The guilds in this world aren't just adventurer guilds.
There's a major commercial guild, and most merchants are registered with it.
One example of the benefits is the "staff lending system" that Judge frequently uses. When Judge visits Marcade, he often applies for this system and entrusts the shopkeeping to the hired staff.
Judge's shop has many expensive and valuable items, but the loaned staff also have different ranks; some are skilled at selling at stalls, while others can handle working in high-end shops.
Hiring high-ranking staff is expensive, but they almost certainly won't do anything that would tarnish the shop's reputation, given the commercial guild's credibility.
Appraisal services have to be suspended, but that's better than closing the shop entirely for a long period.
Thus, Judge was handling the aftermath of the shop's continued operation, even though it wasn't completely closed.
Since there were quite a few unique dungeon items, if they were sold, he would have to go through his connections again.
Fortunately, the souvenirs from his grandfather, which he was practically forced to accept, prevented the shelves from looking empty, which was a saving grace.
They weren't originally intended for Judge, but he insisted on paying his grandfather, who had tried to give them away for free.
"...Huh?"
Judge, who had been diligently arranging the goods, looked around at the items displayed in the shop.
The shelves for dungeon items, magic tools, and adventurer supplies were all neatly organized, which was typical of Judge's personality.
Judge, who knew the arrangement of even the numerous items, noticed a few places where the arrangement was unfamiliar.
Thinking that the hired staff might have rearranged things, he peered closer, stared for a few seconds, and then tilted his head slightly again, saying, "Huh?" He checked the list of items sold while he was away, then peered at the shelves again.
Something was definitely missing. Four labyrinth items were gone, even though they weren't listed on the sales record.
Upon closer inspection, the rearranged items were clearly positioned to conceal the gaps, and Judge's face turned pale.
He considered the possibility of a thief, but that seemed unlikely; a thief wouldn't bother to meticulously rearrange the items to cover their tracks. Besides, this shop didn't tolerate uninvited guests...
That left only one explanation.
"...Going up against the Commercial Guild... that's terrifying...!"
But he couldn't just let it go.
Judge, on the verge of tears, hung a sign on the shop door that read "Out on business," and trudged away.
"Huh, it's closed."
"Does he ever go out?"
Lizel chuckled at Gil's comment, recalling Judge's usual image of being constantly at the shop, diligently working.
He certainly had that image of being a workaholic, but they had gone to the merchant nation of Marcade together and even gone out for drinks. However, it was true that Judge was hardworking enough to create such an image.
Today, they had come to have the labyrinth items they obtained during the quest, "[Seeking the scales of the crimson butterfly found in the 'Misty Forest' labyrinth!]", appraised.
It seemed simple enough, but being a C-rank quest, it had its quirks.
It was the kind of quest that would be impossible for someone careless or short-tempered; Gil wouldn't even consider it.
Lizel, however, had taken the quest because the client was a chef, and he was intrigued by the unusual reason: wanting to use the scales in a new dish he was developing.
Amidst the constant attacks from wolves and goblins emerging from the thick fog, the fact that they were able to leisurely collect pollen without harming the butterflies was entirely thanks to Gil.
Just as they were about to turn back, accepting that Judge wasn't there, they stopped in their tracks.
A figure walking towards them from down the road caught their attention.
The figure's height, taller than anyone else on the road, was unmistakable, even with their shoulders slumped; it was definitely Judge.
Wondering about his obviously dejected appearance, Lizel, who had acquired another seemingly useless item from the labyrinth, decided to have it appraised anyway and waved his hand.
Noticing this, Judge quickly looked up and hurried over.
"L-Lizel, I'm sorry, the shop..."
"No, I just arrived. Is something wrong?"
"Uh, well..."
Just as the two thought Judge was about to cry, his eyes welling up with tears, Judge gritted his teeth, furrowed his brow, and forcibly held back his tears.
Then, saying it was nothing, he weakly shook his head and opened the shop door.
Assuming he didn't want to be comforted if he wasn't going to complain, Lizel deliberately asked for an appraisal, hoping it would help him focus on his work.
As expected, Judge, who had recovered slightly after performing his usual work, managed a small smile and saw Lizel and Gil off.
After confirming the door was closed, they stopped in front of the shop, and their eyes naturally met.
