After that, we decided to do what we always do when we visit the branch, touring the stores and branches of the White Wolf store that we knew, before heading back to our home/main office.

'...... and before that. I'll have to replenish my mithril, too.
'I thought you still had this month's inventory?'
''There's plenty of room for it to be used for merchandise, though. You'll have to set aside a separate amount to use for your sword, or the procedure will be complicated later.
Hmm ...... that's a good one too.

　In the current Westland Kingdom, mithril is under the strict control of the royal court, from collection to distribution, and is under the strict control of the royal court.

　Since this permission to mine has been granted to me personally, I can decide whether the mithril I collect will be the property of the White Wolf Shop or the White Wolf Knights, at my discretion.

　However, once the mithril is reported as belonging to the White Wolf Store, changing it to belonging to the White Wolf Order afterwards will inevitably require an extra layer of paperwork.

　Even though it is a necessary procedure to monitor the distribution of mithril, it's better to save it if possible, so the intention is to complete additional mining of mithril while visiting the branch.

(Well, there are many ways to do this. (Well, there are many ways to do it, but if you've come all the way to the branch (here), it's the quickest way to get some additional mithril and go home.

　While thinking about this, just as we were about to head to the 'Millennium Corridor of the Abyss' (the first labyrinth) where we could collect mithril, we heard a voice calling us from the corner of the branch's grounds.

It's a long time since we've seen each other. Did you have a good time in King's Landing?

　-- the moment we heard the man's voice, Garnett and I couldn't help but tense up.

　The oddity of the white mask, which is different from the adventurer's in quality clothing and a white mask that can ruin the atmosphere of superiority.

　Valentine Argentia - one of Garnet's two older brothers.

'There's no need to be alarmed. I have no intention of disturbing you guys in any way. I'll be content to watch from a distance.
...... I'm just surprised. I wasn't expecting to run into you here.
I mean, I didn't know you were home yet.

　The murmurings that Garnett let out were not intended for Valentine to hear, but merely a thought that had come out in words.

　The reason why Valentine had come to Green Hollow, was to incite Garnett's vengeance against Agart Lamb.

　He had been there the day Garnett's mother was murdered as the person in charge of overseeing the site, and it seems that not only had he failed to protect Garnett's mother, but he had been mortally wounded himself.

　He was unable to protect the person he wanted to protect - this one incident threw Valentine's mind off balance.

　And he sees Garnett's vengeance as 'a substitute for the woman who should be carrying out the vengeance', and to satisfy his desire to see her rekindle her vengeance, he came to tell her the latest theory that Agart Ram is hiding in the Ark of the Elements.

　-- Knowing what was going on around here, I no longer thought of Valentine as merely a creepy person, and it wasn't as if I didn't feel sympathy for the circumstances that led to his loss of sanity.

　That being said, you can't help but be surprised when you see each other at unexpected times.

'Didn't you say you were going to stay for a while?　As you know, my body is practically a patchwork of parts. Until I get used to it, I want to take care of the effects of the hot springs in this area.

　It's what's called a hot spring cure.

　I've heard that many guests have been coming to the hot springs of Green Hollow for such purposes for a long time, and I know that Valentine's body is not straightforward.

　Even without the presence of Garnett, Valentine's long stay in Green Hollow is not unnatural in itself.

'Besides, Ambrose, who was sent by your Order, is also my doctor. It's only natural that you'd want to stay close to him until your body is stable, right?
Yeah, I guess so.

　I preface it so as not to give him a strange misunderstanding, and then I say the most important question that comes to my mind.

'But how did you end up here?　I don't think the guild branch's large bath is suitable for the purpose of a hot water cure, though. It's too noisy and it doesn't look like you can get a good rest.
It's all part of the cure.

　Valentine simply stated that.

'The damaged part of my body is compensated for by the magical beast factor extracted from the medallion shards. I think that's why my body feels better when I'm in a dense environment of magical power.''
''Ah ...... I see. This 'Sundial Forest' is still a dungeon as well, so the deeper you go to the bottom of the basin, the thicker the magic in the soil and the air.
'To come here a few hours a week and be exposed to strong magic. I've been doing this because my doctor told me to, but it's quite a nice thing to do, even if you think of it as just a forest bath.

　Then Valentine shifted his gaze - his eyes were not exposed due to the white mask - to Garnett.

'Garnet. You should get used to it while there's still time if you're going to have the monster element in your body, even if it's only for a while. Unfamiliarity with your power can lead to your downfall.
...... Is that a warning?
It's a good one. I was in so much pain after I crossed fists with you guys that I thought my whole body was going to fall apart. I guess I should have asked you to hang [restoration] without being stubborn.
I'll keep that in mind, my brother.

　Garnett had mixed emotions, but he was deliberately polite in his reply, as if he was trying not to show them.

　Perhaps it was irksome to take advice from Valentine, but the advice itself was undoubtedly appropriate, so he also felt that he shouldn't poke around without listening to it.

　Even though it doesn't come from the sanity of a human being, Valentine wants Garnett's vengeance to be fulfilled, and he doesn't want to force himself to run out of steam in the process.

　Ironically, me and Valentine are in agreement on that one point.

　Inwardly, I added one project to my future plans.

　The accomplishment of the tool development request from Theodore.
　Modification of the Sword of Adamant given to me by His Majesty.

　And--forging a strengthening method to [fuse] garnet and medallion.

　I have to decide exactly what the priority of things are, but if time permits, I might as well try a new medallion.

　However, that is if time really allows.