How to Survive in a Good Small Guild - Chapter 45

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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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Small-Scale Guild Survival Method
Chapter 45
I waited in the Lower Priest’s office for the other priests who would arrive shortly.
The Lower Priests shared a single office according to their appointment order, so they must have been appointed relatively recently as well.
‘So they should be easy to handle.’
As I thought this, staring intently at the door, four or five priests appeared.
“Ha ha, so… huh?”
“Hmm?”
“Ah, so this is the Intern Priest who was promoted exceptionally fast, I take it?”
“Yes, hello. I’m Odrett Lavendel, newly appointed as a Lower Priest.”
As I greeted them, I spotted a priest glaring at me from the back of the group.
‘Charles!’
Charles, the Middle Priest. The one who had managed our Information Guild.
But when Aria caught him trying to spend funds as he pleased, he was demoted to Lower Priest.
Right now, he must harbor a deeper grudge against me than anyone else.
“And the office where you’ll be staying has… well, never mind. Forget it!”
“I’m sorry?”
“Ha ha, I should see how you handle yourself.”
Ah, so that’s what they meant. Charles would be sharing my office.
I felt a instinctive chill run through me, then remembered that we held the same rank now.
‘Wait, there’s no reason to be afraid.’
This was actually a perfect opportunity to take revenge on Charles.
Of course, I wasn’t the only one thinking that way. Charles, too, seemed intent on crushing my spirits from the start, grinding his teeth as he spoke.
“Oh, a whistleblower.”
“A whistleblower?”
“You don’t know? That woman reported me, which is why I became a Lower Priest.”
“Ah…”
The other priests exchanged awkward glances between us.
But this was an unfavorable statement for Charles.
“That’s right. Because you dared to disrupt the Temple’s order and tried to embezzle Temple property, I reported you.”
The Temple was a questionable organization, but it had a different aspect from other such places.
That aspect was that the priests maintained genuine faith and voluntarily devoted themselves to the Temple.
At my words, the other Lower Priests nodded in agreement.
“Ah yes, that’s true.”
“Charles should reflect on his actions.”
“Besides, he’s a Lower Priest now, so he should use honorifics.”
Charles’s face flushed red and then pale with embarrassment.
This was my moment. Small-Scale Guild Survival Method 11: invoking my backer.
“Thanks to that, High Priest Aria came to regard me favorably, which is how I was able to start as an Intern Priest.”
“That’s right, I’ve heard rumors about it.”
“High Priest Aria indeed…”
Charles’s remark inadvertently gave me a natural opening to invoke my backing, and the Lower Priests didn’t direct their hostility at me.
But as public opinion turned against Charles, he trembled with anger before opening his mouth again.
“Now that I think about it, you only come in on weekends, don’t you?”
Since I worked for the guild during weekdays, this was a pointed comment about how I put in less work than others.
I had my grievances about this situation too, but the other Lower Priests might resent me for coming in less often. This was actually a rather effective blow.
“Yes, that’s correct. During weekdays, I handle guild work. But since I manage the Information Guild, I’m quite knowledgeable about information…”
I spoke with what seemed like modesty.
“If any of you need information for your work, feel free to ask me anytime. I’ll help however I can.”
Small-Scale Guild Survival Method 27: making it clear that I’ll handle your work too.
“Oh, that would be helpful. Work will become much easier from now on.”
“We won’t have to go through other priests to relay requests!”
“Besides, Odrett does work for the Temple even on weekdays, doesn’t she?”
Once again, Charles’s attack failed to land.
Watching Charles tremble with frustration, I smiled softly.
“Actually, could someone explain to me what kind of work I’ll be doing here?”
When I casually linked arms with one of the female priests and asked in a friendly manner, she opened up and explained the work to me.
“Of course. Lower Priests just handle miscellaneous paperwork related to the Temple. For example, complaints that come in, reports to prepare for audits, that sort of thing…”
From her explanation, I learned there was no work requiring creativity. It was purely mechanical processing.
