Chapter 24

According to Karen, the inspector from the Adventurer's Guild has arrived in the neighboring town.

The 'apparently' is because the source of information was a homing pigeon.

The distance to the neighboring town is about three days by carriage.

Considering the travel time of the pigeon that delivered the letter, the inspector could arrive as early as tomorrow.

At the latest, they should arrive the day after tomorrow.

"Big brother Shiro, there were a lot of customers today, weren't there?"

"Yeah, it's much appreciated."

With my own shop, I started displaying other products besides matches.

To be precise, the main items are things that make life a little easier, like toothpicks, rags, brooms, and dustpans.

Still, they are well-received by the housewives, and they sell out quickly.

Thus, today's business has ended successfully.

I and Aina are currently arranging items for the inspector on the display shelves.

"Big brother Shiro, is this position okay?"

"Yeah, it's fine."

"Aina, this one is shiny and pretty, so I think it would be better to place it here... What do you think, big brother Shiro?"

"Oh, you're right. Indeed, it seems more likely to be picked up if placed there. Yeah, can you put it there?"

"Okay!"

There are two things I learned from having my own shop.

One is that displaying products requires a sense of style, and the other is that I lack that sense of style hopelessly.

However, God did not abandon me.

As if to compensate for my weakness, Aina showed an outstanding sense of display.

When Aina arranges the products, the display shelves become more visible and beautiful.

It was like magic.

"Here, Aina, can you display this too?"

"Sure."

I handed the item I took out from the spatial storage to Aina.

In the end, I revealed to Aina that I have the spatial storage skill.

I thought it would be better for her to know since she helps in the shop.

"Big brother Shiro, I've finished arranging the items."

"Thank you, Aina. Good job."

Just as we finished arranging the products,

"Hey! How's it going, kid?"

Ryaa entered the shop, with Nesca by his side.

The power couple has arrived.

"Hello, Ryaa. Hello, Nesca. It's going pretty well."

"......I heard Shiro's shop is doing well."

"Thanks to you."

During the time with the Murderous Grizzly, Ryaa confessed his feelings to Nesca.

I don't know what happened after that, but apparently, they started dating.

I hope they have a long and explosive relationship.

"Hey, I heard, kid. A bigwig from the Adventurer's Guild is coming to this town."

"Yep. They might arrive as early as tomorrow."

"An inspection, huh... If it goes well, they might even set up a branch of the Adventurer's Guild in this town."

"That would be great. Actually, Karen said she would bring the inspector to our shop."

"Hmm. So that's it. The plan is to show that Niorich has items for adventurers—really amazing items, right?"

"Sharp. I'm currently arranging items to make a good impression on the inspector."

"I see."

Ryaa looked around the display shelves and nodded.

"Every item you sell is useful for adventurers. I guarantee it."

"Thank you."

"Recently, more adventurers have been coming to Niorich for materials. It wouldn't be strange to have one or two Adventurer's Guilds here."

"Hehe. Ryaa, 'one or two.' One would be enough for the town, wouldn't it?"

When I laughed at Ryaa's joke, something strange happened.

Ryaa and Nesca looked back at me with puzzled faces.

"Kid, you don't know, do you?"

"Huh? What don't I know?"

"......Shiro, there are many Adventurer's Guilds."

"Many?"

"Seems like you really don't know."

"I'm sorry for not knowing. Could you tell me?"

"Sure. I'd like to, but... Nesca is better at explaining this kind of thing. So, Nesca, tell the kid."

"......Fine. Ryaa always relies on me."

Nesca pouted, looking annoyed.

Ryaa hugged Nesca's shoulder and smiled apologetically.

"Can't help it. I'm bad at explaining things to people. You have to make up for my shortcomings."

"......Fine."

Nesca turned her face away.

Looking closely, her cheeks were flushed.

Really, I hope they have a long and explosive relationship.

"......Shiro, there are many Adventurer's Guilds in this country."

"Are these branches of the Adventurer's Guild?"

"......No."

Nesca shook her head.

Not branches, then.

"......I'll explain about the guilds. The Adventurer's Guild, in essence, is—"

Nesca began explaining about the Adventurer's Guild.

Starting from its formation, its role, scale, and position in the country.

Summarizing the key points, it was roughly like this:

The Adventurer's Guild is an organization that manages the rough and tumble adventurers.

Those who pass the exam are given a qualification certificate that also serves as an ID, and can take on jobs at the guild according to their rank.

This part was as I had expected.

However, I was very surprised by Nesca's next words.

"......And there are multiple Adventurer's Guilds. Not branches, but the guilds themselves."

According to Nesca, there are several organizations that operate 'Adventurer's Guilds' in this country.

In other words, like professional wrestling organizations in Japan, there are multiple organizations that call themselves Adventurer's Guilds.

Nesca concluded her explanation by saying,

"......There are also differences in the quality of the guilds as organizations. I don't know which guild will send the inspector, but I hope it's a decent one."

"......So, 'I hope it's a decent one' means there are also indecent guilds?"

In response to my question, Ryaa nodded as if it were obvious.

"That's right. The notorious Adventurer's Guilds include 'Devil's Trident' and 'Poison Dragon's Fang.' But the worst is—"

"......'Plunderers of the Labyrinth.'"

Nesca continued Ryaa's sentence.

The fact that they could say it without consulting each other means it's well-known for bad reasons.

"......The worst, huh?"

"Right. 'Plunderers of the Labyrinth' is the second-largest Adventurer's Guild in the country, but it's rumored to do quite evil things."

"Come to think of it, Karen mentioned the name of the Adventurer's Guild... What did she say again? Hmm..."

As I crossed my arms, trying to recall my conversation with Karen, Aina exclaimed, "Ah!"

"The mayor, I think, said 'Plunderers of the Labyrinth.'"

"......"

Aina's statement left the adults silent.

"Ryaa."

"What?"

"Does Karen know the reputation of 'Plunderers of the Labyrinth'?"

"Probably not. Even some adventurers don't know. As a mayor in a remote area, it's unlikely."

"I see."

In a world without social media or even telephones, it's common for something well-known in certain circles to be unknown elsewhere.

The inspector coming for the inspection is from the worst Adventurer's Guild.

Karen, please do your best.

I'll do my best to assist as well.