In the end, the rain didn't stop until nightfall, and we didn't get back to Green Hollow Town from Tri-Brook City until after lunch the next day.

　I apologize to the customers who had planned to shop, but it looks like we'll have to call it a temporary closure for today.

　I told Noir and Erica beforehand, 'There's a possibility I won't be able to return home today, so in that case I'll take the next day off, so you can spend it as you please.

　So today would be after both of them had gone out on other business.

　I can't run the store on my own, Garnett and I can't run the store alone, we probably won't be able to hire an adventurer in time, and most importantly, we just finished a long ride on horseback, so we need time to rest.

　I'm sure the customers are used to the fact that the white wolf shop is usually closed or shortened for various reasons, but we should try to avoid this kind of thing.

"Ouch! ...... I'm not used to riding a horse, so my butt is ......
"The day after tomorrow, your thigh muscles will be killing you.
I'm not old enough to be late. If it hurts, it'll be today.

　Garnett is smiling mischievously as if teasing me.

　--I'm not sure what to expect, but I can't help but think of Garnett's face from yesterday.

　I've been trying to avoid unnecessary impressions, but I can't get rid of the thought that this guy could have that kind of face.

　It's a shock that I'll never forget for the rest of my life if I'm not good at .......

　Anyway, I returned my rented horse from the stables near the entrance of the town and walked down Main Street in the direction of the White Wolf Store.

　The main street is still thriving today, but I could also see a few adventurers here and there who were alerting their surroundings.

　Perhaps they have been asked to guard the town in the matter of the Mad Golem.

''Anyway, it's a miscalculation that that inn didn't have a bath.
'You took the stance that you could use the public bathrooms in your neighborhood. It wasn't likely to go because of the heavy rain, and you wouldn't have been able to use it in the first place.
Hey, I don't think I'm gonna be able to hold out all night, so can we go now?　What do you think?　And you want to get rid of your tired legs and stuff.

　Garnett pined for a change in the order in which he would complete his plans for the day.

　He hadn't originally planned to do it now, but he was going to go to the bathhouse itself.
　It wouldn't be much of a problem to switch the order.

　After washing up in the bathhouse with individual bathrooms, I headed to the Spring Wakaba-Tei and bumped into Sakura as I entered the entrance.

'Oh, Luke-dono. I didn't see your face yesterday, but I see you've returned.
I had to run some errands for the shop. I was late getting home from work, so I'm gonna be closed for the day.
'That was just fine. Lord Luke, may I have a word with Garnett alone for a moment?

　Garnett, who suddenly got the brunt of the conversation, tilted his head in wonder.

'You don't have to ask my permission. 'What do you think, Garnett?'
Well, if you don't mind the white wolf, I don't mind.
Thank you. I had a bit of a personal matter to discuss with you. As a matter of fact, I'd like to go to .......

　As the two of them began to talk to each other, I decided to take a seat in the dining room by myself and wait for Garnett.

　In the meantime, I've been feeling vaguely hungry, so I decided to fill my stomach a little bit, and bought a boiled egg made from the hot spring water at the takeaway counter.

　I immediately peeled the shell off and threw it in my mouth, and the taste of the half-boiled yolk filled my mouth.

　As usual, the texture is a bit of a mixed bag, but I think it's quite tasty and I often buy it.

　I was just thinking about whether or not to buy another one when Sylvia, who seemed to have finished her work, passed by the dining room space.

''Ah!　Welcome back, Mr. Luke. Mr. Noir told me about it. You didn't make it home from Tri-Brook yesterday, did you?
From the noir?
Please wash off the fatigue of your trip. I've got some great ingredients for you today.

　To be honest, it was a bit surprising.
　The fact that Noir, and not Erika, had explained the reason for her absence from work to Sylvia, was.

　It was hard to imagine Noir, who was such a quiet and introverted person, voluntarily broaching such a topic with Sylvia.

　After all, it is as if Sylvia asked the elder Noir what was going on and Noir responded in spite of his confusion.

'...... Noir is also staying at this inn, isn't he? What's it usually like?
Usually?　Hmmm ...... Luke is Noir's employer, and since he's brave enough to talk about Noir-sama, I guess we can talk about it. ......

　Sylvia wrestled with the pros and cons of talking to others about her guests, and then began to speak, choosing the content of her expressions.

'I get the impression that you're ...... trying your best to get to know other people. Especially with the people involved in the White Wolf Store. Luke, you feel that way too, don't you?
Sure. ......

　There are a number of things that come to mind when I think back.

　That I got input from Sakura to downsize my spell scroll.
　Teaching Erika, the apothecary, the knowledge of various medicinal herbs and going out with her to collect medicinal herbs.
　Helping Garnett in making weapons as the owner of the [Magical Tool Making] skill.

　The first two of these were even before he told me that someone who looked like Bran had been seen on the battlefield.

'I don't know the details of the situation, so I can't say too much about it, but I thought you were doing your best to get ...... accepted and believed.
...... After all, Sylvia does look out for other people, doesn't she?
It's an occupational hazard.

　Sylvia put a hand behind her head in embarrassment.

　It was probably because she had been helping her since she was a child with the task of watching the guests and providing them with what they needed.

　Just then, the front door was opened vigorously, and a man and woman with an unadventurous atmosphere entered.

''Excuse me!　I was told this restaurant doesn't require reservations, do you have a table available?

　A colored man with an aristocratic and flamboyant appearance and a beautiful woman with a harsh atmosphere to follow him.

　The woman is dressed not as a nobleman but as his valet, or as a butler or secretary.

''Master Theodore. Are you sure it's alright?　Such places to eat, etc.
I've been thinking about visiting this place for a while now. I've been thinking of paying them a visit for a while.

　--Dragon Slayer, Theodore Beaufort.

　He was one of the high-ranking adventurers I once approached, and one of the most prominent dragon slayers of his time, who eradicated the dragons inhabiting the "Demon King's Castle Realm" underground from the vicinity of the Hollow Bottom Fortress.

　Although born of a nobleman, he is a freak who registered with the Adventurer's Guild simply because he wanted to fight dragons.

I'm sure you'll find that dragon slayer in this town. I heard that he bought a villa on the outskirts of town and used it as his base of operations.
Luke, do you know each other?
I doubt they'll remember me over there. Just so you know, there was something I wanted to talk to that guy about.