"There are such unusual items in the labyrinth..."
After recovering from his stunned state, the shopkeeper held up two teddy bears and looked at them admiringly.
The monocle he wore suited him well, despite his youth.
He still looked somewhat lacking in confidence, but his serious expression while appraising the items made him seem worthy of being entrusted with the task.
"However, I didn't expect that people wouldn't believe me when I said I became an adventurer."
"I-I'm sorry... but, you know, you have a slightly more approachable atmosphere than before..."
"That's good to hear."
Lizel quickly averted his gaze from the smiling shopkeeper and turned back to the teddy bears.
Gil wondered if that meant he was difficult to approach before, and looked at Lizel.
He certainly blended in with his surroundings more than before, but it felt like it was simply because he had changed his clothes.
Incidentally, the fact that he was an adventurer before being a noble was also hard to believe.
Gil thought it was understandable. From what he heard, shortly after Lizel arrived here, this shopkeeper was the first person he had seen.
Gil himself had initially believed without a doubt that he was a noble, so it would be hard to believe that such a person would suddenly say, "I've become an adventurer," upon their reunion.
He told Lizel, who was frequently talking to the shopkeeper and enjoying his reactions, to stop bothering him, and looked at the sword maintenance tools lined up on the shelves.
Since they were items he didn't see very often, it probably took him some time.
While they were discussing and selecting the tools that Lizel still needed as an adventurer, the appraisal was finished.
"How is it?"
"Um, these were found on the second floor of the nearby labyrinth, right...?"
"Yes."
To Lizel, who nodded with a puzzled expression, the shopkeeper showed him the two teddy bears side by side.
Their red and blue eyes reflected the light and shone brightly.
"The fabric, the buttons, and even the gems in its eyes were all from the labyrinth."
"That's quite a fine piece for something from the second floor."
"Do you think it would fetch about one gold coin for the pair?"
The client's budget was only one gold coin. It was unlikely, but since they were at it, they wanted to aim for the maximum possible price. It was a matter of taking what they could get.
Gil had already told them that presenting something of little value would damage their reputation as adventurers.
"Not just one coin, some people would pay five gold coins for this alone."
"For a doll...? Ah, maybe a collector specializing in dolls?"
"Yes, there are quite a few. Probably two gold coins for one, and five for a pair..."
The two looked down at the teddy bear. It was a world neither Lizel nor Gil could understand.
However, if it were a book, Lizel would understand. He wouldn't hesitate to spend money on a rare book.
It was truly the world of collectors. Lizel nodded, acknowledging that such things exist, while Gil, still unable to comprehend, wore a puzzled expression.
"However, if you look at it as a normal labyrinth item, it's still a low-rank product..."
"As a labyrinth item?"
"It's about whether it has any practical use. This clearly has none, so it's a labyrinth item appropriate for the second floor."
Aside from collectors of labyrinth items, what ordinary adventurers value are practical tools.
Excellent weapons and armor, of course, but also lamps that never go out, knives that never lose their sharpness, and valuable ores are naturally highly valued.
Also, anything that can be sold for money anywhere is considered valuable.
Items like the aforementioned lamps, when sold to the guild, are then distributed to shops, so such items fetch high prices.
Lizel's teddy bear this time was an exception.
It had no practical use, and the concept of doll collectors seemed incomprehensible in the labyrinth. Incidentally, when a dungeon item appears that is completely out of proportion to the level of the floor where the treasure chest is located, the adventurers say, "The dungeon is bugged."
"It's quite common to find low-rank dungeon items in the deeper levels, but it's almost unheard of to find good items in the shallower levels. This time, it's not quite a 'bugged' situation."
"To put it simply, it's just a stuffed animal, isn't it?"
Lizel held the teddy bear in his hand, wondering what to do with it.
Selling it to a collector wouldn't be a bad idea, but in that case, he would have to go back into the dungeon for another quest.
He hadn't expected it to fetch such a high price, so he naturally didn't have a replacement dungeon item.
"...Well, never mind. Please prepare an appraisal certificate for it as a dungeon item."
"Eh! Are you sure...?"
