--I'm not going to be the only one who's been in the market for a while.

　Colin described it as a hostile inspection, but for me, I never perceived the arms shop in King's Landing as an enemy or a rival.

　The reason is not something to be admired, it simply doesn't feel real.

　Perhaps it's because it's still early days since I started a weapon shop or started dealing in mithril products.

　Unlike how I compared myself to other adventurers when I was an active adventurer, the idea of comparing myself to others in this field doesn't really come to mind.

　Maybe if I continue on for years to come, I'll start comparing sales or the quality of mithril equipment and worrying about it, but at least for now I have my hands full just doing the job in front of me.

　Next to me as I analyze myself while walking, Garnett turns around and shouts out.

You can't sneak up on me," he said. You can't sneak up on me, you know that.
'No, no,' says ......!　I'd like to run an errand for that armorer too: ......

　I've been hiding in the shadows behind us, but Corinne appeared as if she'd given up and followed me diagonally behind.

　I thought it was unwise not to engage in a conversation under the circumstances, so I tried to broach the subject with Korin.

By the way, what kind of a place is that weapon shop?
Let's see. Bill, the blacksmith, sells the goods he and his workshop make here.
You don't just sell to arms stores, you sell to shops?
Don't get too impressed. Rumor has it that they are doing this because they had trouble with the arms store and couldn't get their hands on any more weapons.

　Colin raised his eyebrows and waved his hand to the side.

'...... doesn't get much of a reputation, does it?
There are a few black rumors here and there, even as a mithril processor: ...... Oh, my errands are like a processor's liaison network, I simply take messages with me.

　The thought that I wouldn't have wanted to go there if I didn't have this errand is blatantly obvious.

　If everyone in the world were good, life would be easier, but unfortunately, the world is not built that way.

　The same was true of the adventurer industry, but there will always be a certain number of people who get involved in shady practices and ways that won't go unnoticed.

　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make the most out of it.

It's not like they're all stupid people who are hostile to the white wolf's.
'As expected, that guy is just weird. Most of the time he's just a normal person with a normal rivalry or something.

　Then it's safe.
　Just the thought of being spotted by a group of people who don't have the means to do anything about it makes my head hurt just thinking about it.

　Eventually, Colin stopped in front of a four-story building and pointed to the ground floor of it.

'The building's shop is over there ...... and that ...... isn't there.

　The small shop was left unattended and unoccupied, unnecessarily in an open state.

　We could have turned back and said, 'If he's not there, there's no way around it,' but Colin, who had to pass on the message, couldn't do so and began to search the area in a weakened state.

　It was uncomfortable to leave him alone and walk away. We'll help you find him.

What's this Bill guy like?
He was the same age as my dad. He wasn't that burly, but his head was a mixture of gray hair and ...... I think he had a pretty good tan.
'You're about the same as Mr Craig,'

　I quickly split up and searched the area around the store.

　Looking into the alley behind the side of the building, I see a middle-aged man who matches the description Colin gave me of his features, and another man talking to each other.

　Arguing ...... is a bit inaccurate.

　Only the man who looks like Bill is acting up, and the other man is brushing off Bill's swordsmanship without a care in the world.

　The other man has his back to us, and we can't see his face at all.
　From the way he's dressed, he's an adventurer. They are lightly dressed to be called in armor, but too sturdy to be called in civilian clothes.

''Excuse me. Are you the manager of that weapon shop over there?

　There's no way to start sneaking around, so I call out to him openly first.

　The man who looked like Bill noticed us, and the other man looked back at us - and I was unconsciously speechless.

Haha. Are you Luke?　Luke of the White Wolf Forest, right?
'No way, Bruno, are you ......?'
How many times do I have to tell you to call me "Bruno", you perennial "E" rank. Oh, I don't think rank matters now that I'm out of here.

　I've been looking down on me for a long time - although I deserved to be looked down on in terms of my abilities - the A-rank adventurer, Bruno the Bloodstained Blade.

