The Retired [Armed Merchant]’s Laid-back Journey Across the Continent 15

Chapter 15: The Rip-off Artist Walks Through the Exploration City.

After stuffing ourselves with monster gibier, we leisurely walked around the exploration city, sightseeing.

After all, this time, due to some trouble, our stop is for two days.

We might not be able to see every nook and cranny, but we have plenty of time to see the places we’re interested in.

“There are quite a few excavated magical artifacts, aren’t there?”

“Yeah, it seems you can enter the giant underground labyrinth from the entrances of the dungeons scattered throughout the hills. Let’s see, this is it. ‘Grusgen Tomb Labyrinth’.”

I spread out the tourist map I bought at a stall and showed it to Al.

“There’s an entrance in Yaje too?!”

“Apparently. There are also tourist tours of the shallow levels.”

“Ooh…”

Al peered at the tourist map with interest.

Although she lived in the Adventurer City of Alanis, I had forbidden my disciple from entering the dungeon.

If I were raising her as my successor, I probably should have taken her into the dungeon, but monsters live in the dungeon.

And it’s not just limited to monsters.

That place can be entered from the city, but it’s equivalent to a lawless wilderness.

I just couldn’t bring myself to send my scrawny disciple into such a place.

My fellow merchants laughed at me, saying things like, “The ‘Rip-off Company’ is being so kind,” but now I can say with certainty that it was the right decision.

That said, I also knew that she had a bit of a fascination with the dungeon.

Growing up in a city like Alanis, where adventurers come and go, it’s only natural.

“We have time, should we go? It seems you can sign up at the Adventurer’s Guild.”

“Is it okay?”

“Well, I’ll be with you.”

I don’t know what the ‘Grusgen Tomb Labyrinth’ is like, but if it’s a shallow level that you can explore on a tourist tour, it probably won’t be that dangerous.

If anything, there will probably be souvenirs for tourists.

I think it’s a bit strange for a former professional to be going to such a place, but in the worst-case scenario, if I’m with her, I can handle it.

“I want to go! I’ve always wanted to go at least once~”

Watching the cheerful Al, I felt a little sorry for her.

I regret that I was so busy with work that I couldn’t pay much attention to her.

I should have had the decency to at least show her around the dungeon on my days off.

“What’s wrong?”

“I’m reflecting on my past actions.”

“Eh, so suddenly? Did the monster meat disagree with you?”

I’m saved by the fact that the person in question is like this, but I need to sublimate my points of reflection.

First, the dungeon exploration tour.

Let’s go to the Adventurer’s Guild.

“Let’s see, the Adventurer’s Guild is this way.”

“Probably that one. The big building over there.”

“It’s pretty big. As expected of an exploration city.”

It’s probably because, like Alanis, it’s a city built on adventurers.

The Adventurer’s Guild was huge enough to be seen from the main street.

It was a tall, cylindrical building, like a fat tower.

“Alright then, let’s go. It feels a little strange to be entering a dungeon on a trip.”

“The ‘Rip-off Company’ is back for a limited time!”

“Don’t be silly. I’m just a tourist now.”

We walked hand in hand down the straight main street of the exploration city, exchanging such lighthearted banter.

◆

The Adventurer’s Guild.

A union that mediates requests and subjugations to ‘adventurers’ in cities across the continent.

Its scale is large, spanning across nations, and while its operation and discretion are left to the countries where it is established, it is an international organization that provides identification for adventurers, who are rootless and have no country.

And so, naturally, where many adventurers gather, there is a large Adventurer’s Guild.

Alanis, known as an adventurer city, also had a huge guild building, but the Adventurer’s Guild here in Yaje is even bigger.

It looks like a fortress or a small castle.

“Wow… it’s huge.”

“Yeah, isn’t it the largest in the kingdom? As expected of an exploration city.”

We walked through the guild, bustling with adventurers, toward the central counter.

The reception for the dungeon tour might not be there, but the central counter is basically the general reception.

They should be able to guide us to the right person.

“Excuse me. I heard there’s an exploration tour of the ‘Grusgen Tomb Labyrinth’. Where is the reception for that?”

“Ah, I can help you with that—wait, Rody Vottark of the ‘Rip-off Company’…?!”

The receptionist’s bewildered cry drew the attention of everyone around.

Give me a break. I closed that business a while ago.

“Don’t you remember me? I’m Quince Wen.”

At her question, I searched my memory.

Now that she mentioned it, her face did look familiar.

“I remember. You were in Alanis a while ago, weren’t you?”

“Yes, I was training in Alanis a year ago. What are you doing here? A famous person like you. And a tourist tour, of all things…”

“I closed my business in Alanis. I’m retired now, traveling with this one.”

“…Hello.”

Al bowed her head beside me.

Quince looked back and forth between Al and me with a surprised expression.

Then, she whispered to me.

“Is it okay…? You haven’t broken any kingdom laws, have you…? Like, her age…”

“…Don’t be rude, it’s fine. …Probably.”

“I can hear you! I’m an adult according to my registered age. There’s no problem!”

I don’t really know the age of half-elves.

Al was an orphan and a street child, so her exact age is unknown.

For now, when we started living together, we created a family register based on her self-reported age… well, she might look a little young, but if she says so herself, it must be true.

“Ahaha, sorry. You were always a bit of a mystery, Rody-san.”

“Don’t mind me. More importantly, can we sign up for the exploration tour?”

“Ah, yes, yes. Of course! The morning session is about to start, and the afternoon session starts at 2 PM.”

Quince smiled and showed us a wooden board with explanations.

She seemed so unreliable a year ago, but now she’s quite composed.

I remember there was a time when it was a hot topic in Alanis that a fresh and beautiful guild employee had joined.

“But still, it would have been great if a skilled person like you had come to help, Rody-san.”

“Hm? What do you mean?”

I prompted Quince, who had let out a sigh.

“We’re having a bit of a problem right now. The Magitek Train might not move until it’s resolved.”

“…Tell me more, Quince.”

At my words, Quince took out a sheet of parchment.