The entire economy of Lafdonia revolves around mana stones that explorers risk their lives to extract from the Labyrinth.
In this city built on a distorted structure, the importance of explorers needs no explanation. Naturally, the influence and scale of the “Guild,” which oversees and manages these explorers, rivals any organization.
Tens of thousands of guild mbers.
Hundreds of branch managers.
Regional overseers who supervise those branch managers.
And above them all stands a single “Guildmaster.”
That title alone was enough to make most nobles step aside respectfully, and in fact, for soone like , the Guildmaster was harder to et than even the high-ranking nobility.
‘And yet soone like that ca here, unannounced...’
Too big a figure to just turn away.
My curiosity piqued, I told the warrior who brought the ssage to lead him here.
After all, I’d been wanting to have a proper conversation with him for a while now.
There was also a subtle history between and the Guildmaster.
[Who was behind it?]
[Ilia Adnus...]
It was during the Ice Rock expedition.
One of our mbers, Pike Neldine, had tampered with our food and supplies under the Guildmaster’s orders to sabotage the expedition.
At the ti, I thought he just wanted to stop us from succeeding so the Marquis wouldn’t gain credit through our results.
But...
‘The whole expedition was a disposable pawn.’
After learning the Marquis planned to abandon us from the start, I had no choice but to reassess my opinion of the Guildmaster.
Maybe his goal hadn’t been to sabotage us, but to save us.
Of course, it’s just speculation. I never confird the truth.
Still, if I’m lucky, maybe today I will.
"Ainard, go play outside."
"Got it!"
Once she was out, I waited a little longer, and the guest I’d been expecting finally arrived.
"It’s been a while, Baron Yandel. I ca without notice, but thank you for making ti to see ."
"I happened to be free anyway. Don’t worry about it."
"Much appreciated."
Truthfully, this wasn’t our first eting.
A person of his position is often summoned to royal events.
We exchanged a brief greeting during the victory banquet after the Ice Rock expedition.
"So what’s this about? Why show up out of the blue?"
As soon as he sat down, I asked bluntly.
He looked a little startled.
Guess going straight to business without even offering tea threw him off.
"Just be direct. Or I’m going to get hungry."
He let out a faint laugh, seeming to realize who he was dealing with, and adjusted accordingly.
"I regret not being able to help more during the Ice Rock expedition."
A remark that hinted he knew exactly what the Marquis had been planning. At the sa ti, it subtly probed how much I knew.
Not the no-nonsense, man-to-man conversation I was hoping for—but with people like him, this still counted as unusually straightforward.
I replied in kind, playing along just enough.
"No, you did plenty. Considering the Marquis’s power at the ti, I think you endured more than enough."
It was my way of saying I knew about Pike Neldine and the broader circumstances.
The Guildmaster gave a bitter nod.
"Thank you for saying that."
Jeez, how many tis is this guy going to say thank you?
"Enough apologies. What do you want today?"
I waved a hand like I was brushing off a chill, and finally, he started getting to the point.
Well, with a bit of preamble.
"I heard you’ll be promoted to Viscount for your achievents in dealing with the traitor..."
"And?"
"I’ll speak frankly. The Labyrinth will reopen next month."
"Hmm. I see."
"...Did you already know?"
"I’d heard it would open soon, but I didn’t know the exact timing."
"Well, soone of your position would at least get a heads-up."
"You’re saying you didn’t?"
To my question, the Guildmaster replied humbly.
"Being Guildmaster doesn’t co with excessive power or treatnt. I just tend to receive Labyrinth-related information ahead of others, that’s all."
"The way you’re talking, sounds like you know more than just the opening date."
"For now, the Labyrinth will no longer open on the first."
"Not the first?"
Even I couldn’t help reacting to that one.
Until now, the Labyrinth always opened at midnight on the first and closed at noon the next day, spitting out any remaining explorers.
Sure, the royal family could open and close portals whenever they wanted—but still, one thing puzzled .
"Why change it?"
"Because of Noark. The royal family plans to open the Labyrinth without warning and send in only a small number of carefully vetted explorers whose identities and skills are verified—so Noark can’t prepare and enter."
"Hooh?"
"To keep it top secret, the portal will be opened not at the usual dinsional plazas, but only in the royal capital, Karnohn."
"I hadn’t heard that at all."
"Our Guild had to be inford early to prepare the selected explorers. But even if you hadn’t heard it yet, Baron, you would’ve found out soon. Even the nobles aren’t foolish enough to leave you out of the plan."
