How to Survive in a Good Small Guild - Chapter 79

—————
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-Scale Guild
Chapter 79
Even on the day of my promotion ceremony to Intermediate Priest, the High Priest was nowhere to be seen.
I was beginning to grow curious about him.
‘In the original story, he was just an ordinary villain.’
Commonplace in his hunger for wealth and power, the main antagonist who turned against the Imperial Palace.
The fact that he possessed the Miracle ability was something of a distinction, but his personality itself was that of a generic villain archetype.
Yet learning that the Temple worshipped Bak Geo-seong as a prophet made me suspect the High Priest’s nature was far more complex than simple.
“Come this way, if you please, Intermediate Priest Odret.”
So I whispered to the Intermediate Priest who was showing me to the office.
“Um, when will I be able to meet the High Priest?”
“The High Priest….”
The Intermediate Priest’s expression turned grave at once.
“He is always in training. Striving to obtain an even greater ability.”
“Then only the High Priests can meet him?”
“That’s right. Only the High Priests he trusts can see him without interrupting his training.”
Well, I didn’t need to become a High Priest just to find out who the High Priest was.
Besides, climbing to High Priest would require tremendous sacrifice!
I’d be content with my Intermediate Priest position and extract information from here while cooperating with Sedrian.
After that, I was shown to my new office—a spacious area with dividers between individual desks.
“Wow, just as expected—an office that embodies the Sacred Scripture that greater rank brings greater freedom.”
“Exactly. You’re perceptive.”
Next, I received an explanation of my duties as an Intermediate Priest.
Temple finances, the nature of the Miracles the High Priest performs—I gained access to far more information than before….
‘But I still won’t be able to access anything about the Empress Assassination Incident!’
That incident from a decade ago was clearly classified even within the Temple.
In any case, to raid the Temple and arrest the High Priest, I needed evidence that they were opposing the Imperial Palace.
While I was pondering this, an opportunity presented itself.
“Intermediate Priest Odret, there is an Anti-Imperial Forum this Friday—you must attend.”
“Yes!”
Among the Temple priests, it was openly said that the Imperial Palace was their primary enemy.
It was the sort of statement that would cause a scandal if it reached the outside world, but without actual evidence of wrongdoing, it was possible.
However, from the rank of Intermediate Priest onward, one could actively participate in operations to bring down the Imperial Palace.
‘If I can find evidence there, that should do it!’
I resolved to obtain good intelligence at the Anti-Imperial Forum that I could bring back to Sedrian.
“Intermediate Priest Odret, High Priest Aria is calling for you.”
“Ah, thank you.”
Olson, an Intermediate Priest I considered an ally, winked at me, and I headed off to meet Aria.
I had told Aria I would stand with her, but I hadn’t yet taken any actions that would be of great benefit to her.
Now I needed to decide clearly whether to commit to her side or distance myself….
“Odret, congratulations. Such a rapid promotion.”
“Thank you, High Priest Aria.”
For now, I kept my demeanor cordial in her presence.
“I owe it all to your patronage, High Priest Aria.”
“Of course—credit must go to my excellent eye for talent.”
…….
“You’ll be attending the Anti-Imperial Forum for the first time soon, yes?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“You’ll see Mathias there.”
Suddenly, Aria clenched her teeth as if suppressing rage.
“Mathias… he is one of the High Priests, is he not? I haven’t had the chance to meet him yet. They say he wears a green necklace….”
“Yes, that Mathias.”
Aria and Mathias seemed to have a very poor relationship.
“Listen carefully. If I primarily oversee administrative affairs, then Seraphine handles the audit division, and Etienne oversees personnel.”
“I see.”
“And that bastard Mathias took hold of the most important work.”
“The most important work being…?”
“Planning the Temple’s future! Making the Temple’s power all the more formidable!”
“So High Priest Mathias leads the Anti-Imperial Forum, then?”
“Exactly! That selfish bastard took all the best parts for himself!”
Aria clenched her fists tight.
“It’s natural that Mathias earns the High Priest’s favor—he’s the one who can make the biggest contributions! That bastard’s always strutting around about it!”
“…You’ll have your chance to shine as well, High Priest Aria.”
