Chapter 351 At the Adventurer Guild
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
It had been two days since the summit with the Kingdom of Ferguson. After securing a deal with King William to restore the East-West trade route, I spent every waking hour scrambling to ensure we squeezed the maximum profit from the venture.
My schedule was packed. Following yesterday’s negotiations with Merchant Guild Twilight¹, I was slated to head to the Adventurer Guild today. I also needed to make an appearance at the Beast-person Association² soon.
The former held massive sway over the nation’s adventurers and would be vital for culling the monsters within Ferguson’s borders. As for the Beast-person Association, I was less interested in the organization itself and more interested in its chairman, Chromans. The Merchant Guild Grizzly³, which he managed, specialized in the sale of weapons and armor and maintained deep ties to the military.
Restoring the East-West trade route required more than just clearing paths; we had to push the monster habitats-thrown into chaos by the “Stampede”-back to their pre-disaster boundaries. At the very least, the apex predators lurking near the trade routes had to be eliminated.
To achieve that, we needed as many blades as possible, along with a steady supply of high-grade equipment. My plan was for the Guild and Merchant Guild Grizzly to solve those two problems in tandem.
Merchant Guild Twilight would handle the logistics and transport. If this worked, we might finally offset the massive losses caused by the Stampede.
”Oh, Kento. You’re back,” a gravelly voice called out.
”It’s been a while… well, maybe not that long, Guildmaster,” I replied. “I’ve got a lucrative lead for you today.”
I was guided to the second floor of the Adventurer Guild, where Guildmaster Ulgate sat waiting. He had recently assisted me with the “Social Studies Observation” for the King’s younger brother, Roland His Highness.
”Yeah, I got word from the Queen,” Ulgate said. “If you’re here to make us some coin, I’ve got no complaints. But if you’re here to ask me to drag His Highness out into the field again, the answer is a flat no.”
”Haha, give me some credit. I’m not that reckless,” I said.
In truth, the thought had crossed my mind. However, sending a royal into a foreign territory crawling with agitated monsters was suicide. Roland’s debut as an adventurer would happen later, in the controlled environment surrounding the capital.
Of course, if the soldiers and veteran adventurers I intended to use as guards objected, I’d scrap the plan entirely. I still didn’t have a clear grasp of how strong His Highness actually was.
Then again, the Kingdom of Canaria was founded by a legendary dragon-slayer. Following that tradition, the royals were reportedly put through rigorous combat training. If he ever truly committed to the life, he’d likely surpass my old, pathetic F-rank standing in a heartbeat.
”So, can you mobilize immediately?” I asked.
”Well… even here, the effects of the Stampede haven’t fully faded,” Ulgate muttered. “A lot of the high-rankers are still concentrated in the Kudoah Count’s territory because of the direct damage. I won’t know the real numbers until I put out the call.”
”I see…”
”The guys who stay local to protect their villages won’t budge,” Ulgate explained. “And for most adventurers, a new hunting ground is a high-risk gamble. No land sense, unfamiliar prey-it makes them hesitate.”
I understood his point. Even as a fringe adventurer, I remembered the sheer anxiety of stepping just a few miles deeper into the forest than usual. You need capital and sweat just to scout what’s out there, let alone survive it. It was a business opportunity for merchants, certainly, but a life-and-death risk for the scouts.
There were fewer people than one might think willing to cross a border just for a hunt. Unless, of course, they were “true” adventurers-the type who lived for the unknown-or those desperate for the fame that came with military merit.
”What if we framed it as a matter of national prestige?” I suggested. “We push the friendship between the Kingdom of Canaria and the Kingdom of Ferguson to the forefront. A call for volunteers to save our sister nation in her hour of need.”
”That might work on the sentimental types,” Ulgate said, leaning back. “But plenty of guys couldn’t care less about foreign politics. Their own lives come first.”
”Then tell them it’s for the sake of the economy,” I countered. “Prices for daily goods have stabilized, but Ferguson imports are still a luxury. If the adventurers clear the route, they’re lowering their own cost of living.”
”Brutal honesty,” Ulgate chuckled. “Better than a flowery speech, I suppose.”
”I’ll also ensure there’s financial and material backing,” I added. “I won’t have our people getting a raw deal. I’ll make sure King William knows that the price of our cooperation is steep. He’s in no position to refuse us.”
”Fair enough. Do right by my people, and I’ll back you,” Ulgate said.
With the logistics hammered out, the conversation turned toward my own shop’s bottom line.
”Regarding the monster materials… my shop will handle the processing and buy-back,” I stated.
”So, a massive collection quest?” Ulgate asked. “Fine. But can you handle the transport?”
”I’m coordinating that with Merchant Guild Twilight. I’ll need at least one cryo-mage in each escort party to ensure the materials stay fresh for research,” I said.
