Early TBAGM Vol. 1 Chapter 4 Part 8

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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The day before the showdown with Oni’s Fang.

Ellis and Nero had descended into the volcanic dungeon to complete the assignment I had given them.

“Lord Lloyd! We’re back!”

“Haaah... I’m exhausted...”

The two of them wore expressions that blended exhaustion with a sense of accomplishment.

I wanted to hear about everything that had happened in the dungeon—but first, there was something more pressing.

“Well done, both of you. Go take a shower first.”

“Yes!”

Covered in blood and sweat, they hurried off toward the showers.

While I had the chance, I used 【Appraisal】 on them—and their growth over the past two weeks was incredible... no, this went beyond incredible.

Ellis (19)

[Stats] Vitality: C → B　Magic: S → SS

[Attributes] Agility: D → B

[Hidden Skill] Water Ball: S → SS

Nero (19)

[Stats] Ambition: C → B

[Attributes] Endurance: C → B

[Hidden Skill]  Magic Breaker: C → B

“What... is this...?”

I couldn’t help but mutter in disbelief at the numbers before me.

Ellis had far surpassed her previous limits, and Nero’s hidden skill had risen to B rank.

What on earth had they done to grow this fast? Was it my sense of common sense that was flawed?

Ten minutes later, they returned from the showers and sat across from me at the dining table.

Technically, I should have summoned them to the Guildmaster’s office, but everyone had subconsciously come to treat this hall as our central gathering place.

“So yeah, we made it to the twenty-third floor.”

Fresh and clean, the two began recounting what had happened in the dungeon.

“You reached the twenty-third floor?!”

The story they told was so shocking I nearly blacked out.

“From there onward, we’d definitely need more people. Even with my 【Water Ball】, there were moments I couldn’t completely cancel out the attacks.”

“Right. Just the two of us makes for fast progress, but it also increases the burden on each of us. And with all my other skills sealed, that was as far as I could push.”

They spoke with frustration in their voices.

The assignment I had given them was to reach the tenth floor.

Clearing ten floors in two days would demand high levels of both Agility and Endurance, which I had hoped would naturally raise their stats.

Instead, they’d gone more than twice that distance. At this point, their speed defied human limits.

“What about the boss? Incarnation of the Sun should still be stuck on Floor 20, right?”

That was what worried me most.

You can’t clear dungeon floors without facing the boss at each tenth layer. Even for those two, defeating one wouldn’t be easy—or so I thought.

“We beat it! My magic took it down in one hit.”

“Yeah, we took it out. I sliced its fireball clean in half.”

Wait... what? They defeated the boss? Huh??

“If I hadn’t used 【Water Ball】, you’d have ended up like Edgar.”

“What are you talking about? If I hadn’t used 【Magic Breaker】, we’d both be dead. Which means it was all thanks to me.”

The two glared at each other and started bickering as usual.

Normally I’d step in and break it up, but I had no energy left to intervene.

“Wha—Whaaaaaat?!”

I screamed loud enough to rattle the windows.

I’ve been screaming a lot lately, haven’t I?

“Okay, okay—let’s break this down. Did you just say Edgar was there?”

The flood of information was too much for my brain to process.

Sensing my confusion, Nero kindly gave a full explanation.

“Yeah. He must’ve gotten impatient and gone in alone. He was getting hammered by a flying-type boss and nearly died.”

Apparently Edgar had gotten fed up with the dungeon’s slow progress and rushed in alone.

Then he got himself into a fatal situation and ended up being rescued by Ellis and Nero.

It confirmed what I’d suspected: Incarnation of the Sun had finally committed to conquering the volcanic dungeon, but they were floundering.

At this rate, they wouldn’t make progress for at least two more months.

“And you two defeated the boss?”

Ellis and Nero grinned and nodded enthusiastically.

Ordinarily, a boss fight like that would require a raid of thirty or more people.

At least one A-rank, five B-ranks, and twenty-five C-ranks or lower.

Yet these two had cleared it on their own.

Even if I could understand it, I didn’t want to.

How long could the world cling to outdated definitions of what was “normal”?

“Oh, you’re both back already.”

“Welcome back! We’ve leveled up too!”

Nick and Elna returned to the guild with expressions full of pride.

If they’d grown even half as much as Ellis and Nero... I was honestly scared to check with 【Appraisal】.

“Ellis, Nero—go get some sleep. You’ve got a big day tomorrow.”

They were both near their limits.

They’d spent the entire day in the dungeon.

Tomorrow, they’d face a battle against over a hundred enemies. Rest was essential.

“Mm’kay...”

“Understood.”

Fighting off sleep, they trudged toward their rooms.

It was just after 5 p.m. now. They’d likely sleep straight through to morning.

Refocusing, I turned to the other two.

“Right. Now, let’s discuss the problem Veiled Moonrise is currently facing.”

“Yes!”

Nick and Elna nodded, their expressions suddenly serious.

They took the seats Ellis and Nero had just vacated.

“Do you two know why we can’t buy potions right now?”

“I heard something like that. People are being told not to sell to Veiled Moonrise, right?”

“Exactly. From what I hear, Kyros has been spreading the message—if you sell to us, consider Incarnation of the Sun your enemy.”

Psychological warfare through backdoor tactics; Incarnation of the Sun excelled at this.

But they’d already failed to block our partnership contract, which means this kind of move won’t work again.

Not while I’m here.

“Technically, we could still get potions if we really pushed, but I think this is a chance.”

“A chance?”

Siege battles are wars of attrition.

It’s not an exaggeration to say the side that runs out of potions first will lose.

Those two probably won’t need any potions, but I still have to plan for all possibilities.

I might be the only one left in this guild who still clings to common sense.

“Elna, Nick. I want the two of you to make potions.”

“You want us to make them?”

Elna’s eyes widened in disbelief. Nick didn’t speak, but the shock on his face was plain.

Elna had only been practicing basic 【Magic Manipulation】. I hadn’t even begun teaching her about healing potions.

In a high-pressure situation like this, most would run from such a suggestion.

But it was precisely because of that pressure that rapid growth could occur.

And Elna had the mental fortitude to withstand it.

“Can I really do it?”

She asked tentatively, as if seeking reassurance.

So I nodded firmly, hoping to give her confidence.

“Yes. You absolutely can, Elna.”

“I want to help this guild! I want to protect everyone!”

Hearing her resolve, I immediately stood up to begin preparations.

From here on, it would be a race against time.

Even for a genius, potion-making demanded knowledge and experience.

My role would be to make up that difference.

“Nick, I need you to make containers.”

“Make them? You mean we’re not buying them?”

“Exactly. You know what I mean, right?”

I smiled at him, and after a moment, he smirked back in understanding.

“Heh... so that’s what this is. You sure don’t hold back.”

“But you’ll do it, won’t you?”

“Of course! I’ll get it done no matter what!”

Nick nodded with satisfaction and hurried off to the workshop.

With Ambition at A-rank, Nick would keep pushing forward.

He would reach for heights even beyond the results I had in mind.

“Elna, keep training your 【Magic Manipulation】 to the limit until I’m ready.”

“Got it! I’ll do my best!”

Elna nodded firmly and followed after Nick.

As I watched them go, one thought came to mind.

“Once this showdown is over, we need to get their guilds properly established.”

I still hadn’t made good on my promise to make them guildmasters.

But if we overcame this crisis, they would have proven themselves far beyond ordinary craftsmen.

At that point, I would owe them a brand in their own name.

“Right. Time for me to start prepping too.”

I rolled up my sleeves and got to work, making sure the two of them could perform at their very best.

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