The Corrupt Guildmaster, Introducing a New Initiative
Several days after Aron and the others departed. Emidia and I were holding a meeting in the Guildmaster’s office.
“With three A-rank adventurers absent, it’s inevitably affecting quest acceptance… We haven’t received any requests for boss-class monster subjugations.”
As Emidia flipped through the documents, she gave her report. The quests requested after Aron and the others left… The deadline for accepting the hydra subjugation is three days from now, huh. At this rate, the request will go unfulfilled.
“There are also many remaining quests of the type the Red Dragon’s Wings usually accepted, such as goblin nest extermination and cyclops subjugation.”
“That figures.”
In this world’s guilds, work proceeds by having the guild administrator assign quests. So what happens to quests that aren’t completed? Naturally, as long as a request exists, someone must take it. As a result, each guild has acceptance deadlines, and if a quest isn’t completed, it’s passed on to another guild.
If this happens repeatedly, penalties are imposed, and the number of quests assigned may decrease.
“At this rate, we won’t be able to face Aron and the others, who are risking their lives challenging danger.”
“P-please don’t say that…! You are doing your best, Zilkein-sama!”
“Doing one’s best… For adventurers, that’s fine. Everyone has a role, and there’s always a place for them to shine.”
Even perpetual E-rank adventurers help keep the guild running because there are quests they can accept. Income is generated. Anyone in this guild is useful in some way, to bring me money, that is.
“But that’s not something a Guildmaster is allowed to say. If I said, ‘I did my best, so it’s fine,’ and let this guild collapse, it would be putting the cart before the horse. I have a duty to safeguard this guild’s operation.”
That’s why I’m hardest on myself. This is a defensive measure to protect my assets. It doesn’t mean working recklessly, it means acting rationally. The original Zilkein was lax in that regard. I’m using him as a negative example as I move to seize even greater profits.
“Zilkein-sama… to have such resolve for everyone’s sake… Emidia is so happy…”
Emidia began to shed tears. Her usual overreaction. Did she interpret things however she liked again?
I’ve made Emidia cry so often that my senses have gradually gone numb.
In any case. Right now, not only is the Red Dragon’s Wings, this guild’s absolute ace, absent, but even Fiel and Lizette, who boast high combat power individually, are gone. If we start leaving quests unfulfilled, it will damage the Luminage Guild’s reputation. To earn big from state-sponsored quests, we have to overcome troubles like this.
“But what should we do about this situation…?”
“Don’t worry. I’ve devised a measure for exactly this.”
It should be about time for the B-rank adventurers who finished their quests to return to town. The timing is perfect.
“A measure…? What would that be…?”
“Yeah. I created wording that recommends forming temporary parties to increase the quest acceptance rate.”
“T-temporary parties!?”
◇◇◇
That afternoon.
“I’m B-rank, an archer. I can handle rear-guard duties.”
“I can use support magic. I’m only C-rank, though…”
“Leave front-line defense to me!”
“Ahh~ looks like we’ve got overlapping front-line defenders.”
“Guess we’ll look for someone else.”
In one corner of the meeting space set up inside the guild, adventurers were discussing party members to take on quests. Their enthusiasm was quite something. It’s working well.
“Umm… Zilkein-sama? It’s true that everyone is eager to take on quests, but is this really alright? It seems… a bit dangerous.”
“That’s what you’d normally think. But it’s fine, at least in the case of Luminage.”
“Why is that?”
“Because the recent selection exam let us grasp the approximate abilities of the Luminage Guild’s adventurers. Many B-rank and C-rank members are evenly matched in capability. And besides…”
I explained it to Emidia. Originally, adventurers want to take high-risk, high-reward quests. However, depending on their individual abilities and current parties, they often hesitate. Even if they try to form a temporary party, inviting members at random naturally leads to disputes over rewards. That’s because the way rewards are handled differs between parties and solo play.
So, I added the following wording to the quest request forms:
“If this quest is accepted by those of B-rank or below, forming a temporary party is recommended. Rewards will be distributed equally according to the number of acceptors.”
Originally, whether to form a temporary party or not is entirely up to the adventurers. However, fear of disputes like the above has unconsciously led them to avoid temporary parties.
By showing them this wording, it resolves monetary concerns and encourages the formation of temporary parties. As a result, any adventurer can now take on high-risk quests.
This idea was based on knowledge from my previous life, from online games. Depending on the game, it’s common to tackle quests with complete strangers. If abilities are evenly matched, I figured introducing that into reality would work.
“But temporary parties have the weakness of insufficient coordination, don’t they?”
As Emidia says, there are certainly issues. Naturally, there’s the risk of death when using temporary parties. If coordination isn’t established yet, things can go wrong and people can die. However, this guild has that.
“No problem. Do you remember the obstacle course facilities from the exam? I posted on the bulletin board that they can be used as a place to check coordination.”
After the selection exam, we decided to leave that athletic facility intact. Since Aron and the others departed, I’ve seen adventurers training there.
Looking toward the reception desk, the six adventurers who had been talking earlier were accepting the hydra subjugation quest. There were also other parties discussing things in front of the quest board.
“As expected of Zilkein-sama! Solving the acceptance problem just by changing adventurers’ mindset!”
Emidia’s eyes sparkled. Her reactions really are too big… This might trigger another round of her wild imagination. Well, seeing reality might calm her down.
“Before celebrating, we have to get through this work.”
I shifted my gaze. There were already more than five temporary parties formed, and every one of them was glancing our way.
“Umm, can we also tackle goblin nest extermination with a temporary party?”
“Cyclops subjugation too!”
“I think we can definitely do it like this!”
The adventurers spoke one after another. Behind them were those hoping to accept quests freed up by others taking on boss quests.
Before we knew it, the guild was overflowing with adventurers. Seeing that, Emidia’s face turned pale.
“A-are we going to handle all these people…?”
“You praised me earlier, didn’t you? Today’s going to be insanely busy. It’s the first day of implementing a new measure. I’ll help with reception.”
“Eh… Zilkein-sama too?”
“I’d feel bad just making the suggestion and leaving everything to you all.”
That day, the guild was livelier than ever. For some reason, though, the receptionists handled things with an unusually stiff demeanor. I suppose they’re being cautious since I’m helping. But we’re short-handed, so it can’t be helped.
As I processed adventurers’ quest paperwork, the faces everyone had that morning before departure floated into my mind. When they return, this guild has to be “the usual guild.”
“Zilkein-sama…”
When I glanced over, my eyes met Emidia’s. Through the gaps in her long golden hair, she looked at me with a gentle, affectionate gaze, wearing a smile I could never manage myself.
Well, things on our end seem manageable. All that’s left is for Aron and the others to clear the dungeon.
What do you think about this chapter?
