five years old… the nature of adventurers really seems to have changed significantly over the past few decades.
Realizing my thoughts had drifted, I pulled myself back. In the conference room, Sylvia-san was listening to Yolm’s information about traps in the Demonic Void Dungeon.
“Thank you very much, Yolm-san. If you notice anything else during the operation, please let us know.”
“Hoho, leave it to me!”
After that, everyone confirmed their combat coordination. From time to time, Sylvia-san asked for my opinion, and I conveyed minor adjustments. Finally, I informed them that I had arranged a carriage as transportation to the Demonic Void Dungeon.
Once everything had been settled, Aron, who had been listening quietly until now, spoke up.
“Sylvia, we’re leaving tomorrow, right? I want to check my weapons. Can we wrap things up now?”
“Yes. Everyone, use the rest of the time to prepare. Galius, could I ask you to handle the recovery items?”
“Got it. I’ll go shopping, then load everything onto the carriage the Guildmaster prepared.”
Sylvia-san handed Galius a memo listing the necessary items. As I watched, Lizette whispered to me.
“Hey, Zilkein? Would you go shopping with me after this?”
“Shopping? What are you planning to buy?”
“Well, it’s my first time doing a dungeon conquest, so I want to review my equipment again.”
“Changing equipment right before a conquest is dangerous.”
“That’s why I want you to teach me a bunch of stuff, Zilkein! And besides~ if I spend time with my beloved Zilkein, I might get more motivated!”
Lizette really does express her affection very directly. Is it her innocence, or perhaps because she used to be an assassin and isn’t used to social interaction…?
Even considering my previous life, I’m not used to being liked this openly. I feel a faint headache, but…
“Hm~? Is it no good?”
Lizette was smiling cheerfully. She clearly hadn’t considered the possibility that I might refuse… from the Raltos incident, I’ve learned that she tends to become emotionally dependent. Completely rejecting her and hurting her doesn’t seem right. And if she somehow ended up on an original story route, that would be disastrous. It’s best to gently dodge her affection for now.
I glanced around the conference room.
“I suppose I’ll take a bath to prepare for the dungeon.”
“Hey, old man, if you’ve got time, help us out!”
“It’s fine, Galius. I’ll help once I’m done with my preparations.”
“Aron, if you’re able to move around, then prepare these items.”
“What!? If I have to go around buying all of this, it’ll take until night!”
“Haha… Sylvia-dono is surprisingly strict…”
Everyone in the conference room was already standing up. If Lizette’s motivation is on the line, then going along with her is the right call.
“Yeah, sure.”
“Yes! Let’s go already!”
As Lizette pulled me by the arm and we left the room, Fiel suddenly raised her voice.
“Ah…”
Fiel looked like she wanted to say something. Lizette tilted her head.
“Do you want to come too? Want to come along, Fiel?”
Fiel silently looked down and shook her head. Lizette frowned slightly.
“I don’t really mind, you know? As long as I get to be with Zilkein.”
“No… I’ll pass…”
“Hmph… you’re not honest.”
Lizette turned her face away with a huff and tugged my arm regardless. Just before leaving the conference room, I felt like I met Fiel’s eyes, she looked sad.
◇◇◇
That evening.
I accompanied Lizette on her shopping and adjusted her equipment. We kept the light leather armor she had originally worn, but added gauntlets and greaves that wouldn’t hinder her movement, improving her defense as well. With Lizette’s physical abilities, she should be able to block light attacks with just the gauntlets.
In party combat, because there are rear-line members, there are inevitably cases where complete evasion isn’t possible. I told her that in those moments, she should use the gauntlets to block.
“Ahh, that was fun! Thanks for teaching me so much. Oh, and this too, we’ll split it with everyone.”
Lizette held a small pouch carefully. It was the bag containing the items I had recommended.
“Right. Then I’ll see you tomorrow. At departure time.”
“Ah, wait, Zilkein.”
She called out to me, and as I turned around, I felt something soft against my cheek. By the time I realized it was the sensation of Lizette’s lips, her cheeks were already flushed red, and she was grinning broadly.
“… That’s my thanks for going shopping with me.”
“If you want to thank me, just make it back safely.”
“Why are you acting so normal about it!? Mmph~!!!”
Lizette puffed out her cheeks like a child. Sorry, Lizette. I appreciate your feelings, but I can’t return them right now. I still need to earn more. I can’t afford to look elsewhere.
“Haah… well, I guess I’ll take my time conquering you, Zilkein.”
Lizette shrugged. Then, as if she remembered something, she let out a small “Ah.”
“Oh, right. Fiel was acting weird, wasn’t she? That gloomy face definitely means she’s worried about something. Go check on her. I think you, Zilkein, could listen to her worries.”
Fiel, huh. She really did seem different today. I don’t know what she’s troubled about, but going into the Demonic Void Dungeon while burdened with worries is dangerous. I should see her too.
