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“This is how it went in the original as well.”

I didn’t do this without thinking. Tacking up the wallpaper at the Adventurers’ Guild was the method Elroy used to recruit new party members in [I Will Never Go Back], and I was aware of his fatal mistakes. Of course, I also knew how to make up for it. I folded the recruitment poster and placed it on the table. I wondered what Georg’s reaction would be when he saw it.

Speaking of the devil, I chuckled a little as I felt Georg’s presence get closer. I’d only seen the term used in novels, but I could definitely felt his “presence.”

“Elroy!”

‘You’re calling my name even before you open the door. You must’ve missed me so much.’ I didn’t need to look to know that Georg was on my doorstep. Before I could prepare to greet him, the door to my room burst open. The sight of the giant standing in the doorway was more intimidating than I could have imagined. I nonchalantly crossed my legs, trying to ignore the cold sweat running down my back.

“You’re going to break the door down. What’s the rush?”

“You didn’t say something so laid-back after what you’ve done? I must’ve surely misheard.”

I expected my voice to shake, but my voice was calmer than expected. I guess it was the Hero in me. It was a good thing I didn’t look like a wimp.

“What have I done wrong?”

“That notice you have folded up on the table! Less than a day after I warned you not to act so over-indulgently, I see a recruitment poster all over the Adventurer’s Guild!”

Georg snapped, his voice rising. He was looking at me like his eyes were going to eat me. I swallowed dryly. Anyone would be intimidated by such an angry glare.

Still, I can’t back down here. If things don’t go as I planned, I’m as good as a dead man walking. I could die at the hands of muscles now, or trying to defeat the Seven Disasters, or at the hands of the Kingdom and Holy State assassins because I could not defeat the “Disasters.” I suppose it would hurt the most to die to Georg’s hands, but at least it would feel better to die doing what I wanted to do.

“We were running out of time. We only have three months of rest and need to move quickly to fill the vacancies. You told me to take responsibility for my actions, so I am.”

Georg’s face twisted at my words.

“I don’t think taking responsibility for your actions means doing whatever you want. Couldn’t you have at least had a day to discuss it with me?”

Georg growled, and I fought back, refusing to lose.

“I doubt that discussion would have lasted only a day. Besides, we’re supposed to save people, so you can’t fault my methods.”

“That’s one thing, but will you advertise that the party is in trouble everywhere? The adventurers will quickly spread the word that there’s a feud. Did you want the people to make a fuss about this?”

I shrugged.

“It would have gotten out anyways, and if the rumors got out before the truth, people would flock to them instead. Better to have it out now than to have it brewing and then blow up later. By the time we become active, the buzz will have died down.”

“What truth? You indeed removed them without reason.”

“That’s what I’m saying. Rumors are stronger than truth, and if you can’t contain what’s already been spilled, why don’t you mop up the mess? We can’t stain the name of this party.”

“You….”

Georg’s face wrinkled as he shook his head. He was going to lose this argument.

“…There had to be a better way to do this than wallpapering the Adventurers’ Guild like that. Didn’t you at least think to ask the Kingdom for cooperation?”

A long sigh came out of my mouth. Quarrels are very tiring.

“How many great people would we get if we asked the Kingdom for cooperation? There will be plenty of backstabbing and bloodshed within the upper echelons, and they’ll only send us someone a week before our vacation ends; Someone whose name you’ve never heard of, who’s been ‘vetted’ through some sort of ‘internal selection process.\'”

I didn’t stop talking. Even if he seemed ignorant, he was a wise man. He couldn’t object when logic was on my side.

“Suppose we ignore all those facts, and the Kingdom sends us a wizard of the Fifth or Sixth circle. Do you think they’ll be up to speed with the party in such a short time? Would they be able to adapt to the journey ahead? Hell no.”

Georg’s frown slowly began to fade. I took advantage of this chance.

“Trying to fill Arjen’s or Iris’ shoes is absurd. We should aim to find people who can fill their roles as well as possible and maximize the sum of the party’s parts.”

As I said this, I patted the recruitment poster. I had another purpose for putting them up, but I couldn’t reveal it to Georg.

He listened to me and seemed lost in thought. Just getting his anger under control was a significant accomplishment. I sank back in my chair, relieved. After long deliberation, Georg scratched the back of his head and sighed in frustration. Somehow, he seemed angry that he had to give in to my words.

“…Right. I’ll listen to you this time, but I must accompany you in the interviews. Don’t you think I have a right to see and choose who joins?”

