How to Survive in a Good Small Guild - Chapter 3

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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 Good Small Guild
Episode 3
“What are you thinking about?”
“Ah, well….”
The Crown Prince seemed to suspect something when I suddenly fell silent, so I hurried to fill the gap with chatter.
“Sir, you look quite wealthy. If I succeed with your commission, would you be willing to do me a favor?”
“I’ve already promised you a fair sum.”
“That’s true, of course. But I’m just a low-ranking employee on a salary, and my circumstances aren’t particularly good…. In fact, if you’ve come all this way to uncover someone’s identity, I’d imagine you’re in quite desperate straits yourself.”
…….
“Really, won’t you consider it?”
“Tell me what it is first.”
“Oh, it’s nothing difficult.”
If I proposed outright from the start that I’d act as a double spy for the Crown Prince, he’d grow suspicious.
After all, the Crown Prince had come to our guild under a false identity, and I was supposed to be unaware of who he really was.
So instead, I’d make him naturally come to believe that “Odret is someone I can trust.”
To do that, what would I ask? For an investment in our guild? For our guild to be his first choice when new commissions came in?
Unfortunately, our guild hasn’t yet reached the level where we could make such requests.
“Could you please have our guild building expanded and construct a bathroom for us?”
This was the true measure of our guild’s current standing.
“…I’ll have it built.”
His tone somehow sounded like he was addressing someone to be pitied, though I was probably imagining things. Well, actually, we were rather pitiable.
“In any case, sir, I promise I’ll bring you the information when you visit next time.”
I continued in a bright, confident tone.
“Let’s meet again in four days, at this hour!”
***
After the Crown Prince left, I threw myself into gathering information.
‘I already know the Crown Prince is looking for the female lead. The important thing is figuring out how to connect the dots logically.’
If I simply insisted that person was the original female lead, the Calliard Princess, without any evidence, it would look suspicious.
‘She must have used an item to change her appearance….’
If I could find the sales record for an item that disguises one as having black hair and eyes, I could connect it to the female lead.
After checking the ordinances, I learned that appearance-changing items had to have their sales records legally registered. So finding traces of the female lead shouldn’t be difficult.
However….
‘Why isn’t it showing up?’
Even after visiting City Hall and obtaining the documents, then searching through every single sales record for appearance-changing items, there was absolutely nothing connected to the female lead!
“Odret, what are you doing? I’m leaving for the day and you’re not even saying goodbye?”
“Have a good evening, Guild Master.”
“Ha! Odret! Then please handle the task I left you with!”
“Yes, you mean filling the break room with snacks using my own money, right? I’ll take care of it….”
“Odret, can you tell the Guild Master that I stayed late working today?”
“Why would I—sigh, fine.”
After sending off the three troublemakers one by one, I sat alone with my thoughts.
The Crown Prince had likely already searched through the appearance-changing item sales records at the guild he visited. But the fact that he found no trace of the female lead meant….
‘What did I miss?’
As I spun my pen between my fingers, wrestling with the problem, I suddenly realized something.
‘That’s right—it’s standard practice to record and report sales records, and legally that’s correct. But…!’
Since no one was auditing them, there was a place where one could slip through the legal cracks.
That was a business with fewer than five employees!
‘If it was a business with fewer than five employees, they wouldn’t have recorded the appearance-changing item sales!’
Of course, a business with fewer than five employees was essentially a small operation, so ordinarily you wouldn’t expect them to have access to something as serious as an appearance-changing item….
‘But there could still be an exception or two.’
I began rapidly writing a list on paper. Combining Odret’s original memories with my knowledge from the source material, there was one business with fewer than five employees where the female lead might have purchased an appearance-changing item.
‘The Naichel Merchant Guild!’
It appeared in the original as one of the female lead’s support networks…. Only large merchant houses typically dealt in appearance-changing items, but Naichel was originally from a large merchant house.
Finally having found the thread, I smiled to myself. Good—now I just needed to gather all the evidence before the Crown Prince arrived!
***
“So, did you find the answer?”
“Yes, sir.”
I smiled confidently and handed the papers to the Crown Prince.