"That thief... no, that's not it. I don't think he'd do anything after scaring him that much."
"He was crying until his eyelids were all swollen. I just gave him a little warning."
"Wasn't that more of a threat than a warning?"
Lizel chuckled lightly at Gil, who was looking at him with a suspicious expression, and then glanced at the shop.
He heard muffled sobs. They quietly left the area, leaving Judge alone in the shop, crying as if enduring something. He probably didn't want Lizel and Gil to hear him.
If Judge, who usually doesn't hide his tears in front of Lizel, was trying to hide them now, the reason wasn't hard to guess.
Gil looked down at Lizel, who was deep in thought, with a sharp gaze.
"Are you going to help him?"
"Hmm... I think I'll just observe for now."
"Oh?"
Gil looked at Lizel, who was giving a wry smile, with surprise.
He usually dotes on him excessively in trivial situations, but now, in this seemingly serious situation, he's pushing him away.
Honestly, he thought it was because he didn't want to get involved in trouble, but that probably wasn't the case. He's generally not someone who gets deeply involved with people, but he still cares deeply for those he considers close.
"As for the reason, I think something happened related to the shop. Judge has his pride as a businessman, and it's not a problem we should openly interfere with."
"Is that so?"
"That's what being a professional means."
Gil started to wonder where Lizel's pride lay, but quickly stopped thinking about it.
It went without saying. However, while he was in this world, he would never be able to see it.
There was no one in this world for whom Lizel would kneel with true pride in his heart.
He started to wonder what he would do if his pride were sullied, but quickly stopped that thought as well. It would probably be far worse than the warning he gave during the Eleven incident.
"They say the quietest people are the scariest when they get angry."
"I can't imagine Judge-kun getting angry, though."
"It's you," Gil sighed, opening the door to the inn they had returned to.
Today's dungeon, "The Misty Forest," was damp, and the air was thick and humid. He had spent the day searching for small butterflies in the murky, damp environment, and his hair and skin still felt damp.
Lizel, who was flapping the collar of his spotless clothes, showed no trace of dirtiness, despite wanting to take a shower.
The fact that he returned from the dungeon without a single speck of dirt, unlike most adventurers who come back covered in mud, was probably due to him avoiding any major fights and his dirt-resistant equipment. his refined features also contributed to him being completely free of any grimy appearance.
In Gil's case, his lack of dirt was simply due to his skill.
"Ah, welcome back!"
At the sudden voice, Gil frowned and Lizel gave a wry smile.
Peeking from behind Gil, a vibrant red color, facing off against the innkeeper who was standing with his hands on his hips, swayed like a snake as it turned to look at them.
Wearing clothes that emphasized his slender figure, the man with a lithe physique still wore his usual friendly smile as he looked at them.
The wrist that Gil had crushed seemed to have recovered, thanks to a healing potion.
That day, on the way back, he had been splashing something on his hand, which was probably the potion.
The twin swords hanging at his waist asserted their presence, but he showed no intention of using them against the person who had broken his arm.
"It's been three days."
"Long time no see!"
The last time they met was, needless to say, at the guild on the day Lizel (according to Gil) gave him a warning. Eleven, who had cried his heart out and stumbled out of the guild, hadn't had a proper conversation with them since he started crying, but since the attacks had stopped and there were no other changes in the surroundings, they assumed he had accepted their advice.
Just as Lizel was about to ask if he had some business with them, since he had gone out of his way to show his face to them, the stern-faced landlady turned towards them.
"Hey, Lizel, you're not getting involved with some shady characters again, are you?"
"Not far from the truth."
"Huh? Wait,..."
"See! Don't you dare lie about being Lizel's acquaintance!"
The landlady, enraged by Lizel's accurate statement, lunged at Eleven.
Eleven was in no position to say it was a misunderstanding, as he had been trying to kill them until recently, so he couldn't possibly deny it.
Even Aign and the others couldn't handle her, so Eleven, who seemed even more troublesome, couldn't possibly talk his way out of it with the landlady.
He looked to Lizel for help, who was watching the exchange with a smile, but only received a smile in return.
"Oh, right. I came back because I wanted to take a shower."
"Me too."