“That’s right, that has to happen. I have very high expectations for you.”
She smiled and fixed her gaze on me.
“Work hard for me, Odret! Haha!”
“…According to the Sacred Scripture, a subordinate’s achievements are the superior’s achievements, is that not so?”
“Ah, you understand the Scripture so well!”
……
***
At last, the day of the Anti-Imperial Forum arrived. I studied the faces of the Intermediate Priests seated around the circular table.
The High Priests were debating where to sit when the door opened and four figures appeared in succession.
“Good morning,” Aria said lightly.
She dropped into one of the empty seats at the round table.
This was worse, somehow—sitting naturally mixed in with us like this. It made the whole thing look like they were pretending to establish some horizontal structure.
“Move.”
“Seraphine, can’t you be a little gentler?”
“Quiet.”
Seraphine, as always, barked at the Intermediate Priests without ceremony and took her seat, while Etienne sat beside her with an easy smile.
Aria had mentioned it before—Etienne and Seraphine were thick as thieves, practically their own faction.
So the last one remaining was…
I watched a man stride toward the empty seat.
He was very tall, with long black hair bound in a topknot. A scar marked his face, giving him quite an intimidating, intense impression.
“Let’s get down to business,” Mathias said flatly.
He spoke in clipped tones.
“First, we should address the outcomes of our previous efforts. We had an opportunity to reach an accord with House Fairfax, but it failed.”
House Fairfax? I’d dealt with them recently. In the original story, they were minor antagonists who tormented the Duchess Calired.
“House Fairfax extended their hand, offering to enter the Temple. They possessed considerable information we could have used, but before they could reach us, they were captured by House Calired.”
At least I’d managed to prevent the future where the Count of Fairfax became allied with the Temple, as in the original plot.
“Why couldn’t we retrieve the Count of Fairfax sooner? We’ve lost a valuable opportunity. Which Intermediate Priest was assigned to this task?”
One of the Intermediate Priests raised a trembling hand slightly, but Etienne’s voice cut in at once.
“Come on, Mathias. Don’t say such impossible things. How could we have overcome House Calired’s military might?”
“Etienne, you can’t expect to gloss over this so easily.”
“But you assigned an unreasonable task in the first place. You need to account for the circumstances of failure! You’re far too rigid and inflexible, haha!”
Probably that Intermediate Priest is in Etienne’s faction.
“Etienne is right.”
This time Seraphine spoke.
“What benefit would rescuing the Count of Fairfax even bring us? Are we supposed to do charity work for the nobility?”
She fixed Mathias with a sharp stare.
“You’re thinking like some arriviste playing at philanthropy.”
“Seraphine, did you lose your mind from spending too long in the archives?”
Aria didn’t stay silent either.
“Fairfax is a cadet branch of House Calired anyway. If we could exploit House Calired’s weaknesses through them and bend them to our will, we’d move closer to our goal. All three powers would fall, and we’d be the true masters.”
“As Aria says, the Intermediate Priest who failed this task has missed a significant opportunity. If you have any sense at all, you’ll accept this fact.”
“What?”
Etienne reacted dramatically to Mathias’s words.
“Seraphine may have nothing but strength, but at least I have a mind! You’re dismissing me too much… Mmph—Seraphine!”
Seraphine clamped her hand over Etienne’s mouth and nodded shortly. She’d accepted that her faction’s Intermediate Priest had to be abandoned.
“The Intermediate Priest who failed this mission will face appropriate discipline. Let’s move to the next matter.”
Seraphine delivered the verdict curtly.
Then the main topic of the forum poured from Mathias’s lips.
“According to information we’ve gathered, the Nightingale has been leaving the nest frequently of late.”
Nightingale? I tilted my head in confusion, and the Intermediate Priest beside me whispered.
“The Crown Prince.”
…!
Whether I was shocked or not, Mathias continued.
“We need to investigate the reasons why the Nightingale leaves the nest.”
So they were saying—in roundabout fashion—that Crown Prince Sedrian has been absent from the Imperial Palace frequently?
What could Sedrian possibly be doing away from the palace… wait, that’s not the point.
If I’m not careful, he could be in danger again!

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