Home/How to Survive in a Good Small Guild/ch 9

Chapter 9

"Ughhh..."

The next day, we arrived at work looking almost like zombies.

The Guild Master, who'd come in two hours late, had an ashen complexion from the previous night's hangover, and Susanna, caught up in my pace, had shown up with her hair tied up in a mess.

I was in the best shape of the three, but I'd been feeling nauseous all morning, so that wasn't saying much...

As we sat at our respective desks with vacant expressions, a man loitering by the office entrance caught my eye through the gap in the door.

"What's that? A customer?"

The Guild Master muttered half-heartedly, then realized something and exclaimed.

"Could it be someone applying as a new hire?"

"I don't think so..."

"Go bring him in!"

"Understood."

Following the Guild Master's orders, I approached the man. He looked flustered, as if he hadn't expected the door to open.

Huh, wait—he's incredibly handsome. There's no way someone like this would apply as a new hire.

"Did you come to apply as a new employee?"

"Yes? No..."

Then, his expression suddenly changed, and he answered.

"Yes, I'm here to apply as a new employee."

Unbelievable! There really was someone who applied after seeing that notice!

"Do you have your application documents?"

"...No, I don't."

"Then would you like to fill one out now?"

Even if he was a nobody who hadn't even prepared an application, I couldn't pass up someone willing to walk into this guild of their own accord.

I quickly brought him an application form. He hesitated for a moment before writing down his name.

· Cedric Alte

Soon, he began filling out the rest of the form.

I kept sneaking glances at the clean-cut man. He was undeniably handsome on the outside, yet he'd voluntarily applied to this guild...

He must have traded his intelligence for good looks!

No one with a working brain would apply to a guild like this.

His work experience section was completely blank. Just like the original Odrette and Susanna, he seemed to be a poor social newcomer who'd stumbled into the wrong place.

"Let's have an interview!"

The Guild Master declared heartily, and I guided the man to him.

"Excuse me, is the interview really just here...?"

"Yes, we don't have a Guild Master's office here, hoho."

The man, Cedric, seemed to realize he'd made a mistake—his face darkened. But the Guild Master wasn't about to let a self-delivered sacrifice slip away.

"So, you have no work experience."

"...No, but I'll work hard."

"How much can you drink?"

"Drinking?"

The classic trash company interview special: asking about alcohol tolerance.

"...I've never been drunk."

"Oh-ho..."

The Guild Master's eyes sparkled.

"Are you a positive person?"

"...I'll try to act positively."

"What do you think about a family-like company?"

"Ah, family-run business... I've worked at one before. I can't put it on my resume due to circumstances, but..."

He'd worked at a family-run business—how unfortunate. I suppose he couldn't endure it and it went out of business.

The interview continued after that. The Guild Master seemed to think fairly well of the newbie.

"However, there's one thing that bothers me."

"...What is it?"

"Your face doesn't look good!"

"......?"

The classic trash company interview special: reading faces.

Cedric looked as if he doubted what he'd just heard, but unfortunately, he hadn't misheard.

"I don't like faces that look like yours. Black hair and brown eyes are too dull, and your eyes are too big and your nose too high."

Wasn't he just picking a fight because the guy was too handsome?

"Senior Staff Susanna, what do you think?"

I whispered to her in a low voice.

"Yes?"

"Wouldn't having someone who looks like that in our guild be a benefit?"

"Oh, you're absolutely right!"

For the first time, Susanna nodded as if we were on the same page. He really was remarkably handsome—just having him in the office would brighten the place up.

With our minds united, Susanna and I spoke to the Guild Master in unison.

"Guild Master, but still, the fact that he's worked at a family-run business seems decent, doesn't it?"

"Th-that's right! And he drinks well too!"

"Hmm..."

Just as the Guild Master was still making a displeased face, Cedric spoke up.

"Excuse me, I'd like to negotiate my salary!"

Salary negotiation? All of a sudden?

As everyone looked bewildered, the shocking statement continued.

"I'll negotiate downward!"

"......!"

Good heavens, such a madman exists!

"Pass! You're hired!"

The Guild Master's face lit up with joy as he declared.

Well... having a handsome new hire is certainly nice, but...

Is his judgment even sound?

Can I really turn someone this foolish into my ally?

---

"Then, Assistant Manager Odrette, could you handle the handover?"

"Yes, understood."

Instead of becoming a full employee, he'd work as a contract worker for a few months. On paper, his working hours were shorter than ours, but he'd undoubtedly end up doing overtime...

After Cedric was hired, fortunately, the Guild Master put me in charge of his handover.

"Congratulations on joining our guild. I'm Odrette Lavendel, rank assistant manager. Everyone here goes by name, so just call me Assistant Manager Odrette."

"Yes, understood. Please call me by name as well."

"Alright, Cedric. First, the break room is this way."

I pointed to a desk in the corner of the office. On it sat a few tea bags and a kettle.

"Didn't you say 'break room'?"

"Just call this space the break room."

"......"

Cedric's pupils shook, but I ignored him.

"And the former assistant manager used to force us to stock snacks and tea bags out of our own pockets, but he's gone now, so you don't need to do that. However..."

"However?"

"Since the Guild Master will probably tell you to restock if this runs out, absolutely don't eat anything here. Just consider it decoration."

"...That's truly unjust."

As I whispered so the Guild Master wouldn't hear, he nodded with a shocked expression.

"And you'll work at this empty desk here."

"...Isn't the desk a bit small?"

"Huh? This is pretty standard."

"What about a partition...?"

"Of course not. And the most junior person always gets the worst seat."

"How unjust..."

Cedric's seat faced away from the Guild Master, positioned so the Guild Master could clearly see everything he did.

His complexion worsened slightly. Fortunately, it seemed his judgment wasn't completely lacking.

"Occasionally we get cheating-spouse tracking requests, but Susanna usually handles those, so you can learn from her."

"Heheh, nice to meet you!"

Since he was a contract worker, he probably wouldn't handle Temple subcontract work. The Guild Master had said to keep it confidential during his contract period, so I didn't mention the prime contractor to him.

Hearing her name, Susanna eagerly extended her hand. Cedric shook it.

"I'm Susanna Herb! Feel free to call me Senior Staff Susanna!"

"Yes, Senior Staff Susanna. But..."

Cedric hesitated before asking.

"Why are you doing calculations by hand without a calculator...?"

"......"

"Senior Staff Susanna doesn't trust machines, so she always calculates manually!"

"Oh, I see..."

Susanna glared at me for making her look like a fool in front of the handsome newbie. But it seemed Cedric had already labeled her as a weirdo.

Back   Next