The Guild Master Whose Hobby Was Helping People Found Himself Surrounded by the Strongest, Overly Attached Members - 9

Chapter 9: The Giant’s Loyalty Is Too Overwhelming 2

ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー

“…Yes. The gate of the arena rose, and there was a ferocious magical beast. Not only did it bite, but it also fired spear-like objects from its mouth that easily pierced armor. For us, who had nothing but our flesh armor, that beast was like a death sentence.”

Seriously, what the hell was that monster? Its structure looked like some kind of new parasitic organism.

“Seeing that, not only I, who had already wished for death, but the other slaves as well fell into despair. …However, there was only one, just one slave who dared to stand against the beast.”

Ragnar’s eyes sparkled as he clenched his fist tightly and looked at me.

“That was none other than—Leader Shin!”

At his words, Lisette flicked her fingers, releasing a little firework-like magical effect.

Don’t add your own stage effects.

“The Leader evaded the beast’s attacks, saved the slaves who were fleeing in panic, and with his bloodstained face said, ‘Are you not going to fight? Or you can’t show your pride unless you take up a weapon?’…”

From behind me came the sound of someone sniffling. When I turned around, a single tear was flowing from the eyes of Lisette, the iron-faced maid.

Well, I had to admit, Ragnar was good at storytelling. He must have used that same skill to inspire his subordinates when he was a knight.

But… But still. In reality, this wasn’t some beautiful tale from the fairytale. One day… I had simply stumbled upon an item called a “Teleportation Crystal” while exploring a dungeon. It was an item that, when touched, transported the owner to a pre-registered location. Basically, a fast travel system.

Since it required the owner to set the destination, there should have been a previous owner, but for some reason no one was around. Wondering what to do with it, I gave it a light tap and that small action was what sealed my fate. 

For some reason, the teleportation activated, stripping me of all my gear, including my underwear. And the place I was teleported to was a completely unknown land. I pressed forward, using only my bare body, determined to somehow make my way back to Felnas.

But before long, I crossed into the territory of some country and was captured almost immediately. I wanted to resist, but standing there stark naked, I had zero credibility. I had no magic, no weapons, and was thrown straight into an arena.

A circular stone arena. The slaves huddled in fear against the walls, and from beyond the opened gate, an abnormal monster appeared. Its limbs were slick with slime, its tentacles writhed, and from its mouth shot spears made of bone.

This wasn’t the level of a “fight to the death” type of a match. We were just going to get slaughtered. But I had no intention of ending my life there. I needed to somehow defeat the monster and then escape.

My mind was working at full speed. How could I survive without weapons or magic? There was only one enemy. On our side, a dozen or so people. They were terrified slaves, yes, but—couldn’t we win by sheer numbers?

Facing it head-on meant instant death. But if ten people struck at once? One could hold down its tentacles, another could grab its legs, another could kick its heels from behind…

Looking around, I could see a few burly guys in the mix. But the problem was, who would take the first step? The slaves were frozen with fear, completely silent. Unless someone shouted and moved, they would all be slaughtered where they stood.

So I had no choice but to stir them up. That was when I shouted, “Are you not going to fight? Or you can’t show your pride unless you take up a weapon?”—a famous line from a movie I’d seen in my previous life.

And somehow, those who had been crushed by despair gritted their teeth, grabbed scraps of wood and stones as makeshift weapons, and began to gather around me. After that, everyone ganged up on the monster. I slipped into the mob, delivering a flying kick from behind, and managed to survive without dying.

“…We became one life under Leader Shin, and by his strike, the beast was defeated.”

No, the final blow was Ragnar’s. In fact, the monster got blasted about ten meters away thanks to his strike.

“People were left speechless at such an unbelievable outcome, and we seized the chance to escape. And the Leader chose a different path to distract the pursuers—thanks to him, we gained our freedom.”

In reality, the country I got stranded at was far enough from Felnal and since I didn’t want to risk having my identity exposed, I decided to take a separate path since I assumed there was little chance of them catching up to me.

“I was… I was deeply moved. By the sight of Leader Shin, who inspired people with nothing but his words and his body. …I realized then that what I had needed all along was not to break, but to fight.”

I wanted to deny it, but Ragnar’s side of the story was so heavy, I couldn’t say anything.

“And at the same time, a single wish was born in me. I wanted to look up to him. I wanted him to stand above others. I wanted him to rule… Everything in this world.”

How did you even arrive at that conclusion? Don’t you think you jumped a bit too far from common sense? The only thing I wanted to “rule” was a guild with zero members.

“After that, I went on a journey to search for the Leader. But incompetent as I was, I couldn’t find him… Until one day, I heard a rumor: ‘The solitary adventurer Lisette, famed for her name, has joined an unknown upstart guild.’”

Wait, what’s that rumor? I’ve never heard of that rumor before.

“And so I visited White Lamp and the moment I heard the Leader’s voice, I knew. This was the one—the one who had shown me the light in that arena.”

Lisette clapped her hands politely. For now, I’d better track down whoever spread the rumor about her joining the guild and beat them up.

“Incidentally, I was the one who spread that rumor. I wanted a handyman.”

Forget it. If I touched her, I’d be in the hospital in the blink of an eye.

“…Now then! Is it not the Head Maid’s turn!? I just realized we haven’t yet heard her tale! Please, do share with us how you met Leader Shin!”

“…Very well. As a special exception, I shall tell you.”

Please, just stop. I already heard it earlier.

“When I was still the daughter of a noble family by the name of Lisette Cadina—”

“You were a noble!?”

As her recollection began flowing smoothly, I let it pass in one ear and out the other, pondering instead. Unfortunately, it was too late to cancel the membership of these three. An SS-rank maid, an S-rank swordswoman, and a former knight commander likely on par with the top adventurers.

Opposing any of them would mean the end of my reincarnated life. Which meant, the only thing I could do from now on was to avoid standing out, not accept any new applicants, and make sure I wasn’t found by anyone else.

“…But at that time—I felt, for the first time, that I was treated not as a tool for someone, but as a person.”

“What… What generosity… s-sniff…”

Alright, then there was only one thing left to do: do absolutely nothing. Taking on guild-wide requests was out of the question. I would just live quietly, looking forward to adding one new Healing Golem each month. 

Yes, that was how I planned to live…

But one week later, because of a request that was brought to me and the actions I took, my quiet life as a guild master came to an end.

ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー