“Who is it?”

Surely Rosie hasn’t come back?

My aching cheek tingled with goosebumps.

I didn’t want to see even a single strand of her red hair. It was quite an earnest wish.

But if she were the visitor, she would have forced the door open and entered like before.

There’s no way she would have knocked so gently.

And at that moment, the voice of a center employee was heard from outside the door.

“There’s mail for Guide Yerena.”

Mail. No sooner had I heard that word than I sprang up.

“Please come in!”

Then the center employee who opened the door handed me a letter.

“It’s from Honey, isn’t it!”

When I said that, the employee’s face became strange.

“Ho, ney?”

Oh no. That’s a nickname that’s easy to misunderstand.

“Hahaha. It’s something like that. Thanks for delivering the letter!”

I hurriedly took the letter and closed the door.

On the white envelope was written ‘FROM. Your Sweet Man’.

Sweet man. I had no doubt it meant Honey.

I quickly opened the envelope to check its contents.

「Dear Customer Yerena ^^ Hello hello ^^

This is your Honey ^^

The reason I’m writing to you today is to inform you of the results of the test I conducted ^^

Drum roll ^^

I’m so nervous about announcing the results ^^

The result is~~~!

Pass!

Congratulations ^^

Let’s talk about the details when you come here!

The available meeting time is 2 PM^^

See you then!」

“…Is he crazy?”

The state of the letter was not good at all.

The writing had a subtle middle-aged man vibe.

I thought it was a bit strange when he asked to be called ‘Honey’, but it seems his condition is really not good.

Apart from the strangeness of the letter, I was glad that my Tamer ability was recognized.

It felt like the cheek that Rosie had slapped was completely healed.

I looked at the wide-open window.

The rain had completely stopped.

***

One hour before 2 PM.

I quietly walked to the center’s information desk, trying to avoid bumping into anyone I knew.

I was about to get a pass for going out from the center employee.

“I’ll be out for about three hours.”

“Yes, Guide Yerena.”

I was about to go out without being noticed by anyone.

Then I heard a voice I didn’t want to hear from behind me.

“…Going out again?”

A voice full of discontent, you could say.

Sighing deeply, I turned my head stiffly and saw him.

The Baron with only a pretty face was the owner of that voice.

“Yes, I’m going out again.”

“Because of your… parents?”

It was quite a good guess.

I bit the soft flesh inside my mouth again to make my eyes moist.

“Yes… I haven’t completely found out my parents’ whereabouts yet. Sniff.”

As I even sniffled, wrinkles formed between the Baron’s eyebrows.

He didn’t seem to like my whimpering.

“Hey… our family is famous for being well-informed in the empire, you know?”

“Yes.”

“If you want, I’m saying I could look into it for you.”

The Baron’s generous answer was surprising. It was hard to believe it was the same person who had only been saying mean things.

I opened my eyes wide.

“Why are you suddenly like this?”

They say if a person changes suddenly, they’ll die…

“It’s because you keep getting close to Benjamin. I heard you two met yesterday too.”

As I thought. It was a reason befitting the Baron who had an inferiority complex towards Benjamin.

Even though nothing happened with Benjamin, to think Rosie and the Baron would hound me like this.

I sighed again out of habit.

“I only exchanged greetings with Benjamin.”

“That’s what’s wrong. Benjamin is starting to close the distance with you like that, and when he loses interest in you, he’ll throw you away, I’m telling you.”

“Then, Baron, are you saying you won’t throw me away?”

“I told you. At least I’ve never disrespected you. Is there anyone else in the Alan Order who receives your guidance as gently as I do?”

The Baron subtly started gaslighting.

‘I’m the only one who cares about you. So follow my words. If you don’t, you’ll be unhappy.’

This was what he really wanted to say.

The sad thing is that his gaslighting still doesn’t work on me.

“Yes, I understand. I’ll keep my distance from Benjamin.”

It was really annoying. I just wanted to get to the guild quickly before 2 PM.

“If you’re done talking, I’ll be…”

I tried to turn around like that.

But I couldn’t even take two steps before stopping in place.

Because Baron grabbed my wrist.

“Your cheek…”

I rubbed my cheek with my free hand that wasn’t being held.

It was the cheek that had swollen from Rosie’s slap.

“I think it swelled up because I slept wrong.”

“…No way.”

Baron’s face suddenly turned serious after saying that much.

He was truly beautiful when he wasn’t sneering or frowning. So much so that I found myself admiring his beauty even in this situation.

“Does Benjamin hit you too?”

…Beauty appreciation canceled.

What nonsense is this?

“No. I’ve never had a long conversation with him.”

“……”

“If you have nothing more to say, I’ll be going now. I’m a bit busy.”

Baron, though looking displeased, let go of the wrist he was holding.

As soon as my wrist was free, I strode forward.

He didn’t try to grab me again.

However, my back felt hot the entire time I was leaving the center. As if his gaze was fixed on me without the slightest deviation.

***

As soon as I arrived at Honey Guildmaster’s study after riding the strange elevator, something greeted me.

―Woof woof!

‘I’m so happy you came again!’

It was Minky, the white puppy without a single tangled hair.

“Minky! Nice to see you.”

Minky quickly circled around me with his short legs.

Minky’s gently wagging tail was adorable.

When I lowered myself and reached out my hand, Minky’s red tongue licked the back of my hand.

…This guy, it might be a bit salty.

At that moment, a sound interrupted our reunion.

“Ahem.”

Looking in the direction of the sound, I saw the Honey Guildmaster sitting leisurely on the sofa.

I greeted him awkwardly.

“He…llo, Honey.”

“Customer, if someone saw this, they’d think you were Minky’s owner.”

“Are you worried about losing your dog?”

“You can have Minky if you want.”

Too decisive!

Minky, seeming to have realized this fact, growled towards his owner.

“Minky. No.”

―Whine…

Minky walked weakly toward the Honey Guildmaster.

His owner is too harsh, you know.

“If you’re done greeting Minky, please sit down. We have things to discuss, don’t we?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

I sat across from the Guildmaster.

He was wearing a robe and hood today as well, thoroughly concealing his appearance.

Of course, I had worn a hood on my way here, but I had taken it off now.

There was no reason to wear the stuffy hood when my identity had already been revealed.

“Did you receive the letter well?”

“Yes. Do you always write letters in that tone?”

“Yes. Is there a problem?”

It seemed like there were many problems, but I decided to pretend not to notice.

The tone of the letter wasn’t important.

“It’s nothing. More importantly, how did you know that I passed the test?”

“Hmm. Minky and I have been living together for 5 years. Although I don’t have Tamer abilities, I can understand what he’s thinking just by looking at his eyes.”

“……”

“Minky told me. ‘Guide Yerena’s interpretation was all accurate!’ What was it that you interpreted? Even a master who works you like a dog is still a master? Haha. What an ill-mannered rascal.”

The Guildmaster glanced at Minky.

“How should I correct those manners?”

The sharp words were an added bonus.

Minky tucked his tail in and desperately avoided the Guildmaster’s gaze.

On the other hand, I tilted my head.

It seemed rather sloppy for a test with a 100-fold penalty fee.

Or there might be a method they hadn’t told me about.

Anyway, let’s focus on the fact that I passed since that’s for the best.

I’ll get to learn how to make money using my Tamer ability without spending a penny.

“Then tell me now. How should I use my ability to make money?”

The Guildmaster raised his chin, creating an arrogant atmosphere.

“The job I’d like to propose is……”

Finally, a brilliant idea flowed from between his teeth.