I Became the Guild Leader in Exile

1 – 1# Guild Like Family (1)

Isaac Silverterra was not always worthless from the beginning. At least, Zeke wanted to believe that. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have taken care of us orphans without any rewards in this Gideon, where everything can be solved with gold.

It wasn’t an easy choice to take care of orphans without any compensation. He definitely did that.

If Isaac hadn’t helped at that time, my siblings and I would probably be dead. I am grateful for that. That’s why Zeke held his ground even when people left.

It’s because he believed in repaying kindness.

“You will be banished.”

I never dreamt of receiving such repayment.

Excerpt from Book 1 Prologue of “Guild of Outcasts.”

* * *

According to the original description, Isaac was a decent master when he first founded the guild. Although he had a few quirks, it didn’t make people dislike him.

Even the employees were lenient enough to tease Isaac about it. However, as the guild began to grow, Isaac gradually revealed his true nature.

Those who opposed his intentions were mostly expelled from the guild, even if it wasn’t a formal banishment. He continuously harassed them using petty tricks, eventually forcing them to leave on their own.

The protagonist, Zeke, expressed Isaac’s appearance like this. Is that Isaac’s true nature, or did power corrupt him like that? However, there was one hope.

“At least, he was an ideal master in the early days.”

In the early days, Isaac lived with the word “family” on his lips. But upon closer inspection, there were hardly any instances where he truly cared for us like a family, the protagonist reminisced.

If I have to find one advantage for the current Isaac, it would be the fact that he possessed the guild at the beginning. Although it’s just words for now, everyone believes in it to some extent.

In other words, depending on Isaac’s actions as the guild master from now on, the future may change significantly. And in such an important situation, Isaac was lost in thought.

“First, I need to decide on my concept.”

Yes. In such a crucial moment, Isaac was thinking not about preparations for the future but about his concept. However, it was an important issue for Isaac himself.

He had already set his values. Since the original Isaac lived with the word “family” on his lips, it would be best to take care of guild members like true family. The problem was Isaac’s weapon.

The weapon was as important as his values. It would be like a nose ring if it hangs on the nose, or an earring if it hangs on the ear. Depending on the weapon, the character’s image could change. After much thought, he made a decision.

“I have always admired swordsmanship!”

As an untalented swordsman who only relied on effort, he reaches the ultimate with just a single sword. Ah, this is romantic. How can a man endure it? I can’t bear it!!

But there were other problems. The immediate problem was that he had to go to work as the Shield of Steel Guild Master right now. However, Isaac had no idea about being a guild master.

Of course, he had various tasks while working at a company. But there was no guarantee that it would be applicable in a fantasy world. Nevertheless, Isaac brushed it off without much concern.

“I’ll figure it out somehow.”

What would change if he worried alone? It’s much better to boldly step forward in that case. That way, he wouldn’t be suspected by others. That’s his thought.

Fortunately in his misfortune, Isaac was a devoted reader of this novel. Naturally, he had all sorts of merchandise, and he had thoroughly delved into the official guidebook the author had officially published long ago.

Indeed, following his memory, Isaac moved his steps. Wasn’t this the street where the Iron Shield Guild appeared? Perhaps it was still in its early stages. The grandeur that had appeared in the illustrations was nowhere to be seen.

“When I saw it in the illustrations, it was close to a castle.”

Now, there was only a worn-out two-story building. However, Isaac didn’t mind. From now on, he planned to create the guild in his own way.

“The master is here.”

“You’re finally showing up for work.”

“….”

To conceal his tension, Isaac confidently opened the door and walked in. People who were chatting in the lobby looked at Isaac and each made a comment. There were only five of them, though.

“Is everyone here?”

“You’ll see when you look.”

“Today is an important day, so even though you emphasized not to be late, what if you’re the one who’s late?”

Unlike the middle-aged man who spoke casually, the woman with short blonde hair, while holding her ponytail, directly confronted him. Both were characters familiar to Isaac. To be precise, from the illustrations.

“The early members of the Iron Shield Guild. I never thought I would see them in person.”

The five heroes who founded the Iron Shield Guild with Isaac. Although, at the original timeline, they were all retired heroes, one by one, they were formidable individuals.

It was said that the reason Isaac could succeed was because he had good friends. However, in the end, all of them were expelled from the guild by Isaac.

There was even someone who was relentlessly tormented after being expelled, to the point of committing suicide. The wickedness and pettiness of the original Isaac need not be painfully explained.

“An important matter. Is it a request?”

“That’s right! It’s the goblin subjugation in Beltas Village!”

“The master emphasized that it was urgent.”

Maybe because he was worried about someone other than a lover, a middle-aged man next to the blonde woman commented on her words. Isaac nodded. The goblin subjugation in Beltas Village. This was something he could not ignore.

“Beltas is the hometown of the protagonist Zeke. It fell to the goblins’ attack, but miraculously, Zeke survived.”

That’s right. Beltas is the hometown of the protagonist Zeke, and the story begins with Isaac saving Zeke and his sister here. If it weren’t for Isaac, Zeke would have died.

“Is everything ready?”

“It’s all done. We just need to depart.”

“It was a problem that the lazy master was late.”

“I apologize for that point. I apologize again.”

“Well, well. Don’t suddenly apologize so seriously.”

Blonde woman, Sophia, turned her head with a puzzled expression. Normally, the master would have smoothly dodged this. But strangely, today was very serious. What’s going on? Did something happen?

“If the preparations are done, there’s no reason to linger. Let’s depart immediately.”

“Didn’t you say the departure was two days later?”

“Yes, you said you need to meet someone?”

“Is there a problem with everyone’s schedule?”

“Not really, but….”

“Then let’s leave right away.”

Ironically enough, at this time, Isaac was making connections with a top guild. Because of that, our departure was delayed by two days, and as a result, the village of Veltas was attacked by goblins.

Of course, we can’t blame Isaac for that. After all, it was the goblins’ fault. But if we can rescue the people sooner, there’s no reason to waste time, right?

Just in case, I asked for the guild members’ understanding, and luckily, no one opposed. In fact, there were only people arguing that we should go faster. Isaac nodded his head.

“Yes, let’s go as fast as possible.”

“Now you’re making some sense.”

“I underestimated the urgency of time. I apologize.”

“No, there’s no need to apologize….”

Hans, a middle-aged man with a massive build, flashed a charming smile. Hans had a history of losing his hometown to goblins in the past. That’s why he insisted on hurrying.

Isaac ignored his opinion in the original work. He came up with various excuses, but in the end, it was because of his connection with the top guild. But things were different now. A connection? He didn’t need that anymore.

“Becoming the strongest means not needing connections like that.”

Isaac had already planned everything in his mind. And among them, one was becoming the strongest in Gideon. Shouldn’t every man dream of being the strongest at least once?

But before that, it was essential to create a guild like a family. Of course, in the original work, he said it was a guild like family, but in reality, it was far from being like a family.

Instead, it was more like a private army that Isaac created according to his own taste. So anyone who irritated Isaac was kicked out of the guild. And among them, the protagonist was included.

“Of course, I have no intention of doing that.”

Of course, the protagonist is the protagonist. He knew that the protagonist would become the Gideon’s strongest by gathering outcasts and creating this guild. Isaac had no intention of abandoning such a talented individual.

Instead, he planned to rescue all the talented individuals who were unfortunately sacrificed in the original work and bring them into this guild. That was how he would create the strongest guild. That was Isaac’s ultimate goal.

Of course, he wouldn’t give up the position of being the strongest.