"This week has been pretty laid-back."

"Yeah. Lange was here, the new waterproof backpack sold decently, and most importantly, everyone’s gotten used to working here."

The store had a smooth week with no major issues. On my day off today, I took a relaxing stroll through the street food stalls.

With Lange around and the employees getting the hang of their work, the shop had been running smoothly. Mornings were still busy with customers lining up for stick ramen, but it wasn’t like we were packed all day.

Angel was getting better at dealing with customers, and since the rumor about her having a boyfriend had spread, people had stopped hitting on her.

Thanks to that, Dolph had finally started serving customers normally. Well, he still glared at any guy who blushed at Angel’s service, but that much was forgivable…

"So, Tetsuya, what’s for dinner tonight?"

"I was thinking of making curry today. Not just instant curry, but with some toppings too."

"Oh, that sounds great! That curry dish is a bit spicy, but it’s got an interesting flavor that makes you keep eating."

Lilia and I were at the market, shopping for tonight’s dinner. Since Lange was also here, I was buying ingredients for three people, plus supplies for next week.

Instant curry and alpha rice—it’s something I occasionally crave. I’ve gotten used to the food in this world, but ramen and curry from my old world are just something else.

"Alright, once we get back to the store, I’ll start cooking—wait, isn’t that…?"

"Berna? Ferry!?"

Yeah… I thought so.

For some reason, Berna and Ferry, the A-rank adventurers, were standing in front of my outdoor shop.

"Lilia, Tetsuya, it’s been a while!"

"…I missed you."

Well, I mean, sure, it’s been a while, but it’s only been two weeks since they left for the royal capital.

"Berna, Ferry, good to see you again."

"Why are you two here? Weren’t you busy with the dungeon near the capital?"

"We successfully cleared the dungeon near the capital."

"Wait, already!?"

"It hasn’t even been two weeks since we last saw you!"

Lilia and I couldn’t hide our shock.

It hasn’t been that long. Weren’t they struggling with the dungeon’s progress before, which was why they came all the way here to buy a compass?

Even just traveling to the capital takes several days. Maybe A-rank adventurers have faster travel methods, but still, this is too fast.

"Yes, we managed to clear it safely. And it's all thanks to you, Tetsuya."

"Uh, well… let’s not talk about this here. Please, come inside."

This isn’t a conversation to have out on the street.

I led Berna and Ferry to the second floor of the shop where my living quarters were. Lange hadn’t returned yet. I served them tea and listened to their story.

"Thanks to the compass you gave us, we were able to clear the dungeon several times faster than before."

"Honestly, the monsters in the dungeon weren’t that strong. Once we mapped the floors properly, clearing it was only a matter of time."

Apparently, the monsters in that dungeon weren’t particularly powerful. The real challenge was its vast and complex layout, which made mapping difficult.

That’s where my outdoor shop’s compass proved invaluable.

I never expected a compass to work inside a dungeon. But now that I think about it, knowing your direction at all times, like in a video game, would be a massive advantage.

"And with good food inside the dungeon, our morale stayed high! We even shared a little of the snacks Tetsuya gave us, and everyone loved them!"

"Tetsuya’s food was so delicious. I worked extra hard!"

Ferry puffed out her chest with a smug expression—adorable. It made me want to pat her head.

"Fufu, that’s true. Ferry really did give it her all this time."

"Anyway, here’s an official letter from the royal capital’s Adventurers’ Guild. Also, a portion of the dungeon conquest reward will be given to you. It should arrive through the local guild here soon."

"Wait, my shop gets a reward?"

Reading the letter from the Adventurers’ Guild, I saw that my store was being rewarded for contributing to the dungeon’s conquest.

And it was a considerable amount. Maybe they were hoping I’d start supplying my shop’s goods to the capital in the future.

Since my store already had a cooperative relationship with the Alefrea Adventurers’ Guild, I suppose it was fine to accept.

"So you two came all this way just to tell me that? You could’ve just sent the message through the guild."

"Well… that’s true, but…"

"………………"

Ah, I see what’s going on.

"Thanks for coming all this way. By the way, I was just about to start making dinner. Would you two like to join us?"