I went up to the living room and there was Wendy slumped on the couch and White, who seemed to have fallen asleep with his head on Wendy's lap.

''Well...''

Beyond the two of them, as far as I could see from the large window, it was starting to get light outside, and apparently they had worked until dawn.

''Ah........''

You look sleepy....
My eyes aren't fully open yet.
Aww. You don't need to wake White up.

'Thank you for your hard work, master.
Yeah. You could have gone to bed first, you know?
No, we can't go to bed before you do.
You didn't have to worry about it you look like you're asleep.
Mmm.....Lord.....
'White did his best to stay up too...'

I sit down next to Wendy and gently stroke White's head.

'White told me what happened,'
'I see, so that's why you two have been working so hard.

I pulled Wendy's shoulders together and she leaned her head back.

''........please don't take it too hard......?''
I know ... So I'm doing my best not to push myself too hard.

I stroke Wendy's head gently and her eyes, which hadn't been fully opened, close pleasantly.

I know that what we're talking about now isn't making accessories this time around all night.
I guess that's what you mean when you say you know what happened.

But I'll do what I can for the three of you.
This is my life now, and that's normal.
I'm not going to let you go grubby little by little.

White and Sorte fighting, Renge cheering them on, Aina quieting them down and Wendy smiling at them....
That kind of normalcy is what makes me happy right now.

To protect it..........

"...Wendy?

Are you asleep?

Well, it's close to an all-nighter, as it were.

It's not a bad idea to sleep shoulder-to-shoulder with each other, just to be friendly.

Just a few moments later, as I was closing my eyes, I heard the sound of a door opening with a squeak.
I open my eyes at the sound, and then the door to the living room is opened.

''Did I ... wake you up?''
No, I was just trying to sleep.
I see. You've been working, haven't you?
Well that's about it.

Solte's appearance was in her normal clothes, having finished changing her clothes even though it was this early in the morning.

''Um ... well, I'm sorry to be in such a state, but I need to talk to you. ........can you listen to me?
Yeah, sure. Tell me.

She has determined eyes.
I've promised Renge, and I'm going to listen to her words seriously this time.

''I want to go on a quest.
'Quest?　Then you're free to go, but why bother?
'Because it's not a quest for this city... At least it's not a quest that can be done in a day or two.
You mean the expedition?
Yeah, well... Yeah. Quest for another city.

Sorte feels that he has fewer words than usual.
Is she nervous in a way that is out of character?
Her figure felt very small and frail.

''........Where are you going?''
'It's the cave at the end of the training ground we used to train in.
A cave... or are you going to conquer a dungeon?
'Just because it's a cave doesn't mean it's a dungeon. It's a quest to defeat a high level of difficulty that has been around for a long time.
'High difficulty ... is that a strong enemy?'
'I think it's strong........ It's a quest that's been around since we were little....

After all, as I had heard, it seems we are facing a powerful enemy.
I wish it had been different if possible I had conveniently believed in the possibility that it was too thin.

'Why are Solte and the others going?　Why would I take it all the way from here, so far away?
'Well of course there are reasons for it. But I can't tell you that. I can't say it yet...
I see.
'But one thing, we're adventurers. I want to be an adventurer. White told me I'm weak because I'm an adventurer, but I want to prove to him that this is not true. I want to become stronger........and then--

Sorte stops mid-sentence to swallow the words.
Beyond that, he must have decided to tell her after he returns.
That's why I don't bother to ask the reason for it, I won't do it in a wild way.

''........Do you really want to?　Honestly, I'm not sure I want you to risk it.
'Yeah I thought the Lord would be worried about you. But I insist.
All right. But you gotta tell me where you're going.

There's no way to deal with it if you don't even know where it is.

'Okay but don't tell me you're going to follow me to the cave?　It's really dangerous and I don't even know if I can protect my Lord through........ Also, you can't do anything unnecessary.

You worry about me first.
But there's no way I won't go through with it, even if you end up being pissed off.
I'm sure Sorte will understand that I'm a very smart person.

It's all right. I don't want to get in the way of Solte and her friends.

