Volume 1 Chapter 20 The Villainous Guildmaster, Reclaiming the Woman from the Foolish Noble
The receptionist, Katrina, left the Guildmaster Act behind.
Now, she was riding in a carriage bound for the Empire with her former fiancé, Zaltchim.
"Zaltchim, it's getting dark. Monsters will appear in the woods ahead. We should camp here."
The coachman's voice was tight with fear.
"Don't be ridiculous. A noble like me, camping? Move on."
"B-but... the night monsters..."
"SHUT UP. Disobey me and you're fired."
"...I understand."
The carriage lurched forward into the woods. The trees closed in like silent watchers.
Zaltchim turned to Katrina. "You've made me go through quite a hassle, haven't you?"
"...Why are you trying to take me back now? What happened to that girl?"
"That girl?" He sneered. "Oh. The commoner brat? I got bored. Tossed her aside."
He had thrown Katrina away once, like trash. And now he came to reclaim her.
"...It didn't have to be me."
"What are you saying? Are you defying me? With your status as a woman?"
His hand cracked across her cheek. Sharp. Final.
"Yikes!"
"DO YOU KNOW WHO YOU'RE STANDING IN FRONT OF? I AM ZALTCHIM, PROUD HEIR OF THE NOBLE EMPIRE!"
He grabbed her hair, yanking her up from her seat.
"YOU ARE MINE. FOLLOW ME OBEDIENTLY."
"...Guildmaster."
Her voice trembled as she spoke the name of another man.
Zaltchim's face twisted. His temper snapped. His fist came down again.
"YOU WERE WHISPERING."
The Communication Magic Item rolled away from her fingers. Zaltchim snatched it up.
"So... you made yourself a man without my permission."
He threw it at her. The metal corner struck her forehead. His boot drove into her stomach.
"Gah!"
"You've forgotten you belong to a noble house. I'LL REMIND YOU."
Lightning crackled in his palm. The strike hit her square. Her body convulsed, seared by electricity.
"YIKES!"
"SAY IT. YOU ARE MY POSSESSION."
"...I...am...your..."
But the Guildmaster's words stirred in her heart.
Whenever you find your purpose, you're free to leave. You're free now.
The carriage rocked violently.
CLANG!
"WHAT!? WHAT HAPPENED!?"
The coachman's scream split the night. "MONSTERS! ORCS!"
Zaltchim's face paled. "WHAT!?"
Orcs. Towering beasts, twice the size of men, surrounded the carriage. But these were wrong. Black-skinned. Mutated. Hungry.
"THEY'RE A-RANK," the coachman choked. "THEY'LL TEAR US APART."
"THIS IS BAD," another guard whispered. "ONE'S BAD ENOUGH... BUT THIS MANY..."
"LORD ZALTCHIM! WHAT SHALL WE DO!?"
Zaltchim's smirk was cold. Calculating. He glanced at Katrina.
"JUST THE RIGHT PLACE FOR BAIT."
"...Eh?"
He grabbed her by the hair again, yanking her to the door.
"I was going to keep you because you were pretty. But I'll buy another. Eventually."
He threw her from the carriage. She hit the ground hard.
"GOODBYE, KATRINA."
She lay in the dirt. Her body ached. Her breath hitched.
That's terrible... What do you think... of me...?
His voice was scornful. "WOMEN ARE MEAT BAGS TO PRODUCE HEIRS."
The carriage wheels ground against the earth as he drove away.
She was left there. Alone. Night pressing in. Surrounded.
The mutated Orcs stared at her. Saliva dripped from their jaws.
"...Honestly, it was a terrible life," she whispered. God... next time... please. No noble blood. Let me live with a kind man.
And in her mind... Act's face. That quiet strength. His words.
You're free now.
"GRAAAAH!"
The Orc lunged.
And then—air. She was lifted, cradled.
"IT'S TOO EARLY TO GIVE UP ON LIFE, KATRINA."
Her eyes widened. "HUH...? AH! G- GUILDMASTER!"
Act stood before the monsters, holding her like something precious.
"Why...?"
"Helping guild members is the job of the Guildmaster."
"...But I'm not a Guild Member anymore..."
He set her down gently. Pulled a familiar envelope from his pocket.
"This hasn't been accepted yet."
He pressed it into her hands. Firm. Warm.
"Since I haven't heard you say you're quitting... it's invalid. You're still one of us. An important guild member."
Her hands shook.
"...Guildmaster..."
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