Then I decided to leave Mark to deal with Ulysses and head back to the house with Garnett when he returned.

　It was already dusk, the sun was sinking behind the mountains, and long shadows stretched down the hill like the remnants of the day.

　'So, how was your day?'

　As we walked next to each other on the short road from HQ to my house, I asked Garnett a casual question.

'You mean Sakura's new equipment?　It was even better than I thought it would be. The performance was exactly what the sales pitch said it would be, and it looked good too. That must have been Miranda's seriousness.
'Wow, the design was that great too. I can't wait to see them too.
'What?　You were the prototype for the new equipment for the third level, so you must have seen it before anyone else.
'What we got was a prototype before we had to mend its appearance. The process of making it look nice came after that.

　The new equipment that I presented to the Adventurer's Guild and the Golden Fang Knights just a few days ago was based on the prototype of the equipment that was custom-made by Sakura as Garnett had said.

　However, in terms of order, they were referring to the 'state in which only the functions were implemented without considering the appearance' before they were delivered to Sakura, and it remained unknown how the appearance had been finished since then.

'Well then, I guess we'll just have to wait and see, won't we?
'Mu...... I'm even more concerned when you say that. What was it like?
'Let's just say it was Eastern style. I'm sure it would be very flamboyant if he stood out in that outfit. I'm sure it would attract a lot of attention.

　Garnett took half a step forward and turned around to look back over his shoulder, showing his white teeth and smiling like a bad boy.

　The appearance of Sakura's custom-made item was quite curious, but it wasn't likely to get any more information out of her, so for now, it looks like we'll just have to do as Garnett said, 'We'll have to wait and see'.

'So, how was it going with you? You've been chatting with Mark's guy. Did you have something interesting to say to him?
I don't think there was ever a topic that interesting.

　The exchange with Mark earlier was extremely private banter.

　It's not a topic that others would enjoy hearing about, but I'm sure Garnett wanted to hear about it.

''Yes. ...... For example, the way I fight is discarded with the premise that I'm going to heal with my [Restoration] skill, or some other sarcasm that I can't refute.
'Haha!　That's going to get me in trouble. I'd be long dead if it wasn't for you.

　That's true, but I'm always in a hurry every time you're badly injured - what a thought that went through my mind, but then I remind myself that I'm the same way to Mark, and I swallow the words gulp them down.

　What a way to look at people.
　It's hard to realize if it's about myself, but when I replace it with Garnett's, it makes sense.

'Other than that, I suppose. 'And another thing you said to me was, "When are you going to come home?
How did you answer that question?
'My right arm is only going to worry me if it's like this and I can get it back to normal. Then Mark will see me as well.
When I say "...... arm back," I mean .......

　Garnett made a probing remark, and I gave a straightforward and frank answer.

'After the fight with Agart Ram. Of course I'd like to take you with me, if you don't mind.

　The cheeks of Garnett, who seems to have figured out what I'm trying to say, blushes faintly as she carries the setting sun on her back.

''That's what that means in essence ...... isn't it?
'Yeah, that's what I mean. I'd like to go back home again when you've fulfilled your life's goals and can confide in me about everything without any worries. Of course, if you're willing to do that, you can go to .......

　I was expecting a kick to fly in, added or subtracted as usual, but Garnett replied in a muffled, small voice, his gaze swimming from side to side as the setting sun illuminated his cheeks and he turned over.

'You're ....... Let's do that. This time with no deception whatsoever, .......

　He reacts to me more than I expected, and even I'm at a loss for words.

　Before I know it, I've trudged the short distance from the headquarters to my house, and if I don't, I'll probably end up going home with a strange atmosphere.

　So I decided to change the atmosphere by broaching another subject before I did so.

'...... Yeah!　When I was leaving headquarters earlier, I was given a letter from King's Landing!　Let's go check it out as soon as we get home!
You're right. ......　Let's do it!

　We forcefully changed the subject by being too explicit with each other and rushed into the house.

　The high-ranking official who sent me this letter probably didn't expect to be used as an excuse.

　I decided to apologize in my heart for that.