--It's always a good feeling after a big job is successfully completed.

　When I was working as an adventurer, after I started working as a weapons dealer, and after I became involved in something as important as the Order, that's the only thing that hasn't changed.

　A sense of relief and freedom, a sense of fulfillment and a sense of accomplishment.

　There are many mixed emotions, but in reality, they are all positive emotions, and it doesn't seem to make a difference which emotion is the main one.

　Usually at times like this, we get together for a lavish dinner at the Wakaba-Tei in Spring, but it doesn't always fit everyone's schedule.

　Today, Alexia is holding a party for the crafty engineers' union, so we've decided to postpone organizing something.

I'm sure you're aware of ...... the situation, but why are you barging into the headquarters (over here)? Why don't you just stay at home and relax?
'Is there a rule against a Knight Commander coming to the Order's headquarters?

　As I was relaxing in the common room of the White Wolf Knights' headquarters, Mark, who had finished his work, came in with a dumbfounded look on his face.

''That's, well, it's not crazy in general terms,''

　Mark sat down in a chair where they dared to be out of each other's sight and took over the words without giving us a look.

'Normally you wouldn't even show your face if you didn't have to.　I know it's because I'm a weapons store and a dual business, but that's why I'm not going to find you so relaxed about it: ......
Do you have a foreign body?
'Yes, that's it. A sense of foreignness. It's pretty strong.
You're going to have to pick your words a bit more.

　I chuckle as I rest my weight on the backrest.

　The relationship between me and my brother (Mark) feels like it's improved compared to the point when we met again after fifteen years, but it's still like this.

　If I were to describe the atmosphere of a while ago as having a sense of distance, should I say that the current atmosphere is one of poking each other's shoulders and backs with a reduced distance?

　When I mentioned this to Garnett once, he said I was much cuter than my brother (sibling), and I was at a loss for a reply.

　It is true that the way you interact with Mark is a source of worry, but compared to Valentine Argentia and Scarlett Robinson, Mark is much easier to interact with, to the extent that he is prickly and pushy.

'Speaking of unusual. It's also unusual that the Commander and Lord Garnett aren't together. I thought they were supposed to be together at all hours since they're in charge of guards.''
There's no bodyguard in the office. He's got his own private business to attend to.
'Oh ...... I see. The bottom line is that I came over here because I'm lonely being home alone.

　I almost tangled my hand as I was reaching for my tea when he suddenly made an outrageous statement.

　But fortunately, Mark didn't look at me, so I was able to cover it up without being strangely misunderstood.

The best way to do this is to have a look at the actuality of the situation," he said, "and if you had said so, I wouldn't have been so reluctant to deal with the lonely master.
"You, man, you're not a ...... child.

　Of course, I don't have the loneliness that comes from childlike emotions.

　However, I would be lying if I said that I didn't feel a small sense of loneliness at the absence of the girl with whom I have been working on a regular basis.

　This in itself is not a special feeling.

　It's a natural feeling that anyone would feel if someone close and important is absent in a different way than usual.

'It's bad enough that you're left in custody all the time for your escort (work). I'm sure you'd be showing up at your friend's place by now.
'My friend ......?　Come to think of it, I don't know much about Lord Garnett's friendships. Are you a local?
'No, you're an adventurer I know. Sakura and Nagi have finished the new equipment that they custom-made for you, and I'm going to their lodge to show you.

　As soon as I mentioned Sakura and Nagi's names, Mark stood up, almost kicking over the chair!

It's about that?　I've heard the rumors!　A conflicting magic formula based on the five major attributes of Eastern spellcasting!　The original idea of converting (converting) the magical attributes of the western style to the eastern style was realized: ......!　I've heard that the appearance of the equipment is also modeled after the Eastern garb, and I've been hoping to see it one day, but it's been completed!

　I'm so devoted to the Eastern hobby that I'm speechless as ever.

　I'm not going to stop talking about it if I delve into it in this direction, so I'm going to try to shift the subject.

The first time I saw it, I was in the middle of a conversation with a friend.
Yes, well. Since I was a trainee, Sir Justin, the leader of the Purple Jiaoja Order, has been paying me a lot of attention to me. As I was researching the jurisdiction of the Purple Jiaojiao, I came to know the beauty of the Eastern culture.
'There were probably fewer Easterners back then than there are now, so how could you even think to look into it?
If you ask us, it's hard to believe that an adventurer would set foot in a dangerous dungeon because of his inquisitive mind and curiosity.

　He succeeded in deflecting the topic, but on the contrary, he began to nitpick from a different angle.

　For now, he sipped his tea and tried to pass it off, but suddenly the stinginess disappeared from Mark's tone of voice, and his voice became a mixture of kindness and forlornness.

'Speaking of home. You still haven't told your moms about that right-hand man, have you?
Yeah, you're just making me worry.
Wise. I wish I could have been shown that kind of care more than a decade ago.
I have no words for you.

　A smile filled with emotion, not unlike a bitter smile, appears on her mouth as she receives the spineless quip.

　I can't deny that I want to be with Garnett all the time, but it's nice to spend time like this once in a while.

　Fifteen years' worth of distance and feuds can only be filled in gradually and gently.