The morning after our second audience with His Majesty Alfred, the next morning.

　In an early morning, in an unpopular and upscale residential area, as we were loading our carriage with our luggage for the return trip to Green Hollow, Roy came all the way down to see us off.

'Good morning, Mr. Luke. I heard you were heading back to Green Hollow, so I thought I'd at least see you off.
'It was a quick business trip. I need to get home as soon as I can after my errands.

　This visit to King's Capital was truly an abrupt decision.

　For those who hadn't told them the situation regarding Garnett, the manager suddenly decided to go to the King's Capital and then left the next day, and they had to operate without the manager and the old shopkeeper.

　Now that there is a Hollow Bottom branch of 'Sundial Forest', we have the right number of customers visiting the main branch of Green Hollow, and we are prepared to have enough redundancy to call for at least one person a day from the branch to support us.

　So it's not that the store won't be able to turn around, but it still doesn't change the fact that I've been inconvenienced.

　If the souvenirs we've already sent aren't enough to make up for it, we'd better think of something else to do.

'Yeah, thanks for the day before yesterday. You had the perfect time to cover me. We would have been in danger without it.
''No, no. I just sent the spirit beasts as soon as I received the request. Luke-san made a quick decision.

　Beside each other's strange modesty, Garnett gave me a dumbfounded look with a bag of food in his arms.

'That's fine, you can carry your stuff, right?
Oops, my bad.
I'll help you.

　With the number of hands increased to three, the loading of the luggage goes quickly.

　When that work was all done and I was able to take a break, I offered Roy a casual chat.

''But I didn't expect your job was a request from the Silverwing.
''It's a request you received on guild service obligation. As for me, I didn't know that Luke-san had a close relationship with the Silverwing Knights.

　Once when I called up a group of high-ranking adventurers for Green Hollow, Roy had refused on the grounds that he had a job he couldn't miss, and he was still working on it when we met again a few days ago.

　I never thought until I saw the spirit beast that the request was to assist in the investigation of the Night Ripper case that had caused a stir in the royal capital.

　But now that I think about it, Roy's skills, which allow him to use dozens of spirit beasts to scout out dozens of them at the same time, is perfect for keeping an eye on multiple potential culprits in parallel.

　As usual, the guild's selection of personnel was a great feat.

''It was only yesterday that I heard about the situation from the Lord Commander, but I was really surprised. This mansion is also the Knight Commander's separate residence, right?　Then maybe you could have explained the situation from the start.

　Roy looked up at Argentia's villa where I had been staying for a few days, and let out a sigh of relief.

　It's true that I have a good relationship with the Silver Wing Knights for some reason, but I'm still an outsider - at least for now.

It would indeed be better to stop leaking the contents of the Knights' request to me without permission.

''Speaking of the Silver Wings. I heard it, Luke-san!

　Suddenly, Roy came around in front of me and grabbed my shoulders with both hands firmly in front of me.

'So Luke's girlfriend was a silver-winged lady!
...... Oh, sure, that would be the case when it comes to the young lady.
She seems to be the daughter of a deep window who doesn't usually go out in public, so I haven't heard that I've met many people in person, but I've heard that she's a beautiful girl!

　The beautiful deep-windowed young lady is right under your nose, but Roy is not even remotely aware of this fact and seems to be picturing the young lady of his choice in his mind.

'If I had rushed to the scene, maybe I would have met her too. Well, it was a shame. So what is she actually like?
Well, you know what I mean: ......

　I gave Garnett a sideways glance, unsure of what to reply, but Garnett had his back to me, blatantly indicating his intention to not mix in with the conversation.

　You're asking me to think up my own reply. If that's what you mean, I can't blame you.

'...... That girl is Garnett's sister here, so they're very similar in height and face. They're twins.
'Oh, I see. ...... It's easy to imagine.

　Roy seemed to be convinced enough by this, but I don't think it's enough yet.

　Not this guy's understanding, but the words to be heard by that guy who had his back to him but was listening.

'And he's a really good guy. I don't feel free to say it because he's not here, but my life would definitely be gray if that guy was gone.

　Needless to say, this guy is no exaggeration.

　The day Garnett returned to King's Landing under the guise of a 'family meeting', I was surprised at how out of shape I was.

　I took it for granted that he was always next to me, and I repeatedly called out to him even though he didn't answer.

　Moreover, the way he was upset when he found out that Garnett's real purpose of returning home was to 'find his fiancée' was so upsetting that when I think back on it, I can't help but laugh.

'Mmm, so much for Luke-san to say that much? That's really quite a bit.
You're used to being single, aren't you?
'Well, I didn't say that!　I just thought I'd be jealous!

　I looked at Garnett, jokingly impatient with Roy, and I could see over my back that he wanted to break in and kick me right now.

　I might as well be prepared to get back at him for this after we're alone.

　Just thinking about that, a smile mysteriously flooded my mouth.

''...... That's right, Luke-san. It looks like your service obligation to the guild is about to end, so I'm going to visit you in Green Hollow this time.
I'm glad you're here. I've got a lot of dungeons to explore.
'You can count on it. I'll contribute what I didn't when I was called upon to do so.

　As the conversation switched directions, the front door of the mansion opened to reveal Abigail.

'Master Garnett, this is a gift from our family. Please give it to the people at the White Wolf Store.
Oh, I'm sorry.
'These are the people that Mr. Garnett has been working with on a regular basis. And one more thing: .......

　Abigail leaned closer to Garnett's side and said something out of place in a very serious manner.

'I happened to overhear you talking about Master Roy earlier. It scales my eyes that the idea had never occurred to me.
'What?　What's going on?
'Visit and contribute to Green Hollow: ......!　It's an idea that would never occur to a servant: ......!　I would like to ask the master to give me some free time to go to ......!
Hey, stop it. And the Hundred Beasts of the Plains. You'll remember it later, you son of a b*tc*.
'Yeah!　Me? !

　I leaned back against the carriage and watched as the three of them noisily argued about something or other, laughing.

　A gentle fuss in a relaxed atmosphere. It's a great way to end an incident that was caught unexpectedly.

　Not everything about the incident has been revealed, and I have a feeling that there is an unimaginable truth hiding in it, but now is not the time to dwell on that yet.

　I can only return to Green Hollow with a cheerful heart, holding in my heart the bond with Garnett, who is completely changed from his old self - but whose bond has deepened beyond comparison.