One-off short stories

The Child ProgiEmmy~ Father and Son

WSN SPOILERS AHEAD! READ IF YOU DARE/DON'T CARE!

One other thing about these chapters, Aki will never appear in these. Unlike the main book, where Aki is always there. This one takes place about 4 days after the end of WSN.
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"Young Master Emmy, you really can't keep sulking in there. I know you lost, but that doesn't mean you can give up. I'm still certain you will become a Craftlord. There's more than enough open slots at the moment." Nigelle spoke into his workshop, where Emmy had hardly left the last few days.
"I'm not sulking." Emmy said,"Just thinking. Planning.
"You can tell yourself that, but I know you well enough, Young Master." Nigelle said,"You only get like this when there's something you want to do, but you aren't confident enough to do it. And you can tell me that."
"No I can't." Emmy said.
"You can. I've practically raised you." Nigelle said.
"Then you should know. If I can't become a Craftlord, and I can't beat Aki, the only thing left for me..."
"You want to lead this guild, is that it?" Nigelle said.
"I want to fix this Guild." Emmy said,"My father is corrupt, and he only is after money. I've been taking advantage of that money my whole life...but...I don't feel right about it anymore. Not when I know he sold swords to Deigleya."
"So what are you going to do?" Nigelle asked,"I need to know."
"What, so you can stop me from opposing my father? At this point, I'm strong enough to fight you." Emmy said.
"I admit, you have grown tremendously in a short amount of time. If you would like to spar me, I would allow it, unlike before, Young Master." Nigelle said,"But I also can not allow you to do anything bad to Master Libody.
"Then...I just want to find some way to see why my father did what he did." Emmy said.
"But you haven't done anything yet. You're worried of the consequences." Nigelle said.
"Yes..." Emmy muttered.
"Then, I'd say the best thing for you to do is talk with your father. Or if not with him, talk with someone rather close to your father." Nigelle said.
"Like who?" Emmy asked sharply.
"Master Derpy knows a thing or two more about Master Libody than you might expect." Nigelle said,"So if you aren't willing to see your father yet, he might be who you want to talk to."
"I understand." Emmy said.
"So you'll stop sulking?" Nigelle asked.
"Yes. I'll stop sulking." Emmy said, walking out of the workshop. Inside, was numerous different weapons, of all types.

"Aki, I thought I told you to get Dark to help you with your papers..." Derpy called out at soon as Emmy opened the door.
"Actually, it's not Aki, this time." Emmy said.
"Hmmm, I know that voice...you're the progiEmmy!" Derpy said.
"What?! Never mind, I'm glad you recognize me." Emmy said.
"So, what are you here for?" Derpy said,"I didn't think you were the type to come to a Craftlord for help."
"I'm usually not. But this time is different." Emmy said,"I'm here to talk about my father."
"Ah, yes, Libody." Derpy said.
"How did you even let a man like him lead the Gold Guild?" Emmy asked.
"Oh, come now, you wouldn't be where you are today if it wasn't for his wealth." Derpy said,"You ought to at least be a little thankful."
"Maybe so...but I know what he's doing is wrong, and so that I should show him gratitude doesn't change that he's a criminal." Emmy said.
"Oh dear. You really haven't talked to him, have you?" Derpy asked.
"Why should I have to? I've seen all the evidence." Emmy said,"He sold weapons to Deigleya."
"Well, that may be true...but, there's a reason I trust the man." Derpy said.
"A reason?" Emmy said.
"Oh, it'd be too easy if I just told you. These kinds of problems are the ones the main character is supposed to help you get over, but it's too late for that." Derpy was thinking aloud.
"What are you talking about?" Emmy asked.
"You'll just have to talk to him alone." Derpy said.
"I was told you could help me. Hmph. I see I was told a mistake." Emmy said, leaving.
"Doesn't that boy know to respect his elders? I'm the Craftlord of Diamond!" Derpy sighed.

