novelraw Vol. 12 - Chapter 683 - The Unexpected, and the Birth of True «Brawny Warriors» Guild
Vol. 12 - Chapter 683 - The Unexpected, and the Birth of True «Brawny Warriors» Guild
Merge and absorption of a guild was quite a common tactic.
Saturn's «Best of the Best, the Great Star» also came to be after they absorbed two E-rank guilds.
It was often pushed by the fellow low-rank guilds who had either become a former shell of themselves, or when they're below the threshold of minimum members. Of course, there were also cases of guilds who had the potential to reach higher but they lack the numbers so they join hands with other guilds and merge together.
There were even cases of B-rank guilds merging together when the graduation of their members left them mostly empty.
Absorbing a guild often took place when a guild was ranking up. With new rank, the guild would've its upper limit for members increased, allowing them to take in the members of lower-rank guild. A more common scenario was the parent guild absorbing the sub-ordinate guild.
And then there was dissolution and absorption.
A B-rank guild had the upper limit of 30 members. Sometimes graduation would leave the remaining guild with mere 16 or below members. Unless the vacancies were filled adequately and quickly, the guild was bound to have a fall from their rank, which consequently damaged the balance holding the guild together. It led to dissolution, and the said members would be taken in by other guilds.
However, in such cases, the guild itself would be erased, so this was more of a recruitment rather than absorption.
Coming to the present scene, Muscle-senpai sought to absorb «Machos» entirely in their guild. ...Well, a 100 million for persuading all the members to join was certainly a deal.
As far as I knew about «Machos», they'd currently hit a dead end.
Honestly, it was quite impressive that they'd managed to reach their current height all by the effort of fellow freshmen. Alas, even the once raging and spirited «Machos» had gradually lost their momentum.
Their progress came to a stalemate at the Intermediate-low dungeon. Meanwhile, the members recruited into A-rank or B-rank guild had already surpassed them in both the level and the exploration progress.
It should've been tough on «Machos» to run their guild with just five members. Due to not meeting the requirement of ten members, they also couldn't challenge for D-rank promotion.
I didn't know why they would do that, but «Machos» were trying to centralise the guild on «Brawny Warrior». And yet, I heard rumours that they'd rejected the invitation from «All Hail the Muscles!» earlier. Back then, they'd just begun their freshmen year, and had vision to build their own guild.
Hmm...... that was certainly a request. It was obvious it wouldn't be an easy journey to crack it. If anything, it would take too much time. Well, the best I think I could manage first was to inquire with Alan and what he thinks of joining the «All Hail the Muscles!». I mean, there was no harm in asking that much.
On the other hand, I still had two other options.
If it appeared Alan had no intention to join Muscle-senpai, I would try my luck out with Dean. And if that doesn't work out, then I will just have to contact Gerze-senpai.
"I will try, but hold on hope though." I said to Muscle-senpai and left their guild. ......When we're leaving, the muscles saw us off with a group body-builder pose. I truly could never get used to them.
"So, Celestine. What do you think we pay Alan a visit?"
"Of course. Given the timing, I believe Alan should be at that place."
"Yeah, I think so too."
Alongside Celestine, I shifted my stride in the direction of a certain place.
Our objective was certain steep slop—otherwise known as «Muscle Road». I had no clue why this of all places, but apparently this spot was seen as the perfect training ground to work on muscles. As a fact, the slop also had stairs, but that was aside it, I guess.
And of course, I never heard of such events in the game.
With no hiccup, we found our target bunny-hopping on the slope in an upward direction. Celestine and I took the staircase, so as not to disturb their training, and waited for them at the other end of the slope.
"Now that I look at it, there was this structure too, huh."
"Hmm? You never charted this direction, Zephyr-sama?"
"......It's the only route I quite found troublesome to cross."
I was quite familiar with the route here. In the game, there was an event which required you to visit the shrine at the summit of the slope.
Now, it was my first time actually being here in reality. The reason was, needless to say, its 'popularity'. I dreaded crossing it.
While I was reminiscing, the machos made it to the top.
"Yooo! Zephyr, and Celestine. Good Muscle-ing today as well, eh?" x5
Stop making a pun on good morning! There's no way this type of greetings were the norm, right?!
Alan and his four fellows raised their hands in greeting. Each hand moved neither before nor after, but at the precise timing to each other. Why were they so impressively coordinated?! Wait, that should be muscle coordination... I think.
"Hey there, folks. I apologize for disturbing your training, but I was hoping if we could talk for a minute, eh?"
"Oh? Of course. We're just about to take a break ourselves."
