The Guild Master Whose Hobby Was Helping People Found Himself Surrounded by the Strongest, Overly Attached Members - 30

Chapter 30: The Siblings with Overbearing (?) Love

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The plan I had thought was perfect had been shattered into pieces by just two sheets of paper. Still dragging along that indescribable sense of deflation, I returned to the party hall.

“Leader! You’ve returned!”

“Welcome back, Shin-sama.”

Drunken voices called out to me. I looked and saw Ragnar raising his drink with a wide grin, while Lisette tilted what was clearly already her second glass. Apparently, the party had kept progressing steadily even during my absence.

“Master, welcome back!”

Sera leapt at me with energy and latched tightly onto my arm. 

Soft.

“If Master wasn’t here and someone got drunk and passed out, that’d be terrible! So I was keeping watch, you know?”

“Keeping watch? As if there’s anyone dangerous around…”

I cast a glance at Ragnar.

“…Leader!? Why are you looking at me at this moment!?”

As I tried to brush it off with a strained smile, Lisette suddenly closed in, her gaze toward Sera colder than ice.

“…Sera. Please refrain from clinging to Shin-sama so closely.”

“Eh, no way. Master belongs to me.”

I’m not.

“Could you refrain from making ownership claims?”

“I won’t stop.”

“…I see. Then, by force it is.”

Crap, at this rate a real fight is about to break out.

I hurriedly pried Sera’s arms off and, to smooth things over, picked up a free glass.

“Come on, it’s good liquor. Let’s toast. You can toast as many times as you like.”

Forcing the conversation back, everyone readily raised their glasses. Clink—a light sound echoed. For that moment alone, everyone smiled, but…

“Shin-sama, what are your plans for tonight? If you’d like, I can give you a full-body massage―”

“The way you said that sounds a bit too suggestive, so I’ll pass.”

Lisette pressed against me, her hands wandering as she tried to seduce me.

“Leader! I’ll pour your next glass!”

“Ah, uh… I’d really rather stop soon…”

“What are you saying! This time―no, this time again! It was thanks to your achievements that the young were saved, Leader! We must celebrate in grand fashion!”

“It wasn’t my power. Lisette, Sera, Ragnar—you were all there to help me. Honestly, having strong allies is really reassuring. Hahaha.”

“I see! That humility is also part of your charm, Leader! I’ll take it as a lesson!”

Ragnar relentlessly tried to make me drink more. 

Please stop pouring already.

“Hey, Master! Hurry up and sit next to me!”

“I’m coming. But Sera, haven’t you drunk quite a bit? Don’t tell me you’re drunk—”

“Of course not! Come here, Master! And then never ever leave me again!”

She made it look like her usual self, but there was a serious glint deep in Sera’s eyes. Yeah, none of these people were going to be easy to handle. And now, on top of that, two people stronger than me had joined.

It looked like my peaceful life would be put on hold for a while.

….Or so I thought. I had no idea then that things would only get worse.

…So, in other words, this is how it is.

Since morning, I had been turning over in my head the incident from yesterday’s banquet. To be precise, about Leon and Iris’s ranks. Even with my half-drowsy mind, I could put together enough to feel a bad premonition.

『…If only I’d been stronger, I could have defeated that monster—that man. I wouldn’t have put Iris in danger…』

Those were Leon’s words right after waking up.

At the time, I thought they were nothing more than bravado and a sense of responsibility. But perhaps Leon truly believed he was on par with that man. 

The only reason he lost was because the attacking monster happened to have an ability that nullified physical attacks—a cheap “gotcha” trick. Or maybe, like me, he mistook the opponent for a mage and charged in, only to get pummeled.

I mean, normally in situations like that, you’d assume they’re only as strong as an above-average adventurer…

The fact that those siblings had been contributing to the safety of the surrounding area probably wasn’t an exaggeration after all.

Those two don’t need to get any stronger than this…

Cases like this one were rare. If they had reached A-rank without any special training, then their potential for growth was basically guaranteed. Even if they lived peacefully and took it easy, they could survive with ease. Lucky them.

And yet, they were strangely humble, even spouting lines like, “We want to grow stronger under Shin-san.” The kind of template line you’d expect from a mediocre adventurer. So, in the end, I had brought not one but two people stronger than myself into the guild.

“Man, wouldn’t it be nice if I could get some cheat skill to turn back time… Yeah, not gonna happen.”

Of course, nothing so convenient existed. The only skills I had were ones that broadened the range of my… Preferences.

“…Thinking about this isn’t going to help.”

I checked the clock. Everyone would be gathering soon. The atmosphere today felt unusually heated, and while I wasn’t watching, Sera or Ragnar could easily have stirred up more trouble.

Stretching big once, I stood, opened the door of my room, and headed down the stairs―

“―U-uwahhhhhh!?”

From below, a thunderous cheer and the sound of chairs creaking up under strain rose up.

Wait, it’s coming from outside too!?

I rushed back to my room and hurried to the window. Pulling back the curtain deactivated the soundproofing spell, and the clamor of countless voices poured in.

And then, what filled my vision was a mass of adventurers crowding the guild entrance.

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