Guild Headmasters

  Joe knew them well. Guild Headmasters appeared in almost every story about adventurers. From the countless novels he had read, they all shared one defining trait.

  They were monsters.

  There was a reason most authors waited hundreds of chapters before properly introducing them. Their presence distorted the power scale of the entire world. If they appeared too early, the story risked immediate power creep and trivial conflicts. When a Headmaster finally stepped into the spotlight, it usually signaled that the narrative was approaching its endgame. They possessed enough strength to influence large scale battles, sometimes to end them outright.

  Writers often kept them in the background to avoid overshadowing the protagonist. Another common solution was to turn them into mentors for the main character. That allowed the author to showcase the peak of the world’s power system without stealing the protagonist’s agency. It was a trope Joe genuinely enjoyed.

  Unfortunately, reality was less accommodating.

  The old man before him had no intention of mentoring him. He fully intended to remove Joe’s head from his shoulders. The blade pressed against Joe’s neck shifted slightly as the man tightened his grip, silently urging him to answer.

  Joe slowly raised his hands. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” His voice trembled despite his effort to steady it.

  “Lies!” the man roared. Spittle struck Joe’s face. “You’re a spy sent by a neighboring guild. Tell me why you were ordered to infiltrate the Blazing Feather Guild.”

  ‘Say it, don’t spray it,’ Joe thought in disgust. If he had eaten recently, he might have vomited.

  He forced himself to stay composed. “Why would you think I’m a spy? I was only a porter for Trey’s pa—”

  “Keep my nephew’s name out of your mouth!” the old man snapped. “You’re the one who killed him.”

  Joe’s eyes widened, then hardened. “I would never do that. Trey was my comrade.”

  “Oh please,” the man replied flatly. “You joined his party to eliminate him. Was your goal to cripple our guild before the Inter Guild Tournament?”

  “I didn’t kill him,” Joe said, frustration creeping into his voice. “He sacrificed himself so I could make it back to Suveny.”

  “Nonsense. Trey dreamed of leading the Ember Family. He would never throw his life away for a stranger. You targeted his group because they were ranked in the top 5 parties of the Blazing Feather Guild.”

  “That’s not what happened. He stayed behind because it was the only way at least one of us could escape the forest.”

  “My nephew and his companions were powerful adventurers. They would not be reduced to desperate survivors. You ambushed them.”

  “What proof do you have?”

  Trogard gave him a mock thoughtful look. “You registered as a porter yesterday. We have no background information on you beyond your name and signature. As an Unawakened, you ran from Evergreen to Suveny and destroyed the town gates. That alone proves you were hiding your strength. Someone capable of breaking the gates of Suveny could easily assassinate a party by concealing their power and striking at the right moment.

  The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

  “Furthermore, with the Mayor’s assistance, we confirmed that no resident of Suveny is named Joseph Miller. Drop the act. You are not Unawakened. Tell me why you were sent here and I may spare your life.”

  Joe could see the hatred in his eyes. There was no real offer of mercy. “None of that proves I killed them. You can’t execute me on assumptions.”

  “I’ll admit you covered your tracks well,” Trogard said calmly. “We found no bodies and no mana residue. Too much time had passed. You possess an effective concealment technique or item. However, I refuse to believe a top 5 party could not handle a Grade 2 beast. Even a Peak Grade 2 should not have wiped them out completely. Aside from the two Great Beasts, nothing in that forest should be capable of such a feat. You are involved.”

  “What if there’s another explanation?” Joe said carefully. “A reason they couldn’t return. A reason they had to sacrifice themselves.”

  “And what would that be?”

  “The Lord of the Woods isn’t a Grade 2.” Joe paused. “It’s a Grade 3.”

  Silence filled the room. Then Trogard laughed.

  “A Grade 3? That is your excuse? It’s impossible for a Grade 3 to exist near Suveny unless it is one of the two Great Beasts.” His expression hardened. “I gave you a chance to be honest and you chose to tell lies. You must really not value your life. “

  “I am telling the truth,” Joe shot back. “You can’t kill me without proof.”

  “I can,” Trogard replied evenly. “Four adventurers disappeared in your presence. You are an outsider. You destroyed our gates. That alone makes you a threat. I can sentence you to death for that.”

  Joe swallowed. “What if I prove it? What if I bring back evidence that the Lord of the Woods is a Grade 3? That would explain everything.”

  “And how would you prove it?”

  “I’ll bring you its core.”

  Trogard stared at him, then laughed again. “You expect me to believe you can kill a Grade 3 beast?”

  “I don’t expect you to believe me. I’m telling you I will.”

  “So you admit you’re Awakened.”

  “We both know I’m not. If I were concealing mana or using an item, you would sense it. Your perception isn’t wrong. I’m Unawakened.”

  Trogard’s pupils constricted. “And you claim you can kill a Grade 3?”

  “Yes.”

  “You expect me to send another top 5 party so you can stage their deaths?”

  “I’ll go alone.”

  A bead of sweat formed on Trogard’s forehead. “Are you insane?”

  “I’ll kill it. For Trey.”

  After a long pause, Trogard withdrew his blade and sheathed it. Joe finally exhaled.

  “You will die for nothing,” Trogard said.

  “Maybe,” Joe replied. “But if I die, you eliminate a suspected spy. If I succeed, you eliminate a Grade 3 threat.”

  “A month,” Trogard said. “You have one month. Attempt to flee and I will hunt you down.”

  “A week,” Joe countered.

  Trogard stared at him. “You cannot kill a Grade 3 as an Unawakened with one week of preparation.”

  “I can.”

  “How?”

  “That’s my problem.”

  Trogard opened a drawer and placed a metal bracelet on the table. “Wear this. It tracks your location. Remove it or

  attempt to destroy it with mana and it will explode. I infused it with my own mana. You will not survive.”

  Joe picked it up and secured it around his left wrist without hesitation.

  Trogard raised a brow.

  “That all?” Joe asked.

  “No.” Trogard handed him a plain blue card. “A temporary Guild Pass. It allows you to register for Dungeon Raids for one week. Use it to prepare.”

  Joe accepted it. “Why help me?”

  “If you succeed, Suveny benefits. That is reason enough.”

  Joe bowed and turned to leave.

  “What gives you such confidence that you'll succeed?” Trogard asked.

  Joe paused at the doorway and glanced back. “I have no choice. I made a vow. I don’t break my word.”

  He left.

  Trogard watched him go. “What a terrifying boy,” he muttered.

  “Elizabeth!” Trogard shouted a few seconds later.

  The girl from the entrance entered and bowed. “Yes, Headmaster?”

  “Keep an eye on that boy.”

  “With respect, why concern yourself with someone so insignificant?”

  “It’s unlike you to question me.”

  “He is unworthy of your attention.”

  Trogard’s reflection curved in the window glass as he smiled. “Do you remember what I told you? That you lack something necessary to become a Great Adventurer?”

  “Yes. I still do not understand what it is. I am the third strongest in this guild.”

  “If you follow that boy, you may find your answer.”

  Elizabeth frowned slightly. “I doubt there is anything to learn from him. But I will obey.”

  “Dismissed.”

  She bowed and closed the door behind her.