-- After parting with Valentine, Garnett and I decided that this time we would [disassemble] the walls of the 'Thousand Year Corridor of the Abyss' (First Labyrinth) to collect mithril and return to the White Wolf Shop on the ground.

　It took longer than planned, but since I had originally planned to return home reasonably late, I told Alexia and the others from the beginning that I would not return to work at the shop today.

　So I walked slowly and leisurely along the mountain road at dusk and returned to my home and workplace with the same ease as a walk.

　Then, for some reason, there was Alexia and Noir in front of the house.

'Huh?　What's the matter with you two?
Oh. Welcome back, Luke. You look like you've been held up pretty good.
'You weren't home yet. I told you to keep it closed if I wasn't back by closing.
No, no, no, I just stayed behind voluntarily.

　Noir is also nodding silently behind Alexia as if it were natural for her to say so.

''Actually, Mark-kun showed up during business hours. I can't tell you the details, but he probably told me that there's a new job popping up for me and Noir.
So let's wait a little while for ...... ...... or maybe ......
"That guy ...... doesn't have to do anything stupid.

　Maybe it was a result of Mark's own care, but if it caused the two of us to spend extra time together, it was counterproductive.

　However, Alexia easily dismissed my concerns with a fluttering wave of her hand, seeming rather amused even.

'It's up to us to stay, and since it's been a while since I was able to sit down and talk to Noir in the first place, it was rather just as well.
"...... new ...... products ...... and many other ...... things, you know. ......
'So what are we supposed to do?　If it's something that helps me digest the ideas that have been piling up, I'm happy.

　Apparently, both Alexia and Noir are motivated enough.

　Perhaps both of them had guessed that 'they must be instructed to develop something' when they heard Mark's story, and they both seemed to be excited by the prospect of a job that would allow them to make use of an idea they hadn't had any use for before.

'Sorry about that. Let's talk about the rest of this in the house, shall we?

　I thought that I should have returned sooner, but I raised Alexia and Noir to the living room of my home and store.

　Then, while Garnett prepared tea, he decided to explain the request from Theodore.

'...... I see. Looks like things have gone a long way without us even knowing it!

　After listening to my story in full, Alexia reacted with interest as she sipped her cold herbal tea.

'Paving the way for the roadless!　As an adventurer, I can't help but be intrigued, and the fact that they expect me to be a skillful technician makes me all the more motivated!
Oh, she's getting better.
That said, we've got a lot of work to do.

　With a brilliant switch, Alexia's expression changed from buoyant mood to work mode.

'Let's isolate the problem first. What we need to develop is the adventurers' heat-resistant equipment, a temperature-controlled base, and a means to unload the base's building materials and supplies onto the fourth level.
Yeah, ......, those are the three biggest categories.
'Luke, you may be thinking the same thing, but I would advise you to do the same. The top priority is 'personal heat resistant equipment'. We can't start without it.

　Alexia's voice is full of vitality and energy as she lays out her opinions in a crisp and clear manner.

　Alexia is really dependable in these situations.

　Her basic thought process is that of a technician, since she comes from an adventurer's background as a technician who also became an adventurer to facilitate her work, rather than an adventurer equipped with the skills of a technician.

　I've been an adventurer for fifteen years, and my perspective is different from mine as I've managed to get around with the knowledge and experience I've gained during that time, and sometimes she comes up with unexpected ideas - sometimes showing me that a technician's perspective comes to the same conclusions as an adventurer's! I do.

Even if we could make the job easier with all sorts of tricks, we'd still have to work in the feverishly hotter areas.
'Without heat-resistant equipment, the efficiency of the work would be greatly reduced. And you might even have to intercept the dragons in that state: ...... Well, you will.
'Yes, you will. I'm grateful that you, Luke, are so quick to understand these things.

　Alexia's statement sounded flattering for a moment, but because of the wry smile that surfaced immediately afterwards, you quickly understand that she meant what she said.

''It's really hard to bump into a client (client) who doesn't understand our explanations,''
...... that's a hell of a lot of realization.
Fortunately, not so much since I've been in Green Hollow, but people who don't understand the impossibility of bringing work to the multi-story city (Springfield) to other people who bring work to the multi-story city (Springfield) ...... and I'm getting off track.

　I haven't heard much about the job Alexia took before she came here, but it seems that this guy has had to work hard in his own way, after all.

　Until only a short time ago, crafted technology was a monopoly only in Springfield and a limited area.

　With the unification of the continents by His Majesty the King, the monopoly was lifted, and with the lifting of the prohibition on belief in the gods that guarded the master craftsmen, the number of craftsmen grew, as did the number of watches and other elaborate products.

　......, but still, there are still many who are unfamiliar with elaboration.

　It's not easy to understand what's possible and what's not, but the customers are pushing us to do it anyway, and Alexia and the other technicians are struggling to make it happen.

The first priority is the personal heat resistant equipment, but we also have to work on the other two designs in parallel. It will take too much time if we do it in sequence.
'I think I can help with the construction. If we try to build it foolishly on site, there's a big risk of raids, but it should be better if we dismantle what we've assembled on the ground and bring it to the site and then [restore] it all at once.
The so-called Hollow Bottom Fortress system. Thank you. I was even going to ask you for help.

　The application of the [Restoration] skill of relocating an existing building in a short period of time - this guy has the pride of being a contribution that only I can make.

　The disadvantage is that it's somewhat inflexible, as it can't be changed in shape on the spot, but that shouldn't be too much of a problem this time around.

'But even so, it will still take time to bring in the dismantled building materials. Well, the guild will provide the manpower, so let us focus on designing and developing the equipment and facilities.
'But hey, ...... maybe I shouldn't be the one to tell you this, but is it really okay to have three things going on in parallel?'
'Who can say that without Mr. Luke, the man in charge?　Of course it's hard.

　Alexia stated flatly and continued her words without pause.

''If you're on your own, though. Connections are used for this kind of thing, so I'll talk to the crafty engineers gathered in town and scrounge them up.''
It's reassuring if you can do that.
I can do it. I'm still the most senior engineer to ever come to Green Hollow, you know?

　Then Alexia smiled fearlessly and proudly.

I'm a C-ranked adventurer, but I'm one step before an A-ranked mechanical engineer. Well, we don't have a rank system here, so it's just a metaphorical story.