“See you later, Zilkein~!! I’m a broad-minded lover, you know! Be grateful~!”
I never said anything about us being lovers, when did that happen……? She’s an amusing girl, that one.
…….
I searched around for Fiel, but she wasn’t in the guild or the plaza, nowhere to be found. After wandering around until evening, I finally found her near the adventurers’ training facility… the athletic grounds, sitting with her knees hugged to her chest.
“So this is where you were. I’ve been looking for you.”
“Zilkein-dono… how was Lizette’s shopping?”
“It just finished. More importantly… is something wrong? You seemed low on energy during the meeting.”
As the sunset poured in and silence fell between us, I looked toward the training facility. The distant sounds of adventurers sparring echoed faintly. Fiel buried her face in her knees.
“I started worrying whether I could really protect everyone with my Eisen Maiden… during the exam, it was broken by a single strike from Zeiss-dono……”
… I see. That’s what was bothering her.
Fiel had taken a hit to the shoulder from a serious Zeiss. Even though she’d received healing magic and had her armor repaired, she hadn’t regained her confidence.
What should I say to her…?
That’s right. There was an item I had been planning to give to Sylvia before tomorrow’s departure. Wouldn’t Fiel be the most suitable one to carry it? Let’s use that.
“Fiel, come with me to my estate.”
“Eh… to, to Zilkein-dono’s estate…”
◇◇◇
We headed to my estate and entered my room. Fiel looked restless, fidgeting nervously. After glancing around the room, she briefly let her gaze fall on the bed.
“Um, well… I don’t have any experience with this kind of thing… of course! I’m happy you invited me! But, umm… I’m wearing this kind of armor today……”
“? What are you talking about?”
“Huh? When you enter a man’s room, my father once told me there’s only one thing that happens…”
“What nonsense did he teach you? Don’t worry about such foolish talk.”
“I-I see… haha, it seems I misunderstood something… hahaha… haah…”
For some reason, Fiel’s shoulders slumped. Glancing at her, I took two small bottles from a shelf. Bottles containing blue and red light. Fiel looked at them with a puzzled expression.
“What are those?”
“They were developed at a magic academy in the Central Nations. They contain magic that allows instantaneous movement over a short distance. Using these will shorten the time needed to escape from the dungeon.”
This was something I had acquired using knowledge from the original story. I had prepared it, expecting the Demonic Void Dungeon to come up eventually, but I didn’t expect to use it this soon.
“I want you to carry these, Fiel.”
“Me…?”
“Yes. You’ll be standing on the front line, and as someone who possesses the Eisen Maiden skill, you’re the best fit. Your survival probability is the highest.”
“But such an important role… someone like me…”
Fiel’s face grew sad again. No, that won’t do. I need to say this clearly.
“Don’t say things that lower your own worth.”
I cut her off before she could continue. If she develops a habit of self-deprecation, it will affect her future. Self-deprecation corrodes the mind more than one might think—it defines oneself as “only this much.” If she can’t believe in herself right now, then I’ll help her find confidence in another way.
“Listen. I decided to entrust this to you because I believe you’re the right person for the job. Do you not trust my judgment?”
“N-no… that’s not it…”
“Right now, you’ve lost sight of something important because you lost to Zeiss.”
“Something important?”
“You held your own against Ada, the archer of Fangs of the Great Beast, didn’t you? You accomplished something no ordinary adventurer could, using nothing but your skill and swordsmanship. How could that not deserve recognition?”
Fiel’s eyes widened.
“It’s fine to be shocked by defeat. But listen, look at what you gained… your achievements. Whenever you take action, even if it ends in failure, you always gain something. Turning away from that robs you of opportunities to grow.”
I remember reading something like this in a business book a long time ago. I never liked that kind of idealistic talk, but it’s not entirely wrong. More than anything, it’s words Fiel needs right now.
“Look at what I gained… huh.”
“That’s right. Fiel Valencia will protect everyone and bring them all back here safely… I believe that.”
Fiel hugged the small bottles tightly. With a dazed expression, she muttered something under her breath.
(Zilkein-dono… such kind words… ah, my chest hurts… I want to say it. I want to say it… should I tell him now? That I l-lo-lo… love him…)
Fiel’s face gradually turned red. But her words were faint, and her gaze seemed fixed somewhere far away. Is she all right?
“Sorry, I didn’t catch that. What did you just say?”
“Ah, no!? Nothing!”
For some reason, Fiel’s face was bright red as she waved both hands frantically. After placing a hand on her chest and taking a deep breath, she looked at me with a serious gaze.
“Zilkein-dono entrusted this to me… I will never betray that trust.”
The moment I saw her voice and expression, I thought: she’ll be fine now.
… Tomorrow is the day they depart. As Guildmaster, I need to see them off. To clear the nation-selected quest that will change this guild’s fate, and above all… we’re committing all of this guild’s main fighting force. I cannot allow a single one of them to die.
What do you think about this chapter?