"You're getting tired of this, aren't you?"
"You can tell?"
For an adventurer, throwing away a profitable opportunity is an unthinkable act.
Lizel narrowed his eyes and smiled at Gil, who was looking at him reproachfully.
While the shopkeeper was looking at them nervously, the two exchanged glances for a few seconds.
Gil was the first to look away. He clicked his tongue and sighed deeply, as if it was something he had expected all along.
When it came to matters related to adventuring, Lizel accepted Gil's advice without question.
The fact that Lizel wasn't listening to him meant it must be something serious. It was probably more than just a matter of inconvenience.
He didn't know what it was, though.
"...Do as you please."
"Okay. Then please proceed."
The shopkeeper was dumbfounded by the sudden change in atmosphere, but prompted by Lizel, he prepared the appraisal certificate.
It was a piece of paper stamped with the shop's seal, and he smoothly filled in the amount.
Lizel peered at it. The amount written was three silver coins; although it had no practical use, it was an item with artistic value, so the price was reasonable. This is a pretty good haul for a low-ranked adventurer.
Originally, labyrinth items worth a single gold coin are only found in the middle levels and beyond. The client must have set a generous price.
"Is it okay to hand it over like this, without any packaging?"
"Just put it in a suitable box."
"Then, while we're at it, let's get it wrapped too, since it's a plush toy."
He seems to have already accepted that the first labyrinth item he found is a plush toy.
The fact that he's willing to spend a little extra money on wrapping shows he's genuinely amused by the situation.
"The guild will check it, so it's better not to make it too elaborate."
"Then just stick a ribbon on the box, something that looks nice. Ah, that silver one is good."
"Yes, sir!"
A silver sticker with a ribbon extending from it like a medal was attached to a sturdy-looking, large black gift box.
The ribbon was black and white striped. Lizel gazed at the teddy bear, which had been transformed into a sophisticated-looking gift, with a satisfied expression.
Incidentally, the appraisal certificate was placed in an envelope resembling a castle invitation and put inside the box as well.
What drives him to this extent? He's a perfectionist in the strangest ways.
And why does this shop have so many wrapping supplies? It's more of a shop for adventurers, after all.
Gil looked at Lizel and the shopkeeper, who were both happy with the ideal result, with a look of utter incomprehension.
He had said to put it in a box, but he never imagined it would go this far.
"You... why do you put so much effort into meaningless things?"
"It's just for fun."
"I see," Gil nodded and stopped pursuing the matter further. Afterward, I stopped by the guild and successfully delivered the requested items. Needless to say, when Lizel took the box out of his pouch, Studd accepted it expressionlessly, checked the contents, and closed the lid without a word.
Since the completion of the request was acknowledged, Lizel left the guild feeling satisfied, believing there were no problems.
Lizel had been reading ever since returning to the inn.
Not just today, but whenever he had even a little free time, he would spend it with a book in hand.
He had visited bookstores other than the one he was introduced to, and always kept a stock of books in his pouch, carefully selecting ones with different content.
Because the first bookstore had such a good selection, he hadn't needed to buy out an entire store again.
He glanced out the window and noticed the sun beginning to set.
He closed the book he was reading, put it back in his pouch, stood up from his chair, and left the room.
He immediately knocked on Gil's room next door. Since Gil always politely announced when he was going out, he was certain he was in his room.
"Is this a good time?"
"What is it?"
"There's something I wanted to ask you."
He was invited in, and they sat facing each other at the desk.
The room was as neatly organized as ever. Incidentally, Lizel's room was a bit cluttered because of the books he had finished reading lying around.
"So?"
"It's about the party we met at the guild this morning..."
"The guild this morning was full of parties."
"The one talking about the new dungeon, you know, the party whose contents I accidentally saw."
"Ah, the ones you caused trouble for."
Lizel gave a wry smile in response to Gil's unconcealed disapproving gaze.
Certainly, if his charge deliberately got involved in trouble, it was understandable that Gil would complain. Lizel was quite used to being the one protected, so he usually tried to avoid acting independently, but since he had come to a different world, he wanted to try many things.
