I May Be a Guild Receptionist episode 1: Alina's simple way of life is in great danger

As one of the most uniquely premised fantasy series of the Winter 2025 anime season, fans were curious to see what I May Be a Guild Receptionist episode 1 had in store. Officially released on Friday, January 10, 2025, the installment introduced fans to protagonist Alina, primarily highlighting the contrast her days often bring.

This, in turn, also highlighted the danger Alina faces by taking up the mantle of “the Executioner” in order to avoid overtime at her guild receptionist day job. I May Be a Guild Receptionist episode 1 even gives corporeal form to this danger, in the form of the Silver Sword party’s leader, referred to only as Leader in this first episode.

I May Be a Guild Receptionist episode 1 makes it clear Alina wants anything but adventure

Brief episode recap

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I May Be a Guild Receptionist episode 1 began with a focus on series protagonist Alina, showcasing her morning routine from the moment she awoke. She got dressed for her job as a guild receptionist, heading to her job at Iffole Counter later in the day. She called her job safe and secure since it’s public service desk work. She called it the ideal job, or rather said it was supposed to be as focus shifted to an adventurer party in a dungeon.

Alina, now in a completely different outfit, rushed at what appeared to be a dungeon boss while cursing its persistent refusal to die. She added that she had to work overtime as a result as she rushed at and attacked the monster. However, focus returned to her day job after, where she’s approached by Ganz the Raging Blade, one of the guild’s elites, asking to take on the Hellflame Dragon dungeon boss.

I May Be a Guild Receptionist episode 1 saw her ask Ganz for some paperwork, which he lamented due to her obviously knowing he is. She internally ranted at him before calmly explaining why she needed to go through such procedures. He eventually acquiesced before departing, with Alina lamenting how long the line was after. She then explained that the City of Iffole is on the continent of Helcacia.

Fans are introduced to protagonist Elina Clover in I May Be a Guild Receptionist episode 1 (Image via CloverWorks)

She also added that the people’s ancestors received gifts from gods called Dia, using them to build an advanced civilization. However, the ancestors were suddenly replaced by monsters, with the continent becoming dangerous after. She added that dungeon exploration began 200 years ago in order to fight monsters and build cities once more. She added that these were adventurers, and that the Iffole Counter is the largest office managing these adventurers

I May Be a Guild Receptionist episode 1 saw Alina working late with no end in sight, lamenting that she wasn’t already home relaxing. She then chugged what appeared to be an energy drink as she attributed her overtime to the Hellflame Dragon’s presence and the fact that no one can defeat it. Alina cursed the dragon and swore to clock out on time as focus shifted to a group of adventurers Ganz’s party struggling greatly against the Hellflame dragon.

The Silver Sword’s other party members were introduced as a healer named Lululee, a boy named Lowe, and a fourth referred to simply as Leader in the first episode. Alina suddenly arrived, using a skill to summon her giant hammer weapon as she leapt at the dragon. Her attack landed and was effective, as were subsequent blows, but the dragon wasn’t defeated yet.

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I May Be a Guild Receptionist episode 1 saw her use the bladed side of her hammer to cut down the dragon’s chest, which served as the killing blow. This alias of hers was revealed to be called the Executioner, a mysterious adventurer who solos dungeon bosses no one else can kill. This was exceptional, as adventurers typically explored dungeons and fought bosses in groups rather than as individuals.

As Alina celebrated being able to clock out on time tomorrow, she made eye contact with Leader, who clearly got a look at her face. The next day, Ganz retired from the Silver Sword, leading to wanted posters of the Executioner go up asking people to find them so she can replace Ganz as the party’s attacker. Alina’s coworkers approached her and praised the Executioner, making it clear they felt she should replace Ganz in the Silver Sword.

I May Be a Guild Receptionist episode 1 saw Alina internally explain that she wanted to stay hidden due to wanting to keep her public service job, which doesn’t allow sidework. Leader was then seen looking at identities of adventurers with Lululee and Lowe, with the latter pair lamenting this search for the Executioner. Focus then shifted to a man angrily ranting about people trying to make a fool of him before being suddenly approached by someone in skeletal armor.

Alina's passion for clocking out on time comes back to haunt her in I May Be a Guild Receptionist episode 1 (Image via CloverWorks)

Focus then shifted yet again to Leader, who explained that relics are objects with Dia marks in them, like the red gem he was holding. He added that since they grant power to those who use them, they’re widely sought after, but the Executioner wasn’t interested. He also commented on how her skill was different from what normal adventurers use, suspecting that they used a Dia skill as a gust of wind blew down the street.

I May Be a Guild Receptionist episode 1 saw Alina, who was walking in front of him, turn as this happened, leading him to realize that she is the Executioner. He also realized that she was a guild receptionist due to her entering the Iffole Counter, following and immediately approaching her before outright accusing her of being the Executioner. Rather than reject it, she asked to speak somewhere more private.

In private, she first crushed the relic that he gave her with a single hand, shocking him. Alina added that she only wants to live her peaceful guild receptionist life, and that if he interferes with it, he’ll end up dead like the Hellflame Dragon. However, he used a skill to stop her from leaving, prompting her to summon her weapon and attack him with it. He asked if her hammer was a Dia skill, but she didn’t know what that meant, and also clearly didn’t care.

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I May Be a Guild Receptionist episode 1 saw him beg her to stop as she went to attack him, saying that his intent wasn’t to fight. He once again asked her to join the Silver Sword, but she held fast in her wish to live a peaceful life. She explained her anti-overtime motives for attacking the Hellflame Dragon, which confused Leader and led to her getting frustrated. She fully explained her motives for attacking the Dragon in the process, stating her intentions once again.

She threatened Leader not to speak of this with anyone before departing, but he was unbothered by the threat and said he wouldn’t give up. At the Iffole Counter, the angry man from earlier approached one of Alina’s coworkers, demanding to be given a quest to complete as the episode ended.

In summation

Alina's coworkers seem poised to play a role in the series given their presence in I May Be a Guild Receptionist episode 1 (Image via CloverWorks)

I May Be a Guild Receptionist episode 1 focused primarily on introducing Alina and exploring her daily life as a guild receptionist. However, the episode also introduced her alias as the Executioner, in turn highlighting the risk she takes by assuming this role to rid herself of overtime work. However, with dangers seemingly lurking in the shadows, Alina may be forced to give up her guild receptionist job before long.