Chapter 17

The guild building is always bustling with adventurers coming and going.

However, today there was a significant difference: it was not adventurers gathering, but the guildmaster’s summons of Fangju’s press corps and their associates all gathered into one place.

“Wonder what the announcement will be.”

“Still, since the guildmaster is making the announcement himself, it must be a scoop, right? Is the equipment all set up?”

“Put the camera here, and that over there—”

In the hall, reporters and crew members gathered in small groups to chat or set up their equipment.

As one could tell from that unusual scene, the appearance of the guild had changed a little from before, with the most representative change being the stage set up by removing all the tables and chairs usually found in the hall.

A large stage hung with a flag bearing the magnifying glass symbol, a mark of the Explorer’s Guild. On it, automata bustled about decorating and moving objects, working busily.

And just as if on cue, all at once their figures disappeared, revealing a single man on the podium.

Gyujek, the Guildmaster of the Explorer’s Guild.

“Ahem.”

After lightly loosening his neck and straightening his attire, his gaze turned toward the back stage, where he smiled with satisfaction, then slowly moved toward the people.

“Well… has everyone arrived?”

“Yes, Guildmaster! We’re all set!”

“We’re ready to start whenever you are.”

The journalists and crews responded loudly to Gyujek’s words, and his face lit up with a smile, pleased with their reaction.

As if in agreement, Gyujek nodded and then tilted his head toward his wrist. The hands of his dazzlingly intricate watch moved toward the precise hour, and on his face appeared a smile that was both pleasant and calculating.

And finally, the time had come.

The stage lights and the lights of the cameras carried by the journalists and crews burst out all at once, and all eyes were focused on Gyujek.

“First, I’d like to thank you all for gathering here.”

A voice that was incomparably calm and intelligent, contrasting sharply with the casual chatter he had engaged in earlier in his office.

“Today, I’ve brought many of you here not for any particular reason, but because there are a few pieces of good news from our guild that we would like to share with Fangju as well.”

“What might it be?”

Just as if on cue, one of the journalists asked a question, to which Gyujek nodded with approval.

“Good question, but before I answer that, there is a bit of explanation necessary, I think.”

Having said that much, Gyujek made a show of clearing his throat.

“You may have forgotten it, but is it not true that there are still dangers lurking on the surface, even with the safe life in Fangju?”

With a look of regret, Gyujek darkened his face slightly, but though it was a theatrical performance, neither the journalists nor the crew exposed it, maintaining focus on his every movement.

“There could be unexpected incidents or equipment failures on a small scale, and on a large scale, encounters with great evils such as the fallen.”

Intentionally pausing, Gyujek signaled the automaton waiting in the wings to adjust the sound system, subtly layering in the murmuring sounds of an audience.

“But, even amidst these dangers, we seek out forgotten ruins and move forward to light the darkness. This is the explorer spirit, and the very reason for our existence!”

A brief pause.

“It’s because, in doing so, the things we discover help life in Fangju, your lives! Everything is for Fangju! Everything is for you all!”

This time, the sound of an applauding audience was introduced, and a few journalists and crew members clapped along in agreement.

Even though the carefully choreographed and acted performance was underpinned by layer upon layer of deception, it managed to create the illusion that many people agreed with his words and responded positively to them.

But this kind of thing wasn’t new; it seemed to come naturally to Gyujek, who was handling the situation with ease.

“And today! Finally, we’ve succeeded in surpassing the evil fortresses overrun with fallen ones through the explorer spirit! And now, we’ll call forth our guild’s bravest explorers who achieved this great feat!”

Gyujek pointed at one side of the stage, and slowly, Edu and her group, who had been waiting behind the stage, ascended to stand beside him.

“Ohhh!”

“These people!”

At first, the gathered gaze and rapidly flashing cameras were natural, but because Edu’s figure was still on Lianna’s back, their appearance differed significantly from what Gyujek, the journalists, and the crew had expected.

“….”

Seeing this, Gyujek turned his face to one side, whispering a reprimand with just the left side of his face, but Lianna coolly ignored his reaction.

In the meantime, a subtle current flowed between the journalists and the crew.

“A girl?”

“Why is she riding on someone else’s back?”

Sensing this wouldn’t do, Gyujek raised his voice again.

“Let me introduce her! The beautiful red-haired warrior Lianna, known to you all as the Flash! You know her, right?”

“Oh, isn’t that—”

“Lianna the Flash?”

The strange atmosphere disappeared instantly as exclamations of admiration and applause erupted among the journalists and crews.

