How to Survive in a Good Small Guild - Chapter 104

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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 in a Small-Scale Guild
Chapter 104
At those words, my face went blank.
I already knew that Stella was merely a tool to the Temple.
In the original work, too, Stella was the High Priest’s daughter, but she wasn’t truly treated as such—she was an adopted daughter bound to serve the Temple, nothing more than a vessel.
That’s why the original heroine, Princess Lucia, pitied Stella’s circumstances so deeply and rescued her.
‘But they never said her body was meant for Park Geo-sung to possess!’
Perhaps this world differed from the original precisely because it worshipped Park Geo-sung….
I truly didn’t know where to even begin my objections.
They want to possess a ten-year-old girl’s body with some middle-aged man named Park Geo-sung? Is this really acceptable?
‘And Stella doesn’t even know about this!’
When we last spoke, she thought that if she became useless, she’d simply become one of the ordinary priests. She had no idea her own body would be stolen from her.
Where does Stella’s soul go, anyway?
I may have taken over Odret Lavendel’s body after she died of overwork, and I felt sorry for it, but forcing someone out of their own body—that’s murder, plain and simple!
Wait. Now that I think about it, the name Stella Greate….
Geo-sung!
‘Geo-sung’ translated literally into this world’s language, isn’t it? This is insane!
“Um… um… yes.”
All that escaped my lips was this pathetic response.
“It really is unexpected….”
“In three months’ time, we will call the Prophet down into Stella’s body.”
Oblivious to—or perhaps aware of—my turmoil, Matthias continued proudly.
“Once the Prophet comes to this world, all will be saved.”
“Yes….”
I lost all will to resist.
I stumbled out of Matthias’s office, my eyes hollow and vacant.
‘I have to save Stella.’
Last time, Stella hadn’t shown any desire to leave the Temple of her own accord, so I’d held back from acting.
But now, whether Stella wanted it or not, I had to get her out of this Temple.
‘If I act directly, I’ll be suspected.’
I knew exactly who could help.
In the original story, it was Princess Lucia who stepped forward for this.
I’d let Princess Lucia take action, and I’d pretend to know nothing.
As I walked through the Temple lost in thought, I caught sight of Stella as if she could sense my worries. She waved brightly at me.
“Wow, sister! So you became a High Priest! Now we can spend more time together!”
“Yes, Stella….”
I struggled to maintain a composed expression in front of her.
“Sister, you must be incredibly talented! Becoming a High Priest so quickly!”
“Hah, it’s all thanks to the Prophet’s blessing….”
“Sister, you can speak comfortably with me now! We’re close now, aren’t we? High Priests stay in the Temple for a long time!”
“Yes….”
I was struggling for what topic to bring up when, fortunately, Stella chattered on first.
“You know the Grand Temple Festival is next month, right?”
“Yes, it’s come around again.”
The Temple held a grand festival every autumn. The purpose was to spread the Temple’s teachings far and wide.
Since the state had designated it a public holiday, many citizens enjoyed the celebration.
Stella had been looking forward to this festival for so long that when we last met, she’d mentioned her anticipation for it.
“That day, I get to go outside too!”
Well, there’s no helping it. The opportunity is only then.
As in the original story, I’d have Princess Lucia rescue Stella that day.
“Stella.”
Before that, I probed carefully to understand her true feelings.
“You like going outside?”
“Huh? Yes. When I go outside, I can see new things!”
“Don’t you want to see lots of new things?”
“Of course! Why, does sister know something interesting?”
“Yes, I do.”
I parted my lips several times before finally managing to speak.
“Stella, remember my words well. When an opportunity is given to you, you must seize it.”
“Huh?”
“You understand, right?”
“Of course I do! I understand!”
Oblivious to how quickly I was burning up inside, Stella bounced away with that bright smile still plastered across her face.
***
“And that’s how it happened….”
Sunday night, I laid bare all the facts to Sedrian, who had come seeking me out.
