Volume 1 Chapter 11 The Fallen Guildmaster [Irankus II]
While Guildmaster Act is thriving, at the same time...
The Guildmaster [Irankus], who expelled Act, found himself in a desperate situation.
In the Guildmaster's Room of Irankus's Guild [Trueborn Hero].
"DAMN IT...! WHY...! WHY IS THIS HAPPENING TO ME!?"
His fist slammed onto the desk with a heavy thud. A deep crack split the wood, but Irankus barely noticed. His bloodshot eyes were locked on the newsletter in his hand, crumpled beyond recognition.
It was the latest bulletin from the Adventurers Guild Union.
The Guild Rank referred to the classification of the countless Adventurers Guilds.
A Guild's rank was determined by request completion rates, contributions, popularity, and several other factors.
There were four broad classes: S, A, B, and C.
And within those, there were further divisions.
For example, an A-Class Rank 3 guild would be the third strongest guild in A-Class.
And yet, what was written on the page in his hand...
...was reality.
"The rapidly advancing Gem of Heavenly Gift has moved up one rank to S-Class Rank 3. Meanwhile, Trueborn Hero continues to drop in rank within C-Class. It's hard to believe they were once an S-Class Guild..."
"RAAAAGH!!"
RIIIP!
Irankus tore the newsletter to shreds, scattering the pieces across the floor.
"MY GUILD HASN'T FALLEN! DAMN IT! THEY'RE BLIND FOOLS! THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND ANYTHING!!"
SCRATCH...
He raked his nails through his hair, clumps coming loose in his fingers.
But none of it made the pain go away.
"Ever since Act left... the demotion hasn't stopped."
His voice cracked.
"It... it really WAS because he quit..."
He remembered the day clearly.
The day he threw Act out of the guild.
He had thought Act was useless. That he did nothing.
But it wasn't true.
It had never been true.
Act used his Appraisal Eye to find talent.
He nurtured guild members, guided them to jobs that suited them, and offered quiet support that kept the entire guild running.
The Trueborn Heroes had thrived because Act had been behind the scenes, holding it all together.
And Irankus had cast him out.
"I NEED to bring Act back... but..."
He clenched his teeth.
That damn maid—Frederica—was always in the way.
He hadn't been able to meet Act even once.
Even after realizing his mistake, every attempt to reach out had ended in rejection.
"HOW DARE SHE LOOK DOWN ON ME...! WHAT DOES SHE THINK SHE'S ACCOMPLISHING!?"
He slammed his fist on the desk again.
"I'LL SHOW THEM! I'LL REBUILD THIS GUILD WITH MY OWN HANDS...!"
And then, there was a knock at the door.
"Excuse me, Sir Irankus."
The vice-Guildmaster entered, his expression grim.
"Olga and the others have returned from their quest."
Irankus's eyes widened.
"OLGA! THE LAST HOPE LEFT IN MY GUILD! COME IN! QUICKLY!"
The Trueborn Hero once had numerous S-Rankers.
Now only Olga remained.
Their last remaining strength.
The door opened.
"WHAT...!?"
Irankus staggered back.
Olga stood there... wrapped in heavy bandages, leaning on a cracked staff. His face was pale, a trickle of blood still seeping from his temple.
"WHAT HAPPENED TO ALL THOSE INJURIES!?"
Olga's voice was strained.
"...I apologize... it's just that..."
"DON'T TELL ME YOU FAILED THE REQUEST I GAVE YOU!?"
Irankus grabbed Olga by the shoulders, shaking him roughly.
"DRAGON EXTERMINATION! AN A-RANK REQUEST SHOULD HAVE BEEN EASY FOR AN S-RANKER LIKE YOU! THERE'S NO WAY YOU COULD FAIL!!"
But Olga...
He shook his head.
"...DON'T... DON'T JOKE AROUND...! WHY WOULD YOU FAIL!?"
Irankus's voice cracked into something desperate.
"ARE YOU STILL AN S-RANKER OR NOT!?"
This dragon extermination was supposed to be the turning point.
The victory that would restore Trueborn Hero's honor.
He had spread the word. Advertised it far and wide.
But the result was failure.
"DAMN IT! BECAUSE OF YOU, THE GUILD'S REPUTATION WILL FALL EVEN FURTHER!!"
"SHAPE UP, YOU OLD FOOL!"
SLAP!
Olga struck Irankus's hand away, his eyes burning.
