After the day's work was done, we visited the Spring Wakaba Tei for dinner.

　It's the biggest inn in Green Hollow Town, and it has the largest number of guests in town.

　The same is true of our shop and the Guildhouse, but it's a busy place that makes you wonder if it's overcapacity.

　So I'm careful to come to the restaurant when the dinner crowds (peak time) are over so as not to add to the busyness.

'Welcome, Luke. I see you have a larger than usual crowd today.
Every now and then. Now that we're taking a break, why don't you take Sylvia with you?
'Thank you. It looks like it's just about time, and I'll take you up on your offer.

　While exchanging such conversations, we were led to a private room in a large room that can seat about ten people.

　The usual cafeteria space was still noisy, so I was grateful that they prepared a place where we could talk in a relaxed manner.

　For now, while we all sat around the table and waited for our ordered food to arrive, we decided to briefly explain our future plans.

The number of adventurers will be increasing, so we're planning to add an additional shop to prepare for that. As it stands, we're going to be too small.
'Not an extension or relocation of the current store?'

　Sakura asks the obvious question.

'Yeah. I don't think either of those are a bad idea, but this time we have an ate of a location. If we're going to use that place, I think we'd be better off building a branch rather than moving our current shop.
I didn't know there was such a place. I don't know if there is such a place, but the prime land in Green Hollow is usually used, and the new development site doesn't seem to be in good condition. Or maybe they could build in the neighborhood of Walnut, the next town over?

　It was Sylvia, who knew more about this town than anyone else, who asked back in detail.

　When the name of Walnut Town came out of her mouth, I saw Erica's silent and complicated expression on her face.

　Erica was a native of Walnut and had a history of coming to Green Hollow after her parents denied her dreams of becoming independent as a medicine man, leaving her to come to Green Hollow with her friend Sylvia.

　But that guy is an unnecessary worry, as this story has nothing to do with Walnut.

'You know the Golden Fang Knights are starting to pull out, right?　So the majority of the Order's forces were stationed in Hollow Bottom Fortress at the bottom of the Sundial Forest, and most of them will be withdrawn as well.

　The Hollow Bottom Fortress and the Demon King's Castle - the Golden Fang Knights will leave troops in these two places, but they won't be stationed on the same scale as before.

　Since the war was over and the main force of the Demon King's army had retreated, the number of people stationed at the fortress would inevitably be reduced as well.

　It is even planned that in the future, both the fortress and the 'Demon King's Castle Realm' will be completely shifted to be managed by the Adventurer's Guild.

It's a good idea to make sure that there are no more empty rooms or spaces in Hollow Bottom Fortress. Even though it's a fortress, most of it was used as a place for knights and soldiers to sleep and live their daily lives.
I see, so I guess it's up to the Order.

　A step ahead of me, Garnett lets out an approving voice.

　If I'm too wasteful, the food will arrive before I finish my story, so I'll just explain the main points briefly.

''I heard from the Silver Wing Knights that they are planning to consolidate the functions of the fortress on the 'Demon King's Castle Realm' side and lease out the facilities on the 'Sundial Forest' side in the back half to the private sector.

　Hearing that, almost all of the members gathered here expressed surprise.

　Erica and Sylvia, who had been slow to react, hadn't been too deeply involved in the battle, so it probably didn't ring a bell.

　The 'Sundial Forest', which is an open basin type, and the 'Demon King's Castle Realm', which is an underground space type with an environment that is very similar to that on the ground - the two dungeons are connected by a large hidden passage called the 'Dragon's Loophole'.

　The Hollow Bottom Fortress was built to block the front and back of this hidden passage and is divided into two parts: the forest side and the underground side.

　During the war, the forest side was used for logistical support, such as the accumulation of supplies, and the underground side was used as a frontline base, but now that the war is over, only one of the two sides can suffice.

Strictly speaking, once the adventurer's guild has been paid out, the guild will rent out the space to the private sector in its name. It's part of the plan to transfer the management of the entire dungeon to the Adventurer's Guild.

　There were several precedents for the Knights paying off facilities that were no longer needed by the Knights to private parties, or for the Adventurer's Guild to purchase them.

　However, I had indeed never heard of it being a fortress in a dungeon, though.

''Currently, the adventurers who are sitting down to challenge the 'Demon King's Castle Realm' are returning to the ground to replenish their supplies every time. Isn't that the case with our customers?　So I thought if we were going to build a store in the fortress, it would make it easier for both of us.

　The first to react to this idea were Sakura and Melissa, both active adventurers.

'That sounds great!　During the war, we were able to get supplies from the Knights, but they don't do that anymore, and...
'It would be great to have a shop in the middle!　You're not just putting down weapons, you're putting down potions and stuff, right?　Isn't it great that you don't have to go back to the ground every time you run out of items!

　Melissa's partner, Nagi, didn't speak up, but he nodded deeply several times to show his agreement.

　Green Hollow Town, the 'Sundial Forest', Hollow Bottom Fortress, the 'Demon King's Castle Realm', and the Demon King's Castle.

　The adventurers' routes of action are generally fixed in this order, but Green Hollow Town is the only one with civilian inns and shops.

　Even though it's a safe, low-ranked dungeon, the Sundial Forest has a decent amount of slope and distance, so making multiple trips back and forth to resupply would be a burden.

　During the war, Hollow Bottom Fortress and other strongholds supplied adventurers as well, but now that the war is over, they are being withdrawn and that is coming to an end in stages.

　For better or worse, the 'Demon King's Castle Realm' is being transformed from a battlefield to a normal dungeon.

'You can rent a room in that building...... Oh, that's good!　Mr. Luke!　Thanks for the heads up!　If that's the case, we'd better have an innkeeper too!

　Sylvia smiled and popped her hand.

''I'll tell you, since it's already a rumor in some parts of the world, we've been talking about whether we should build an annex too. There are a lot of bedrooms there, and the location would be just right.

　As the place began to get excited about the new possibilities of Hollow Bottom Fortress, the food we had ordered was brought to the table.

　It would be a shame if the food we had ordered got cold, so it was decided that the conversation would continue after the meal was over, without anyone having to say a word.