Volume 5 Chapter 51 Epilogue II
Years had passed since Act Age and his protégés saved the world...
Guild, Gem of Heavenly Gift.
Its headquarters now stood as the most esteemed Adventurers Guild in the Royal Capital.
In the Guildmaster's chair sat a girl with silver hair and golden eyes...
"Guildmaster [Henrietta]! Excuse me!"
Henrietta...
That was the name of Act and Frederica's daughter.
With their distinctive features and the legacy of this Guild, the young girl straightened her posture and cleared her throat grandly with an "Uhmph-hmph."
"Enter!"
She had to talk the old-fashioned way; she couldn't be shown up.
Born to great parents, Henrietta felt compelled to live up to their legend.
So, she's putting on an act, making sure she's not to be trifled with...
In walked the receptionist girl.
Her name plate read [Nina Invoker].
"It's an emergency, Ms. Henrietta! The S-Rank Adventurers have caused trouble again!"
"What!? Th-Those guys... again...!"
The Gem of Heavenly Gift, perhaps due to her father's achievements, attracted many talented Adventurers.
That was fine.
But...
"Summon Leaf and Black Silver...!"
"Yes, ma'am!"
There appeared Leaf, a black-haired boy with a perpetual smile.
And then Black Silver, clad in a black coat and silver mask.
These 2?
They're the Guild's twin stars──both top-tier, S-Rank Adventurers.
"You two... Don't tell me you pulled another stunt?"
"Huh? Did I, uh, do something again?"
Leaf puts on the world's most innocent face.
Henrietta scans the report and lets out a heavy sigh.
"It says here you blew away the whole enemy force──village and all. Is that...actually true?"
"Yup!"
"'Yup,' he says..."
Why is he sounding so chipper about it...?
...Well, at least the enemy's gone.
That's something.
Next, Henrietta turns to the boy in the silver mask.
"Black Silver. According to this, you just left halfway through the mission──is that right?"
"...The enemy was defeated."
"Yeah, sure, but you can't just bail whenever you want. Why'd you leave?"
"...It was the end of my shift."
"Since when do Adventurers get to clock out, huh?!"
Henrietta lets out a long, deep sigh──one for the ages.
Honestly, it's like all the real characters just flock to this Gem of Heavenly Gift Guild.
I'd love to lead them with poise──like Father always did...
...but I'm nowhere near up to the task.
"...Whatever. Just try to be more careful, alright?"
"Yes, ma'am!"
"...Can I go now? My break's starting."
This kid...!
Henrietta sighs, waves her hand.
The two file out of the room.
"Ugh, none of this is going how I want..."
Father was incredible.
Strong, cool, practically bursting with charisma.
I want to be just like him, but...look at me now.
"How could I ever become someone like Papa...?"
And then──
*Knock, knock...*
"Etta. It's me."
"! Papa!"
The door swings open, and in walks a man with jet-black hair and golden eyes...
Act Age himself.
...But.
He doesn't have that old, piercing glare anymore.
Now he's just──smiling.
Soft, warm.
Anyone who remembers him would be floored to see Act like this.
You'd swear he was everybody's favorite grandpa now.
Henrietta almost throws herself at him──almost──but holds back at the last second.
She clears her throat, pulling herself together.
"Head of the Age Association Headquarters. What brings you here today?"
Act, having retired from the Guildmaster's chair, now served as the figurehead for the entire Guild.
But in truth, there wasn't much actual work to do.
Just sitting there as the face of the Guild, leaving the operations to each department's discretion.
And yet, it all runs smoothly──testament to my father's character and his keen eye for placing the right people in the right spots.
"I wonder if Etta's doing alright..."
"You're... overprotective, really... I'm... I'm doing fine......"
Despite the success, Henrietta's expression was clouded.
Act gave a wry smile and patted her daughter's head.
"There's no need to worry."
"But..."
"You don't have to follow in my footsteps. You have your path, and I have mine──each perfect for us."
So, you don't have to live up to me, he told me.
Henrietta... felt a weight lift off her shoulders.
She felt a little more at ease.
"Thank you, Papa. I'll... do my best. To create my own, Gem of Heavenly Gift!"
...The Exile Relief Guild, Gem of Heavenly Gift.
Its form had completely changed with the passing of the torch to a new generation.
But some things stayed the same.
That was the commitment to welcoming anyone, honing their talents, and crafting stages where they could shine.
The shape might differ, but Henrietta was undoubtedly sitting in the Guildmaster's chair, carrying on Act's legacy.
"Ms. Henrietta! Leaf and Mr. Black Silver are at it again!"
The receptionist, Nina, burst in.
Brushing past Act's side, Henrietta dashes out.
Act, who used to prefer working in the shadows, seemed to realize that his daughter was more suited to standing in the open, protecting her subordinates.
Watching his daughter's back as she left with Nina, Act smiled.
And then he exited the Guild.
As everyone bowed to the Headquarters Chief, he passed through.
With a smile and a wave, Act left the Guild, only to find his beloved woman waiting there.
"You. How was Etta?"
"She seems to be struggling."
"Well... but I'm sure she'll be fine. She is our daughter, after all."
Act and Frederica watched them go──those young ones, running full speed toward their futures, farther with every step.
And they'll keep watching.
Always.
In the peaceful world Act and the others dreamed of and fought to build... those kids get to truly live.
(The End)
And with that, it's complete!
Seriously──thank you so much!
This is the prequel of The Healer Ditches the Boonies to Become an S-Rank Adventurer.
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