When I fell asleep at my office desk late at night, I woke up and doubted my own eyes the moment I opened them.

Because before me was the world of the novel I’d been reading—

“I Was Expelled from an A-Rank Party, But My Useless Support Magic Evolved into the Legendary Skill ‘Divine Endowment,’ Making Me the Strongest Adventurer”

—or as fans called it, Etakana.

Apparently, I had been reincarnated.
And worse, I’d become none other than the corrupt guildmaster Jilkane Ordrei.

A man who, despite becoming a guildmaster at the young age of twenty-nine thanks to his talent, was nothing but a walking embodiment of greed. Obsessed with money and power, yet small-minded enough to be content managing a single city guild.

Of all people, why him?

Still, there was one advantage to being Jilkane: his amassed fortune and his position as guildmaster.
Last night, on a hunch, I checked his safe—and saw it. The mountain of gold coins he’d hoarded.

Even fresh from reincarnation, I could tell—it was an amount my ordinary salaryman self could never hope to earn in a lifetime.

The position of guildmaster was appealing too. I could increase my wealth using adventurers to do the dangerous work for me.
With both money and authority, I could finally live the leisurely life I never could in my old world.

But to achieve that, there was one problem I had to overcome.

Tomorrow was the scheduled expulsion scene for the A-Rank party Red Dragon’s Wing.

The expelled member was the original story’s protagonist, Aron, the bearer of the legendary skill Divine Endowment, though it had yet to awaken. The opening scene of the novel was his unjust expulsion.

The ones leading that act were his childhood friend and party leader Bash, and the one who agreed to it—me, the guildmaster Jilkane.

That decision marked Jilkane’s downfall. After helping Bash, his crimes were exposed by the grown, powerful Aron, and he lost everything—money, position, status.
Classic karma payback.

When Bash came earlier today to discuss the expulsion, I realized something terrible. I’d reincarnated one day before the inevitable ruin event.

Talk about hanging by a thread.

Karma, huh?

Like hell!
Even if I’ve reincarnated, I refuse to accept such a fate! Jilkane’s crimes aren’t mine!

I’ll use this man’s money and title to live my second life right.
And to do that, I’ll do everything I can to destroy this expulsion scene.

◇◇◇

The next day arrived—the day of my fate.

“Aron Marondi! As of today, you’re expelled from this party!!”

“E-Expelled!? Are you serious, Bash!?”

In the evening, I went down to the guild’s first floor—and sure enough, Red Dragon’s Wing was in the middle of a heated argument.

“You’re dead weight, that’s what you are!”

“Hey, Bash, that’s too harsh—”

“Calm down, Bash.”

“Shut up! Because of this useless guy, we almost died on today’s quest!!”

A crowd of adventurers watched as Bash cornered Aron. Their party members, the mage Sylvia and warrior Galias, tried to intervene, but Bash wouldn’t stop. He berated Aron for his supposed failure during the quest and even began insulting Aron’s support magic itself.

Bash and Aron were childhood friends. But ever since Bash advanced to A-Rank first, he’d begun to look down on C-Rank Aron.

Then Bash noticed that Sylvia harbored feelings for Aron—and his fragile pride wavered. Panicking, he plotted Aron’s expulsion. That was the original story’s setup.

In short, this entire tantrum was just Bash’s way of removing a romantic rival. What a nuisance.

Aron was destined to awaken the strongest skill. Though now bound by loyalty to Bash, it was nothing more than a mental shackle.
He’s not useless—Bash simply lacks the eyes to see his worth.

“Hey, Guildmaster! You think so too, right?”

While I was watching, Bash turned toward me, grinning smugly. No doubt confident that the guildmaster would side with him, just as in the original.

How pitiful. He doesn’t even realize what awaits him after this expulsion.

“What’s wrong, Guildmaster? This guy’s useless, right? We should kick him out already!”

Bash frowned when I didn’t immediately respond. Time to act. I said the line I’d prepared in advance.

“Bash. Are you under some delusion that all your party’s achievements belong solely to you?”

“Hah?”

Bash blinked in confusion. Of course—he never expected this response.

