Volume 4 Chapter 9 The Villainous Guildmaster, Tempting a Youngster from the Countryside I
One day, a young boy arrived in the town where Act lived.
"Is this it... THE BIG CITY! I've finally made it to the city!"
His name was Yaboy.
A fresh-faced boy from the countryside, not even 15 yet.
"Amazing... AS EXPECTED of a big city. There's a Merchant Guild! Incredible!"
By the way, the town where Act lived was quite far from the Royal Capital.
It wasn't exactly the boonies, but it was far from being a metropolis.
Compared to his hometown, Mioque, a rural village with only about 5 houses, this was a sprawling metropolis.
The place still operated on barter, and there were more cows than people.
"My rise, Yaboy's journey... it starts here! Yeah, I'll become the LEGENDARY VILLAIN... Act Age's underling!"
Grr!
Yaboy clenched his fists and declared.
"I'm not just some country bumpkin who'll settle for less. A REAL MAN has to make it big! It's quicker to join under a villain!"
The rumors about Act Age were widespread.
Yet, the reputation of the Villainous Guildmaster, who keeps expelling guild members one after another, remains firmly rooted.
Normally, one would avoid Act if they knew he was a villain, but this boy, Yaboy, was actually excited.
"I'll drink the sweet nectar under the villain. And then, when I'm eventually put in charge of a branch, I'll kick back and enjoy myself, HA-HA-HA-HA-HA!"
Yaboy's hearty laughter drew strange looks from the people passing through the streets.
"Well, no point standing around. I need to make contact. The Guildmaster, I think that's what I heard... but which guild's master is it?"
This boy, Yaboy, was so eager to leave the countryside.
So he didn't do much research and just left his hometown based on rumors.
"Let's go to a restaurant! Yeah, this town's eateries must know all the gossip, right? Yeah! That's the plan! I'm hungry, too!"
With that decided, Yaboy heads toward the smell of food.
After a while, he arrives at a diner.
"Welcome! How many people?"
A cute waitress comes to serve.
Yaboy thought to himself.
"A city girl, she's so mabui!"
"W-work...? Uh, just one, right? Please, follow me!"
'Mabui' is a local slang from Mioque that means [cute] or similar.
Yaboy happily sits at a table.
"Wow, being in the city really raises the level of girls! Haha... If I get big under Act Age, I'm making that girl my secretary... HAHAHA!"
He looks at the menu with excitement.
But then, it happened.
"Welcome! Oh, aren't you the Guildmaster?"
Yaboy looks toward the entrance.
Standing there is a sharply-eyed young man with black hair.
"Guildmaster, huh? What kind of weird name is that."
Yaboy, who looks plain and homely, says that as if it's obvious.
"Guildmaster, are you alone today?"
"Yeah, I'm off duty today."
"Oh, sorry, it's pretty crowded today. Can I share your table?"
"Sure."
Seeing the cute waitress from before chatting happily with him...
"Ugh! Who does that Guildmaster think he is! Picking a fight with my girl...!"
Yaboy secretly takes an aggressive stance, feeling hostile.
Of course, 'Guildmaster' isn't a name.
It's the real Act Age, someone he's long admired.
But in Yaboy's mind, Act is a ruthless villain.
He pictures someone obese, greasy-haired, with a sleazy smile──TOTALLY A BAD GUY.
But comparing that image with the real Act Age, the actual person is way too normal, and Yaboy doesn't even realize he's looking for himself in the wrong place.
"Mister?"
"Huh?! W-what?!"
The cute waitress from earlier approaches Yaboy apologetically.
"I'm sorry. It's very crowded right now. Would it be okay if I share a table with you?"
Guildmaster whatever he's called is standing next to me.
He doesn't say anything.
He's just standing there.
"Eh? Geez, what a hassle."
Yaboy didn't really care about it, but he wanted to look cool in front of this cute girl, even just a little.
"Alright, you. I'll make an exception and let you share the table."
He... act all high and mighty towards Act.
Of course, he doesn't realize it's Act himself, so he can do that.
If he found out it's really Act, he'd probably fall over shocked.
Meanwhile, Act doesn't mind Yaboy acting like that toward a country bumpkin...
"Oh, sorry about that."
He sits down without giving it much thought.
To Act, Yaboy is no different from a random stone on the street.
...But suddenly, Act notices something.
The stone he dropped is actually a rough diamond.
"Hey, you!"
"Huh? What is it?"
"What you've got there is a dinner menu. The lunch menu is over here."
Act hands the menu he was holding to Yaboy.
"So, uh... lunch...?"
...Is that a spell?
He's from a small town, so he'd never seen anything like that.
Can't tell the difference between lunch and dinner... or maybe he'd never even heard those words before.
Act breathes out and explains the different menus.
"It's just that the menus are different depending on the time of day! WOW... Urban areas are crazy!"
"Hey, where are you from?"
"Mio..."
If he mentions some rural place like Mioque now, he'll get mocked!
Thinking that, Yaboy clears his throat and speaks.
"What does it matter to you, someone I just met? That's rude, old man."
...Who do you think is being rude here?
If he realizes that the Act Age he's searching for is right in front of him, and he has been rude to him...
Well, enough of that.
"Yeah, you're right, just as you said."
"Hey! Cut it out, old man! Just 'cause I'm young, you think you can boss me around? I'll make you regret it!"
"Yeah, you're right."
Act calls over a waitress.
"I'll have the A-lunch. What about you?"
"Huh? Uh, um... oh, the same, please!"
"Understood!"
The waitress walks away.
Meanwhile, Act speaks to the rascal.
"What's your name, punk?"
"Huh? When you ask someone's name, don't you introduce yourself first? That's the rule, isn't it?"
...The rude boy continues to act impolitely.
"Yeah, you're right. Sorry about that. Fine then."
"Sheesh! Rude old man."
"Hey, is this your first time coming here?"
"Huh!? How did you...?"
"Well, I can just tell by the atmosphere. By the way, since it's your first time at this restaurant, why did you order the same thing as me?"
Yaboy tilts his head at the sudden question.
"Well, you seemed like the most human-like person in this town. You were friendly with the waitress, which means you come here a lot. That means you know the good stuff. If you're eating it, it must be good. So I ordered the same. That's all... What's with the question?"
Act gives a sly smile and laughs.
"No, it was a strange question."
"Sheesh...! Really... Hey, old man! Tell me your name! You asked for mine, didn't you?"
And then, at that moment.
"──Sir Act, what brings you here today?"
Just then, Maid Frederica entered the diner.
Yaboy was more shocked by the sudden appearance of the beauty than anything else.
"Huh?"
The woman approaching them, what did she just call the man in front of her?
"What's wrong?"
"Ah, um, uh...? Ah, that... um, you... I mean, that..."
Yaboy looks visibly confused.
Meanwhile, Frederica tilts her head curiously.
"Master, who is this child?"
Act laughs with genuine amusement and says,
"A raw gem of talent. Could be profitable."
Meanwhile, Yaboy speaks with a face pale as a ghost.
"M-M-Master...? A-Are you... Act... Age?"
Act gives a sly smile and nods.
"That's right. I am the Guildmaster of the Adventurers Guild <Gem of Heavenly Gift>... Act Age."
Just for a moment, he pauses...
"I'm so sorryrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrry!"
Embarrassed, he instantly kowtowed with lightning speed.
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