How to Survive in a Good Small Guild - Chapter 57

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

How to Survive in a Small Guild
Chapter 57
I already know the arc of Calliard Duchess well from the original work.
She is an adopted daughter, but she was raised with the love of the Calliard Duke Family, one of the three major factions in the original work. The Duchess regards the family members as her true family.
There are several crises along the way, but those are resolved smoothly in a heartwarming coming-of-age story.
Then, around the time of the Debutante, it’s revealed that the daughter the Calliard family had lost in the past was actually the Duchess.
And so the Calliard Duke Family becomes even happier with this fateful reunion—that’s the kind of arc it is.
‘I haven’t held the Debutante yet. The Duchess is moving toward the lost daughter faster than in the original work.’
But why is she placing a request with our guild at this point?
“I understand your intention, Miss Duchess. But might I ask what brought you to request this, and why our guild in particular?”
“I can’t go to the large guilds. If I visited them, word would reach my family.”
Right—the Calliard family’s intelligence network is formidable.
“But I heard that the Akrait Guild is still a small guild while recently proving its competence. That’s why I came here.”
“I see. Then the reason you wish to find your true daughter is…?”
“Because my family loves me so much.”
Calliard Duchess’s lower lashes trembled slightly.
“I already regard them as my true family, and they think of me as their real daughter. I’m so grateful for that love that I want to repay it however I can.”
Ah, so it’s the common dilemma an adopted heroine faces in a coming-of-age story.
“I don’t think I’ll be cast out if the true daughter returns. I have faith in my family.”
“I see.”
“I know it’s more likely she’s dead. But regardless, I want to resolve whatever lingering regret my family has.”
The Calliard Duke Family consisted of the Duke, the Duchess, and two brothers. One seemed to have a serious disposition, and the other a playful one, if I recall correctly.
“I understand, Miss Duchess. Would you share whatever information you have so I can investigate?”
“Here it is.”
The Duchess handed me a stack of papers and began her story.
“When my mother—that is, the Duchess of Calliard—was pregnant, a criminal organization kidnapped her for ransom. When she was taken, my mother gave birth and lost consciousness. When she came to, the Calliard Duke Family had found her and eliminated the criminal organization, but the baby had vanished.”
And that baby would be Calliard Duchess, of course.
“Even after torturing the criminals, they claimed they knew nothing. We suspect that a missing member of the organization fled with the baby. So when we tracked down that missing member of the criminal organization…”
Calliard Duchess lowered her eyes with a bitter expression.
“He was found dead at the bottom of a cliff, having apparently mistepped. A river flows beneath it, so the investigation concluded that the baby was also lost.”
“I see. What a tragic matter.”
“Of course, it’s more likely he’s dead, but…I need clues about that child’s end—where exactly she died, whether anyone saw her swept downstream by the river, anything at all.”
“How many years ago was this?”
“Seventeen years ago. So if she were alive, she’d be my age.”
I nodded seriously, as if hearing this for the first time.
“But Miss Duchess, if the Calliard family found nothing when they investigated, isn’t there a high likelihood this attempt will also yield no results?”
“That may be true. But I want to try with my own power. Though my abilities are meager…”
Calliard Duchess lowered her eyes and spoke bitterly.
“The only abilities I possess are a mind capable of developing new mathematical formulas, martial prowess near the level of Sword Master, and judgment that turned the family’s trading company into a grand success…”
“…?”
For a moment I nearly blurted out “What?”, but I just barely managed to swallow the exclamation.
Right. Calliard Duchess from the original work was pure but lacked confidence.
At the same time, as a heroine befitting the original work, she had the attribute of being overpowered, creating this bizarre hybrid.
‘No, wait—if she develops mathematical formulas, is nearly a Sword Master, and made the trading company a great success, isn’t that more than enough…?’
Without meaning to, I must have looked at Calliard Duchess with a bewildered expression, because she added:
“Our family possesses the Lie Ability, you see. But I don’t have that ability—I’m incompetent without it…”
“…”
If Calliard Duchess is incompetent, then everyone except the original Male Lead should be called incompetent.
At the same time, I recalled the Lie Ability as it was described in the original work.
The Imperial Family’s Oath.
The Temple’s Miracle.
And finally, the Calliard Duke Family possessed the Lie Ability.
Again, don’t ask me why a single noble family stands shoulder to shoulder with the Imperial Family and the Temple. That’s simply the law of a raising novel heroine’s family.
In any case, regarding the Lie Ability…
“The Lie Ability allows people to believe lies as truth, correct?”
“Yes, that’s right…”
If the Imperial Family’s Oath forces people to swear oaths and through those oaths reveal whether the other person speaks truth or lies, then…
The Lie Ability was the opposite.
The Lie Ability could completely deceive someone, and furthermore could even manipulate perception itself.
That’s why in the original work there was a scene where the Imperial Family’s Oath and the Calliard family’s Lie Ability clashed like spear and shield.
“Everyone in my family has the Lie Ability except for me. When I think about it, it makes me feel rather strange….”
This was because the Calliard Duchess had not yet recognized herself as bearing the bloodline of the ducal house.
She was instinctively rejecting the ability, but once she learned the truth, she would naturally come to accept it.
“I understand, Duchess. I will undertake the task of finding your missing daughter. I promise you success.”
“Thank you, that’s reassuring…. You must be quite intelligent, being the head of the Information Guild. I myself can barely manage five-digit multiplication in my head….”
Was this low self-esteem, or was she cleverly fishing for compliments?
It was certainly a peculiar way of speaking, but I decided to accept it as the original heroine’s personality quirk.
“Then I’ll report back to you as soon as the investigation is complete.”
I felt more confident about this assignment than anything else.
Because I knew the original work!
‘All I have to do is follow the original story.’
The Calliard Duchess continued in that same listless voice.
“I mean, I won’t leave this solely to the Akrait Guild. This is a collaboration. Please use my strength whenever you need it.”
…….
“Of course, whether you succeed or not, I’ll provide generous compensation. This is an advance.”
She placed a thick envelope on the table. I tried hard not to look too delighted.
“I will do my very best, Duchess. It would be an honor for us to serve the Calliard Duke Family.”
Just as I was wrapping up the conversation on a pleasant note, Susanna’s scream came from the office.
“Ahhh! Give me back my money!”
Damn, it seemed the matter still wasn’t resolved.
“Is something the matter?”
“Oh, it’s merely an internal guild problem.”
Best not to mention that our guild was careless enough to have money stolen from it….
“No, that’s definitely a lie, I’m telling you!”
Susanna’s voice came again. Hell, I’d have to tell her to keep it down next time….
As I was trying to smooth things over, the Calliard Duchess reacted at the word “lie.”
“A lie? Would it be alright if I went to hear the situation myself? Though all my ability amounts to is holding a Grade 1 Counseling Certificate and reading people’s psychology a bit faster than others…. I suppose that wouldn’t be of help….”
“Yes, let’s go….”
The Calliard Duchess was quite the character indeed—just like the original heroine….

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