The Corrupt Guildmaster Defies Fate
Two days after Aron's awakening, the day of Aron and Bash’s duel had finally arrived.
The location was the central plaza of Luminage, the city where the Guild stood. Adventurers and even townsfolk packed the area shoulder to shoulder, eager to witness the expulsion of an A-rank party member.
“Who do you think’s gonna win, Bash or Aron?”
“Bash, obviously!”
“But I heard Aron was personally trained by the Guildmaster.”
“In three days? Yeah right! What can that Guildmaster even do anyway?”
“True, all he ever does is yell and bully people into doing what he wants.”
“Guess this one’s in the bag for Bash.”
“So much for the Guildmaster’s dignity, huh?”
“Shh! He’ll hear you!”
The crowd buzzed noisily. Standing beside me, Emidia puffed out her cheeks in frustration.
“Honestly! Everyone just says whatever they want! Don’t they understand Zilkein-sama’s designs!?”
Designs? What designs
I never told Emidia a single thing about what I was thinking. What on earth is this woman talking about?
“More importantly... the duel is about to begin. Zilkein-sama! As Guildmaster, please say a few words!”
Her eyes sparkled as she urged me forward. Pressured by her enthusiasm, I stepped toward the center of the plaza. I had intended to start the duel right away, but... perhaps this was how it went in the original story. If I recalled correctly, Zilkein gave a speech before the duel event in the game.
Fine then. Let’s give them a show and set the stage properly.
I took a deep breath and raised my voice.
“Thank you all for coming!! From this moment, we will hold a duel to decide the expulsion of a member of the A-rank party Red Dragon’s Wings!!”
A thunderous cheer and the sound of stomping feet shook the entire plaza. This city didn’t have many entertainments, so perhaps everyone had been looking forward to something like this.
“Silence!”
With one shout, the noise ceased. I clasped my hands behind my back and slowly paced in front of the onlookers, meeting each of their gazes.
“I have heard that some question the current rank system. And why is that!?”
The crowd exchanged confused looks. I continued without pause.
“Because no one can tell if the ranks truly match one’s strength! The capable are held down, while the unworthy are lifted high! Such corruption breeds nothing but frustration!”
… This phrasing matched what the original Zilkein said during the duel event. Coming from him, it was laughable hypocrisy. The next line should’ve been, “But once you see this duel, you’ll know those doubts were wrong!”
However, since the story had already changed and the corruption in the Guild’s ranking system was real, there was no need for me to lower my reputation by parroting that nonsense.
Normally, I wouldn’t care about such things—but if I’m going to overturn my ruin, I’ll do it decisively. I’ll shout righteousness itself to make this outcome unquestionable... and ensure my “other plan” succeeds.
“But this corruption stems from the rot within the Guild system itself!! That is why I approved this duel!!”
I deliberately said the opposite of what the original Zilkein had.
“Hey, did he just say corruption?”
“Can a Guildmaster even admit that!?”
“Well... we’ve all thought it before.”
“Yeah, but it’s kinda different when he’s the one saying it...”
A murmur of confusion spread among the spectators. Of course—everyone had thought it but never dared to say it aloud. Hearing Zilkein himself acknowledge it must have shocked them.
“Will A-rank Bash prove his strength? Or will C-rank Aron overturn everything with skill alone!? A duel without deceit or falsehoods—let us all bear witness to the truth!!”
“Whoa, if the Guildmaster’s saying that much, this is serious!”
“Maybe he really has changed...”
“Yeah right, it’s still Aron we’re talking about. No way he wins.”
“Hmm... guess we’ll have to watch and see.”
“Exactly! That’s what the Guildmaster said!”
“Hah! This’ll be a show worth watchin’, it will!”
“Yeeeah! Let’s see it!!”
Cheers erupted once again. So this is what it feels like to rally a crowd. Hah, I could get used to this.
I glanced at Emidia. She was dabbing at her eyes with a handkerchief.
“Zilkein-sama... so noble... so magnificent...”
… Let’s just pretend I didn’t see that.
Turning back to the crowd, I spotted Sylvia from Red Dragon’s Wings. Hands clasped, she seemed to be praying.
Praying for Aron’s victory, huh? Fine then. I’ll show you—the strength of the Aron I awakened.
“Bash! Aron! Step forward!!”
The two men, swords at their sides, walked into the center of the plaza. Bash grinned mockingly at Aron.
“Hey, Aron. You really think a support flunky like you can beat a frontliner like me? Just ‘cause the Guildmaster’s backing you now? Your strength’s the same as it’s always been.”
That tone—he wasn’t even hiding his contempt for me anymore.
Aron glanced back at me for a moment. I gave him a small nod of encouragement.
“Bash. You’re my childhood friend, so I’ll forgive you for looking down on me. But the Guildmaster... he’s the one who unlocked my potential. Mocking him—that I won’t forgive!!!”
In an instant, Aron’s entire body radiated fighting spirit. Bash flinched.
“Wh-what’s with that killing intent!?”
