I Became the Guild Leader in Exile

3 – Part 1: Guild Like Family (3)

Isaac immediately got to work. He instructed Sophia and Hans to distribute food with the villagers. He, along with the remaining two members, started repairing the village defenses and the barricades.

Dig was a newcomer to the Iron Shield, although being a newcomer was a loose term as he had joined shortly after its establishment. The difference between joining during the founding or after wasn’t much, but surprisingly, Hans had been strict about such details. Isaac agreed, and so Dig and Las became the youngest members.

Unexpectedly, Hans rigorously enforced these rules, and Isaac, in agreement, made Dig and Las the youngest members. Dig quietly whispered to Las, his fellow rookie.

“Don’t you think we’ve gotten into quite a mess?”

“Again, what nonsense are you talking about?”

“No, it’s true. The guild leader and senior members are busy with meaningless tasks. It’s a fairly new guild, you know.”

Digg’s discontent was perfectly normal. The guild had just been formed, yet they were already burdened with these ridiculous tasks. If it weren’t for Gideon, Digg’s complaints might have been ignored.

But Rass, who had experienced life in other guilds, found mockery in Digg’s words. How should he deal with this foolish guy? Well, it doesn’t really matter. Just make sure sparks don’t fly.

“There were no initiation rituals or strange rules. It’s a decent place enough.”

“What? Initiation rituals?”

“Yes, you ignorant rookie.”

“I am not ignorant! I know everything!”

Ignoring Digg’s escalating temper, Rass hurried towards Isaac. The timing of the guild’s establishment could be seen as an opportunity. A chance to climb higher positions.

“Master, do you need any help?”

“The bookshelf needs some reinforcement.”

“Then I will fetch the materials right away.”

“Yes, go with Digg.”

Rass nodded and then grabbed the back of Digg’s neck, pulling him along while muttering under his breath. This guy should consider himself fortunate to have a good master.

“If it were any other guild, he would have been kicked out long ago.”

Gideon attracted those who knocked on the guild’s doors, seeking to become heroes. So why keep someone like this useless slacker around who doesn’t work hard and gets distracted?

“We will never take lightly the sacrifices of those who fell protecting their families and neighbors.”

On the first day of joining the guild, Rass didn’t believe the master’s words about pursuing a guild that feels like family. But now, after what just happened, he started to have some faith.

“Ugh, that useless pest.”

As Rass disappeared with Digg, Isaac let out a sigh filled with anger. For a moment, he almost lost his temper due to Digg’s constant slacking off, which disrupted the concept.

“That was really dangerous just now. Let’s reflect on our actions.”

However, Isaac didn’t ignore his own mistakes. As someone committed to the concept, he couldn’t let it break so easily. Sure, what happened resembled the slacking off of Digg’s subordinates during his military service.

Even so, if the concept is shattered, he can no longer call himself a man committed to it. Remorsefully, Isaac continued diligently reinforcing the bookshelf.

The work progressed smoothly. Sophia and Hans, who had gone outside the village to gather provisions, returned without any issues. They succeeded in bringing back a considerable amount of supplies.

“You’ve worked hard. Now go inside and rest.”

“But Master is still working. How can we rest?”

“We want to help too.”

“Thank you, but I refuse. You have all completed your tasks, so you deserve a proper rest. However, let’s establish a rotation schedule for night watch before you go to sleep, including me.”

There was slight resistance, questioning how they could rest while they were the only ones left working, but in the end, Sophia and Hans withdrew. After all, the longer they debated, the more delayed the bookshelf reinforcement would be.

“Master, can’t we just stop now? We’re tired.”

“Mr. C…”

“Yeah, now go in and rest. Lars, you’ve worked hard too.”

“No, I’ll stay and help.”

“Thank you so much! Master! Take care then~.”

Unlike Lars, Digg immediately expressed his gratitude and headed to his assigned quarters. Watching him with a perplexed expression, Lars turned his head back and sat down.

It wasn’t a pretense; working alone didn’t look good, and there was something crucial he wanted to ask the Master.

“Master, may I ask you a question?”

“What is it?”

“How do you feel about Digg?”

