I Became the Guild Leader in Exile

39 – 8# Waste Management in Elise (3)

Thanks to obtaining permission for a stay for tourism purposes, Iron Shield could freely roam around Elise. However, finding a person in the city was a very challenging task.

Especially without a name, relying solely on impressions made it even more difficult. It took about three hours for guild members to realize that it was nearly impossible.

“We won’t find him like this.”

“Isn’t there any other way?”

“…I have a guess.”

“A guess? Is that true?”

At Hans’ question, Isaac nodded heavily. Had he managed to gather proper information in that short time? Hans clicked his tongue at Isaac’s skill.

‘If the novel’s contents are correct, he should be somewhere nearby.’

Of course, Isaac’s skill didn’t excel to the point of obtaining information. It was merely a reference to the original work. Moreover, it wasn’t 100% reliable information.

Among the original Iron Shield members, only Hans and Sophia had their faces revealed in the setting book. Considering that there was no information disclosed in that part, there was no information about Dig.

‘If the novel is correct, he should be somewhere nearby.’

It wasn’t that Isaac’s skills were excellent enough to gather information. It was just a reference to the original work. Besides, it wasn’t 100% certain information.

Originally, among the original Iron Shield members, only Hans and Sophia had their faces revealed in the setting book. Considering that there was no information disclosed in that part, there was no information about Dig.

‘If the novel is correct, he should be somewhere nearby.’

It wasn’t that Isaac’s skills were excellent enough to gather information. It was just a reference to the original work. Besides, it wasn’t 100% certain information.

Originally, among the original Iron Shield members, only Hans and Sophia had their faces revealed in the setting book. Considering that there was no information disclosed in that part, there was no information about Dig.

‘If the novel is correct, he should be somewhere nearby.’

It wasn’t that Isaac’s skills were excellent enough to gather information. It was just a reference to the original work. Besides, it wasn’t 100% certain information.

Originally, among the original Iron Shield members, only Hans and Sophia had their faces revealed in the setting book. Considering that there was no information disclosed in that part, there was no information about Dig.

From Noble mtl dot com

‘If the novel is correct, he should be somewhere nearby.’

It wasn’t that Isaac’s skills were excellent enough to gather information. It was just a reference to the original work. Besides, it wasn’t 100% certain information.

Originally, among the original Iron Shield members, only Hans and Sophia had their faces revealed in the setting book. Considering that there was no information disclosed in that part, there was no information about Dig.

‘If the novel is correct, he should be somewhere nearby.’

It wasn’t that Isaac’s skills were excellent enough to gather information. It was just a reference to the original work. Besides, it wasn’t 100% certain information.

Originally, among the original Iron Shield members, only Hans and Sophia had their faces revealed in the setting book. Considering that there was no information disclosed in that part, there was no information about Dig.

‘If the novel is correct, he should be somewhere nearby.’

It wasn’t that Isaac’s skills were excellent enough to gather information. It was just a reference to the original work. Besides, it wasn’t 100% certain information.

Originally, among the original Iron Shield members, only Hans and Sophia had their faces revealed in the setting book. Considering that there was no information disclosed in that part, there was no information about Dig.

‘If the novel is correct, he should be somewhere nearby.’

It wasn’t that Isaac’s skills were excellent enough to gather information. It was just a reference to the original work. Besides, it wasn’t 100% certain information.

Originally, among the original Iron Shield members, only Hans and Sophia had their faces revealed in the setting book. Considering that there was no information disclosed in that part, there was no information about Dig.

‘If the novel is correct, he should be somewhere nearby.’

It wasn’t that Isaac’s skills were excellent enough to gather information. It was just a reference to the original work. Besides, it wasn’t 100% certain information.

Originally, among the original Iron Shield members, only Hans and Sophia had their faces revealed in the setting book. Considering that there was no information disclosed in that part, there was no information about Dig.

‘If the novel is correct, he should be somewhere nearby.’

It wasn’t that Isaac’s skills were excellent enough to gather information. It was just a reference to the original work. Besides, it wasn’t 100% certain information.

Originally, among the original Iron Shield members, only Hans and Sophia had their faces revealed in the setting book. Considering that there was no information disclosed in that part, there was no information about Dig.

‘If the novel is correct, he should be somewhere nearby.’

It wasn’t that Isaac’s skills were excellent enough to gather information. It was just a reference to the original work. Besides, it wasn’t 100% certain information.

Originally, among the original Iron Shield members, only Hans and Sophia had their faces revealed in the setting book. Considering that there was no information disclosed in that part, there was no information about Dig.

‘If the novel is correct, he should be somewhere nearby.’

It wasn’t that Isaac’s skills were excellent enough to gather information. It was just a reference to the original work. Besides, it wasn’t 100% certain information.

Originally, among the original Iron Shield members, only Hans and Sophia had their faces revealed in the setting book. Considering that there was no information disclosed in that part, there was no information about Dig.

‘If the novel is correct, he should be somewhere nearby.’

It wasn’t that Isaac’s skills were excellent enough to gather information. It was just a reference to the original work. Besides, it

Of course Isaac, an avid reader of novels, couldn’t have missed such information posts in the community. Moreover, because he considered that hypothesis the most plausible.

It was his belief in that hypothesis that guided his steps. Thankfully, he remembered the layout of the city of Elise perfectly well. Isaac easily reached his destination.

What the guild members who arrived with Isaac saw didn’t resemble the radiant city of Elise but rather a wretched shantytown. Cain remarked, tongue-in-cheek, “There isn’t a proper house in sight.”

“People live in a place like this?” asked someone in disbelief.

“Surprisingly, they do,” came the reply.

