第１６００堀：港に冒険者ギルドは？ (Part2)
All of this was brought about because the Dark Guild used a Dungeon Core to trigger a Great Stampede... Though, come to think of it, if that chaos hadn't occurred, the path to the sea would never have been opened. Perhaps I should be thanking the Dark Guild?
As I pondered this, Rock, who had been silent until now, finally spoke up.
"To be honest—or rather, this is just my personal opinion—before we get ahead of ourselves, Grand Master, has there been any discussion at headquarters?"
Indeed. Before Rock’s suggestion, I wanted to hear what headquarters thought about this port town branch.
"Headquarters, you say? Well, my word is... what do you mean?"
"Absolutely not."
"Out of the question."
Rock and I cut the Grand Master’s words down instantly. While he holds the authority, he can only mobilize headquarters on his own word during a genuine emergency. Matters like establishing a new branch require coordination with the other executives.
"Hah, well, I suppose I should find that reliability heartening. Putting the jokes aside, the official stance of headquarters is that a branch facing the sea would be highly profitable, but the current situation is that they have no personnel to spare who possess the necessary spark."
"I imagine so. If such a person existed, they’d likely be standing right next to you, Grand Master."
I nodded. Rock was right. The Weed Adventurer’s Guild is currently the branch that brings in the most revenue. It is, quite literally, the head—the top. After all, we can create dungeons as we please and manufacture items at will. Of course, we handle the distribution internally to ensure no chaos ensues.
Because of that, those of us in the Weed branch aren't exactly viewed with affection by headquarters. To the people who fancy themselves the elite working at the main office, our Weed branch—which earns more than they do—is a target of envy. In fact, when I tried to investigate Hinsua through headquarters, they threw obstacles in my way. It’s just like that...
Ah, so that’s why. They wouldn't miss the chance to worm their way into the Weed Adventurer’s Guild, so the fact that they aren't sending anyone means they truly must be stretched thin everywhere else.
"Well, if they sent some incompetent rookie and caused a disaster, their reputation with Weed would plummet, wouldn't it?"
Exactly. The "elites" may hate the people at the Weed branch, but they view Weed itself as a golden goose that provides vast resources and wealth. That is why they treat Weed with such care.
"Er, I understand the situation, but that ultimately means no one is coming, right? And Rock, you mentioned you had a personal opinion on this?"
Kina steered the conversation back to the main point before it could drift further. She was right. We understood that headquarters supported opening a branch at the Weed seaside, but lacked the staff. So, what was Rock’s plan?
As I turned my gaze toward him, he spoke.
"I understand that headquarters has no leeway to send people. In that case, it only stands to reason that we should send people from the Weed branch, doesn't it?"
"“Eh?”"
Kina and I tilted our heads, failing to grasp the meaning of his statement, but the Grand Master didn't even need to think about it.
"It stands to reason, indeed. Since headquarters isn't sending anyone, someone has to. That makes the Weed branch the primary candidate. After all, it is Weed that is building this port town."
"Exactly."
They were talking as if it were the most natural thing in the world...
"No, no, no! Rock-san, how are we supposed to send people from our branch!?" Kina shouted.
I agreed. Surely, there wasn't anyone in the Weed branch with the talent to build a new guild at the port... But then, I realized what Rock was driving at.
"Hey. Milly, you say something too."
"Ah, yeah. I think I get it."
"Eh? What do you mean?"
It seemed Kina was the only one in the room who didn't understand. Rock then stated it plainly.
"It means you’re the new Guild Master of the port branch."
"Haaaaaaah!?"
The scream Kina let out at that moment was so loud it felt like everyone in the Adventurer’s Guild must have heard it.
In this world, the common sense is that if there are monsters, you call an adventurer—but that is always predicated on the ability to defeat them. And, of course, turning a profit is just as important.
That’s just how reality is.