“And the girl on her back is our guild’s newcomer, Edu Day of Birth! Though young and inexperienced, she’s already proven herself, assisting Lianna in achieving great feats—truly a prodigy!”

“Oh-”

“Indeed, she has an air of something extraordinary.”

Even honeyed words carry different weights depending on who speaks them. The skepticism-filled gazes of the journalists and crews from just moments ago noticeably softened.

“Here’s the thing. Both of them have handed over the operational rights of the fortress to our guild, not just for the benefit of the Explorer’s Guild, but for Fangju itself.”

“Oh!!”

The expressions of the journalists and crews changed entirely.

“Therefore, we plan to refurbish it altogether and make it a terrestrial base for our explorers, all thanks to the courage and explorer spirit of these two! Let’s give another round of applause to these brave explorers!”

Clap clap clap.

Filling the guild building was thunderous applause and cheers, most of it synthesized with sound effects, though many among the journalists and crews were genuinely clapping along.

As the broadcast reached its climax, a brief but noticeable smile of greed and desire flickered across Gyujek’s face before disappearing. Perhaps it was because things were proceeding exactly as he had planned that he couldn’t conceal his true feelings.

Ah, go ahead and revel in it. I’ll soon wipe that smirk right off your face.

“Alright, let’s wrap things up by hearing a few words from our heroes. Lianna?”

“Yes.”

“A few words of sentiment, if you would.”

“I see. Guildmaster.”

Lianna stepped forward slightly. It seemed such moments weren’t familiar to her, as her tension was faintly visible.

“Well… hello everyone, my name is Lianna. I really don’t have much to say… but I just think I was doing what an explorer should. Yes.”

With that, she stepped back. The slightly awkward atmosphere that followed was caught immediately by Gyujek, who swiftly jumped in with his words.

“That was Lianna! As always, she delivered a down-to-earth response worthy of her dedication to serving Fangju as an explorer!”

“Oh…”

“Indeed!”

By this point, the journalists and crews seemed fully convinced, their eyes now turning toward me.

At that moment, I was hit with a mild headache and a noise in my head— Gyujek.

‘Listen, don’t say anything unnecessary. You know what kinds of words would ruin the mood, right?’

‘Yes, yes.’

As soon as he heard the reply, Gyujek abruptly cut off his telepathy. But that moment of carelessness was his greatest mistake.

Just because I look like a kid, did he think pushing me around with a strong tone would make me play along? However, someone who has been around a long time in the AOE doesn’t collaborate with villains.

‘Then, lastly, a word from our guild’s newcomer! Edu Day of Birth! Let’s wrap up today’s announcement with the story of Edu! Edu-san?’

‘Yes, Guildmaster!’

‘…?’

Gyujek raised an eyebrow slightly at my enthusiastic response, but didn’t show further reaction.

Taking this moment, I whispered something to Lianna that the journalists and crew couldn’t hear.

‘Lianna-san, could you please help me down?’

‘Are you sure you’ll be okay?’

‘Yes, I’ll be fine.’

‘Alright, just a second.’

Carefully lowering my body to the stage floor, Lianna stepped back a step. Once more, the journalists and crew members’ gazes were upon me.

Alright, here we go.

Gathering my energy, first, second!

‘Ahem, hello everyone~ Just as Guildmaster introduced me, I’m Edu Day of Birth, the newcomer to the Explorer’s Guild! Hehe.’

The atmosphere in the room shifted instantly.

‘Cute…!’

‘It’s unimaginable!’

How’s that? Combining the external appearance with the overwhelming charm stat of 80?!”

‘Hm?’

Finally, Gyujek, alone, sensed something was off, but it was far too late.

‘Hey, wait—’

‘Actually, this mission scared me a lot, but with the help of Lianna-nee and the others, somehow we managed. Did I do well? Hehehe~’

The fully harmless girl mode is ON. You can’t stop me now, Gyujek.

‘And from now on, the guildmaster will be helping me a lot too! They said I don’t need to go to the academy for training since I’m an Awakener, and, oh! They’ll be training Awakeners here at the Explorer’s Guild!!!’

‘Huh?’

‘Eh—’

The journalists and crews, who had been nodding along, slowly hardened their faces. Their gaze naturally turned toward Gyujek.

‘Hold on, Edu, what did you just say?’

‘Yes! Sorry, Uncle, this was something the Guildmaster asked me not to say, but I must have forgotten—’

‘G-guildmaster? Is what Edu said the truth?’

‘Doesn’t educating Awakeners fall under the exclusive authority of the Academy? Guildmaster!’

‘Guildmaster! Explanation, please!’

In an instant, journalists and crews crowded around Gyujek.

