--The social gathering, which also served as a celebration for the opening of the knight's headquarters, ended up being a success with more than its fair share of excitement.

　It's a good thing, but it seems that we carelessly let our guard down too much, and both Garnet and I went straight to bed as soon as we got home.

　We didn't even prepare well and fell asleep, and as it was, we couldn't go out in front of the guests, so we decided to have a morning bath, which was a rare occurrence today.

In such a situation, it is more convenient to have a bath in your own home. Let's just get the work done.
...... first, once we've finished decorating the headquarters.

　So, after washing off the night sweat in the private baths of the Spring Wakabatei, I was about to wait in the dining room for Garnett to come up when I noticed a woman with a familiar face relaxing in a corner seat.

'Noir. Is everyone else still in their rooms?
"Le ...... Luke or ...... coincidence, I guess. ......

　With his approval, I sit down in the seat across from him.

　I'm going to have breakfast after Garnett comes back, and Noir had already finished eating, so I'll just get a glass of water and talk to him for a while.

　Noir and I hadn't had a chance to talk calmly for a while, so we were just accumulating things we wanted to talk about, including the business thing.

I've been looking for someone who can use the 【Magic Tool Creation】 skill until now, about the new manpower, right?　But ......
"The ...... idea of hiring a regular, regular clerk to work at ......, right, ......?
'Did Alexia tell you that?　I think I'd like to proceed in a way that makes it easier for you.

　After pondering for a moment, Noir spoke in the same small voice as usual, expressing his hopes about hiring additional staff.

It's a good idea to have ...... skills to say selfishness. The two of us want to ...... work together and there is ...... work to be done ...... from ......
'I see, he wants to do more than just hire skilled people to work in shifts, he wants to do things that can only be done by two people. Then surely there's no point in hiring more regular clerks?

　I nodded my head in agreement with the real opinions of the person concerned.

　After all, hearing directly from the person in question is much more useful than continuing to think only in one's own mind.

　However, it is undeniable that with our plan, it would be difficult to find people.

　In the first place, the skill of 【Magic Tool Making】 is a so-called sub-skill that a wizard may obtain in addition to the skills for his main job.

　Just as my 【Restoration】 skill is originally a sub-skill for all professions that deal with tools, and therefore there are no people who specialize in 【Restoration】, there are almost no companies that specialize in making magic tools.

　The majority of the magic tools on the market are made and sold by wizards to earn research funds, the production volume is not as stable as if it were, and it's unlikely that anyone is looking for a long-term job in making magic tools.

　That's why the magic tools that Noir makes professionally are popular not only among adventurers but also among other knights.

The only thing you can do is to get the best out of it. I still think it's best to rely on the lateral connections of wizards for this kind of thing, but do you really have any idea?

　I tried to ask the question again as I did before, but Noir shook his head just like before and indicated that he didn't have any idea,'' he said.

　However, before that was all, but this time, he seemed to be hesitating and trying to tell us more about the situation.

"...... my ...... our, my parents were ...... not good, they were doing ...... research, apparently. I don't know, but ...... is a specific, concrete, thing I don't know, but ......

　Noir is incessantly looking around.

　It's not so much that she doesn't want to be heard by strangers - it's more that she doesn't want to be heard by others.

　It's not because I feel bad about being asked, but because others will feel bad about hearing it.

I was ...... blamed for it, and was killed by ....... We were ...... when we were children ....... We couldn't even ...... stay in our hometown. ......

　This is the first time I'm hearing about Noir's past.
　I listened quietly, not even thinking to interrupt as much as I should have.

'...... it, and then ...... we ...... live ...... across, here and there. They're here. I've sold magical equipment. I've been hired as a wizard. That's why I don't know many ...... competitors in the industry, and I don't have many ...... acquaintances.
...... Sorry, I'm sorry, you reminded me of something I don't like.

　Noir closed his eyes and shook his head, then continued with more words.

I'm sure you'll be able to find out more about it by visiting ...... I'm sure you'll be able to find out more about the ...... rewards for the wizard. I've also honed my magic skills ......

　Noir's gaze, casually directed into the distance, seemed to be looking at some nostalgic past.

"But ...... I'm such and such, so ...... I've been relying on my sister (Blanc) for a long time .......

　Bran the White Wizard - I'm not surprised that the name has come up.

　The I (...) and them (..) that have been spoken of since a while ago clearly indicated the twin sisters of Noir and Blanc.

It's a good thing that ...... I'm not the only one who has had to deal with this. ...It's a shameful ...... hassle, and it's a lot of work, and I've left all the hard work to .......

　The Bran I knew was the kind of guy who would successfully take on the brave Falcon with his ability and status, while his words and actions were noticeable as a disrespectful stranger and a nerve agent to me.

　In addition, even though his own life and humanity were seriously at stake, he's also the kind of guy who would turn to the Demon King's army for self-preservation.

　However, these too, on the flip side, might be the result of the young sisters struggling without pretending to be in the kind of environment Noir spoke of, in order to survive without being harmed.

'I'm sorry, Luke ...... Blanc's, the story is obnoxious ......, isn't it?'
Don't worry about it. I'm not crafty enough to drag my resentment around at this stage of my life. Too many things have happened in a short period of time, and more importantly, that guy is already .......
S-So ...... Well, ...... is a good place to start. ......

　It's not me, but Noir who gets hard by bringing up Bran, but Noir.

　It is true that Bran was the one who proposed leaving me in the Thousand Year Corridor of the Abyss to clean up the blunder of the brave Falcon, and nearly killed me.

　However, it was Noir, of all people, who avenged Bran's turning to the Demon King's army.

　Seeing it as his mission to avenge his own sister who shared his blood, he desperately suppressed all his emotions and willingly did his own dirty work.

　The last time he was swallowed up by the backwash of the runaway summoning magic, but the runaway was deliberately induced by Noir, and Noir himself apparently recognized that he had done the deed.

　I wasn't present at the scene, but Nagi, an adventurer who had nothing to do with our cause, was there, and he too reported the exact same thing as Noir.

　So there was no doubt that Bran had met such an end.

　It's a good thing that the woman who had her immediate family in her hands is behaving stoutly, while I, who had gained more than enough to recoup my losses even though I was inconvenienced, is whispering bitterness at this point in time, no matter what the cost, is beyond the pale.

　I'm not going to say that this is someone else's problem, but if it's my problem, it's not worth it.

...... is a wonder. It's a good thing that ...... feels a little lighter, maybe ......

　Noir's expression loosened and he exhaled in a vaguely calm manner.

'This kind of thing ...... Luke, I can only talk to ...... to .......'
'That's good to hear. Tell me something else when you're ready.

　We've known each other for almost a year now, but this may have been the first time Noir had ever talked about himself this much.

　I was happy about that fact, too, and I smiled back at Noir, whose mouth was breaking out in a smile.