“It seems Digg doesn’t appeal to you much.”

Although he tried to say it casually, Lars was pricked to the core and eventually fell silent. But Isaac knew better; he had been in a similar situation himself.

“Honestly, he’s not doing the job properly. Just whining and slacking off. Not really impressed.”

Lars spoke honestly, not just because Digg didn’t seem sympathetic, but because Digg himself wasn’t putting in the effort. Isaac chuckled at Lars’s words.

“Indeed, we can’t say Digg is diligent.”

“Right? So, um…”

“But even that is part of what family does.”

“Family…”

“If a finger hurts, you don’t cut it off just because it hurts.”

Of course, one would endure the pain. While saying this, Isaac finished the reinforcement work. Watching Isaac like that, Lars finally understood Isaac’s words.

“Master plans to embrace everyone, not just stand by.”

It didn’t mean he would just watch. He would scold for mistakes and reward for good deeds. It was a perfectly natural way to lead with a perfectly natural method. That was the Master’s style.

‘Perhaps here…’

Swallowing the rest of his words, Lars turned his head. For now, the goal was to complete the work. However, it was certain that he now had the intention to sincerely follow the Master.

“Damn, that useless guy.”

Ironically, Isaac was inwardly cursing Digg.

* * *

Incidents always erupt suddenly.

It was abrupt. Digg complaining about how hard he had it and inadvertently incurring Hans’s wrath, and the goblin attack starting from the front lines.

Maybe if Digg had been a bit more agile. No, if he had been a bit quicker. If he hadn’t been dozing off while on sentry duty. The damage to the village would probably have been much less than it is now.

It was truly an absurd situation to have been ambushed with sentries in place. However, Isaac calmly gave orders to everyone. First, Sophia and Hans would face the goblin main force.

Isaac and Lars together evacuated the townspeople to a safe place. As a part of their plan, they set out to rescue Dig. Naturally, Hans and Lars were on their way to reach Dig, but–

“I think that little brat would be happier dying by the hands of goblins.”

“We must make sure he gets his act together as a fellow comrade.”

“This time, I won’t hold back either.”

While they may not know much else, they couldn’t deny their failure to be vigilant. Especially with the townspeople here. If they made a mistake, not only would the protagonist, but everyone else could be annihilated as well.

“Hurry up, guys from the Namjeong neighborhood! Now is not the time for that!”

“Got it.”

“Take care of yourselves.”

“Especially you, Master.”

After exchanging brief greetings, they quickly moved their legs, each focusing on their respective tasks. Lars, who was separated from Sophia and Hans, hesitated for a moment and soon spoke towards Isaac.

“But are you two enough for this?”

“Yeah, they have enough strength.”

“Just what is the identity of those two?”

“Knights from a fallen kingdom. Let’s leave it at that.”

With Isaac’s words, Lars felt that there must be some story behind the two. And it probably wasn’t a story that they would willingly share with others. Coming to that conclusion, Lars kept his mouth shut.

“I don’t know for sure either.”

If it was the original Isaac, he might have known, but the current Isaac didn’t know much about them. They only vaguely appeared in the story and were never fully introduced.

Moreover, they were only mentioned in the setting book as knights from a fallen kingdom. There were no other details. So, as Isaac, who thoroughly explored the setting book, he had no choice but to say it like this.

“Ah, help!! Save me!!”

“Whose voice is that?!”

At that moment, when Lars was astonished by Dig’s scream, Isaac was already swiftly moving. Although he had only been possessed a few days ago and was not yet accustomed to Isaac’s body.

But that was probably for the best.

Isaac could soon see Dig swinging his sword wildly, barely holding on. Confirming that Dig was alive, Isaac rushed towards the goblin horde.

Of course, he could really die if he made a wrong move. However, Isaac didn’t mind. A true concept lover would risk their life for the concept. Eventually, Isaac drew his sword.

The sound of flesh being sliced resounded. In the darkness, a momentary flash that flickered vanished. And at the same time, the heads of the goblins on the way up the rampart burst into flames.

While looking at that sight, Isaac thought to himself.

If he couldn’t save his family.

He would rather die in this place.