How to Survive in a Good Small Guild - Chapter 66

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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-Scale Guild
Chapter 66
“High Priest Seraphine, could that person be…?”
When I asked carefully after arriving at the Temple, Seraphine’s face lit with satisfaction.
“When he became our subcontracted guild master, he signed a contract swearing he would never leak information. But he did leak it—that’s a breach of contract. He owes thirty times the damages.”
At those words, I felt a surge of triumph inside.
‘Former guild master, you’re completely finished!’
In this world, ruin meant financial failure.
Sometimes when I read other romance novels, fallen villainess characters would enter a convent or marry some useless man. But this world seemed like the kind where failed businesspeople would be handled through bankruptcy instead. Quite proactive, really.
It was a remarkably capitalist and pragmatic fantasy world.
In any case, the former guild master would no longer be able to manipulate me with his schemes. He’d be drowning in debt from now on.
And my reason for telling Seraphine about this was simple.
‘I can’t rely on just one line of support.’
After it had come to light that I’d been framed by Charles, a junior priest, Seraphine—who’d tried to discipline an innocent man—had been attacked by Aria.
If I gave information only to Aria in this situation, Seraphine might harbor resentment.
So I naturally handed over the information by saying that Seraphine was handling the discipline, and in doing so, proved to her that I wasn’t her enemy.
“Hmm, Odret Lavendel.”
Seraphine gazed down at me with satisfaction.
“You’ve accomplished something remarkable.”
“Thank you.”
“First you provided grounds to accuse the Imperial Palace, then you placed the Calliard Ducal House in debt, and now you’ve caught the former guild master who tried to leak information.”
“Yes, thank you.”
Though the first matter had been thanks to Sedrian’s help, I offered my thanks naturally enough.
“The former guild master keeps insisting it was all your doing, but that’s nonsense.”
“Yes, I actually have a poor opinion of the former guild master. There’d be no reason for me to give information to someone I personally drove out.”
“Right, it’s nonsense.”
With this, I’d accomplished several significant deeds for the Temple.
“This qualifies you to take the examination for promotion to intermediate priest.”
The words I’d been hoping for fell from Seraphine’s lips.
At the Temple, accumulating accomplishments of a certain caliber allowed you to take a promotion exam. Since becoming an intermediate priest meant access to much more sensitive information, I’d been aiming for this opportunity.
“Good. You can take the promotion exam next week.”
“Yes, understood. But this promotion exam you mention…?”
When I asked—having no prior information about it—Seraphine nodded.
“Ah, you’ve been promoted so quickly you’ve never witnessed one. The exam for promotion to intermediate priest is…”
The exam is…?
“A one-on-one death match.”
“I beg your pardon?!”
I couldn’t help but cry out in disbelief, my voice rising sharply.
No, but that makes no sense! Where did a one-on-one death match suddenly come from in a romance novel?
Anyone seeing this would think I’d auditioned for some hip-hop competition show!
“In the end, all priests aspire to become high priests. That’s when they can directly experience miracles granted by the High Priest.”
Directly experience miracles? It was a loaded statement, but I nodded along.
“And the intermediate priest stage is where we determine whether you have the potential to advance to high priest. So the exam tests your resilience and survival instinct.”
“Could I ask how exactly the death match works?”
“The High Priest has a sacred relic imbued with ‘miracles’ specifically for the promotion exam. This relic oversees the exam itself.”
Seraphine’s explanation continued.
“What power the relic will exercise that day is unknown. The relic will attack the examinees, torment them, inflict fear and shame upon them. Whoever lasts the longest—or stays standing until their opponent surrenders—becomes an intermediate priest.”
“I see…”
There was no way to know what power the relic would use during the exam. This would require further investigation.
“What should I prepare to get ready for the promotion exam?”
“Well, becoming a junior priest meant you’d memorized all the Sacred Scripture. Forget further scripture study—instead, focus on developing the endurance and perseverance needed to internalize what you’ve learned.”
“Yes, I understand.”
Still lacking information, I headed to the junior priests’ office.
“Um, well, you see…”
I broached the subject naturally.
“I’m taking the intermediate priest promotion exam next week…”
“Oh my, how incredibly fast!”
One of the junior priests gasped in amazement.
“I’ve never seen anyone take the exam in such a short time!”
“Right, this is my first time seeing it too.”
“Well, what does it matter? She’ll fail anyway.”
Looking at the junior priest’s pessimistic remark, he shrugged.
“Don’t misunderstand. I’m not saying this because I dislike you, Odret. I’ve taken the intermediate priest advancement exam myself.”
“Oh, you have?”
“You can take it every six months. But after the last exam, I realized something—I’m not ready yet. At my current level, it’ll take a few more years before I can become an intermediate priest.”
“That long?”
“It’s incredibly difficult, then.”
He continued.
“It was an agonizing experience for me. I endured the pain, then fainted before the exam even ended. Truly grueling. Now that I think about it, Charles must have passed the exam before, right?”
At those words, everyone’s attention turned toward Charles.
Charles, who had been glaring at me openly this whole time, hardened his gaze further.
“Why does he look like that?”
“Don’t worry about it. He was disciplined recently, so his intermediate priest advancement exam got postponed another year.”
“Ah, I see.”
“Charles, why don’t you tell me the secret to passing the intermediate priest advancement exam?”
But Charles clearly had no intention of sharing anything with me.
“Hmph, my exam was deeply humiliating, but I passed it. You don’t stand a chance, Odret.”
Pain, shame… In any case, it seemed like an exam where you had to overcome negative emotions, just as Seraphine had said. That was about all the information I could glean.
“Is there any way to find out who else is taking the exam with me?”
“Besides you, there are probably about five other priests taking the advancement exam this time. You could find out if you ask around.”
“Ah, I understand. I’ll make sure to ask around thoroughly.”
As I was leaving the office to gather information, I spotted Olson, an intermediate priest, who seemed to be heading this way.
“Oh, Olson!”
“Ah, Odret. High Priest Aria has summoned you.”
“High Priest Aria has summoned me…?”
***
Shortly after, Aria sat across from me, sipping the tea I’d prepared with elegant grace.
“Mm, this tea tastes good.”
When I think about it, it feels like she only summoned me to make me brew tea.
“So you’re taking the intermediate priest advancement exam this time?”
Finally, the real purpose of her summons emerged.
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“Quite fast. My eye for talent truly is exceptional.”
She spoke with satisfaction.
“Though the exam changes each time, so I can’t give you information about it. I wouldn’t dream of going against the Temple’s will by sharing such details.”
“I’ll manage well on my own.”
“But there is one thing I can tell you.”
Aria’s lips curved into a smile.
“Usually, I handle the Temple’s administration, Seraphine oversees discipline, and Etienne manages personnel. So Etienne will be presiding over your advancement exam.”
“Etienne, you mean… the one known for wearing sky-blue earrings?”
“That’s the one. In rare cases, she might involve herself directly in the exam, so keep that in mind.”
Aria whispered to me as if imparting crucial information.
“By the way, Etienne adores anything funny.”
“…Thank you for the advice.”
Honestly, I couldn’t imagine what kind of sense of humor would be sane in a place like the Temple.
I thought of Park Guh-sung’s jokes.
When a king falls over? King Kong. That was about his level.
‘…But wouldn’t that be considered insulting the royal family in this world?’
It seemed I’d have to prepare for the intermediate priest advancement exam on my own.

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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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