How to Survive in a Good Small Guild - Chapter 84

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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 Guild
Chapter 84
‘Like a Prophet?’
Could he actually be a Prophet? Well, this is a romance fantasy, so….
No, unfortunately this world held none of those flowery fantasy notions of dreams and hope. I’d need to keep all possibilities in mind and investigate thoroughly.
“If you can discover that secret method alone, I shall provide you with suitable compensation.”
The compensation the merchant lord proposed was certainly tempting. I nodded quickly.
“Alright, Sedrick. Then we have two tasks: verifying whether that Artifact is genuine, and resolving the merchant lord’s request.”
“Just the two of us, sir?”
“No, that would be too much for us alone. Let’s call in Susanna and Morian.”
“…Yes, sir.”
I felt a pang of guilt toward those two for interrupting their remote work, but I’d need to ask if they could come in anyway.
***
“Coming in to work….”
Susanna grumbled as she appeared before us.
Since we had no Guild building available for the time being, we’d gathered on a park bench that anyone could use.
“But you said it’d be fine since there’s hazard pay, right?”
“Of course it’s fine, but my beautiful remote work plans are shattered! I was going to finish quick and catch the musical ten times!”
“Huh? If we clock out early, you should have time to catch it once, at least.”
“Ten times, though?”
“Why ten?”
“Ugh, don’t make me explain!”
Susanna plunked herself down on the bench.
Soon after, Morian appeared as usual, her expression utterly blank.
“Greetings. Good day to you.”
“Morian, your plans weren’t disrupted either?”
“No. I was planning to perform House Protector duties while working remotely.”
“I see.”
Sedrick was already at my side. Now that everyone had gathered, I needed to begin the investigation into Carsan Merchant Company.
“From my research, Carsan Merchant Company is slightly smaller in scale than the Golden Scale Association, but it’s held a genuine second-place position.”
“Yes, exactly as you say, Guild Master.”
“But recently, Carsan Merchant Company has completely monopolized the fashion trends, so we need to investigate that. What variable could have caused such a shift?”
“Maybe a single talented employee came on board?”
Susanna offered her opinion first.
“Did they recruit someone new at the director or team lead level? That would be influential enough, don’t you think?”
“I looked into it, but there were no personnel changes at the executive level.”
“Hmm, this is tricky.”
“Might they have launched a new product line?”
This time Morian spoke up.
“A Cartel typically exerts considerable influence in business.”
“Can a Cartel influence fashion trends?”
“It’s possible. Perhaps they scouted a trendsetting noble family….”
“Hearing Morian’s suggestion, it seems we need to understand exactly how the items Carsan Merchant Company promoted actually became fashionable.”
Having set our direction, I rose from the bench.
“Alright then, let’s head to the site.”
“The site, sir?”
“Carsan Merchant Company usually just distributes their goods to individual shops, but they have one store where they gather and sell their merchandise for promotional purposes. Let’s go there!”
***
I’d expected complaints about fieldwork, but surprisingly the Guild members were passive about it.
Susanna and Morian seemed pleased with the prospect of shopping, and Sedrick was his usual loyal self.
“Welcome~.”
As we stepped into the spacious shop, we heard a cheerful greeting.
We naturally looked around the interior like customers browsing for goods.
“Wow, this is the silk that’s trending lately.”
When I noticed and murmured about the recently fashionable item, a shop assistant who’d attached herself to us offered an explanation.
“Yes, that’s right~. Ever since the Duchess of Callierode wore a coat made of Red Silk, it’s become so popular we can barely keep it in stock.”
One of the trends was silk, which had become fashionable in noble circles thanks to the Duchess of Callierode.
“Whoa! A Keychain!”
“Susanna, wait—Susanna. Is that a trend too?”
“Carrying these Keychains dangling from your bag is the trend right now. Seems you really don’t keep up with fashion.”
While Susanna grumbled irritatingly, the staff member spoke again with practiced courtesy.
“These days, customers attach keychains like this to their bags to express their individuality. They’re not expensive either, so people like to collect several.”
“Which demographics tend to favor this trend?”
“Teenage women are the primary demographic, but lately we’re seeing many women in their twenties wearing them too. Apparently a famous singer started the trend, and it took off from there.”
Trend pattern number two: a celebrity and her fan base.
“Oh, there’s fruit here as well.”
Morian’s voice came from somewhere in the corner. We shuffled over in that direction.
“Quite an unusual-looking fruit.”
“It’s from the Eastern Continent. A famous pastry chef used it in a dessert, and it became wildly popular. At first people came for the dessert itself, but now many customers seek out the fruit directly.”
Trend number three: a pastry chef. There seemed to be no connection whatsoever.
“The Carsan Merchant Company certainly keeps pace with trends.”
That’s when Sedrick spoke to the staff member.
“I don’t suppose you could tell us what will be trending next?”
“I’m sorry? Why would you ask such a thing…?”
“…I simply didn’t want to fall behind on trends.”
“Ah, I see. I wouldn’t have thought you were interested in that sort of thing….”
The staff member regarded us with obvious suspicion. Had we come across as obsessed with trends?
Fearing they might take us for spies, I shot Susanna a desperate look.
Susanna sprang into action immediately.
“Everything the manager mentioned really is trending! Once I sell through my assigned inventory, I’ll be profitable next month instead of running a deficit, right? Can I rank up to Silver Rank?”
What? That’s straight out of a multi-level marketing pitch! Susanna is turning me into a pyramid scheme boss!
I was irritated, but my mouth was already moving.
“Well, of course. You’ve heard that what I mentioned is actually trending, haven’t you? Success is fair. You rise as far as your effort takes you. Look at our branch manager here. She started at Bronze just like you and climbed all the way to Platinum Rank.”
“Wow!”
Sedrick remained awkwardly stiff, but Morian joined in the performance.
“My friend is apparently joining the business soon too. I should receive a 2% commission on their earnings, correct?”
“Of course. You’ll make Silver Rank in no time.”
As the three of us laughed and giggled, the staff member looked at us with evident exhaustion. Shaking his head slowly, he excused himself.
……
Once we’d naturally left the shop, I glared sharply at Susanna.
“Why are you making me out to be some sleazy pyramid scheme operator?”
“But I think you’d actually be really good at it, Guild Master!”
“I said I’m not doing that.”
“…In any case, the trend directions are all different and quite natural.”
Sedrick summarized the situation.
“Since the Duchess of Callierode’s name came up, I don’t think she’s been bought off by this merchant company.”
The Duchess of Callierode genuinely holds influence in high society, so any silk she wears would certainly be trend-worthy.
“Then how exactly is the merchant company obtaining items that will become trends?”
At Morian’s question, I fell silent in thought before breaking into a smile.
“Since we couldn’t find the answer as customers, let’s approach it from the staff perspective instead.”
“The staff perspective? But can we even get hired as employees of the merchant company?”
At Susanna’s innocent remark, I answered with a bright smile.
“There’s a part-time position that’s always hiring—regardless of season, regardless of date, every single day.”
“You’re joking.”
Morian seemed to have already grasped the answer and sank into gloom.
“Don’t worry. Let’s all go together and share the labor equally.”
“Where exactly are we going…?”
When Sedrick asked cautiously, I delivered the answer.
“We’re going to take a part-time job at the Logistics Warehouse.”

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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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