How to Survive in a Good Small Guild - Chapter 97

—————
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 but Decent Guild
Chapter 97
‘Why does everyone love clocking out so much?’
Strange. Information Guild work is actually quite enjoyable.
As I opened my front door with that thought, the telephone rang right on cue. I quickly tossed my things aside and hurried to answer it.
“Yes, this is Odret Lavendel.”
Not many people would call my personal home phone, and one of them was…
—Me. No, I mean me. Miss Odret.
“Yes, Sedrian.”
Sedrian.
“What is it?”
—Well, I had a question for you, so I called. Would you be interested in attending the Economy Day Banquet at the Imperial Palace?
“Me? Really?”
—I’m planning to invite about twenty people from the Guild, and I was hoping one of them would be you.
That’s similar to what Dominic proposed the other day, isn’t it? So I was always destined to be invited to this banquet.
“But if I attend the banquet, won’t it look like we’re close? The fact that I provide you with information needs to stay hidden….”
—There’s an old saying: to hide a tree, hide it in a forest. The guests invited to that banquet might not suspect anything at all.
“Ah, you’re right.”
I nodded, understanding Sedrian’s deeper meaning.
“If you invite me, I can even take credit with the Temple. I’ll tell them that you invited me without knowing what our Guild really is, and that I’m using this opportunity to gather information.
—That works well. It will help you earn merit in the Temple too.
After accepting Sedrian’s invitation, I found myself facing one dilemma.
How on earth was I supposed to dress for the Imperial Palace banquet?
Since I’d be attending as a successful Guild Master, I needed to dress appropriately. I couldn’t wear something like a noble’s debutante gown, but I should look like a successful businesswoman.
I had the funds to dress well from all I’d earned, but I had absolutely no grasp of what the fashion trends were in this world.
And so, at last, I found myself lost in a worry that any romance novel heroine would recognize: how exactly should I dress for this banquet?
***
“Sigh….”
“Guild Master, what’s the matter?”
The next day, when I came to work and let out a sigh, Sedrick quickly asked.
“Well, I’ve been invited to attend the Economy Day Banquet at the Imperial Palace as the Guild Master of Arclight.”
“Wow, that’s amazing.”
Morian exclaimed with admiration.
“Of course, I won’t be able to blend in with the nobility. But since it’s a formal occasion, I need to dress appropriately… and I have the money, but I have no idea how to go about it.”
“What if you asked the Music Salon for help?”
“Ah, that’s right. The Music Salon is one of our business partners.”
I nodded at Morian’s suggestion. They mainly serve only nobles, but they might be willing to help us at Arclight.
“Or perhaps the person who invited you might be willing to….”
The moment Sedrick said that, Susanna suddenly jumped up from her seat. She cried out with a beaming smile.
“You have money but don’t know how to spend it, right?”
“Yes, that’s it. What kind of dress should I wear and how should I do my makeup….”
“Me, me! Let me do it! Please let me handle this! It has to be me!”
I stared at the flustered Susanna in bewilderment, then realized she had an intimate knowledge of current trends.
In this field, there was no one in our Guild but Susanna who could help me!
“Susanna, I’m counting on you!”
“Don’t worry, Guild Master! I’ll completely transform you!”
“By the way, Sedrick, what were you about to say?”
“…It was nothing.”
Sedrick answered, lowering his eyes.
“I missed my chance, but if the Guild Master is happy, that’s all that matters….”
“Susanna, let’s prepare well for this!”
“Sure thing, Guild Master! You can count on my skills!”
In any case, since I’d been invited as a representative of the economy, I had to wear formal business attire, not the kind of dress a noble lady would wear.
We went to a women’s formal wear shop together, and Susanna began discussing with the owner, eyes gleaming with intensity.
“A black jacket with a black long skirt underneath. No, with an H-line fit! Yes, with the hem ending at the ankle. Oh, and black lace layered underneath might work well too….”
It would be pointless for me to jump in, so I quietly watched Susanna work her magic.
“Perfect, Guild Master! Try this on!”
