Chapter 48

One day.

While I was working at the guild, a sudden visitor arrived.

"Guild Master!"

The one who burst in, crying, was a beautiful man with long silver hair.

He was Ulgar, the spear user of the Hero Party.

"What brings you here?"

"I'm quitting the Hero Party! Please hire me back here!"

"No way. It's too early for you to come back."

"But, but... why!?"

Ulgar slammed his hands on the desk and leaned forward.

"You must have run away because of some lame reason like Lawrence's training being too harsh, right?"

"What!? How... Could it be the Appraisal Eye!?"

"I don't need to use it to know."

Ulgar grabbed my arm.

"Please! That muscle-brained Hero will do anything for the Guild Master! Just tell him to give me back what I want!"

"I refuse."

"Whaaat!?"

"First of all, you were the one who left here to join the Hero Party. Now you want to come back? Isn't that a bit too much?"

"Ugh... W-well... Y-you see..."

I thought, it's about time he shows up.

"However, if you really insist, I might consider it."

"Really!? Yes!"

Just then,

"No way, Ulgar!"

Suddenly, a tall blonde man appeared from the window.

"Ah...! Lawrence!"

Lawrence, the Hero of this country, stepped down from the window frame.

"Long time no see, Act!"

"Come in through the door, you."

"Sorry! But I ran through the sky! It was faster to come in through the window!"

"The sky isn't for running, you know..."

Ulgar, with a frightened look, moved behind me.

"Come on, Ulgar! Go back quietly! Your training is waiting!"

"N-no way! I've already quit the Hero Party!"

"No way! I haven't approved it! Nuh-uh!"

Lawrence made a motion as if grabbing the air and pulled Ulgar towards him with a whoosh.

"Ah!"

Ulgar was suddenly pulled and ended up in Lawrence's hand.

"What did you do! Is it magic!?"

"I reinforced my hand with fighting spirit and cut through the space to pull the target towards me."

"Right! Exactly! Impressive, Act! You have a keen eye!"

"Your level is too high! I don't understand even with an explanation! Let me go!"

Ulgar struggled, but Lawrence didn't budge.

"Back to training! You still have a billion morning swings to do!"

"That's an absurd number! I'll die! I'll die!"

"Don't worry! I do the same and I'm not dead!"

"Don't compare me to a superhuman!"

They were still arguing.

It's a waste of time.

"Let's go back!"

"No way! I'm back at the Cradle of Heaven!"

"What? Is that true?"

Lawrence let go of Ulgar.

Ulgar crawled over to me and stood up.

"Right! The Guild Master is crying and begging for me, the best spear user, to come back!"

He casually ran his hand through his silver hair.

"Really! That's true, Act! I'll return him to you!"

Lawrence smiled and extended his hand to me.

"You really do anything for the Guild Master, don't you?"

"Right! The Guild Master is my benefactor!"

Both Ulgar and Lawrence used to belong to the Cradle of Heaven.

The gems I raised and polished shine all over the world.

"I don't need your gratitude. I raised you for my own sake."

I spread out the newspaper on my desk.

"Hero Lawrence's Party repels another high-level demon!"

"Declaration to invade the Demon Kingdom! Is world peace just around the corner?"

"The man closest to defeating the Demon King, Hero Lawrence, speaks! The secret of the adventurer guild that raised him, the Cradle of Heaven!"

The more they excel, the higher the reputation of the Cradle of Heaven, which raised them, rises.

In the end, I raised them for my own benefit.

"But the Demon Kingdom. You're finally planning to invade the enemy territory, huh?"

"Right! That's why I made the training a bit harsh!"

"A bit harsh!? I thought I was going to die!"

To defeat the Demon King and bring peace, we need to invade his kingdom.

But the Demon Kingdom is enemy territory, filled with more demons and monsters than here.

If we don't get stronger, we'll be killed.

"Let someone who wants to defeat the Demon King do it. I can't take any more of your training. The Guild Master said he'd keep me here and find someone else for me."

"Hmm... Well, if Act wants Ulgar, I have no choice. I'll look for someone else. But I don't know if I can find one..."

"Come back, Ulgar!"

Lawrence turned around with a sad smile.

"Wait, Lawrence."

I said to the stopped hero.

"I actually have someone in mind to replace Ulgar."

"Really! Act, you're serious!"

Lawrence's face lit up.

Ulgar, on the other hand, looked conflicted.

"Yes. A woman named Roselia. She's a capable swordswoman, unlike some spear user."

Ulgar's shoulder twitched.

Lawrence tilted his head but nodded in understanding, "Ah, I see!"

"Great! The Bloody Roselia! She can definitely... no, more than adequately replace Ulgar!"

Ulgar twitched again.

"She's very capable. Not only strong but also a good person. Unlike some spineless coward who abandons his mission halfway."

"Spineless... Ha, Guild Master... Are you talking about me?"

Ulgar's temples throbbed as he said, on the verge of snapping.

"Who else but you? A spineless coward who gives up at the first sign of training."

"But I'm not a spineless coward!"

"Are you sure? You ran away."

"Ugh..."

I ignored Ulgar and said,

"Lawrence. Stop wasting time here and go back. I'll send Roselia to you later."

"Right! I understand! See you, Ulgar!"

Lawrence was about to leave.

Ulgar called out, "Wait...!"

"What is it, Ulgar?"

"Are you really serious about adding Roselia to the party?"

"Right! I am!"

"Maybe you should reconsider... After all, a woman as a front-liner is impossible."

"Act said she can more than adequately replace Ulgar! So it's fine!"

Ulgar, in a panic, looked at me.

"Is it okay, Guild Master!? Roselia was the top adventurer here, right? Won't it be a problem if she leaves?"

"It won't be a problem. I have replacements."

Ulgar gritted his teeth.

"My guild is dedicated to helping the 'weak.' It's fine, Ulgar. You can always come back. Because this guild is for 'weak' people like you."

Ulgar clenched his teeth and said,

"I quit! This guild!"

Ulgar raised his voice and pointed at me.

"Because! I'm not a weakling!"

"Really? That doesn't sound like a weakling who ran away from training."

"I didn't run away! I just came to check on my old guild! To see if it's still standing without me, the super important person!"

"Don't worry. My guild won't fall apart without a minor like you."

Ulgar's face turned red, and he started stomping his feet.

"You always belittle me! Just wait, Guild Master! My spear will pierce the Demon King's heart!"

Ulgar glared at me and turned around.

"Come on, Lawrence! Back to training! We have a mission to defeat the Demon King! We can't waste a second!"

"Great! Ulgar! You're motivated! I'm glad!"

Ulgar turned away and left the room.

Lawrence, left behind, smiled at me.

"Typical, Act! You understand Ulgar's character well! If you say it like that, he'll be even more motivated to train!"

"What are you talking about? I just stated the facts. Ulgar will be killed by the Demon King as he is. It would be a waste to go."

Lawrence smiled.

"The 'current' Ulgar... You really believe in his talent, don't you?"

"Of course. Who do you think scouted him? He's a gem with talent that rivals yours."

Lawrence bowed before me.

"Thank you, Act! Ulgar is motivated. With this, we might be able to reach the Demon King!"

"Good. I'm counting on you."

"Right! See you!"

Lawrence jumped out of the window and flew away.

【To the Readers】

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