Early TBAGM Vol. 1 Chapter 4 Part 2

Full title: The Banished Advisor’s Guild Management

Note: If you found any typos/mistakes, pls write them in the comment. Thanks.

Translator: Canon

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I returned to the guild with Elna and Nick in tow.

Once there, I gathered everyone in the meeting room to hold our first strategy session.

“All right, let’s begin our very first Veiled Moonrise meeting.”

Regarding Nick’s addition to the guild, neither Ellis, Nero, nor Elna had any objections.

If anything, they only hoped he would adjust his attitude somewhat.

Then again, given how he had acted when we first met, he probably couldn’t backpedal even if he wanted to.

I didn’t mind. And to be fair, he was far more polite than Nero had been at the start.

“First of all, the mission of this guild is to help those with overlooked talents bloom.”

We weren’t here to take in people whose misfortune was their own doing. Nor did I intend to recruit anyone already recognized or sought after for their gifts.

Instead, we would gather individuals like us: those with real potential, yet cast aside by the world.

“And since we’ve founded this guild, our long-term goal is to reach the top of the rankings. For now, our concrete objective is to fully conquer the Volcano Dungeon.”

“Mr. Lloyd, that trash guild’s currently going all in on that dungeon, right?”

As expected, Nero caught on quickly.

“You mean Incarnation of the Sun? There’s no way we can beat them.”

“They’re the strongest guild... and we’re the weakest.”

Nick and Elna both looked like they had already given up, their expressions bleak.

Only Ellis wore a daring grin, as if she were enjoying the challenge.

“If Lord Lloyd says we can do it, then we can! All we have to do is live up to his expectations!”

Her words carried zero proof, just pure faith.

But Nero let out a chuckle as if he’d been pulled along by her conviction.

“Haha! Coming from Ellis, that’s rich. But yeah... if Mr. Lloyd says we can, then I believe it!”

““...Huh?””

The two newcomers looked puzzled at the unshakable faith they were witnessing.

It was fine. Honestly, even I was a little unnerved by how much they trusted me.

I turned back to the group and explained.

“Incarnation of the Sun is currently throwing everything they have at conquering the Volcano Dungeon. But they won’t succeed.”

“W-Why not?”

“Nick, the reason is simple… the Second Unit they’ve assigned to it has no cohesion. Too many of them act on their own interests.”

“Right... Allen, the only one who could keep them in line, was moved to the First Unit.”

Nero, a former member of Incarnation of the Sun, nodded in agreement.

The Second Unit’s leader was a selfish man who pursued strength for his own sake.

Allen had been the one holding the group together in his place.

Now that Allen was gone, the Second Unit was in shambles. The idea of fully clearing the dungeon was nothing but a pipe dream. And the First Unit, currently tackling the Desert Dungeon, wasn’t going to step in and help.

The very fact that no one within the guild realized this meant there was no future for Incarnation of the Sun.

“That’s why we have time. While they’re stuck spinning their wheels in the Volcano Dungeon, we need to evolve—fast.”

Knowing that unit captain, there was no way he’d ever ask another unit for help. And because of that pride, the burden of full clearance would crush them. The Second Unit would fall apart.

We needed to become ten times stronger before that happened.

“Ellis, you’ll focus on further strengthening your 【Water Ball】. Nero, work on refining your 【Magic Breaker】. Elna, practice mastering 【Magic Manipulation】. And Nick, you’ll need to raise your 【Metal Shaping】 attribute.”

As I gave out each assignment, I looked toward the four listening to me from their seats.

Then Nick raised his hand timidly.

“Are you sure about this? Isn’t this a critical time for the guild? Wouldn’t it be better for me to make use of my management skills?”

He should’ve been thrilled to focus on his passion as a blacksmith.

But it seemed he was thinking of the guild’s wellbeing. He asked the question with visible reluctance.

“There’s no point in improving your management skills—at least, not for now.”