He supposed he would just have to accept that.
"Do you have any information about their adventurer party?"
Gil raised an eyebrow in surprise.
Lizel had never shown any interest in the numerous adventurers around them before.
"Is there something on your mind?"
"No, not really. I just thought it would be good to know."
"Just in case, huh? I don't know much about them either."
The information Gil provided was general knowledge. It was the kind of information you could find out if you looked into it; Gil himself probably didn't have much interest in other adventurers.
He mentioned that all the members were young, but their individual ranks were C to D, making their party rank C, and that they were expected to do well in the future.
They mostly took on combat-related quests, making them typical adventurers.
Due to their age, they were somewhat quick to pick fights, but their reputation among others was neither particularly good nor bad.
"Speaking of which, they seemed like quite mischievous kids."
"I've never had them pick a fight with me."
"That means they know their limits, doesn't it? They're much smarter than the previous ones. What about their potential?"
"Huh? I don't know... but, well, it'll probably take a while for them to reach B rank."
As the ranks increase, the path to the next rank becomes more difficult.
Lizel had already gone from F to E rank with today's quest, but that was a completely different matter.
Only those whom the guild deems worthy of the next rank can advance, so there's no guarantee of promotion.
As Lizel murmured "I see," Gil leaned on his elbow and asked a question. "So, what about their potential for growth? Are those the ones you want?"
"No. But even if it's just a side project, if we're going to invest, wouldn't it be better to choose someone with potential?"
Gil was aware that he was kept around because Lizel needed him.
He thought Lizel might need them in the same way, but it seemed that wasn't the case.
That made sense. He wasn't being conceited, but he wouldn't want to be considered on the same level as those kinds of people.
At that moment, as Gil was contemplating the meaning of investment, he heard familiar footsteps. They were coming towards him.
For some reason, as Lizel stood up and headed towards the door, the footsteps passed by and stopped.
A slightly forceful knock echoed, and at the same time, Lizel opened the door and peered outside.
"Oh, Lizel, you were there?"
"I apologize for the trouble. What can I do for you?"
"Well, I just wanted to ask you something..."
The innkeeper, the owner of the footsteps, lowered her voice with a puzzled expression.
Seeing her suspicious expression, Gil also stood up and approached the two who were talking by the door.
"There are some customers who came asking for you, Lizel, but they don't seem like anyone you'd know..."
Gil looked down at Lizel. Lizel didn't have any acquaintances who would visit him at the inn.
As far as Gil knew, there was only one person who could be considered an acquaintance of Lizel's.
The only one they had exchanged names with was Studd.
But it couldn't be him visiting...
The landlady wouldn't speak like that. He wore his guild uniform without any sloppiness, and while he wasn't particularly friendly, he was polite, so he wouldn't likely earn any ill will.
Lizel noticed the gazes directed at him and deepened his smile as he faced the landlady.
"Were they young people?"
"Ah, probably around twenty. They looked a bit rough, and their attitude wasn't exactly arrogant, but... they seemed strangely serious for their appearance. If they're planning anything against you, Lizel, I'll kick them out."
"Then, they're probably my customers."
"From the way you say that, they're not close acquaintances, are they? Unlike Gil, who only looks rough on the outside, where did you get acquainted with such rough-looking adventurers?"
"Well, I'm an adventurer too."
The landlady still seemed to forget that Lizel was an adventurer.
While Gil, who had been judged as only looking rough on the outside, felt a slight sense of unease, Lizel reassured the worried landlady that it wasn't a dangerous matter.
Perhaps she thought that the naive Lizel, with his gentle face, would easily be deceived somewhere. She was being unusually overprotective.
"Come on, it's rude to keep our guests waiting, let's go."
"If Lizel says so, then it's fine... but shouldn't they meet in your room?"
"The dining hall will be empty at this time, won't it? There are chairs there, so we'll meet downstairs."
He took the landlady's hand as if to escort her, gently turning her around.
Following behind the landlady, who reluctantly descended the stairs, Lizel cast a glance at Gil.
Understanding the meaning of his gaze, Gil locked his room and headed downstairs as well.
