Ackster was a little surprised that he had suddenly gotten a date with Wilma just because he had responded to her flirting. But he decided to take it in stride.

Rather than it being a hindrance or a disruption to his training and goals, it could actually be an opportunity.

Besides, his first impression of Wilma was good. She had been very efficient and helpful when he had first come back to society after spending several weeks in the forests and wilderness. Although it was her job, she had still diligently shown Ackster to the showers and the room without judging him, despite his disheveled appearance and haggardly state.

Jim had also been a breeze talking to, but he had done his job and made sure that Ackster wasn’t trouble. It had been Ackster who did most of the talking and established a friendly bond.

And then, just now, Wilma had also given him a great deal for the rock lizard skeleton. Of course, Ackster didn’t really know how much a nearly intact skeleton like that would usually go for, but it didn’t feel like Wilma was playing him for a fool. Why, then, would she invite him out?

Unless she were setting a trap for Ackster for some nefarious and illegal purposes, there would be no reason for her to trick Ackster into giving up the skeleton for less than its worth while claiming she gave him more.

Ackster pretty quickly decided that she didn’t have any deeper thoughts behind her actions. If she did, the only way Ackster could find out would be to go along with it.

And if he suspected anything right now, he would just have to leave town and ghost her.

But getting close to Wilma, a capable receptionist at the Adventurer’s Guild was an opportunity Ackster didn’t want to miss.

He hadn’t thought much of it last night when he first stopped by the Guild to get a shower and a room to sleep in, but when he had been there this time, and his mind had been a little sharper and more used to being in a crowded environment, he had seen it a little clearer.

Wilma wasn’t just an ordinary receptionist. The guy Ackster had talked to this morning was, and Wilma was leagues better than him. Ackster had also noticed the respect the workers had when they packed up the skeleton on Wilma’s orders. It was subtle, but it was clearly a deferential attitude that someone would hold toward a superior.

Even if she was just a head receptionist or something, she was still in a higher position in the Guild, one of the organizations with the greatest information networks in the world. She was probably professional and wouldn’t easily divulge classified information to just anyone.

But what if Ackster wasn’t just anyone?

He would have to be careful, but if he could get close to Wilma and get her to open up, he might have a way into the Guild’s information network. It would make it easier for him to get information that wasn’t easily accessible to the common people, especially if he were looking for events in the immediate surroundings of Ilto, such as a certain angel’s Fall.

And depending on Wilma’s position, he could possibly also get updates on the Guildmaster’s state or at least the internal workings of the Guild. If there were some trouble up the ranks, Ackster would know that the Guildmaster wasn’t reliable anymore and that he would have to give up on the idea of getting Dragon Slayer Kargas to use against the Dragon of Life.

Well, all that hinged on how well his date with Wilma went. But since his future could become a lot easier if things went exceptionally well, Ackster decided to do his best to charm Wilma, regardless of her intentions, hidden or not.

‘Damn, I should have asked for recommendations for someone who can make my training equipment.’

Ackster’s first order of business was to lighten his load and get rid of the rock lizard’s armor. Considering it was bloody and smelly, most inns probably wouldn’t want Ackster to store it in his room. He could find an expensive inn that had material storage or would let him store it in his room, but that would eat up most of his money.

And he needed that money for commissioning his training equipment and buying proper clothes.

However, Ackster didn’t have to look for long before he found a place that seemed suitable. In fact, he found several smithies that were working hard to heat up their surroundings.

The Adventurer’s Guild was a hotspot since adventurers came back with monster materials daily.

Naturally, the best location for stores and places that made use of those materials would be as close to the Guild as possible.

The same street as the Guild was filled with various shops and stores where adventures went in and out of, either selling their goods independently or buying new weapons, gear, potions, accessories, skillbooks, clothes, and whatever else adventurers needed.

Ackster didn’t have high requirements for the training equipment. He just wanted it to be heavy. So, instead of choosing one of the popular crafting shops that seemed to offer works of outstanding quality, where he would have to wait to be served and probably pay too much, Ackster looked for a shop or place that was a little lonelier.

He found one quick enough that he wasn’t even bothered by having to drag around the heavy rock lizard armor.

‘Tommelier’s.’

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Ackster looked at the slightly crooked wooden sign with a name burned into it. He didn’t see any customers about to enter. He also couldn’t hear much from inside, so he just entered through the heavy wooden door.

The shop was squeezed in between two other houses. One seemed to be residential, and the other seemed to be an accessories boutique. Both of them seemed to be in a better state than the almost forgotten crafter’s shop squeezed in between. Tommelier’s didn’t even have clean enough windows to window-shop.

But Ackster could see several armors and weapons on display inside, and they didn’t look horrible. He wasn’t expecting a masterpiece in the first place.

He just wanted someone to stitch together the skin with the rock lizard’s heavy stone scales and create something wearable.

The door opened to the sound of a dusty bell almost chiming.

“Hello?”