"Am I being ignored?! Seriously?! Wait, I want to join your party...! Oh, they're really leaving!"
Eleven watched Lizel and the others walk briskly up the stairs, and his shoulders slumped.
He couldn't force his way past the landlady, and he didn't know what would happen if he tried to force his way through.
He didn't think Lizel would get angry over something like that, but the fear instilled in him was effectively keeping Eleven in check. Considering that he would have easily pushed the landlady aside and chased after them before, Lizel's training must have been quite effective.
"Hey, how long are you going to squat there? Your hair's dragging on the floor!"
"...I wonder if he hates me?"
"There's no way Sir Lizel would bother hating someone he doesn't care about!"
"Doesn't care about!?"
Seeing Eleven's long hair, tied in a single ponytail, coiled on the floor, the landlady angrily offered a sharp rebuke.
Unlike with Judge, the weak complaint he uttered, hoping for much comfort, was met not with solace, but with a hundredfold counterattack.
With his already depressed heart sinking even further, he stood up. Otherwise, the constant verbal abuse from the landlady wouldn't stop. He then suggested the brilliant idea of staying at the inn, but it was immediately rejected.
Wiping his wet hair, Lizel looked at Eleven standing before him.
His smiling face was clearly overflowing with joy, and he stood politely in front of Lizel, who was seated in a chair.
If asked why he was here, the only answer was that he had won through sheer persistence.
Eleven had insisted on waiting until Lizel came down, and the landlady, after Lizel had finished showering, came to his room to ask what to do about him.
To the landlady, who suggested sending him away if Lizel didn't want to see him, had reluctantly invited him in with a wry smile. Of course, she was worried about Lizel a great deal.
"Please, have a seat."
"Yes!"
Eleven sat down opposite him with a slight flourish, but thanks to his excellent posture, the wooden chair didn't creak.
The gesture of flicking his hair back to avoid sitting on it was practiced, and the way his slender fingers moved was like a scene from a play.
It was so theatrical. It would be impossible not to notice him.
He checked that his hair was dry enough that no more water was dripping, and then lightly combed and styled it.
Eleven narrowed his eyes and looked at him playfully, so he tilted his head, giving him a wry smile, wondering what he found so amusing.
"So, you had something you wanted to ask?"
"I came to ask if I could join your party... Is that a no?"
"Yes, it's a no."
Eleven fell silent for a moment at Lizel's smile.
He had expected to be rejected. After all, he had tried to kill him not just once, but multiple times.
He had been racking his brain for the past three days, wondering how he could show that he had absolutely no ill will, but he couldn't come up with a good plan. Any trick he tried would be seen through.
But conversely, since he could see through any lie, he should be able to see the truth too, Eleven thought, and he erased the smile that was always on his face.
He had spent three days thinking about how to join their party, but he hadn't once considered the option of not joining.
"I promise I'll never hurt you again."
"It's alright, I don't doubt that."
Then why, Eleven pouted and looked away.
Then he suddenly looked up, grinned, and looked at Lizel.
He hadn't originally expected to get his agreement on the first try. He had completely forgotten about it after seeing Lizel and the others, but he had brought a gift today.
"Then, a bribe. Apparently, the guy at the tool shop who's friends with you was having trouble with the Commercial Guild today."
"A bribe in the form of information is good because it leaves no evidence."
"Right?"
Eleven smiled proudly, and Lizel smiled back, prompting him to continue. I know Judge doesn't want this information to be known, but I want to know it if I can. The main thing is that he doesn't find out.
It's not like this is a bargaining chip; in this case, it's more like a tribute from Eleven, so he shouldn't be making any demands in exchange for continuing the story.
Of course, Eleven doesn't underestimate Lizel enough to have such thoughts; he's simply happy that Lizel is interested in the information.
"There's no ulterior motive, okay? It's just information I got from a subordinate who was subtly scouting around, hoping to find a way to get me to join the party."
"Ah, I see. Gil was getting irritated because he felt like he was being watched recently, even though there was no hostility."
"Really? Unlike the weaklings from the attack, I'm using someone who can completely erase their presence..."
Eleven recalled his recent encounter with Gil.
The moment the door opened and their eyes met, the expression on his face, with his brows furrowed in irritation, was so terrifying that a young child would undoubtedly cry.
