Chapter 20 : Garbage Guild Chief Herald

Herald Grills.

The current guild leader of the Kalp Village Branch of the Adventurer’s Guild, he was a soldier who earned immense accolades on the battlefield until a few years ago.

His skill was truly befitting the title of elite.

The military valued his abilities, awarding him medals and power. As he climbed the ranks, Herald’s pride *soared to the heavens.

“I am strong. And being strong means I can crush the weak with force,” he thought.

Was it because his innate talent was too exceptional?

Intoxicated by his own power, Herald developed a disdain for the weak, and this sadistic streak targeted not only enemy forces but also his own subordinates.

He wielded violence against those who defied him, suppressed those who annoyed him with force… Yes, as a strong man, he believed he was entitled to do so.

Firmly convinced of this, he carved out a small kingdom of his own on the battlefield, reveling in his authority. Ironically, this golden age ended futilely with the war’s conclusion.

No war lasts forever, and a hierarchy based on might is only permitted on the battlefield.

Overlooking this, Herald tried to dominate his surroundings with force even in peacetime. But society’s laws and norms didn’t tolerate him, stripping him of everything he had as punishment.

All the authority and wealth he’d amassed in the military vanished in an instant.

Feeling resentment, he harbored vengeance against the superiors who abandoned him and leapt into the path of an adventurer to seek success.

With talents that flourished on the battlefield, adventuring was not difficult.

In fact, the free-spirited life of an adventurer suited his nature better than the structured military.

Continuing his activities, he reached an advanced rank, and the guild offered him two choices:

Continue as an adventurer to aim for higher ranks, or be recruited by the guild to manage a branch as a guild leader.

Herald chose the latter.

Leading people would allow him to reclaim the authority he’d lost on the battlefield, he believed.

“Yes, as a guild leader, I can have some fun like the old days,” he thought.

Thus, Herald joined the guild to wield power and was appointed as the leader of a guild branch vacated due to personal circumstances.

Kalp Village, a pioneering settlement.

A place where many adventurers flocked amid ongoing pioneering efforts.

Becoming the leader of such a site, Herald felt unparalleled joy and anticipation.

A rural village meant the Empire’s strict norms were loosely enforced, and the influx of people meant plenty of weaklings to trample.

“Listen up, you rabble! This place is under the direct watch of the Empire’s higher-ups! Given its importance, adventurers here will be rigorously screened!” he declared.

With the pretext of substantial imperial support, Herald used tests as an excuse to inflict harsh violence on adventurers, then granted qualifications to the broken ones as if showing mercy.

Not out of pity or recognition.

Toys are meant to be played with long-term, not broken.

“Heh, ruling over adventurers flocking to this backwater for success, with no one to defy me… What could be more fun?” he thought.

Yes, in this village, he was akin to a king.

With such confidence, Herald entered the guild today, savoring the hostile glares of adventurers as he strode to the counter.

Imagining how to toy with the feeble adventurers seeking to join today.

“G-Guild Leader, you’re here?” the clerk stammered.

“Haha, stating the obvious. I’m the master of this guild, so showing up is only natural, isn’t it?” Herald boomed.

Master, not leader.

Emphasizing this, Herald glinted his shadowed eyes and snapped at the clerk, “Now that I’m here, it’s time for guild leader duties. Where are today’s new recruits?”

“W-Well…” the clerk hesitated, sweating.

Irritated at the thought of defiance, Herald was about to snap when he sensed movement at his feet and looked down.

There stood a white-haired girl in a red cape.

“Baldy!” she said.

At her words, Herald let out a puzzled exclamation.

“…What?” he asked.

“Baldy, shiny!” she repeated.

More babbling than language.

Annoyed, Herald clicked his tongue and waved his hand at her.

“Kid, this isn’t a place for you. Go home and suck your mom’s—” he started.

“E-Excuse me, Guild Leader! That child is today’s adventurer applicant,” the clerk interrupted urgently.

