"We have to tell the Chief," Wyveria said as she stood up. "Kyle, come with me."
Kyle nodded, and Wyveria led him to the Chief's office.
She opened the door without knocking and just barged in.
The Chief was currently reading some random book about history with his back to the big window in his office.
"Yes?" the Chief asked without looking up from his book.
"This is about the Cult of the Final Fate. They want to summon the Devourer!" Wyveria shouted with annoyance and urgency.
"And how do you know that?" the Chief asked.
"He knows," Wyveria said, shoving Kyle forward.
"How do you know that?" the Chief asked evenly, looking at Kyle.
"Trade secret," Kyle answered. "Just know that I know."
"What is a Devourer?" the Chief asked calmly.
"A black behemoth with tentacles and eyes. It devours Ether and explodes," Kyle answered.
The Chief just nodded calmly before looking at his book again.
"How long until it gets summoned?"
"Three days after the first sign of mass death," Kyle answered.
The Chief nodded calmly again.
"And the first signs were observed when?"
"Two days ago," Kyle answered.
"So, how long until the Devourer appears?"
"A day," Kyle said.
"So, there's no Devourer. It's just a group of fanatics with a Demon Master," the Chief said.
Kyle frowned. "Yes."
"Then, where's the problem?" the Chief asked, looking at Wyveria.
"Don't play these stupid games with me!" Wyveria shouted with disgust. "If our information is just a little off, this entire city might vanish! Thousands will die! This is not something for a Fighter Guild! This is a matter of national importance!"
The Chief turned the page of his book.
"Do you want a statue of your own in the square?" he asked.
"I don't care about some stupid statue!" Wyveria shouted. "I don't want to risk the lives of thousands of people for some glory!"
The Chief turned another page.
"Why not?" he asked calmly.
Wyveria's eyes narrowed in hatred.
She didn't even know how to respond to such a comment.
"Why are you such an asshole?"
The Chief and Wyveria looked at Kyle, who had just spoken up.
"Asshole?" the Chief asked.
"Yeah, asshole," Kyle answered. "Isn't it in the guild rules not to be an asshole? You're being a huge asshole right now."
"Why are you being an asshole?"
"Did the Count anger you or something? Do you want to ruin his city because of some sort of tantrum?"
"Hurr, durr, you shouldn't have stolen my cookie! Now, I will kill all of your family and peasants."
"You're an asshole," Kyle said.
At that moment, the atmosphere in the room became oppressive.
Kyle felt it much harder to breathe, and his instincts were shouting at him that he was about to die.
Wyveria narrowed her eyes and stepped between Kyle and the Chief.
However, the pressure didn't alleviate.
It was like Wyveria's presence made no difference.
The next moment, the entire Ace Team stormed through the door and stepped between Kyle and the Chief.
Finally, Kyle felt the pressure decreasing.
However, the Chief acted like the Ace Team wasn't even there.
He only looked at Kyle.
"You are calling me an asshole?" he asked again.
"Yes, asshole!" Kyle shouted, resisting the immense pressure that was still on him.
Theodor was also a bit nervous.
Kyle was playing with his life.
"You don't like anybody! You risk thousands of people! You obviously knew that the Cult was involved, and you didn't tell any of us! You only give a shit about your glory!"
"Are you being an asshole or not?" Kyle asked.
The Chief just kept looking at Kyle.
Then, he turned to Wyveria.
"Am I being an asshole?" he asked.
"That question was rhetorical, right?" Wyveria asked with a snort.
The Chief frowned.
Then, he looked down.
"Noah!" the Chief shouted.
"Yes?" Noah asked as he came through the door.
Naturally, he had already come to this place since the commotion couldn't be missed.
"Am I an asshole?" the Chief asked.
Noah raised a brow, unsure about the question.
"Why are you asking me?" he asked.
"Just answer the question," the Chief said. "Am I being an asshole?"
"Is this a trick question?" Noah asked. "I feel like I'm lacking some context."
"He called me an asshole," the Chief said, pointing at Kyle. "He said that I am acting like an asshole. Is that true?"
Noah glanced at Kyle before looking back at the Chief.
"I mean…" Noah said before trailing off. "You complain about every member. You don't do many missions, and you're not interested in helping the Guild. So, yeah, I would say you're an asshole, but you obviously know that."
The Chief furrowed his brows.
"Why didn't you tell me earlier?" he asked.
"Huh?" Noah uttered in confusion.
"Why didn't you tell me that I'm being an asshole?" the Chief asked.
Noah blinked a couple of times in confusion.
'No way,' Kyle thought as he guessed what was going on.
"Because there was no point," Noah answered. "You obviously know what you're doing. Why would I state the obvious?"
"So, I am an asshole," the Chief said.
"Why are you still going on about this?" Wyveria asked in annoyance. "We have more important matters."
The Chief looked at the floor with furrowed brows.
Then, he looked at Kyle.
"What would a non-asshole do?" he asked.
The others all viewed this as some kind of trick question.
The Chief was obviously playing with them.
Meanwhile, Kyle still couldn't believe that his guess was true.
'This guy has some mental illness or something,' he thought. 'I think he is just genuinely blind. He couldn't be a bigger asshole if he tried. It's so fucking obvious.'
'But I think he genuinely just doesn't see it!'
'Nobody dares to offend him due to his imposing aura and strength, and everyone thinks he knows what he's doing since he is leading a powerful Fighter Guild.'
'But, in truth, he is literally just that blind!'
'I don't know a lot about mental illnesses, disorders, syndromes, whatever, but this guy must have a huge issue with social cues or something.'
'He doesn't realize how he is being perceived!'
'That would also explain why he lets Noah handle the entire Guild.'
'He knows he's not good with people, which is why he lets Noah deal with all of the people!'
'What the fuck is this turn of events?!'
tg://resolv?domain=StrongestHammerGod
The author's patreon. If he gets more than 1000€ per month, he will increase the number of words in the chapter.