Melissa and Nagi - thanks to hiring the two adventurers, the White Wolf Store was able to get through the next few days until the next regular holiday.

　As usual, Sakura and Nagi were always in a disconcerting mood, but they kept each other in a clerical manner, and nothing happened to interfere with their work.

　Rather, it was more that Melissa was becoming more and more cautious by the day, which was a cause for concern.

　And so the first regular day off in a week arrived--

It's not easy to have a day off work when the store is closed.
Instead of whining about how busy you are, why don't you just hire a new guy? Why don't you hire three or four more guys so you can get some rest?
Like I said, if I could do it already, I'd do it sooner.

　Garnet and I were walking towards the open dungeon 'Sundial Forest' while exchanging such conversations.

　Today's plan is to go to the 'Thousand Year Corridor of the Abyss' from the hidden staircase on the fifth level to collect mithril.

　The request that Travis had undertaken - the amount that would be used to apply the mithril coating to the gauntlet, and the surplus that would be kept as a stock for the time being.

　It's an amount that would be sufficient for one person to take home, but since various restrictions are placed on the amount of material to be collected, it would be less of a hassle to have Garnett, who acts as a guard and liaison, be present for various reasons.

...... Huh?　Hey, white wolf. Was this dungeon's path so decent?
It was built during the construction of the fortress. It was a pain in the ass just to get the materials down to the bottom of the building in its original state.

　The shortest path from the entrance to the fifth level of the Sundial Forest to the fifth level has been completely transformed from its former form, which was almost like an animal trail.

　The soil had been firmly hardened and the plants and trees had been removed to create a clean slope that was easy to walk down.

　Even the areas where the angle was steep have been heaped up with earth to create a gentle slope, making it easier for carts carrying materials to pass through.

It's a formless dungeon. We can even have a picnic at ease!
''That's what an E-ranked open dungeon is all about. Except for the fact that the animals and plants are academically demons, they're just like a lush basin.

　That's why, until the discovery of the cave leading to the "Demon King's Castle Realm", an underground space where Demon King Gandalf was hiding, mere ordinary people and E-rank adventurers were able to come and go easily.

　There was a period of disquiet for a while after the discovery, but it was dispelled with the completion of the Hollow Bottom Fortress.

　Today, the Sundial Forest is a safer and more peaceful place than ever before.

　With the fledgling adventurers working on gathering medicinal herbs by my side, I arrive in front of the fifth level of the Hollow Bottom Fortress.

''Knights and soldiers and adventurers ...... no matter when you come here, this place is always full of people.
Wow, it's usually like this? It's just as crowded as it is in town.

　Garnett looks around the fortress with interest.

　I didn't know until he told me about it, but Garnett was visiting the Hollow Bottom Fortress for the first time today.

　Apparently he hadn't had a chance to come down to the fifth level because he was away from Green Hollow during the construction of the fortress due to his work as a member of the Order, and he was immediately transferred to my guard duty after it was completed.

'The hidden staircase you wanted was somewhere else, right?
Yeah, a little further in.

　A hidden staircase at the base of the great tree at the back of the dungeon.
　We descended it and entered the 'Thousand Year Corridor of the Abyss' and [disassembled] the walls of the labyrinth to collect the mithril - this is the purpose of this time.

　Just as we were about to move quickly to that point, Garnett and I found a group of knights who were about to enter the fortress and stopped.

　The cloaked knights of the Golden Fang Knights stationed in the fortress - they were accompanied by a woman with long black hair.

　The woman was surrounded all around by knights, and it was impossible to tell from the sidelines whether she was being escorted or deprived of her freedom.

''Is that guy ...... no way, Noir?''

　This should not come as a surprise.
　The woman the knights were escorting was unmistakably Noir, the black wizard.

　A member of the heroic party that left me in the labyrinth.
　The only survivor who escaped from the Demon King's castle and told the earth what happened to the heroic party.

''Hey, Garnet. Wasn't Noir brought back by the Silverwing Knights?
It's supposed to happen. For interrogation and frisking. ...... Hey!　Hey, guys!　Wait a minute!

　Garnett raised his voice and ran up to the group of knights.

　The knights were blatantly wary and stood between Garnett and Noir.

'What do you want, kid!　Stop right there!

　It was a natural reaction. The current Garnett is hiding his knight's identity and usually hides his true face with his armor, so there's no way he would be recognized as a knight.

　It seems that Garnett also understood that properly, and turned back to me and showed off my presence to the knights.

''Oh, this is Luke-dono. How can I help you?
'...... That woman, you're Noir, a party member of the brave Falcon. I heard you were being protected by the Silverwing Knights, why are you here?

　I'm going to put our doubts straight to the point.
　There's no point in playing far-fetched tactics at a time like this.

　Fortunately, ever since I helped build a fortress at the request of His Majesty the King, the Golden Fang Order had been treating me accordingly.

　It's a special treatment. I have to make use of it at times like this.

''It's part of the Demon King's Castle strategy. She will be asked to serve as a pilot for the 'Demon King's Castle Realm'. We have also received approval from Commander Carmine of the Silverwing Knights.

　Hearing this, Garnett's mouth twisted in displeasure.

　Commander Carmine was not only Garnett's superior officer, but also his own brother who shared his blood.
　He was probably unhappy that he hadn't been contacted about Noir's treatment.

''Then I will hurry onward, sir.

　The knights tried to head to the fortress again, but Noir, for some reason, fought against it and advanced towards us.

'...... Luke ...... one thing, can I ask you ......?　What are you doing for a living now ......?

　Underneath the black bangs that extend to my eyes, anxious eyes are busily moving.

　It's as if he's afraid to hear my response.

'After what happened, you know. The adventurers are closed for business. I'm running a weapons store in a town on the ground now.
...... So, yeah. We're the reason you quit being an adventurer ...... that, well, ...... I know it's not acceptable to apologize for it, even if it's ...... ......
I'm not going to say I forgive you.

　Noir's shoulders shake with a jolt.
　Not by surprise, but perhaps by fear.

'But I'm not going to take every single grudge against you, either. I've got a pretty full-time job at the weapons store right now. I'm so busy I'm dizzy. I don't have the time or energy to spend on venting my bitterness.

　This is from the bottom of my heart.

　Unless the brave man is resurrected or something, but if not, it's useless to care about it.

　I've got a lot more important things than those feelings right now.

　Noir was left speechless and nodding, and this time he was taken by the Golden Fang Knights.

　When their figures disappeared into the fortress, Garnett huffed and sniffed.

''He wanted to be blamed by you, didn't he? So if you feel punished, you'll feel less guilty and easier. That was a rather good response, wasn't it?
'I didn't mean to do that. ......

　Anyway, I've heard everything I wanted to hear out.

　If it's the result of a discussion between the knights, I have no right or need to interfere at all.

　We've made our detour. Let's get the job done.

　Just as I started walking with that thought, a man who looked like an engineer in work clothes rushed over from the fortress.

''Mr. Luke!　Just in time!　Give me a hand!
Can't you just finish your business at ......?
"Whatever it takes to make it quick!　Actually, sir!　We may finally find out the secrets of the ruins you fought the brave men in!