How to Survive in a Good Small Guild - Chapter 101

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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How to Survive at a Good Small Guild
Episode 101
“You danced with the Princess Lucia yesterday, didn’t you?”
I’d thrown the question out casually, curious what the original story might mean to Sedrian, and he answered with an air of indifference.
“Yes, it was a productive time to discuss labor conditions.”
His response felt strange too. What had made Sedrian so different from his original self?
Could he have actually gained some kind of enlightenment after seeing our Guild in its sorry state when he first arrived—no toilets, no coffee except what we paid for out of pocket?
“And what did you think of the Princess?”
“Competent, I’d say.”
I’d hoped for a more emotional reaction, but Sedrian’s face showed genuine disinterest.
That’s when I finally accepted it.
In the original story, Sedrian should already be obsessing, causing a dramatic scene. But the fact that he was with someone other than the original female lead at the banquet was a fatal deviation right from the start.
Whatever had happened, one thing was certain: the original plot had been destroyed, just as possession novels inevitably are.
‘After all, in a possession novel, whoever is possessing always ends up shattering the original story one way or another.’
I hadn’t done anything dramatic like saving Sedrian, but perhaps by showing him the harsh realities of labor, I’d inadvertently broken his romance instead.
“But why do you keep bringing up the Princess Calliard?”
“Oh, no particular reason…”
“Does the Princess concern you?”
“Not at all. She’s more competent than I am, so I’m sure she’ll manage just fine on her own.”
“That wasn’t the answer I expected.”
Sedrian let out a short breath.
“You’ve helped me gather considerable information so far. I’ve learned much about the Temple, and you’ve even put yourself in danger to infiltrate it.”
“Yes…”
“How might I repay such kindness? And please, don’t mention adequate compensation for labor. Is there nothing you truly want?”
Since he’d cut off that avenue first, my lips twitched. Something I really want besides labor compensation? That would be…
“Well, I suppose I have a need for recognition. More than I might have thought.”
“A need for recognition?”
“Yes. The fact that I drove out the corrupt former Guild Master and became one myself—I think part of it stems from a desire to reach a high position and be acknowledged for it. I’d like the organization I’m running to grow ever larger.”
That’s why I’m devoting myself to expanding the Guild.
When Sedrian heard this, his face shifted into an expression of realization.
“If that’s what you desire, I can give you something far greater. I can help you become the head of a much larger organization.”
“What sort of thing?”
“You’ll find out eventually.”
“That’s anticlimactic.”
He was probably talking about some kind of government institution. Perhaps he meant to make me a civil servant.
Just then, a bell tolled twelve times. My eyes went wide at the sound.
“Oh no, it’s already midnight! I have to go!”
“Why? Why the rush?”
“I have to work tomorrow! If I sleep too late, I won’t be able to wake up!”
“Ah yes, work tomorrow!”
The Crown Prince released my hand and exclaimed aloud.
“Since we both have to work, we should probably head in now!”
“Yes!”
***
“What’s this? Why do you both look so exhausted?”
The next morning, Susanna asked, watching me with glazed eyes sitting at my desk. I lifted my head, nearly dozing off.
“What? There’s someone else who looks tired besides me?”
“Sedrick the manager.”
“Did Manager Sedrick have something pressing yesterday too?”
Even though I’d hurried home as quickly as possible, the aftereffects of the banquet—in formal attire, maintaining proper etiquette the whole time—had caught up with me.
I’d collapsed the moment I got home and slept, yet I was still exhausted even now in the morning.
“Ah, yes… I had some business yesterday as well…”
“I see.”
I nodded at Sedrick’s words when Susanna suddenly poked her head toward Morian.
“Why’s that? Did you two sneak off and have fun without the rest of us?”
“Would we do that?”
“Seems suspicious.”
After scolding Susanna to get back to work, I kept my eyes fixed on the documents spread across my desk.
Ugh, ever since we expanded the Guild building, my workload has doubled…
As I worked with a gloomy expression, I remembered that tomorrow was Saturday and I had to visit the Temple.
“Ahhh!”
I let out a sudden shriek, and everyone’s eyes snapped toward me.
