First, I brought Noir up to the house and sat him down at the dining room table.

　Then I sat down in the chair across from him and got ready to listen carefully to his business.

　Sakura and Garnett were also present in the dining room, but they were both blatantly alert.

　Their expressions and attitudes clearly tell us that they intend to move to attack immediately if anything happens.

　I'm not sure if the fact that they are former companions of the brave Falcon is a major factor.

　It's truly a needle in a haystack (rather).
　It's a situation I wouldn't even want to approach unless I had a good reason to.

So what the hell do you want at this hour?
............ it's ......

　Noir struggled to breathe and then opened his mouth as if he had made up his mind.

'I heard from the Knights that ...... you're short-handed and in need of help.
Come to think of it, we've talked before about how you've been busy.
So, ...... let me work here, please: ......

　I rolled my eyes at the unexpected statement.

　I had expected some of the details of the errand, but this was completely unexpected.

''I thought you were employed by the Golden Fang Knights? Don't tell me you're working for free?
No, you're not.

　Garnett pokes me in the back of the head.

'I want to help you out of trouble and atone for your sins; I want to feel redeemed and feel better. That's what you're thinking about most of the time, isn't it?　It's just a matter of convenience. You don't think about the feelings of the people you're going to hurt.

　As he said this in a nonchalant tone, Garnett began to fumble around for something in the direction of the kitchen.

　I can roughly imagine why Garnett is so hard on her.

　Although she hasn't heard directly from him, she said that her mother was murdered in the past.

　I'm sure she's extremely uncomfortable imagining that the murderer is vainly trying to atone for his or her crime.

...... That's right. It's true that they want to make amends ...... that there is no way to deny it, but it's true that they want to make amends ...... that they don't do anything to 'bully' you, and that they vaguely pass it off as something that is... ...I can't stand it: ......

　On the dining room table, Noir clenched his fists tightly.

'I don't need a paycheck ...... if I can help you, that's all I need .......'
Master Luke. May I have a question?

　Sakura interrupted the conversation with her hand on the hilt of her sword.

　Seeing this, Noir freaked out and shook his shoulders.

'From what I heard, she was captured along with that brave man. Furthermore, I heard that her sister, who shared her blood, is still a prisoner of war.
............
'I have no evidence for this, but can't we rule out the possibility of magical manipulation or hostage-taking threats?
...... and it's ......
You don't have to worry about that.

　The words of denial coming out of my mouth, not only Sakura, but Noir as well, showed a look of surprise.

''As for curses and magic, the Silverwing Knights should be carefully investigating it. Otherwise, there's no way they'd release their custody and leave it in the hands of another Order.

　When I casually looked at Garnett, he nodded deeply and silently.

''Even if he was sent here for an operative activity, the target wouldn't be me. At the time this guy came back to earth, I wasn't doing anything at all to pick a fight with the Demon King.
''It's true that ...... the order is reversed. It's because of her appearance that Lord Luke became deeply involved in the capture of the Demon King's Castle.
'Right?　And even if they're planning something to target someone other than me, I'm sure the Golden Fang Knights will be keeping a close eye on it.

　I didn't dismiss Sakura's concerns without evidence.

　The Silver Wing Knights and the Golden Fang Knights.
　The existence of the two knights denies the hypothesis that 'Noir is the assassin of the Demon King' - or it is a preparation in case that was the case.

　If there's enough preparation prepared to fool them, they won't be able to do anything about it no matter how I'm scrambling.

　Of course, if you're asking if I trust Noir, the answer is no.
　But at the same time, I just think that there is no need to have excessive suspicion.

''If that's what you think, Luke-dono, then I don't have anything to offer you, do I?

　Sakura seemed to be satisfied with my explanation and quietly backed away.

　The only question that remains is whether or not I will accept Noir's plea.

''You're still talking about being hired by the Golden Fang Knights to act as a pilot, aren't you?
...... Oh. I'll be working over there a few days a month ...... and otherwise I'll be on call .......

　While Noir chattered on, Garnett brewed a cold herbal tea and placed it in front of me and Noir.

You'll find. There's no poison in it.
Oh ...... thank you .......

　This is the herb Sylvia brought with her, boiled in the daytime.

　It is often used in Green Hollow as a substitute for drinking water because it is blended with herbs that have the effect of prolonging the life of food and can be left intact for a whole day after boiling.

　Noir takes a sip of the herbal tea and exhales with a huff.

　Perhaps thanks to the scent of the herbs, Noir's mind seems to have calmed down, so he decides to move the conversation forward at once.

''I think I've told you before, but I don't have much interest in you. You're not just a brave guy, you're like your sister's hipster. For better or worse, I'm not interested,

　Of course, there are those who would think that they are just as guilty of tacitly acknowledging the assault.

　I don't deny that there are people who think that way.
　But I didn't think so. That's all.

I'm not going to be able to say that I'm not going to be able to do anything about it. Not if it's the brave man himself.
............
'I don't have time to go to the trouble of accusing you of being so bothered, and I don't like things enough to condemn you for being self-satisfied. Honestly, do what you want.
............ and then there's ......

　Noir shrugged under his breath like a prisoner awaiting judgment.

'But I can't accept your proposal. That one won't do.'
...... Okay, well, I can't help it, you know, ......
'You don't want a paycheck?　If we let him work for free, strange rumors would start to circulate and the reputation of the restaurant would suffer. If you're going to work for us, you'll have to accept the market rate of pay.
Eh ......

　Noir's always downcast eyes rolled up, and Noir was desperately trying to understand the meaning of my statement.

　Sakura smiled with her arms folded and Garnett turned away with a face that couldn't be taken as either an affirmation or a denial.

　It is twenty years since the accession of His Majesty King Alfred of Westland.
　Nowadays, slave labor is beyond outdated.

　It's just a matter of time before you get a bad reputation for making people work without a paycheck, no matter what the circumstances.

If you're not in the mood for it, go ahead and spend it on the town. It's good for the town's economy, and it's good for me.
Oh, you sure you want to do this?　You can work here: ......
What's with the look on your face? You're the one who told me to work.　We're too busy over here to help the cat, you know.
Oh ...... thank you, thank you ...... Luke ......!

　Noir leaned forward at the dining room table and fell deeply on his face.

　Utterly, it was really strange.

　No doubt he wanted to increase the staff as soon as possible, but he didn't think that someone whose motivation was 'guilt trip' would be the first one.

　At any rate, I was finally able to increase the number of regular staff.

　I quickly changed my mind and decided to rethink my time allocation for tomorrow and how to get in Garnett's displeased mood.