After that, everyday life was repeated as usual, and there were days when there was no talk of knighthood or anything like that.

　I wondered if it was possible that they had disappeared without my knowledge, but I guess it's just a matter of adjustments being made under the surface.

　There's no need to report on progress on a regular basis every time to increase the risk of a leak - it's a matter of course to be handled that way.

　So all I had to do was to continue my normal life as much as possible without the people around me realizing it, while also accumulating as much knowledge and emotional preparation as possible.

'Phew ......, that's about it for this room for now.

　And today, I've been working on cleaning the house and shop on a regular holiday.

　The cleaning itself is usually done frequently, but as expected, it's hard to say that every nook and cranny of the house is thoroughly cleaned, so we decided to take some time to clean it when we have more time.

　I left the store and warehouse to Erica, Noir, Alexia and Leila, with Sakura joining me in helping out.

　The living space and the living room, which is half shared between work and life, was decided to be done by me and Garnett, the residents who live a private life here, but Sylvia also helped with that, as it would take time.

　When I went out into the living room after finishing cleaning the bedroom, I met Sylvia, who was wearing a cleaning apron.

''Oh, is your room now clean?　Well, next time, please change the water in the water trough. It's already so dirty.
Okay, okay.

　As expected, I should say, Sylvia's deftness was incomparable to mine and Garnett's.

　She worked quickly and without delay, as if she knew what to do in what order and what to do in what order.

　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make the most out of your time with us.

　Sylvia is the signboard girl of the best inn in the spa town.
　I'm sure her daily cleaning has sharpened her skills considerably.

　I've been working like this since the morning, and when the time was approaching noon, I took out a basket from among the luggage Sylvia had brought in and began to run around among the people who were cleaning.

　Finally, she came over to me, who was cleaning outside the kitchen door.

'Luke, is it time for lunch?　I've made it easy to eat.

　Saying that, Sylvia handed me a loaf of bread with a filling and a water bottle with a lid.

'Are you sure?　Sorry to bother you.
I haven't been able to help out much lately. I have to remind people that I'm great at it once in a while.

　Sylvia proudly folded her arms in a joking manner and giggled at her statement.

　She couldn't help but feel funny for saying something that wasn't on her mind.

　At any rate, he sat down in a suitable spot and tried to get his food, and Sylvia sat down right next to him and spread her own lunch on her lap.

''I've heard a lot about Luke-san doing great, even from the guests at the inn.
Really?　I don't feel much different than I usually do.
You know, for example. I heard that you had a great success hiding in the basement of the Demon King's Castle the other day.

　Can we really call it a great success?
　Although it is my own business, I can't help but question it.

　If you want to describe the fact that they were able to repair the collapse and open up a new path, it may not be a general mistake, but my own assessment is that their performance in battle was not as good as it could have been.

　A situation where a logistical specialist like myself is forced to play an active role in combat is quite dangerous, and frankly, it's better not to have it happen if possible.

　And well, I take a bite of bread while recalling a not so old memory.

　...... Yeah, as expected of Sylvia.
　I'm not blatantly cutting corners, even with these easy snacks.

''A lot of people come and go at our inn, so we hear a lot of rumors about it.

　What awaited at the end of this stream of conversation, which could only be considered casual banter, was a single word that I couldn't believe my ears and couldn't help but lose my voice.

''I wonder if Luke-san is going to be recruited by the knightly order, or if there will be a new knightly order coming to this town. There are all sorts of more unbelievable rumors... ......, are you okay with that!

　I winced and coughed, and Sylvia was seriously worried about me.

'Nah, I'm fine ...... ah, I'm surprised. What kind of rumor was that, exactly, and how did it come about?

　While trying to regain my composure, I tried to get more details about the story.

　I couldn't help but get impatient because it was too direct, but rumor is rumor.

　Maybe it's just a tailspin on a random, baseless rumor, and I just happened to hit a whim.
　Or rather, I hoped it was.

''Hmm, I've only heard it from people's biographies (word of mouth) too. There are rumors that Luke-san has been frequenting the Silver Winged Knights' stuffing station lately or secretly meeting with the head of the Golden Fang, so maybe ...... or something like that.
'What, that's what it is? I thought the Leila thing had leaked out somewhere.
I was just wondering, by chance, if this whole thing that you're going to talk about has anything to do with that.

　I was inwardly relieved.
　It wasn't that it was irrelevant and misguided speculation, but it wasn't that there had been a fatal information leak somewhere.

'You know that the Knights have ordered weapons from the Order as well. I had a chance to have a meeting related to that, and the timing just happened to coincide with the Silver Wings and the Golden Fang.
''Haha. Rumors are just like that when you open the lid.

　I can't help but feel a little guilty at Sylvia's profile as she laughs off as I knew it.

　Her perception of the knight ordination thing was supposed to be up to the point where the one with Leila and the Dragon King's Knights ended up being unsuccessful, and the fact that there was further progress from there - that is, the new knights - is still to be told I hadn't.

　Even though it was necessary, it would be a form of lying to Sylvia, who was always taking care of him, so it's not like he didn't have a personal opinion.

　Silvia in particular knows that Garnett is a small(er) year old(er) cavalryman(er), and yet she has been guarding that secret for nearly a year now.

　It's because I know that I can place all my trust in them in terms of keeping their secrets, that I find it painful that I can't reveal their secrets.

You're not going to be able to get away with it.
That one's much more unsubstantiated: ......

　We proceeded with our lunch, which was only a light lunch, repeating gossip that wasn't far off, even if it didn't hit us, and explanations (good reasons) to deny it, in a chatty mood.

　Eventually, Sylvia swallowed the last slice of bread and stood up, slapping her skirt, and turned to face you, flipping the hem.

'Hey, Luke-san. If Luke-san were to become a knight as rumored, would he still quit the arms store and leave town then?

　It was a voice that sounded like a casual metaphor, but also sounded like it was filled with sincere concern.

　So I threw my heartfelt determination back to Sylvia, taking the form of returning a hypothetical answer to a hypothetical question.

'No way. Of course you're going to stay in the town and continue your weapons shop. If you can't accept those conditions, I'll refuse to accept your knighthood or the new order of knights.
Are you sure?　It was good!

　I'm sure it was my small amount of guilt that made Sylvia's smile feel as if she was smiling with relief at the knowledge of everything.