"You didn't need to mention my scary face!"

"Calm down, Guild Master. Your face is frightening enough as it is; getting angry makes it even worse."

"...You little..."

"My name is Patrice, and I am the deputy guild master of the Adventurer Guild here in Al-Flare."

"...Ah, I’m Tetsuya. Nice to meet you."

Apparently, the large man with the intimidating face is this city's Adventurer Guild Master. ...But honestly, based on his actions earlier, he doesn’t seem the part at all!

"We sincerely apologize for startling you, Mr. Tetsuya. Actually, we’d like to discuss the possibility of selling your compasses here at the Adventurer Guild. Would you consider it?"

"What!?"

Selling our products at the Adventurer Guild? Not at a random shop but the guild itself? That changes everything!

"For now, this is hardly the place for a discussion. Could we relocate to the Adventurer Guild for further talks?"

Relocating to the Adventurer Guild? If anyone but this scary-looking man had asked, it wouldn’t sound so intimidating. Honestly, it feels like I’m being taken to some shady underworld meeting.

"Tetsuya, are you available now? If not, tomorrow works as well."

"No, I was just about to close the shop for the day, so I can go now. The Adventurer Guild, right? Let me pack up the stall first; could you wait a moment?"

"You refused to listen to me earlier!"

"No ordinary person would willingly follow someone with such a frightening face! Of course, please wait here a moment."

...Yeah, sorry, but that’s absolutely true. No one in their right mind would follow someone who looks like him without a good reason.

"Hey, Patrice, you were the one who said we should handle this sooner rather than later."

"Yes, but you could have waited until Miss Lilia joined you. At least that might have eased Mr. Tetsuya’s nerves."

"You need to be more respectful when you talk to me..."

...Well, Patrice may be sharp-tongued, but I can’t say I don’t sympathize with him.

After packing the remaining goods into my backpack, I dismantled the temporary stall that had served as my shop since arriving in this town.

"Alright, Fia, I’ll let you know when we’re ready to set up the new shop."

"Okay! …Hey, Tetsuya, you were really brave earlier. You stepped forward to protect me; it was so cool!"

"...My legs were shaking; I couldn’t do anything."

"Even so, it was still really cool! Be sure to call me when it’s time to help with the shop, okay?"

"Of course. Looking forward to working with you again."

...Honestly, having Fia comfort me like this feels pathetic as a man.

Once everything was packed, I left Fia and headed to the Adventurer Guild with the group. The guild building was as impressive as ever—a structure befitting its reputation as a hub for starting adventurers. And the person running it is this big, intimidating man...

"Once again, I’m Rizac, the Guild Master."

He led me to an elegant guild master’s office filled with exotic monster trophies, expensive-looking weapons, and armor.

"...I’m Tetsuya. Pleased to meet you."

I nervously accepted Rizac’s outstretched hand, fearing he might crush mine with a handshake. Surprisingly, his grip wasn’t as overwhelming as I had feared.

"Nice to meet you!"

Despite his rough demeanor, his handshake was gentle, revealing a thoughtful side beneath the surface.

"Now then, this compass you’re selling is truly remarkable. Our staff tested it in the forest, and they reported it would help adventurers find their way out if they got lost."

"Thank you very much."

"This tool could drastically reduce the number of adventurers who go missing in the forest. As such, the Adventurer Guild would like to distribute it to all adventurers. That’s why we want to sell it here at the guild."

So that’s what this is about. If they had just said so from the start… Well, I would’ve doubted whether he was really the Guild Master at first, though.

"Our staff confirmed its effectiveness, and Lilia spoke highly of both the compass and you. She mentioned you’re selling it at a low price to support new adventurers, out of gratitude for their assistance when you first arrived."

"I see... Lilia, thank you."

Lilia looked away, seemingly embarrassed. Without my knowledge, she had been spreading the word about the compass to the guild leaders. I owe her so much.

"Yes, reducing the number of lost adventurers is a priority. If the terms are agreeable, I would greatly appreciate the chance to sell it at the Adventurer Guild."