"Father...I'm here to speak with you." Emmy said.
"Ah, Emmy, not now. I have a meeting coming up." Libody said.
"I'm going to speak with you, father." Emmy said.
"Son, I really don't have time..." Libody said.
"I need to hear from your mouth why you think you're doing the right thing by leading the Gold Guild." Emmy said.
"What?!" Libody was shocked to hear those words.
"Do I need to spell the multitude of facts out to you?" Emmy asked.
"I'm doing what I must!" Libody said angrily.
"Yeah, like selling inexperienced Craftknight's weapons for far too much money! Or giving your swords to Deigleya. Or having all our weapons being noticeably inferior to the Silver Guild, yet sold for more money? Why is the Gold Guild like this?" Emmy asked.
"It is like this out of necessity. Someone as spurred on as you have been by the tournament may not see it yet, Emmy, but I have confidence you are smart enough to understand." Libody said.
"Understand what?" Emmy asked.
"This is a secret. You can't go telling your friends. Can you agree to keep everything I'm about to say to this room, and not use this information against me or the Gold Guild?" Libody asked.
"Hmmmm, no. At least, not unless I get something out of it." Emmy said.
"Hah! I can see you're my son in some ways." Libody said.
"I'll keep everything you tell me a secret, and I won't go against your position in the Gold Guild, all of that, with only one condition." Emmy said.
"Fine. Tell me." Libody said.
"Give me a chunk of the Gold Guild to run myself." Emmy said,"Doesn't need to be much, just 5 or 6 people along with myself, but...I'd like to give it a shot."
"Fine. But if you don't make profits or quotas, I have the authority to shut you down." Libody said.
"I can accept that deal." Emmy said.
"Well then son, I'll explain this all to you." Libody said,"The Gold Guild's primary goal is as you might expect...making money. But that is not for my own wealth. It is for the economy of Wystern as a whole."
"Explain." Emmy said strongly.
"The Silver Guild makes good weapons, probably better than ours. But they don't make any more money than what's needed to fill their bellies through their trade. And as an isolated city, Wystern needs to run on trade. And we do run on the weapon trade. This entire city runs on my Gold Guild weapon trade. Without it, the economy would collapse, and it might never recover. That's why I do what I must." Libody explained.
"I suppose...that makes sense. But, even then, selling to the Deigleyans, who invaded our city, is going too far in my eyes." Emmy said.
"Hah! I was never really working with the Deigleyans! I sold them my worst swords at the highest price possible! And they still bought them up! And I used it to learn exactly what Lubert was planning, and tell it to the Craftlords. That's how we managed to consistently catch him." Libody said.
"How can I really trust everything that you say?" Emmy asked,"Before being defeated, I truly believed it. How do I not know this isn't just another lie to get me to believe you?"
"You can trust him...because it's true." Derpy walked into the room.
"You're here?!" Emmy was a bit surprised.
"See, the Craftlords can corroborate my story!" Libody said.
"Master Libody and Master Bron both our important parts of Wystern. The Silver Guild are like artists, making uncommon but very good weapons. The Gold Guild, is like the general store of weapons." Derpy said,"But all cities need a general store."
"Well, I will believe you, then, father." Emmy said,"I had misunderstood."
"I knew you'd get it, son." Libody said.
"I don't think I need to say anything more." Derpy said.
"Thanks for clearing that up, Master Derpy." Libody said.
"It was nothing. That boy needed those answers." Derpy left.
"So, now that you know...what do you plan to do with your new segment of the Gold Guild?" Libody asked.
"I think I'll just do the same things you do, but better." Emmy said,"I'll just mass produce higher quality weapons that can be sold for more money."
"Those are strong words! I wonder if you can match up to them? Hahaha! To think my son would try to become my economic rival. You're better than that Bron idiot." Libody laughed.
"I'll prove to you how well I can run the Gold Guild. And even if I never come after you directly..." Emmy started.
"You'll try to convince me that it'd be best if I let you lead." Libody assumed.
"Yes. I am, after all, a better Craftknight." Emmy said.
"But the question in the Gold Guild is, can you be the better merchant?" Libody smiled.
"We'll see." Emmy said.
"We will." Libody said.