“No point?”

Nick furrowed his brows, and I responded plainly.

“Think about it. Do you really believe any of the skilled craftsmen I plan to recruit would ever accept oversight from a blacksmith with no real strength?”

“...! Then I’ll just throw myself into the work and become a full-fledged blacksmith!”

Clenching his fists, Nick shouted with newfound motivation.

With someone like him, blunt honesty was the best way to stoke his rebellious drive.

“I think that’s enough for now. Anyone have questions?”

Ellis raised her hand in a fluid motion.

“Lord Lloyd, could I speak with you afterward? There’s something I’d like to discuss.”

“Understood. Anyone else?”

I glanced around the table, but the other three shook their heads.

“In that case, this concludes the first meeting of Veiled Moonrise.”

And so, our first guild meeting came to a close.

†

After the meeting concluded, everyone had lunch and then resumed training.

As for Ellis’s request to talk, I decided to hear her out before bedtime. I wanted her to focus on training while her body was still alert during the day.

I had Nero and Ellis continue their usual paired training in which he practiced destroying magic. Lately, Nero often showed up covered in bruises. It seemed Ellis had been steadily increasing the power behind her 【Water Ball】.

Well, as long as he didn’t die, it was probably fine.

With those two capable of managing on their own, I decided to take Nick and Elna to a certain location.

—

“Hold up! This workshop is mine!?”

“Yeah. And the one next door is Elna’s.”

“It’s huge. Lord Lloyd, this is amazing!”

When we arrived at the workshops, both of them were visibly stunned by the sheer size.

The two symmetrically designed guild buildings stood side by side, beautifully constructed like twin wings.

The wooden structure on the right was Elna’s alchemist guild.

The metallic structure on the left was Nick’s blacksmith guild.

“Where did the money for this come from...?”

“Orgus covered it. Apparently, there’s a system where they fund guilds with promising futures.”

To be honest, I had been prepared to go into debt to get these built, but once again Orgus had come to our rescue. He had apparently pulled some strings with several parties on our behalf.

“There’s no turning back now... Even if they say we’re promising, I’m the only one in the blacksmith guild right now. Damn it, we’re doomed.”

Nick looked like he was about to be crushed by the sudden pressure.

In contrast, Elna was bouncing with joy.

“Thank you, Lord Lloyd! I’ll do my best!”

“I’m looking forward to it. What about you, Nick? That girl’s much younger than you, yet look at her enthusiasm.”

As I patted Elna’s head, I threw the line at Nick just to provoke him.

Sure enough, Nick responded just as I’d hoped, his rebellious fire flaring up.

“Y-Yeah! I’ll show you what I’m made of!”

“Good. That’s the spirit.”

Satisfied by the motivation radiating from the two of them, I assigned each their tasks.

“Elna, you’ll work with clay to enhance your 【Magic Manipulation】.”

“Understood.”

I activated 【Insight】 as I turned my attention toward her.

.

[Profession]  Alchemist

[Attributes]  Dexterity  C/A   Discernment  B/A   Creativity  E/S

.

All of Elna’s alchemist-related attributes had plenty of room for growth.

Until she reached B-rank, her stats would continue improving steadily as long as she completed her assigned tasks.

“Nick, you’ll keep working with metal. I’ll provide the materials.”

“That’s all? No hammers or anything?”

“That’s right. I want you to develop as quickly as possible, so I’m going with my own training method.”

“Well, if you say so.”

Nick didn’t possess any inherent trait, but he had the potential to surpass even Abaddon when it came to 【Metal Shaping】.

.

Metal Shaping E/S

.

The best way to improve 【Metal Shaping】 was to simply handle metal as much as possible.

“All right then, I’m counting on you both.”

“Yes, sir!”

After seeing off the two highly motivated youths, I made my way back to the guild.

I had my own responsibilities to attend to: ensuring that everyone could train in peace.

†

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