"Has anyone been here before?" Howaph asked as we stood outside the door of Boxheap, his eyes are on anyone but me. "Taverns are never really my thing, alcohol doesn't taste all that good and their effects haven't really made me think of them as useful."

  Please tell me he's not talking about getting drunk? Is that the "effects" that he's referring to? Seriously? I didn't think I had any right to say something about this so I wisely kept silent, not that any of them would believe me for saying that I know what it's like to get wasted.

  Everyone else can give him the answers that he's looking for, as for me, I opened the doors and walked inside confidently. Like before, the place is still devoid of customers, making this the perfect time for us to start cooking.

  The table that I had frozen earlier has been cleaned up— and now I remembered that I actually promised Monemon that I can help him save up on repairs, guess that makes me a liar? — and the tavern is as pristine as it could reasonably get, the drunkards slumped against the bar are still here too, unchanged.

  Monemon eyed me when I entered but since he didn't say anything I assumed that he didn't mind my presence anymore. I walked up to him regardless and smiled, "as I said, I'll make sure to freeze anyone who starts a bar fight around here."

  "Sure, but I'm actually more curious about all the scrolls that you promised to sell." He admitted. "What was that about? Do you have someone who makes scrolls for you or something?"

  Behind me, I can feel Wardcruncha's stare. I wonder what he's thinking about?

  "No, but I promise I can make pretty decent scrolls!" I pulled out the bag of coins I got from selling monster cores and dropped a few dozen silvers on the counter. "Sorry about the table earlier, it's just that I thought that freezing something was the best way to show you that I'm more than just an arrogant kid, I actually have the skills to match my words."

  "I understand that, you have proven yourself quite well." The barkeep replied with a casual nod of approval, he looked at the group I brought in then back at me. "Did your master tell you to sell stuff or something? I don't see anyone like you willingly lowering yourself like this."

  "They're my family." My voice turned cold, lowering myself? Is that what he thinks I'm doing? "If I ever "lower myself" then I'll make sure to let you know." I air quoted with my fingers. "Until then, I hope we both have a beneficial relationship that helps the two of us."

  "Of course, I too hope for prosperity, for both of us." Monemon smiled and as if sensing the tension in me, wisely kept silent and focused on wiping the mug he's holding.

  And the master that he's referring to— which yeah, I consider Wardcruncha my master. — is sitting behind me, literally talking to everyone while they set up the stall. Monemon probably thought he was just some bum I picked up but I'm not gonna bother explaining anything.

  Mostly because I don't really know what's up with Wardcruncha? I mean he's a wizard, that's cool, but other than that everything he does just confuses me, and I'm not even at the part where I ask how he ended up as a bum yet.

  Someone so powerful acting like the weakest person around, what a weird way to hit rock bottom.

  Has Wardcruncha hit rock bottom though? Did he actually lose his power? I kinda doubt it, he seems competent enough that he can probably act as a proper mage even at his current state.

  Maybe he just likes to cosplay as a homeless person?

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  I got off the stool and headed to the rest of my group, I gave Laself a thumbs up, my earlier sadness gone. They didn't need to know about the fact that the owner of this place doesn't view them as anyone important, they just need to continue selling stuff and then one day I'll let them have their own place.

  A shop here in Ghorise, just for them.

  "Monemon says he's okay with us selling here!" I beamed, putting out as much happiness as I could. "And don't worry about paying him a cut for the opportunity, he doesn't want any."

  Of course I lied about the cut, Laself is already trying so hard to earn a living and Howaph is in the same situation, if I tell them that staying here costs something then they'll stress over it and won't be able to work at their best, I'll pay for the cut for now and then tell them about it when things calm down later.

  "Rontress, what if we don't sell anything?" Laself asked in concern, she wrung her apron, the oil on her fingers staining the white fabric. "Adventurers wouldn't just approach this stall just because we're here."

  "Don't be so down." Negativity won't work here, I want her to be confident and realize that seizing opportunities shouldn't be as scary as she makes it out to be. "Life is full of surprises and being scared of them will only make you miserable, don't say things like that."

  "O-okay."

  I nodded, feeling weird about all this. How would others react to us I wonder? A kid— in their eyes. — comforting a teenage girl and saying words of encouragement that should be beyond her age.

  Based on my experiences, I know damn well that adventurers wouldn't just ignore food when drinking beer. Well the ones with money won't, poorer adventurers would be forced to choose between food and beer.

  That doesn't mean that they won't try to get both of course, there's a good chance that they'll try to ask for the meal regardless and just go into debt. That type of adventurer is dangerous because they know they will leave Ghorise eventually and that chasing them down will be nearly impossible by that point.

  They can just keep denying us, saying that they don't have money yet until they leave town and if we force them to pay then the decision will be made by whoever is stronger, I can cast magic pretty easily but that doesn't mean that I want to willingly pick a fight with people so I'll have to avoid that kind of situation.

  Preferably, the adventurers respect us and don't ask for a meal they'll "pay for later" but I know it's only a matter of time before something happens.

  I just hope that saying no won't piss them off.

  Laself cooked, the hours ticked by, the food stacked on our stall, meanwhile I drew the rest of the scrolls I was planning on selling. I hadn't actually enchanted all of it last night due to the sheer amount of magic paper in my possession so I wanted to catch up.

  Eventually the people started streaming in and these ones were just regular workers in town looking for a small break, they saw the food stall, bought some food, and then ate in either one of the tables or by the counter.

  Adventurers soon trickled in and like before, they noticed the stall and came towards us.

  "You guys moved here?" One of them asked, there's four of them in total and they all wore expressions that said they're familiar with our stall. "We've been looking for you guys and thought you just decided to take a break for the day! Who would have thought that you moved in here!"

  The laughter that bubbled out of the adventurer's mouth made Laself smile slightly, she nodded. "Yes, we got this opportunity given to us by that kind man over there so we didn't want to waste it, I take it you'd want the usual?"

  "Yes actually!"

  Hearing the exchange, I thought to myself that Laself must have familiarized herself with the daily customers, which is a good thing. In a business like this, making people like you is the best decision you can make.

  Laself served them food, they got beer and sat down, all the while I watched them.

  Can these guys be my first ever customers?

  "Laself?"

  "Yes?" The older girl looked at me curiously.

  "You're familiar with them right? Do they hunt monsters as part of their job?" Does Laself even know the answer? Hopefully the answer is yes. "They seem like good people, so they go to the stall daily?"

  "Mmm!" Laself nodded eagerly, "they visit us daily to buy food, and then after that leave. Sometimes when people make trouble they help out as well, so that's good."

  "Ah." I nodded. "So do they hunt monsters?"

  "I think all adventurers do? That's part of their job right?"

  Not all of them, technically a good portion of them work as some kind of scout who gives information to the guild. They also report any changes to the environment caused by monsters and aberrants as well as inform the guild of the possibility of a dungeon forming in a given area.

  But no matter what, all of them should have a need for my barrier scroll, protection is simply too vital, I realize that now.

  "Yes." I shake my head, guess me asking Laself that was pointless.