Episode 8
‘This is truly unbelievable.’
Sitting in his office, Cedrian thought.
‘The Temple is approaching me first.’
He had spent a long time trying to persuade people inside the Temple to cooperate with him, but he had always failed.
Their faith was simply too strong.
The High Priest of the Temple possessed the supernatural ability called “Miracles,” and the people inside the Temple who witnessed those miracles up close were deeply devoted to him.
After failing to persuade anyone inside the Temple, Cedrian had tried to find people who worked under the Temple.
But even that was difficult.
The Temple carefully concealed the organizations it outsourced work to.
It was therefore astonishing that the small information guild he had visited for another request, the “Global Whatever” Guild, happened to be an information guild working as a subcontractor for the Temple.
‘Everything is going far too smoothly.
‘Could this be another attempt to use me?’
Even though the Crown Prince had confirmed her sincerity with his “Oath” ability, Cedrian still felt uneasy.
His entire life had been a series of situations where he had to be suspicious in order to survive.
By now, he trusted no one.
Was there some way he could find out more about that guild?
Wanting to discover anything he could, Cedrian changed his appearance using an item and walked toward the guild office.
Then he noticed a piece of paper posted outside.
[Global Information Network Guild
Recruitment Notice]
– Your passion is our asset.
We are recruiting the next generation of talent at the world’s leading information guild, a company that leads innovation and globalization.
Qualifications
- No restrictions on age, gender, or background.
- Must have a strong sense of responsibility and love a “family-like atmosphere.”
- Must possess a positive mindset capable of handling anything with a smile.
Working Conditions
- Six-day workweek
(Days off may be negotiated, but negotiating will result in a lower evaluation.) - Salary: Negotiable
(But only downward negotiation is possible.)
※ This guild is a “business with fewer than five employees” and is therefore not subject to Imperial labor laws.
“……!”
‘Who on earth would apply after seeing an advertisement like that?’
After posting the recruitment notice according to the Guild Master’s orders, I grumbled to myself.
Unless they were a desperate newcomer who desperately needed their very first job, there was no sane person who would apply after seeing a notice like that.
“Assistant Manager Audret, are there still no applications?”
“Ah, yes…”
Before he could start complaining, I quickly added,
“Wouldn’t it be better to have one proper person apply rather than a bunch of random people?
“Someone who recognizes the true value of our guild will eventually appear.”
“Hmm. That’s true.”
Fortunately, the Guild Master nodded as if he agreed with me.
Then he stood up and looked around at Susanna and me.
“But if a new employee joins, wouldn’t it look a little pathetic if our guild only had assistant managers?”
“……!”
This was my chance!
I immediately opened my eyes wide.
People who don’t understand X-companies sometimes try to make fun of someone by saying,
“You work at an X-company, so you can’t even get promoted, can you?”
But that doesn’t work at all.
Because the defining feature of the X-company I worked at was…
“Boss! I’ve worked here for a long time. Can’t you promote me?”
“Fine! I’m in a good mood today! Starting tomorrow, you’re promoted to assistant manager!”
“Really?!”
“Yes! And this assistant manager is getting promoted to manager!
“And Manager Kim is getting promoted to senior manager!”
“…Didn’t anything actually change?”
That’s how promotions worked.
Anyway, since the only person above me right now was the Guild Master, this was a great opportunity for me.
There was no way I could let Susanna become an assistant manager while I remained at the same rank.
And if a new employee joined, it would also be much better if I were an assistant manager when I tried to bring them over to my side.
“That’s a good point, Guild Master.
“Wouldn’t it be better to have at least one assistant manager?”
“Exactly.
“I’m wondering who I should promote…”
At those words, Susanna, who had been keeping a low profile because I knew her secret, also started watching the situation carefully.
She had only been quiet because I had her weakness in my hands.
Normally, Susanna had been working hard to flatter the Guild Master and stay on his good side.
“I originally thought Assistant Manager Susanna was a good worker.
“But why have you been so low-energy lately?
“Come on! You need to show some enthusiasm at work!”
“Ahahaha…”
Susanna looked at my face.
Even so, she couldn’t let this opportunity pass.
So she opened her mouth.
“If I were promoted to assistant manager, I think I could use this opportunity to work even harder…”
She began speaking in her usual cute, overly sweet tone.
But she didn’t understand something.
To get promoted at an X-company, the important thing isn’t making yourself look good.
