Chapter 9 - Threatened jobs
The cigar smoke faded into the air, when it was smoked it created a kind of comfortable feeling. In a quiet room with only the occasional sound of a thunderstorm coming from outside the building, when one's eyes glanced down, one could see documents neatly arranged on the table.
A man's hand took a cigar and placed it on the table. The burnt remnants of the dry leaves are now bright red but continue to blacken.
The smell of smoke though gave a tight feeling in the chest, but to a Man in the Guild it was nothing more than the sweet smell of spring flowers.
The man opened his mouth then smoke came out of it, Then turned to a short haired girl nearby.
"Sonia."
Sonia stopped rubbing the wet cloth on the table to answer Teodor's call. He then folded the cloth and put it back while correcting his posture. Then said—
"Yes, master?"
"The stuff you brought was pretty good, how did you get it?"
"It's a premium quality item from a port city in the west, it's not very expensive but might be hard to find elsewhere."
Their eyes met for a moment, staring at each other in silence for a long time. Then.
Sonia closed her eyes, she realized what Teodor wanted to ask wasn't really a cigar.
"Never mind master, just go ahead what do master really want to ask?"
Picked up the cigar on the table and smoked it again. Teodor gained peace of mind then started to open his mouth.
"I wonder what you think about the survival of the Guild? Whether it sounds bad or good, I don't care."
They've been partners for quite some time, so it wouldn't be surprising to say they understand each other. At least to some extent.
Therefore, Sonia answered slowly.
"This guild is coming to an end, no, I mean the adventurer profession is coming to an end."
"Why is that?"
"That's obvious isn't it? The legendary chimera that was killed the other day was the last powerful monster in the northern Guild. And if that was the case, there would be no more monsters to hunt, in the empire itself for example, there are only two Guilds left in the capital city. and the Northern region."
Faced with the massive exploitation of the Knight Legion, it brought about a change in the forest ecosystem. Even in historical records it was said that the Imperial Knight Legion had once hunted dragons.
That actually sounds good in Legend. But for Teodor and Sonia to see it from a different perspective.
"I've often told veteran adventurers, or at least C-rankers and above not to hunt more monsters than is required. However this nonsense about hunting monsters for the sake of the people's peace is often used by knights to exterminate monsters, has affected the way adventurous thinking."
Something like taking advantage before someone else took it, was probably the main reason adventurers behaved like that.
Teodor sighed at Sonia's answer, he then shrugged his shoulders while muttering something.
"Hmm... When I think about it, that sounds good. With the extinction of the monsters there will be no more complaints from the public."
"Yeah, it's good for the knights to build a reputation, but bad for us adventurers."
The Guildmaster fell silent. Then he remembered some things from the past.
Teodor looked at it for a long time. He saw over the years how both the quality and quantity of adventurers had declined, it clearly had a close bond with the current number of monsters remaining.
After all, one can never cook without learning it, or one can never stand without learning to stand.
When Teodor saw the muscle in his own arm, it made him realize that to some degree.
"If the monsters really go extinct, then what about the fate of the people?"
The question crossed Sonia's mind, as she watched her Master take another cigar while smoking it slowly.
"I don't know, but joining the Knight Legion is definitely an option."
Sonia shook her head slowly. Seems like at one point they really weren't connected in the same core.
"Huff..Master, I don't mean just the adventurers, but also the people who live life around them."
Teodor furrowed his brows, he looked confused at what Sonia was trying to convey. Even the peace of mind he rarely had until now, even with the help of a puff of smoke, he still didn't understand Sonia's words.
"You mean?"
"...Craftsmen, potion sellers, innkeepers and guides. Most of their customers are adventurers, if consumers don't have money then how do they sell goods or services?"
Most of their businesses are passed down from generation to generation. It is as if from the beginning they were born, it is certain how they will live their lives. To the point where creating a solid system of mutual benefit between adventurers and local businessmen.
But now it's not like it used to be.
A system that lasts a long time but suddenly collapses, is not easy to rebuild. Even changing it in another form, takes a long time.
That's assuming they don't die in the process. Who knows how long time can run for someone.
"That's their business, we have no right to interfere."
"Yes, you are right. But it is our actions that have an effect on them."
Teodor chuckled at Sonia's words, he didn't expect his partner to say something like that. This was definitely not like the Sonia that Teodor knew on a daily basis.
"I didn't think you could think that far, is this an academic from the western port city?"
Sonia hands then started cleaning the table with the cloth back. This was the end of the conversation or at least that was what Sonia expected.
While continuing to clean, Sonia said to Teodor to confirm.
"Master misunderstood again. I just wanted to hope for master to be a little disappointed."
Teodor answered with a flat sigh.
Teodor's cigar had been completely used up, and the sound of the storm was no longer audible.
After putting down the cigar, Teodor stood up and started to walk outside.
Taking a deep breath, he got up.
"Looks like today's Guild will be quiet."
Walk and keep walking until the front door.
KREEK!!
A soft voice was heard as the door opened, the gaze towards the sky where the dark clouds still ruled the horizon and the cold feeling on her skin from the wind blowing that she felt.
Even though the storm had stopped, something like a hurricane he could see as it began to move forward.
A man with white hair, wet with dripping water droplets, stood right in front of Teodor.
Wet white hair for the man's beautiful purple eyes, he just stood there without saying anything. Teodor recognized him well.
But he didn't recognize a little girl standing beside the man.
The little girl had eerie eyes that kept an eye on Teodor's breathing, in a rhythm that gave off a chill. From the girl's eyes, Teodor could see in the face but with a dark color.
Stepping towards Teodor with a smile on his lips.
Then the girl opened her mouth like she wanted to say something.
"Uncle, do you know this master?"
Questions were thrown at Theodor. It was clear, what the little girl called uncle, was Teodor himself..