How to Survive in a Good Small Guild - Chapter 87

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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
Episode 87
My eyes widened at the words he’d spoken with such obvious pride.
“A Temple, you say?”
“Does Sedrick also take an interest in Temples?”
“Ah, well, I was just asking.”
Unlike Sedrick, I needed any information about the Temple I could get my hands on.
“I thought the Temple would have craftsmen on staff internally. So they outsource after all.”
When I spoke in deliberately measured tones, the Old Craftsman, pleased with himself, continued.
“I’m the best in the Capital, after all.”
“What sort of artifacts does the Temple have appraised?”
“Ah, that’s classified—I can’t talk about it.”
“Sacred Scriptures, then?”
“No, not those.”
Fortunately, the Old Craftsman had a remarkably loose tongue.
“The Temple doesn’t sell artifacts—they buy them. They purchase every expensive artifact that comes their way.”
“Is that so? How intriguing.”
The Old Craftsman offered nothing more, but I made a mental note: the Temple purchases artifacts. Those pieces had to be destined for something important.
“Ah, it’s done.”
The Old Craftsman, who’d been waiting after dripping reagent into the chalice, handed it back to us.
“You can’t sell this. It’s only a few decades old.”
“Which means…”
“It’s a forgery, not an ancient artifact.”
“Huzzah!”
“Excellent!”
Sedrick and I cheered, and the Old Craftsman looked at us in bewilderment.
“People usually complain about that.”
“Ah, well, that’s not how things work here.”
“Guild Master, I’m relieved the matter turned out well.”
“It’s all thanks to you, Sedrick.”
As Sedrick and I laughed aloud together, the Old Craftsman, who’d been staring at us intently, opened his mouth.
“Say, doesn’t that young man ever sell that watch of his?”
“…Pardon?”
“It’s an expensive watch. I have a trained eye, and I’m wondering where someone gets the money to afford something that fine.”
My gaze shifted to the watch Sedrick always wore.
Expensive? It doesn’t look like much—the leather strap is worn…
While I was puzzling it over, the Old Craftsman went on.
“No matter how old and worn it looks, I know craftsmanship when I see it. Those hands are unmistakably the work of a master artisan—mm!”
“S-Sedrick?”
Sedrick, who’d clamped his hand over the Old Craftsman’s mouth, scrambled to explain with a flustered expression.
“It’s, it’s true the watch is expensive. I received it from my father.”
“I see… though perhaps you should let go of that man’s mouth now…”
“Ah, yes. Ahem—at any rate, it may be valuable, but it holds little meaning for me.”
So Sedrick has painful memories too. The way he’d mentioned living apart from his parents, the distance between him and his family…
“Don’t worry, Sedrick. I understand completely.”
When I looked at him with sympathy, the Old Craftsman wiped his mouth and muttered in frustration.
“What’re you two doing, right in front of me? Blast it all, something about this doesn’t add up…”
“You’re mistaken.”
“Bah… that one’s hiding something too.”
The Old Craftsman continued to voice his suspicions about Sedrick, but to me it seemed he simply didn’t warm to him.
Whatever the Old Craftsman said, I beamed at Sedrick.
“In any case, Sedrick—the matter is resolved!”
“Yes, it is not an artifact of the Aion Kingdom!”
“We can resume construction now!”
***
After instructing the construction workers that they could resume their work, I returned home.
“I’m so glad Sedrick joined our Guild.”
Whether it was Stockholm Syndrome or genuine affection for the Guild, he showed an unusual devotion to it, clung to justice in strange ways, and occasionally made questionable decisions…
But there was no denying that Sedrick was more dedicated to this Guild than anyone else. When he first arrived, I’d harbored some doubts, yet now he was someone I could trust and rely on above all others.
As I sat at home with time to myself, I thought I should reach out to Sedrian after so long.
Since I’ve now found out that the Temple is acquiring artifacts, I should report this fact.
“Hello, I’m Odret Lavendel.”
When I called him, Sedrian’s voice came through after a moment.
-What’s the matter?
“Why the formal speech all of a sudden?”
-Hmm, I was confused for a moment. What is it?
Though his earlier tone seemed oddly familiar, I got to the point.
