Volume 2 Chapter 16-2 A Flame War I Shouldn't Be Able to Win Against a Mere Administrator
"As I mentioned earlier, it's a ridiculous story. A hundred years ago, 'Court Adventurers' actually came into being, and that nation fell within just a few years. Knowing that fact, one can't help but question the very idea of trying to establish 'Court Adventurers' again──it's akin to inviting disaster."
"...Huh? Wait, a nation fell a hundred years ago?"
Pastor's face was genuinely, shockingly stunned.
Ellie sighed at the sight of him.
"There's a lot of hidden information, so it wouldn't be easy to uncover, but the fact is well-known among the members of the 'Luster Report.' For those who understand the 'malice of immigration,' this whole situation reeks too strongly of decay."
"I know about the fall of the nation a century ago, too. Well, 'fall' might be misleading──what really happened was that it became a puppet of some officials at the headquarters. A country without sovereign power is practically nonexistent."
"Mr. Ivan. Let's get the facts straight. The nation's benefits were stripped away by the officials at headquarters, and during the monster stampede they could have dealt with, 80 percent of the citizens perished."
"Then why didn't you stop it?! Why did you let it go this far?! Isn't it because deep down, you all acknowledge that?"
Pastor was desperately trying to cover up his panic.
For him, getting 'Court Adventurers' accepted would be the first step towards 'Adventurers ruling the world.'
Yet, the hero community and the master of the SS-rank guild outright denied it, citing the nation's downfall as a shocking and powerful reason.
Yes, this fact has been 'hidden.'
For someone with even a basic grasp of sociology, revealing the entirety of that 'nation's' identity wouldn't be hard at all, yet there's an intent to obscure the very existence of 'Court Adventurers.'
The fact that even Pastor, an official from the headquarters, couldn't touch upon it speaks volumes about the level of information concealment──but it also indicates that the one who ordered the cover-up held a very high position.
"Ah, I left you alone because I wanted you to get carried away."
"Huh?"
"If you watched the hero's journey, you'd understand. Their tactics are mainly 'showmanship' and 'decisive strikes.' Pastor, you were the 'showmanship,' left alone to escalate the situation."
"B-But that's... I'm on the administration's side, you know!"
"You sure do like to say 'on the administration's side,' don't you? How interesting..."
Ellie flashes a sly smile.
"But, Mr. Ivan, if you hadn't stopped Cedal here, he would have kept preaching for days. Why did you stop him on the first day?"
"...I know who's pulling their strings. But tell them this for me: 'The person I admire and the person you admire are not the same.'"
In short, Ivan and Horace have completely different ideas of what 'actions an admired person would take.'
If Horace admires someone, they'd 'let things like this happen.' But if Ivan admires someone, they'd 'stop it here.'
Anyway, putting that logic aside, it seems Ellie had her own thoughts about Ivan's demeanor....
"...Do you know 'him'?"
"We were partners until ten years ago."
"""!?"""
The words that slipped from Ivan's lips left Cedal, Pastor, and even Ellie in shock.
"I haven't seen him since we parted ways in the 'Wiselia Kingdom' destroyed by the Demon Lord ten years ago, but I bet he hasn't changed."
"Wha──No way..."
In the hierarchy of heroes and SS-rank guilds, there's a clear difference.
Even if they both stood against the 'Court Adventurers,' the name 'hero' would still outshine.
But if Ivan, the master of that SS-rank guild, was someone who 'partnered with the hero's master,' then his value skyrockets.
Being rejected by both the hero and someone of equal standing is the 'worst-case scenario.'
Ellie mutters to Pastor while looking at him.
"I see, but still... it was quite the passionate display for a fight you were going to lose from the start."
"Guh... Ku... Damn it! I'm the one in charge! You're Adventurers! You're supposed to be managed! Listen to meeeeeee!"
The next moment, a black aura of pure intimidation flared from Ellie.
"Wh-what...!"
Just that alone made Pastor falter, his face turning the color of ash.
"...I understand your obsession now. And with that, we'll make an example of you. You'll learn the hard way about your mistake and the strength of our trump card."
With that, Ellie turned on her heel and strode back into the mansion.
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