That I had received a Supernatural Ability from the Temple, that I wore a Ring to control it, that I intended to make the Prophet incarnate in Stella, and finally, the Empress Assassination Incident itself.
“…They said it with their own mouths.”
Sedrian lowered his eyes with a bitter expression. He appeared composed, yet at the same time, something like anger seemed to ripple beneath the surface.
“I won’t lose myself to anger. I can’t afford to bungle this now….”
Speaking as though he were making a vow to himself, Sedrian suddenly extended his hand toward me.
“Odret, would you hold my hand?”
“Yes? Of course.”
If it could comfort him, nothing else mattered. I quickly clasped his hand in both of mine.
He then drew a slow, deep breath and squeezed his eyes shut.
“You act for your guild members just as I must act for the people of the empire….”
“Sedrian….”
“It’s all right now. I’m all right. There’s still so much I need to protect.”
Sedrian opened his eyes and spoke with a slightly sobered expression.
“By the way, are you all right? To receive a Supernatural Ability like that—it isn’t dangerous, is it?”
“Well, for now there don’t seem to be any problems.”
“Right, I had something to tell you as well—John Kerdick, the master of the Golden Balance, has come to stand with the Imperial Palace.”
“Really?”
“Thanks to the information you brought. Once I offered to help him legally with his marriage to Marquess Jansen’s Widow, he agreed to join my side.”
“So now we have even more groups willing to help us when we clash with the Temple!”
I spoke with shining eyes. With this, we now had allies in the Red Rose Salon, the Tower of Stars, the Platinum Mercenary Corps, and the Golden Balance.
“…That said, how about taking tomorrow off from guild duties? You seem to need rest as well.”
“I do want to skip work….”
I answered in a dispirited voice.
“But I have to go. I’m the guild master, after all….”
…….
I couldn’t tell whether the Crown Prince found me admirable or pitiful, but the fact remained that I had to show up. The only days I could rest were weekends and holidays….
“Sedrian, did you know the Temple is holding a festival next month?”
“Yes, I’m aware.”
“How about we meet with Princess Lucia soon and draw up a plan to rescue Stella?”
“Let’s do that.”
The Crown Prince answered without hesitation.
“Lucia is someone I can trust.”
It didn’t seem to be romantic in nature—it carried the same tone as when he’d mentioned being a “labor companion” before.
Because I was bothered by how Sedrian had tried to suppress his emotions just moments ago while thinking of his people, I opened my mouth.
“Sedrian, of course you are the Crown Prince of the empire and bear many duties….”
I fixed his gray eyes with a steady gaze.
“But you don’t need to always appear as a dutiful Crown Prince in front of everyone. So….”
Unlike in the original work where he opened his heart only to Princess Lucia, he must be feeling stifled and tormented right now.
“If you need to, you can share your burdens with me. I’m dealing with ‘Sedrian,’ not ‘Your Highness’—I’m dealing with a customer of the Acryte Guild.”
…….
Sedrian fell silent at those words. And as he gazed quietly at my face….
“…Ha ha!”
He suddenly laughed aloud.
“You’re right. I’m not the Crown Prince here. I’m only your customer.”
“Exactly. And customers are allowed to share their hardships.”
“You’re right, you’re absolutely right….”
He continued in a pleased voice.
“All right, Odret. Then let me make a promise. That you too will tell me of any difficulties you cannot share with the guild members.”
“Pardon?”
“Just as I have my people, so too do your guild members hold a similar place for you—and before them, you must always appear strong.”
“Ah….”
His words struck directly at my situation.
Someone had understood my heart, and for some reason that made my mood shift—I nodded with a flushed face.
“I will, Sedrian. Unlike with the guild members, I think I can show you my difficult side.”
My heart felt more open toward him than before. He was no longer like some character from the original story—he was a client of our Guild, my collaborator, someone I could rely on and trust.
Even so, I found myself growing curious.
What exactly was the nature of our relationship? Were we merely allies bound by mutual interest?

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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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