Volume 1 Chapter 12 The Villainous Guildmaster, Pushing the Limits of Evil
One morning, I was at the reception of the Guild hall.
In front of a female staff member in her thirties who was handling reception duties, I said,
"What are you doing, you fool?"
When I said that, the staff member shrugged her shoulders.
"Why did you keep such an important matter to yourself?"
"I'm sorry, Guildmaster..."
"You don't need to come in from tomorrow."
"I apologize...!"
"If you have time to apologize, run home already."
The staff member bowed her head and left the reception in a panic.
"Ah, Sir Act...?"
Just then, my disciple Yui, who had just arrived, timidly asked.
"What happened?"
"Did that person do something wrong?"
"Her son has a high fever."
Yui opened her eyes wide.
"Huh? A fever?!"
"Yeah. I heard from her grandmother via Telepathy that she dropped off the child this morning."
I have equipped all the staff with Telepathy magic tools.
It helps with work... and makes sure I hear about their family drama whether I want to or not.
Then the earlier female staff member came back with her belongings.
"Thank you, Guildmaster!"
"Get home. Don't come back until your son's better. Or at least until he stops breathing like a broken bellows. Got it?"
"Yes! I appreciate it, Guildmaster!"
Dash...!
The female staff member bolted out like a high-level speed spell had been cast.
"As expected of the Guildmaster! How kind of you to send the mother home for her son!"
Yui said with sparkling eyes. Worrying.
"Don't get the wrong idea. I'm not running a charity. If she brings a cold in here, it's a biohazard."
"...For hygiene reasons, of course!"
* * *
In the afternoon, I (the Guildmaster) had called a male Adventurer to my room.
I said to him across the desk.
"From today, you don't need to come in anymore."
"N-no way! I still want to be in this Guild!"
"Shut up. This is a Guildmaster's Order. Leave."
He went pale.
Shrugged his shoulders like they weighed a ton.
And then... started crying.
"Guh... until now... thank you so much..."
With snot and tears pouring down, he left.
"Um... Sir Act. What happened to that man just now?"
Yui, who had been making tea, returned from the kitchen and approached with a tray.
"He said he needed a few days off."
"A break...? And you banished him for that?!"
Yui's hand trembled. The tea almost splashed.
"His mother's sick. He's going back to his hometown to take care of her."
"Eh?! That's awful!"
"Yeah. So he quit being an adventurer and took a job at the Merchant Guild. Near his house. Safer, better hours. Not nearly as many things trying to bite his head off."
I took a sip of tea.
"But he still begged to stay here. Even though his mom might die tomorrow. Stubborn fool."
"Guildmasterー!"
From outside the window, I heard his voice again.
I looked out. There he was.
Smiling and waving like an idiot.
"Thank you so much! I'll be back someday! I promise! You're the best, Guildmaster!"
He bowed so many times I thought his head might fall off.
Then he ran off, tripping over his own feet.
"Even though he was banished, what's he so grateful for?"
Yui nodded furiously.
"As expected of Guildmaster! You always think of your subordinates' lives first!"
"Wrong. If they die in the field, I have to do the paperwork."
I sipped my tea and flipped a page of the report.
"If you want to quit being my apprentice, say so. You're still young. You could be enjoying yourself. Not wasting away under me."
"No! I want to become useful to Sir Act as soon as possible!"
"...I see. How unfortunate."
* * *
In the evening, I had an unexpected visitor in my room.
"Guildmaster... I can't take it anymore... The work is too hard... I want to quit..."
Leaning over my desk, the woman was sobbing like a water elemental on overload.
"No. Denied."
"Waaaah... I'm serious... I'm dying here... Let me quit..."
"No. You'll survive. Barely."
"Waaah..."
Then, Yui, who had just brought some documents to my room, timidly asked.
"Um... Sir Act. Is she quitting the Guild...?"
"No. That's Ria. She's the Guildmaster of the [Magic Tool Guild]."
I pointed at the creature on my desk.
"Guildmaster... really?! But she's so young!"
She's a [Halfling].
They age like wine. Or maybe cheese. You can't tell just by looking.
"Heh heh♡ Young? Really? Am I young? Heh heh heh♡"
Her expression flipped from despair to maniacal glee.
"My name is [Ria]~. Nice to meet you~"
Ria shot up and pumped Yui's hand like she was drawing water from a well.
"H-huh... Um, Ms. Ria, you're a Guildmaster but... you want to quit?"
"YES! I QUIT! Managing people is IMPOSSIBLE! They're like cats! But they have knives! And magic!"
Grabbing my hand, Ria looked up at me with puppy eyes.
"Guildmaster... Please! Take me back! I'll work for you again! I'll even clean toilets!"
"No."
I sighed.
"You've been Guildmaster for 3 years. That's too long to play the newbie card."
"I TRIED! I'VE BEEN TRYING! I'm out of tricks! They're going to eat me alive!"
"What do you mean? Your sales are up. Customer complaints are down. You even passed the inspection without bribes. How's that not success?"
"That's just... coincidence... or luck... or... divine pity..."
"There's no divine pity. I checked."
She muttered under her breath, still refusing to believe.
"You have talent. Both as a craftsman and a Guildmaster. Do you think I'm wrong?"
Ria froze. Like she'd been struck by lightning.
Then sighed. Deeply.
"...Fine... If I quit now, you'll just show up at my guild and drag me back anyway..."
"Correct."
She hung her head like a scolded child.
"If you've got time to whine, make a new tool. A good one."
"F-fine! I'll finish something awesome and bring it straight here!"
"I look forward to it. Yours are always high quality."
"Woohoo~♡ I got praised by my favorite Guildmaster! Okay! I'm gonna go nuts! In a good way!"
She skipped out like a rabbit on caffeine.
I took the documents Yui handed me and went back to work.
"Honestly... I don't get it. They find easier jobs, better places, and they still want to come back here."
Yui smiled.
"It's because the Guild created by Mr. Act is the best!"
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