"Good evening, Rizac-san."

"Long time no see, Guild Master."

After closing up shop and finishing the day's cleanup, I headed to the Adventurer's Guild with Lilia.

"Oh, Tetsuya and Lilia. Sorry to make you come all the way here!"

The man before us was a large figure with scars across his face. In my old world, no matter how you looked at him, he’d seem like someone from that line of work. However, this intimidating man was the guild master of the Adventurer's Guild in this town.

That said, after meeting him several times, I’ve gotten somewhat used to him. Well, just a little. Honestly, though... he’s still scary.

"No, not at all. It’s an opportunity we’re grateful for. Also, here’s a little something for you. Yesterday, I got some wild boar meat from an adventurer I know, so I made some smoked meat with spices, just like the danama bear from before."

Yesterday, Roya and the others shared some wild boar meat, a type of magical beast.

Man, it was delicious as steak and in a hot pot when I shared it with Lilia! While it didn’t quite reach the level of the high-end danama bear meat, it was still top-tier.

I used the remaining meat to make smoked meat, seasoning it with outdoor spices. Of course, I also prepared some for Roya and the others, intending to give it to them the next time I saw them.

When I made smoked danama bear meat last time, Rizac-san had loved it. So, with Roya’s permission, I made some for Rizac and his group too.

"Oh! Thanks a bunch! That danama bear meat from before was packed with spices and absolutely delicious! It went great with some alcohol. Tetsuya, how about a drink?"

Gulp.

Rizac-san pulled out cups and a bottle from the desk in his office.

Ah, nothing beats a drink after work. My throat instinctively tightened in anticipation. The smoky aroma from the smoked meat was wafting through the air, stoking my appetite.

...Wait, why does he have alcohol in his office in the first place!?

"Guild Master, please refrain from drinking in this room. Besides, don’t you have an important discussion with Tetsuya-san coming up?"

"Oh, right. I’ll save the drinks for later."

"...Even later, please don’t drink here."

"..."

"..."

Patrice-san, the deputy guild master, seemed to have his hands full.

"Ahem. Now, Tetsuya-san, regarding the water purifier you provided, we’ve confirmed it can make river and spring water safe to drink. Even slightly murky water posed no problem."

"That’s good to hear."

I’d tested it myself before, although I’d never tried it with murky water. Still, it seemed the purifier worked effectively even at its modest price point.

"Thanks to the compasses you’ve been supplying us with, the number of people getting lost in that forest has decreased significantly.

Even though getting lost has become less common, having a water purifier on hand would further increase adventurers' survival rates.

We’d like to sell the purifier here at the Adventurer’s Guild. Like the compass, we’d purchase it from you for three silver coins and sell it for three silver coins and two copper coins."

The compasses were purchased from me for two silver coins and sold for two silver and two copper coins. Although this left almost no profit for the guild, they prioritized improving adventurers' survival rates.

"Absolutely. Anything that increases adventurers' survival is worthwhile. Plus, the guild’s notices bring many customers to my shop, so it’s mutually beneficial."

After all, I’ve been helped by rookie adventurers like Roya and by many people in this town. If I can help the adventurers here in some way, that’s enough for me.

Moreover, having the guild stock my products boosts credibility and serves as great advertising for the shop. If the guild’s shop handles my items alongside potions and antidotes, it’s a win-win.

"Really? Thank you so much!"

"Alright! That settles it. Let’s head down to the first floor and have a drink!"

"...Fine, but only on the first floor. Thank you again, Tetsuya-san. I look forward to working with you."

"Likewise. I also made some for you, Patrice-san, so let me know what you think."

"Oh, I have my own portion? Thank you once again."

Maintaining good relationships is vital. And no, this is not a bribe!

"Come on, Tetsuya, have a drink first."

"Thank you."

"And you too, Lilia. Tonight’s my treat, so eat and drink all you want. It’s my way of showing gratitude."

"In that case, I’ll happily partake."

We headed to the dining hall on the first floor of the Adventurer’s Guild with Rizac-san and Lilia.

"First things first: cheers!"

"Cheers!"

"Cheers!"

Clink.

We toasted with wooden cups. I drank the wine Rizac-san provided, while Lilia had juice she ordered from the dining hall.

"Wow, this wine is amazing! It’s completely different from what I usually drink!"

"Good stuff, right? It’s a bit pricey, but it’s worth it. And this meat you made pairs perfectly with it!"

"Tetsuya, don’t overdo it. You have the shop tomorrow."

"Ah, right. I’ll pace myself."

I’m not particularly strong with alcohol, so I need to be careful. There’s work tomorrow, and I’ll need to ask about this wine’s brand and price later.

"Tetsuya, it seems like Lilia’s got you wrapped around her finger."

"I-I am not wrapping him around anything!"

"Hahaha..."

As usual, Rizac-san was teasing Lilia again.