Protagonist Knows Everything - Chapter 22

Von, unable to hide his frightened expression, turned to Sain, “Did you tell him?”

Sain was even more surprised than Von.

She replied with her trembling lips, “No. No way…”

“It can’t be.Then how did the words “bet” come from his mouth?”

“……”

“You. How much do you know?”

‘That’s it. Of course I don’t have to give an honest answer.’

“Enough to keep your mouth shut.”

“……”

“So let’s not waste any more energy on each other and go back to our seats. The association staff is coming in.”

To be precise, the employee was in confusion. The employee was there to explain this S-class quest. However, the atmosphere among the audience was so severe that he couldn’t open his mouth.

Von stared at me for a while, then slowly returned to his seat and sat down. Dirk followed suit after wiping off his cold sweat.

I looked back and said, “We sit too.”

“Mr. Tay.”

“Yeah?”

“How… No, no. First, let’s listen to the briefing session.”

And that’s how the briefing session began. To tell you the truth, I did not listen to the presentation at all. Instead, I was eager to call the register and check the information of the countless people who came in here.

‘Well. That person is the Owin Guild, and that man is the Neris Guild… And it would be nice to have a light greeting with that person and that person today. Huh? That is an A plus adventurer.’

‘Good. Good.’

The briefing session was short, but the exchange meeting after that was quite long. I met each and every one of the people I thought to be influential based on the information in the personnel records.

‘But isn’t Sain supposed to do this in the first place?’

‘As the guild master, she should introduce me and Kasha, show off our guild, and shake hands.’

However, Sain was only silently bowing her head from beginning to end.

‘This.’

My boss seemed to be in bad shape today. I thought it was because of exhaustion but I decided not to ask.

As soon as the briefing session ended, Von and Dirk quickly left. Thanks to this, I was able to greet everyone under very pleasant conditions.

A guild leader who wasn’t very important, whose name I didn’t remember took my hand and shook it.

“My young friend is very daring.”

“Yeah?”

“But be careful. Do you have any idea how the Wyvern Guild emerged as the best guild in the northeast?”

He whispered to me as if he was trying to tell me some secrets, “It’s because they aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty.”

‘Why are you saying that like it’s a big secret.’

“There are quite a few guilds which were destroyed by him. They are still resentful of him.”

“……”

“I was one of them but now it’s cool. Well, this won’t sound reassuring but it’s something you should know. I hope we get along.”

I replied with a smile, “I hope to get along as well and thank you for the warning.”

‘Mr. Forgotten Guild Master’

Inside the carriage back to the Hagnut Guild. Sain didn’t say a single word. The silence was uncomfortable. After looking at Sain even Kasha went silent. In the end, I was the one who broke the silence.

“Today was truly eventful…”

“Mr. Tay.”

“Yeah.”

“I think Mr. Tay is a really capable person.”

I lightly scratched my head.

“Thank you.”

“But I didn’t think he was this resourceful.”

“……”

“How did you know? About the bet between me and Von Lebeck.”

I can’t say that I saw it on a floating screen that registers information, so let’s make a reasonable excuse. It was an excuse I had prepared for since I already expected a situation like this.

‘Sorry. Dirk. But I will borrow your name’.

“I heard it from Dirk. The Wyvern Guilds Deputy Guild Master”

“Him? Von told Dirk about the bet?”

“As you know, Dirk is Von’s right-hand man.”

“Oh… is that so…”

Sain was noticeably relieved. She was somewhat convinced of my excuse.

‘Good.’

When the subordinate’s competence exceeds a certain level, the boss begins to feel uneasy. I have to walk a long way with this lady. So, you shouldn’t be wary of me. Yet.

“Sorry. I was speculating for nothing… No, wait. So how did Mr. Tay get Dirk to speak?”

“Well. I made a small bet with him.”

“Bet?”

I thought Kasha would catch up to the conversation.

“…”

‘What are you doing?’

Surprisingly enough Kasha caught up and spoke, “Are you talking about that thing with Kate?”

I was genuinely surprised that she caught up. I was thinking that I’d have to explain everything by myself after all.

“Did you know?”

“I didn’t know then, but I thought about it and realized it. It seemed like that for some reason.”

“Kasha.”

“I see. Dirk must have had some benefit from dividing us. In fact, Tay was there as well.”

‘But why didn’t you say anything sooner?’

As if she sensed my inner curiosity, Kasha laughed bashfully and said, “And in the end I ended up here.”

“Huh?”

“Probably, if I kept partying with Kate, my wounds and insecurities would’ve grown bigger. I think it’s better now.”

‘As I’ve been thinking these days, Kasha has a strange tendency to interpret that whatever I am doing is good.’

“Don’t believe in people just like that, or else you’ll get in trouble”

…Well the situation was sorted out. I even explained everything to Sain while I was scratching my head.

“As Kasha said.”

“……”

“I won and he agreed to tell me why the Wyvern Guild was keeping tabs on the Hagnut Guild.”

Sain nodded her head, “Understood. But he sure did have a loose mouth. I didn’t think he’d reveal those secrets just like that.”

“I do not know the specifics of the bet.”

“……”

“I heard only the name Nortel Rhime and that there is a bet between the two guild masters. He told me to find out more on my own.”

Sain was perfectly convinced. The guard she had up against me was now down.

