I Became the Guild Leader in Exile

29 – 6# Hydra Guild (1)

Hades Guild.

A guild that once ruled with an overwhelming power that no one in the past could rival. Even descending from their pinnacle of supremacy, they were now a guild that could fit within the fingers of three hands in Gideon.

The Hydra Guild was a subsidiary guild of Hades, monitoring the guilds in Gideon at that time. This was evidence of how powerful the influence of the Hades Guild had been.

Most guilds either shut their doors to excessive interference from the Hydra Guild or, in severe cases, were absorbed into the Hades Guild. The Iron Shield barely managed to avert the worst-case scenario.

Zeke didn’t know the details.

He only knew that Isaac had a good relationship with them.

However,

Since then, the seniors had become invisible.

From “Welcome to the Guild of Exiles!” – Excerpt from Volume 2, p. 117.

* * *

Contrary to appearances, the Iron Shield was implementing several plans. The New Covenant was one such plan. In summary, it involved educating the children of the gods for free, nurturing them into talents.

Naturally, the Iron Shield could directly teach talented individuals with foresight, strengthening the guild’s power. Even if they didn’t join the guild, they might harbor positive feelings toward the Iron Shield.

Isaac’s reasoning was that they could become allies who’d eventually aid the guild. Though he spoke this way, it was actually a forced measure to appease the dissatisfaction of the guild members.

What the guild members desired was the prosperity and stability of the guild. They didn’t want the guild’s funds wasted on orphaned children. Hans initially thought the same way.

“I agree with aiding the orphans, Master. But we are not a charity organization.”

“….”

“It might be fine now, but soon we’ll reach our limits. Then we won’t have a choice.”

Unless it was a well-established giant guild, a newly founded guild of less than a year couldn’t bear such a heavy burden. Of course, the Master’s noble intentions were understood, but…

This wasn’t a dream where everyone could be happy.

It was a harsh reality existing as it is.

The human heart is fickle. It can change at any moment. That’s why, except for Isaac and Zeke, no one in the guild believed that the New Covenant project would succeed.

“Ugh?!”

“We’re not there yet!!”

“Come on, just a moment!”

However, Hans, who witnessed the growth of the children with his own eyes, could not help but reconsider. The growth of the children, especially Diego and Herz, was so rapid that even Hans couldn’t help but marvel.

Of course, compared to the monster Zeke, who surpassed even geniuses, there was a gap. But there was no denying the tremendous talent that began to overwhelm Dig in just two months.

No matter how underestimated Dig was, according to Hans’ judgment, if it were Dig, his skill was enough to boast of being a hero by a narrow margin. That’s why Hans hadn’t expelled him yet.

“These kids have promising futures.”

“Indeed. Looking at this, the plan with the new medicine doesn’t seem bad.”

“What about Shasha and Yurina?”

“Don’t talk, when it comes to healing arts, I’m beyond compare.”

Healing arts are an essential skill for heroes facing magical beings. And the essence of healing arts is altruism for others. From that perspective, those two were beyond imagination.

Hans, who had heard Sophia’s story, showed a genuinely surprised expression. It was the first time Sophia, who was stricter than anyone about healing arts, easily admitted something like this.

In response to Hans’ reaction, Sophia wore a bitter smile. It couldn’t be helped. Even though it had only been about two months since she properly learned healing arts, she had already grown so much.

“Young ones are starting to feel intimidating.”

“Master, did he expect us to come this far?”

“Probably, don’t you think?”

“I thought he was an idealist. This is definitely surprising.”

At first, they just thought he was a big talker. But considering the base that saved them and the guild he established in Gideon, and now this. He was definitely a capable man.

The new medicine was the same. With Diego at the center, the children who were showing their abilities. The number of divine children attending school was increasing, and among them were geniuses.

Even rotten, Junchi. The divine children inheriting the bloodline of heroes were the majority. However, they didn’t discriminate against children without talent, and they didn’t even force dreams on them.

[Baker? Blacksmith? That’s definitely a good dream.]

[Learn for your own dream, and keep learning.]

[Learning will make your desired future come true.]

Even the skeptical children began to open their hearts after hearing Isaac’s sincerity. You don’t have to become a hero. Find your own dream and pursue it. That’s what’s good for the world.

“Oh, what should I do? I feel so cool.”

Although he was a lunatic who said it himself and thought he was cool. Unless he could read minds, there was no way they could know. And one of them, Las, said with his tongue in cheek.

“Lost again?”

“They’re all monsters, what do they expect from me?”

“That’s why you should train regularly… No, never mind.”

Las hesitated. Words were meant for people, not beasts. And recently, even Dig had been training reluctantly. Even if it was forced.

“Sometimes it seems like he’s just pretending to be weak.”