He let out a sigh of admiration and exasperation, realizing that the meaning of Lizel's earlier question was about to become clear. At the bottom of the stairs, four men stood in the not-so-spacious reception area of the inn.
They seemed to have been discussing something while waiting, but their voices stopped abruptly the moment Lizel and his companions appeared.
Lizel smiled reassuringly at them, noticing their cautious demeanor—they were trying to gauge his mood, yet careful not to appear subservient.
"Innkeeper, could we reserve the dining room for a little while? We'd like to use it for a discussion."
"There's still time before dinner, and no one will be coming, but I'll put up a 'Closed' sign."
"Thank you, we'll give you a generous tip."
"Oh, you!"
The innkeeper laughed heartily and left.
The men stared blankly at Lizel, who was proceeding with things without even stating his purpose.
Turning back to them, Lizel opened the dining room door.
"Please, let's hear what you have to say."
"Ah, yes."
Lizel entered the dining room first and sat down at a suitable table, and the men sat down opposite him.
Since there were only two chairs on each side of the table, the remaining two men used the table next to them.
Gil stood diagonally behind Lizel. Leaning against the wall behind him, he crossed his arms and looked down at Lizel.
The men were anxious, wondering when that gaze would turn to them. Exposed to that sharp, emotionless gaze, they probably wouldn't be able to have a proper discussion.
That's how much awe Gil inspired in other adventurers, even though he didn't intend to.
"So, what's the matter?"
Breaking the almost freezing atmosphere, Lizel asked in a gentle voice.
The calm tone was exactly the same as the one the adventurer had heard that morning, which allowed him to remember his original purpose.
Yes, he had been so overwhelmed by the two people in front of him that he had forgotten his reason for being there. He inwardly chided himself for facing a group of novice adventurers and then focused his gaze on Lizel in front of him.
"(They're so slow!)"
Gil casually glanced at the adventurers, observing them. He made no attempt to hide his exasperation.
He understood that they were trying to take the lead in the conversation, but it was already too late for that.
The moment they accepted Lizel's advice that morning, they had already lost control of the situation.
Unaware of what Gil was thinking, the man in front of Lizel spoke.
"I'm Aign, the leader of this party, and the man next to me is the vice leader."
"Hello."
The man who introduced himself as Aign seemed to be the one speaking on behalf of the group.
Lizel responded to the simple greeting with a smile.
"Thanks to your advice this morning, we're currently at the top in that dungeon."
"Congratulations."
While offering his congratulations, Lizel wondered how adventurers knew each other's progress.
In most dungeons, they rarely encountered other adventurers.
Even if multiple groups entered consecutively, they were all in the exact same dungeon, yet there were no other adventurers anywhere.
Nevertheless, they were indeed simultaneously exploring the dungeon, which was simply baffling. It seemed that's just how dungeons were.
There was no benefit in asking Gil about it now, so Lizel decided to put the question aside for later.
"I hope you can be the first to reach the lowest level."
"...About that, I have a question for you."
"Hmm?"
"We're stuck again. We need your help."
It seemed there were frequent puzzles.
To get stuck again on the same day they solved a new puzzle was quite a cruel dungeon.
Under the gaze of the four pairs of eyes, Lizel deliberately tilted his head. "Well..."
Although the matter was obvious, he hesitated, as if struggling to find the right words.
Whether aware of Gil's opinion of his bad character or not, Lizel suddenly spread one hand.
"If I can get fifty percent of what's in the lowest level, then it's fine."
"What...!"
The man sitting at the far end of the table stood up, making his chair clatter.
Lizel slowly shifted his gaze towards him, seeing the man glaring at him, his face contorted with anger.
"Oh, if there's nothing there, then it's fine without anything."
"Don't be ridiculous! There's a limit to how much you can take advantage of us!"
"Then let me ask you something,"
Lizel leaned back comfortably in his chair, placing his clasped hands on the table.
Just that gesture made the chair Lizel was sitting in look not like a cheap inn chair, but a heavy, dignified chair fit for a nobleman.
