#029. The Adventurer’s Guild is Too Kind (2)

#029. The Adventurer’s Guild is Too Kind (2)

A highly developed adventurer’s guild becomes indistinguishable from a daycare.

History tells us of Taekwondo studios becoming kindergartens and daycares for survival, then transforming outright into kids’ cafes, only to become nursing homes in the face of a declining birth rate.

The guild’s transformation had a certain corner of appeal that struck a high birth rate of 7.0, following the bizarre keynote that humans should be born and revenge as much as monsters are killed.

“Kyaa!”

At least, Anna, who was banging the guildmaster’s payment stamp on the carpet under the table, was definitely a child left in their care.

It wasn’t unreasonable to be reminded of a daycare, seeing that.

“That Gomora is trouble even in death. A tiger at least leaves behind a skin to sell when it dies, but that guy only left behind a mountain of debt, I swear.”

The Sodom guildmaster was deep in agony, oblivious to Anna playing with the payment stamp.

“That Vice-Guildmaster Gomora, even if he was human garbage, he was exceptionally good at filling the coffers, but now even the requests he got through his connections are resulting in penalty fees.”

The guildmaster, agonizing over a ceaseless lack of operating funds.

Considering this was the result of helping Mom and us, it was only natural to feel pity.

More than anything, the memory I have of him is unsettling.

A man who valued human life, standing against the tyranny of unjust power.

A man in a world of reversed gender roles, who, as a man, even refused the path of advancement for high-ranking officials and accepted the risk that he did not have to accept as the guildmaster of a frontier village.

There is a set destiny for him.

＜Bankruptcy＞ and ＜Bad Ending＞.

* * *

Sodom doesn’t know it, but Ian knows the future.

The future this world was originally meant to face.

It is the ＜canon＞ of the game that will actually happen.

“My friend. A man who could go higher than even me if he put his mind to it, why were you so stubborn? How much better would it have been if you’d just given in earlier?”

“What’s the point of a position gained by grinding down people’s lives? You’re exploiters, no better than vampires. At least they have pride. You don’t even have pride.”

Gomora’s henchmen reached for their weapons, but the man who was actually being insulted waved his hand with a kind smile, stopping his subordinates.

“The ramblings of a loser. Ignore him.”

Gomora’s faction overwhelmed the Sodom faction.

Sodom was ousted from the guildmaster position, and Gomora initiated an operation to gain results by grinding people’s lives, contrary to the guildmaster’s policy of cherishing human life.

The guild federation was very satisfied with his performance and promoted Gomora to head of a higher-level guild.

“It was good that a frontier village in the outskirts had many usages. There’s no one as profitable as those gathered by justice. Hahaha! It’s funny how some guy from the alley thinks he’s something after getting out of the alley, huh?”

People were ground down, the local ecosystem was devastated by unreasonable request fulfillment, and the results of the pig-iron requests filled with blood increased the harsh reputation toward the village.

As Gomora achieved success, people died and the rumor that it was a dangerous village grew, but the adventurers who would endure that danger no longer came.

Gomora’s departure from the guild had swept away every last one of her faction’s employees and adventurers.

A vacant realm.

The village of Sodom became a ruin, bereft of protectors.

The abandoned village chief belatedly called upon Sodom, the former guild master, and attempted to revive the guild, but it was already nearing complete dysfunction.

Not even a single employee could be found to manage the adventurers’ guild reception.

With no adventurers, merchants ceased to arrive, and the impoverished village lost all impetus to lure adventurers, even at its own expense.

As is common with bankrupt frontier villages, even the lives of the residents were sold for next to nothing.

To survive, women willingly threw themselves into danger as meat shields, while men sold their virtue and fell into the hands of exploiters as slaves.

Many aspired to become adventurers, but the unprepared met their ends swifter, easier, and more futile than imagined.

“The results are disappointingly poor. Before the debt could be repaid, excessive loss of life has rendered this guild unfit to operate. The guild building will be seized on the authority of the Union.”

“No, surely you understand our situation! I beg you, just one more chance, please!”

“Perhaps you should have done better during your tenure as Vice Guild Master, Gomora? Prioritizing lives over profit has forced our hand; we’re simply following protocol.”

Opportunity had existed.

An opportunity to join hands with the Vice Guild Master, disregard the lives of adventurers, and rake in money.

Had he willingly exploited the residents and adventurers, amassing wealth and lavishing it upon the Union and the capital’s aristocracy, the guild master, with his background as a high-ranking official, could have been recognized for his high value and become a prominent figure within the Guild Union.

He could even have risen as a beacon of hope for those not of noble birth, to become the leader of a massive faction that divided the Union.

That future was cast aside, however.

Those who might have been his allies became his enemies.

His desire to protect lives.

Even that became a reason for the Sodom Guild to fall twice over.

“Things would have been different if Gomora hadn’t taken all of our skilled employees!”

“A pathetic excuse. If Sodom-nim possessed better character, wouldn’t talented individuals have stayed? If you cannot accept this, then make a new start. Though I doubt you have the capacity for such a thing. Ha ha ha!”

The Sodom Guild was forced to sell its guild building.

And pay hefty penalties.

A bastion of conscience in the frontier.

A final refuge.

The guild, once admired by so many residents and adventurers, was gone.

Leaving only a cramped, dilapidated warehouse.

“This is not the end. The Sodom Guild once started from nothing. The conditions are harsher than before, but that is precisely why we must strive even harder.”

The Sodom Guild Master renovated the cramped, dilapidated warehouse.

This was the new Sodom Guild.

A place where even the help of a young boy was desperately needed, and a setting where a player could become the receptionist and de facto power behind the adventurer’s guild.