Of course he wouldn’t know—Aron had just spent days battling Death Wolves and Basilisks. He wouldn’t be scared of the likes of Bash anymore.
“Then—begin!!”
I raised my hand high and brought it down sharply.
Both men leapt back, landing lightly and drawing their swords. They stared each other down, neither taking the initiative. Bash must’ve sensed something from Aron.
“Astral Slash!!”
Bash lunged forward, his sword gleaming with blinding light—the strike said to cut through steel itself, his signature skill. The blade swung for Aron’s neck.
“I’ll end this in one blow!!!”
“Strength Boost! Speed Increase!”
Aron cast two body enhancement spells at once, instantly amplifying his physical ability. He skipped Defense Boost, focusing instead on agility and attack.
Good. Just as I told him—show Bash the difference in power.
“Barely dodged that one, huh? Then how about this!?”
“Kh...!”
Aron narrowly avoided the next slash. Bash pressed in, following up with a diagonal strike.
“What’s wrong!? Weren’t you gonna beat me!?”
Dodging, Aron activated Strength Boost and Speed Increase again—now at level two. Most people would already be reaching their limit.
“Hah!!”
“Pathetic!”
Aron struck back, but Bash parried and countered. Aron managed to block, yet the crowd began to murmur with disappointment.
“Eh?”
“Is that all Aron’s got?”
“After all that hype?”
“Well, he didn’t get taken out in one hit, so that’s something.”
“Yeah, A-rank and C-rank are still worlds apart.”
Let them talk. They’d be eating those words soon enough.
Aron cast his spells again—now Strength and Speed were at level three, the normal max for enhancement magic. Bash barely dodged his slash.
“Hurry it up, Bash!”
“One strike’ll do it!”
“I’ve got money on you, man!”
Bash’s friends in the crowd egged him on.
Aron’s aura flared—fourth enhancement level, now in the realm of “Divine Possession.” Bash gave up dodging and tried to block with his sword.
“Oi, you messin’ around!?”
“Finish it already!”
“You toying with us!?”
Then Aron pushed even further—fifth enhancement. His attack power and speed now exceeded human limits. He swung, and Bash staggered back under the sheer force, his expression twisting with panic.
“Wait... Bash looks... off.”
“Is he... being pushed back?”
“No way, it’s Aron!”
Even Bash’s supporters began to realize something was wrong.
“Wh-what the hell is this sword!? It’s so heavy!?”
Bash swung desperately, but Aron met the blow effortlessly, casting another strengthening spell—sixth stage. Bash’s attacks no longer even reached him.
“Bash is being toyed with...”
“What did Aron do!?”
“He’s been casting buffs the whole time, hasn’t he!?”
“No way! His body should’ve collapsed by now!”
But there he stood—moving faster, striking harder. Even the onlookers could see it now. In a clash of blades, it was Bash who was being forced back.
“Give up, Bash. Your sword will never reach me again.”
“Don’t you mock me, you—!”
Before he could finish, Bash’s sword was knocked upward, exposing his torso. Aron stepped in and slammed his blade into Bash’s armor.
“Guh—agh!?”
With that one strike, Bash’s armor shattered, the impact sending pain deep into his gut.
“Bash!?”
“Aron’s sword... it’s insane!”
“He wasn’t moving like that before!”
“What’s going on!?”
“Damn it all—!!! Astral Slash!!”
Bash roared, unleashing his ultimate skill. Aron raised his sword high and shouted—
“HAAAAAA!!!”
—and brought it down with all his might. The moment their blades met, Bash’s technique was utterly crushed. His weapon snapped, his arms hung limp.
“... Huh?”
His most confident, perfect strike—completely shattered by a single downward swing. Bash stood frozen, disbelief written across his face.
“It’s over... Bash!!”
Aron leapt lightly into the air and delivered a full-powered back kick to Bash’s jaw.
“Gahhhhhhh!?”
The blow sent him flying into the crowd.
“Dodgeee!!”
“He knocked him out with one kick!?”
“That power’s insane!!”
The onlookers scattered as Bash crashed into a wall and collapsed to the ground.
“G… gh… ah...”
He lay there in a pathetic heap. The difference in strength was absolute—between awakened Aron and the overconfident Bash, there was no comparison.
For a moment, silence. Then murmurs spread, growing louder and louder until they turned into a storm of cheers.
“Holy crap!!”
“Aron’s a monster!!”
“That was Aron?!”
“The Guildmaster saw this coming!?”
“He’s a genius!!”
The plaza erupted into praise. To them, this was an unbelievable upset.
...
And with this, I’ve overturned my fate. The downfall that should’ve taken years to avert—I’ve undone it in mere days. I can praise myself and Aron for that much.
But still... I don’t let my guard down.
My gaze shifted past the blushing, embarrassed Aron to where Bash lay motionless.
On that face was pure hatred. His pride shattered, his entire being denied—eyes filled with the promise of revenge. Just as in the original. Bash would fall into darkness.
Only this time, it was happening much sooner.
That’s why I’ll end it properly—exactly as planned.
Bash. You’ll leave this city willingly... for my sake.
What do you think about this chapter?
