The Guild Master Whose Hobby Was Helping People Found Himself Surrounded by the Strongest, Overly Attached Members - 7-8

Chapter 7:The Cheerful Swordswoman’s Overbearing Love 3

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“Simply put, it’s the same reason Lisette treats me kindly.”

From here on, this was the story I had heard from Sera, but our meeting had been several years ago. She was still a fledgling adventurer back then, when she got separated from her party inside a dungeon. While wandering alone, she was surrounded by a horde of monsters.

She was met with enemies that were meant to be taken down one by one with several people. Handling multiple of them alone was impossible. Sera could only imagine what they were about to do to her, and she became unable to even move.

But at that moment, a man appeared. He pressed his sword into the hands of the girl whose spirit was about to break, teaching her how to swing it, and then began to fight the monsters with nothing but his fists.

After he wiped out all the monsters around them, he pointed her toward a safe way back. Without giving his name, he disappeared…

Well, as bad luck would have it, that man was me. That dungeon was the kind of place rookies went to when they wanted to push themselves a little. I just happened to be there to collect some ores.

On the way to my destination, I heard a scream from a side path. When I went to check, there was Sera. She was surrounded by monsters ready to torment her. Of course I had to help her.

For a B-rank adventurer like me, they weren’t much of a challenge. But that was exactly where human ingenuity came in. Adventurers gained experience, acquired stronger weapons and magic, and could crush low-rank monsters like twisting a baby’s arm. But without body reinforcement, there were limits to what raw physical ability could go.

In other words, when fighting bare-handed, even lower-ranked monsters could feel like a life-or-death struggle. At that time, I handed Sera my sword and pompously declared.

“This sword will support your heart that’s about to break.”

It was completely just spur-of-the-moment. In reality, I only said it so I could free both my hands and indulge my little fetish for bare-knuckle brawls.

But in the eyes of the girl, I must have looked like a true hero. Clenching my fists, I charged straight into the swarm of monsters.

Ahh, just remembering it sent shivers down my spine. That sensation was truly sublime. Fangs snapping, claws swinging down, the sound of flesh tearing and bones creaking. Even as my consciousness flickered, I stepped in, struck back, and dragged myself up at the edge of collapse.

And in the end—I won. I was bloodied, with at least one bone broken, but I seized victory.

Afterward, I pointed the dazed, relieved Sera toward the way back, and then returned to my ore collecting duty without introducing myself and without giving my name.

So there was no reason Sera should have known who I was. And yet…For some reason, years later when she showed up at the guild interview, the first words out of her mouth were:

“At last, we meet again—Master.”

“Honestly, the only thing I can’t figure out is… How she saw through me.”

Even when I asked her, all she’d say was, “Maybe fate was on my side?”

“I agree. Compared to how many years I pursued you, her instincts were awfully sharp.”

Lisette was terrifying in her own way too.

“…But if it comes to the depth of love, I won’t lose.”

Indeed. Lisette was terrifying in her own way too.

Of course, I was still a man. Both Lisette and Sera were stunningly beautiful, and it wasn’t as if I wasn’t glad to receive their affection. However, even with my meager romantic experience in my past life, I knew what would happen if I carelessly made a move on either of them.

In the worst case, not only would I lose my so-called “management allowance” (a.k.a. my passive income as guild master), but maybe even my life. Which was why I wanted to keep some distance while managing them carefully so I wouldn’t get beaten to death…

“—Mmph!”

“Ahh… Shin-sama. I’ll protect you with my entire life.”

Lisette, always looking for an opening to throw her arms around me, and Sera, who could easily push things into bad-end territory… I had the sinking feeling I was already in a situation far beyond my control.

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Chapter 8: The Giant’s Loyalty Is Too Overwhelming

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After prying Lisette off and getting her to calm down, the door suddenly burst open from the inside. The curtains swayed as if a strong wind had blown in, and the cup on the desk rattled with a clatter.

What entered was a hulking figure, like a walking mountain of stone. His shoulders barely fit through the doorway. His hair nearly brushed the ceiling as the man strode forward with muscles like armor rippling beneath his clothes. Each of his steps pounding the floor like an earthquake.

“Pardon my intrusion! Ragnar Blastheart, reporting once again! I have come to behold Leader Shin’s noble countenance today as well!”

