Volume 1 Chapter 37 The Villainous Guildmaster, Pressuring the Interview
One day,
a whole crowd of people gathered at the guild hall of my newly established guild, [Gem of Heavenly Gift].
'Frederica, who are these guys?'
I asked Frederica, the silver-haired maid with a cute shortcut.
'They're applicants wanting to join the guild.'
'Hmm. Why are there so many of them?'
'It seems they've heard about the exploits defeating a demon the other day.'
I see, it even made the news.
They must have been drawn in by the excitement.
'Are you the Guildmaster, Act?'
A burly man approached and spoke to me.
'I'm Verin. I heard you're a professional at training people, right? MAKE ME STRONGER TOO!'
Verin and the other applicants grinned as they moved closer to me.
'I'm not primarily in the business of training people. This is a gathering place for the exiled. Anyone with a guild already, PLEASE LEAVE.'
But not a single one of them moved to leave.
'Excuse me, I was thrown out of my guild yesterday, and I have nowhere to go!'
Following Verin's lead, other applicants chimed in, eager to join.
'...Master. These guys are lying.'
Frederica whispered to me.
With her keen hearing, she could detect lies from their voices and heartbeats.
'...They're probably after the abilities of your Appraisal Eye and your training power. Once they get strong, they'll just go back to their original guild.'
Good grief, becoming famous brings its own troubles.
'Alright, LET'S CONDUCT INTERVIEWS.'
'''INTERVIEWS, HUH?'''
'Yeah. With this many, there's no way I can hire everyone.'
Frederica counted them, and it turned out there were about 50 applicants.
'Well, that's true. Interviews sound good, Act! I'LL GO FIRST!'
Verin stepped forward confidently.
Then, BOOM!
And he shoved the Child next to him.
'AAAA...? WHAT'S WITH YOU, YOU SCRAWNY THING?'
The one who fell was the [Blonde Hair boy].
He still has a bit of a childlike innocence.
Probably not an adult (15 years old).
'You want to join this Guild too?'
'...Yes.'
The scrawny boy nodded small.
'GAH HA HA! NO WAY! THERE'S NO WAY A SKINNY LITTLE RUNT LIKE YOU COULD BE AN ADVENTURER, YOU IDIOT!'
Verin grabbed the scrawny Blonde Hair roughly.
'GO BACK TO MAMA'S PLACE, YOU BRAT.'
With a WHOOSH, he threw the boy.
I caught the kid.
'Are you hurt?'
'...Yes.'
I lowered the boy and glared at Verin.
'If you cause any more trouble, you won't get to take the interview.'
'HAA... UM... TCH, YOU LITTLE PUNK, ACTING ALL TOUGH WHEN YOU'RE YOUNGER THAN ME!'
Verin's words were clear.
I felt Frederica's ice magic, so PLOP I tapped her shoulder.
'Stop it. It's a waste of time.'
'...Yes.'
I looked at the hopeful recruits and said,
'WELL, THEN, LET'S START THE INTERVIEWS.'
'YES! I'M THE BEST, RIGHT!'
Verin said with a smug voice.
'No, the interview will be conducted here, ALL AT ONCE.'
'HUH?'
The confused hopeful recruits.
I gave them a glance and nodded.
'EVERYONE EXCEPT THAT BOY OVER THERE IS DISQUALIFIED. LEAVE.'
'EH? ME...?'
The Blonde Hair, scrawny boy said, bewildered.
'That's right. THE INTERVIEW IS OVER. DISMISSED.'
'HEY! DON'T MESS WITH ME!'
Verin grabs me.
'WHAT? ARE YOU DISSATISFIED?'
'YEAH! WE DIDN'T EVEN HAVE AN INTERVIEW AND THOUGHT I'D FAIL!'
'The interview was conducted. I have researched your past.'
My Appraisal Eye sees everything from the past to the future.
They looked at the eyes of these guys and read the past.
'VERIN, YOU BELONG TO TRUEBORN HERO.'
'WHAT...!? WHY, WHY...'
'LIES CAN'T FOOL MY EYES. THE FOLKS GATHERED HERE ARE THE SAME. YOU ALL HAVE A PLACE TO RETURN TO.'
I glance around at the people who have gathered and say,
'ONCE YOU ENTER HERE, YOU'LL GET YOUR POTENTIAL ABILITIES UNLEASHED WITHOUT ANY CONDITIONS. YOU'VE PROBABLY HEARD THAT RUMOR AND CAME RUNNING, RIGHT? AM I WRONG?'
The hopeful recruits are left speechless, caught off guard.
'THAT SAID, I BET PLENTY OF PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE DISSATISFIED WITH THIS. SO, LET'S DO A SIMPLE TEST.'
'''A TEST?'''
'Yeah. If you pass with flying colors, I'll allow you to join the Gem of Heavenly Gift. Whether you quit your old guild is up to you.'
Frederica leans in to whisper to me.
'...Master. If they just get their potential abilities and leave afterward, won't we have a constant stream of people walking out?'
'Don't worry about it. Leave it to me.'
I look at the hopefuls, Vera and the others.
'ALRIGHT, LET'S BEGIN THE EXAM. EVERYONE, MOVE TO A DIFFERENT VENUE.'
* * *
'I CAN'T TAKE THIS ANYMOREEE!'
A few hours later, at the training facility behind the guild hall.
Vera, drenched in sweat, slams her wooden sword down onto the ground.
'HOW LONG ARE YOU GOING TO MAKE US KEEP PRACTICING THIS NONSENSE? DAMN IT!'
This is the test I gave to the hopeful recruits.
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