The shop, aside from the armors and weapons on display, didn’t have a single customer. There didn’t even seem to be an employee or anyone running the shop. Ackster wondered if it was bankrupt or something, but there were still things being sold, and the front door opened for him.

Ackster wondered if he should just go to one of the busier, but clearly active, shops instead of bothering with Tommelier’s, which seemed to be in a state of non-activity.

“What do you want?”

But after sweeping his eyes around the shop and deciding there wasn’t anyone around, Ackster’s movement toward the door was interrupted by a gruff voice.

Without Ackster noticing, an old man with a scruffy grey beard appeared at the desk, which was covered in smaller trinkets, scrap metal, and dust.

Ackster was a little surprised, but more than that, he was hopeful. It was a classical trope about a mysterious grumpy old smith being an exceptionally great craftsman. He didn’t have much business, but each and every one of his works were masterpieces.

Of course, it could just be an ordinary grumpy old man who liked making stuff. And since Ackster couldn’t tell whether the things on display were good or not, he couldn’t decide whether he had struck gold or had just picked up a random but decently useful stone.

“Hi. I would like to commission something.”

“Ok? Are the materials that stuff you’re carrying?”

The old man, who Ackster guessed was Tommelier, still had a sour face that would dissuade anyone from talking to or approaching him, but he didn’t seem adverse to at least listening to Ackster’s request.

“That’s right.”

Ackster walked up and put down the heavy pile of rock lizard skin and armor.

“Rock lizard scales? They’re great for defense, sure. But if you can carry this with enough ease to wear armor, there are better things out there.”

“Ah, no. I can’t carry it with ease. And that’s why I’m here. I’m not looking for armor. Well, not necessarily. I would like a way to wear all of this for training.”

“Training?”

Tommelier raised an eyebrow, which, combined with his naturally sharp gaze, made it look like he was asking Ackster if he had anything inside his head.

“Yeah. Training. Wouldn’t wearing something heavy be perfect for strength training?”

“I guess.”

Tommelier shrugged, not really caring too much about it. He held up the pieces of skin and stone scales without even straining the muscles on his arms.

“So…?”

“Sure. I can do it. Come back tomorrow.”

Tommelier didn’t even wait for a response before grabbing the bundle and practically disappearing into a room behind the desk, which Ackster assumed was the workshop.

“Great. See you tomorrow, then.”

Ackster smiled and spoke to the empty register, slightly surprised at how well things had gone. He was a little curious about what was going on behind Tommelier’s sour face, but he had high hopes for what the old man would be able to accomplish

‘Inn first, then clothes.’

Just like with the workshops and supply stores, something else, which was also popular with adventurers who often traveled from city to city and didn’t necessarily have a permanent residence everywhere they went, inns were also a frequent sight near the Guild. And it didn’t take long before Ackster found a cheap enough inn that had a shower but still left him with enough money to buy fancy clothes.

Since it wouldn’t be proper to bring a slime on a date, Ackster left Mio in his room. He fed Mio before taking a shower and leaving, so there was no worry that Mio would go looking for food.

However, Ackster only had a single set of clothes. And they were covered in dirt and monster blood, which would be easy to wash out, considering they were made for adventurers, and unlike on Earth, it was common to get splatter in gore, grime, and blood. There were special methods, magic and mundane, to deal with it.

It was just that Ackster wouldn’t have time for that since he couldn’t walk around naked. He put on his dirty clothes and left the inn. He would just have to take another shower after finding new clothes.

Since it was already getting late and it wouldn’t be long until Wilma’s shift was over, Ackster hurried a little.

He wasn’t too familiar with the fashion of Millmeria, Tenger, or Lill. But he remembered what the original Ackster’s wardrobe had looked like.

And since he didn’t need to look like a noble, he chose something a little simpler and cheaper than that. It was good enough to be called fancy, but even if they looked at his clean skin, glossy hair, and straight, well-defined features, people would at most think he was a successful person, not necessarily a noble.

With a couple of new sets of clothes and a second shower, Ackster was ready for his date with Wilma.

He was a little anxious since he didn’t know if it was a setup because she had discovered something about him or simply wanted to kidnap him because she was evil. But he was also looking forward to it since it could be an opportunity to get closer to the Adventurer’s Guild and the information network they possessed.

Even if Wilma were honest in her desire to meet Ackster, Ackster would have to steel his heart and charm her to make her reveal important things. Using force wouldn’t work, considering her status as a receptionist of the guild and the fact that he didn’t know how strong she was.

The guy who had helped Ackster carry the rock lizard’s corpse to the Guild was proof enough that the Guild and their personnel couldn’t be underestimated.

Ackster stood out a little as he waited outside the Guild, even if he waited a short walk away from the main entrance. That was just how striking he was when he wasn’t covered in dirt and blood up to his ears.

But since it was late at night and the people passing by the Guild were tired adventurers, he didn’t catch enough attention to bother him.

“You clean up nicely.”

Ackster turned around with a gentle smile on his face. Not thinking about using force to get what he wanted was the right decision. He hadn’t even heard her footsteps.