Chapter 17: Guild Master
The Guild housed quite a few people, but some way or another, they had a room for the three to sleep in. The party was relieved that their trip wasn’t in vain.
“By the way, what are you going to do from now on?”
“…It would be bad to just slip by the checkpoint, right?”
“Do you?”
“How did you get it?”
“Talk my way through and if that doesn’t work… through force.”
Arnold feared that he would cross the border by beating the clerks with his ≪Word Magic≫, because his power was more than able to.
Saying so, he showed him a piece of paper slightly bigger than a train ticket. Written on it were the issued and expiration date.
“No, even if you apply for one here, it takes quite some time until it’s approved, you know?”
“Seriously. Usually you get it from the Guild in the capital of the country. And even then, it takes around one week. In your case, you apply for it here, then the Guild in the capital verifies it and you only get your ≪Visa≫ once they approve.”
“Oho, so the Guild Master in the capital is quite the big shot?”
“I had no interest.”
“Three, I think?”
“Mm.”
That was Hiiro’s only reaction, since he had no interest in other people.
“I understand that this monster is lost in his status and prestige.”
“Dun care.”
“Mh? Oh, it’s been a while, Vale!”
The man that greeted Vale, the caption of the second division of the ≪Victorias≫ army, with a generous smile was Judom Lankars.
His gentle expression gave off an aura that put even children at ease. But his abnormal figure became obvious when standing.
His whole body was so muscular that you would think his clothes would rip on the slightest movement.
He clapped Vale on his back while laughing openhearted. But even though it should’ve been a light pat, it felt like a strike that gradually cut down his HP to Vale.
Vale showed a happy smile while rubbing his back.
“I came here to ask a favour of you, the Guild Master.”
“Oho, something troublesome again? Forget it, I’m retired. Leave the frontlines to the youngsters.”
“Fuhaha! You’re giving me too much credit! Besides, I heard that the Heroes were summoned. …It’s their era now, right?”
“No, no, a strong person is always in demand. Especially someone as strong as you.”
“And I tell you, my era is over. As I am right now, I am only a close match for a SS rank. I can’t move around like in my SSS rank days anymore.”
“You are being too modest. …Just now you said to leave the front lines to the youngsters.”
“I would like to ask you to train these youngsters for battle.”
“Yes.”
“The same look as back then, when you asked to become my disciple.”
“Did I really say that?”
“And now people, who can fight on your level, have appeared.”
Wiping off his smile, he answered Vale.
“For the future of ‘Humas’, huh…”
“Hey, Vale.”
“Do you know why I became the Guild Master?”
“Because the Guild Master can give commands with the same authority as the King in emergencies.”
“When I was an adventurer, I always wondered why this country, no, this continent keeps waging war.”
“Every day I prayed that someone would bring peace to the world. Salvation by faith, so to speak. But the dispute between races escalated and spread to this country too. Of course I took up arms, because there were things I wanted to protect. But what do you think the then Guild Master did at that time?”
As he knew the answer, Vale looked shameful.
“Judom-sama…”
Vale kept silent on his words. The King had been responsible for appointing that Guild Master. Judom was angry at himself too for not being able to see his true character.
“…”
Judom clenched his fist frustrated. Vale widened his eyes from seeing this. Even now, the King’s orders were absolute. But the Guild Master had the right to decide about all emergencies regarding adventurers.
“The King then committed another mistake.”
Vale was shocked about the sudden criticism of the King. Going any further would be defamation.
Then he threw a glance at Vale, telling him to answer.
“The Hero Summoning… Sure, our country is in danger. But I advised the King that there other things to do before summoning Heroes.”
Vale didn’t know that, so he frowned at him.
“Peace… treaty? What are you talking about?”
Judom shook his head wearily.
“A few years ago, there should have been a peace treaty from the ‘Evila’.”
“The top brass must have swept it under the carpet.”
“B- But still! Even if such a letter came from the ‘Evila’, we cannot trust it!”
“…”
“That’s…”
“I know how you feel. I also know how they betrayed us on previous meetings initiated through letters. But there should be other methods before sacrificing your own daughters, no?”
“One does not simply grieve over your daughters’ deaths!”
Judom sighed while shaking his head.
“Th- That certainly is true, but it’s likewise a fact that the ‘Evila’ king tries to destroy us ‘Humas’.”
“Yes!”
“…Eh?”
“Calling them strangers… For our sake, the Heroes are—”
“…”
That was exactly what Hiiro did, but Vale was shocked from Judom’s words and froze up.
“They just haven’t faced a life-or-death situation. Not many recover after tasting despair.”
“They’ve a home too, right? As the one who called them here, the King has to make sure they are returned alive… hasn’t he?”
“From what I heard, another guy was summoned, but he left as he had no reason to comply?”
“I can trust that guy more than the Heroes.”
“That you don’t understand it shows how inexperienced you still are, Vale.”
Then Judom showed a gentle expression again, placing his pipe on the desk.
“B- But!”
“I could never…”
After that Judom didn’t say another word and Vale left the room astonished.