”I’ll see who I can pull,” Ulgate replied.
I planned to move the materials to the “Interview House” I was renting from the Crown. Currently, our R&D had stalled because Satsuki, the court mage, was away.
Development on the “Auto-Piston” and the “Wriggling Buddy” series-especially the ones utilizing ultra-miniature magic circuits-had come to a standstill. I felt it was disrespectful to tinker with Satsuki’s unfinished research while she was gone.
But monster-based alchemy was different. I was hoping to find something as revolutionary as the materials we used for the “Vibrating Buddy” series. The only question was whether I could find the time to actually get into the lab.
”Good grief,” Ulgate sighed. “I still have to ask… with a head for business like yours, why the hell were you playing at being an adventurer in my guild?”
”Haha…”
I gave him a sheepish laugh. It was a fair question-I was clearly better suited for ledgers than blades. But when I first arrived in this world, I was a blank slate. I didn’t know the currency, the geography, or the culture. The Guild had been my only safety net. I offered the Guildmaster a sincere word of thanks and left his office.
”Oh, Kento-kun. Are you quite finished?”
”I am. It was a very productive talk, Marm-san,” I said.
Waiting for me was one of the few people who had supported me during my lowest points: Marm, the head receptionist. She was a striking woman with sun-kissed skin, crimson hair, and a mature, commanding presence. Despite my age, her aura always made me default to my most polite, nervous self.
She was the other reason I had come today. We had known each other longer than almost anyone else in this world. Back when I was living hand-to-mouth, she had been a literal goddess in my eyes.
I had imagined this conversation many times, but actually having it felt surreal. I leaned in, lowering my voice so only she could hear.
”Regarding the… ‘Third Phase’ of the exam. Have you had a change of heart?” I whispered.
Marm’s breath caught. Her eyes darted around, checking the tavern area where adventurers were busy shouting over their ale. Once she was sure we were unobserved, she leaned in, her gaze sharp and inviting.
”Of course not,” she whispered back. “I’m ready whenever you are.”
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Summary:
Kento coordinates with the Adventurer Guild to secure manpower for clearing the East-West trade route. He negotiates terms that favor both the guild and his shop’s R&D. The chapter ends with Kento approaching the receptionist Marm about their ‘Third Phase’ exam.
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Trivia:
- The ‘Stampede’ is the primary cause of current economic instability.
- Kento was originally an F-rank adventurer before becoming a shop owner.
- Prince Roland is being trained for an adventurer debut.
- Satsuki’s absence is currently halting advanced magic tool development.
- The ‘Third Phase’ is a euphemism for a romantic/s*xual encounter
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Character Insight:
Kento is transitioning fully into a power-player role, balancing international diplomacy with his fetish-item business. Marm shows deep-seated affection and attraction to Kento, predating his success.
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Behind the Scenes:
The contrast between the gritty guild politics and the ‘Adult Shop’ business needs is a recurring comedic/tonal theme in the series.
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TL Notes:
Notes:
• Chromans – President of the ‘Royal Capital Beast-person Mutual Aid Association’ and the manager of the ‘Grizzly Merchant Guild,’ a top-tier weapons and armor dealer. He’s powerful, influential, and very business-savvy. Have round, cute bear ears (sooty brown), bushy beard and hair (sooty brown), and large build with muscular physique under a expensive gown.
• Kento – The owner of the magic tool shop ‘Harvest,’ which discretely sells adult goods. He’s a former overworked, ordinary salaryman from modern Japan who was suddenly transported (isekai’d) to this fantasy world. He has dark hair and an unremarkable appearance, typically wearing a plain, slightly suspicious-looking shop owner’s clothes looks like Kazuma Satou from certain series. He has a minimal amount of magic power, enough to craft his specialty items.
• Roland – he younger brother of Queen Cecile and the heir apparent to the Canaria throne. Clean, golden-blonde hair, same color as the Queen, innocent, beautiful face that could be mistaken for a girl but dressed in a boy’s formal wear.
• Ulgate – The head of the Adventurers’ Guild. Using rough words. Middle-aged man with a professional yet blunt demeanor. Protective of his guild members.
• Satsuki – A talented Court Mage who was forced to analyze the shop’s adult magic tools. Miranda’s granddaughter. Now she’s the new worker at Harvest, a development she finds both humiliating and surprisingly fulfilling due to the rapid progress in her research under Kento’s guidance. Has long black hair, palace mage robe, and staff.
• Marm – The attractive, red-haired, tanned receptionist at the Adventurer’s Guild. She wears a uniform that emphasizes her ‘nice body.’ She is kind and acts like a supportive ‘big sister’ figure to Kento. Looks like Mirajane Strauss from certain series.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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