Early TBAGM Vol. 1 Chapter 5 Part 3

Full title: The Banished Advisor’s Guild Management

Note: If you found any typos/mistakes, pls write them in the comment. Thanks.

Translator: Canon

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Back to the present.

Ellis and Nero had already entered the designated castle ahead of time.

The rules of the siege battle were simple:

Whichever side captured the flag placed on the opponent’s throne first would be declared the winner.

The two castles were separated by a distance of roughly ten kilometers, with forested terrain and open plains in between.

Siege battles followed a standard pattern: splitting roles between offense and defense.

“Think the potions will be ready in time? Not like I need 'em or anything. I can manage without.”

“What nonsense are you spouting? You're the one who’ll need them, Nero.”

“Hah? Ain’t it you who’ll run dry on mana first, Ellis?”

In previous siege battles, potions were always entrusted to the defensive unit.

A siege could last for up to a week in extreme cases.

Those on the defensive had to endure relentless waves of assault, leading to severe physical and mental exhaustion.

“So, we’re the same age, but I’m technically your senior, right? Shouldn’t you be using formal speech?”

“Yeah, but I’ve been with Mr. Lloyd longer than you. You do get what that means, right?”

Despite the looming Guild Showdown that could decide the fate of their entire guild, Ellis and Nero were squabbling as usual, utterly unfazed by the tension.

“Guh! Bringing up Lord Lloyd like that, what a dirty trick…! B-But I was the one who met him first!”

“What?! Y-You might’ve met him first, but spending time together’s what counts, right?”

“I don’t need to be with Lord Lloyd all the time. We’re bound by destiny, after all!”

The two of them growled and glared at each other—

Until a gentle fist bonked both their heads.

“Why do you two always end up fighting…”

“Lord Lloyd?!”

“Mr. Lloyd?!”

† 

They turned around on reflex at the sound of my voice so quickly, in fact, their reaction time alone might rival that of an S-rank.

I placed a large box on the ground before them.

“…No way, is that—?”

“Yes. The potions are ready. I figured the two of you would have a hard time without them.”

“W-Well…”

“Y-Yeah, maybe…”

They had been arguing about potions just minutes ago, yet now they had nothing to say.

Both nodded sheepishly.

The truth was, they would need the potions.

Whether it was 【Water Ball】 or 【Magic Breaker】, even they would tire with repeated use. Having potions would drastically reduce the risk of them running out of mana, stamina, or willpower.

Grateful, Ellis and Nero took out the potions and inspected them.

The unusual color of the liquid told them everything, and they silently thanked the two who weren’t present.

“Elna and Nick really pulled it off. I can’t believe they made high-grade potions!”

“As expected of Mr. Lloyd’s chosen team. These containers are easy to drink from and look tough enough not to shatter, even in battle.”

“They did an outstanding job.”

Anyone could tell at a glance that these were high-grade potions.

Most alchemists wouldn’t even dream of creating one.

Though they didn’t say it aloud, both Ellis and Nero likely sensed there was more to these containers than met the eye.

“All right, time for us to get to work!”

“Yeah! They did their part, now it’s our turn!”

“I’ll head back to the guild and watch through the broadcast. Ellis, Nero, do your best.”

“Got it!” they replied in unison, fired up and ready.

I turned my back, reassured.

They would surpass expectations, just as Elna and Nick had.

† 

“Fufufu! Finally, the day has come!”

Nike lounged deep in the throne of his fortress, a crooked smile playing on his lips.

Before him stood over a hundred guild members, lined up in orderly rows.

“Behold, our mountain of potions. Meanwhile, Veiled Moonrise doesn’t have a single one!”

Nike’s eyes drifted toward a stack of boxes overflowing with potions.

More than half of them had been donated by Incarnation of the Sun.

“Why would Veiled Moonrise even accept this match?”

Owen still looked unconvinced, tilting his head repeatedly in confusion.

The others, however, were elated; too euphoric to notice anything strange.

“Even an A-rank can’t win against this many people.”

“Looks like our guild finally landed an A-ranker!”

“Sorry for the folks on the other side, but we’re about to steamroll this.”

Up until now, Oni’s Fang had never won a Guild Showdown.

This was their first real shot at victory. Even if their opponent was weaker, their morale remained sky-high.

“All right, listen up. We’re still splitting roles between offense and defense.”

Nike scanned the hundred members before him, assigning positions based on strengths and weaknesses.

『Two versus one hundred! What kind of showdown will this turn into?!』

The announcer’s voice echoed throughout the fortress.

“Did you hear? It’s just two of them!”

“I know one of them! That D-rank mage girl!”

“Two people?! This match is as good as ours!”

The guild members broke out in laughter, doubling over with mirth.

Because the exact number of opponents isn’t revealed until the match begins, they were just now learning the truth.

(This is going too smoothly…)

Only Owen furrowed his brows.

He had tasted the bottom rung of life more times than he could count.

Having clawed his way up from the gutter, he had a gut feeling—

This scenario felt manufactured, like the pieces had been moved by someone unseen.

Yet even he couldn’t imagine how Veiled Moonrise could win from this position.

(Still, with this momentum, maybe it’ll be fine.)

Morale had never been this high before.

Owen didn’t want to be the one to rain on that. So he pushed the unease to the back of his mind.

