Claire grumbles under her breath, but it’s clear she knows this is for the best. She doesn’t harp on the issue, so I guess she’s accepted my decision to accompany Rinny by myself, for better or worse.
“Ugh… Okay. Fine. Rinny! You better not take your eyes off Miku for even a second! She’s a very cute and oblivious kid, making her an easy target for all sorts of weirdos.”
With her mind made up, she points a finger at Rinny as she lectures him.
Don’t point at people, Claire! It’s rude! Plus, don’t you think you’re being a bit harsh?
“Haha! I got it! I’ll take good care of her. Okay, let’s go, Miku!”
“Okay! Thanks for letting me tag along.”
We smile at each other as we leave the guild, Claire’s shouts of anger at Rinny’s supposed lack of ability and know-how ringing out behind us.
She really needs to try and lighten up a little!
As I follow Rinny, I try to learn more about this Wells guy. I can’t just show up unprepared!
“You said you wanted to see him before he opens up shop. What sort of shop does he run? Will he be okay joining our guild with a shop?” I ask.
“Ah, you don’t know anything about him yet, huh? Wells sells armor and weapons. He runs the entire operation himself.”
A weapons and armor store? It’s not really something I’m familiar with. After all, our village is so peaceful, we have no need for either of those things. We have plenty of farming tools, but that’s completely different.
“We want him to join the guild, but honestly, just having his name associated with ours is good enough,” Rinny explains. “We don’t really need help taking care of the jobs we get, meaning anyone in the guild is allowed to carry on as they see fit. As long as he works under the Lanakiller guild banner, he can continue making and mending weapons and armor to his heart’s content. He’ll maintain our weapons for us and he gets to use our name, it’s a win-win.”
So, Wells is a merchant, huh? He must have a lot of customers. It sounds like he’s skilled enough to build a name for himself, although Rinny and the others think he’s wasting his time and talents. Once word gets out that he’s a blacksmith in a high-tier guild, his clientele will triple overnight, and we’ll be able to raise our fees since he’ll be so well known. That’s what they want to use as a bargaining chip. I get it. By joining the guild, he’ll gain prestige.
“He always complains how big of a pain it is. He wants more work to make more money, but he hates selling himself. Advertising and getting word out about his store is a waste of time, he says. Guys like him and Kiefer are so focused on their craft, they don’t have time for anything else.”
Hee-hee! I guess that’s how it goes. They put so much into their craft that they can’t think about anything else. With that in mind, joining a high-ranking guild like Lanakiller would offer him a lot of benefits. I hope he agrees!
We finally make it to the heart of the city. We pass a large water fountain and head down a small alley beside the bustling market, which is getting ready to open for the day. We’re once again stepping off the beaten path, just like when we went to see Kiefer.
“The rent for shops out in the main plaza is too expensive,” Rinny tells me. “Renting land is pretty tough. You can’t get a store on the main street unless you’re already doing well for yourself.”
That makes sense. Although I’m surprised he runs his own business but can’t afford to rent space in the main plaza. Honestly, though, just being able to open a store at all is pretty impressive to me.
“His store’s almost worryingly small and shabby, but not as shifty as Kiefer’s.”
So, we’re using Kiefer’s workshop as a basis of comparison? Well, okay. A broken-down shack is a little concerning, but I’m sure everything will make sense once we arrive. Besides, what’s really important is his personality!
Since it’s still so early, there’s almost no one around. I’ve heard rumors of a morning market that happens once a month. It’s spread out around the main fountain, drawing the types of crowds you wouldn’t normally see at this time of day. I don’t really like crowds that much, but I’d still love to see it at least once. I’ll have to make a mental note to come back!
“You should be able to see it now. And it looks like he’s out front!” Rinny suddenly speaks up after we’ve been walking down a small alley for a bit and I look in the direction where he’s pointing.
“What? Really?”
He wasn’t kidding when he said the store was run-down and shabby. It doesn’t even have any windows, and the door is falling off its hinges! Plus, it looks like parts of the building have been glued together! I wonder how someone so good at making weapons and armor could be so bad at basic home repair. It can’t be that different, right? He’s definitely a weirdo.
“Hey! Wells! How’s it going?” Rinny greets the man out front.
He’s currently placing a sign on the entrance to the building. His deep-brown tail, covered in scales, is pretty impressive… He seems to be a lizard demi-human. He turns at the sound of Rinny’s voice, and I notice his long hair, swept back from his face, is the same shade of brown as his tail. He’s puffing on a cigarette with a pair of goggles hanging around his neck, and his sharp gaze swings in our direction.
“Hrm? Well, if it isn’t Rinny. What are you doing here so bright and early in the morning, and with a cutie, no less? On a hot date?”