The next day, I left the shop in the hands of Noir and the others and took Garnett to the Hollow Bottom branch of the Adventurer's Guild during business hours.

　I plan to stop by our branch, which is operating out of a part of the branch, but I decide to go see the branch manager, Florence, first.

'Sorry to keep you waiting. Sorry, I got caught up in my last job.

　After waiting for a while in the reception room, Florence rushes in with a quick and busy rush.

'That's okay. You are the branch manager, so it's natural that you are busy. More importantly, do you have time to spend with your daughter (Lisa)?
Somehow. Is that what you're here to talk about?
No way. It's a serious business, of course it is.

　After exchanging an uncomfortable conversation because of the old familiarity, he briefly communicates the reason for his visit to the branch.

'My staff has also developed a new armament. I think it's a pretty useful and useful item, but it's something that can get you in trouble if you don't handle it right. It's not going to be easy to sell in a normal store.

　Me and Florence - along with her late husband - were close friends who were based in the same guild house when they were rookies.

　Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to treat the branch manager in such a familiar manner.

''That's why I want to keep the sales to our branch only and require the approval of the guild to purchase them. Aside from the Golden Fang and other knights, inexperienced adventurers and ordinary people will not be able to buy them.
I see. Is it a collaboration between Alexia and Mr. Noir?　Do you have the original?
Yeah, sure.

　I take out samples of the projectiles from the bag I had Garnett carry and lay them out on the reception table.

　A total of three different sizes, large, medium and small.
　This is an additional variation that Alexia had made without my knowledge, saying, 'I don't want to compare and contrast the ease of throwing and destructive power.

"Throwing spell armor. It's filled with a miniature version of the spell scrolls we sell inside. Normally, it would work the moment you apply magic power, but by holding down the switch at the top, the central mechanism is activated, causing a delay in the activation of the magic effect.
'Toss it in the meantime and boom, away from it!　That's how it works: ....... It's interesting to see how it can be used. It's different when a wizard and a clocksmith team up. ......

　Florence takes the smallest projectile in her hand and stares at the exterior.

　Even though he had retired from the front line a long time ago, his ability to rise to a B-rank in a relatively short period of time was not an accomplishment.

　He also seems to have easily seen through the usefulness of a new item that is new to him, a throwing projectile.

''I wonder if Luke's concern is that it will malfunction or fail to throw. I'm afraid of failure if it's easy to use, but on the other hand, if it takes too much time and effort, you won't be able to use it in a hurry. It's a tricky thing to do.
'Yeah. That's why I want to have a system where the guild has to approve it to sell it. Is that alright?
Yes, .......

　After a pause for one breath, Florence quickly replied.

'I don't mind the approval system, but can we decide on the criteria for approval?　But could you give me a little preparation time? We also need to decide who will be assigned to do the reception and approval work.
Yeah, please. My standards will be straighter than I think they should be.



　After finishing his meeting with Florence, he left the reception room and this time headed for the Hollow Bottom branch of the White Wolf Store.

　On the way there, Garnett opened his mouth in an attitude of casual banter.

'Hey ...... Luke. You've known the branch manager, Florence, for a long time, haven't you?
'Yes, but ...... what about it?'

　Hearing her called Le(-)-Ku(-) instead of White(-)-Wolf(-), I intuitively sensed that it seemed to be different from mere banter.

　Before, Garnett had stubbornly not tried to call me by name, but lately, on rare occasions, she had begun to call me here.

　However, he only calls her by her name when he can be sure it's just the two of them, or when there's no need to hide their relationship.

　Even though the timing of this is not very popular, I can only say that it is surprising to be called by name in the corridor of the guild branch.

I heard it from Erica. I heard you had a crush on Florence a long time ago.
'...... Erica?'　Why is that ......, oh, I see. That guy was there too when I told Lisa a light old story.

　Florence is raising her daughter, Lisa, by herself.

　I have to take my hat off to her for handling the work of a branch manager and raising a child all by herself, but even so, Lisa sometimes feels lonely.

　I once told her about one such occasion, and come to think of it, Erika was there too.

It's a good thing that you're still in love with Florence," he said, "or maybe you think I still have a crush on her? If so, you're way off the mark.

　I walk around in front of Garnet and stop in front of him.

　If we go any further, there will be more other adventurers around us.
　I don't even want to talk about this stuff in a place where other guys are around.

　Garnett stops with me and looks up at me with a face that looks like it's been crushed with all the force of anxiety.

'All the young men in the guildhouse were crazy about that guy,' he said. Besides, he gave up cleanly when he thought he deserved Richard more than me, and now he doesn't have an ounce of desire left in him.
Richard. ......
'Of course he's married to that guy, Lisa's father. He was a good guy, ...... of course, but I don't have the faintest idea of taking Richard's place.

　Oh, I see. I knew Garnett was getting anxious.

　Totally, it's easy to cut it off as ...... when you're usually not afraid, but maybe it's not surprising that he's anxious.

　Garnett has only lived about half as long as I have, and for the last five years he's been hiding his gender and joining the Order as a man.

　There was no opportunity for me to gain any experience of a s*xual relationship at all, nor do I know how others deal with past romantic feelings inside.

　Regardless of the type of emotion in the first place, the existence of emotions that were split and sublimated more than ten years ago must be unimaginable to a mere fifteen-year-old Garnet.

''Don't worry. It's an old story that I wouldn't have even remembered if the other person hadn't been Lisa in the first place. Now, you're the only person I can look at like that anymore.

　I take a step closer to Garnett as I say something that makes my teeth flutter in my teeth.

　If someone else saw this part of me, I would die of embarrassment before I could talk about hiding a secret or anything like that.

　But I felt I should make it clear once and for all, so I pushed the unnecessary emotions aside and put them into words.

'If you don't believe me, even if it's just one proof--'
'Excuse me. You must be Luke and Garnett of the White Wolf Forest.

　Suddenly, a voice calls out from behind me, and we both turn back towards it in a great hurry, startled as if our hearts are about to jump out of our mouths.

　A man standing a little further away, wearing a robe that hides his face.

　The moment that person removed the robe as if it were a heavy burden, Garnett's expression suddenly became strained and he let out a surprised voice.

''...... Gi, Gilbert, Sir ......!