Despite Rozie’s order for Darnan to arrest me, he didn’t move. Apparently, she doesn’t have the authority to command him.

“What are you doing? Arrest him already!”

Rozie seemed oblivious to the situation. Attempting to detain me would likely result in a single individual going on a rampage, which would reduce the guild to rubble. Both the Guild Master and Darnan understood this.

“Darnan!”

“Stop this!” the Guild Master commanded.

“W-Why, Guild Master?!”

Rozie’s hysterical yelling was too much, and whatever initial impression I’d had of her was now replaced with that of an incompetent liability.

“If you continue this disruption, I’ll order you to leave.”

Rozie bit her lip in frustration and fell silent.

“I apologize for the noise,” said the Guild Master.

“Oh, I’m used to these types of people; it’s fine,” I replied, recalling my far worse stepmother.

“Back to the matter at hand,” the Guild Master continued. “We believe selling the Red Dragon to the Johnson Trading Company violated guild policy. However, you seem to disagree. Could you explain why?”

This Guild Master was genuinely listening—quite the contrast to Rozie’s hysteria.

“It’s simple. I was aware of the guild’s policy, so I tried to take the Red Dragon quest.”

“What!?” Both the Guild Master and Darnan were visibly shocked, clearly unaware of this. Rozie, however, clenched her teeth in frustration—she knew this and was trying to frame me. What a personality.

“I followed guild protocol. When I tried to take the quest, the receptionist refused to let me. That’s why I brought the Red Dragon to Johnson’s shop. It’s incredibly frustrating to be accused of a violation because of that.”

“Liar!” Rozie shouted.

“Rozie!”

The Guild Master snapped, “If you speak again without permission, you will be demoted.”

Rozie froze, her face a mixture of shock and indignation. This approach seemed to be the only way to manage her.

“Please elaborate on what you’ve told us.”

“There’s not much to add. I tried to take the quest, but the receptionist refused, so I went to Johnson’s shop. Johnson was concerned about the guild, but after I explained the situation, he agreed to buy it.”

“Do you remember the receptionist’s name?”

“No, I didn’t catch her name, but she had curly blonde hair.”

“Curly blonde… Darnan, bring Illmida here.”

“Yes.”

So her name was Illmida. Impressive that the Guild Master could identify her from my vague description, though he seemed less aware of what was actually going on in his guild. Managing staff should fall to his subordinates, though.

After a short while, Darnan returned with Illmida. I nodded to confirm she was the receptionist who registered me.

“Is it true, Illmida, that you were the one who handled Sai’s registration?”

“Yes, it was me.”

“Did you refuse Sai’s attempt to take the quest?”

“No, I did no such thing.”

She lied without batting an eye.

“Sai, Illmida claims otherwise. Your thoughts?”

“I don’t see why I should be the one to prove whether she’s lying. That’s something for the guild to handle internally, isn’t it?”

“Agreed, Sai,” the Guild Master nodded.

“I’ve heard rumors that the guild possesses a magic item that detects lies. Why not use that?”

This was sensitive information about the guild, but it seemed necessary. The Guild Master looked at me, surprised that I knew.

“Lies!? I’m not lying!” Illmida protested.

“Speak only when I ask a question or give permission, Illmida.”

“Yes, sir…”

Though clearly unhappy, Illmida dared not disobey him.

“That magic item is confidential. How did you… Well, let’s leave that question for another time,” the Guild Master remarked with a wry smile.

Of course I knew. Not only did my family have access to this information, but I was the one who created that magic item in a past life.