Just then, something flickered through my mind.
‘Let’s innovate!’
If I came up with ideas that could help them work more efficiently, I’d win their favor completely.
Push Charles aside and become the real power in this office.
I sat down and got to work. Seeing my attitude, the other Lower Priests seemed to realize idle chatter had to stop, and each of them began their tasks.
I wrote quickly across the paper.
What could I innovate in the Temple, anyway?
I wish I had Excel, but I certainly didn’t have the ability to whip something like that up from nothing.
The work handled by Lower Priests was truly miscellaneous and tedious, so there wasn’t much groundbreaking to be done.
After a moment, I stood and picked up the papers. “Would you like to see this material? I made it for you to use when you need it.”
The Lower Priests rose from their seats with questioning faces, then took the papers from me and their eyes widened.
“Oh!”
“What is this!”
Standard Response Phrase Collection
1. Basic Greetings
We have received your inquiry and shall review it faithfully under God’s grace.
We hope you pass your days in peace.
May God’s blessing be with you always.
…
2. Petition Receipt
The matter in question is currently under review by the relevant department.
We have received more inquiries than anticipated, and the review has been somewhat delayed.
We ask for the submission of additional materials to facilitate smooth review.
Sincere prayer is never in vain, and the form of the answer may take many shapes.
…
3. Universal Phrase
This matter falls under an area requiring judgment from senior personnel.
Internal review is in progress.
After confirming relevant records, we shall provide further guidance.
We ask your understanding that we may be providing a response identical to previously given guidance.
“From now on, we can just paste these phrases into the petitions!”
“It seems like our work hours will be cut!”
That was it. I wasn’t some brilliant talent, but I did have quite a knack for grinding through tedious work.
The priests who saw my Standard Response Phrase Collection lit up with gratitude.
“Thank you, Odrett, Lower Priest!”
“Haha, you’re going to be our ace!”
Watching Charles nearly collapse from rage, I smiled brightly.
He dared try to play politics against me in my own office?
Strike before you’re struck. I look forward to working with the Aclyte Guild.
***
“So that’s how I became a Lower Priest.”
That evening, saying this to the crown prince before me, his eyes widened.
“Y-you got promoted?”
“Yes, Rian.”
“Is there perhaps some intention toward the Temple….”
“No. As I swore, I despise the Temple.”
“Well, that would be true….”
The crown prince accepted my words about hating the Temple, though he seemed somewhat surprised at the rapid promotion.
“I didn’t know you were this capable….”
“Haha, I just worked a bit harder, that’s all.”
I passed on to him the information I’d gathered from the Temple that day—about the Factional Disputes among the High Priests, the Temple’s internal structure, things about Stella Great, the High Priest’s daughter, and so on.
“The High Priest has a daughter….”
The crown prince showed particular interest in that detail.
“That’s not something known to the outside world. Is she truly his daughter?”
“I’m not entirely sure about that either. In any case, inside the Temple they call her ‘the High Priest’s daughter.'”
“I see. Valuable information indeed.”
The crown prince spoke hesitantly.
“This means you’ll be able to access much more information from the Temple now.”
“Yes, it seems so. I’d like to be promoted to Middle Priest eventually, but I suspect that will be difficult… For now, I’ll do my best to gather as much information as I can as a Lower Priest.”
“I see now the secret to how you’ve been gathering intelligence. With your capabilities, you could accomplish anything. So then….”

The Crown Prince’s face grew clouded with concern.
“I think it’s time I stopped wasting effort on pointless things….”
“Pardon? Is something troubling you, Your Highness?”
“No, it’s nothing….”
But anyone could see he was worried about something. His face looked exactly like mine used to, back when I was wrestling with whether to quit my job.
“Well, I’m not sure what it is, but I hope whatever’s on your mind works itself out!”
“Yes, thank you….”

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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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