　One of the A-ranked ones who didn't respond to me when I called out to him during the Green Hollow dragon riot, and didn't finally come to me when things turned into a war with the Demon King's army.

　However, the man in front of him was very different from the Bruno in his memory.

　His strong body was easily recognizable, his complexion was pale and his cheeks were skinny.
　It was clear that something in his body was ailing.

　I wonder why Roy didn't tell me this guy had changed - and I'm quickly convinced it was just a difference in perception.

　I hadn't seen Bruno in several years, so it felt like a sudden change, but Roy must have seen him many times during that time, so his perception of Bruno's appearance must have been very different from mine.

　That's why when he mentioned Bruno in his conversation with me, he only said something to the extent of 'my abilities as an adventurer have been declining lately' and 'I haven't been doing much of anything that seems to be A-ranked'.

'Bruno...... you're breaking down, aren't you?'
"Shut up. You think you can pity me?　You've come a long way from being a bottom-feeder.

　The only thing that hasn't changed is the same look in my eyes as before.
　Eyes that sparkle with ambition. It's the most defining characteristic of the man Bruno.

　When he was doing well as an adventurer, he seemed to be a bundle of ambition, but now...

Bill tells me all about it. I don't know how you got on, but I hear you're a mithrill machinist and you're making weapons. Isn't that right, Bill?

　When Bruno suddenly mentioned his name, Bill, the blacksmith, backed away as if he had flinched.

　It was as if he was afraid that people would find out about his relationship with Bruno.

'Ah, ah, ...... the fabricator who easily succeeded in the research we've been struggling with for years. But you know, Bruno. You can't say a word about this (or that) here.　You know, that ...... yes, because we can't let our peers know about it!

　Looking terribly impatient, Bill sang out a warning to Bruno.

　My guess is that Bruno has somehow learned the secret about the development of the product using Mithril.

　That would explain his rough attitude before I spoke to him.

I know what I'm talking about. I'll help you, and of course I'll keep your secret. Isn't that the deal?　Hey, Bill.
It's fine if it's .......

　This is more of a threat than a promise - I had a hunch.

But, you know, I don't mind saying the least bit.

　Bruno grabbed me by the shoulders as if he was trying to squeeze my shoulders.

　-- a thin arm.
　Of course, there's not much difference between them compared to me, but when I think back to the time when I rose to the A rank with my sword skills, I can't help but feel the cruelty of time.

　Without regard to my reaction, Bruno approached me with a tired face and said in a tone of voice that was even hateful, saying something I hadn't heard.

"I won't let anyone look down on me. I won't let anyone look down on me, I won't let them pity me. I will cut them to pieces. I'm going to start with you, too--what?

　Suddenly, Bruno let go of my hand with a cry of anguish.

　An even thinner, smaller hand clenched Bruno's forearm, making his bones creak as it clenched around Bruno's forearm.

'For starters, what?　If I didn't hear you right, then be prepared for an arm.
"Te meh, te meh. ......!　Let go of me, you little shit!

　Garnett let go of Bruno's arm as he roughly pushed him away.

　His left hand grabbed his arm, while his right hand carelessly held onto the sword lowered at his waist.

　If Bruno had pretended to draw his sword, there would have been bloodshed without a doubt.

I'm not going to be able to get rid of it. I'm not going to forget you, Luke. Just stay out of my way.

　Dismissing him bitterly, Bruno left the back alley.

　Before he knew it, the blacksmith's building had disappeared as well.
　Perhaps he returned to the shop from around the back door.

　After confirming that there was no one else in the back alley except us, Garnett cowered his shoulders and shook his head, as if to say, "Oh dear.

'That's an understandable throwaway line. It's best not to get involved in a fight like that. Everyone around you looks like the enemy anyway.
'Yeah, ...... but even though we didn't have a very good relationship, it's still hard to see this happening to someone you know so well.
You're a sucker. That's the trouble with you, you know, you can't say 'Hey, look at me.

　Garnett looked into my face and chuckled.

'Well, you could say that's typical of you. Anyway, let's go home for the day. I'm starting to get hungry, to hell with it.