"IT'S YOUR FAULT THAT I FAILED!"
"Wha—!?"
Irankus staggered, stunned.
"I TOLD YOU, DIDN'T I!?"
Olga's voice cut through him like a blade.
"MY PARTY ONLY HAS ONE MEMBER WHO CAN DO RANGED ATTACKS! ON THE GROUND, IT'S FINE, BUT AGAINST A DRAGON? DIDN'T I SAY IT WAS A BAD MATCHUP!?"
Olga had refused the mission.
He had warned him.
But Irankus forced them to go anyway.
"I HAD TO GET THAT DRAGON DEFEATED!"
Irankus snapped back, his face twisted in frustration.
"WE NEEDED A WIN! AND YOU—!"
"CUT IT OUT!"
Olga shouted, his voice echoing through the room.
"YOU'RE THE INCOMPETENT ONE! YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT OUR SITUATION! YOU JUST THROW UNREASONABLE REQUESTS AT US WITHOUT THINKING! WE'RE NOT TOOLS!!"
"W-WHAT ARE YOU SAYING!? YOU'RE GETTING PAID, AREN'T YOU!? WHAT KIND OF ATTITUDE IS THAT!?"
That was the breaking point.
Olga's expression went cold.
Flat.
Final.
"AS YOU WISH," he said.
"I'M QUITTING THIS GUILD."
"W-WAIT! OLGA! HOLD ON! WHAT ARE YOU SAYING!?"
Irankus lunged for him, grabbing his arm.
"A-ARE YOU SERIOUS!? IF YOU LEAVE HERE...!"
"It's fine," Olga cut in.
"Even if I'm kicked out of here...
...I have somewhere else to go."
"N-NO! NOT THERE! NOT... THE GEM OF HEAVENLY GIFT!?"
"That's right."
Olga's gaze was unwavering.
"I'M GOING TO ACT'S PLACE. ALL OF MY PARTY MEMBERS ARE."
Irankus's face turned pale.
"N-NO! NO WAY! WHY HIM!?"
"Because Act understands his Guild Members."
Olga's voice was quiet, but sharp as steel.
"He always did."
Irankus remembered.
When Act left, Olga wanted to follow.
But he convinced him to stay.
He said quitting would cause trouble for everyone.
And Olga listened.
Until now.
"I STUCK AROUND OUT OF OBLIGATION. BUT I'M DONE. I'M DONE WITH THIS DAMN GUILD."
Olga turned away.
"STARTING TODAY, I'M UNDER ACT'S CARE. SEE YA."
"WAIT! I WON'T ALLOW IT!!"
If Olga left, an S-Ranker would be added to Gem of Heavenly Gift.
And Irankus's Guild would fall further.
"I'M ALREADY IN A TIGHT SPOT! IF YOU LEAVE, IT'S OVER FOR ME!"
"I DON'T CARE ABOUT YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES!"
Olga shouted.
CRACK!
His fist slammed into Irankus's cheek, sending him crashing to the floor.
"YOU'RE ALWAYS JUST THINKING ABOUT YOURSELF! YOU NEVER PAID ATTENTION TO US! THAT'S WHY THE GUILD IS FALLING APART! WITH TRASH LIKE YOU IN CHARGE!"
"IT'S NOT MY FAULT! THE REASON IS ACT LEFT!!"
Olga snorted in disgust.
"WASN'T IT YOU WHO EXPELLED ACT?"
"UGH...!"
Irankus couldn't say anything.
The guild was crumbling.
And it was his fault.
"GOODBYE."
Olga walked away, his party following behind him.
And so, the last S-Rank Adventurer of Trueborn Hero left for the Gem of Heavenly Gift.
Rumors spread fast.
The failure of the dragon extermination.
Olga's departure.
And the fall of Trueborn Hero to the bottom of C-Class.
"This is it... I'm really done..."
Irankus whispered.
"But... maybe Act... Act can save me..."
Cornered, desperate, he headed to Act's mansion.
With a twisted, servile grin, he banged on the gates.
"PLEASE HELP ME! SIR ACT! I'M BEGGING YOU!!"
But as always...
Frederica was there.
She answered without emotion.
"It's too early. There's still room for you to push yourself."
And the gates closed.
Of course...
After expelling him unjustly...
Even if you ask for help now...
It's far too late.
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Donate me
Support Me with USDC
(ERC20)
Support Me with XLM
(Stellar Lumens)