However, unlike the accustomed Cain, Yurina, who had lived a wealthy life in Sallen, was genuinely shocked. It was closer to a pigsty than a place where people lived.

“Master, is there really a Dig in this slum?”

“This isn’t a slum. It’s where the miners of Elise reside.”

“The place where miners live?”

“Yes, considering the meaning of ‘Dig,’ I thought it might be here.”

In truth, it was merely following a hypothesis read in the community. However, to guild members unaware of this fact, Isaac’s deduction seemed sharp.

“But wasn’t Dig an insult? If so, then the likelihood of it being in the upper class—”

“No. That’s highly improbable.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“I’ve seen glimpses. His guilt.”

Naturally, that couldn’t be the case.

But Isaac couldn’t simply say, “I read it in a community post!”

He vaguely muttered instead.

—

There was once a fool.

A fool who earnestly believed that with sincere effort, everyone could coexist harmoniously. Perhaps that fool had a knack for the subject of foolishness. Many people followed suit.

Or perhaps it was just because they followed Diamond, the ruling class of Elise. No, even so, as the person who first invented the Golems, maybe they were competent after all.

Then and now, Elise had many problems. Only, until now, the Diamonds had turned a blind eye to all of them. But this individual wanted to face and resolve those issues.

“I honestly don’t understand.”

“Why are you so mischievous again today?”

“Sir! I’m genuinely serious!”

There was once a prodigy.

Not exceptional enough to be called a criminal, yet not competent enough to be deemed a genius. Unfortunately, at that time, this prodigy believed themselves to be a genius.

“If it’s your skills, wouldn’t the Digs no longer need to work?”

If that’s the case, we can save costs rationally and do more with the increased budget. The widely known fact was that Sujae was riding high on the momentum.

[But why deploy golems only in the deep regions and leave the rest to the diggers?]

[Golems are not omnipotent. When you consider maintenance or production costs, the difference is surprisingly not that significant. Moreover, their lack of precision requires humans to handle many tasks.]

[……]

[And… isn’t taking away all their work too harsh?]

Once again, Sujae couldn’t grasp his master’s words. Isn’t it a good thing for everyone to rest without difficulties if they don’t work? Well, that’s probably why he was Sujae.

[They too are born in Ellis. I don’t want to create a hometown that drives away such people.]

However, the fool could no longer unfold his will. It had been about a week since the golems created by the fool were deployed on the field.

A rebellion broke out in Ellis.

From the ruling class, the Diamonds, to the middle class, the Golds, and even the labor class, the Bronzes. Ironically, those who vehemently protested were the Bronzes saved by the fool.

[We defend our positions!!]

[Before you kick us out, we will kill you!!]

[Rise, Bronzes! We will endure no more!!]

In the end, the fool was captured by the Diamonds, another ruling class, and executed. Thus, Ellis fell into the hands of others. That was what he dreamt of.

There’s no sympathy.

It wasn’t a lack of knowledge or strength.

He just foolishly tried to change the world.

The opponents were Gideon and the Holy Order, and the officials who had ruled Ellis from the beginning until now. Even with power, they were not people one could dare to confront.

[I will never let Evan’s will be in vain.]

[As his brother, he must understand his righteousness.]

[Will you join us?]

Sujae ran away from that place. Let’s stop making excuses. It was just frightening to become like his master. Over the next 20 years of wandering the world, Sujae learned many things.

27 years old. The age of a fine young man.

At first, he had his own reasons. However, as time passed, his heart became deeply submerged in guilt and fear. No matter how hard he struggled, nothing changed.

It was only then that Sujae realized.

The fact that he had no talent to change the world. Was it a reckless act. From then on, Sujae lived recklessly. Getting fired for doing a sloppy job became routine.

[We are all family.]

And then, he ended up joining a strange guild. In a place where everyone pursued only gold and their achievements. That man was pursuing something strange alone.

Is it the enthusiasm of newbies who know nothing?

Usually, it’s one of the two.

Shattering or coming to terms with reality.

There was no expectation. All the guilds he had seen so far had been like that. But, as if it were a lie, he continued steadfastly without abandoning his beliefs, moving forward.

It was incomprehensible.

It would have been easier to just go along with everyone else.

No, he could even rise to a higher position by doing so.

Why bother buying trouble unnecessarily?

But he didn’t care. Because he knew he wouldn’t last long anyway. Yet, as time passed, he couldn’t help but admit that his thoughts had been wrong.

As if he knew the future. He cleverly continued to navigate the situation. He even had the strength to do so. If he closed his eyes, perhaps he could have been at ease.

It was that enjoyable of a time. However, the moment he saw the request form at the guild, he realized. He couldn’t continue to ignore his past…

He betrayed the people who accepted him and stole money, fleeing back to his hometown. He wanted to use that money to at least save the people left by his brother.

He hired mercenaries, purchased equipment with the money, and armed the people. Whatever the outcome tomorrow, it would probably be his final fight.

“Brother, it’s been a long time. How have you been?”

Just before the final battle approached, he found his brother’s grave. It was completely empty, not even properly tended to. A shabby tomb with just a makeshift gravestone.

To think this was the grave of the man who once dreamed of true reconciliation in Elise. He couldn’t help but chuckle. But perhaps this agony would be relieved by tomorrow.

“…I thought you’d come here.”

From Noble mtl dot com

As the sun was completely setting, from a hill in the back of the slums, familiar faces seemed quite visible there.

“It’s been a while, Master.”

“Dig. Or should I call you that here?”

…”

He licked his lips as if he couldn’t stand it. Seeing him come this far, it seemed our Master had grasped everything in less than a day.

“The abandoned prince of Elise, Phileas.”

Or maybe not.

Since the time I was accepted into the guild.

He already knew everything.