━━━

Quest Objective: Gather personnel to remain in the bankrupt guild

Quest Guidance: The guild is ruined, but the people still live on. Gather those who will not leave for superior guilds, but will rebuild the fallen guild with you.

━━━

During a short period working as a staff member, prove your worth to the adventurers and create loyal exclusive adventurers who trust and follow you.

Share opportunities to achieve great accomplishments, and make even adventurers consumed by greed remain with the Sodom Guild.

If you cannot control the adventurers’ loyalty or greed, gather talent even if it means resorting to brainwashing.

Based on such personnel, either retain more office staff or recruit them early to expand the guild’s scale.

The scope of a failing guild’s beginnings hinges on the player’s performance.

This altered scope impacts both the faith placed in Sodom, and the investment from those around them.

In effect, it’s the starting scale of the guild – the true genesis of its chances for extended survival, and the fundamental structure for a ‘new game plus’ played with teeth.

“We failed to seal the dungeon within the deadline. Not just adventurers, but the village folk have died in droves. The Guild Alliance has revoked our guild’s operating license and declared they will punish us ‘according to regulations,’ which means we won’t escape with our lives. Flee. A young man like you mustn’t perish so meaninglessly.”

Sodom dies.

The main quest has failed.

Sodom Guild crumbles.

In Act 1, trying to stop the dungeon.

In Act 2, competing with High Guildmaster Gomorrah.

In Act 3, gathering evidence to unseat Ronove, the elite mage of the hero’s party, the very source of all the dungeons in the region.

If the goal isn’t achieved, Sodom always dies.

The man who offered the player a chance, the staunch protector – almost a godfather – meets his end time and time again.

Tragedy. Determination. Desolation.

Though the expressions may vary, the finality is always the same.

Sodom dies.

Forever, unless the player succeeds in clearing the game.

* * *

Knowing Sodom’s plight, helping him felt like an intrinsic duty, akin to aiding my own mother.

There is fear, of course.

Becoming an employee of the guild.

Completing the tutorial quest.

The causality that leads to my mother’s demise.

But the Sodom Guild’s criminals were rounded up in the last armed uprising.

The enemy that will kill my mother doesn’t exist anymore.

Unless I can’t believe in a fresh start, a new future.

If I succumb to terror and remain idle.

The predetermined history and destined bankruptcy are inevitable.

My mother, perhaps, but not the Sodom Guildmaster.

The Guildmaster who, relying on his gift for twisting hearts and on the player’s knowledge, easily commanded the loyalty of adventurers, instead of a vile player.

The Guildmaster who, despite such trust, repeatedly fails alongside us, goes bankrupt, and shoulders the blame for all of it, bearing the consequences in place of the boy.

This time too, he cannot escape death.

-This is not the sort of thing Theresa’s proud son would do.

It was Gorgo’s stern reprimand from long ago that nudged Ian forward, shaking him free of fear.

Resolution and unwavering will surged back into Ian’s wavering gaze.

“If there’s a way to earn the guild’s penalty fee, would you seriously consider hiring me as a full-time employee?”

One of the ‘privileges’ unlocked when the guild’s stability and size reach a certain level is a periodic income gained every set number of turns.

“How do you propose to make money?”

“By accepting payment from the Adventurers’ Guild to protect and teach children.”

“Protection for children…?”

“The people are anxious. Having crossed swords with the nobles, the village is sure to face mounting pressure. To escape it, they’ll either work themselves to the bone or pinch every penny to save up and leave.”

“Even they, as parents, would inevitably crave a better life for their child. I’m disappointed they didn’t appreciate my efforts, but if that is the will of the people, I must accept it.”

“The desire for safety is, in the end, just another form of ambition. To earn more, they need someone to watch their children. And for a child to have a brighter future… if an opportunity arises to learn a skill under the protection of the Guild’s adventurers, wouldn’t they seize it?”

Faced with the imminent peril of the entire village becoming a ‘back alley’ settlement, the people cannot afford to let this chance slip through their fingers.

The desire to carve out a better future for one’s child.

The fear of vengeance from the nobles, driving them to flee.

All these emotions loosen their purse strings.

The very villagers who survived exploitation thanks to the Guild’s aid, now contemplate abandoning the Guild and the village, instead of offering their donations.

But by skillfully playing on their anxieties and aspirations, a method surely exists to transform this shortfall in donations into direct profit per capita.

“Therefore, I implore you to establish a children’s shelter as an auxiliary facility of the Guild.”

Of course, the current Sodom and the Sodom Guild were not ruined like the Sodom and Sodom Guild of the scriptures.

The likelihood of fulfilling the request of a mere child is slim.

So, I must spare no effort.

Yes, this is brainwashing.

I am a wicked brainwasher.

A deceiver who twists and manipulates people’s hearts.

Using this wicked power, I shall…

[Brainwashing Activated]

[Designated Target – Guild Master]

[Command – Believe in and support the sincerity of the mother and myself, who are dedicated to this village.]

I forced my belief upon the Guild Master.

The Godfather.

Unlike my biological father, who was only a figurehead, Godfather Sodom was the one who repeatedly played a truly paternal role in the game.

I twisted his will and imposed my conviction.

The results are achieved.

“Effective immediately, a children’s protection facility will be established as an auxiliary facility of the Guild, and a childcare service will be launched as a pilot project.”

But in return, I forfeited the opportunity to build genuine trust with my Godfather.

Because whatever relationship I forge will forever be tainted by the suspicion that it’s a product of brainwashing.

A fitting price for the brainwashing, for a cruel manipulator who distorts and controls the hearts of others.