I went up to the back door of a tavern, holding the ingredients that bought from a merchant. Took it down to the place designated by the tavern master.
"――Yosh. That's all."
Fuu~, I exhaled and turned my stiff neck.
"Iyaaa. I'm sorry for it. Kaiser. But you've saved me."
Looking back, the tavern master was smiling.
His name was Jizelle.
A middle-aged man with a dandy mustache.
"Don't worry. While I was away, I've always left the management of my house to you for a long time. Please let me give my loan back."
"You're really a strong guy. From the old days."
Master smoked a cigar and looked at the distant past.
I had known him since I was a kid.
"I'm still helping the village, especially as a guardian. Since you came back to this village, we didn't have to fear the monsters. Thanks to that, this year's harvest is likely to reach the highest record.''
"If so, it's truly good"
"Kaizer, are you teaching the children the swordsmanship?"
"Yes. To raise the next generation of guardians――it's too exaggeration to say that. It's a good idea to learn sword skills, right. And the kids are also enthusiastic. Recently, they were rushing to my house before noon. Urged me to teach them the swordsmanship."
"Also, what I was yearning for. That was when the first time you participated in the village swordsmanship competition, you won the championship without getting a single blow. That impressive boy figure was burned in my eyes――However, because you were too strong, you were banned from taking part in the subsequent competition.''
"Ha ha..."
I had a dry laugh.
That was a little bit of trauma ...
Master said he would look to the luggage I carried.
"But the horsepower is completely different. I am also a person who still has physical strength, but if I try to carry this amount of ingredients all at once, my back will get strained. Moreover, you do it easily..... As expected from former A-rank adventurer."
"Please stop recalling it. It's just an old story."
I smiled wryly.
"Now I've retired as an adventurer."
"Retire. Adventurers don't have that system. If you want to return, you can be an adventurer again by returning to the capital."
"I won't return. I have children."
I already had no desire to be an adventurer.
... No, to be exact, there was still a regret.
I hadn't defeated that Ancient Dragon, which had destroyed the children's hometown. And probably, it might have attacked another village or town.
I had to defeat it for the responsibility of waking it up.
――Despite that, I returned to the village from the royal capital, as if to flee from the responsibility. Of course, there was a reason, it was for raising the children.
"Kaizer. Have you told the children the truth?"
"Tell the truth..... you mean?"
"I mean you're not the real father of those children. They'll realize that they don't have a mother."
"...No, not yet"
I answered while looking down.
"The children think I'm their real father.――Of course, I'll tell the truth when the time comes."
"There are options to hide it you know."
"――Eh?"
"If they know you aren't their real father, those girls will be surprised, by big or small. Then you don't have to say it from the beginning. Hiding the truth is also kindness.――Well, what do you will do? You can decide for yourself."
"...Yes"
I nodded small.
Looked for the occasion and told the truth――even if I made that determination, I could not do it. It would get harder and harder to tell as the years went by.
"... Speaking of which, did you change the interior of the tavern?"
"Oh. Did you notice? I changed it after received advice from Anna. Not only the interior but also the entrance door has changed."
I looked at the entrance of the tavern.
It was true.
Previously it was a self-contained door, but now it was a swing door.
I was able to look inside the store from the outside.
"She said about the seats weren't in a good position. And if the inside of the store could be seen from the outside, the customers could come in with peace of mind. I tried exactly as what I was told. And then, the number of customers at the tavern has increased like never before. All thanks to Anna-sama."
"Hee"
I raised an impressed voice.
"Besides, she said that the purchase price was higher than the proper price. She negotiated with a supplier. Thanks to her, I was able to buy ingredients cheaply. It was amazing. Anna was negotiating nicely with a professional businessman. She keeps herself to not being cornered while listening to the opponent's opinions. It was a skill that makes me charmed by just watching. "
"Hahaa. That's amazing."
I knew she had the talent to use people well.
Because of it, she was praised by the master of the mine.
Since Anna had been entrusted with the job of supervising on-site and managing shifts, she had improved mine's work efficiency dramatically.
In addition to that, she also demonstrated the business acumen talent.
Anna was eloquent.
"Kaizer, Anna is really amazing. It will be a terrible talent in the future. I have to sell my favor now."
Master said with a grin.
"That's right. Maybe she'll work for me. It's because I have a talent to have connections with talented people."
"Haha..... Master is still a money-oriented, yes."
"Of course. I love money.――But the money guy doesn't turn to me and turn away instead."
Master blew the cigar smoke and smiled wryly.
I also floated a bitter smile.