I Became the Guild Leader in Exile

37 – 8# Alice’s Sewer (1)

Alice

If Gideon is the city of heroes and myths, then Alice is a place known as the city of gems and radiance. Literally, Alice is a major city and a city-state that reigns as the city of gems and radiance, where gems are processed.

Especially, Alice’s street lamps, made with unique gem technology, are famous for shining as brightly at night as they do during the day. Thanks to this, Alice came to be known as the city of gems and radiance.

But where there is light, there is darkness.

And the darkness of the city of radiance was painfully intense.

“Welcome to the Guild of Exiles!” Excerpt from Volume 5, page 112.

* * *

In the end, the Iron Shield successfully completed the commission from the Golden Deer. Thanks to that, the Golden Deer was able to develop the Eritus Mountain. It’s a different ending from the original, but Isaac didn’t care. If the Golden Deer causes trouble, he’ll deal with it then. Perhaps the Golden Deer has also realized the strength of Isaac Silverthorn.

They offered much more than the contract required, not only in various deals and contracts but even providing new buildings to the Iron Shield. Thanks to that, they had to move unexpectedly.

“This place is much bigger than the previous guild!”

“And there’s even facilities like a restaurant inside.”

“Now it really looks like a guild.”

The place where the Iron Shield used to be called a guild was more like a warehouse in reality. But the building provided by the Golden Deer had everything they could need.

“Received from an innkeeper who went bankrupt due to unpaid gambling debts. Please feel free to use it as you wish.”

On the first floor, there were shelves for displaying alcohol, a counter, and quite a few dining tables and chairs arranged like a restaurant. There was even a small stage where one could sing, albeit modest in size.

And true to its inn name, on the second floor, there were several rooms for people to stay in, and on the third floor, there were rooms that looked like they had been used by the innkeeper and their family.

“If we make a few fixes, it should be usable.”

“Is this all the luggage?”

“There wasn’t much to begin with.”

The move itself didn’t take long. Since it was a new guild to begin with, there wasn’t much to transfer. However, it wasn’t over just because they moved all the luggage. Sophia sighed.

“We’re planning to turn the old building into a school. We need some manpower. Anyone willing to help?”

“It seems like the building has been neglected for a long time. There’s a lot to repair. We’ll have to patch it up hastily.”

Indeed, since it had been neglected for a long time, there were several places that urgently needed repairs. Moreover, they had to manage the school they were running. There was a lot to do, but there was a shortage of manpower.

Thanks to that, by the time they finished everything, it was already getting dark outside. Isaac sighed as he looked at guild members collapsed in exhaustion on the restaurant floor.

“I understand everyone’s tired, but we still need to eat, right?”

It was a casual remark, but at the same time, it was an undeniable one. Because it was one of Isaac’s rules. The third rule of the Iron Shield: no matter what happens, eat your meals.

Thanks to that rule, guild members had to force their exhausted bodies to move. The rules set by the master were absolute. Isaac opened the door first and went outside.

There was a small fence in the yard, and inside, there were long tables and chairs prepared for drinking outside. And in the center, the carcass of a giant boar was visible.

“Master, is that tonight’s dinner?”

“Of course.”

“But, that’s a monster!”

“Among monsters, there are delicacies too.”

“I’ll prepare a vegetable soup so it won’t be too heavy. Yurina, help me out.”

“Yes~ I understand! Senpai!”

The kids who had never eaten a monster were shocked. However, Hans, Sophia, and Cain, who had experience in this area, remained composed. After all, there were places that considered monsters as a staple.

“To eat it, we need to dismantle it.”

“Put the bones and skin in the warehouse.”

“Spoils, I see. Understood.”

The spoils, such as bones and fangs, collected from the monster could be processed into excellent equipment. Especially Erythos’s giant boar, a mighty monster that even challenged the Golden Deer.

Naturally, Hans and Isaac started dismantling the boar with the expectation of creating very powerful equipment. Before that, Cain had already ushered the kids into the guild.

“Come on, kids. Go inside. It’s not a pleasant sight.”

“You come and help quickly too.”

“Yes, sir. I’m going. Senpai.”

The giant boar slain by Isaac was recognized as a spoil of the Iron Shield. There was an attempt to take it away in the middle, but Titus stepped in and lifted Isaac’s hand.

Once the boar’s skin and bones were stored in the warehouse, a spontaneous meat party began using the remaining meat. The scent of the sizzling meat wafted through the air as it cooked over the roaring bonfire.

“Here’s the soup. There’s plenty, so take your time and enjoy.”

“I intentionally didn’t add meat. Just a little restraint for the taste.”

