Volume 3 Gossips: A Certain Guild Masters Fall (2/2)

Let me go! I want to speak with [Intruder]

It sure is noisy. Good grief, even though we have guests right now. Excuse me. Ill be right back. [Feiled]

But before Feiled could get off the sofa, the source of the commotion approached.

Is it here!? [Intruder]

W-What is the matter!? [Staff 1]

That b.a.s.t.a.r.ds done it now! [Intruder]

Wait, Brian-san! You cant go there! [Staff 2]

A man bulging with muscle entered the reception office with several staff in tow trying to hold him back.

There are guests right now! Get out! [Feiled]

I dont care! You, what do you mean Im fired!? I want a proper explanation right now!

Someone escort this man out of here! [Feiled]

Sorry, but hes too strong! [Staff 3]

We cant stop him with just ourselves [Staff 4]

I got a letter telling me I was dismissed because I treated the kid poorly, but I only did that because you told me to! How could you possibly fire me because of that! Take it back! [Brian]

The reason for Brians impoliteness resounded loud and clear to the people gathered in the room.

Could he be talking about? [Henry]

Hey, your name was Brian, right? Are you the examiner in charge of that kid, Ryoumas, exam? [Charles]

Huh? Yeah, thats right! What about it!? [Brian]

Well, wed like to hear more about it. As the guild master of Teressa, I, Charles, would like to request this mans testimony. Feiled, since you believe yourself to be innocent, you wont mind us hearing him out, right? [Charles]

Sigh I dont mind, but you should know that this wont change anything. Whether it was in my response toward Ryouma Takebayas.h.i.+ or my dismissal of Brian, everything was done according to regulations. [Feiled]

In that case, you should be dismissed too! [Brian]

Brian, this is a place of discussion. As Ive told Charles-dono, please refrain from letting your emotions run wild. Everyone here including myself is a guild master. Our standing is different from yours, so do exercise modesty. [Feiled]

Ridiculous [Brian]

Enough!! [Charles]

Charles yelled again, and this time, the two stopped arguing.

Feiled, shut up for a moment. Brian, look, I know hes annoying, but we cant have a conversation if you keep getting riled up, so just imagine hes not here and tell us what happened.

Okay, I got it. This is the reason I came here. [Brian]

Brian calmed down and presented a sheet of paper that hed been holding tight. On it was written the notification of a pay cut, penalty, and the reason why.

Your poor conduct as an examiner of the adventurers guild has offended an examinee and harmed the prestige of the guild; hence, the following penalties will be handed out Or so it says. [Henry]

Right. Its true I had a mocking att.i.tude when dealing with the kid, but! Thats only because I was told that he was relying on his n.o.ble backing and trying to get a promotion with fake achievements! [Brian]

Brian glared at Feiled.

I wont deny that the kid annoyed me, but C Rank is when an adventurer is considered to be a proper adventurer and to be someone that possesses some skill. At that rank, you can take more jobs and harder ones too. Depending on the situation, you might even have to lead lower-ranked adventurers.

What will happen if at such a time a guy that got promoted through unfair means became the leader? If the guy wants to court death by taking on a job he cant handle, thats on him, but like this, theyll even end up dragging other people with them. Thats not something I can just sit back and watch whether its as an adventurer or as an examiner.

I figured I might as well nip the problem during the exam. I felt like I was even doing him a favor by crus.h.i.+ng him. Of course, theres no denying that a lot of my emotions were mixed in too, but I told you what I was going to do before the exam and you didnt say anything! So youre at fault too! [Brian]

Brian became emotional again as he explained, but Feiled didnt cower and just heaved a deep sigh.

It appears theres been a misunderstanding. [Feiled]

What was that!? [Brian]

All I said was that the boys records were of suspect. I never said hed done anything wrong. In fact, it was precisely because there were such suspicions that I asked you to do a proper job as an examiner. In the first place, it was because of my lack of knowledge in combat that I asked you to serve as an examiner in my stead. It is our duty to give the exam properly and pa.s.s or fail the examinee accordingly; which is why, to that end, I left everything regarding the exam to you. Of course, I too hate cheaters, so I was understanding of your personal feelings. Unfortunately, such emotions were not something one should bring while performing ones duties. No matter who the examinee may be and regardless what circ.u.mstances he may have, the examiner must be given the exam according to regulations.

I trusted you as an examiner, so I believed you would be able to handle the examinee properly despite your personal feelings. Unfortunately, you disappointed in that regard; hence, the penalties meted out. Do you understand now? [Feiled]

Feiled spoke fluently, but the friction in the air only grew worse.

Oh, I get it. You want to make it out so that Im the only one at fault. [Brian]

I didnt say that. After all, the guild did appoint you, so there is some blame there too. To prevent a second incident, we will have to review the content of the exam and educate the examiners on their att.i.tude. Naturally, you too will be educated. The penalty this time was just a warning, but if you fail to comply with the regulations when holding the exam in the future, Im afraid we might not be able to renew your contract. Thats why [Feiled]

Enough. [Brian]

Huh? [Feiled]

Brian reached the end of his patience and walked away. He acted completely different from that man that barged in. He was calm and little emotion could be seen from him.

