That Time a Shut-in for 300 Years Continued to Make Antiques , but All of It Turned out to Be Cheat-Level Magic Tools - Chapter 48

After leaving the matter with Benz, I decided to return to the inn. Just as I left my room, I happened upon Carol in the hallway.

“Ah, Owner, you seem busy again today.”

“I’m not exactly the owner, you know.”

Ever since that incident, both Bistia and Urel have started calling me ‘Owner.’ Even the slaves, albeit clearly displeased, called me ‘Owner’ as ordered by Carol. Even Mei added a ‘sama’ to it.

“If it weren’t for the Owner, we wouldn’t be where we are now, so I really would prefer to call you Owner.”

All I need is a base of operations, really. But since it doesn’t seem like she’s forcing it, and it seems to settle her, I let her call me whatever she likes.

“How is the inn doing?”

“Thanks to you, the reputation has increased and it’s quite busy. It’s a happy problem to have.”

“That’s good. Better to be busy than idle.”

With Urel’s knack for business, unlike the previous lax management, the inn has been prospering. Before, there were many days when rooms were unoccupied, but since the change in management, the prices dropped, the service improved, and rumors spread. Additionally, having Carol at the reception—now a charming Bistia girl—turned her into quite the figurehead of the inn.

The food has also improved significantly since that man started taking his kitchen duties seriously. Customer ratings are very high.

It seems quite busy indeed.

“Um, I have a request.”

“Hmm? What’s with the formality?”

Carol clasped her hands as if praying before speaking.

“The inn has gotten busier, so I was thinking of hiring more people.”

“More hands?”

“Yes. I’ve discussed it with Urel, and we’ve determined we can adequately manage with more staff.”

“That’s fine. Do as you like. I’ve told you before, I’ve left the inn to you, so there’s no need to consult me.”

“Ye-yes! Thank you so much!”

Hmm, she seems quite pleased. Was it really that busy?

Anyway, I left the matter to Carol and Urel, and after saying goodbye, I left the inn.

Now, I could head back to the Mage’s Guild, but I decided to stop by the library first today.

Despite its size, this town has such facilities.

There, I planned to research the local ecosystem, geography, and more. Of course, while most of this information could be obtained using MFM, relying solely on magical devices means that the information remains just that—information, not knowledge.

So, I intended to thoroughly browse the necessary books at the library and deepen my knowledge to plan for the future.

◇◆◇

“I’m back.”

“Welcome back, Master. Hazan-sama has arrived.”

“Oh, Edson! You’re back!”

While I was engrossed in reading at the library, it had gotten late, so I decided to head back, and there was Hazan. A B-rank adventurer with time on his hands?

“So B-rank adventurers have a lot of free time, huh?”

“No, no! I’ve done my work for today, too! But, you know, I finish tasks quickly because I’m skilled.”

“So you came all the way here for that? But are you sure it’s alright?”

“What do you mean, alright?”

He looked clueless.

“Our place has been under some scrutiny from the Adventurer’s Guild. Isn’t it bad for your reputation if a B-rank adventurer like Hazan is frequently seen here?”

“Hah, it’s too late for that. Besides, I’m not bound by such silly guild restrictions.”

Hmm, as I thought, he’s a rather simple man, but perhaps that’s straightforward in a good way.

“Besides, how would it look if I didn’t show my face at the guild where I’m about to have weapons made?”

“You remembered well. I was worried you might have forgotten.”

“Hey, I’m not that forgetful!”

So he’s aware of his own scatterbrained tendencies.

“Then it’s good timing. Let’s move forward with our discussion. You asked for a sword, but what about armor?”

“Armor?”

“Yes, even if you improve your weapon, it’s bad to ignore the balance. And from what I see, that armor of yours has seen better days.”

Hazan was wearing quite a sturdy-looking iron armor. It seemed well-maintained but was clearly faded and dented.

“Now that you mention it, I haven’t paid much attention to armor. My sword has been serving like armor too.”

This guy, a muscle-brain as ever, should have been smashing through with his brute strength, but the sword he used was hindering him.

So the new sword I’d make would allow him to focus on attacking without worry, but naturally, I should also pay attention to the quality of the armor.

After discussing the direction for his equipment.

“Alright! Then I’ll request a new sword and new armor!”

“Understood. And what’s your budget?”

“Hehe, naturally, I want a sword and armor that are perfect for me! So I’m willing to splurge—five gold coins!”

“This conversation never happened.”

“Whoooa!”

As I stood up, Hazan shouted. Even someone as financially naive as me knew that five gold coins were ridiculous.

“…Master Hazan, if we are to create the sword and armor reflecting our current discussion, you’ll need to prepare about two hundred gold coins…”

“Seriously! Two hundred gold coins, huh… hmm…”

He seemed quite troubled. Was he really that strapped for cash?

“You’re a B-rank adventurer, right? Can’t you earn that much?”

“No, no! I mean, I am a B-rank adventurer, after all. My monthly earnings have never been less than four hundred gold coins.”

So he does make money. Half of a month’s earnings might seem like a lot, but for an adventurer, it’s a vital investment.

“Just that, I’ve been losing a bit at gambling recently.”

“You too, huh?”

I was utterly exasperated.

“You’re not in debt, are you?”

“No way! I’ve decided, no matter how desperate, I won’t take on debt!”

“…Then perhaps you should quit gambling?”

“Hah, Mei, there are paths a man must not avoid.”

“Avoid it already!”

He was clearly stumbling because of it.

“If you can earn that much, couldn’t you manage until the equipment is ready?”

“Oh, I see. But two hundred gold coins coming up…”

He was still troubled. What a hopeless guy. Either way, I hadn’t planned on going through with that amount anyway.

“How about one hundred gold coins?”

“Eh? You’re giving me a discount?”

“Idiot, no. But if you’re willing to help out worth a hundred gold coins, then it’s a different story. And depending on the circumstances, I might ask for various favors in the future.”

“A favor? I don’t get it, but if it saves me a hundred gold coins, I’ll do anything.”

“You said it.”

Then, I might just take you up on that offer—