“…What?” Herald blinked, stunned.

Looking down again, he saw the girl raise her hand, grinning brightly.

“Baldy uncle! Hi!” she said.

Still babbling incomprehensibly.

But likely not with good intent.

Irritated, Herald scowled and *leaned toward her menacingly.

“You little brat! What do you think this place is, crawling in here?” he roared.

“Hoe?” she tilted her head.

Despite her innocent face, Herald continued shouting relentlessly.

“This is the Adventurer’s Guild! A key hub for pioneering efforts under the Empire’s direct watch! Adventurers here shed blood and sweat for the cause, and a milk-smelling brat like you dares to crawl in?” he bellowed.

Pioneering importance, adventurers’ struggles…

Honestly, Herald couldn’t care less.

He was angry purely out of annoyance.

Excited to bully new recruits today, finding a barely articulate child as the test-taker dampened his mood.

“…Mnya?” she tilted her head again, not understanding.

Enraged by her ignorance, Herald was about to snap further but sighed deeply, deeming it pointless.

“Tch, really. I’d love to see the parents’ faces. What kind of pathetic fool lets a kid like this wander in?” he muttered.

“I’m this child’s father,” a voice responded.

A man in a black cloak strode beside the girl.

Turning with a furious glare, Herald met his calm voice as he asked, “Are you the recently appointed guild leader?”

A straightforward question, devoid of flattery.

Offended by his attitude, Herald clicked his tongue and retorted sharply, “Yes, I, Herald Grills, am the master of this guild.”

“Master?” the man questioned.

“Guild leader means master. Why nitpick? Who are you?*” Herald snapped.

“…Logan Smith. An adventurer active here,” the man replied.

“Hmph, an adventurer? Don’t recognize your face,” Herald said.

“I’ve been on break due to personal matters. Seems the guild’s atmosphere has changed quite a bit in my absence,” Logan said.

Consistently calm voice.

To Herald, this was infuriating.

Most new adventurers cowered before him, but this man stared straight at him, as if devoid of emotion.

“…So, you brought your kid to show her your workplace, huh?” Herald sneered.

Dealing with such a guy was *grating.

Waving his hand as if shooing a bug, Herald tried to dismiss him.

“If you’re done showing off, take your kid and get lost. Don’t stir trouble,” he said.

“Sorry, but that’s not happening,” Logan replied.

Standing his ground with unwavering demeanor, Logan lifted the girl and stated firmly, “I came here today to make this child an adventurer.”

“…What?” Herald blinked.

“I said, I came to make this child an adventurer,” Logan repeated.

“Rona, adventurer!!” the girl declared.

A father claiming to make a barely articulate child an adventurer.

And the girl, boldly proclaiming it while held in his arms.

Even for Herald, with his vast battlefield experience, this scene felt jarring.

“Thought it was just kid’s play… but this guy’s crazier than I expected,” Herald muttered.

He’d seen abusive parents, but never one who handled a child like this.

“Herald Grills,” Logan said.

Stunned and speechless, Herald met Logan’s steady gaze as he continued.

“I don’t care what kind of person you are. What you did before coming to this village doesn’t matter to me,” Logan said.

“What…” Herald started.

“What matters to me is that you’re the one running this guild, and to operate as an adventurer here, one must pass the test you’ve set,” Logan said.

Lowering the girl from his arms, Logan *pushed her forward to stand boldly before Herald, reiterating his purpose, “Please, allow Rona to take the test.”

“…” Herald stood silent.

Madman.

Suppressing the urge to blurt that out, Herald *grinned widely and turned away.

If this wasn’t just sabotage but a genuine attempt to make the child an adventurer, then as guild leader, he had to respond sincerely.

“Follow me. I’ll lead you to the testing ground,” he said.

Yes, Herald intended to act sincerely.

Going easy on a child was a half-baked notion.

Like a lion hunting a rabbit with full force, it was natural for a strong man to thoroughly crush the weak.

Following Herald, they arrived at a training arena behind the guild.