It’s because he keeps losing. Actually, objectively speaking, Dig wasn’t weak. He had the skills to barely qualify as strong enough to be considered a hero. No, wait.

As Las thought up to that point, he sensed something odd. Is it possible to maintain a skill level just at the brink? People, whether they like it or not, eventually progress through effort.

Yet he had solved quite a few requests until now. He had even trained under Hans-senior to some extent. But hasn’t he improved at all? Hasn’t his skill grown even a little?

“Could it be that he’s hiding his skill?”

Unless one was a fool, it was something that couldn’t go unnoticed. But no one had caught on. Was that his aim? Hiding his strength behind the image of being a fool?

“Ah, I’m hungry. When are we going to eat?”

“Ugh.”

“What’s with you again!?”

However, Las neatly folded away his suspicions and tossed them beyond that point. Dig lying on the ground, rubbing his nose, was the epitome of a fool.

Finally unable to bear it, Las kicked Dig’s head. Meanwhile, as they bickered, the kids gathered after class were discussing what they had learned today.

“I feel like I’m getting better with dual swords.”

“Senior Cain, he promised to teach me how to make bombs.”

“And Sasha?”

“She’s learning healing techniques from Senior Yurina.”

“Well, healers are essential.”

It was an ordinary day. Warm sunlight, blue skies, and kids at school laughing and chatting. But the afternoon peace shattered in an instant.

Cain was the first to sense the threat. The wanderer with acute senses, using both sky and ground as his blanket, detected the danger first. Hans, too, noticed the threat belatedly and stood up.

Their stern gazes all converged on the people in black uniforms standing at the entrance beyond the window. Cain frowned. Each one of them was no ordinary person.

“Seniors, those. Do you know them?”

“…I’ve never seen them, but I know of them.”

“What on earth are these guys doing?”

“The Hydra Guild.”

Three snake patterns drawn on their right shoulders. Thanks to that, Hans easily identified their identity. Hans summarized it in one sentence for Cain’s sake.

“They’re Hades’ hunting dogs.”

Damn, Hans clicked his tongue. He had been too relaxed lately, not expecting them to show up anytime, anywhere. He scanned the surroundings, his eyes darting around.

It’s too dangerous to fight here.

There are too many non-combatants.

The Hydra Guild nominally held a position similar to inspectors, but that was merely a facade. In reality, they were hunting dogs targeting those who didn’t follow the Hades Guild.

Especially for the Iron Shield, the Hydra Guild was a more menacing existence. To the Hydra Guild, who fabricated nonexistent crimes for execution, the Iron Shield was indeed a tempting piece of meat.

“The request itself is a mess. But you’re still doing it, right?”

On the other hand, from the perspective of the Hydra Guild, the Steel Shield was considered one of the craziest individuals. They openly defied orders and did as they pleased. And yet, they still managed to handle requests related to such matters so messily.

“At this point, it feels like we should just go for it.”

Her deep purple hair reached down to her hips. Unlike the others who wore clean uniforms, she had on a short pair of shorts and a very short coat that barely covered her abdomen.

As a result, not only her chest but also a large scythe tattoo on her abdomen were revealed. Eventually, her violet eyes met Hans’s gaze. Without even realizing it, Hans swallowed dry saliva.

“What do you think, Deputy Commander Nari of the Knights?”

“How do you know about that…?!”

“Well, it could be that someone told me, right?”

“No way, the master…? No, that can’t be.”

Hans forced himself to relax, trying to release the tension in his frozen expression. If it were just Hades’ subordinate guild, it would be even stranger for them to be lacking in information. Yes, that must be it.

“…It’s already a thing of the past.”

“Hmm? You’re stronger than I thought?”

Veronica showed an unexpected reaction as she looked at Hans, who was desperately trying to maintain a composed expression. She had intended to reveal information known only by the master and a small number of personnel in order to cast doubt on the master.

Her snake-like violet eyes passed Hans and looked beyond him. Even though Gideon, the guild master, should know more about the Hydra Guild than anyone and be on guard.

He was standing there, arms crossed, looking at himself with a composed expression. It wasn’t just standing there. Just by simply being there, he could put everyone at ease. It was like facing a mountain.

Against any storm, impervious like a mountain. It was as if she was looking at a giant. Veronica, who felt chills for the first time in a while, embraced her own trembling body in excitement.

“…So, there was a part of me that believed?”

Well, it was obvious that Hades would violate his own law so openly. And they could handle requests with such a mess. Having completed her assessment, she drew a cruel smile that seemed on the verge of tearing at the corner of her mouth.

“It’s been a while since I’ve had something to break.”

“…Hans was the Deputy Commander of the Knights?!”

On the other hand, Isaac, who had been compared to a mountain, was internally startled by this new revelation.

No, he was a knight of the fallen kingdom.

But isn’t this the law kingdom, not a fallen one?