The man, pierced by Lizel's gaze—which wasn't sharp at all, but rather gentle—unconsciously clenched his fists.
But Lizel's gaze didn't linger on the man; it returned to Aign.
"I'll solve the mystery for you, I'll get you to the lowest level first, and then what?"
"...!"
"Do you think it's going to end with a 'thank you, you're no longer needed'?"
The person he was negotiating with was Aign from the beginning. This was implicitly stated, and the man who had stood up sat down again.
The words, though still calm, were somehow overwhelming.
They didn't understand why, but the men couldn't believe that Lizel was just a beginner.
"...Of course, we didn't think it would be free from the start."
"Is that so?"
As Lizel's words suggested, Aign and the others had, to some extent, harbored the hope that they might be able to get it for free. Firstly, Lizel didn't seem to be in any financial trouble.
Secondly, he didn't show any interest in the new dungeon at the guild this morning.
Regarding the former, this was merely a misconception on Aign and his companions' part; Lizel's current funds were only slightly more than enough, far from sufficient.
Regarding the latter, it simply wasn't related to the request he received today, and he did have some interest in exploring the un-conquered dungeon.
"It's only natural to receive a reward commensurate with the results, isn't it?"
Lizel added this, as if he had seen through their thoughts, and their hopes were cruelly shattered.
However, the idea of going for free was merely a hope to begin with, and the matter of compensation was within their expectations.
It was just that the amount Lizel proposed was completely unacceptable.
"Fifty percent is far too high, no matter how you look at it."
"You came to me because you thought it was impossible for you to do it yourselves, right? I think it's appropriate since I'm making the impossible possible."
"We're the ones actually going into the dungeon. The danger and hardship we'll face are incomparable to yours."
"That's why I said the reward should be commensurate with the results, not the effort."
No matter what they said, Lizel calmly countered, and the men gradually became more agitated.
The only reason they didn't lay a hand on Lizel was entirely thanks to Gil, who stood behind him.
Gil himself showed no signs of moving, but it was easy to imagine that he would instantly draw his sword if they made a move.
That's why Lizel smiled without any apprehension in front of the men who couldn't hide their frustration.
"It seems you're misunderstanding something."
"What?!"
"Do you understand that you're not in a position to ask me for concessions?"
The adventurers were momentarily stunned by Lizel's smile. Not only could they not understand what he was saying, but they also couldn't believe that such words had come from someone with such a gentle smile.
"I could always suggest the idea of a 50% reward split to other parties besides yours, you know."
"!"
They would lose 50% of the treasure they obtained in the labyrinth, but they would gain the honor of being the first to conquer the labyrinth.
If you asked whether there were any parties who would accept those conditions, there would undoubtedly be many.
Everyone desires the honor of being the first to conquer the labyrinth. For adventurers, there are many benefits to having their name spread, and it's a great way to boost their chances of advancing to the next rank.
The reason Aign and his party were hesitating now was simply because they were currently the closest party to conquering the labyrinth first.
They couldn't let go of the hope that they might be able to clear it on their own.
But if Lizel were to lend a hand to another party now, that fact of being the closest would be shaken.
"...Do you really think other parties would believe what some upstart adventurer says?"
"Are you saying that, after you believed me?"
Aign couldn't say anything to Lizel, who was laughing happily. He had believed him based on just one hint that morning.
He had believed him. He had no choice but to believe him.
Even now, facing Lizel, he couldn't imagine a situation where he wouldn't be able to decipher the code.
Aign couldn't imagine that other parties wouldn't feel the same way.
"Besides, the premise is fundamentally different."
"Premise?"
"You came to us asking for cooperation, but if you could conquer it yourselves, you wouldn't have come, would you?"
"...Of course."
"Yes, of course."
Lizel unclasped his fingers and held up a single index finger.
He pointed to himself with that hand, then shifted his gaze to indicate Gil behind him.
"We can go and try tomorrow, you know."
At that, Aign and the others finally grasped the possibility, and a shiver ran down their spines.
They hadn't even considered it. If Lizel and his companion ventured into the labyrinth alone, was there any chance they wouldn't reach the lowest level?
