How to Survive in a Good Small Guild - Chapter 9

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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-Scale Guild
Chapter 9
“Ugh… argh…”
The next day, when we came in to work, we were practically zombies.
The Guild Master, who arrived two hours late, had a complexion turned ash-gray by the previous day’s hangover, and Susanna, caught up in my wake, had rushed in with her hair tied messily.
My appearance was at least the best of the three, though a persistent queasiness had been plaguing my stomach since earlier, which wasn’t reassuring at all.
As we each took our seats with hollow expressions, a man lingering outside the office appeared through the cracked-open door.
“Who is that—a customer?”
The Guild Master muttered carelessly, then suddenly lit up.
“Wait, is that someone who applied for a new hire position?”
“I don’t think so…”
“Go bring him in!”
“Right away.”
I approached the man as instructed by the Guild Master. Startled by the sudden opening of the door, his face showed surprise.
Wait—wasn’t this guy incredibly handsome? There’s no way someone who looked like him would actually apply as a new hire here.
“Are you here to apply for a new hire position?”
“Yes, I… no, well…”
Then the man’s expression suddenly shifted, and he answered,
“Yes, I’m here to… to apply as a new hire.”
I couldn’t believe it—was there actually someone who saw that ridiculous job posting and decided to apply?
“Do you have an application form already?”
“…No, I’m afraid not.”
“Would you like to fill one out now?”
He hadn’t even submitted an application—he was a total long shot—but someone who would walk into this guild of their own volition was too good to pass up.
When I quickly brought him the application form, the man hesitated for a moment before writing his name.
Cedric Alte
Soon, he began filling out the rest of the form.
No matter how I looked at it, I kept stealing glances at this handsome-faced man. Outwardly, he was quite good-looking, but the fact that he’d voluntarily applied to this guild…
‘The gods blessed him with looks but cursed him with stupidity!’
Anyone with decent sense would never apply to a dump like this.
The man’s work experience section was completely blank. Just like the original Odret or Susanna, he seemed to be a poor entry-level employee who’d stumbled into the wrong place.
“Let’s do an interview!”
The Guild Master called out enthusiastically, and I guided him before the Guild Master’s desk.
“Um, we’re doing the interview right here, aren’t we?”
“Yes, our guild doesn’t have a separate office for that, hehe.”
Cedric’s face darkened as he realized something had gone wrong. But the Guild Master would never let a sacrificial lamb who’d come knocking go free.
“Well, I see you have no work experience.”
“…No, but I promise to work hard.”
“What’s your alcohol tolerance?”
“My alcohol tolerance?”
Hallmark of a startup interview—asking about alcohol tolerance at the interview.
“…I’ve never been drunk before.”
“Hmm…”
An unusual light flickered across the Guild Master’s eyes.
“Are you an optimistic person?”
“…I’ll conduct myself positively.”
“What do you think of family-run companies?”
“Oh, family-run… I have worked at a family business before. There are circumstances preventing me from listing it as prior experience, but…”
So he’d worked at a family-run company—what a shame. I supposed it must have collapsed and closed down before he could get anything meaningful out of it.
The interview continued from there. The Guild Master seemed to view the applicant quite favorably.
“There is one thing that bothers me, though.”
“…What would that be?”
“Your face just doesn’t sit right with me!”
“…?”
Hallmark of a startup interview—judging someone’s face at the interview.
Cedric’s expression became one of doubt, as if unsure whether he’d heard correctly. Unfortunately for him, his ears hadn’t deceived him.
“I just don’t like faces like yours. Black hair with brown eyes—far too dull. And your eyes are too large, your nose too high.”
Wasn’t this guy just complaining that he was too handsome?
“Susanna, what do you think?”
I whispered softly to her.
“I’m sorry?”
“Wouldn’t someone who looks like that be a benefit just to have in our Guild?”
“Oh, you’re absolutely right!”
Susanna nodded as though she and I had finally found common ground. The man’s looks were so striking they could brighten the whole office just by being there.
With our minds aligned, Susanna and I spoke to the Guild Master in unison.
“Guild Master, still—having worked at a family business does seem like decent experience?”
“Yeah, that’s true! And he holds his alcohol well!”
“Hmm….”
The Guild Master still wore his skeptical expression when Cedric suddenly cried out.
“I’d like to negotiate my salary!”
Negotiate his salary? Just like that?
Everyone’s face registered confusion before the shocking words came.
“I’ll negotiate downward!”
“……!”
Unbelievable—people like this actually existed?
“Hired! You’re hired!”
The Guild Master’s face lit up at once as he declared it.
Well… I suppose it’s nice having a handsome new recruit, but….
‘Does this guy’s judgment actually work?’
Could I really make someone this foolish into an ally?
***
“Then Odret, could you handle the onboarding?”
“Yes, understood.”
Instead of becoming a full-time employee, he would work as a contract employee for a few months first. Nominally his hours would be less than ours, but he’d definitely end up doing overtime….
After Cedric passed as a new hire, I was fortunate enough that the Guild Master assigned the onboarding to me.
“Congratulations on joining our Guild. I’m Odret Lavendel, and my position is Deputy Manager. Everyone goes by their first names here, so just call me Odret.”
“Yes, understood. Please call me by my first name as well.”
“Sure thing, Cedric. First, the break room is over this way.”
I pointed him toward the desk tucked in the corner of the office. On it sat a few tea bags and a kettle.
“You said the break room, but…?”
“We just call this corner the break room.”
“…….”
Cedric’s pupils dilated slightly, but I looked away.
“And the old deputy manager used to force us to stock snacks and tea bags out of our own pockets, but since he’s gone now, you don’t need to do that. Instead….”
“Instead?”
“Once you eat through all this and it runs empty, the Guild Master will probably order it restocked. So absolutely don’t touch anything here. It’s more like a decoration.”
“…That’s truly unjust.”
I whispered it so the Guild Master wouldn’t hear, and Cedric nodded with a look of shock on his face.
“And you’ll work at the empty desk here, Cedric.”
“…Isn’t this desk rather small?”
“Huh? This is pretty standard.”
“Is there perhaps a partition…?”
“Of course not. And anyway, the most junior person always gets the worst spot.”
“Truly unjust….”
His desk faced away from the Guild Master, positioned so the Guild Master could see everything he did.
His complexion darkened a bit more. At least it seemed his judgment wasn’t completely absent.
“We occasionally get requests for Infidelity Tracking, which Susanna mainly handles, so you can learn from her.”
“Hehe, nice to meet you!”
Since this employee was on contract, he wouldn’t be assigned Temple Subcontracting work anyway. The Guild Master had told me to keep it secret during the contract period, so I didn’t mention the primary contractor to him.
As soon as Susanna’s name came up, she thrust out her hand as if she’d been waiting. Cedric took it and shook hands.
“I’m Susanna Herb! Just call me Susanna!”
“Yes, Susanna. But….”
Cedric hesitated before asking his question.
“Why don’t you use a calculator and instead calculate by hand…?”
“…….”
“Susanna doesn’t trust machines, so she always does the calculations herself!”
“Ah, I see….”
Susanna glared at me, having just been looked at like an idiot by the handsome newcomer. But Cedric had already marked her down as a lunatic.

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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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