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"Is Marie-senpai here~?"
"I'm, yes~."
The usual exchange, which had become second nature to us, echoed through theshop. This was the C-rank guild, «Emblem Seal Sticker».
As always, Marie-senpao, the salesgirl, emerged from the back of the shop, her tiny frame and twin tails bobbing. Those twin tails really suited her, as always.
"............"
"What's wrong, mister?" (T/N - She said Onii-san, which in non-sibling or similar cases refer to strangers/customers/non-acquaintrance. So, keeping the mister for tone.)
"Oh, nothing. It just occurred to me that you're always manning the shop, Marie-senpai. When do you actually get any crafting done?"
I couldn't confess, not even if my tongue were to be torn out, that I was thinking about how well her twin tails suited her figure. Instead, I blurted out a question that had been on my mind, hoping to deflect.
I thought I caught a glimmer of suspicion in Marie's eyes, but she seemed to accept my explanation and continued the conversation.
"It's not like I'm always working the counter here. After school, I'm only here in the evening. On my days off, I'm here in the mornings and evenings. You usually come in the mornings and evenings, so it just happens that I'm often on
duty then."
"Ah, I see."
Her words jogged my memory. Yes, I had my schedule sketched from an earlier point for greater efficiency, and I only had this specific time to visit this shop.
For example, if I went to a dungeon, I'd come back and immediately sell my materials. It was ingrained in me. Since coming to the world, and especially with girls around, I'd pull out of the dungeon before sunset. So it seemed I just happened to visit Marie-senpai's shop at the same time repeatedly, and she was often the one working those shifts.
Thinking back, on my days off, I was usually in the dungeon or doing other things during the day, so I only ever came to the shop in the morning or evening. That made sense.
"But now I am intrigued. Why the sudden curiosity out of the blue?"
"Oh, nothing, I just noticed I never see any other sales clerks besides you, so I was curious."
"So... it was just a coincidence that you never showed up when someone else was on duty, despite coming to the shop so often...?"
For some reason, Marie-senpai trembled. Was she not well?
"Well, whatever. It just sting a bit to know I became handler of all those mountains of materials you kept brought in just due to coincidental timing. I guess, I'll be passing them on to the others onwards."
"Oh, uh, good luck with that?"
"You know it's all on you, right, Mister?!!"
Marie-senpai's retort! Thank you very much! After her quick jab, she took a breath and asked again.
"So, what brings you here today?"
"Oh, right! You know my guild, «Eden,» has become a C-rank guild, don't you?"
"That's old news. Of course, I know. One must be a hermit to be oblivious to it after all the buzz it created."
"Exactly. We worked hard for that. And now that we're C-rank, we've got ourselves a guild house."
"We're neighbors, then."
"I hope we can continue to be good patrons to you, Marie-senpai."
"...Well, keep it in moderation, alright? So, what's up?"
"You know how C-rank guilds can open up shops, like yours here? Well, we're thinking of opening one too. We do have production job members in our guild, too, after all."
"I know. In fact, everyone and their mother from the production side knows the one-and-only advanced production job holder."
Of course, she would know. She was the one who made Hannah's equipment, so she couldn't possibly be unaware. Hannah also visits here occasionally.
"So, we want to open a shop, but I'm a bit clueless about the interior design and such. You're a veteran when it comes to it, so I was hoping you could give us some advice on shops."
Yes, my reason for visiting the «Emblem Seal Sticker» guild today was an unusual request; I'd wanted advice on interior design for a shop we were opening.
I knew about interior designs from my game days, but back then, the interior had no impact on sales. In other words, even if I chose some outrageous design—like a horror theme that would absolutely deter customers in real life—sales in the game wouldn't fluctuate. That's why I was at a loss for what kind of interior design to go with. I was particularly concerned about a girl's perspective.
So, I wanted advice from Marie, a professional in the art of selling (?)—I mean, not exactly on selling, but on interior design, shops that attract customers, and shops where sales clerks can work comfortably. So I explained.
"Hmm, I see. But that won't come for free, you know."
"Of course, I've got pleeeeenty of rewards prepared! So, please, help us out."
"Are you aware that the 'pleeeeenty' is the problem, mister?"
My guild members had been diligently grinding, so I had a fair amount of materials, along with equipment and items from silver chests, to offer. Yet, Marie-senpai's cheek twitched for some reason.
It seemed the problem was quality, not quantity.
"Then how about an advanced equipment recipe? It dropped from a «Gold Chest», of course."
"Seriously!?"
And there it reeled her in, ain't it?
Recipes. Especially advanced equipment recipes were hard for productioners to get. They would typically obtain them only by buying or negotiating with combat jobs individuals. Naturally, they weren't easy to come by. There were only few combatants individuals who could defeat rare bosses in intermediate-high dungeons, and since recipes are valuable, few choose to sell them.
Productioners constantly keep their eyes on any such deals. They'd never let seldom chance gets by. Marie-senpai had no immunity to it either.
"Alright, alright! So, which recipe is it? I want to see the goods first!"
She's completely on the hook! This was advanced-level bait for you. They always come in clutch.
Unfortunately, I didn't have it with me right now.
"It's at the guild."
"Then let's go! Right now!"
"Oh! Alright, alright!"
Marie-senpao raised her right hand, giving me the go-ahead. She was incredibly motivated.
She'd immediately retreated into the guild, made quick preparations to leave, leaving that sleepy—or rather, she was already on their trip to dreamland—senior standing there, and then called out.
"Ready to go!"
"Are you really ready?"
My gaze was fixed on the senior who was sleeping standing up. Was she really ready to go?
"It's fine. —Merry, I'm just popping out for a bit, so watch the shop for me!"
"Munya..."
"See?"
"...Right. Well, then, let's go!"
"Great! My mind is all over what kind of recipe your guild got from «Gold Chest»! I can't wait to lay my eyes on it!"
Marie-senpao's tension was higher than ever.
Incidentally, it was for the first time I learned that the name of that sleepy senior was Merry-senpai.