Chapter 108
Elaine went to work at her workplace without fail today as well.
Such was the sorrowful life of an office worker.
But Elaine was fairly satisfied with her work.
For good reason—at least it was never boring.
Her workplace was the Explorer's Union, which was known as the city's core, even beyond the City Hall that oversaw the city.
She worked as a basic clerk at Union headquarters.
Processing various miscellaneous documents while taking turns manning the counter.
Naturally, this meant overhearing all sorts of rumors and information from the world's largest city, and directly encountering countless types of people.
Dealing with diverse stories and people daily left no room for everyday boredom.
Just today, big news found Elaine right as she arrived at work.
"Did you hear, Senior? They say a report came up from the Limit Point today."
"From the Limit Point?"
The current deepest part of the Abyss that Explorers have pioneered.
The unknown boundary where civilization had successfully shone a light into that bottomless pit whose end remained unknown.
Extremely harsh from the entrance, and only Pioneers were officially given exploration rights by Union standards.
Of course, with countless people illegally crossing between the 2nd and 3rd floors, and the deep levels below the 5th floor being essentially lawless zones where neither the Union nor City Guard could properly exert influence, there was effectively no control.
Yet somehow, the Union's official standards were fairly well maintained.
The reason was simple.
Because the Union had set standards based on the power needed to survive there in the first place.
Pioneers or those of comparable strength.
Or teams with considerable numbers though somewhat lacking compared to them.
Without this level of power, the Limit Point was a place where life would leave one’s body before one could even set foot there.
"It is the season."
"Right? Though it hurts my heart thinking Lady Pelletier is going down, well, we couldn't see her even when she was in the city anyway."
Season.
It was the Pioneers' slang for rotating city residents among themselves.
The Pioneers, faces of the Explorers.
As members of the Council of Ten, they were obligated to keep at least one person residing in the city.
While Viola had taken a long sabbatical raising her disciple, leaving all 7 others down in the Abyss, now that Viola was showing her face again and preparing for activity, someone else needed to come up.
Though uncertain who it would be, probably two or three would come up to decide, not everyone.
Listening half-heartedly to her junior's complaints—who claimed to be Viola Pelletier's ardent fan—Elaine thought things would be busy for a while.
Fame was like gravity, naturally drawing events toward it.
"Haa, I should have handled that Second Floor Shortcut Sealing operation last time..."
When did the conversation drift there?
"You'd need three promotions and it still wouldn't be enough."
"True. Need to be at least department head level to even see their faces. Should I just become an Explorer? You know, they say the 8th Division head was an Explorer too..."
"The Training Center Director? That's a demotion, going from Training Center Director to Union department head."
"Ugh, right? Mmm, wonder if Frontier isn't hiring more office workers~"
Starting another day with her junior's daily complaints.
Looks like I have counter duty this month.
Union basic clerks alternated between counter duty and internal work monthly.
Since the work was just document reception, recording, and organizing, no elaborate handover was needed when rotating.
After changing into her Union uniform, Elaine sat at her assigned counter.
Some time remained before work started.
Elaine liked this short break.
Time to anticipate what events and characters will surprise me today.
Making predictions alone and comparing how many she got right when leaving work was Elaine's hobby and entertainment.
Today feels like it'll flow peacefully.
Three years as a basic clerk.
Whether from living long above the Abyss, source of mysteries, or simply job proficiency, Elaine's predictions had reached quite a high level.
And it seemed to be ending that way.
An unremarkable day.
Maybe because the morning news about the Limit Point that her junior shared was so big.
The gossip that came after and the Explorers she met at the counter were all ordinary.
Even while organizing her desk as closing time approached, Elaine thought the day would end like this.
Ah, another one came.
Given the time, this person would probably be the last.
Elaine roused her drowsy mind that had settled into the peaceful flow and began responding according to the manual.
"I'm here about guild creation."
Guild creation.
Closer to non-routine compared to earlier matters, but still not particularly surprising.
This city was vast, with an enormous population and overflowing Explorers.
A guild could be easily created if 8 Explorers gathered and paid certain costs.
