Volume 1 Chapter 6 The Villainous Guildmaster Punishes the Director
I've arrived at the port town of Wozs in the northwest region of the continent.
According to an [old friend], Delphoi is famous for being a good person.
I've come to the largest building in town, the [Delphoi Orphanage].
Visiting with Frederica and the orphan Yui, we were taken to the Director's office.
After waiting a bit,
"Oh, Yui! I've been worried about you! Where have you been?"
The man who entered the room was a middle-aged fellow with a creepy grin.
"I'm Delphoi, the Director here."
"I'm the Guildmaster of the Adventurers Guild. I rescued this child from the forest and came to return her."
I subtly probed, but Delphoi didn't change his expression at all.
"This is quite the inconvenience! This mischievous girl shouldn't be sneaking out of the orphanage!"
Yui was trembling in fear.
"Come here, Yui."
"But before that, I have something I want to negotiate with you."
"Negotiate? You mean a reward for rescuing and returning this child? Of course! I will pay you!"
I shook my head and took out some documents from my Magic Bag.
"I want to negotiate how much you will pay for these documents that are evidence of human trafficking."
"Human trafficking, huh? I haven't done anything like that!"
"Well, all right, take a look at those documents."
Delphoi grabbed the documents I tossed to him and quickly scanned them.
His face turned pale.
"Why... do you have this...? Yui, did you steal it and give it to him!"
She clung tightly to Frederica's body, but she shook her head firmly.
"Stop lying! You must have stolen it! Otherwise, there's no way this child could have documents that are securely stored in the vault of the Director's office!"
"Yui is irrelevant. It's a fake I made."
"Fake?!"
He seizes the documents from Delphoi's shaking hands and thrusts them forward.
"My Appraisal Eye is a special edition. I saw you in this room looking at the documents about Human Trafficking from the past. I just quickly copied the contents while you were gone. The important documents are still in the safe."
"As expected of the Master, you immediately found the evidence of the wrongdoing and made it a bargaining chip."
I sink deep into the sofa.
"Human Trafficking without proper procedures is a serious crime. The contents of those documents are in my head."
"Damn it...! What do you want?!"
I'm come to negotiate.
Well, if Human Trafficking is exposed, he'll be arrested immediately.
"The land and building rights of this Orphanage, and the custody of all the children, what do you say?"
"Don't be ridiculous! That's a ridiculous negotiation! There's no way it will be accepted!"
"If I wanted to, I could have you arrested right now? The previous conditions are a bargain, aren't they?"
"Damn it...! You devil!"
"That's right. What will you do?"
"Ugh...Damn it! Wait a minute!"
Director Delphoi retrieves documents from a shelf and signs the transfer to Act Age.
"I've accepted the land, building rights, and custody of the children."
"So, the Human Trafficking issue will be kept quiet, right!"
"Of course, I won't say anything. I am..."
*Clank*, the door to the room opens.
"Lord...?"
The Lord of the town, [Wozs] has arrived.
"Act...are you doing something bad again?"
He approaches me with a wry smile.
"What's going on!?"
"Well then, Lord Wozs is an old friend of mine. I have a few things I'd like to ask."
Delphoi's face drains of color.
"Well, wait! You! You are breaching the contract!"
"Yeah, I should say it. ...Yui"
"Yes..."
Frederica moved away, and Yui came over to where I was.
"Tell the Lord what this shitty Director did to your friend."
"N-no! Yuiii! Don't say it!"
Delphoi lunges at Yui.
"Frederica"
"As you wish."
She dashes past like a swift wind, trips him, locks his joints, and restrains the Director.
"Yuiii! You! I'll kill you if you say anything!"
With a gulp, I place my hand on Yui's trembling shoulder.
"Relax. I've got your back."
"...Okay."
Yui comes up to Lord Wozs and speaks with all her might.
"Mr. Delphoi is a bad person who sold my precious friend to a mean person!"
Wozs makes a thoughtful hum.
"Understood. I'll arrange for a Knight to apprehend that man."
"Huh!? L-Lord! You're going to believe what that mere brat says!?"
"Just a child perhaps. But this child was brought by Act. That should be enough to warrant credibility."
"Wh-who is that man...?"
Lord Wozs looks at me with a wry smile and says,
"He calls himself an Villainous Person Person, but he's quite the people person."
* * *
Later, in the Guildmaster's room of the Adventurers Guild [Gem of Heavenly Gift].
Yui came to see me.
"Sir Act! It's been a while!"
The girl who once had a dark expression and hung her head now had a bright smile.
"How's the new orphanage?"
"It's wonderful! All the staff are kind, and I can eat until I'm full, and sleep in a clean bed! It's like heaven!"
"...You say that like it's shocking."
"It IS shocking!"
After that, Delphoi was taken into custody by the Knights.
Under Lord Wozs's supervision, a search was conducted at his residence, revealing evidence of his misdeeds.
A lot of evidence. He was very efficient—for a criminal.
Delphoi was arrested for illegal human trafficking.
I protected the rights to the remaining orphanage land and buildings, and the children's custody.
The deed was sold, and with that money, all the children who were sold were bought back.
EVERY. LAST. ONE.
After that, the orphans were able to live there. A new orphanage was built, and Yui and the others lived there.
"Well... Sir Act. TRULY, thank you for everything!"
"Don't worry about it. The Town Mayor just happened to say he wanted to build an orphanage. I just... encouraged him."
With an axe. Figuratively.
Yui's mouth opens in bewilderment.
"This is what Master is like."
Frederica whispers in her ear, and Yui nods in understanding.
"Go back home soon. Go play with your friends."
"Actually... I have one more request!"
Yui straightens her back and bows deeply.
"PLEASE, make me your DISCIPLE, Sir Act!"
She speaks with a serious expression. The kind you usually see on warriors about to enter their final battle.
"I also want to be strong like Sir Act. I don't want to be weak anymore, just crying and unable to do anything."
"I see. Then, I accept."
"I understand that you might think a little girl like me can't do anything, but I'll try my best... what?"
Yui's eyes widen.
"W-WHAT... WHAT NOW?"
"I said I'll accept your request to be my disciple."
Yui is frozen. Her brain has apparently STOPPED WORKING.
I have to clarify.
"You want to be my disciple, right? Then I'll raise you as a candidate for the next Guildmaster. No objections?"
"N-NO! YES! PLEASE!"
I stand up and approach Yui, stroking her head.
She goes stiff like she's been hit by lightning.
"You're still just a child. It'd be better for you to live a carefree life at the orphanage. Entering this world is too soon."
"Even so... I want to start as soon as possible. I want to be like you, the BEST Guildmaster!"
Looking into her determined gaze, I'm certain.
"You can do it. You'll become a better Guildmaster than me."
"NO! I want to be a VILLAINOUS Guildmaster, just like Sir Act!"
"...You're an odd one."
And Yui and Frederica laugh.
""NOT AS MUCH AS YOU!""
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