Georg’s voice was utterly exhausted. It was hard for even the best heavy-armored knight in the Kingdom to exert his mind this early in the morning.

“Of course, I’m not that thoughtless.”

Georg stood awkwardly for a moment after hearing my answer. I wanted to tell him to return for today, but I couldn’t muster up the courage. With one last glance at me, he left the room. I opened the window at the back of the office and took a deep breath of fresh air. The office felt stuffy, like it was still crushed under the weight of Georg’s presence.

‘I’m going to live a little longer now.’

I leaned onto the windowsill and glanced back at the door Georg had just left through. I didn’t lie to him, but I couldn’t help but feel like I had deceived him. However, I didn’t feel remorse but was instead worried about being found out.

I pushed myself away from the window and turned back to the table to sit down. ‘Well, I guess I can show you the results later.’

“I’m sorry, Georg, I’ll let you accompany me to the interview, but you have no right to pick the member.”

I muttered as I unfolded the recruitment poster on the table.

I’ve already decided on our new member.

***

The announcement that the hero party was finding new members caused quite a stir among the adventurers. Once it was confirmed that the poster came from the Hero himself and that the party was indeed looking for members, the news spread to adventurers in and around the Kingdom.

“Will they pay well?”

“Of course they’ll pay well. Shall we apply?”

“Arthur, we have no chance.”

“…Well, I wonder if there’s anyone qualified then.”

“You’re underqualified for a party that’s supposed to be for the Hero. Don’t think that just because you can’t get in there, everyone else can’t.”

“Who is this asshole?”

…This kind of bickering had become commonplace within the Adventurer’s Guild.

“Anyway, why are they recruiting now? Didn’t they just defeat the ‘Third Disaster?’ Was there something wrong?”

“I don’t know, but the Hero’s personality seems dirty, so it may have something to do with that.

“Hey, mister. He’s still the one who defeated a ‘Disaster,’ so don’t talk about him like that.”

“I wasn’t, and he just seems a bit arrogant.”

“Well, I suppose you ain’t wrong there.”

As Elroy had predicted, the rumors about the state of the Hero’s Party spread like wildfire. Each story had a different tale, and the people’s mouths did not gather to the “truth.” Instead, their eyes and feet flocked to the Adventurers’ Guild of the Royal Capital.

It’s been a week since Elroy posted the announcement that shook the Kingdom to its core. In his office, above the room where the interviews would take place, Georg and Elroy gaze out the window.

“… It’s more crowded than I thought.”

Georg said, looking down at the crowd before the Hero’s headquarters. Thirty, maybe forty people, all claiming to meet Elroy’s qualifications. It was a lot more than he expected. Many didn’t seem impressive, but a few had skills that made even him raise an eyebrow.

“Well, that wizard in the blue robes looks pretty strong. The one with the big sword strapped to his back looks good, too, and he seems to have a lot of experience. There are many good people here, not as bad as I thought.”

Georg said with a hushed voice.

“Obviously, it won’t be enough to fill the void left by Arjen and Iris, but we have a few adventurers who can do the job.”

Over the next few days, Elroy was pretty quiet. He didn’t do much of anything that stood out, and the over-indulgence he called out before had lessened. Of course, that’s not to say that Georg had grown to trust him.

His assessment of the Hero remained the same. A man of no great skill or talent, no leadership ability to lead others, and no skill in current politics. A man who doesn’t deserve to be called the Hero. Georg only believed in himself and the potential of the adventurer he would choose today.

‘… He’s still in shock that Iris left the party.’

Georg clicked his tongue as he watched Elroy stare out the window with a profoundly contemplative look. He must not be thinking about anything at all.

At that time, Elroy, staring out the window with a large frown, raised his lips slightly.

“… Found you.”

His voice sounded like a small squeak. Georg followed his gaze and turned to the window, but no one caught his eye.

“Who did you find?”

Elroy shrugged at Georg’s question.

“You’ll find out later. Let’s just get this interview started.”

Georg’s followed Elroy as he returned to his seat, glaring at him in disbelief, before returning to the corner where the full-length mirror sat and crossing his arms. If Georg could decide who joined, letting someone in would cause no problems. And the Hero would have no choice but to listen to him when selecting a competent member.

Perhaps.

***

“Elroy, this wizard doesn’t seem to be too bad. Listen, I’ll put you on the waiting list for now and contact you at another….”

When the first interview finished, Georg nudged Elroy. Elroy nodded briefly.

“I’m afraid to say this, but we’ll see you next time.”

“Crazy son of a bitch.”

A curse slipped from Georg’s mouth.