『Then let the Guild Showdown begin! Are both sides ready?!』

There was no tension among Oni’s Fang. No nerves.

Whether that would be to their benefit or their downfall, no one knew yet.

『Then let the Guild Showdown… COMMENCEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!』

And thus, the showdown that would determine Lloyd and his guild’s fate… began.

† 

“All right, I’ll leave it to you.”

“Yeah. You can count on me.”

Ellis turned her back to Nero and exited the castle.

They had divided roles: Ellis would attack, Nero would defend. A logical and balanced decision given their abilities.

Once he confirmed she was gone, Nero immediately got to work.

“Perfect. This is flawless, if I say so myself.”

Grinning, he placed a handcrafted Lloyd doll upon the throne.

Nero had secretly brought the doll beforehand, determined to have “Lloyd” seated on the castle’s throne.

He had spent nearly a week crafting it during his spare time.

Its resemblance to the real Lloyd was uncanny, so precise that even a professional dollmaker would be impressed.

“Heh heh heh. Think Lloyd’ll praise me for this?”

Nero chuckled, daydreaming about being praised by Lloyd.

Unaware that he would later be harshly scolded for it.

But even that scolding would be a reward in Nero’s eyes. Nothing could stop him now, he was far too deep in.

“Sigh… And yet I’m just C-rank.”

He muttered under his breath.

Lloyd had recently used 【Appraisal】 on him and confirmed that his total combat ability only placed him at C-rank.

Nero had reached A-rank by relying on numerous skills, an approach that leveraged his unique strength in skill variety.

But now, he had given up all other skills to wield 【Magic Breaker】.

Lately, he had relied solely on that skill while remaining in Ellis’s shadow.

As a result, his physical attributes had begun to decline.

“Still… this enemy mocked Lloyd. I’ll make them pay for that.”

His determination remained unshaken.

The only reason someone would challenge them to a Guild Showdown was if they thought they could win.

In Nero’s mind, that was tantamount to mocking Lloyd, and that was unforgivable.

He didn’t care who it was. If you insulted Lloyd, Nero would break you until you regretted it.

“Mr. Lloyd… I’ll do my best!”

He bowed to the Lloyd doll seated on the throne—

Then turned and descended the staircase.

† 

“Whoa, no way! It’s the real Nero!”

“And he’s alone? Where’s the D-rank mage girl?”

“Not like she matters. She’s on our level. No reason for her to even show up.”

As expected, about thirty armed adventurers were gathered in front of the castle when Nero emerged.

The distance from their fortress to here was ten kilometers. They had likely sprinted the entire way as soon as the match began.

(Just like Mr. Lloyd said…)

Nero internally praised Lloyd once more.

『Their forces are split into three units. The Third Unit is for direct assault on the castle. The Second Unit is composed of mages planning to destroy it with combined magic. The First Unit is the defensive core. Each group likely numbers around thirty.』

The group standing before him was the Third Unit, already moving to capture the castle.

“All right, time to take you down a peg, A-rank.”

“Come on then—if you think you can, bring it! You third-rate scrubs!”

With a roar, Nero leapt into the fray.

In the past, he could’ve wiped out thirty D-rank adventurers instantly using 【Lightning Flash】.

But those days were gone.

“Tch! You’re annoying!”

He downed one opponent after another, but they kept coming, wave after wave.

For the first time, Nero was forced into a real struggle.

† 

Meanwhile, with Oni’s Fang’s Second Unit—

“The Third Unit is engaged in combat!”

About four kilometers from Veiled Moonrise’s castle, the Second Unit’s mages had gathered in a dense forest.

The thick trees and brush blocked enemy sightlines, perfect cover for preparing large-scale magic.

“Nero is showing signs of fatigue! Now’s our chance!”

The Second Unit’s role was to bring down the enemy fortress.

Despite Nero’s title as an A-rank adventurer, the Third Unit alone couldn’t do it.

So Nike devised a strategy—

Wear him down, then strike with a combined spell.

Defending against combined magic required dozens of sturdy shields and tank-type adventurers.

Even an A-rank wouldn’t be able to withstand a direct hit.

And Nero was a light fighter. He had neither a shield nor defensive magic.

This would be a decisive blow.

“Okay, everyone, channel your mana!”

“Ooooohhh!”

The mages began gathering mana into a single point.

Even if the spell failed, the First Unit stood as the final line of defense.

With Owen and Nike stationed there, the Second Unit could cast their spell without fear.

“Hey, Group B! The spell’s unstable, focus and align the mana properly!”

“Yes, sir!”

The thirty mages were split into three groups of ten:

Group A would provide raw mana.

Group B would stabilize and shape it.

Group C would cast it toward the enemy fortress.

“Okay, we’re set! Group C, prepare to fire!”

“Understood!”

Above the treetops, a colossal fireball took form.

It was hotter and more massive than any advanced fire spell—

A destructive force capable of incinerating everything in its path.

The mages smiled, impressed by the scale and precision of their own magic.

“The moment has finally come!”

To defeat an A-rank adventurer—a goal they’d once considered impossible—was now within reach.

Their unit leader roared on behalf of everyone present:

“Take this, A-rank adventurer! Witness the flames of the forsaken—【All of Flame】!”

And at that moment, the searing fireball shot forward, tearing through the forest and streaking toward Nero.

†

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