This is the story of a world where a certain boy chose the door of the 'Guild Management Headquarters.'
Instead of a sword or magic, what Yuuki first received was a single 'Guild Registration Form.' Guided by the town's navigator Ayane, he heads to a small counter in a corner of Landsol. There, buried in mountains of paperwork but never losing her smile, is the receptionist Misato.
'Welcome to the Guild Management Headquarters. Starting today, you too will help connect the 'bonds' of this town
Princess Connect! IF: The Guild Management Route - The Merchant in Black: Vanishing Records, Severed Bonds
The spring sunlight streamed through the windows of the Guild Management Headquarters, warming the reception desk.
Yuuki looked up from the stack of documents he'd been organizing. Three weeks since his assignment here. His black hair still stuck up in sleep-tousled spikes, and ink stains still marked his right hand—but he'd settled into the rhythm of this place. His warm chestnut eyes drifted absently to the people walking along the cobblestones outside.
*(This city runs on connections, today just like any other day.)*
The bustle of the market, the clatter of wagon wheels, the people walking past the guild signboards. Everything linked someone to someone else. Protecting those bonds—that was his job.
"Yuuki, why don't you take a break?"
From the desk beside him, Misato spoke up, her long wisteria-colored hair draped over her left shoulder. Her amber eyes narrowed slightly, and the tear mole beneath her right eye shifted with the movement. She was buried in her own mountain of paperwork as always, but her hair remained immaculately arranged.
"I'm fine. I've almost finished today's batch anyway."
"Oh my, such dedication. But don't push yourself too hard. The paperwork won't run away."
Misato picked up her fountain pen, spun it once in her fingers, and returned it to its stand. Watching that little habit always calmed Yuuki, just a bit.
"Thank you. But something's felt off since this morning."
"What do you mean?"
"Nothing specific. Just... there's been a lot of trouble between guilds lately."
Misato's hand stopped for just a moment.
"...You're right. Reward disputes targeting small guilds have spiked over the past few weeks. All of them with vague records or unverifiable seals."
"You think that black guild is behind it?"
Yuuki's voice dropped without him meaning it to.
"No proof. But I feel the same way."
A heavy silence settled between them.
Then it happened.
"Excuse me. Is this the reception desk for the Guild Management Headquarters?"
The voice was quiet.
And yet, the air at the reception desk turned cold.
Yuuki looked up. A tall man stood there, black hair slicked back, a single white streak running through the right side. His right eye was black; his left, an unsettling purple—an odd-eyed gaze. A black leather glove covered his right hand. The kind of man who always laced his fingers together when he spoke—
"I am Kurou, proprietor of the Karasu Trading Company. I've come today to file an application under the Guild Registration Act."
Kurou bowed politely. His well-tailored black coat shifted slightly with the motion. At a glance, he was just another intelligent merchant. But that left eye was fixed on Yuuki like a blade.
"Karasu Trading Company... a merchant, then. How can I help you?"
Yuuki gripped his staff ID a little tighter. His fingertips trembled faintly.
"Please, take a look at these."
Kurou drew a document from inside his coat. No—not one. Three. Three documents were laid before Yuuki.
"Dissolution applications for three small guilds—Blue Horn, Silver Hoof, and Iron Door. Formal proceedings under Article 72 of the Guild Registration Act, dissolution requirements."
Yuuki took the documents. He scanned them.
*(...This is...)*
His fingers stopped.
Blue Horn Guild. Silver Hoof Guild. Iron Door Guild. All small operations scraping by in Landsol. Blue Horn and Silver Hoof—three weeks ago, Yuuki had personally mediated a reward dispute between them.
Back then, both representatives had bowed before him. They'd admitted their mistakes, apologized to each other, and shaken hands in reconciliation. He hadn't forgotten how sincere they'd been.
And yet.
"Insolvency, depleted membership, no record of activity... I see. All the legal requirements are met."
Yuuki forced the words out.
The documents were flawless. The dissolution requirements under the Guild Registration Act—liabilities exceeding assets, membership below the minimum threshold, and no operational activity for the past year. All of it, backed by supporting evidence.
Under headquarters regulations, he could not reject this application.
"You'll approve it, then?"
Kurou's voice remained perfectly calm.
"...Yes. The documents are in order. The review will proceed per regulation."
"Thank you. I do hope the process goes smoothly."
Kurou smiled.
But behind that smile, Yuuki sensed something he'd never encountered before.
*(This man... isn't smiling at all.)*
The purple of his left eye seemed to glint, just for an instant.
"By the way, Yuuki."
Hearing his name, Yuuki's shoulders jerked.
"You seem like a good-natured sort."
Kurou laced his fingers together. The black leather glove creaked.
"But mediation swayed by sentiment will eventually erode this city's trust. Your kindness, in the end, benefits no one."
"...What do you mean by that?"
"Exactly what I said. Connections—that's all they are. A fantasy for the weak. People betray each other the moment it stops being profitable. I'm merely proving it."
Kurou's voice was ice-cold.
Polite, yet frigid.
Like a blade of ice being slowly pressed against bare skin.
"...I understand your perspective. But I don't agree with it."
Yuuki met Kurou's gaze head-on.
"The connections in this city aren't a fantasy. I've seen it proven, over and over, these past three weeks."
Kurou let out a soft laugh.
"You're interesting."
It didn't sound like a compliment.
"Then I'll leave the review in your hands. Good day."
Kurou bowed with elegant grace and turned away.
His back receded from the reception desk.
"...Yuuki."
Misato's voice came from beside him.
"Are you all right?"
"...Yes. I'm fine."
Yuuki lied.
He was not fine.
*(That man is dangerous.)*
Yuuki stared again at the application Kurou had left behind.
