The Retired [Armed Merchant]’s Laid-back Journey Across the Continent 11

Chapter 11: The Rip-off Artist Thinks of the Past.

“Hehe… Rody-san…”

Listening to Al’s sleepy murmurs as she slept curled up like a cat beside me, I gazed out the window.

The Magitek Train had passed through the grain belt during the night, and the view now was of a gently sloping hilly region.

It seemed we had left the Im region and entered the Yaje region.

Finally, the central part of the kingdom… or so I’d like to say, but it would take two weeks to get this far by carriage on the main road.

As expected of the Trans-Continental Railroad, which runs from one end of the continent to the other.

“Mnyu…”

“Oops, did I wake you?”

I touched Al’s cheek as she blinked sleepily.

She giggled, seemingly ticklish, and smiled softly.

Her golden hair, translucent in the morning sun, glowed gently, making her look like a fairy.

“Morning.”

“Morning, Al. It’s still early, you can go back to sleep if you want.”

“What about you, Rody-san?”

“I’m wide awake, so I think I’ll go get some breakfast.”

I don’t know the exact time, but it hasn’t been long since sunrise.

It’s probably because I was tired and went to bed early yesterday.

Perhaps because I lived in the dungeon for so long, I have a habit of waking up exactly when the effect of the Monster-Repelling Barrier Stakes wears off…

“I’m going with you…”

I returned the hug from a half-asleep Al and chuckled.

She never used to be this affectionate when we lived in Alanis, so I’m still not quite used to it.

But the feel of her smooth, soft skin makes me want to keep touching her forever.

It’s a calm, warm sensation that is very soothing.

…That said, if we’re leaving the cabin, we need to get dressed.

“Come on, Al. If you’re going to breakfast, get dressed.”

“Okay.”

Good, she’s obedient.

As I thought that, my eyes traced the line from Al’s smooth shoulder to her back, and a mischievous affection welled up inside me. I couldn’t help but press a kiss to her skin.

“Hyau!?”

Al’s body trembled in surprise, which surprised me a little too.

There’s no need to be that surprised.

“W-What was that for?!”

“I don’t know, I just… saw you and felt like it?”

“You surprised me. Geez, if we’re going to do it in the morning, I’d prefer this.”

Saying that, she turned to face me and closed her eyes.

She tapped her lips with her finger, waiting.

Why is it that when she does that, I’m the one who gets nervous?

“Come on, hurry up.”

“Mm… wait a second, I don’t have enough guts.”

“You’re hopeless!”

Despite her words, Al leaned in and pressed her lips to mine.

The softness of our gently touching lips made my heart pound violently.

Pathetic, for a man over thirty to get this worked up over something like this.

“Ehehe. …Hey, Rody-san? You’re bright red! Do you have a fever? Is it the plague?”

“Don’t make a fuss. I’m just embarrassed. It’s more embarrassing than I thought when I’m sober.”

“No one’s watching. Should we do it again?”

“…Yes.”

“Geez, you’re so cute.”

Al giggled at my honest reply and slowly pressed her lips to mine again.

◆

“Still, this is a beautiful place. Is the royal capital nearby?”

“The closest station to the royal capital is the one after Yaje. This area is called the Yaje Hills, and not many ordinary people live here. Instead, there’s a lot of nature.”

I gazed at the flowing scenery while munching on eggs benedict in the dining car.

“There’s a Magitek Train station even though not many people live here?”

“There’s an adventurer town here, different from Alanis.”

It’s called a hilly region, but in reality, it’s dotted with valleys, rivers, and forests, and is home to many creatures, including monsters. There are also several ancient ruin dungeons.

That’s why, in contrast to the Adventurer City of Alanis, where adventurers gather for the giant labyrinth, this place is called the ‘Exploration City of Yaje’, where adventurers gather for a wide variety of materials.

If I were a full-fledged adventurer, my heart might skip a beat… but right now, I’m a tourist who has retired from being an armed merchant.

I plan to enjoy the Exploration City in moderation.

“You know, you’ve got your merchant face on.”

“Whoa, really? I didn’t mean to.”

“You’re a true armed merchant, Rody-san…”

Am I?

I see myself as someone who just happened to be an armed merchant.

Wasn’t it just a convenient way of life for earning money?

At some point, I felt like the means and the end had switched places.

When my stepsister left my care, shouldn’t I have searched for my own way of life?

“…Rody-san? Did I… say something wrong…?”

“Eh? Ah… no, that’s not it. My bad.”

“Please tell me. I’ll be careful next time.”

“It’s nothing to worry about. I was just thinking back on why I was an armed merchant.”

I chuckled wryly as I poured apple juice into Al’s glass.

To make her worry like this, I’m really… just a grown-up kid.

“Um, so you didn’t like being an armed merchant?”

“I don’t really know myself. I’m aware that I enjoyed it, but now that I don’t need the money that much anymore, I can’t really think of a reason why I continued to be a rip-off armed merchant.”

“I see. I’ve only ever known you as an armed merchant, Rody-san.”

I poked Al’s forehead as she lowered her eyes.

You worry too much.

“That’s not true. You know the me who quit being an armed merchant, and the me in bed, don’t you?”

“…I also know the hopeless Rody-san.”

“Right. But forget about that.”

“I refuse.”

Al stuck out her tongue and smiled mischievously.

Good, good, that’s better. I’m grateful to you. Let’s make this a fun trip.

“Um, in that case, I want you to tell me something.”

“Hm?”

“What was the Rody-san before you became an armed merchant like?”

I felt a little pressured by Al leaning forward to look at me.

Ah, but… I can understand. I’m also a little curious about why the woman I love was a pickpocket in the back alleys of Alanis.

“It’s a bit of a long story, is that okay?”

“Of course!”

It’s still a long way to Yaje.

In that case, a story from the past might be a good way to kill some time.

“—I was born in a small village near Alanis.”