Helping with Adventurer Party Management - Chapter 116

It seems that Sara needs time to calm down, so I decide to postpone the discussion for the day. There is a mountain of work to be done to get the Guardian’s Shoes business on track, and it would be more constructive to discuss strategies after planning how to persuade the Adventurers’ Guild.

I review my knowledge of bureaucratic organizations and the behavior principles of officials from my former world and develop a plan that matches the attitudes and levels of the guild staff we had discussed previously. After a few days of work, the plan starts to take shape, but I’m not confident it will resonate with the nobles’ sensibilities in this world.

Not having a reliable advisor among the nobility is a challenge. I don’t want to make enemies of the nobility. If understanding their way of thinking and principles could reduce friction, that would be preferable.

It’s necessary to come up with a way to improve the lives of novice adventurers without causing friction with the Adventurers’ Guild organization.

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“Sara, I’d like to talk for a moment…”

“Oh, sure.”

Sara is counting the inventory of Guardian’s Shoes parts and jotting something down on a board.

Over the past few months, Sara has truly become proficient in various administrative tasks. Of course, I am the one who devised the management system to make the work understandable with simple words and numbers, but it is Sara who is actually running the operations.

Now, Sara has shed much of the image of a naive village girl who came from the countryside and knows a little about archery. She has accumulated a lot of experience and become capable of understanding the workings of the world and handling tasks that move people.

I am sure she will understand the things I am about to discuss.

“Sara, about the Adventurers’ Guild…”

When I begin, Sara’s expression hardens a little.

“I don’t want you to hate the Adventurers’ Guild or the nobles. I know you might find it unforgivable, but—”

“No! I can never forgive them!” Sara responds immediately. It seems that a large part of her is unable to let go of her anger.

“I can’t forgive them either. But if we let our hatred take over, we can’t make deals with them. We’ll end up turning them into enemies. If we make them our enemies, we’ll be the ones who suffer. I don’t want you to die, Sara. That’s why I don’t want you to hate them.” I speak earnestly to Sara.

Even I can’t forgive them. But that’s different from hating them or turning against them. It’s not just about distinguishing between public and private matters; it’s about the wisdom of surviving in this world.

I hope Sara can come to terms with that.

“If I kill that double-chinned guild official? What do you think would happen?”

“Kenji would get caught,” Sara says, pouting her lips.

I give a wry smile and continue, “Exactly. Then a new guild official would take that position. The situation for adventurers wouldn’t change at all.”

Sara bites her lip in frustration.

“It’s the same with the nobles. Even if we hate them and kill them, a new noble would just take their place. Nothing would change.”

“So what should we do then?” Sara’s voice rises in frustration. Her shout echoes the same question I have privately struggled with and repeated to myself many times.

This world is absurd. It’s unforgivable. So what should we do?

“There are adventurers who live freely, even in this world.”

Sara raises her head at my words.

“The Sword Fangs Legion, Dawn of the Swift, and top-tier clans have changed their circumstances through their own power. In the end, adventurers have to assert themselves by strength. Fight monsters, get covered in blood, wield swords, and carve out a place in the world. The results of that cannot be denied by either the Adventurers’ Guild or the nobles.”

“That’s true, but still…”

“Yes. Jilboa and Swiberry become heroes. They aren’t ordinary people like us. But even ordinary people like us have come this far. We’ve survived for several years, gathered decent equipment, and saved up a bit to start a new business. I want to increase the number of ordinary people from rural areas who can make it this far.”

Sara nods reluctantly, as if she understands part of it. “I get that. Kenji, you started the shoe business for that reason, didn’t you? But whether or not to forgive that double-chinned man is a separate issue, right?”

I reply, “It’s not necessary to forgive them. It’s just that they hold the lives of novice adventurers in their hands. So, I want us to think of ways to help the adventurers together.”

Sara closes her eyes for a moment but then slowly opens them as if coming to terms with something.

“Alright. I’ll think about it with you. I won’t forgive them, but I won’t show it on my face or in my words. That’s okay, right? And knowing you, you must have some kind of plan. Don’t keep me in suspense; tell me quickly.”

Sara’s attitude finally returns to her usual self.

I begin to explain my thoughts about the Adventurers’ Guild to her.