I feel like I'm growing up bad, lying without a care in the world.
But it's something I learned to do because it's important and important at times.
A not-so-good act that I learned in my mind that is dying every day in the working world.
You don't understand the world because it's useful now.

"Go all the way to the northeast, and then further east in the spa town. I'll take the quest itself in Utopora, and then I'll go all the way to the cave. .........If I don't return, the guild in Utopora will contact the guild in Ains Hale......
Don't talk about that. It's not a good omen.
''........Yeah, I'm sorry. Maybe I was feeling weak on the high difficulty quest........ Don't worry. I'll come back, okay?
Yeah make sure you get home. And I'll see you off.
'Thank you Lord I'm going to get ready today and tomorrow and leave in the morning after tomorrow.
The day after tomorrow ... that's fast.
It's making me lose my mind...

With that, Solte looked at Wendy and White, not me, with envious eyes.

''Well when you come back, I'll give you the greatest possible amount of labor.
Yeah. I'm looking forward to it.
Yeah, well, I'll do whatever you say, so start thinking about it now.
'Yes!　The Lord is going to bed now, isn't he?
Yeah. Do you want to sleep with me if you want?
'Not today. We have a lot to prepare for now.
Okay. Good night, then.
'Good night. My Lord....

I watch Sorte walk out of the living room, look up at the ceiling and take a breath.
It's a high difficulty quest after all........
Moreover, it's a defeat quest that has been neglected for several years or even more than ten years.
That means that the enemy must be very strong.

"Well, White. You're awake, right?
How did you know?
You're breathing too fast.

You were probably asleep when you changed the pillow to my side, though.
You've been letting your sleep be too quiet since Solte entered the room.

'Mm...... Wendy's actually awake too.
"Oh?

I didn't notice that one.

'Hey, he's sleeping........'

No, because people who sleep don't say that.
Another classic..........

'So that means you both heard the story.
'I'm sorry. ....I was just curious and I overheard you.
"Hm.
'No, I don't mind, it saves me the trouble of talking. So, you know what?

We've got what we need to do first.
Well, well, there's little I can do specifically....

How's your body feeling, White?
Hmm?
Does your neck still hurt or something?
'Hmm...?　Could it still hurt...?　Hmm. Ouch.

White pretends to think about it for a moment, but then he realizes my intentions and acts like his neck hurts.
'You're not good at it with me, that's deliberate.

'I'm sure you are. I think it's a hot spring for bruises, what do you think?
Hmm. Good idea.
Are you going to the spa town of Utopora?
Yeah. It just so happens that White's neck still hurts. What better time to go for a hot bath?
You will be angry.
Hey, we just happen to be going in the same direction. You'll just have to let it go.
Oh, God. Oh, I'm so sorry.

Now we can accompany the three of them to Utopora.
Besides, if push comes to shove, it's a quicker distance to head than here.
So that means we'll have dozens of days' worth of work to do.......
Tomorrow and the day after that, it's going to be an all-nighter as well....
And besides--

I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask White to do some more work for me, okay?
Hmm, no problem. If the Lord wants it, that's what White wants.

White looks up at me, thumps my titty breasts and gives me a dependable answer.
I'm sorry, always.
And thank you.

''I wish I could be of service to you, but it doesn't look like I'm going to get a chance this time either...''
No, no, I'm going to be holed up in the smelting room again for a while, so in the meantime, you're going to take care of the carriage and food.
Yes. I'll do that much.
You've been very helpful. Thank you.

The small thoughtfulness is building up and turning into a big thank you.
I always worry about Wendy all the time, but I knew she was still thinking of me and supporting me wholeheartedly.

Well, we're leaving the day after tomorrow morning.
There is a lot of work to be done before then.
First, I have to report to Yashis and create a large number of vibrators.
That, and creating a large number of potions for the Adventurer's Guild.

Oh, and I also need to deposit the items ordered by Iris with Rainrich.
Besides that, I also need time to make some other things that I can think of...


Well.........let's just go to bed.
"Hm.
'Yes. Let's all do our best when we wake up!

Let's just take a break now before the busyness that begins when we wake up.

I'm sorry, Sorte, but I'm going to be me and do everything I can to help behind the scenes.