"Manager Gron, we have an esteemed guest!"
Gron Bates emerged from the forging area.
As always, he was wearing a black hardened leather apron, his left eye covered with a black eyepatch, while his exposed right eye carried its usual sharpness.
When he saw who had come, a trace of surprise flitted across his otherwise indifferent face.
"Long time no see, Gauss. You're already a Bronze Adventurer?" His gaze fell on Gauss's chest. "And a two-star..."
"Yes, Manager Gron." Gauss nodded with a smile. "Didn't Senior Andri tell you?"
He had thought Gron already knew about his promotion.
After all, it was Gron who had introduced him to the Thorny Hut, subsequently leading him to meet the Half-Elf Mage Andri, who was once his teammate and knew about his promotion to Professional early on.
"That guy... hasn't been in touch for a long time." Gron seemed unconcerned.
When speaking of his former teammate, his tone was as detached as if discussing a stranger unrelated to him.
