Chapter 259
After finishing his conversation with the Emperor, Franz headed straight to Yuna. It was to ask her to become the representative of the guild, the Guild Master.
Thus, he arrived at the Es-teo-ban Ducal Residence. There, he found Yuna feeding the fish in the pond.
“Franz? Didn’t you say you had business to take care of today?”
“I already took care of it.”
“I see. But why did you come… well, I suppose this is originally your house, Franz.”
“No need to point that out now.”
Strictly speaking, it was correct to call the Es-teo-ban Ducal Residence Franz’s house. However, Franz was currently living in the Magic Tower. It was only natural to question his visit.
“Yuna, do you have a moment?”
“If it’s not urgent, can we talk after I finish feeding the fish?”
“It’s not particularly urgent, so I don’t mind.”
“Then let’s do it together. Hold out your hand.”
Franz held out his hand to Yuna. Soon after, Yuna handed him something.
It was a round dumpling about the size of a pinky nail, seemingly made of grain powder.
“Just sprinkle them, and they’ll eat them on their own.”
“Really?”
Lowering his gaze, he saw the fish gathered closely together. The sight of them opening and closing their mouths above the water’s surface felt quite cute.
Franz sprinkled the small dumplings in his hand into the pond.
Spotting the food, the fish rushed in all at once as if competing. In the process, they splashed around, sending water droplets flying outside the pond.
How should he put it? It felt like a delightful moment, feeding the fish in a pond. It was relaxing, yet surprisingly fun.
It was then. Suddenly, he felt a foreign sensation on the top of his foot. It felt as if something sharp was poking him, pricking.
Franz immediately shifted his gaze and spotted something pure white.
“…A chicken?”
“I saved the injured little guy, and it just followed me here, you know? And there are chicks too.”
Right after Yuna finished speaking, the chicks that had followed the chicken belatedly gathered together and pecked at the empty ground.
Anyway, saving a chicken was very much in character for Yuna. There was a reason she was the Hero, after all.
“Come to think of it, I never got permission to raise chickens…!”
Yuna clapped her hands with wide eyes, as if she had just remembered.
“Do whatever you want. I don’t really mind.”
“But it’s your house. I’m just freeloading.”
“It’s really fine. Don’t worry about it.”
If anything, it was actually nice. It felt like healing at a country house in the countryside, so he figured he could just come here whenever he wanted to take a breather.
Of course, he had no intention of forcing that kind of atmosphere on Yuna. He planned to let her do whatever she wanted.
Afterward, Franz left the fish in the pond, and the chicken and chicks behind, and directed his steps toward the mansion.
As he entered the mansion, Yuna’s mother and Yuria welcomed him. Since they were no longer awkward around each other, they naturally exchanged greetings before he headed to the reception room with Yuna.
“So, what’s going on, for you to specifically ask for my time?”
Expressing her curiosity, Yuna sipped the tea prepared by the servant. Did the tea suit her taste? A faint smile spread across her lips.
“I don’t know if I mentioned this before, but regarding the guild, the organization dedicated to handling Gates…”
Franz explained the situation, from deciding to create an organization called a guild after talking with the Emperor, to the fact that there was no suitable person to act as its representative.
“Yuna, if it’s alright with you, could you become the Guild Master?”
“M-Me?”
“I think you’re the most qualified person for the job. His Majesty thought the same.”
When Franz first proposed it, the Emperor couldn’t easily answer. After all, Yuna had already sacrificed so much for the Empire, no, the continent, as the Hero. He must have felt that burdening her once again was something he simply shouldn’t do.
Nevertheless, the reason he offered her the position of Guild Master was that there was no one more suited for it than Yuna. Her skills went without saying, and she was someone trusted by everyone on the continent.
“It’s okay to refuse if you don’t want to do it.”
This was also something the Emperor had said himself. He had said it was a request and a recommendation, not an order.
Of course, to the citizens of the Empire, a request and recommendation from the Emperor were no different from an order.
“Will it help you if I become the Guild Master?”
“I suppose so, right? Since I’m handling everything related to the Gates.”