And then Sain spoke in a much more relaxed tone, “Even after hearing the story there… Why didn’t Mr. Tay ask me anything?”

“Well, I just didn’t want to.”

“Why? You must have thought it was strange. The reason why a small guild such as ours was severely checked by one of the best guilds in the northeast region.”

“Are you talking about that again? Sain, didn’t I say that we’d trample over the hierarchy and take over that position from the Wyverns?”

Sain burst into laughter.

‘At least she was relaxed now.’

“If someone else told me that then I would’ve thought that it was impossible.”

“……”

“But Mr. Tay I know it might sound selfish but…”

“What…?”

“Thank heavens that you came to us.”

At that time, I heard the voice.

[Received 300 HR evaluation points from Sain.]

[Acquired 100 HR evaluation points from Kasha.]

‘Eh? Really?’

‘Did I say something great enough to get points now?’

‘I checked my status window.’

[Level: 2nd year employee/Next level: 3rd year employee]

[Personnel points required until the next promotion: 880/3500]

[Professional ability 1: Permit.]

[Trait 2: You can do that too.]

‘This might be my biggest achievement today.’

‘400 points at a time.’

“Sain. Thank you.” I said that inadvertently .

It meant that I was grateful for the points, but Sain replied, “I am the one who should be thankful. Mr. Tay.”

“Well.”

“Huh.”

“Wait, why are you laughing?”

“Did you notice that you called me Sain during our conversation? Not Boss or Guild Leader.”

I made a great mistake. Realizing that I hurriedly bowed my head.

“Sorry.”

“No. Rather, please call me Sain from now on.”

“That’s a little…”

“Mr. Tay. Do you know why I have the title Guild Leader, not Guild Master?”

I tilted my head. Sain followed up with a soft voice.

“I am not the founder of the Hagnut Guild. It’s my father, Nortel Rhime.”

“……!”

“That’s why I’m temporarily calling myself as the guild leader. I’ll officially become a guild master after placing the Hagnut Guild as the top guild in the region.”

“……”

“So please call me Sain until then.”

I was very reluctant at first. Whether it’s the guild leader or the guild master, it would be better to address people with their title within the company.

‘Why are you making me do this?’

But… The boss wants it so… it won’t look good if I keep refusing until the end.

“Yes. Okay, Ms. Sain.”

“Woohoo. That’s much better.”

We faced each other and laughed. Then, for some reason, Kasha intervened with a face of dissatisfaction.

“Then call me Ms. Kasha, too.”

“Haha. Did you eat something wrong?”

“Hmph.”

“Okay. But only if you call me Mr. Tay instead of Tay.”

“Ta-, Mr. Ta-…”

Suddenly, Kasha’s face turned red. She said, rubbing her face with her hands as if she was washing her face.

“Huh. Done. I think it’s better now.”

“Okay.”

And with that, the guild meeting was over.

“……But what was the S-class quest?”

“Tada.”

“Home position.”

****

Dirk was messed up. Both of his cheeks were swollen to astounding levels. While returning to the Wyvern Guild, Von swung pure violence against Dirk.

Dirk lost count after the tenth hit. Some of his teeth even came loose.

“This is not pleasant at all” said Von while wiping his bloody hand with a handkerchief

“This is beyond normal betrayal. Dirk.”

“I don’t know anything about it.”

“If so, then did he learn about it from Sain?!”

“That wouldn’t be the case either. That guy, on his own…”

[Swish– Thwock]

This time the hit was strong enough to send Dirk flying across the room. Dirk stopped and hit the floor in the front lobby.

“Argh!!”

Dirk was groaning in agony. So much that even the receptionists around were starting to feel uneasy. Now, Von was beating Dirk in front of the receptionists. To emphasize his own authority. To show that traitors will not be forgiven.

“By himself?! Is he a wizard?! An oracle?!!”

“Answer me Dirk. On his own?!!”

“……”

“Dirk. Grovelling in front of me now?”

“……”

“Is that the only thing you can do?!!”

[Argh]

Von grabbed Dirk’s neck and raised him. And whispered in his ear so that no one would hear it.

“Taylor Mason, kill him.”

At that moment, Dirk unwittingly refuted. “That’s not possible.”

“What? What did you say now?!”

“The conditions of the bet. Both of the guilds were prohibited from harming the guild members. If Nortel learns, then we’ll lose the bet right there.”

Von’s body froze at the name of Nortel. That was the only thing that could stop his rampage.

After a while, Von opened his mouth, “Exactly.”

“Guild Master…”

“If so, then inflict a devastating blow so that the Hagnut Guild wouldn’t be able to recover anytime soon. Isn’t that what you do best?”

“……”

“You must’ve done it countless times so far. That’s how the Wyvern Guild became this big.”

Dirk who was already badly beaten up was cowering even more in front of Von’s malice.

“Answer me!”

“Okay.”

“Remember that it is the only way for you to restore the trust I had on you.”

[Thud]

Von throws away Dirk and enters his office as if he is throwing away garbage.

Only after Von was gone did the receptionists rushed to Dirk.

” Are you okay? Deputy Guild Master.”

A receptionist opened the medicine box and applied the ointment to his face. Dirk thought as he took the treatment.

‘A destructive blow?’

‘Heh’

Other people’s eyes can be deceived. However, even if no one notices, he will. Taylor Mason will.