You know, you've been working your ass off these days.

　After business hours one day, as I was sitting at my office desk preparing the documents related to the establishment of the Knights' headquarters, Garnett spoke to me with a mixture of dismay and concern.

You're not going to be able to get your hands on too much. You can dump the paperwork on me and Noir.

　Garnett put the freshly brewed herbal tea on the office desk, then brought a chair over and sat down next to me.

'Thanks. But I still have to do what I can to help myself.'
What are you talking about, a**h*le?

　Garnett's finger flicks my forehead as I turn around.

It's also the role of the leader of the knight's group to assign tasks to his or her subordinates. I'm not a leader who does everything from the top to the bottom, but if you do it correctly, you'll die.
...... Garnett.
I mean, haven't I mentioned this before?　No, you said that or ...... well, it's the same thing either way. I've even entrusted Noir with the paperwork to run the store. You'll be in good hands when it comes to the Order as well.

　I stop working and let out a short breath of huff.

　It's true that Garnett is right.
　No matter how big the responsibility is, if you get too worked up about it, you'll be in trouble.

　It's the end of the world if you let the heavy responsibility piled up in front of you cloud your judgment and forget to rely on your friends.

...... Sorry. Then can you check this one for me? Make sure I don't leave any items out.
I'll take care of it. I'm just an occasional knight in shining armor. I'm a bit of a paperwork guy.
You're good at that too?
No?　Honestly, it's bittersweet. Unless, of course, you're asking for it.

　Garnett laughed well and began to look through a stack of papers next to me.

　Strangely enough, I felt much more at ease than when I was working silently by myself.

　It wasn't just for the immediate reason that the amount of work had decreased - of course there was a reason for that, too - but the situation of having this guy next to me seemed to be greater than anything else.

　If I were to use an analogy, it would be like being presented with a dazzling lantern when I was walking in the dark and not being able to see a step ahead.

　It's not just the fact that the dark road is lit up, it's the fact that the brightness and warmth of the lantern is at hand that makes me happy.

...... It looks like someone's here.

　Just as the two of us put away the paperwork for a while and wondered if we would be able to finish today's portion of the day's work soon, we heard a light tap on the kitchen door unexpectedly.

　Garnett got up from her seat as if it was normal and went to check on the situation.

　Somewhat later, Garnett's dubious voice and the voice of a woman she doesn't know reaches her ears, although she can't hear the contents.

'An?　Who the f*ck are you?
----
Are you sure?　Then at least one of the referrals: ......
----
...... That looks like the real thing. I'll see you in a minute.

　Just as I was beginning to wonder what the hell was going on, Garnett came back to the living room by himself and pointed a raised thumb over his shoulder toward the kitchen door.

I heard that the knights sent by the rainbow scale have come to greet you. I guess I have the letters of introduction for the palace and the knights.
What?

　I was surprised by the unexpected, but decided to ask her to come into the house to listen to the conversation anyway.

　The one who came was a rather slender woman wearing a travel cloak and a white cape (hood) separately.

I'm pleased to meet you. I'm Hild Armiefield from the Knights of the rainbow.
'You must be Sir Hild. I am Luke White Wolf, also from the White Wolf Forest ....... This is Garnet Argentia of the Silverwing Knights.

　As they were introducing themselves to each other, Garnett poked me with his elbow from the side.

'What's the point of being in awe of the Knight Commander? You're supposed to stand tall.''
"Nonsense." ......

　I caught a glimpse of Hild giggling under his white hood (hood) and quickly mending his straight face in the face of me and Garnett's not-so-normal interaction.

'Excuse me. I'm sorry to be abrupt, but I actually have one thing to apologize for. My original visit is scheduled for tomorrow or later, and it's my sole discretion to interrupt you like this tonight.
'......?　That's also ...... Why in the world?
"Because on the original scheduled date of my visit, my companions ...... were also scheduled to be accompanied by priests from the rainbow scales who would conduct rituals in accordance with the faith of the personnel dispatched from each Order.

　Hild took off his white hood as he said this, revealing his true face underneath - the side(s) of his head(s) that had been hidden.

　What was there was a long, pointed, thin ear.
　It was unmistakably the physical characteristics of an elf.

''......!''
Please wait!

　Garnett quickly broke in front of me, but Hild seemed to have expected this reaction, spreading his arms out to announce that he had no intention of harming me.

''I was forced to leave the Northern Tree Sea Union ...... 'Chalk Fairyland'. I have escaped to this country and have been officially recognized as a subject of His Majesty. His Majesty the King and Commander Angelica know all about it.
'Defectors. It's not uncommon for knights to mix in with the rest of us, but I've never heard of an elf defector.
'I am aware that there is no other example of this. The reason I covered my ears, and the reason I have thus silently interrupted my companions, is because many of them would not be pleased if they knew who I was.

　After carefully observing Hild's words and demeanor, Garnet sniffed with a huff and stepped back.

　The air of the moment had subsided, and Hild also patted his chest in relief.

'I guess the only reason you bothered to tell us the truth is that it's dishonest to hide your identity from us, so I guess it's not just because you're ...... or something. There's something else going on here, isn't there?
As you can see, sir. That's why I volunteered for this mission, sir.

　Serious Hild's eyes look up slightly at my face.

　Although it was the same elf, the atmosphere was clearly different from that of the Ail senator from the Northern Tree Sea Union.

　That one only had a human-like shape and exuded a foreignness that couldn't be wiped away, but this one felt closer to a blood human.

''To unravel the history of the high elves, including the Ail Sesloum Nil ...... she and other high elves, that the Lord Commander has met face to face. That is my purpose, and the reason I volunteered for this mission.