“Oh, I happened to learn something about the Temple today. Apparently they’re collecting ancient artifacts. I’m not sure what they’re using them for, though.”
-I see. That’s genuinely important information.
“I thought there might be something I should do, so I’m calling you about it.”
-Something you should do, you say. Hmm….
Sedrian seemed to ponder for a moment before speaking.
-It would be good to find out why the Temple is collecting these artifacts.
“Understood.”
-How about moving with me on this? If you have the time.
“I can manage it. But where should we look for information?”
-The ancient artifacts the Temple has taken aren’t property of the state—they’re likely illegal goods in circulation or stolen items. So we should check the museum to see if there have been any recent artifact thefts. The Museum Director would also know well the flow of these pieces.
“Yes, let’s do that then.”
After arranging a time with Sedrian, I spent a moment thinking about what would be appropriate to wear to a museum. Oh dear, I really need to buy some clothes soon. All I have are formal-style dresses.
Come to think of it, I went to the Royal Art Gallery with Sedrick last time, and now I’m going to the museum with Sedrian. Sedrick said he goes to museums often too….
Oh, the names are rather similar when I line them up like that. Though really, all the names in this world tend to blur together for me anyway.
Good grief, I’m on my day off and I keep thinking about my subordinate. At this rate, I’ll probably end up diagnosed with Stockholm Syndrome myself.
Pushing thoughts of Sedrick from my mind, I began choosing what to wear tomorrow.
***
“Hello, Sedrian.”
“Yes, it’s been a while. …I’ve never seen you wear something like that before.”
Since I had almost nothing suitable to wear yesterday, I’d had to go shopping for clothes.
I wasn’t particularly drawn to expensive garments, so I’d bought modest pieces, but after so long without shopping, it felt nice to spend the money I’d earned.
As Sedrian stared at me intently, I felt a bit self-conscious. I was supposed to visit inconspicuously—had I chosen something too bright?
“Should I change into something darker?”
“No, what you’re wearing now is quite nice. It suits you well.”
“All right.”
I glanced at the Municipal Museum behind us. It wasn’t as crowded as the Royal Art Gallery I’d visited with Sedrick last time, but there were still quite a few adults with children.
“Shall we go in?”
“Let’s.”
We entered the Municipal Museum. Sedrian spoke to the desk clerk.
“I have an appointment with the Museum Director.”
“Ah, yes!”
Having apparently arranged everything beforehand, we were soon shown into the Museum Director’s office.
“Your Highness, what brings you here….”
The Museum Director asked cautiously, watching Sedrian’s expression, and Sedrian answered calmly.
“Has anything been stolen from here?”
“Wh—no, nothing!”
“I’m not here to hold you accountable. Rather, I’m investigating matters related to the theft of artifacts.”
“That is….”
The Museum Director hesitated before speaking.
“One artifact in the storage was stolen, but aside from that, nothing has been taken recently….”
“Is that so? What artifact was it?”
“It wasn’t particularly highly valued. It was a sword from the Reck Kingdom.”
“Not highly valued, you say. There’s nothing particularly distinctive about it?”
“No, it’s regarded as merely one of countless ordinary swords….”
The Museum Director seemed disheartened, but we felt slightly disappointed, having assumed something more significant must have been stolen.
“If n—if you need it, I can provide you with a list of artifacts stolen from other places as well. I have a thorough grasp of that area….”
“I’d like to hear everything you know.”
The Museum Director, seeing this as an opportunity to escape his predicament, quickly began listing the artifacts.
“Armor from the Aion Kingdom, silk from the Reck Kingdom, documents from the Soka People….”
But these were unfamiliar stories to me, ignorant as I was of this world’s history.
“Is there perhaps some connection between them?”
At my question, both the Museum Director and Sedrian shook their heads simultaneously.
“It seems they were simply easy artifacts to steal.”
“As far as I can tell, there’s no obvious connection between them. Do you know where those artifacts ended up?”
“That’s not really my area of expertise, I’m afraid….”
Curious. Why would the Temple be collecting artifacts in the first place?
I stared hard at the list of artifacts the Museum Director had written down for me. Naturally, without any historical knowledge, I couldn’t possibly arrive at an answer, but….
“Wait. Hold on a moment.”
My eyes narrowed. Something was starting to take shape.

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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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