“What’s gotten into you?”
“Didn’t we tell you? Our Guild Master is just like that!”
“Guild Master, is something wrong?”
“Sob, sob… as I thought, only Sedrick cares about me….”
I gazed at Sedrick with touching eyes and spoke breezily.
“It’s just… I remembered I have to go to the Temple tomorrow….”
“Then simply don’t go in!”
“What are you saying? Even if I don’t want to, I have to go.”
“But I know how wicked the Temple is…!”
“That’s true—everyone here knows about the Temple’s abuse of power.”
The real feelings I’d kept hidden so as not to worry Sedrian came spilling out.
“I won’t be abused anymore, but… ugh, what a deranged organization!”
I could feel Sedrick still watching me with worried eyes, but I didn’t mind.
Everyone naturally dreads going to work, yet everyone has to.
***
“You’ve arrived!”
“Good to see you, Odret! I look forward to working with you!”
At last Saturday came, and when I arrived at the Temple with a darkened expression, Seraphine and Etienne greeted me warmly.
“Today you’ll meet the High Priest and undergo the ceremony, and tomorrow we’ll announce that you’ve become a high priestess.”
“I see… So I’m meeting the High Priest today?”
“That’s right. Finally, your chance has come.”
I’d always wanted to meet the High Priest. Who exactly was the leader of this deranged organization? In the original work, he’d been an ordinary villain, but in this changed world, the High Priest would surely be different from the source material too.
“Now that you’re a high priestess, you’ll be able to enter through the Temple’s north gate from now on!”
“Wow, what an incredible privilege….”
I followed them into the building where the Temple’s high priests came and went.
The interior was dim and unlit. Walking down an eerie, cold corridor, at its end stood a woman with hair draped ghost-like around her shoulders.
“Ah, Aria.”
Seraphine waved at Aria triumphantly.
“We’ve brought ‘our’ Odret.”
At Seraphine’s provocative words, Aria’s eyes fixed on me. When she looked at me and smiled slightly, I grew even more frightened. I’d rather have her angry and glaring at me instead.
“So you’re really going to side with them, Odret?”
Aria spoke in a leisurely tone.
“After all, it was my achievement to discover you….”
“So what? From now on, Odret will be on our side anyway.”
Etienne chimed in smugly, but Aria didn’t even glance at him.
Ah, so this is what a possession novel is really like. Unlike other heroines, the male leads don’t obsess over me, but these two women are fixated on me instead….
Just then, the door at the end of the corridor opened.
“What’s all this noise?”
Matthias, now visible, gestured to us.
“The High Priest will be arriving soon. Come in quickly.”
I awkwardly entered the room at the end of the corridor.
I’d imagined a luxurious chamber, but the room was nothing but gloomy and dark. Why hadn’t anyone cleaned the cobwebs? The floor was filthy too.
As I stood there awkwardly, Matthias extended a hand toward me.
“It’s good to meet you, Odret Lavender. Let’s work together pursuing our shared goals from now on.”
“Ah, yes….”
As I grasped his fingertips and shook his hand, cheerful footsteps echoed from deep down the corridor—like the footsteps of an excited child.
Seraphine spoke calmly.
“He’s here.”
At that moment, the door opened.
And the figure who appeared in the room was the High Priest.
‘Such dark eyes….’
They were the deepest black eyes I had ever seen.
I already knew the Temple preferred black hair and black eyes. It was the influence of Park Geo-sung.
The High Priest, likewise, had black eyes. Gazing into them felt like falling into a vast abyss.
The High Priest appeared surprisingly normal. I’d expected him to look terrifying or sinister, but his face was actually quite handsome.
And more than that, really….
‘He looks young.’
A face that would pass for his thirties, just like the other high priests.
But surely he wasn’t actually that age. The Miracle must have affected him.
I glanced at the High Priest, then noticed that the other senior priests had their heads bowed.
I quickly lowered my own head to follow their lead, and heard the High Priest’s puzzled voice.
“You’re not afraid, are you?”
……
“So you can see me clearly, then.”
……?
“So it really was a success, wasn’t it?”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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