The D-Rank Guild Master of the No. 1 Guild

“Ugh!”

Unahar ended up beneath me, hitting the back of his head on the ground as we both fell helplessly.

Forget about the notion that Unahar and I always work well together.

If he’d left me alone, I would have landed on my own, but he insisted on saving me, and we both ended up falling…?

“I’m disappointed, Unahar. Team killing?”

See, even Kanel is saying something. It was Unahar’s overprotection that messed things up this time.

“Sorry. My hand just moved on its own.”

Despite his effort to catch me, Unahar had to apologize.

Unahar, lying beneath me, couldn’t move and only turned his head to the side.

I could see his neck turning noticeably red. His Adam’s apple bobbed once, and he covered his mouth with the back of his hand.

“It’s fine. Thanks.”

Somehow, my hand ended up on Unahar’s chest, and I could feel his heartbeat.

I hurriedly pulled my hand back and quickly stood up.

“We don’t have time for this. Gio already caught the first one!”

“Then I’ll get the second!”

“The third one is mine.”

Swick, swick-!

My guild members skillfully cut the base of the beanstalk with their scythes.

“What’s that? Is it a loot?”

There was a large pod, almost the size of a person, on the corpse of the second largest bean creature.

The red thread sticking out from the pod looked familiar…

When I got closer and looked inside, I was shocked to find Akata trapped inside instead of beans.

I quickly cut open the pod with my sword and pulled out the boy from the sleeping forest.

Fortunately, the inside of the pod was soft and comfortable, so Akata was unharmed.

I stared at him in disbelief for a moment, and Akata, lying on my knees, slowly opened his eyelashes.

“Akata! What happened?”

“…I remember being covered by vines as I left my personal room.”

“Why did you stay still until it got this bad? I told you to be more aware of your surroundings and respond to threats coming your way.”

“But it was cozy.”

He covered his mouth and yawned, then smiled sweetly. My goodness.

Anyway, we destroyed the beanstalk creatures’ fortress. Peace returned to our stronghold.

I just remembered that I hadn’t eaten a single meal today.

There was a growling sound from a stomach. No, it seemed to come from Gio’s stomach.

“You guys haven’t eaten either, have you?”

Looking around and asking, I spotted Gio munching on a pea the size of a head.

“At least Gio has eaten.”

“This is just a snack!”

“Alright, but stop eating it raw. You’ll get sick.”

Once everything calmed down, Lilith bowed her head and formally apologized to us.

“I’m sorry for causing our guild so much trouble.”

“It’s okay. Everyone agreed to grow the beanstalk, remember?”

We had all implicitly agreed to use the beanstalk for interior decoration. The result? Utter disaster. The entire first floor was completely devastated.

Which guild would conduct such mock training outside their training grounds?

Perhaps it was because of the chaotic surroundings, but our once harmonious breakfast now resembled soldiers chewing on rations.

Just then, my status window blinked. A new notification appeared.

[Guild Coverage Special!]

At a time like this?

[This evening, multiple cameras designated by each guild will film inside the fortress for 30 minutes!]

In this fortress filled with the corpses of plant soldiers?

I looked around the living room again, but staring at the room splattered with plant fluids wasn’t going to clean it.

“My hard work on the fortress’s interior is all ruined. What a waste.”

I muttered to myself, feeling sorry for the living room that had been trashed right after remodeling.

Unahar, standing next to me, muttered quietly.

“…Maybe it was time to redo the living room interior anyway.”

“Huh?”

As I stood there puzzled, Kanel, behind me, patted my shoulder.

“It’s okay, Rudel. You should rest. I’ll gather the remaining entertainment funds from the guild members and take care of the interior. You don’t have to worry about it.”

* * *

Theme: Drinks and Parties

Similar to the previous ‘Guild Fortress Coverage Event’, this is a bonus event without ranking between guilds.

During the designated period, each guild should use the distributed filming mode to capture scenes matching the theme for about 30 minutes.

The video will be reflected in the ‘Comments’, and bonus points will be awarded based on the response to the ‘Comments’.

According to additional explanations, fortunately, filming in the subordinate group’s quarters was also allowed.

We decided to leave the fortress, which was littered with cut vine stems, to the NPCs and set our hopes on the subordinate group’s quarters.

How would the subordinate group’s living quarters fare as a filming location?

