We parted ways with Olivia after exchanging brief nods.

The Guildmaster even left a warning not to go in a certain direction because it seemed like otherworld monsters had appeared nearby.

I thought I was the only one who knew about the monsters appearing, so how did this man know?

Perhaps Mountain Path, who was flying in the sky, had told him?

Once Olivia and Mountain Path had completely disappeared, the Guildmaster released my wrist.

“What am I going to do with my darling?”

“Pardon?”

“No sense of danger, no wariness, how can someone be this soft?”

“Is it because I carelessly revealed the guild’s headquarters to Miss Olivia?”

“Yes. Not just that, but also coming to such a dangerous place alone with Bless. What if I had been late?”

“That’s true. But in the end, Honey appeared just in time and saved me. A happy ending, right?”

I took off my stuffy hood and laughed like a fool, “Heh.” I remembered the saying that you can’t spit on a smiling face.

“Hah… I can’t even scold you anymore.”

“Besides, Honey did something wrong too! If you’re going to lie about being lovers, at least show your face. That would make more sense.”

“If you see my face, you might go blind from its handsomeness. Would that be okay?”

“….”

I looked at him with eyes full of contempt.

“Actually… I have scars on my face, so I don’t like showing it to others.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

His simple answer without any additional explanation carried sincerity. So I couldn’t press him any further.

If showing his face was painful for him, I didn’t want to aggravate his wounds.

“I understand. But if you ever change your mind, please make sure to show me.”

“Yes, let’s do that.”

That soulless response lacked any sincerity.

He seemed to have no intention of showing his face. No matter what situation we faced, even if we became closer.

I don’t know why I feel disappointed.

Without realizing it, I reached out and gently touched his hood. His shoulders twitched slightly at my touch.

He hadn’t reacted at all when holding beautiful Olivia’s hand, yet this response was peculiar.

Even though it was a critical moment where his face might be revealed, the Guildmaster didn’t push my hand away.

Then my fingertips slightly brushed against his jaw.

The skin that had looked smooth when I looked up at him was actually soft to the touch.

It felt unfair that such smooth skin bore scars.

Seeing the Guildmaster staying still despite the skin contact, I gathered more courage. I stroked his cheek with my thumb.

The warmth heating his cheek seeped into my hand. I didn’t dislike that warmth.

His lips, only releasing silence, were rigid. The sight of the Guildmaster frozen as if flustered was also unfamiliar.

As my hand fumbled toward his lips, the Guildmaster gently pulled my hand down.

“That’s far enough.”

It was quite a firm voice.

I looked up at him with lingering regret in my eyes, but the Guildmaster firmly shook his head. I had no choice but to withdraw my outstretched hand.

It was then that I felt something rubbing against my legs.

I hurriedly lowered my gaze. There I saw two Potas that had emerged from the pond at some point.

They were rubbing their long beaks against my ankles.

They were staring at me with their round eyes like buttonholes, and I almost screamed at how cute they were.

Forgetting the languid atmosphere with the Guildmaster just moments ago, I focused on the Potas.

―Grrrr.

The Potas’s words translated as naturally as Bless’s.

‘Thank you.’

I lowered myself to meet the eyes of the Potas who had expressed gratitude.

“You guys are so cute!”

―Grrrr grrrr.

‘How embarrassing.’

“Do poachers come often?”

―Grrrr grrrr grrrr.

‘Not often, but occasionally.’

Somehow, I thought their way of speaking really suited Potas.

“I wonder if there’s a way to protect you.”

I couldn’t let these cute and lovable creatures be slaughtered.

Of course, I’m not particularly righteous. But since I had gained this Tamer ability to understand their words, I couldn’t ignore it.

“Great power comes with great responsibility.”

I suddenly remembered what seemed like a line Benjamin had said in the original story.

Though Benjamin would sortie as he pleased, he had never failed to deploy when everyone was in danger.

He had some sense of responsibility for the great power he possessed.

Just as I was thinking that I heard the Potas’s cry again.

―Grrrr. Grrrrrr.

