After I left Blackblade, I went to the other guilds.
　It's not that I necessarily have to join the guild that my mom was in.
　I know that a top guild would be a better environment to hone my sword skills, but it can't be helped.

''What?　Unemployed?　Impossible. We don't need someone like that in our house.
''Hahahahaha!　Do you really think you can join the Swordsmen's Guild with an 'unemployed'?!
I could hire you as a scullery maid.

　........However, no matter which guild you go to, you'll be rejected at the door just because you're "unemployed".

''Hm. Weak.

　I muttered to myself.
　I didn't think they would even listen to me just because I told them I was "unemployed".
　It would be nice if I could at least show them my sword skills, but they won't even give me that opportunity.

　What if I joined under the false pretense of a different profession, and after demonstrating my abilities and being recognized, revealed that I'm "unemployed"?

No, I don't want to be asked to provide an opinion.

　They'll find out in one shot.

I don't know what's going on.
I don't know what to do...
Hmm?

　The voices overlapped.
　I turned my gaze and there was the blonde woman from that moment.

''Ah!　You are!　It must be fate for us to meet again by chance!
But I won't.
'I haven't said anything yet!

　The woman must have tweaked that and then remembered what I said earlier.

You just said that!　Even if you didn't, you've been refused a membership to the Black Blade!
Yeah.
'I see!　Well, there's a strict requirement of at least a [senior position] there!

　He looks very happy.

'But I have good news for you!　Our swordsmen's guild, Dragonfang, has no such terms!　All are welcome!　Sign up now for free!　And with such a beautiful sister!

　I don't think I'd normally call myself beautiful.
　That said, Dragon Fang or.......I don't know if I've heard of it or not.

'Why don't we just take a tour for now?　In fact, it's right there!

　The one the woman said and pointed at was a rather magnificent building.
　Bigger than the Black Blade's home base (home).

　No, that's indeed not true.
　Perhaps it's the small, raggedy building next to it.

''No, no, it's definitely this one!　This is the home of Dragonfang!
Wasn't it a weak guild?
'I told you so!　Everyone knows it's a famous guild!

　Come to think of it, he had claimed that.
　Whatever the case, this would be on a scale comparable to the top guilds.

''Please wait a moment.''
?

　As I was about to enter the main base, I was stopped by a handful of arms for some reason.

'In order to visit, you'll need to sign here in a jiffy. No, it's easy enough to sign in!

　Then the woman shows me a sheet of paper.
　There is writing on it, but some of it is hidden by her fingers, so you can't see it.

"Here, here. Here, right here.
....

　I snatch the paper away quickly.

'Ah!'

"Subscription Agreement," it said.

　I ripped it to pieces.

'Ah!　Hey!　Wait--

　With the screaming woman behind me, I stepped inside the headquarters.

　A spacious lobby, befitting its splendid exterior, welcomed me.
　However, there was not a single person in sight.
　It was filled with such silence that the sound of footsteps could be heard.

''I see. So this is the famous guild that everyone knows.

　In other words, it's in the past.
　The only thing that remained of its home base was what it was back then, but it would mean that it had fallen to the point of being deserted.

''Ka, we have produced several top swordsmen in the past!
The past is the past. The past is the past. Bragging about past achievements doesn't change the reality.
Ugh!

　I guess I was right, the woman let out a sound like she was spitting blood.
　But she's no longer open to it.

'Oh, yes!　Our glory is in the past anyway, we're the weakest guild at the bottom of the pile now!　But I never gave up!　I'm going to bring back the golden age we once had!

　I declare so emphatically.

'So, you know what?　We need people. That's why I'm trying so hard to recruit, but I'm not getting any new recruits.　Heh........

　Suddenly he lowers his hips and appeals to me to indulge him.

'Then shouldn't you pull it off with your skills, not your words?　I don't know how good you are, but the more you perform in competitions, the more people will want to join you.
'But of course I know that's the best thing to do, but there's a situation now...'
"Circumstances?
''As a matter of fact, well, if we don't add at least one more swordsman in the next few days, we'll lose this stronghold.

　That's when the woman revealed in frustration.
　A drunken old man came in through the doorway.

''Hiccup........''
Dad!　Drinking in the daytime again...!
Shut up, Lilia.

　Apparently, he is the woman's father.
　He seems to be quite intoxicated and his footsteps are unsteady.

　But this old man ..........his right arm is missing.
　The sleeve of the clothes is swimming in the air with a flutter.

　My eyes met with the old man.

'What, are you a new guy?　Ha, as you can see, this guild is done for. You'd be wise to go elsewhere.

　After saying that much, he left at a wobbly pace to the back.

''........In the past, even that was the best swordsman in this city, but.......''
You lost an arm and you became desperate.

　Even if you are injured when your blessings are broken, if your blessings return, your wounds will heal.
　But as expected, it's not possible to heal a serious injury like a physical deficiency.

''........Simply put, that's about it. Moreover, since he was the 《Southern Sword King》, he couldn't use most of his skills as a result of losing one arm.......

　Hmm.
The Twin Swords King, huh?
That's the highest ranking position along with the Sword Princess.

　...I just remembered.
　The name of the top guild my mother used to belong to.
　The origin of the name is the Twin Swords King's Dragon Tooth Slayer, a killing skill in the shape of a dragon that uses its sharp fangs to bite its prey.

　It's dragon fang.