It’s making someone else look bad.
I noticed the latte sitting on Susanna’s desk.
Then I smiled triumphantly and said,
“Guild Master, I guess lattes are really popular these days?”
“Why are you suddenly talking about that?”
“I’ve been so busy preparing meetings that I usually only drink instant mixed coffee.
“But Assistant Manager Susanna really knows what’s trendy.
“She drinks lattes.
“Thanks to her, I’m learning about the latest trends!”
“What? A latte?”
The old-fashioned Guild Master’s face immediately turned angry.
“What is wrong with young people these days?
“Lattes?
“You’re supposed to drink mixed coffee at work!
“Back in my day, we were grateful if someone gave us even one cup of mixed coffee!
“Sometimes we just drank plain water!”
“Guild Master, you’ve really worked hard throughout your life.
“I should learn from your attitude toward work!”
“Hmm. I think I need to think a little more about who to make assistant manager.
“You two should both work harder.”
“Yes, Guild Master!”
Susanna trembled as she stared at the latte sitting on her desk.
Hmm.
But the competition for the promotion had only just begun.
“Where should we eat lunch today?
“Who wants to decide?”
“Oh! Guild Master! I’ll choose!
“I heard the Owl Restaurant right over there is really popular!”
“The Owl Restaurant?”
Before the Guild Master could be tempted by Susanna’s suggestion, I quickly joined in.
“Oh, I’ve heard about it too.
“I heard the fire-flavored rose cream pasta at the Owl Restaurant is really popular!”
“What?
“Fire-flavored rose… what?
“What on earth is that?”
“Good grief. Unlike young people these days, I don’t do well with spicy or stimulating food.
“Maybe I’m too old-fashioned…
“But you know, that hearty stew at the Mercenary Restaurant behind us is really good.”
“Exactly!
“Young people these days always want to go to expensive and flashy places!
“Let’s go to the Mercenary Restaurant!”
Susanna shot me a resentful glare.
“Wow, Assistant Manager Susanna!
“What is this receipt?
“You bought a phonograph?
“Are you planning to listen to music at home?”
“What?
“A phonograph?
“That expensive thing?”
“It’s, it’s not that expensive…
“I bought a cheap one…”
“I heard it’s trendy among young people these days to bring small phonographs to work.
“I guess Susanna wants to do that too!”
“No, I’ve never…!”
“Kids these days have no common sense!
“Tsk, tsk!”
Two hits.
Susanna shot me another resentful glare.
“Guild Master, how about we have a company dinner tonight?
“It has been a while!”
“A company dinner?
“Didn’t you hate company dinners?”
“Come on.
“Wouldn’t it be nice for the three of us to build some teamwork before the new employee joins?”
“Hmm. That’s true.”
Susanna, who had been dragged into the company dinner because of me, gave me an angry glare.
We couldn’t even dream of eating expensive meat.
Instead, we went to the nearby cheap Mercenary Restaurant and ordered some simple skewers as snacks.
“Young people these days don’t like being forced to drink, right?”
“Of course not!”
Susanna, apparently having figured out what I was doing, got ahead of me.
“I’ll happily drink anything the Guild Master gives me!”
“That’s right, Guild Master.
“People used to toast together all the time, didn’t they?”
“Exactly!
“Teamwork was important back then!
“Young people these days have no sense of teamwork!”
“In that case, I’ll make a mixed drink for everyone.”
I suddenly stood up.
Using the skills I had developed at my X-company, I began mixing the drinks with impressive techniques.
“Wow! I didn’t know Assistant Manager Audret could do this!
“You’re usually so quiet that I had no idea!”
“I thought I needed to learn things while adapting to the company.
“But now I’ve been here long enough.
“Shouldn’t I start acting with a sense of ownership toward the company?”
“Haha! Exactly!”
The Guild Master drank the cocktail I had mixed.
He became noticeably happier.
Then, at last, he said the words I had been waiting for.
“I had no idea Assistant Manager Audret worked this hard!
“Fine! I’m in a good mood!
“You can become an assistant manager!”
“Thank you, Guild Master!”
Three hits.
Susanna shot me a third resentful glare.
“Assistant Manager Susanna, is something wrong?”
“Ugh, mmmph, d-damn…”
I listened to Susanna’s response through her tightly clenched teeth.
Then, feeling delighted, I poured the drink down my throat.
