How to Survive in a Good Small Guild - Chapter 72

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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, Decent Guild
Chapter 72
In the original story, after Odret betrayed Sedrian, he searched for a new guild to join.
That’s how he came to work with the Dark Messenger Guild—and they proved so capable that Sedrian trusted them completely, even helping them destroy the Temple together.
By the ending, they too received all manner of rewards and rose to prominence.
‘So that guild held the same position we do now in the original story. I really want to win this…’
Just then, a shadow fell across my face. I looked up to find a long-haired man staring down at me.
“Ah, so you’re the famous Guild Master of the Acrylite Guild? I’ve heard rumors you’re a young woman.”
“And you are?”
“You run an information guild and don’t even know that much? Who else would it be?”
…A man with golden hair falling past his shoulders. Right, I’ve got it now.
“You’re the Guild Master of the Dark Messenger Guild.”
“There we go. Took you long enough. But I have to say, I almost feel sorry for you.”
“Sorry about what?”
“You managed to pass the First Round Application Documents, and then you run into us? There’s no way you’re making it past the Second Round. My advice? Don’t exhaust yourself for nothing. Just give up now.”
……
“Guild Master, stop wasting time with these small-timers and let’s go! We’re busy!”
“Ha ha, but this is fun.”
I closed my eyes tight, then opened them. The Dark Messenger Guild in the original story had one defining characteristic.
The Dark Messenger Guild was, quite simply, Strong-Weak-Weak-Strong.
In the original, they used it as comic relief for a supporting cast—showing the formerly arrogant Dark Messenger Guild cringing pathetically before Crown Prince Sedrian and Princess Calierd, which made for entertaining reading.
Unfortunately, now that our guild had become their target of mockery, it wasn’t entertaining at all.
“Guild Master, show them what you’re made of!”
Susanna whispered from behind me.
“Our Guild Master is absolutely terrifying when it comes to exploiting weaknesses!”
“Susanna, why do you always make our Guild Master sound like something out of a horror film?”
“Because you haven’t been on the receiving end, Morian! That’s why you don’t know!”
While Susanna and Morian bickered, the commotion seemed to draw the attention of other Dark Messenger Guild members, who began drifting toward us.
First, their Guild Master—an arrogant man with golden hair flowing down his back. His name was probably…
Leon.
“Oh, so you do know after all?”
He was considerably skilled, but his personality was rotten; his defining trait was contempt for anyone he deemed inferior.
“Guild Master, come on! Stop it and let’s go!”
And the red-haired woman beside him was the Vice Guild Master. So she must be…
Annamaria.
“Wow, you know me too! Anyway, hurry up, Guild Master! It’s pathetic to see someone so weak squirm like that!”
The most irritating nagging sister type. She scratches where it itches, standing right beside him.
Of course, unlike our guild, they weren’t a micro-operation with fewer than five members, so there were more members present. But those two were clearly the core of the operation.
I fixed them with a hard stare.
“What, are you glaring at us? Scary!”
“Look at that last-ditch effort! Guild Master, knock it off!”
Sensing that she too was being dismissed, Susanna stepped forward instinctively.
“Guild Master, is that the famous Dark Messenger Guild?”
“Yes, that’s them.”
“And their Guild Master’s name is Leon?”
“Yes.”
Huh…
Susanna’s face went genuinely pale.
“So… he named his guild the Dark Messenger Guild because his own name is Leon?”
“No way, surely not.”
I played along, catching her meaning.
“Who puts their own name in a guild’s name? He’s an adult, not a teenager. Ha ha.”
“I mean… it’s possible, right? But if your name is already a lion, and then you add ‘Dark’ in front of it… isn’t that a bit much?”
Susanna covered her mouth with one hand, speaking loud enough for everyone to hear.
“Calling yourself the Dark Lion is just… I didn’t do that even when I was fifteen. I never made a guild called ‘Dark Susanna’ or anything like that.”
“Ah, Susanna! That’s rude! Perhaps he still has childlike innocence, proud enough to call himself the Dark Lion!”
“Oh, my apologies. I was disrespectful. Sorry about that, Dark Leon…”
“The respectful way you’re addressing him is very admirable.”
“Your golden hair is impressive too, like a lion’s mane… though I notice the roots are brown. Did you dye it?”
“W-what is this—”
Leon’s face turned crimson as he clenched his fists. But seeing that he couldn’t mount a rebuttal, it was clear the rumors were true—his name really was Leon, he’d founded the Dark Messenger Guild, and he’d even styled his hair like a lion’s mane.
