Chapter 83

"Here we meet again!"

"Oh, hello?"

I got straight to the point. I offered to buy the gloves she had wanted so much to help fill the store's quota. However, they refused, as their kindness came with no strings attached. They had seen many terrariums and various incidents, so they couldn't accept kindness without a reason.

But I insisted, saying I owed them a debt for the advice and help they gave me at the potion shop and that I couldn't stand not paying back my debts. I tried hard to persuade them to accept the gloves as a gift.

"Still... the equipment is more expensive than potions..."

"No, it's fine. It's just a matter of mood! Pick one! Or you can choose something else besides the gloves."

"If I had the same build as you, I'd get free shoes... Just pick one. From what I saw at the potion shop, you look like a terrarium administrative officer. Administrative officers are all rich, aren't they?"

"Shut up! You have no shame, do you?"

Even as she said this, she seemed reluctant to let go of the gloves she had been touching enthusiastically. She picked them up and then put them down again.

"Even though it's a good opportunity... still, receiving rewards without working doesn't align with our team's principles. Thank you for considering it..."

"If I were you, I'd just pick one."

"Shut up."

Don't most people like free stuff? There's a saying that if it's free, even soapy water would be drunk... I'm disappointed. How can I help fill the quota?

"Sir... you don't have to go this far..."

The shop owner even tried to stop me. Wait... If I buy them and store them in my inventory, or keep them somewhere else...?

"Would you consider trading with our terrarium? Our terrarium is short on supplies, so it would be great to stock up on this equipment."

"...What?"

"The quality is good, and most importantly, it's really beneficial for beginner druids!"

That's true. If I buy all this and place it in the terrarium, I can provide it to beginners when they come! Even if the World Tree branch doesn't bear fruit yet, offering free equipment would be a great hook. This could be a huge promotion.

"Would you like to sign a contract? I'll buy all the equipment here for the 28th terrarium! Do I need to sign with the shop owner, or does the administrative officer need to be involved?"

"Terrarium trade negotiations need to be conducted with the administrative officer."

The personal shopper answered. That's right? Then after shopping, I have more topics to discuss when I visit the orchard.

"Wow... that guy must be really rich. He's going to buy everything here."

"Hey, be quiet... I smell a job. Sir...! Administrative officer!"

"Yes? Have you changed your mind?"

"No. I don't want to just take the gloves. More importantly, if you sign a contract to buy all the items, how will you transport them?"

Oh... I didn't think about that. The equipment can't be sent directly through my terrarium artifact like artifact furniture. It needs to be transported from the 18th terrarium to the 28th terrarium. I didn't think about that...

"Would it be okay if we find druids to escort the items? We've handled such escort jobs before and can do it well!"

"Wow, you think fast. You were planning to go down the numbered terrariums anyway, and you're going to take on escort jobs to make money, right?"

"Shut up. Pay attention. If you say it so openly, what does that make me?"

"Wow! How far down the numbered terrariums are you going?"

"See, you heard it all! You'll think I'm a materialist...!"

"No, I have business in the later-numbered terrariums too. What about the 59th terrarium?"

"We have business in the 40s, but if the timing is flexible, we can take a job to the 59th!"

If this goes well, it could help with the loop's issues too.

"Wow... then I'll hire you! What procedures are needed to take on a job? Do I need to go somewhere else?"

"Do we really need procedures? Since you're the administrative officer, just write down the duration, job details, completion conditions, and rewards, and distribute them."

I can distribute quests myself? Thinking about it, the 26th terrarium's administrative officer gave me a quest. It feels like I'm a quest-giving NPC. How cool!

Since we kept talking in the store, I paid for the equipment and made an appointment with the shop owner to meet again after the contract was finalized. I asked the personal shopper to recommend a place to sit and talk. She said she had already made a reservation at a nearby dessert shop, and we could go there right away. It was impressive how she handled everything without being asked.

As we walked a bit further in the shopping area, we saw a dessert shop with a long line of people. Wow, this dessert must be really famous. Do we have to wait in line to get in? Just as I was worrying about that...

"This way."

The personal shopper led us to the front of the line. Just as I was thinking that even VVIP treatment feels wrong when you cut in line, we were guided through a different entrance from the one used by regular customers.

"Six druids, right? I've prepared a separate seating area for you. I'll show you to it."

A staff member greeted us at the entrance and led us in. The personal shopper explained that it was a special entrance and private room for VIP customers. VVIP is thrilling. It's the best!

I didn't know what desserts to order, so I ordered the entire menu. There were many people, and I had Daisy, who eats a lot, so it would work out. A man next to me gaped and nudged the woman beside him.

"Hey, it's not dinner time yet, so is it okay to eat this?"

"Shut up."

We sat down and continued discussing the job with the druid party. I thought using the wallet would be the way to go, so I took out my phone and unlocked it. They all took out their wallets at the same time.

No, wait. I'm not familiar with it yet, so I can't do it right away... You're being too hasty.

I slid into administrative mode and tried to find the relevant options for creating a job. They seemed to misinterpret my fumbling with the controls.

"Do you have many jobs to give us?"

I wonder... First, escorting the items from the 18th terrarium to the 28th terrarium, then escorting the Loop family's move from the 59th terrarium. If Pilla's conversation with his family goes well, I might need to escort his family's move from the 42nd terrarium too.

Since we're going to the later-numbered terrariums, I could also ask them to collect rumors about the Elder Flower wild species, as the Elder's butterfly is pointing in that direction. I could also ask them to promote the recruitment of new residents for our terrarium...

As I folded my fingers, thinking of jobs to give them, the druid party's eyes sparkled.

"If you have many jobs... and if they're mostly in the later-numbered terrariums... how about hiring us exclusively? You mentioned the 28th terrarium, right? How about hiring us as the exclusive druids for the 28th terrarium of the World Tree, and we'll take all the jobs?"

"Wow, is that possible?"

"Of course! Do you know about guilds?"

Guilds? I know them well. In games, players form guilds. It's nice to hear such a familiar term here.

But just in case. If guilds here have a different meaning, like bees or butterflies... I nodded vaguely. I know, but...

"Then we can move quickly! Since you're a druid and an administrative officer, let's form a guild together! You can be the guild master and assign all the jobs to us! Moreover, if the administrative officer is the guild master, it becomes an exclusive guild for the 28th terrarium, and the guild headquarters will automatically be set in the 28th terrarium. We'll become druids guaranteed by the 28th terrarium, making our movements even more free!"

"The guild master has to pay all the setup costs, right? You're aiming for that, aren't you?"

"Shut up. Pay attention. If you say it so openly, what does that make me?"

"Being the guild master as an administrative officer... it seems like you're trying to enjoy privileges too easily... If this gets out, all the capable druids will flock to us...?"

The man heard "shut up and pay attention" twice today. But he doesn't seem to be paying attention, so he'll probably hear it again soon. Anyway, it seems like the guild is the same as I thought, and a guild formed by an administrative officer is even more special! I'm learning a lot.

"We're capable too! Oh, my goodness! Let me introduce our team first! If you look at your wallet, you'll see all our team information is open!"

Suddenly, the terrarium artifact on my wrist vibrated, and the screen of my phone changed. Large red letters appeared on a black screen, sparkling. I had experienced this once before.

Wallet mode change. Stonehenge mode ON