Fools, huh...
That one word revealed that the Guildmaster didn’t think too highly of nobles.
Though in my case—as a Barbarian—he probably saw differently from the others.
Not that his opinion really mattered.
"What’s your real point? You didn’t co all the way here just to share the news."
I pressed him again to get to the point, and finally, the real reason spilled from his lips.
"I believe the Anabada Clan currently has eleven mbers, which leaves one open spot if split into two teams."
"So?"
"I’d like to take that spot."
...What the hell’s gotten into people lately?
***
Ilia Adnus.
The man is actually quite famous, even among ordinary citizens.
He was once a top explorer during the so-called “Golden Generation” before the collapse in the previous cycle. But his real fa began after his retirent.
I’d looked into him too.
He joined the Guild at 37 as an “adviser.”
At 38, he beca a branch manager, rolling out successful reforms and gaining popularity among explorers.
By 41, he rose to regional overseer.
At 47, he finally defeated the previous Guildmaster in a board vote and took the top position—and has held it ever since.
‘Guildmaster in ten years...’
Looking at his resu, no one could deny his talent.
But so what?
"Why should I give you that slot?"
"...You may not know, but I was also an explorer for many years. I would never slow you down—"
"I know. Ilia Adnus. You were a third-rank explorer before retiring. Known as the Black Hunter. Started as a guide, then switched to combat mid-career."
Ilia Adnus has value as an explorer too.
Of course, just being skilled doesn’t an I’d let soone I barely know into the Labyrinth.
"...You’ve done your research. Not many know I started as a guide."
"Of course I have. You’re the one and only Guildmaster, after all."
As I stared silently at him, he let out a long breath.
This must’ve felt strange for him.
As Guildmaster, he was probably never in a position to ask for favors. But that title ant nothing to .
Chief of the Barbarians.
Baron of Lafdonia.
Explorer whose na is etched on the Stone of Honor—Bjorn, son of Yandel.
Any one of those titles was enough that I had no reason to defer to a “Guildmaster.”
And now he was the one making a request?
"Don’t hold back. Tell everything. Then I’ll give it real thought."
"..."
"Why are you asking this?"
If he tried to beat around the bush again or place conditions, I was ready to end the conversation right there.
Maybe he sensed that—because after a ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) deep breath, he finally spoke.
"...I need achievents."
"Achievents?"
"The Guild’s influence has shrunk dramatically with the Labyrinth closed for so long. Even though it wasn’t the Guild’s fault, people still want soone to bla."
Bla, huh...
"Isn’t it you they’re blaming—not the Guild?"
"..."
He couldn’t respond when I said it flat out with a smirk.
‘Well, that explains things.’
Ilia Adnus’s second career had finally hit a wall.
The people who’d always been eyeing his seat were trying to use this chance to take him down.
And now he was trying to push back—head-on.
"So in the end, you decided the best place to earn those achievents was my clan."
"That’s right..."
He nodded without resistance, and I couldn’t help but feel a tinge of disappointnt.
He wasn’t quite what I’d imagined.
The man who inserted a spy into our expedition, risking conflict with the Marquis to save us—I thought maybe he had so noble cause behind it all.
‘Maybe it was just politics after all...’
Maybe if I got to know him more, I’d see other sides. But for now, that was all I felt.
Just “the Guildmaster.” Nothing more.
No personal charisma or presence.
So—
"What do I get if I accept your request?"
"I can upgrade the Anabada Clan’s rank using Guildmaster authority. I’ll also provide full support and privileges within the Guild—"
"That’s enough."
I cut him off after hearing just the outline.
I had so hope, but as expected, nothing appealing.
A higher clan rank doesn’t really change much.
And any internal Guild perks are just that—perks. Nothing I can’t manage on my own.
"Let’s leave it here. Sorry, but you’ll have to look elsewhere for those achievents."
That was the cleanest rejection I could offer.
But the Guildmaster still wasn’t ready to give up.
"...What do you want?"
He said it like he was ready to give anything.
That might’ve made sense coming from a king.
But from a Guildmaster clinging to power? It was kind of funny.
"A dragon heart. Give that, and I’ll let you in."
"...What?"
"Don’t have one? Then this conversation’s over—"
Just as I was about to tell him to leave, he cut off.
"...Alright. I’ll give it to you."
"...What?"
...He actually has one?
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