-- and so we left the private bath after a significantly longer than usual bathing time.

　It's a good idea to be able to have a good time with them.

"Well, it's gotten exciting. I don't think I'll be able to tell Sylvia and the others.
I never thought I'd forget myself that much: ......

　Contrary to the delighted Garnett, I was overcome with a self-loathing that I could never tell others about.

　It wasn't that I didn't like what had just happened. Not by any means. It's not that I didn't like what happened earlier, but I did not like the exchange in the washroom, and also this one and the one after that.

　I was simply disgusted with myself for not being able to control the emotions that were bubbling up.

It was a valuable experience. This is the first time I've ever seen a man's body in a normal way.
Don't ever tell anyone else: ......?
So I can't tell you. What the hell do you think you're going to look like?
It's fine. I mean, your face is so loose, you look like you did at A(r)ma.

　-- "You're just a pretty girl," was another candidate that came to mind, but as expected, I decided to scrap that one.

'Seriously?　Oh shit, oh shit.

　Garnett rubbed her loose cheeks languidly with her own hands and began to try to make her usual gruff expression.

　Incidentally, during this series of exchanges, me and Garnett didn't look at each other at all.
　We only casually checked the discussion of our faces with a sideways glance.

　The reason for this is that the incident just now seemed to have made both of us in a strange mood, and we were unable to look the other person in the eye.

　Garnett's face turned bright red just because she accidentally met my eyes when she was leaving the bathhouse.

　In my case, my self-control was due to the awkwardness and guilt of raising the sound, and in Garnett's case, it was probably due to the shame of his age.

　That's why I was older and had to get a grip.
　I'm not a boy-haired young man who lets everything happen with a bang.

...... hehehe.

　Effortlessly, Garnet's cheeks heaved again.

　It would be better to go straight home today.
　If I walked around here and there in this state, I might get a new misunderstanding.

　With an indescribable air, I left the area where the bathhouse is located and returned to the area of the entrance and dining room, where I bumped into the person I had been looking for during the day.

'Oh. Isn't this Garnet for Lord Luke?
'Sakura!　Ugh, that's a coincidence: ......
Surprise, surprise, Sakura. Where the hell have you been?
'I have just returned from a request just now. I heard from Sylvia that Lord Luke and the others had returned, so I thought I would come over tomorrow to say hello.

　I hadn't been able to say hello to Sakura alone since I got back to Green Hollow, and it was true that I had been looking for her for a long time.

　But I didn't expect to see him at this time.

I'm sure you've received a request to work on the ground. What kind of work was it?
Yeah, sure, as much as you can answer. Confidentiality and all that stuff is a pain in the ass.
'That's fine. I just didn't bother to report it to anyone else; it wasn't a particularly demanding request.

　Requests received by adventurers are often subject to confidentiality, but the degree of confidentiality is rather case-by-case.

　In the most extreme cases, the fact of receiving a request may itself be a matter of silence.
　No one other than the royal palace and knights can request an anonymous or closed-door request, but they can make the adventurer keep the request secret.

　However, this must be stated in advance, and in most cases, the request will be in addition to the reward.

　Because, as an adventurer, revealing that you have completed such a request in the past is a way to demonstrate your ability and ability to accomplish the request.

　In the more common case of confidentiality, it is acceptable to reveal what kind of request and who gave you the request, but it is forbidden to divulge information that you saw or heard while carrying out the request.

　This is a standard condition for a guild, so there is no reward in return.

　There are other conditions related to confidentiality, such as keeping the fact of acceptance a secret during the process, but once it's over, you can reveal as much information as you like, and adventurers can share information with each other.

　It's really a case by case basis, so it's not possible to say that it's all about this.

''As a matter of fact, you see, an old man who teaches martial arts to children in town has fallen ill, so I was asked to act as his deputy until he recovers.''

　And it seems that the request that Sakura is receiving was a loose condition in that area.

''The old man teaches western swordsmanship, and my technique is a completely different Eastern swordsmanship, so my job is just to watch over the children's independent training and ensure their safety.
'Wow, there are people like that. Are they famous?
No, he just teaches a few children in his yard, and he said it's just a hobby for him in his old age.

　According to Sakura, the old man fell ill last night and immediately sent a request to the guild house to recruit an agent, and the next morning - that is, this morning Sakura received the request.

　That's how he immediately went to the site and started work, so no one he knew knew knew where Sakura was.

'But as expected, it seems that Sylvia knew about the old man. When I explained this to her a while ago, she was surprised that she was so important that the man had fallen ill.
He's got a lot of face.

　This spring Wakaba-Tei is the best inn in town, and it opens its dining room to non-guests.

　Perhaps it's because she's the signatory daughter of such a place, but Sylvia's face is known to many in the town, and conversely, Sylvia knows many of the residents.

''Since we're going to have to go through this, why don't you teach the Eastern Sword Art too?''
'I have not yet reached the point of imparting teachings. Besides, my jutsu is half based on the combination of [contraction]. I'm very, very, very unlikely to teach it to others: ......

　Sakura shook her head, looking troubled and embarrassed.

　Then, as if trying to forcefully change the subject, she pulled her face up to my ear and asked a question in a completely different direction.

'...... By the way, is there something wrong with Garnett?'
'Oh ...... maybe, but I'm sure it's something to be happy about. I don't know about you, but really ......