At that moment, a vegetable soup made by Yulina and Sofia arrived. It had a savory and clean taste that balanced out the slight heaviness of the meat. However, the main attraction was still the meat.

“The meat is surprisingly delicious, isn’t it?”

“Well, the wild boar we ate on the battlefield wasn’t that great.”

“Master! You should try some too!”

“Thank you, Zeke.”

Unlike ordinary wild boar meat, this one was exceptionally tender and flavorful. Thanks to it, even the guild members who had lost their appetite due to fatigue quickly devoured the meat, satisfying their hunger.

“By the way, there’s quite a bit of leftover meat.”

“How about supplying it to the Golden Stag?”

“We could receive a significant amount of money if we do that.”

As someone versed in the guild’s accounting, Sofia had a strong inclination towards earning money whenever possible. Isaac agreed with Sofia’s opinion. After everyone has eaten their fill, it would be fine to sell the leftovers.

“I heard that the Golden Stag handles direct distribution for such requests.”

“How does that work? Do people come directly to them?”

“Well, look, they’re coming this way.”

Isaac pointed his finger in the direction where a flying bird could be seen approaching. Indeed, it seemed like they were delivering through the aerial route. Sofia nodded her head; it wasn’t a bad idea.

The messenger bird landed on Isaac’s shoulder as usual. Isaac unfastened the bag carried by the messenger bird and took out its contents. Inside, there were numerous requests written on parchment.

“Arrest the rogue Bronze Trapper?”

“This seems like a joke of a request.”

“It’s somewhat impressive, isn’t it?”

“… Are you serious?”

Isaac slowly examined the requests written on the parchment. Sofia beside him was doing the same. They seemed ordinary, but to someone else, these actions were not easily dismissed.

“Master!”

“What’s happening?”

“The world is spinning around!”

“… Did you drink alcohol?”

Startled by Zeke’s face, which had turned bright red and looked unsteady, Isaac rushed over to him. Observing it from behind, Sofia couldn’t help but smile wryly. It was because she made eye contact with Zeke.

“You don’t have to go to such lengths to get attention; I won’t take it away.”

The look in Zeke’s eyes earlier was too clear to attribute it to being drunk. What did it mean? It meant that he pretended to be drunk on purpose just to grab the master’s attention.

“When will our oblivious master notice?”

By now, most of the guild members had already noticed Zeke’s gender, to say the least. Even Digma had caught on. But there was one person who still didn’t have a clue. Isaac remained unaware.

Sophia smirked and took a sip of her drink.

It was because their matching appearance looked cute.

The contract papers were read by each guild member in turn. Las finished reading and handed the papers over to the nearby Dig. Dig lazily skimmed through the papers with an annoyed expression.

“Kid, please read the contract with care….”

“……”

“……Dig?”

“Why bother? We’re just going to play and eat at the guild anyway.”

It was the usual sight. Skimming through the papers and passing them like tissues. Laughing lightly and saying they’ll splurge on their wages. But Las couldn’t let it go.

Because even though it was for a brief moment.

Dig’s expression was frozen.

—

The next day.

Everyone except Isaac and the children gathered around one table in the restaurant. No one could bring themselves to speak first. They all knew how serious the situation was.

“Why didn’t anyone stop that idiot?”

Hans was the first to break the silence in such a situation. He was accustomed to taking the lead, even in family situations that required suspicion. Upon hearing his words, Las immediately spoke up.

“The seniors didn’t stop him either.”

“That’s…”

“I know the reason why. It’s because our master didn’t stop him.”

“Our junior is quite observant.”

Sophia smiled as if she wouldn’t lose against a perfect comeback. It was not a wrong statement. Last night, Hans, Sophia, and even Cain had noticed Dig slipping away secretly.

Yet they didn’t take any action.

Because the master stayed quiet.

There was no way the master hadn’t noticed Dig’s movements that they had noticed. But still, the master did nothing and let him go. Because the master believed in family until the end.

“He’s here.”

Finally, the master revealed himself in the restaurant. Isaac looked up anxiously as he came down. Why are they all gathered with such serious expressions? Is something wrong?

“If it were the master, you must have thought there was something going on with Dig.”

“But we can’t just leave it be like that.”

“That’s why everyone is gathered here, right? Seniors.”

“Yes. If we’re all together, we can definitely solve it!”

Inefficiency is acceptable, even if others mock. It doesn’t matter. If there hadn’t been a master from the beginning, there would be no one in this position now. Therefore, they are ready to follow the master’s will.

“……”

Isaac, in particular, was inwardly perplexed.

What’s this again? What? Dig? Why is he doing this again?

Isaac had to rack his brains desperately to follow the story.