“This is the record of the Naichel Merchant Guild selling an appearance-changing item. They didn’t report it to City Hall, but the record exists.”
“They didn’t report it to City Hall? I also suspected the person used an appearance-changing item and had a thorough investigation conducted. But failing to report it would be illegal, wouldn’t it?”
“The Naichel Merchant Guild is a business with fewer than five employees. No auditors ever show up there.”
“This can’t be….”
The Crown Prince, who had never given much thought to such things before, fell into shocked silence.
“Still, we kept records just in case there was a complaint. When I went looking, they just claimed they’d submitted the report a bit late. Anyway, I was able to get the sales records. Since it’s a small guild, almost everything moves through personal connections… and there’s one name worth noting.”
“Faina Rorendal?”
“Rorendal is a vassal house of the Calliard Ducal House.”
“That means…!”
“Someone who acquired such an expensive item in secret and covered their tracks that thoroughly? It’s highly likely to be the Calliard Ducal House. You mentioned there were no calluses on their hands, suggesting high status. And since no Gender-Changing Item like this has ever been reported before, that would mean….”
“The Calliard Princess!”
“Yes, without a doubt.”
Though I couldn’t see his face, I could feel his shock radiating through the darkness.
“But why would the Calliard Princess want to….”
“I didn’t investigate further because I didn’t want to infer your identity. The rest, however, is something you’ll need to discover yourself. If you’d like to know anything else, please commission another request.”
“…No, knowing the identity was help enough.”
“Then, as we agreed….”
“I’ll have the restroom built for you.”
The Crown Prince muttered again, this time with an even more bewildered tone.
“This is strange. Legally, commercial buildings are supposed to have restrooms….”
“We’re a business with fewer than five employees, so….”
“That wretched five-employee threshold!”
From my investigation, I’d discovered that in this world, businesses with fewer than five employees existed far more outside the reach of legal regulations than they did in my old world. Though my previous company had at least had a restroom….
“I’ve prepared the documents here as well. Please read them and destroy them.”
“Got it… hm?”
The Crown Prince’s voice grew strange as he took the papers.
“Did you write this yourself?”
“Yes, I did. Is there a problem?”
“I’ve never seen this format before.”
“Ah.”
I’d written it in the same format I’d used at my previous company, so it probably seemed unfamiliar to people in this world.
“It’s the format I prefer.”
“I see. Very well. As promised, I’ll double your commission payment for the successful completion of this request.”
“Thank you, sir. Please come again.”
Though the money would never actually reach me, I bowed respectfully.
I was back in the office working when, shortly after, someone tapped my shoulder.
“Guild Master?”
“Odret, did you close this commission? The customer left quite a generous sum.”
“Ah, yes. I….”
I was about to nod when a familiar voice cut in.
“Odret helped me so much!”
Susanna announced this with confident pride.
“I did most of it myself, but I’m so glad Odret was there to help! Thank you so much, Odret! Hehe!”
“Was this your commission, Susanna?”
“Yes, it was my assignment originally! It should be in the ledger that way, shouldn’t it?”
“Ah, so Susanna….”
I felt the danger the moment the Guild Master’s eyes began to sparkle as he looked at her.
No—I absolutely could not let her steal my credit.
Working at my previous company, I’d learned one brutal truth.
When you get the job done, you have to take credit for it! If you do ten units of work, you have to exaggerate it tenfold. That’s how you survive!
Several thoughts raced through my mind in mere seconds, and I opened my mouth.
“What? Susanna, I think you’re confused. The Guild Master is asking about the commission I handled. I completed this job entirely on my own.”
Before Susanna could brazenly steal my credit, decisive words flowed from my lips.
“During that time, you weren’t working on something else? Like, what was it again…. Even though I’m just a junior staff member at an information guild, still, about my life….”
“Ah! Nooo!”
Susanna suddenly let out a shriek that rivaled a soprano’s range. The startled Guild Master covered his ears.
Looking at him, I smiled wickedly. Since arriving in this world, I hadn’t just taken on the Crown Prince’s commission. I had investigated Susanna’s weakness.

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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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