His intimidating demeanor, which would even make a real thief flinch, was far from that of an ordinary person.
That expression was probably because he knew it was Eleven's scout; he let out an exaggerated sigh of relief that he wasn't attacked there and then.
Then, he glanced at Lizel.
"...Aren't you angry?"
"I don't really know when I'm being watched, and it doesn't cause me any problems, so I'm not angry."
"That's good."
Eleven, who smiled in relief, quickly erased the fleeting, inquisitive look he had given.
Watching him wear his usual smirking expression, Lizel inwardly concluded that he was the type of person who naturally wanted to hide his true feelings. Eleven, who was well-versed in the value of information and knew how to manipulate thieves to avoid pursuit by the authorities, had a twisted way of thinking, but his intelligence was far greater than his appearance suggested.
It was Lizel who subtly guided Eleven, straightening out his twisted way of thinking and drawing him out. Those who saw Eleven interacting with Lizel would likely categorize him as simple, but his true nature was far from simple.
"He's a difficult child," Lizel said with a wry smile, prompting the conversation again.
"It seems the guy who runs the tool shop had some goods stolen by an employee while he was away. The employee was a temporary staff member from the Commercial Guild, and a high-ranking one at that, so it's causing a lot of trouble."
"So, the staff member is calmly denying it, the guild doesn't want to admit fault and believes the staff member, and Judge is being treated like a liar?"
"That's right."
Eleven grinned and nodded at Lizel, who had summarized the situation as if he had witnessed it firsthand.
If Insigh's existence were widely known, the guild wouldn't be able to treat Judge so carelessly, but it seemed that in Parteda, Insigh wasn't known as the country's top trade business owner.
He had originally started the shop as a hobby, and if his identity were known, the shop would be much more crowded.
It was a kind of disguise, you could say. The shop, created to spend time with young Judge, seemed to have been built by him to dote on his grandson. Fame would have been a hindrance.
Even so, he was making a considerable profit now, which showed Judge's business acumen.
As Lizel pondered what to do, he noticed Eleven looking at him expectantly.
Since he had brought valuable information as a gift, he seemed to be wondering if he would be accepted into the party. Lizel was thinking that he needed to discuss the party arrangements with Gil, but in most cases, Gil wouldn't object to anything Lizel decided. However, regarding Eleven, Gil would probably be utterly astonished, wondering why Lizel would consider someone who had tried to kill him.
But even before that, Lizel had no intention of including Eleven in the party.
"You're the leader of a band of thieves, aren't you? If we let someone like you join the party, it'll be a huge problem if it gets out."
"Then I'll quit being a thief."
"What if the thieves, without their leader, start causing trouble in the surrounding area? Besides, all the thieves know you, so they'll easily expose you."
Despite being rejected, Eleven's lips curved into a happy smile.
From Lizel's tone, it sounded like he might consider letting him join if he could somehow resolve the thief situation.
So, he had to figure out a way to prevent anyone from finding out he was the leader of the bandit group.
"Ah, then I'll just kill all the thieves! That should be fine, right?"
"It's scary to think of letting someone who easily kills their comrades join the party."
"You and those guys aren't on the same level!"
With a smile that even seemed somewhat innocent, Lizel smiled back teasingly, without being particularly flustered.
Eleven, grinning, seemed to be either serious or simply trying to gauge Lizel's reaction.
"Do you even remember how many there are?"
"...I don't remember."
"It would be dangerous if you missed any. Besides, if a bandit group that even the country is concerned about were all killed, the surrounding area would panic, thinking a new threat had emerged."
Eleven pouted and sat cross-legged on the chair, looking up at the ceiling. He quickly put his shoes down from the chair after Lizel reprimanded him. Every time he was met with a negative response, Eleven began to wonder if lizel had any intention of letting him join the party.
He wondered how he could officially leave the bandit group, and now, the bandit group he had helped grow, ironically, felt like an obstacle.
"If I poisoned them, I wouldn't even get tired of killing them all."
"That would make you, a snake beastkin, the prime suspect."
"Are you worried about me?"
"Of course."
Lizel's straightforward affirmation left Eleven speechless, his mouth hanging open in surprise.