Blue Horn, Silver Hoof, Iron Door.
All guilds whose operations had been destabilized by the black guild's sabotage.
*(This isn't a coincidence.)*
A dark premonition spread through Yuuki's chest.
That day, Yuuki was buried in reviewing the applications.
Checking each document one by one, pulling related records from the archives, cross-referencing. The work was tedious and time-consuming. But his mind was elsewhere.
*(Why did he say that to me?)*
Kurou's words wouldn't leave his head.
*"If you try to protect those records, we'll have no choice but to eliminate you."*
That was what Kurou had whispered in his ear during the meeting.
In a voice no one around them could hear.
As casually as if he were making small talk.
"...That was a threat."
Yuuki muttered under his breath.
But he had no proof.
Kurou had said those words—there was no doubt. But there was nothing to substantiate it. Even if he reported it to his superior, it would be dismissed as an overreaction.
"Damn it..."
Yuuki clenched his fist beneath the desk.
His fingertips were cold.
Evening.
Yuuki headed for the archives, arms full of documents.
The Guild Management Headquarters records archive was at the back of the second floor. Behind a heavy stone door, hundreds of shelves stood in rows. Every guild record in Landsol was stored here.
"Excuse me."
Yuuki called out to the duty officer and received the archive key.
A silver key. The only key that opened the archive door.
"Back again, Yuuki? Dutiful as ever."
"It's part of the job."
Yuuki smiled wryly.
"Don't overdo it. New guys who push too hard burn out later."
"Thanks. But I'll manage."
Yuuki gripped the key and walked deeper into the archive.
He passed between the shelves and stopped before the one he needed.
Records of the Astraia Society.
The records Nozomi searched for every single day.
"...Here it is."
Yuuki reached for the shelf.
That was when it happened.
Something was wrong.
A section of the shelf was strangely empty.
*(...Huh?)*
Yuuki's hand stopped.
He was certain this spot had held the old records of the Astraia Society.
But those records were gone.
"That's impossible..."
Yuuki checked the surrounding shelves.
Another spot was empty too.
Documents related to the false accusation case involving Misato's mother.
Gone as well.
"...No way."
Yuuki's heart pounded.
*(Someone removed the records?)*
*(No, that can't be. The archive key is managed by the duty officer. And removing records requires proper procedure.)*
Yuuki rushed out of the archive.
"Someone! The archive records are missing!"
His voice echoed down the headquarters corridor.
The staff all turned at once.
"What did you say?"
"The records are gone! The Astraia Society records, and Misato's—no, the false accusation case documents!"
Yuuki's voice was shaking.
"Calm down, Yuuki. First, assess the situation."
His superior grabbed Yuuki's shoulder.
"Who used the archive key last?"
"...I did. I received it from the duty officer just now."
"I see. ...When did you last return it?"
"Last night. I was working late, organizing documents, and returned the key after."
At Yuuki's words, the atmosphere around them shifted.
A murmur rippled through the room.
The staff began whispering among themselves.
"...Last night, was it."
His superior's expression hardened.
"Regardless, we'll investigate the archive. You go back to your desk."
"But I can—"
"I said go back."
His superior's voice brooked no argument.
Yuuki returned to his desk, head hung low.
*(I was the last to return the key? But I didn't steal those records.)*
Yuuki slumped over his desk.
A sickening premonition churned in his chest.
The next morning.
Yuuki was summoned by his superior.
"Yuuki. A spare archive key was found in your desk drawer."
"...What?"
Yuuki couldn't believe his ears.
"A spare key? I don't know anything about that."
"But it was found. In your drawer."
His superior's eyes were cold.
"...There must be some mistake. I never had a spare key."
"You returned the key last night. And this morning, a spare key was found in your drawer. The records disappeared in between. What mistake could there possibly be?"
"That's—"
Yuuki's words caught in his throat.
"Did you embezzle those records?"
"No! I never stole anything!"
"Then explain it. Why was a spare key found in your drawer?"
"...I don't know. But I didn't do it."
Yuuki's voice trembled.
"...I see. But the situation is not in your favor. You're relieved from reception duties for the time being."
"That's—"
"It's decided. Stay home today."
His superior delivered the verdict and left the room.
Yuuki was left alone.
*(I didn't do it.)*
*(But no one will believe me.)*
Yuuki clenched his fist.
His fingertips were cold.
When he stepped into the corridor, his colleagues' stares pierced him.
"Hey, did you see? That new guy supposedly sold the records."
"Acting all nice and helpful, but who knows what he's really up to."
"Creepy. I'm never using his desk again."
Deliberately loud whispers.
Yuuki couldn't say a word in return.
*(That's not true. I didn't do it.)*
He screamed it over and over in his mind.
But he couldn't get the words out.
*(Why is this happening to me?)*
Yuuki left headquarters at a brisk pace.
That evening.
Yuuki was summoned by Misato and Nozomi.
The place was a small garden behind headquarters. Just secluded enough to avoid prying eyes.
"Yuuki..."
Nozomi looked up at him anxiously. Her flaxen, softly waving semi-long hair swayed in the evening breeze. Her large sky-blue eyes looked on the verge of tears.
"Are you all right? I heard the rumors..."
"...Nozomi. I'm sorry for worrying you."
Yuuki forced a smile.
"Yuuki."
Misato stepped in front of him.
"The records disappearing—that wasn't your fault."
"But I was the last one to return the key... and the spare key was found in my drawer..."
"Someone framed you. You know that, don't you?"
"...Yes. But if I'd been more careful—"
Yuuki hung his head.
"Because of me, Nozomi's records and your records both disappeared. If I'd just been more thorough..."
"Yuuki!"
Nozomi grabbed his
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