CH 198

Episode 198 – Party Fill Command

Author’s Note: This chapter is written from the Guild employee, Rosalie Mattick’s POV.

“….Sigh. You made another calculation error? How many times does that make it that you’ve made a careless mistake like this since becoming a Guild staff member? I told you to double check, didn’t I? ―Hey, Mattick!! Are you listening to me?!” (Team Leader)

“Y-yiii!! I-I’m listening!! I sincerely a-apologize!” (Rosalie)

This was the 23rd time this year that I had been called into the team leader’s office for a firmly worded lecture. I had been working for the Adventurer’s Guild for two years now, but I still made mistakes just as often as I did when I first joined.

The reason was obvious: I had a crippling ‘social anxiety’ that I couldn’t do anything about. For as long as I could remember, I had always been uncomfortable with attention. When I was aware that someone was looking at me, my heart would start pounding, and my mind would become a total mess.

I thought I would be fine doing office work where I wouldn’t receive much attention, but during the training phase, I had to receive direct scrutiny and instructions from the supervisor. As soon as I was aware that I was being watched closely, my anxiety would flare up, and I would start making all kinds of mistakes.

While my peers were becoming more and more independent, I kept making mistakes, so I was never removed from the training supervisor’s jurisdiction, and I ended up working with him for a long time. Even so, the frequency of my mistakes didn’t decrease. Eventually the supervisor’s patience ran out and he left, making me the center of attention in the Adventurer’s Guild as a complete failure.

From that point onwards, my social anxiety and mistakes continued unabated, which attracted even more attention, resulting in a negative chain of events that led me to today.

“Like I was saying… How many times are you going to make the same mistake again and aga―HEY! You were looking away again!! You can’t even listen properly, this is why you keep on making mistakes!” (Team Leader)

“I-I’m s-sorry!!” (Rosalie)

I quickly apologized. I was caught thinking about all kinds of things while trying to regain my composure. The angry voice once again threw my mind into chaos, and I couldn’t stop cold sweat from breaking out all over my body.

Ah, my days of diving into the Dungeon were so much fun… Those were the days, when I was so absorbed in challenging the Dungeon with my friends that I even forgot all about my social anxiety…

“I’m sorry for interrupting you in the middle of your conversation. I have some business with Mattick-san, may I have a moment of your time?”

Just as I was about to start escaping from reality again, someone interrupted the team leader from behind and spoke to me. When I saw the team leader’s furious face stiffen, I turned around in a fluster and saw the Vice Guild Chief, Alex, standing behind me.

“A-ah! Vice Guild Chief! Yes sir, I would be obliged. Err… you said you had business with Mattick-san? ―W-was there another problem by any chance?” (Team Leader)

“No no, Mattick-san didn’t do anything wrong. I just came here to talk to her for a bit, there’s no need to be on guard.” (Alex)

But if I didn’t do anything wrong, what could the Vice Guild Chief possibly want with me?

My heart ached at the thought that I might be getting fired soon.

“W-w-what b-business did y-you have with me?” (Mattick)

“…Hm. Let’s change places first before talking details. Team Leader Robin, I’ll be borrowing Mattick-san for a bit.” (Alex)

After the Vice Guild Chief said that, he turned on his heel and started walking away. All kinds of bad scenarios were running through my mind, making my brain even more muddled than usual as I desperately tried to keep up with the Vice Guild Chief.

The Vice Guild Chief was apparently headed for his office. He walked into the office without sparing a single look behind him, and I followed after him, politely knocking once on the door with a trembling hand before stepping in.

“Sorry about that, making you come all the way over here.” (Alex)

“N-not at all! Coming here— y-you don’t need to worry about it one bit!” (Rosalie)

“Thank you. Now let’s hurry up and get to the topic at hand…” (Alex)

The Vice Guild Chief took a seat in the magnificent chair in the middle of the room, folding his hands on the desk, and promptly cut to the chase. My heart was entirely unprepared for this, but the Vice Guild Chief proceeded nonchalantly.

“As a Guild employee, I need you to fill in for a party, Mattick-san.” (Alex)

My mind was having an increasingly difficult time keeping up with his unexpected words. Party fill…? I had never even heard of such a thing, and why me…?

“By the way… I’m wording this as a suggestion, but you should realize that you don’t have the right to refuse this matter.” (Alex)

“……Eh?” (Mattick)

“I chose you based on your performance reviews for the past year. You’ve been continuously making mistakes, and your field evaluations are low. An easier way to put this is that I picked the person who was the closest to being fired.” (Alex)

I broke out in a cold sweat when the Vice Guild Chief told me this in a calm tone. In other words, this talk was a final resort for me to avoid being fired. If I refuse this, I’ll be fired immediately. I don’t have the right to refuse.

“I-I’ll d-do it! P-please let me f-fill in for that party!” (Rosalie)

“Haha, that makes things simpler. I’m glad you’ll accept.” (Alex)

When I replied hurriedly, the Vice Guild Chief smiled, looking pleased. The fact that the Vice Guild Chief was capable of threatening me in such a calm tone frightened me from the bottom of my heart.

“Not to burst your bubble or anything, but I don’t think this is that bad of a deal for you, actually. In regard to the conditions, please read this document carefully. When you’re ready, please sign and submit it.” (Alex)

The Vice Guild Chief opened the drawer, pulling out a document and placing it on the desk in front of me. I picked it up with trembling hands.

I wanted to confirm the contents of the document right away, but for now I waited quietly to be given permission to leave.

“I-I understand. As s-soon as I confirm the c-contents of the document, I’ll s-sign it.” (Rosalie)

“Please do so as soon as possible. I’ve already told you everything I need to say, so you can leave. Ah… I’ll talk to the team leader and explain to him about this matter, so you can go home for the day if you’d like.” (Alex)

“Ehh… It’s okay to g-go home? …I u-understand. E-excuse me.” (Rosalie)

After bowing deeply to the Vice Guild Chief, I left the room. I still didn’t know exactly what I was being ordered to do, but I knew that there was no way out of it. I had made so many mistakes, and this was now my last chance to work as a Guild employee. If I didn’t want to suffer a miserable death, I would have to be prepared to work myself to death for this.