It was true that if it became known that Lizel was aware of the bandit group's activities but hadn't reported them or tried to apprehend them, it would be dangerous for him as well. If Eleven were captured and revealed this information, Lizel and the others would also be under suspicion.
However, no matter how much Eleven tried to discern Lizel's true intentions, he couldn't see any such motive.
Lizel's calm face, which as always revealed nothing of his thoughts, nevertheless gave Eleven hope that he was genuinely worried about him.
"Hope? What am I even thinking?" Seeing Eleven in such utter confusion, Lizel suddenly looked at his open mouth.
"That's right, you can use poison, can't you?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah, it's easy."
"Some individuals can secrete poison from glands in their mouths, right? Is it only one type?"
"This is kind of a secret, or rather, a trump card, so it's not something I should just blurt out..."
Lizel had knowledge from books, but there were several things he wanted to ask about.
Snake beastkin were rare, and their habitat was limited, so he hadn't encountered one before.
The information in the books was also less extensive compared to other beastkin, and Lizel didn't feel it was sufficient. Seeing how openly interested Lizel was, Eleven was touched that he was showing so much interest, but inwardly, he was calculating what to do next.
He wondered if he should say something like, "I'll tell you if you let me join your party and become my comrade," but then he thought, "No, that won't work. He'll just say, 'Then never mind.'"
At that moment, all his attention was drawn to the sensation of fingertips gliding across his chin.
"Open your mouth."
Despite the gentle, kind voice, Eleven slowly opened his mouth, obeying.
He remembered the day he was made to feel fear, the memory of his entire being supported by the hand placed on his chin.
Because he was a beastkin, his instincts, stronger than those of ordinary humans, not only showed submission to the being before him, but also surrendered his entire self—that memory resurfaced.
As the fingers, merely resting on his chin, gently and subtly pulled it forward, Eleven's body, as if against his will, lifted itself from the chair, placing both hands on the desk and offering his mouth to Lizel.
He watched, somewhat entranced, as the fingertips slipped into his mouth, caressed his sharp, pointed teeth, and then withdrew.
"What's wrong?"
"Huh!?"
At the sound of the voice, Eleven snapped back to reality.
Lizel, looking puzzled, probably didn't realize that he had just made Eleven's instincts obey him.
He had simply asked Eleven to open his mouth, and since Eleven had complied so readily, he seemed to be wondering if something was wrong.
Lizel, whose knowledge came only from books, probably didn't even know about the existence of the beastly instincts that beastkin possess. It was something that couldn't be expressed in words, something only understood between beastkin.
"...Nothing, really?"
Eleven, suppressing his pounding heart, decided that if Lizel didn't understand, he couldn't explain it, and put on his usual smile as if nothing had happened. The pretense would obviously be exposed, but it was better than having the truth revealed.
Even Eleven had only just realized that he was subservient to the person in front of him.
"If you want to know so badly, then go ahead."
"Is that okay?"
"Since you know now, I want you to consider me joining the party!"
Eleven, who was leaning over the table with his mouth wide open, made a gesture that Lizel sensed was meant to conceal something, but he decided it was fine and extended his finger again.
Compared to his own, Eleven's teeth were slightly thinner and less rounded, and the pair of sharp, pointed canine teeth (or fangs, if you considered him a snake) looked like they would hurt if he bit him.
Based on the knowledge that the salivary glands were behind the canine teeth, he guided his finger along his teeth and into the back of his mouth.
Smiling at Eleven, who was narrowing his eyes and looking down at him, he peered into his mouth.
"A slit at the base, is this the salivary gland?"
"Foh-fuh"
The words that came from his wide-open mouth were unclear, but he nodded slightly, so it must be.
He traced the slit with a touch so gentle it was barely there, and Eleven chuckled, making a sound in his throat. He seemed tickled.
Tracing from right to left along his teeth, he felt that the slits on both sides were tightly closed.
They were usually constantly flowing...
It seems that doing nothing is also dangerous, and it appears he can expel the poison of his own volition.
"Can you... expel something like that?"
"Ah..."
Eleven thought for a moment with his mouth open, then pointed to his cheek with one hand. He seemed willing to do it, so I peered into his dangerously red mouth.