Even in the middle levels where Aign and his group currently were, there were only monsters that even D-rank adventurers could overcome if they were experienced in combat.
There was no way that the renowned "Single-Stroke" would struggle in such a labyrinth, and there was no way Lizel wouldn't be able to solve the numerous riddles.
And finally, Aign understood. They weren't asking Lizel for help with a 50% share of the reward.
They were in a position to share the 50% reward and the honor of being the first to conquer the labyrinth with Lizel and his companion.
From the perspective of those receiving the offer, it was an exceptional deal, and as Lizel said, they were absolutely not in a position to "demand concessions."
Rather, they should be incredibly grateful for the favor.
"...Sorry, let's start over."
"Go ahead."
"Aign!?"
The members who couldn't follow the conversation shouted, but the vice-leader, who alone understood the meaning of Lizel's words, interrupted them.
Leaving the explanation to the vice-leader, Aign faced Lizel again.
"We want the honor of being the first to conquer the labyrinth. We'll accept your conditions, so please lend us your strength."
He immediately understood his position and adapted accordingly.
"He's quite a clever child," Lizel smiled.
The others, who had been sufficiently explained to and understood the situation, waited for Lizel's reply.
He had expected at least one of them to get upset and cause a ruckus, but they seemed surprisingly well-behaved.
As expected of a group of this age with a C-rank rating. The guild's assessment seemed accurate.
"The deal is done, then."
A chorus of joyful shouts erupted from Aign and the others.
Their joy was so overwhelming, as if they had already conquered the dungeon, that Lizel gave a wry smile, and Gil sighed.
The two at the next table, who apparently heard Gil's sigh, froze.
"We both want to avoid any strange rumors, so if you come across any incomprehensible codes, give them to Studd..."
"Huh?"
"Stop it."
"Huh?"
Aign and Gil, with disgusted expressions, stopped Lizel, who was about to suggest giving the codes to Studd, having him pass them to Lizel, and then having him pass them back to Studd again.
Aign, needless to say, disliked Studd. No adventurer was fond of him.
Moreover, he had just been given a new trauma that morning, so he absolutely did not want to talk to him.
Gil, on the other hand, was certain that Studd himself would dislike the idea.
Lizel's comment, "But he's a good kid," didn't receive any agreement from anyone.
"Then please give them to the innkeeper here. You can call me when I'm around."
"In that case, we won't be able to make much progress in a single day."
"That's why it's good, isn't it? You shouldn't take it easy."
It seemed they would figure out what they could on their own, and only ask about things they absolutely couldn't understand. Lizel wouldn't be staying at the inn all the time either.
"'Investing on the side,' huh?"
Gil muttered softly.
Lizel's words just before Aign and the others arrived—that's what he meant, it seemed.
"(For now, we'll take fifty percent, but if we're going to give the remaining fifty percent to another party, it should be a decent one. They're still young, and it doesn't seem like they'll get stuck at C-rank. If you asked if they could reach S-rank, I'd probably say no.)"
"This method won't slow down our pace, will it?"
"No, it's not uncommon for parties to spend a week on a single riddle. Many who can't figure it out after a week just give up."
"Don't tell me you're going to say the monsters are too strong and you can't proceed, that would be such a waste."
"I won't!"
Gil watched Aign and the others, who were talking normally despite being overwhelmed just moments before.
Lizel was probably intentionally guiding the conversation this way. If he could control not only his own emotions but also the emotions of others so easily, he would have done very well as a noble.
The terrifying thing was that he didn't let the other party realize this; it seemed as if Lizel was doing it unconsciously.
After a brief discussion, Lizel watched Aign and the others leave, their eyes filled with immense gratitude, before turning back to Gil.
"Good work."
"You too. You're quite the debater, aren't you, my lord?"
Lizel blinked in surprise at Gil's words, then smiled.
"A battle? Not at all. It was just a kitten playing, wasn't it?"
He put his thumb, middle finger, and ring finger together, and moved them back and forth.
Gil laughed merrily at this, and happily muttered, "That's a fox gesture here."
"Eh?"