“Well then, Dark Messenger Morian, Dark Messenger Sedrick, and you there, Dark Messenger Odret—shall we be going?”
A strangled noise escaped him.
It was then that Sedrick, who had been silent until now, burst into laughter. It seemed entirely unintentional, for even as he laughed, his expression shifted to one of mild embarrassment.
“…My apologies.”
That proved to be the final blow. Leon’s face burned so fiercely that he fled the room in a panic.
“Ah, Annamaria! Let’s go, quickly!”
Only after they had departed did I regard Susanna with genuine affection.
“That was absolutely perfect, Susanna.”
“Hehe, our guildmaster naturally deserves to hear gossip about our members alone.”
“Ha, I’ll forgive Morian for occasionally grumbling about the workload.”
“Your skill truly is flawless, Susanna.”
“I still can’t believe that was genuine.”
“Sedrick’s reaction was probably the most damaging.”
Though we returned to our guild in such a warm mood, I still harbored resentment toward the Dark Messenger Guild.
‘If things keep going like this, the original story might reassert itself and steal our position!’
Though much had already diverged from the original narrative, a nagging anxiety persisted in me. Didn’t the Original Story Preservation Law still exist?
“Guildmaster, you seem filled with unusual resolve today.”
“Yes, I want to see this venture succeed no matter what.”
“…Do not worry. I shall assist you every step of the way.”
“Sedrick…!”
Ah, Sedrick is truly on my side. It seems my old strategy of tormenting him ten times before doing right by him once still has its effect.
“Now then, I need to prepare the presentation materials…”
Since I’m the guildmaster, it seemed better that I present directly myself.
“How would you feel about coming with me, Sedrick? Someone needs to hand over the materials during the presentation.”
“I would be delighted.”
We prepared the presentation materials based on our First Round submissions. In that process, our guild’s official designer Sedrick shone brilliantly.
“Wow! I’ve never seen brushwork this stunning!”
“Those compositions! The perspective! The shadows! The colors! Everything is perfect! It’s as if you studied directly under a master artist!”
“I, I merely studied a little in my childhood.”
The presentation materials Sedrick created were nothing short of art worth preserving. He arranged the key content appropriately and added design elements with the precision of someone wielding a computer.
Now all I needed to do was deliver the presentation well. I practiced intonation, cadence, and enunciation… but most importantly, I needed to prepare for questions.
“Do your best, Guildmaster.”
“Guildmaster, in the meantime, what if Susanna and I played the role of spies?”
“Spies?”
“Yes, we must ensure our proposal doesn’t overlap with anyone else’s. We’ll scout what was submitted in the First Round.”
“That’s an excellent idea.”
And so, having sent Morian and Susanna on their way, I threw myself into intensive presentation practice under Sedrick’s instruction.
“When presenting, you should speak with absolute confidence in your perfection, yet maintain a stance prepared for questions…. Allow me to demonstrate. The supreme one is, rather…wait.”
“…Is that speaking technique called something specific?”
“It’s called Imperial Speaking.”
……
Sedrick had apparently read some peculiar book somewhere, for he spouted things so absurd they were barely repeatable, so I had to conduct the presentation my own way.
Still, Sedrick proved invaluable in preparing for questions.
“Now I am the first interviewer—the type who seizes on every minor flaw.”
“This concludes my presentation.”
“But why did you name the project ‘First Signal’?”
“Because it sounds refined yet provincial, exactly what the government loves.”
“Guildmaster…!”
“Oh dear, the current Royal Family wants to support the people’s very first steps…and so on.”
That was how it went.
“This time I’m the second interviewer—I appear kind and reassuring, but actually lower my guard and probe for weaknesses.”
“Thank you for listening.”
“My, what an engaging presentation! Where did you draw inspiration?”
“From my guild members……”
“Oh ho, you must give them orders quite frequently?”
“…I shared my ideas with my guild members, and they collectively proposed that we pool our efforts. Our company maintains a horizontal culture, you see.”
There was Sedrick standing before me, yet somehow I could see another person beyond him. His acting ability was truly remarkable.
Just as we were deep in practice and my presentation skills were visibly improving, the door suddenly burst open with a clatter.
“Guildmaster, Guildmaster!”
Susanna called out to me in a flustered panic. A chill ran down my spine.
“What—what is it?”
“Look, look! This was the business proposal for the first round!”
-Personal Information Protection Project
“What? Why is that?”
“But an employee I’ve gotten close to told me they changed the project title for the second round!”
-Next Signal Public Safety Management Project
Wait. This is plagiarism, no matter how you look at it!

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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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