His voice alone made the window panes quiver.

“O-oh… You’re too loud, Ragnar. My ears are about to burst.”

“My apologies! I was simply overcome with emotion at Leader Shin’s gallant presence!!”

Ragnar dropped to one knee with a clang, pressing his right fist to his chest. It was far too rough to be called a knight’s salute, yet he was utterly serious. This wasn’t mere loyalty anymore. What he had was closer to faith.

“One day the world shall bow before the leader’s true greatness! And I will be the very foundation of that glory! This body, these muscles, this soul—I will spare none of them for that goal!”

Somehow, his switch had been flipped, and he had begun delivering a speech all on his own.

“Well done, Ragnar. Have you finished today’s cleaning?”

The calm voice that cut in belonged to Lisette, who had by now completely regained her composure.

“Of course, Head Maid! I, Ragnar, have burned away every last speck of dust without leaving a trace!”

“Thank you. That is exactly what befits Shin-sama’s retainer.”

“Yes!”

The two exchanged words like it was the most natural thing in the world, but when had Lisette become a head maid, and Ragnar my retainer? And Lisette, stop dumping chores on Ragnar.

“Uh… Ragnar, thanks for cleaning.”

When I offered thanks, his intimidating face—the kind that could easily be mistaken for a bandit’s—softened with joy.

“To receive such praise from the leader…! This is the true meaning of bliss… No, it’s a bliss beyond bliss!!”

At the very least, I could tell he was overjoyed.

“There’s nothing left to do today, so just relax and pass the time however you like.”

Quietly, if possible…

I prayed inwardly. But instead he drew himself up, chest swelling with pride.

“That will not do! For the leader, I will overcome any hardship! I shall swim through molten volcanoes, cross frozen seas unclothed, and slay the dragons of heaven with my bare hands!!”

Please stop, you’re disturbing the neighborhood.

Lisette kept a serene expression, but his voice was loud enough that I wanted to cover my ears.

Ragnar, you are the hardship in my life right now.

I glanced at Lisette. I poured all of my feelings into my gaze.

Please do something about this.

She nodded quietly, stepped forward, and smiled softly.

“If you have nothing else to do, then—”

To Ragnar, Lisette seemed to rank higher than himself, so surely he would listen to her.

Just tell him to go home for today.

“—why not recount once more how you first met Shin-sama?”

Why would you say that?!

“OHHHHH!! Yes, let us do that!!”

My cry was drowned out by the roar of muscle-bound jubilation. Behind Ragnar, the healing golem let out a soft “nyaa.”

“Yes, that was the most moving event of my entire life—”

Hey, he’s already starting the flashback! And calling it “the most” is going way too far. At least think it through as carefully as when you count money. I’m sure you’ve had more moving experiences.

But my plea was in vain. Ragnar began—once again—the tale he had already recounted countless times since joining the guild a month ago.

“Once… I served as a knight commander in a distant kingdom, far from this city of Felnas.”

Despite his already massive frame, Ragnar said he once wore armor of black iron over it and charged into battle with a spear in hand. Just imagining the sight of him in black armor was enough to make the ground itself shake.

“I took pride in dedicating my life to serving the kingdom, to protecting its people. I did not hesitate to shed blood… I believed that was the true path of a knight.”

But there, Ragnar’s words faltered. The next part weighed heavy on him, as if he struggled to force it past his throat.

“…However, a kingdom cannot run on ideals alone. Amid the political strife over who would succeed as the next knight commander, I was falsely accused. They fabricated charges, claiming I had colluded with an enemy nation. Betrayed by those I thought were comrades, I lost everything and was sold into slavery in a neighboring land.”

The start of his story was as heart wrenching as ever, no matter how many times I had heard it.

“As a slave, I was shackled with iron cuffs that sealed away my magic and sent to the underground arena. There, unless one fought for their life, they would not live to see the next day.”

At that point, Ragnar clenched his fist tight. Then, faintly, he smiled.

“But those men only wanted entertainment. They wanted to see bloodshed. Yet by then, I no longer cared about living. Having been betrayed by the kingdom I had served, betrayed by everything, I believed life had no meaning. And so, I entered that day prepared to die.”

And then Lisette smoothly added.

“—But that was when you had your fateful encounter, right?”

What do you mean by ‘right?’….

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