100,000 Rupe split among 8 people wasn't hard to gather.
If that was difficult, there were ways to manage from elsewhere.
Securing a guild base might be harder, but even that wasn't a big problem.
There was no need to fully own an entire building.
Most guilds lived in single rooms, jointly purchasing one building and using just one room.
Having their own guild house?
That couldn’t even be called a small guild anymore.
That was a strong small guild or medium guild.
Anyway, Elaine faithfully followed the manual continuing the conversation.
"Yes, guild creation. Have you completed the registration form?"
"Here it is."
Elaine roughly checked the documents handed over.
Thinking she should finish quickly and leave work.
Guilds appeared and disappeared several times daily.
There was even a Union internal survey showing less than 20% survive a year.
So thinking this would be another common guild she checked the document with the member list—Elaine unconsciously drew in a breath.
What is this list...!
Though only names were written, Elaine was instantly overwhelmed by those names.
[Guild Master: Roman Sun (Senior)]
[Vice Guild Master: Neil Hewish (Regular)]
[Guild Members]
-Mea (Expert)
-Arye Rei (Senior)
-Leaf Youthglint (Senior)
-Alexandra Rubio (Senior)
-Amaia Hierro (Senior)
-Teresia Nachtblumer (Senior)
-Priscilla Lamb (Senior)
-Jan Wasik (Senior)
-Robert Lyle (Regular)
-Elowen Starweaver (Regular)
-Juan Blasco (Novice)
[Total: 13 members]
Eight Seniors out of 13? Plus one Expert, three Regulars, one Novice...?
Is this really a new guild?
Normally, new guilds typically formed when a standard 4-person team united, with the team leader splitting Guild Master and Vice Master roles, and other members joining as regular members—usually consisting of two Seniors and six Regulars.
But an Expert not as a Guild Master but just a member, and eight Seniors when they were the backbone even in large guilds?
Plus all familiar names. Rising stars of the Six Great Schools... Alexandra and Teresia, I heard these two alone have guaranteed Master potential.
This was no longer just a new small guild.
Minimum strong small guild.
Will soon reach medium guild level.
Considering future potential...
Am I witnessing the birth of another major guild?
A guild planted with top prospects to lead the next generation from no less than two of the Six Great Schools.
Plus Roman Sun, a name frequently heard lately, as Guild Master.
Honestly, Elaine wasn't sure what was so great about Roman Sun, but the evaluations she heard were all extraordinary, so his name value couldn't be considered low.
That expectation completely exploded on the next page.
"Subsidiary guild contracts...?"
"Ah, quite a few, right?"
Had she muttered without realizing?
An answer came from beyond the counter.
"I heard it's better to get Union certification for these. Sorry for the trouble."
Certification...
Right, certification.
Better to get it.
Of course.
These days, how many times have guilds promised subsidiary support only to use them as meat shields on dangerous expeditions and then discard them?
It was right to set at least the minimal safety measure of Union certification.
Though it costed more, the need to have insurance could not be understated.
Insurance was needed to protect small guilds and restrain malicious guilds.
Do Frontier, Conquerors, and Enigma need certification...?
The member list was one thing, but this was the real deal.
When this becomes known, it'll cause an uproar in the Explorer industry, at least among guilds.
No, considering the names here, not just guilds but the world of mages, even the Schools.
Not realizing her hands were trembling as she organized the documents, Elaine managed to speak with equally trembling vocal cords.
A victory of professional consciousness.
"The, the cost is 1 million Rupe guild deposit, plus 100,000 Rupe certification fee each, total 1.3 million Rupe."
"I'll pay by check."
"Checks might take a bit longer, is that okay?"
Just a day or two at most.
The other party nodded smoothly.
"No problem."
"...Received. The applicant's name is..."
"Roman Sun."
Then Elaine asked the final question.
The name of the guild they would establish.
Before speaking it aloud, Roman rolled the guild's name on his tongue once.
A name binding them together.
The driving force that would firmly unite the classmates formed the guild's foundation.
The thread binding them together was revenge.
Thus the name started there.
"Revengers."
It was also a name tinged with someone's deeply personal taste.