Normally, I should’ve stopped him yesterday when he came to discuss the expulsion. But I thought better. Knowing how cunning Bash is, even if I refused, he might claim, “The guildmaster approved it,” to persuade his members.
If that happened, I’d still be doomed.
So instead, I chose to crush the expulsion here and now.

I drew in a deep breath and continued.

“As far as I can see, Aron’s support magic is exceptional. In another party, he’d be invaluable for rank advancement. And yet, he stays with you out of loyalty. You’d do well to recognize that—if you truly call yourself a leader.”

“Did the Guildmaster just… defend Aron!?”

“The Guildmaster—who’s never cared about adventurers!?”

“Wait, Aron’s support magic is that amazing?”

“I’ve never heard of that…”

“Shut up! Don’t talk! Who knows what the Guildmaster might do if he hears you!”

Murmurs spread among the crowd.
Expected. Jilkane wasn’t exactly known for his good reputation. But that was fine—attention was what I needed right now.

“Therefore,” I said, “as Guildmaster, I cannot in good conscience approve such an unreasonable expulsion.”

“Y-You… You’ve betrayed me, Guildmaster!!”

Bash glared, grinding his teeth. He was probably referring to yesterday’s “discussion.” But there’s no way he could say that here—not when he doesn’t want Sylvia to know he’d been scheming behind the scenes out of jealousy.

I glanced at the party. Sylvia looked confused by the turn of events.

Ignoring Bash’s ranting, I walked up to Aron, knelt, and extended my hand.

“Aron, I’ve been watching your efforts for some time. You needn’t take part in this farce.”

“Guildmaster… thank you.”

Aron hesitantly grasped my hand. His expression mixed confusion and relief.
Good—now I’ve secured the protagonist’s trust.

But of course, Bash wouldn’t give up so easily.

“Wait!!”

As expected, he shouted, pointing at Aron, glaring at me.

“If you’re gonna say that much, then let’s see it, Guildmaster! A duel, Aron! I’ll show everyone what a useless piece of trash you are!!”

There it is.
This was what I’d been aiming for all along.

By forcing the duel event now, I could skip the future confrontation that happens months later in the story—along with my downfall.
Once this ends, my ruin is completely averted.

I don’t wait for fate. I crush it head-on—along with anyone who threatens the wealth and power I’ve gained.

…Heh. That’s a bit villainous of me. Maybe some of Jilkane’s personality is rubbing off.
But that’s fine. In this world, a little ruthlessness will serve me well.

“Very well, Bash. I’ll witness your challenge myself.”

“Guildmaster!? What are you saying!? There’s no way I can beat Bash—!”

Aron’s eyes widened.
Of course he’d be nervous. At this point in the story, his power hasn’t awakened. He doesn’t yet realize his own potential.
That’s where I come in.

I patted his shoulder and whispered in his ear.

“Don’t worry. I’ll handle it.”

“Huh?”

Then I turned to glare at Bash. His shoulders twitched.
Even for a braggart like him, challenging the feared guildmaster’s authority took courage. Which meant he’d be pliable to suggestion.

“Aron isn’t used to solo combat,” I said. “The duel will take place three days from now. I’ll train him personally until then. Any objections?”

“F-Fine!”

He agreed, cowed by my tone. Perfect.
Now for the finishing touch.

“However, I’ll add one condition.”

“Condition…?”

“You just challenged me publicly, Bash—challenged the Guildmaster. Surely you’re not expecting to walk away scot-free if you lose?”

“W-What do you mean!?”

I made sure everyone could hear, pointing dramatically at him.

“If you lose—you’re the one who’ll be expelled.
No objections, right, Bash Lamilt, leader of the A-Rank party Red Dragon’s Wing?”

At my words, silence fell over the entire guild hall.

―――――――――――

Translator’s Note:
This chapter sets the stage for a comedic reversal: the reincarnated MC, once a simple office worker, now hijacks the original story’s villain role to survive. The term “ざまぁ (zamā)” refers to karmic comeuppance—getting what one deserves. Here, the protagonist refuses to accept that fate.