The Power Harassment Meeting

“Number 378 will not be hired—he is disqualified.”

Phonic doubted his own ears when he heard those utterly unexpected words.

And it was not just Phonic. They were words none of them had expected. No one opened their mouths, but it was certain that the atmosphere in the conference room had shaken greatly.

Orfred broke the silence.

“What is it? Do you have some complaint?”

“…Not a complaint, but a question.”

Phonic opened his mouth.

Just speaking such words made Phonic feel a cold sensation run down his back.

Clan Master Orfred was by no means a gentle person. If anything, he possessed a strictness that stood at the opposite pole from softness. Half-baked questions or opinions usually earned Orfred’s cold laughter or disappointment.

To begin with, asking Orfred about his true intent was itself reckless.

Orfred’s intellect was astonishingly sharp, and his judgments were never wrong. His achievements were proof of that. That was exactly why he still stood at the summit as an adventurer and was able to run such a great clan.

Therefore, Orfred’s decisions were absolute.

That was why Phonic was tense.

And yet, even so, Phonic could not stop himself from speaking. The strength and talent of the young man he had seen at the exam site had certainly been real. He could not understand Orfred’s thinking at all in trying to cast aside that talent.

Everyone present here likely felt the same way.

That was why Phonic asked. If there was anyone in this room who could voice an opinion to Orfred, it would probably be either himself, one of the Eight Stars, or Carmilla.

No, more than that—

Phonic himself had not been able to accept it.

“Number 378 is unquestionably strong. He would surely become a powerful asset to the clan. Why fail him?”

“Because it must not be.”

It was short, with an unwavering ring to it.

Phonic could not understand.

“…Must not… be?”

“That is correct. Two of the Eight Stars, the elite force that Black Dragon’s Fang, the largest clan in the imperial capital, takes pride in, were defeated by nothing more than an unknown newcomer—such a fact must not exist.”

Orfred continued in a matter-of-fact tone.

“In this exam, Her Highness Princess Flare, the Third Princess of the royal family, was observing. Can we acknowledge such a pitiful fact in front of royalty, who rely on us for strength? We, Black Dragon’s Fang, who are the strongest, are not permitted such a thing. Therefore, such a fact must ‘not exist.’”

Phonic understood what Orfred was trying to say.

In a word, it was “the organization’s pride.”

A stupid sort of pride—Phonic knew it was not something one could simply laugh off so easily. The principle that one must not be looked down on was indeed useful in society.

Because for both people and organizations, image was everything.

“I have already reported to Princess Flare that there was misconduct.”

Agitation ran through the conference room.

Orfred truly was trying to erase the fact of that defeat. In this situation, there was no way number 378 could be accepted.

Phonic understood it in his head. Protecting the trust of the royal family, and hiring an outstanding young talent. In order to protect the organization, Orfred had chosen the former. Whether that way of thinking was correct or not, it was at least a possible choice.

And yet, even so.

Phonic could not help but continue speaking. Because the brilliance of the talent he had seen had been real.

“B-but!”

“Phonic, then let me ask you this.”

Orfred spoke in a calm voice.

“You were easily defeated by a newcomer who appeared out of nowhere. Were you truly defeated by ability? I find that hard to believe.”

“…As a warrior, I do not wish to make excuses. I was indeed defeated…”

“I see. Admirable. Your pride as a warrior is most commendable. But there are things we must protect. The pride of being the greatest and strongest clan in the imperial capital. That weighs more than your own. So then, let me ask you, one of the Eight Stars who was easily defeated by a mysterious newcomer. How do you intend to take responsibility?”

“…Responsibility?”

“That is right. The Eight Stars are the greatest force representing our clan. Yet one of them lost to a newcomer. Such a fact ‘must not exist.’ Therefore, in order to protect you, I erased number 378’s achievement. To protect you. And yet you say to take number 378 rather than yourself—”

Orfred continued.

