How to Survive in a Good Small Guild - Chapter 35

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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 35
The Crown Prince, too, seemed to recall someone, his composure visibly shaken.
“Above my head…?”
“Yes, she’s the only woman capable of commanding that man.”
…….
“There will be complications along the way, but in any case, your romantic fortune is extraordinarily strong and auspicious!”
“My congratulations, Lian.”
At my words, the Crown Prince flinched. It was clear he hadn’t consciously registered any of this.
“No, I know who it is, but this isn’t what I—”
“Next person, please!”
The Crown Prince tried to protest, but the Priest was already calling the next visitor, forcing him to stand and give up his seat.
“That’s how the world works, Lian. Things flow in unexpected directions.”
“But it shouldn’t—”
I decided to leave the Crown Prince to his Denial Phase of Attraction. Then, as if regaining some composure, he spoke again.
“Still, I noticed something suspicious about that Priest.”
“Suspicious? In what way?”
“He was collecting information under the guise of fortune telling.”
True enough, the Priest had asked us for names, dates of birth, and all manner of trivial details. We had fed him false information, but most people would trust the Temple and provide their real details for an accurate fortune.
“You think he’s disguising information gathering as fortune telling? But why would anyone need to collect people’s information? Wait—could it be…!”
My eyes widened as something occurred to me.
“Identity theft to take out loans…!”
“No, that’s unlikely.”
“I was just imagining the worst-case scenario.”
The Crown Prince, looking somewhat exasperated, explained to me.
“I don’t have detailed access to Temple information, but wouldn’t it be used for the High Priest’s ability?”
“A Miracle?”
I recalled the Miracle I had read about in the original work.
“Exactly. I’ve heard that it requires a price to use.”
“Information, including names, would be an excellent price. He might even offer that information as payment when using Miracles.”
“Ah… I’ll find out next time I visit the Temple.”
I was still holding the position of an intern Priest, after all.
If I made good use of Park Geo-sung’s essay being treated as scripture, I might even get promoted.
“Don’t push yourself too hard.”
“You’re truly kind! Thank you, Lian!”
“Right…”
After that, I wandered through various parts of the festival, but found nothing of note. We decided to head back.
“Oh, has anything changed at the Guild since I last visited?”
As we rode along, the Crown Prince asked, and I answered.
“Two new recruits have joined.”
“How are they?”
“One is kind, and one is sharp.”
“The kind one—could it be…”
“His name is Sedric. He works hard and is very decent.”
“…No mention of competence, then.”
“You’re perceptive.”
…….
After all, truly competent people wouldn’t join our Guild in the first place.
The Crown Prince’s expression grew visibly discouraged. Was he disappointed in our Guild?
“Hmm, where do you live?”
“Oh, you can drop me off in front of the Guild if you like.”
“It’s already evening—you’ll be in danger walking alone.”
“Thank you.”
His logic was sound, so I decided not to refuse his kindness. He rode his horse all the way to our house, a short distance from the Guild.
“Thank you for helping with the request today. I look forward to working with you further.”
“Yes, I’ll do my best.”
The fact that he would even escort me home suggested the Crown Prince was more considerate than I’d expected. Surprisingly, he knew how to treat those beneath him with kindness.
Then his gaze fixed on the street ahead. The area around our house was rather shabby.
I had inherited the house from my parents and owned it in my own name, but it wasn’t particularly high-class. Trash scattered the surroundings, and the walls bore cracks.

“Is Lian doing all right?”
“Oh, yes. Still, it’s the Capital. It’s not so bad.”
“If you’re coming home late at night, it does seem dangerous.”
“Now that you mention it, I’ve heard rumors of pickpockets now and then! But what place in the world is free of them?”
“…I see.”
“Thank you for worrying about me.”
“I wasn’t worrying, I just… never mind.”
He started to make an excuse, then closed his mouth and left again.
After seeing the Crown Prince off, I stepped into my comfortable home. Even though I’d only been transmigrated for this long, the place already felt entirely mine.
‘But why was I transmigrated in the first place….’
I could understand my own case—I’d apparently died of overwork back then. But why had Odret Lavendel vanished? Ah, I suppose the original story never bothered to explain such details….
With stray thoughts drifting through my mind, I fell asleep.
***
After seeing Odret off, Sedrian returned to the palace and recalled something else from their conversation.
‘She never once said I was handsome.’
When discussing Sedric’s performance, Odret’s demeanor had been thoroughly that of a superior evaluating a subordinate.
He stood before the mirror, lost in contemplation.
‘…Are brown eyes really so unattractive?’
Though he’d chosen brown specifically to be least conspicuous, and despite how the Magic Item’s effect made his appearance subtly indistinct and different from his true face, there was no reason ‘Sedric’ couldn’t be handsome….
“Your Highness, what’s the matter? You’ve never shown interest in your appearance before.”
“…Is it strange for a man to look in a mirror?”
Suddenly recalling Odret’s remark that “brown eyes are ordinary” and the Star Tower scholar Ratel’s words, Sedrian bristled at Eric’s observation.
“It’s not that unusual, but you have been acting strangely lately. It matches exactly the ‘symptoms’ His Majesty the Emperor predicted.”
“What? What did Father predict?”
“That soon you would start gazing at mirrors, become conscious of your own appearance, try arranging your hair in different ways, apply fragrance, stare vacantly into space alone, have difficulty falling asleep at night, suddenly laugh or suffer in solitude… In any case, His Majesty said these are natural symptoms. Though I confess I don’t know what it all means myself.”
“I have no idea what Father is thinking. Don’t concern yourself with it.”
He was about to gesture for Eric to leave when something else occurred to Sedrian, and he spoke.
“By the way, are there still pickpockets in the Capital these days?”
“Your Highness? Of course there are.”
“The public safety has deteriorated so badly, the very foundation of the Empire is beginning to crumble.”
“No, Your Highness. His Majesty has worked hard to apprehend all the robbers, sex offenders, assailants, murderers, thieves and the like. How can you say this? That only pickpockets remain is a blessing compared to how things were before!”
“I cannot be satisfied with that. For the welfare of all the Empire’s citizens, I believe we must eliminate pickpockets as well.”
“Sigh… Where did you happen to see a pickpocket?”
Sedrian hesitated, then continued.
“Particularly, I’d like to crack down on pickpockets in the vicinity of the Global Information Network Guild. Have the guard patrol more frequently there. It could become a threat to me otherwise. This is for our Guild’s benefit.”
“‘Our’ Guild?”
……
Sedrian pretended not to hear Eric’s words and turned his attention to the mirror instead. If his Guild Master were to fall victim to a pickpocket, the entire Guild could face crisis.
***
“What’s this?”
As I tilted my head upon arriving at the Guild, Sedric, already seated, posed a question.
“What’s the matter?”
“Oh, did some crime happen in the Capital? The guards have been patrolling near my house far too frequently lately, you know.”
“Then isn’t that good? Your safety has improved.”
“Well, I suppose so…. Wait, could it be?”
I recalled my recent conversation with the Crown Prince, my eyes widening. I wasn’t the type to miss signs like this.
“I’ve heard rumors of pickpockets now and then! But what place in the world is free of them?”
“…I see.”
So this had to be the result of the Crown Prince’s orders! And the reason he’d commanded a crackdown on pickpockets was….
“So he really was thinking of the safety of all the Empire’s people!”
“You’re welcome.”
“Wait? Why are you thanking me, Sedric?”
“That came out wrong.”

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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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