“O-okay.”
I awkwardly took the clothes Susanna handed me.
As I was changing in the fitting room, a hand suddenly reached in and handed me a black beret with lace.
Once I’d changed into the outfit and stepped out awkwardly, Susanna exclaimed with delight.
“Perfect! You look wealthy, elegant, and intellectual!”
“Oh, thank you….”
Looking in the mirror, I could see what Susanna meant—the outfit was formal yet fashion-conscious.
“Should I skip the accessories?”
“Actually, I’d love it if you wore just a brooch and nothing else. A necklace would make you look like a nouveau riche trying too hard.”
“All right….”
Since I’d be wearing the outfit today, the shop had carefully pressed it until it was crisp.
“Great, now let’s head to the Guild Master’s house.”
Only then did I notice Susanna’s enormous bag.
“What’s in there?”
“Cosmetics I used to collect. I’m not interested in it anymore, but I was absolutely obsessed with it back then!”
Soon after arriving at my house, I opened the door for Susanna. She stepped inside and looked around as if seeing it all for the first time.
“Wow, the Guild Master lives in such a beautiful place!”
“It’s my entire net worth.”
“Ah, house poor—wait, if you own the house, you’re not really poor, are you? Anyway, come sit here!”
She settled me at the vanity and got to work with surprising speed.
Finally, as she applied the finishing touches with lipstick, Susanna let out a satisfied cry.
“Now you’re supposed to look in the mirror and be shocked, thinking ‘Is this really me?'”
I looked at myself with some anticipation at her words. After all, if I’d possessed someone’s body in a romance novel, wouldn’t a dramatic transformation scene be inevitable?
“This is… naturally me. Yes, it’s me.”
But what I saw in the mirror was just me, a little made up. Then again, makeup doesn’t transform you into someone else.
“Ugh, you’re so unimpressed!”
“Well, I’m still me, after all….”
She clicked her tongue.
“Still, your expression does look brighter.”
Odret—this body I’d possessed—had always had a dark, gloomy impression. I’d heard people say my face had brightened when I took over as Guild Master, but there was still that fundamental air of melancholy underneath.
But with the rosy blush and lip color Susanna had applied, I looked more like an ordinary young woman my age.
“Thank you, Susanna. I’ll make sure to give you a bonus.”
“Well, actually….”
Susanna smiled with a scheming look.
“Tell me about the banquet! I’m going to write about it for my essay.”
“Isn’t your essay on company villains coming out soon?”
“Since you’re included as one of the villains, I’ll be writing about you too.”
“What?!”
***
After finishing my preparations with Susanna’s help, I boarded the carriage the Imperial Palace had sent. They said they provided transportation for all the invited guests.
“Odret Lavendel.”
I presented the invitation I’d received beforehand at the palace entrance, and the guard, after verifying it, allowed me inside.
In front of the grand doors to the banquet hall, I paused for a moment to take a deep breath. I’d attended a banquet before, but that had been while disguised as a servant….
A courtier slowly opened the doors, and I walked into a dazzling world.
“……!”
Since I had to arrive early as a commoner, there were no nobles yet, but the sight of the opulent banquet hall made me feel somewhat intimidated.
Still, I tried not to show my nervousness and approached where people were gathered. Several other invited economic figures were seated around a table.
Finding the nameplate that read “Arclight Guild Master – Odret Lavendel,” I took my seat. The people already seated greeted me warmly.
“Oh, the Arclight Guild Master!”
“Ah, Mr. Kerdick.”
Fortunately, there was a familiar face among them. It was John Kerdick, the owner of the Golden Scale Society who had once commissioned me.
‘Now that I think about it, it would be good to get closer to Mr. Kerdick.’
I already maintained close relationships with the Red Rose Salon, the Tower of Stars, and the Platinum Mercenary Corps.
Moreover, since the Temple was also trying to bring the Golden Scale Society to their side, it would be advantageous if Mr. Kerdick became my ally—that way, should the Temple and the Imperial Palace ever come into conflict, I could aid the Palace.

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