Chapter One Hundred and Thirty-Three: Guild Staff’s Rules 2 (Natalia’s POV)
Natalia of that time had not a shred of humility and was far too blunt. The spirited adventurers didn’t mind even if she was cheeky, and the guild staff spoiled Natalia, saying that someone with that much strength of character was suited to be the Adventurers’ Guild staff.
She had memorized the entire etiquette guide for dealings with nobles, but when it came to forming friendships with peers her own age, she couldn’t tell what words were acceptable and what were not. From the perspective of boys and girls her age, she must have been an irritating presence—something the current Natalia could understand.
Besides Karen, there were other peculiar individuals who approached such a Natalia. They were people who wanted connections with the Adventurers’ Guild through Natalia, who was slated to become guild staff.
Marian was particularly easy for Natalia to understand. Born into a family positioned highly among the trading companies belonging to the Merchants’ Guild, Marian approached Natalia with the attitude that she was a person of equal standing in similar circumstances. She was trying to get close to Natalia—who had Adventurers’ Guild staff as parents and whose future was promising—to make connections. Even before entering the commoners’ school, Natalia had already anticipated she would end up dealing with such people.
To be honest, while she found it galling to be thought of as equal to the Merchants’ Guild, Natalia attempted to interact with Marian, thinking she was better than most among those she’d encounter at the school. As one topic of conversation, Natalia asked Marian for advice on how to make peace with people who might one day become adventurers. But the words that came back were of no reference at all. Marian laughed, saying she should just ignore such insignificant people, and if they interfered with her belongings, she should counter with the law. But from Natalia’s perspective, that wasn’t the Adventurers’ Guild way. It was a distinctly Merchants’ Guild approach—a merchant’s way of thinking.
Even if guild staff lacked the strength of adventurers, they had another kind of power—the ability to move adventurers’ hearts. After Natalia decided to keep Marian at arm’s length, it was Karen who reached out to her.
Initially, Natalia thought Karen also wanted connections with the Adventurers’ Guild. But Karen had simply approached her out of concern for Natalia’s isolation. When Karen first spoke to her, she didn’t even know Natalia’s background.
Perhaps because Karen’s father was an adventurer, Natalia quickly became close with Karen. From what she heard later, Karen had apparently frequented the Adventurers’ Guild from childhood, too. Still, Karen mainly interacted with low-rank adventurers while Natalia mostly encountered high-rank adventurers her parents were in charge of, so they had missed each other.
Natalia thought she had said many rude things to Karen as well, but Karen found such a Natalia amusing. She got angry together with her about the harassment, and when money was stolen and Natalia was about to skip lunch, Karen shared her delicious homemade lunchbox. When Natalia consulted her about wanting to change the situation, Karen was surprised, saying, "You wanted to change it?!" and gently taught her points for improvement.
Karen would have stayed with her regardless of whether Natalia changed. Because she could believe that, Natalia was able to honestly think she wanted to change.
Eventually, as Natalia changed, her relationships improved dramatically, and many people flocked to become close with her. Among them were those who had kept their distance from Natalia until then, as well as those who still approached her not for who she was, but for her family background.
Surrounded by many people, it must have looked to Karen like there was no longer any need to worry. Karen was also busy with her fiancé and other matters, so she tried to distance herself from Natalia, but Natalia chased after such a Karen.
Chasing after her, this time Natalia tried to help Karen—taking class notes in place of the dozing Karen, mediating between Karen and teachers who felt uncomfortable with Karen’s frequent absences.
When Karen’s dream became to be an alchemist, Natalia, who was familiar with guild systems, could predict the various difficulties that would befall Karen in the future.
Before she knew it, she was consulting with her parents about wanting to become Alchemists’ Guild staff instead of Adventurers’ Guild staff. Fortunately, her parents supported her, and through their connections, Natalia became the Alchemists’ Guild staff.
Unlike the Adventurers’ Guild, the Alchemists’ Guild was like sitting on a bed of nails, but she didn’t find it painful.
The lamp flame flickered, and Natalia’s reverie was suddenly interrupted. This won’t do, Natalia shook her head. In her hands was the statement the Alchemists’ Guild planned to announce. She had been reviewing it to ensure no disadvantage would come to Karen, but apparently, she had gotten lost in memories without realizing it.
When she looked up, the Alchemists’ Guild office was dark. The sun had set long ago. But there were still people scattered about. Guild staff were always stationed there in preparation for emergencies.
“To have the Alchemists’ Guild issue such a statement—Karen really is amazing.”
Reading through the statement again, Natalia chuckled softly. She had long agonized over whether to stop Karen’s devotion to Lyos, but couldn’t bring herself to do it. The sight of Lyos being helped by Karen overlapped with her own past self, who had been helped. Rather than feeling anger toward Lyos, who had abandoned Karen after being helped, she first thought that it was probably normal. Even so, Natalia had no intention whatsoever of behaving like Lyos.
“It was really good that I let that request through.”
Everything began with the request from Ehlertt. Even if Karen had hesitated to take that step forward, Natalia had intended to stay with her forever as she was. But Karen tried to change, to take on the request. Natalia decided to give such a Karen’s back a big push. As expected, Karen was flustered, but as a result, everything moved in a good direction.
“Natalia, it’s time to go home.”
“Mr. Gab, you were still here?”
“That’s my line. If I let you go home late, I’ll get scolded. Hurry up and get ready to leave.”
“Yes sir.”
One of the A-rank adventurer party members that her mother had been in charge of as Adventurers’ Guild staff. After Gabriel retired from being an adventurer, he chose to join the Alchemists’ Guild for his second career. Natalia secretly flattered herself that one reason Gabriel chose to become a member of the Alchemists’ Guild as his second career after retiring from adventuring was because he cared about her.
Of course, it was probably just that he felt like family toward Natalia, the daughter of the mother who supported the adventurers she was in charge of like family.
Could Natalia also support the alchemists she was in charge of like family, as her mother had? She was confident about Karen, but as guild staff, was she properly supporting the other people as well?
“If you’re walking me home, Mr. Gab, then I’d like to go on foot.”
“Hmm? Sure. But when you’re alone, take the carriage home even during the day.”
“Yes sir.”
Natalia replied obediently like a child. For now, at least. Someday, if she became a fine guild staff member like her parents. If Gabriel could acknowledge that someday—
“Hehe.”
“You’re in a good mood, Natalia. Well, your alchemist just made it to C-rank, after all.”
At Gabriel’s completely off-target assessment of her mood, Natalia laughed even more cheerfully as they walked together down the night road home, where spring’s pleasant atmosphere was beginning to drift in.
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