A few days ago, we allocated points and discussed new interior decorations—.

I briefly recalled that moment.

“You guys split this point amount equally. Use it for entertainment expenses.”

In front of the cheering subordinates, excited like middle schoolers dividing class funds, Nahean had said,

“Shall we spruce up our quarters with this? And then vote on how to spend the rest!”

Although I hadn’t checked the results because I left right after he said that…

By now, the interior must have been completely transformed like what Akata and I had done.

What kind of interior awaits us?

With a slightly nervous heart, I stepped into the passageway. Soon, the vast space housing 32 people unfolded before my eyes.

Huh?

The pristine white living room floor was now covered with a warm carpet, and luxurious sofas, a large screen, and speakers were tastefully arranged. The lights overhead had been replaced with an elegant chandelier. It looked like a mansion straight out of a movie about a wealthy family.

“I thought this was a movie set. It’s really nice! Nahean, who took the lead on the design?”

Admiring the surroundings, I voiced my amazement. Just then, the captain of the subordinates group came running barefoot to greet me.

“Guild Leader… Rudel, hello. We all decorated it together, but I did come up with most of the ideas.”

I had told Nahean he could speak informally to me even in front of others. He scratched his head, embarrassed by the praise.

This living room feels different from the one I designed.

‘…Was my design strange? I thought it was a pretty decent vintage look.’

Anyway, this setting is perfect for filming. I explained the ‘Guild Coverage Special! Event’ to Nahean.

Before I could add more, Nahean immediately issued a gathering order to the subordinates group.

“Everyone! Let’s gather up!”

In no time, 31 members came sliding down into the living room, causing a commotion.

The fact that so many people appeared in five minutes, smiling without a single complaint, showed incredible unity.

“Let’s have a drink tonight! How about it? Call?”

“Totally call!”

“Woohoo!”

I discreetly rubbed my forehead from behind.

Leaving aside the fact that I’d have to cover the drinking costs for 26 people with points, excluding the 6 minors…

What’s with this enthusiasm?

I wondered if deciding to do the coverage special with the subordinates group was the right call.

* * *

The designated gathering time arrived, and all 38 members from the guild and the subordinates group were present.

Come to think of it, it’s my first time seeing all of Agasa’s forces in one place.

“Start the filming.”

Kanel moved at my instruction.

Click.

[Filming Mode Activated]

From now on, cameras placed all around would capture the living room like surveillance cameras. The footage was broadcast live to viewers.

The first scene we’d show the viewers of the Agasa Guild’s fortress was…

“Everyone, a moment of silence, please.”

A beanstalk funeral set up like a traditional Korean memorial table.

“What about our drinks? The mafia game?”

“In a bit. First, we need to hold a funeral for the plant Lilith raised.”

Thankfully, Machi, the first left-wing striker of the subordinates group, took on the role of explaining to the viewers.

“So considerate.”

Our subordinates group is so kind… They hadn’t even seen the beanstalk but were bowing their heads sincerely in a moment of silence.

As soon as the brief funeral ended, the real fun began.

Sure, the more lively the drinking party, the better, right? Our subordinates group is full of team spirit, with no one spoiling the mood.

However, it wasn’t good for me.

“I’ll skip the mafia game. And Akata here too.”

“Oh, come on! We had too many people anyway!”

Is this a mafia game or a bustling marketplace…?

Even in a psychological game where we should be doubting and eliminating each other like condemned criminals, laughter never stops.

If we were training or fighting together, it would be different, but this cheerful atmosphere like a college MT trip is too chaotic for me.

And it seems I’m not the only one struggling with this situation.

“…”

Kanel and I are quite alike. Are you an extreme introvert too?

Kanel, who had been singing about wanting to drink, was now silently downing strong whiskey without a word.

He wasn’t some man with a story drinking alone at a fancy bar.

“Instructor! Instructor!”

“Don’t talk to me. And don’t come closer than three steps.”

Whenever someone from the subordinates group tried to talk to him, he would evade by drinking or stuffing his mouth with fruit.

Among my comrades, the only ones who could comfortably socialize in this crowd were Lilith and… Unahar.

Gio is so clueless that it’s hard to tell if he’s extroverted or introverted.

He only knows Lilith, and just sits nearby, watching her laugh with others, looking like a pet longing for attention.