We then decided to head back to the main office immediately after being shown how the branch office was operating for a short time.

　Originally, we didn't plan to stay in the guild branch for long, and we were going to return to work once we showed up at the branch, so it was only a planned withdrawal.

　I left the branch building and was about to pass through the wall surrounding the grounds when the knight on guard stopped me at an unexpected time.

''Luke-dono. May I have a moment?
What's the trouble?
''No, as a matter of fact, someone who says he's a member of the White Wolf Knights is investigating the 'Thousand Year Corridor of the Abyss': .......''

　I couldn't help but look at Garnett.

　The first labyrinth of the dungeon 'Ark of the Elements', that labyrinth, which has long been referred to as the 'Thousand Year Corridor of the Abyss' among the humans on earth, is a place with which I have a very close connection.

　The reason why I decided to take a leave of absence from adventuring to start a weapons shop, the reason why my only skill, 【Restoration】, evolved, and perhaps the reason why I obtained the power to transform my right eyeball into the Right Eye of Wisdom, all originate in this labyrinth.

　The interior is disguised as a typical stone labyrinth, but it is actually composed of a rare metal mithril, hence the royal court's order that it was not allowed to enter without special permission. ......

"I've been going to ......," he said. ...... Don't tell me you're still doing that?　You didn't stop me.

　The knight replied to Garnett's puzzled question with an equally troubled look.

'We had brought the royal court's permission letter with us. So we couldn't refuse it on our own authority, but I just heard that Lord Luke was here, so I thought I'd check it out just in case.
So, what is this guy like?

　I knew what to expect, but I had to check just in case.

　The knight's reply was exactly who I had in mind.

''It really was a person with a suspicious appearance. You claimed to be Ambrose, who was sent by the Suigan Knights, right?










　--You can find a lot of people who have been in the business for a long time.

　With a sorcerer-like robe covering his entire body and a front droop with tinted eye patterns hiding his face, he has a style that can only be described as suspicious.

　He was dressed exactly the same as Ambrose ...... who was sent to the White Wolf Knights from the Green Eye Knights.

　However, looks alone are not enough to determine the real Ambrose.

　It's not only that Ambrose doesn't show his true face, he doesn't even show his bare skin, and he even used that to switch places with Garnett's older brother, Valentine.

It's a good thing that you're the youngest brother of Argentea to Commander Luke, isn't it? It doesn't sound like it's an odd coincidence .......

　With a human tone that contradicts his bizarre appearance, Ambrose calls out to us himself.

　I'm sure the voice is Ambrose's, but it's not like he doesn't have the skills to fool us that much.

　Or just when I thought that 'The Right Eye of Wisdom' might be able to determine it, Ambrose waved a hand wrapped in a thick glove and urged me to stop.

'That's an exaggeration and a waste of time. It's perfectly normal ...... to be suspicious, but if you don't suspect it, I'd rather doubt your qualifications, but here, can't you just convince me with a letter of authorization from the royal court?
What if I ask you to show me your face?
'I choose death. After I've carefully planted a spell to make my flesh explode.

　After Ambrose's immediate response, Garnett gave a small snort of humph and held his tongue.

'I apologize to you in full for the lack of communication. This was a mistake on my part. I have to say that I should have talked to the Commander in Chief beforehand, no matter how much of an authorization letter I have. I guess my curiosity got the better of me.
Do that next time. By the way, what the hell were you looking for?
Nothing. I just wanted to see it in action for once as a wizard, that's all. It's a shame not to use it, since it's been given to me.

　The Green Eye Knights are tasked with monitoring the activities of wizards, but since specialized knowledge is inevitably required, they have a special form of employing wizards as part of their knights.

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

It's a very good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for. I will gladly follow orders. But as long as it doesn't violate orders and laws, I'd like to be allowed to do some personal exploration.
Of course it is. I don't want to get into your personal life.
Thank you. I'm lucky to have an understanding boss.

　Whether you are a knight or not, you are still one person.
　You should cherish your personal (private) time as much as possible.

　And there are usually guys in the world whose hobbies coincide with their job description.

Oops, let me tell you before I forget. Can you give us one of the empty rooms at the knight's headquarters for our work only?

　Just as Ambrose was about to leave the scene, he stopped and turned to me.

'The work I'm undertaking - the analysis of the wreckage of the automaton and the medallion. In order to make the process more comfortable, I need to have the entire room magically altered. It will also help to keep the objects of my research safe.

　After the battle of the neutral city of Asropolis, we had a number of hard-to-get clues.

　One was an extremely advanced automatic doll ...... that was also able to secure a rather large amount of wreckage.

　Considering that up until now, we only had samples for the two perpetrators of the Night Ripper incident, I was hopeful that our investigation and research would proceed at once.

　And the other was called a medallion, a silver artifact that resembles a large coin.

　It is an object that seems to have been used as the nucleus (core) of the magical beast Skoll and the flame giant (Muspel) to generate a body through magic power, and it is an object that is suspected to be related to the cause of the destruction of the ancient magical civilization.

　Of the two medallions we secured, Muspel's medallion was to be sent to the king's capital along with half of the automaton's wreckage, and the rest were to be investigated under our control.

'I'll think about the room. I'd like to get an opinion from Hild, who's doing the research with us, and I'll have to consult with Sophia, who's in charge of managing the headquarters.''
Okay. I'll be fine.

　Ambrose readily agreed to postpone his answer and reiterated what had been explained to him before.

''This research was requested by the Royal Palace before it was an order from you. There is a proper meaning to the fact that the personnel sent by the Green Eye Knights were not ordinary knights, but magical knights.
I know exactly what I'm talking about. The role of the white wolf is not only to mediate between the adventurers and the palace, but also to research and study this dungeon.

　Hild has studied ancient magical civilizations for a long time.
　Ambrose, an expert in magic.
　And Noir, an outside collaborator but a black wizard.

　It can be said that the preparations for the White Wolf Knights to become a frontline base for the investigation and research of The Ark of the Elements are already well underway.

　...... But for now, it will still be a peaceful day.

　Until the adventuring party exploring the dungeon, or the time when the Hildes come to a new discovery.