Then I had a casual conversation with Giles.

　It wasn't an exchange of ideas necessary for the sake of the operation, but rather a kind of banter about my activities and my involvement with His Majesty so far.

　It's not that there is any meaning to this exchange itself, but the atmosphere is that I wanted to hear directly from me what I had heard through His Majesty Alfred.

　Since we are both busy, we couldn't take too much time, but I'm sure we were able to satisfy them to a certain extent.

''-- Even so, it's a bold move to offer your right arm.

　Giles turns his eyes to my right arm and sighs.

'It's a pity that you've been blessed with so much boldness ...... and skill to be an adventurer.
''If that had happened, everything might have gone the way the Demon King's Army wanted it to. I have a good life now, and I think it's for the best.

　He put his hand on his right arm over his sleeve.

''And because I trust you, Your Majesty. I'm sure he will make a decision ...... that is worth the risk I'm taking. So I don't consider it a 'bet'.
I see. Alfred is a very lucky man. I'm sorry I missed out on you.

　Shortly after Giles said something that tickled me, there was a knock on the door of the room.

'Oops ...... I guess I have to go now. I'm sorry to have taken up your time.
Thank you, too.

　As they were exchanging one last light greeting, a man who looked like an adventurer entered the room and gestured for Giles and the Duke of Kingswell to leave.

　Could this be the adventurer that Giles had brought in as an escort?

　He was a large man who looked up and wore a thick coat, but his face was not apparent due to his upright collar and deep-eyed hat.

　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make your life easier and more fun.

...... Ah, that's an interesting story. You're the right man for this role: ......

　Giles left the room as he spoke to his escort.

　A little later, the Duke of Kingswell also slowly got up from his seat.

"I cannot thank Your Majesty enough for allowing me to lead a delegation, and for sending Master Giles through my own contacts. ...... We shall both do our best not to disappoint Your Majesty.
'Yes, of course it is. I'd be lying if I said I had no feelings for His Highness, but I can't afford to disappoint His Majesty's expectations.
Ha-ha. Keep up the good work.

　The Duke of Kingswell laughed off my hateful words and left with satisfaction.

　Left alone in my room, I took a deep breath and replaced the air in my lungs, and then pulled my mind back to work for tomorrow and beyond.

　From now on, we would take a short break to rest the delegation before heading to the Demon King Gandalf, who lurks on the fourth level.

　The success or failure of the meeting is still unknown to anyone, but no matter how it goes, there is no doubt that the situation - and the times will change.

　The fact that I'm standing on the front lines of this situation is something that I have to reaffirm my resolve to do.










　A few days after the arrival of the Royal Delegation's Green Hollow Town, the day for the departure of the fourth level finally arrived.

　It's already been a month since they encountered the Demon King's Army's demon general at the fourth level.

　The long but short month was quickly used up due to various preparations, and before he knew it, this day had already arrived.

　The members heading to Gandalf, the Demon King, can be divided into three main positions.

　The first one was the Kingdom Mission led by Duke Kingswell.

　It was their job to conduct political negotiations in the field, and they were composed mainly of civilian officials such as scribes and archivists.

　The second is the knightly forces to escort the delegation.

　This is a combination of the guards brought by the Mission and the troops of the Golden Fang Knights stationed in Green Hollow, with Master Giles and the personnel he has led from the Adventurer's Guild also counted here.

　And the third was the guide who would lead the fourth level, which had many dangers and a harsh environment - in other words, the adventurers' party.

　Of course, the leader of this party is Theodore, who leads the search for the fourth level.

　Theodore is also the heir of a high ranking nobleman called the Count of the Frontier, so it could be said that he was surprisingly well-suited as a personnel involved in a royal mission that included several nobles.

　Also, we, the White Wolf Knights, will be joining Theodore's team to act as a go-between for the adventurers and the delegation and the escort units.

...... Okay, are you ready?

　I looked over at the faces joining the operation in a room in the Hollow Bottom Fortress, under the command of the White Wolf Knights.

　First, from the members of the Order, Garnett and Chandler, who are in charge of the battle, Hild and Ambrose as researchers, and Mark as my assistant.

　Next, Sakura, Nagi, and Melissa have joined us as adventurers to assist the White Wolf Knights.

What can I say, it feels like we're doing our best too. If Alexia and Noir were here as well, we'd be a hundred man power.

　Garnett raises the corner of his mouth in satisfaction.

　I gave Garnett a wry smile as I thought of the two men whose names had come up.

''Those two left me reckless with the production of the equipment, you know. As expected, I can't ask them to stay with me until the show.

　In order to operate in the fourth level of the scorching underground space, the fourth level, unless you have the appropriate skills, you need to wear the heat-resistant equipment that the White Wolf Store deals in.

　However, its production capacity was not inexhaustible.

　In order to distribute the equipment to the entire delegation of such a large delegation, Alexia, the skillful engineers, Noir and Bran, who is a subcontractor for the work, were busy until the last minute.

''Well, let's go over the procedures one last time--''

　Just as I was about to start the briefing, there was a violent knock on the door of the room and before I could answer, two men and a woman walked in.

'Good morning!　Brave Ezell, I have come to assist the White Wolf Knights!