Despite bunny-hoping all the way up to the slope, and with no moment of rest, their breathing was completely calm. Just what kind of training they're doing?
Anyway, I informed Alan and his fellow guild members about the request I received from Muscle-senpai. By the time I had finished explaining, their eyes were brimming with tears for god knows why.
"I see... so that's what it is. At long last, Muscle-senpai can finally fulfil their dreams."
"Y, yeah."
It appeared as if they'd been moved by details. Their eyes wore a distant look as tears streamed out of them. ...I was a bit taken aback.
"Err, so what do you say about invitation from «All Hail the——"
"We will join them."
"—Muscles!»... huh, immediate reply? What's going on?"
Alan's response came in immediately. And the answer took me so by surprise I unwittingly inquired back.
"Frankly, it's simple. We have realised we would never be able to reach our ambition by solely relying on us. We were arrogant, and ignorant back then, but we were finally made to face the reality in the inter-class competition. What we lack is trusted comrades. I truly regret that we never paid heed to Muscle-senpai's words."
Alan revealed, our eyes locked into each other. His eyes were clear, bearing a firm conviction. I vividly felt why he agreed promptly. ...Well, if it wasn't for the situation, I would've immediately retorted that what they lack was jobs aside from «Brawny Warrior».
Alan's words continued.
"I hear him, and his sincere thoughts to train me as his successor. Please tell them we gratefully accept their offer."
"Woah, seriously?"
Alan nodded coolly.
I didn't even have to persuade. Just what was going on? As I was seized by confusion, Celestine turned to them.
"Then, we are taking the lead ahead, Alan. I hope you give your best and chase after us."
"Celestine—no. Leader of «Smiling Muscle Squad». To be truth, the one leadership we truly sought was yours."
"My place is by Zephyr-sama's side."
"Haa... I know. I just wanted to say it once."
W-what's going on? Was it just me, or I could feel the budding friendship between Alan and Celestine?
No, seriously. What the heck was going on?!
Regardless, our conversation came to an end. With the answer in hand, we promptly headed for «All Hail the Muscles!» to inform them of «Machos» decision.
Along the way, Celestine filled me with the details as to why «Machos» kept turning down Muscle-senpai's offer.
"They, the «Machos», were trying to become «Eden»'s rival. Besides, there were also the expectations on them from people around. Eden was established by first-years, so it wouldn't have been fair if they had external help."
"Huh, so that's what was going on?"
It's the first I heard of the situation.
I only had freshmen in Eden at first because I was unsure about bringing seniors onboard. However, I didn't swear off to never having any seniors. We did accept them after they'd gone through «Job Transfer» too.
"Indeed. Regardless, they have felt the disparity that current lies between ourselves, and that they've already hit the dead end of what they can achieve by their own hands. Hence, they've decided to join Muscles. If we hadn't relayed the request today, they still would've joined them. Perhaps Muscles had noticed the change were just around the corner, so they'd made sure to leave five spots open for whenever Machos decided to join."
".....I see."
There was so much going on but I knew nothing. ...Wait, thinking about it now, I guess I should just rejoice it was an easy request? And that means... the plushie was already ours.
The second time we entered the «All Hail the Muscles» guild, the muscles were wrapped in a celebratory mood for some unknown reason. We promptly informed Muscle-senpai of the «Machos» decision.
And that brought forth a loud yell.
"WE DID IT!!!!"
"We're finally going to have thirty full members! And all of them «Brawny Warrior» to boot!"
"I am going to be the «Brawny Warrior»!!"
"Thank you for your help, Zephyr. Now our guild will surely reach another height."
...Well, I certainly had my doubts about that hope. But I kept my thoughts to myself.
It would not do well to pour water while everyone appeared so excited. There was just one thing I could utter, "I-I am looking forward to your achievements."
"Alright fellas! We're going through the special training course for an early celebration!"
"Hurray!!"
"Now that fired me up! That's why you're our guildmaster!"
"Muscles! Muscles!"
Ugh, they’re awfully excited for whatever reasons.
"So, Zephyr. It's time for your reward, you can have the plushie."
"A-ah, yes. Thank you very much, Muscle-senpai. Eden, too, will take another step with this."
"Hahaha. The pleasure is all ours, you know! It's been a while since everyone has been so fired up! So, we appreciate your help, Zephyr."
Muscle-senpai grasped my hand in a tight handshake. And thus, our search for the second «Plushie of Devil and Angel» came to a successful completion.
Now, we must find suitable candidates for them. This would be the task for Misato.
As Zephyr made strides in his plans, the news about «All Hail the Muscles» absorbing «Machos» immediately became a sensational headline by the Academy News. However, that was a story for another day.