I didnt hate this job, but working under you is too much. I dont need a next time, Im quitting now. Im not qualified to be an examiner anyway, so Im sure you wont mind. [Brian]

I see, in that case, please do go through the proper procedures down stairs. Just be informed that leaving for personal reasons and failing to complete your contract reason will incur a penalty, and it will also be left on your record. [Feiled]

What? You threatening me? You gonna have me arrested like you told that kid? [Brian]

No, I am merely informing you of the guilds rules beforehand. It would be problematic if you said you didnt know or cried foul later. [Feiled]

I knew it, talking with you is impossible. You said a lot, but in the end, all youre saying is that youre not at fault. Theres no substance at all. [Brian]

At that, Brian left the room.

Im going back too. [Charles]

In that case, please excuse me as well. [Henry]

Whats the matter with you two all of the sudden? [Feiled]

Brian said it. Theres no point in talking with you. Ryouma probably felt the same. Ive always known you were a little hard headed, but I thought that was just because of your diligence, but to think that you were actually this sort of person You hate adventurers, right? Why be the guild master of an adventurers guild then? [Charles]

Its my job. Also, I dont hate adventurers. I am merely performing my duties according to the rules. [Feiled]

There are all sorts of adventurers, from honest ones to hoodlums. Sadly, there are plenty that quarrel with guild members and make people feel bad. Im sure youve gone through a lot to get this far in your career. But I dont think a man that looks down on adventurers should be the guild master of an adventurers guild. Ill be contacting the main branch about this and will request that you be dismissed from position. So go wash your neck and wait. [Charles]

P-Please wait a moment! What is the meaning of that!? Did I say something wrong!? [Feiled]

Understandably, even Feiled couldnt help but panic upon hearing that. He had been carefree until now, but now, he was visibly agitated.

Feiled-dono, as the leader of a merchant guild, I have no intention of rejecting the relations.h.i.+p between our guilds, however, I will have to rethink about our relations.h.i.+p in the future. If I may be so blunt, I cannot be at ease if the person we have to deal with is you. [Henry]

After saying that, Charles and Henry left without so much as turning back, leaving Feiled all alone as he folded his arms and heaved a deep sigh.

Good grief, I swear They came out of nowhere and started prattling on about such rude things In the end, I suppose Charles-dono too was nothing more than an upstart adventurer. But to think that even Henry of the merchant guild would go that far Just what was the problem? All I did was do everything according to regulations! Oh, I know! There must have been a lie in the report of the receptionist! There must be something that I dont know! Yes, that makes sense! [Feiled]

Unable to even consider that he might have done wrong, Feiled called for the female receptionist that handled Ryoumas case.

The price for that mistake would be paid much quicker than one might expect

The next day.

Why are there only three employees!? [Feiled]

On this day, only three employees came to work, but even these three employees looked so unhappy they seemed as though they too could leave at a moments notice.

Because of the strike. Everyones saying that if you dont accept our protest and apologize and resign, theyll all just quit. [Female Emplyee]

What is that supposed to mean!? Everyones been working fine until just yesterday. Now theyre suddenly resigning!? [Feiled]

Like I said, Its your fault! You called Susan yesterday and forced her to confess to a scandal that never happened! Everyone finally had enough when they heard about it! I wouldnt have come today either if I werent in charge of the reception desk! [Female Employee]

What? [Feiled]

Guild Master. Were fed up with you already. You never listen to us and just push whatever convenient interpretation of the rules you can come up with. Youre the guild master and were just staff, so we never said anything, but you actually made our job harder, and your instructions and explanations never made sense. Thats why weve been dissatisfied for so long. This last incident was just the last straw. [Male Employee]

If you had a problem, then you should have said something! I would have thought of something then! You cant just not say anything and not put any effort into improving! This will affect todays operation! [Feiled]

You have two choices before you, guild master. Either you close the guild, or you do everything by yourself. We only came here as a representative of the other employees. We didnt actually come here to work. If you want to fire us, then go ahead. Weve already made our resolve. [Third Employee]

By the way, the recent incident has already been spread through merchants, and Brian-san has also spoken about his resignation to other adventurers at the tavern. Its word of the town already, so dont even try to hide it. Even we cant do anything about it anymore. [Female Employee]

I hear there are a lot of adventurers planning to leave this town too. I dont know what will happen in the future, but Im sure it will be difficult. If you plan on clinging onto your seat as guild master, then youll have to do your best. [Female Employee]

After saying what they had to say, the woman in charge of the reception and the man in charge of management left, leaving behind Feiled and another person.

Submaster, you should know, but you cant become the guild master even if you drive me away. This will harm the guild, so youll take some of the blame too. [Feiled]

As Ive said, Ive already resolved myself to be dismissed. Even if I become the guild master here, Ill just end up having to clean your mess. I would be better off working at another guild, doing menial jobs and slowly making my way up. In the first place, the only reason a person like you was able to become the guild master was because this is a small town in the borders You were demoted, werent you? [Submaster]

Thats rude. All guilds are equal. There is no superior or inferior. Though it appears youre not aware of that. [Feiled]

Spare me your nonsense. Unlike you, whose only redeeming point is your many years of service, I am actually competent enough to find employment elsewhere. Ill have work even after being fired from the adventurers guild, so Ill be fine. Now then, if youll excuse me.

Oh, right, should you decide to resign, please do contact me at my house. You can come in person, you can send a letter, anything is fine. Well gather the staff that want to return and resume operation. [Submaster]

Feiled was finally all alone. Four days later, a messenger from the main branch came to dismiss him from his position. As for what happened to him after that, thats a story that probably wont be told.