Sorry for the two cream cake sets.

Sylvia lays out the order in front of me and Garnett.

　On a brand new plate, a cake meticulously coated with white cream was placed, and a teacup, also as new, was filled with red tea.

　Furthermore, the cream cake was lavishly filled with small fruits, adding color to its appearance as well as its taste.

''Ooh, that's authentic!　So let's get on with it: ......

　Garnett immediately took his fork and ate his cake.

　He's in a good mood that belies the fact that he said something about 'it's not bad if you eat it with tea' earlier.

　Even before you put your mouth on the tea, your expression is completely relaxed.

　I'm afraid that pointing that out might make him angry again, so I decide to eat the cake quietly too.

''...... hmm!　This is ......

　I was amazed. I thought I wasn't that much of a sweet tooth, but this one was delicious after just one bite.

　I see, I think I can understand why Garnett is so obsessed with them.

'As expected of Sylvia's shop!　I could go to this one every day, right?
Don't do that every day. It'll destroy you.

　We continued to eat the cream cake together, exchanging conversations as usual.

　Just as the tea was about to run out, Sylvia came over with a pot of tea at the right time.

'Another cup, would you like another?　One drink is free.
Then I'll take it.
Give me some. I'm surprised at how well it tastes. I'm surprised.
Thank you, sir.

　I'm not used to drinking tea, so I can't really tell the difference, but if Garnett says it's good, then it must be.

　Sylvia didn't leave immediately after she finished brewing the tea, and was staring intently at me and Garnett.

'What's wrong with ......?'
No, I just thought you two had gotten to know each other pretty well.

　Garnet and I looked at each other with a smiling smile.

"Because, you see, we were so awkward at first, it's not like we were going to fight right away,
I feel like I did, now that you mention it.

　It's a nostalgic story now, but my first encounter with Garnett was a crappy one.

　I perceived Garnett as cocky and unpleasant, and Garnett was about to assume that I was a criminal who dealt in mithril illegally.

'Well, ...... I guess that means we've got a lot going on.

　The catalyst for the turnaround in our relationship was undoubtedly when a second dragon appeared in The Sundial Forest.

　Garnett was mortally wounded by the dragon's surprise, and I, out of personal stubbornness, healed it, ignoring the risk to my own life.

　Through the exchange we had afterwards, the negative impressions we had of each other were dispelled - I never dreamed at the time that Garnett would end up working in my shop as a live-in employee.

'After all, there's nothing better than being able to get along with each other, right? Well then, please call me if you need anything else.

　Immediately after Sylvia left the table, the front door opened and the bell rang.

'Welcome!　...... and welcome back, Sakura. I see your work is done.
It was a simple request. If it's just to escort you and carry your stuff, it's a walk in the park.

　The one who came was Sakura and another, a wizard with long black hair - Noir.

''For now, I'm going to put my bags in my room and then go to ......, isn't that Luke-dono? And even the garnet.
Hey, Sakura. Did you two do a little work for me?

　Garnett turned his attention to Sakura and Noir behind her.

　Noir casually tried to hide behind Sakura, but Noir was a little taller than Sakura, so he could hardly hide.

'Noir isn't an adventurer, you know. She's the client and I'm the contractor.
...... I wanted to go shopping in the next town over, so I asked for a ...... escort and luggage carrier. ......

　If you ask me, they both had two hands full of bags, and they looked like they were returning from shopping, not returning from a dungeon.

　I don't know what the contents of the large package are, but as long as Noir can carry it without a care in the world, it doesn't seem to be too heavy for its apparent size.

''Heh. What did you buy?
It's ...... still a secret. ...... I think we'll find out eventually. ......
"Hmm. I guess it's not like you're thinking of shutting up to us ....... And if we were, Sakura would have stopped us.
Of course I do.

　A conversation between three girls - is that an inaccurate description?

　Noir is not ten years older than me, and Garnett is recognized as a boy by the other two.

　Anyway, as I listened to the conversation between the three of them beside me, I casually observed Garnett's condition.

　-- apparently he doesn't seem to be offended.

　It's no surprise that he and Sakura are friends, so it's natural for them to converse happily, and he doesn't seem to be caged in negative emotions when he talks to Noir.

　In fact, Noir even has a sense of being more jittery about the younger Garnet.

''Well then, we'll go and leave our bags in our room.
Are they both staying here?
Yes. I have a room on a long-term lease. We have very few rentals of any kind in Green Hollow.

　Indeed, when I inquired to the Guild House, 'Do you have a building that could be used to operate a weapons store?', the only candidate that came up was an empty house that was one step before the abandoned house.

　Maybe Green Hollow Town didn't have much of an expectation that outsiders would move in.

　Maybe that would change in the future, though.

　Shortly after Sakura and Noir walked back into the room, Garnett sniffed with a wry smile and a huff.

'The white wolf. Did you think I was going to squeak and bite Noir?
I don't think you're going to bite ....... But you don't like it or think you won't like it?
Well. My motivation for wanting to work is honestly, I'm just going to go, "f*ck this shit.

　Garnett sipped his freshly brewed tea and then lifted the edge of his mouth, resting his weight on the backrest.

'But not if you're making up for it with your work ethic. It's because of your hard work that I was able to rest easy with you. I have to thank you for that.
...... Well, good for you then.

　I let out a small breath of relief from the bottom of my heart.

　I didn't want Garnett to feel uncomfortable working at the White Wolf Store.

　He only stayed on as a guard to protect me, so I'd rather have him be as comfortable as possible.

'Cake isn't even close to being enough. Something else: .......

　I was about to suggest we order more when Sylvia, who should have been back at the back of the dining room, pattered over to me.

'Mr. Luke!'
Hmm, what do you need?

　It didn't look like there was a sudden trouble .......
　Rather, he looked as if he wanted to say he had good news.

'Just a few minutes ago I got a letter from a friend in the next town. He asked if he could get a job for me since I'm moving out of my house next week and moving to Green Hollow. Luke's shop was still hiring employees!