Volume 1 Chapter 37-2 The Villainous Guildmaster, Pressuring the Interview
The content was just one thing.
[Keep practicing swings until I say to stop.]
'I never said to stop yet.'
'This isn't practice! I'VE SWUNG that thing THOUSANDS of times already!'
'You don't need to know. The test is to keep swinging until I say to stop. The number of times isn't the criteria for passing.'
Already, over a dozen hopefuls have collapsed on the spot.
'What's the point of this swinging, anyway?'
'You don't need to know that. Just do as I say. If you can't, then you can stop, and I couldn't care less.'
'DAMN IT! THIS ISN'T A JOKE! STOP, I SAID STOP!'
Verin throws down his wooden sword.
'I came here because I heard I could get strong the easy way, but this is a total scam! I'M DONE WITH THIS GUILD!'
Ptui... Verin spits on the ground, then storms off.
'Is that so? It's too late if you want to join later.'
'GUH... YOU JERK, SPREADING LIES! I'LL RUIN YOUR REPUTATION! THE GUILDMASTER OF THE GEM OF HEAVENLY GIFT IS A LYING BASTARD!'
One by one... the hopefuls, nearly 50 of them, leave.
In an instant, the crowd is gone.
'As expected of Master. You played the villain perfectly.'
Frederica comes over with a towel and a drink.
'This should keep the same fools from coming back. Only the real gems, those who truly seek help, will remain.'
She glances over at a blonde-haired boy, laughed at and ignored.
Even during the commotion earlier, he kept swinging.
'Hey, you. Looks like you're the last one left. Why haven't you stopped?'
'HUFF...! AH...! B-BECAUSE... YOU HAVEN'T... TOLD ME... TO STOP...'
The boy diligently continues his swings.
With each swing, his strike grows sharper.
'Frederica. Cast ice magic on him.'
'Eh? B-but...'
'JUST DO IT.'
Frederica hesitates, but then casts a basic ice magic [Icicle Breath].
A blizzard of ice and snow bears down on the boy.
'Loosen your shoulder, swing down... NOW!'
He brings down the wooden sword, swinging it down at the exact moment I instructed.
The incredible power of the slash split Frederica's magic in two.
'WOW... EVEN THOUGH HE HELD BACK, HE MANAGED TO CUT FENRIR'S MAGIC WITH A WOODEN SWORD...'
While I watched Frederica in shock, I turned my gaze to the boy.
'HA! HYA! HA!'
The lanky boy was still in the middle of his swings, of all things.
Yet, the sharpness of each strike had definitely increased since before.
Each time he swung the wooden sword, a gust of wind sprang up around him.
'YOU PASS.'
'HA! HYA! HA!'
'HEY, I SAID YOU PASS.'
'YAY! HYA! HA!'
'WAIT, COULD IT BE THAT THIS KID WILL KEEP SWINGING FOREVER UNLESS SOMEONE SAYS STOP?'
Frederica looked at the boy with blonde hair, shivering.
'STOP.'
In that instant... he fell over face-first.
'HUFF! HUFF! HUFF! HUFF!'
His muscles were spasming, shaking uncontrollably.
He was soaked in sweat.
'What a foolish child. Also... that last strike. It's not ordinary talent. Master, what about this kid?'
'Ah, he has the potential to become a [Hero].'
'R-REALLY!?'
The blonde-haired boy looked up, his eyes sparkling with excitement.
'What benefit would I get from lying to you?'
'Y-YOU'RE RIGHT! THAT'S TRUE!'
I squatted down to ask him.
'YOU PASS. What's your name? I can't believe "Lanky Boy" is your name.'
'YES! I'M...'
* * *
"AND THAT'S HOW I FIRST MET ACT!"
One day, at the Guild [Gem of Heavenly Gift].
They were having a drinking party with a ridiculously long name: "Hero Party, Demon Extermination Hard Work Celebration."
"Mr. Lawrence, were you once lanky? I didn't expect that!"
The magic user Eli said, looking genuinely surprised as he turned to the big blonde guy next to him.
"Indeed! Back then, I wasn't eating well! I was shorter and skinnier!"
Lawrence went munching and crunching on food like crazy!
"...Not at all. Honestly, you were costing me a fortune in food."
I remembered that time.
It was Lawrence, before he became a Hero, who used his sword to slice through Frederica's magic.
"No doubt it was Act's Skill that helped me grow from a clueless noob into a Hero! Thanks for picking me up!"
Gulp!
Lawrence suddenly hugged me tightly.
"Don't get the wrong idea. I saw potential in you. I thought you'd eventually bring great profits to the Guild. I dumped anyone who wasn't promising."
"Honestly, that idiot Verin, he took on Quests way beyond his level, caused the Guild endless headaches, and then just disappeared somewhere. Rumor has it he died alone."
"As always, Master, you have a keen eye."
Frederica, the maid with long, silver hair, poured me a drink.
"Hm! Act, you have the best vision and are the best leader in the world!"
Whew, I sighed and stood up.
"I'm going to bed. You guys can eat and drink whatever you want."
I pulled out a bag stuffed with gold coins and tossed it to Lawrence.
"You did great on that high-level demon extermination. Thanks to you, the Guild's reputation is soaring. Consider this a reward. Take it."
"Nihihi...!"
Lawrence laughed.
"THANKS, EVERYONE! TODAY'S ON GUILDMASTER! LET'S EAT, DRINK, AND HAVE FUN!"
""""GUILDMASTER, YOU'RE SO GENEROUS!""""
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