‘You seem to understand our words.’

“Yes. I have the ability to understand what you all are saying.”

The Guildmaster, who had been frozen like plaster, lowered himself. While naturally stroking the Potas’s brown fur, he said.

“How about joining our business?”

“Pardon?”

“Work involving water. Wasn’t that what you were worried about?”

Come to think of it, I had been concerned about the otherworld monsters that had recently appeared in the water.

I had been thinking it would be nice to have a means or monsters that could transport Espers and Guides in water.

“Though Potas are too small to carry people, they have very strong beaks. They could pull things like rafts carrying people. Quickly and accurately.”

“…Oh!”

“Well, like the Pteros, they probably can’t get too close to otherworld monsters, but even just helping Espers and Guides operate in water would be a great help.”

An amazing scene unfolded in my mind.

Mmh… ah, no, Potas crossing the large and small ponds scattered throughout Pandora Forest. And Espers seated on sturdy rafts pulled by the Potas.

The water parting from the Potas’s movement, clean water droplets splashing above, and the jingling sound of money in my pocket.

‘Wow, this smells like a huge success.’

I was impressed by the Guildmaster’s ingenuity.

“Goodness. Honey, are you a genius?”

“Haha, it would be troublesome if you’re only realizing that now.”

I couldn’t help but smile broadly at the Guildmaster’s boastful words. It was because it seemed like the problem that had been giving me headaches was solved.

I spoke to the Potas.

“Hey, you know… I’m running a business…”

I explained to the Potas about the business I was running, the parts where I needed their help, and most importantly, the compensation for their hard work.

The compensation was ‘protecting their livelihood.’

I promised to make it impossible for poachers to hunt them again, and like the Pteros, to provide them with food.

―Kurung, kurung, kururrung.

‘It’s a good proposal, but we need to discuss it with the other Potas.’

“I’ll wait. Talk it over thoroughly and take your time deciding. It would be even better if it’s a positive conclusion!”

The Potas nudged my leg with its beak as if understanding. The touch of the beak, said to be incredibly strong, felt only smooth.

Without thinking, I kissed their beaks.

With a ‘chu’ sound, the Potas who received the kiss made a kururrung sound.

‘How embarrassing! How embarrassing!’

Cute little ones, I want to make them even more embarrassed. Hehe.

“…Aren’t you being too loose with your kisses?”

The one who made this dissatisfied comment was the Guildmaster.

“H-hey, what did you say? Are you calling me loose? They’re not even people, they’re just cute monsters I kissed!”

“Then if Minky or Mountain Path act cute, would you kiss them too?”

Minky and Mountain Path?

They were already excessively cute. I might even kiss them suddenly without them needing to act lovable.

I shouted without hesitation.

“Yes! You know how much I love cute animals. The same goes for Bless.”

I kissed Bless’s cheek who was perched on my shoulder.

Bless slightly lowered his head and quietly covered his beak with his wing.

He must be shy too.

“Darling. I’ll let it slide with Bless, but absolutely not with Minky and Mountain Path.”

“What? Are you restricting them because they’re your pets?”

“Inside them are dark me-…”

“Dark me-?”

The Guildmaster, who couldn’t finish his words, muttered “Damn…”

“Mountain Path and Minky are males. They’re men. Anyway, please refrain.”

Is a pet’s gender that important?

I heard there are owners who get jealous when others show affection to their pets, maybe the Guildmaster is like that.

If the Guildmaster dislikes it this much…

“Alright. I won’t touch your pets.”

But even the Guildmaster can’t stop me if I kiss them unconsciously.

“You promised.”

“Yes. So stop being angry.”

“Was I angry?”

“Yes! My shoulders were trembling from it!”

“….”

I wonder if the Guildmaster would strictly control his lover as he does with his pets.

The usually composed Guildmaster is restless and anxious while being obsessive…

I want to see that.

I suddenly became curious about who would become the Guildmaster’s match, something that wasn’t shown in the original story.

My thoughts didn’t continue further.

Because at that moment, there was a loud BANG!