Handing Logan a wooden sword, Herald took his position with another, explaining the test’s rules.

“The rule is simple. Land one hit on me with that wooden sword, and you pass the test,” Herald said.

“Just one hit?” Logan asked.

“Yes, swing that wooden sword and hit me once. Simple rule, isn’t it?” Herald replied.

A rule common in light sparring.

Hearing only this rule, most adventurers approached the test with confidence.

Unaware that their opponent was a veteran who’d earned countless accolades on the battlefield.

“Sounds fine,” Logan said.

Also unaware of this fact, the man nodded and handed the wooden sword to his daughter.

“Listen, Rona. Now, you need to hit that uncle over there with this wooden sword,” Logan said.

“Baldy uncle, hit?” Rona asked.

“Yes, remember when we played with the toy hammer? It’s like that feeling,” Logan explained.

“Okay!” Rona nodded.

Nodding boldly to her father’s gentle explanation, as if it were a game, Rona stood ready.

Watching, Herald *smirked slyly and channeled mana into his wooden sword.

“Heh, that guy must think: ‘Just one hit, even a kid can do that,’” Herald thought.

Utter nonsense.

The battlefield he’d faced was a realm where life and death hung in split seconds.

To survive there, one needed the skill to block, parry, or dodge every incoming attack.

Having mastered this to earn his accolades, the attacks of ragtag adventurers flocking to this rural village for coin seemed as slow as crawling worms to him.

Let alone a toddler who might not even swing a wooden sword properly.

“Nngh! Uuungh!” Rona grunted.

As expected, she struggled to bear the wooden sword’s weight, groaning.

Finding this laughable, Herald raised his wooden sword and declared the test’s start.

“Let’s begin! Don’t think I’ll go easy because you’re a kid!!” he roared.

A lion hunts a rabbit with full force.

Thrilled to crush the weakest opponent he’d ever faced, Herald charged with full speed, preparing to swing his wooden sword at the girl’s head.

Intending to deliver a bone-crushing blow, making her regret her foolish dream of becoming an adventurer.

“Haaa!!” he shouted.

But the wooden sword he swung with such intent never reached the girl.

Before it hit her head, she barely steadied herself and swung her wooden sword, clashing with Herald’s with a battle cry.

–BOOOOM!!

The collision produced a thundering explosion, shattering Herald’s wooden sword violently.

“W-What…?” Herald stammered.

Unable to comprehend what happened, Herald stood stunned as the girl, re-gripping her sword slumped on the ground, began to swing again.

Eyes squeezed shut to bear the sword’s weight.

In that moment, unleashing a vast surge of mana without restraint.

“Uncleeee!!” she cried.

With her erupting battle cry, a surging torrent of power enveloped her wooden sword.

Realizing this too late, the girl’s sword was already striking Herald’s body.

–KABOOOOOM!!!

A deafening roar echoed, and Herald’s body, unable to withstand the impact, flew backward, tumbling violently across the ground.

He stopped only after flying a considerable distance across the arena.

“Guh, hah…” Herald gasped.

Writhing from the shock, Herald trembled as Logan, waiting nearby, approached quietly and asked, “You okay?”

“Cough, hah…” Herald wheezed.

Answering was impossible. The impact was unprecedented, even compared to the battlefield.

That it came from a child’s hand—was that even plausible?

“W-What just happened…?” Herald muttered.

Convinced he must be mistaken, Herald voiced his doubt. Logan replied in his ever-calm voice, “Rona knocked you down.”

“…What?” Herald blinked.

“I said, Rona knocked you down,” Logan repeated.

As if it was only natural, despite being beyond common sense.

“So, can we consider this a pass for the test?” Logan asked.

Conveying only his purpose concisely, Logan drew Herald’s dazed gaze to the arena.

There stood the red-caped girl, hoisting her wooden sword with both hands as high as she could.

“Rona won!” she cheered.

A radiant smile bloomed on the young Hero’s face.