“Then I’ll do it.”
“Are you sure you want to decide so easily? You might regret it later.”
“Really? I don’t think I’ll regret it… If you’re that worried, why don’t you pay a little more attention to me?”
Yuna flashed a playful smile.
Franz was incredibly grateful for her choice, but on the other hand, he felt a sense of guilt. It felt as if he had forced her choice by taking advantage of her feelings for him.
Even so, he couldn’t exactly tell her to take back her choice, so just as she said, he had no choice but to treat her even better from now on.
“Yuna, thank you.”
“It’s still far from enough compared to what you’ve done for me. So if you ever need help, tell me anytime. I’ll be waiting for the rest of my life.”
Since Yuna wasn’t the type to lie, the words 'rest of my life' definitely weren’t a lie.
Pondering the meaning of those words, Franz let out a soft chuckle, pfft-.
“Are you going to help me even when you become a grandma?”
“W-Well? If you just ask, I’ll do my best…!”
Yuna clenched her fists, showing her determination.
* * *
“Is that true?!”
When he delivered the news that Yuna had agreed to take on the role of Guild Master, a bright smile spread across His Highness’s face.
His worries must have been deep, considering he had declared to the entire continent that the guild’s headquarters would be located in the Empire.
From that day on, things progressed quickly. Mages were hired to construct a grand building, and starting with Yuna, the people who would work in the guild were selected.
Among the clerks who would work in the guild was Yuna’s younger sister, Yuria. From what he heard, she wanted to help her older sister or something like that.
Not long after that, posters were put up all over the Empire. It was an announcement recruiting Hunters, skilled individuals who would resolve the Gates.
Regardless of status, rewards would be paid differentially based on ability. It was truly a system where ability was everything, an opportunity that would never come again for Commoners.
Because of this, the Empire was buzzing for a while over the profession of Hunter. There were even rumors circulating among the members of the Magic Tower about quitting their jobs to become Hunters.
‘We’re in a position to cooperate with the guild anyway…’
In fact, Franz had been planning the establishment of a department specializing in combat for a long time. After all, there was no telling when a threat would come to the world again.
Furthermore, he also wanted to break the mold of Mages only providing fire support from the rear.
Just in time, the guild was established and the moment when combat-specialized Mages were needed had arrived, so it was now time to put that plan into action.
Well, this would have to come first, though.
“Franz, I’m nervous…!”
In the center of a vast space reminiscent of a training ground, Yuna stood wearing armor and holding a sword, unlike her usual self. It was because today was none other than the day of the Hunter selection.
Seeing her fidgeting, she seemed even more nervous than when she faced the Demon Lord.
“It’s okay. I’m here with you.”
Franz was also standing here today as an evaluator. After all, there would definitely be Mages not affiliated with the Magic Tower who wanted to become Hunters.
And above all, he wanted to be of even a little help to Yuna, for whom this kind of position was a first.
Not long after, a clerk affiliated with the guild entered the testing ground. Behind her were numerous people in various outfits, all of whom had come here to become Hunters.
‘Are there any decent ones among them…?’
He didn’t know much about those who used weapons, but if they were Mages, he could gauge their skills at a glance.
He had been worried about what to do if there was no one to his liking, but it seemed that had been a needless worry.
Meanwhile, the test takers had already lined up in neat ranks and files. Their gazes were directed entirely at one place, looking at none other than the Guild Master, Yuna.
Franz gently pushed Yuna’s back, tap-. Hadn’t she prepared really hard for today? Now it was time to show it.
“To everyone who has come here to become a Hunter, I would like to express my gratitude for making this difficult choice. As the Guild Master, I stand here…”
As if she had never been nervous, Yuna forgot all about her anxiety and skillfully delivered her speech.
A short while passed like that.
“The order of the test is as mentioned earlier, and we will now begin the examination.”
Finally, the Hunter exam began.
The task Franz was in charge of was testing the Mages, so he immediately sent a telepathic message into their minds.
“I would appreciate it if you could come this way.”
Mages not affiliated with the Magic Tower. Perhaps there might be a hidden gem among them.