The slit at the base of his teeth opened wide, becoming more of a hole than a slit, and then a slightly viscous, transparent liquid slowly leaked out. It traveled down his sharp, somewhat long fangs, slowly forming a droplet at the tip.
The moment the droplet was about to fall into his mouth, Lizel caught it with the pad of his finger.
Ignoring Eleven's momentary pause of surprise, Lizel, watching the liquid that maintained its dome shape on his fingertip due to its viscosity, gradually brought his lips to the poison as it dripped down his finger.
A small "chu" sound startled Eleven, who quickly grabbed Lizel's hand and pulled it away from his mouth.
"What are you doing?!"
"I was wondering what kind of poison it was. Hmm... my fingertips are getting a little numb."
"Of course they are! It's a paralyzing poison! Ah, here, drink this antidote!"
Eleven rummaged inside his clothes, pulled out a bottle of antidote, opened the lid, and thrust it at Lizel.
Without giving Lizel a chance to open his mouth, he pressed the antidote to his lips, urging him to drink.
His fingertips were tingling dangerously, but he managed to grasp the bottle and pour the antidote down his throat.
He wondered if it was okay to use such an expensive antidote, which usually works on anything but lethal poisons, but he swallowed it anyway, probably stolen goods.
It had an indescribable taste. Why are recovery potions, and medicines in general, designed in such a way that they look like they'd cause damage?
"I can't believe it! What if it was a lethal poison?!"
"It was a paralyzing poison, wasn't it? But why would you, who's supposed to be resistant to poison, need an antidote?"
"For negotiation! Besides, you can't possibly distinguish a colorless, transparent poison, so aren't you being a little too careless?!"
Seeing Eleven's inexplicable anger, Lizel smiled faintly.
The antidote's effects were remarkable; he placed the bottle he was holding on the table with his now numb-free fingertips.
He wiped his fingertips with the slightly damp towel he had been using to dry his hair, then casually folded it and placed it on the table, thinking, "This towel is unusable now."
"If it were a lethal poison that could be absorbed through the skin, you'd be...!"
"Are you worried about me?"
"Well... ...!"
Lizel repeated the previous exchange, and Eleven stopped. He froze.
Normally, he would have replied with his usual smug grin, "Of course!"
The reason he hesitated wasn't because he wasn't worried; that couldn't possibly be the case.
It was because he wholeheartedly agreed with Lizel's words, so much so that he forgot to respond playfully.
"This is bad, he's definitely figured it out," Eleven thought, and as he clamped his mouth shut, Lizel smiled gently, adding fuel to the fire.
"I believe you wouldn't give me anything dangerous, anything poisonous. Didn't you tell me? You promised."
"I promise I'll never hurt you again."
Had he actually believed the words he'd spoken? Had he truly been worried about him back then? Eleven felt his body temperature, which should have been low, suddenly rise, and goosebumps appeared. He pushed his chair back with a clatter and recoiled. His face, turned away as far as it could go, seemed to reflect his feelings, and just as Lizel was about to speak to him with a smile, Eleven noisily rushed out of the room.
The expectation that he was leaving, however, was immediately dispelled by the voice that followed.
"Hey, Single-Stroke-niisan, I need to ask you something! What kind of education are you giving that person?! Putting something in your mouth knowing it's poison is a bit strange for an adventurer, isn't it?!"
"Don't bang on the door, you're so noisy... Your face is red. Don't take it out on me to hide your embarrassment."
"That wet, bare upper body is incredibly sexy, wow, as expected! Besides, I'm not embarrassed! I'm not embarrassed at all!"
"Your usual confident expression is completely messed up, you brat, you're so noisy!"
"I'm not a brat! Hey, what are you trying to close the door for?!"
"What part of you isn't a brat when you threw a tantrum because you weren't getting attention, got scolded, and then cried and wailed?"
"I can't deny that... Hey, what are you closing the door for?! I said I wanted to discuss that person's educational methods!"
Lizel chuckled at Eleven's noisy outburst, wondering if it was a way of hiding his embarrassment.
As long as Eleven was still shouting even though Gil had ignored him, his embarrassment probably hadn't subsided yet. His way of venting was quite lively.
"But he said it, he's probably going to get scolded."
Thinking that Gil's expression would surely be a frown when they met later, Lizel slowly gave a wry smile.