‘Ah, no. That, it is—’

A disconcerted Gyujek shot a sharp glance at me, but it only backfired as a journalist immediately raised his voice following Gyujek’s gaze.

‘Why are you glaring at Edu, Guildmaster? Could what Edu said be true?’

‘Guildmaster!!’

In this way, Gyujek was surrounded by the journalists and crews he himself had invited, delighting in the thrill of shattering his carefully crafted plan.

And this—my plan—is to make it seem like I, the innocent girl, had botched things due to a silly directive.

This way, instead of me appearing as having taken any initiative, the attention will be squarely on Gyujek’s mistakes and failures.

‘He looks so ridiculous, our villain.’

Furthermore, by exposing their scheme so publicly, neither Gyujek or the power players of Fangju or even the academy will be able to easily scheme for a while due solely to this spectacle.

A win-win situation where both the pheasant and the sister-in-law benefit. With that, my work here is done, so it’s time to quietly leave.

‘Then… Lianna-san, could you help me up again—’

Upon turning to say this to Lianna, her appearance seemed slightly off. Her cheeks were slightly flushed, and her breathing seemed coarser, why was she like this?

‘Um, Lianna-nee… did I…’

‘? Lianna?’

‘Huh? Oh, Edu? Did you call me?’

Lianna finally snapped back to reality upon being called again.

‘Yes, could you please help me up…’

‘Of course! Come on, Edu.’

‘Thank you.’

With that, Lianna carried me back off the stage, where Kai, waiting for us, raised his fist and gave us a thumbs-up.

“Good job, Edu.”

“Kai?”

“Heh heh heh, it never crossed my mind that a newbie could deliver such a punch to the Guildmaster. The more I see, the more you appear to be an irresistible talent.”

Even through his mask, the smile on Kai’s face was unmistakably clear.

“…He’s not mad?”

“Me? At you?”

Kai echoed incredulously.

“There’s no way. In fact, I almost feel gratitude towards you, Edu.”

Saying this, Kai’s expression turned serious as he gazed at the elaborately decorated stage, alongside the sounds of journalists’ questions coming from the other side of the stage.

“…That guy has strayed from the right path. Don’t you agree that it might be better for him to get his head straightened out at a time like this?”

Though I had only known Gyujek as a villain from the AOE, his words made me somewhat sympathetic, but regardless, the easier things are on me, the better.

“Well, I’m glad you see it positively.”

“Heh heh heh, you look meek on the outside, but you’re really an inscrutable kid, what with your work with Lianna and everything. I’ve never seen someone like you.”

“Is that a compliment?”

“It is indeed.”

With that, Kai extended his hand and ruffled my hair.

“Here, it’s bound to be chaotic for a while, so go ahead Lianna, I’ll keep an eye on things a bit longer.”

“Yeah, see you later, Kai.”

“Yeah.”

As we left the Explorer’s Guild behind, the next day, I was checking online, the broadcast, and radio using an ID while resting in Lianna’s home.

– Shock! Explorer’s Guild attempting to seize rights from the Academy…

– Small girl’s confession reveals conflicts between the Academy and the Explorer’s Guild?(Excerpt)

– Is the rumor true? The Explorer’s Guild…

Countless articles about yesterday’s event filled the internet, broadcasts, and radios. Most of them, as expected, focused more on what I said rather than me.

Perhaps Gyujek is trying every possible way to contain the situation from escalating, but Fangju’s society is so closed-off, with so few topics to discuss, that once something hits the news, that’s that.

With a smirk, imagining Gyujek sweating it out, I toasted with a milkshake. Just as I was enjoying my break, the door burst open.

“Edu!”

“Lianna-san? What’s the matter?”

“We received a message from the Academy! Here.”

As she said that, Lianna handed me an envelope I thought I’d never see here. It was a high-class affair with noble decorations and a luxurious golden border.

Taking the letter from Lianna, I tore open the seal, and the scent of ink and something else wafted out.

Ah, this fragrance…

“Edu? What’s the matter?”

“Good news.”

“Good news?”

“Yes, a letter from the president of the Academy.”

—-

To Miss Edu Day of Birth,

First, I apologize for the unexpected communication. However, because I wish to discuss this matter and future plans with you personally, I am writing this letter. Please, if you could, take some time to visit the Academy.

Academy President – Ryuje Erhartchen

—-

Precisely the person I intended to meet: Ryuje Erhartchen, Academy President and the lone surviving hero.

Opening her letter, I couldn’t contain my excitement and anticipation for what was to come.

“Lianna-san, I’m sorry, but would it be possible to go to the Academy immediately?”