“I, in my generosity, shall allow that. In that case, how will you take responsibility? If number 378 is not the mistake, then it would mean that you, one of the Eight Stars, are the one who is mistaken.”

When Phonic could not answer immediately, Orfred pressed him further.

“At this rate, you will be unfit for the Eight Stars. Will you surrender your seat among them? No—shall you leave this clan altogether?”

Phonic bit down on his back teeth.

Then I’ll quit! That was not something Phonic could say so easily.

Phonic too had years built up in Black Dragon’s Fang. He had comrades he could trust. Even now, he could still remember the excitement of the day he had been chosen as one of the Eight Stars.

There was no way he could throw such things away.

“I-I—!”

He tried to say something, but Phonic’s throat made no sound, as though his breath had caught.

“Gh…!”

Phonic felt something painful in his chest. Which words should he say for Orfred to accept them? For everything to settle cleanly?

Silence enveloped the room.

The one who broke it was Orfred’s voice.

“…Were you defeated by ability? Were you defeated after giving your whole body and soul? Was there truly no chance of victory for a user as skilled as you? Phonic, I find that difficult to believe.”

Orfred had extended him a saving hand. Phonic understood that. And he also understood that if he let it slip away, there would be no turning back.

“…N-no… I was not yet defeated by ability…”

“Yes, that is fine. We discard number 378, and this is over.”

Nodding in satisfaction, Orfred turned his gaze toward the female mage Carmilla, who had kept silent.

“Carmilla, what about you?”

“…Naturally, I respect Orfred-sama’s will. Everything is for the sake of Black Dragon’s Fang.”

“Very good. Gentlemen, you have no objections either, I assume?”

Not a single person answered Orfred’s words.

“Then this matter is concluded.”

“…My apologies. There is just one thing I would like to ask.”

Phonic spoke. He had no intention of objecting or voicing doubt—but there was one final thing he absolutely had to confirm.

“What is it?”

“Might there not be a future where number 378 eventually rises to greatness and even surpasses Black Dragon’s Fang itself?”

“Hahahahahahaha!”

After laughing loudly, Orfred continued.

“No. No matter how great a talent may be, the individual cannot defeat the organization. No matter how much power that man may build up, there is no possibility that he could oppose the Black Dragon’s Fang I created.”

With that, number 378—Ilvis’s rejection was finalized.

A few days after the exam, I left the house to check the results.

Apparently, the numbers of the successful applicants were posted at the entrance of Black Dragon’s Fang headquarters.

Black Dragon’s Fang headquarters was—really huge.

It was the second-largest building in the imperial capital after the royal castle, so large you had to look up at it. Of course, it was not just the size. The dignity and prestige you could feel from the building were amazing, on the same level as the royal castle.

In short, it was an impressive building.

As expected of the headquarters of the largest clan in the imperial capital. If I passed, I’d get to work in a place like this…

If I passed, that is.

Thinking that, I looked at the bulletin board, and just as expected— my examinee number was not posted there.

At the bottom of the board was written, “We sincerely wish all applicants success in their future endeavors.”

I had come believing in the slimmest chance, but I guess the result really had not changed after all.

…I had blown an examiner away in the magic test, so it could not be helped. That had to leave a bad impression. Being delighted and thinking, Look at my power, I’m amaaaazing! was something only students did. As a working adult, there were lines you just could not cross…

It had said so in the job-hunting book too. “Do not think the same attitude from your student days will continue. Everyone is working with their lives on the line.”

I was still far too naive…

Well then, I should head home—

Just as I stepped away from the crowd and started walking, someone spoke to me.

“Do you have a moment?”

When I turned around, a blue-haired handsome man was standing there.

“You are—”

If I remembered right, Phonic the Meteor Swordsman.

What was strange was that he was wearing a robe like a mage and had his hood up. Unless you saw him from nearby, you probably would not realize it was Phonic.

“…It would be bad if I were seen talking to you, but there is something I absolutely had to tell you.”