The Retired [Armed Merchant]’s Laid-back Journey Across the Continent 24

Chapter 24: The Rip-off Artist is Invited.

As we entered the ‘Royal Capital Solbright’ in the carriage, I was wide-eyed at the orderly and beautiful cityscape.

Al, next to me, seemed to be simply impressed, her eyes sparkling, but I felt a little uneasy.

It’s so clean, it’s like being in a sunlit dungeon.

When a diverse group of people live together, things usually get distorted with history… but the cityscape of Solbright, as seen from the carriage, had an unnaturally neat and tidy feel, like looking at a model house for a real estate development. It lacked a human touch.

Ah, but… I see.

If you’re born and live in a place like this, I can understand how you might become a by-the-book person like that Merchant’s Guild president.

Growing up in an environment like this, someone like me, who is called the ‘Rip-off Company’ in the depths of a chaotic adventurer city, would probably seem like a despicable existence.

“By the way… where are we heading?”

“I’ll explain when we get there. You wouldn’t understand even if I told you now, would you?”

“Well, that’s true, but.”

My spirits sank a little at her continued curt attitude.

Aren’t siblings in the world supposed to get along a little better?

Especially since Mifa and I have been living apart, and it’s been a while since we’ve seen each other, I think we could be a little more peaceful.

We waited for a while in the silent carriage.

Eventually, the carriage came to a slow stop at a certain place.

“We’ve arrived.”

“Ah, okay. Shall we get off, Al?”

“Yes.”

I escorted Al and got off the carriage.

Remembering what happened in Im City, Al obediently took my hand.

Maybe it’s because we’ve both become less shy.

“Mifa, you too.”

“I’m fine.”

Mifa got off the carriage smoothly, as if she were used to it.

It seems she really dislikes me.

Well, a stepbrother she’s only corresponded with by letter for a long time is practically a stranger.

Thinking about it that way, maybe I shouldn’t be so familiar.

I don’t know much about this place, the royal capital… for me, it’s a tourist destination on my trip, but for Mifa, it’s where she lives.

She probably doesn’t want it to be known that she has a stepbrother with a bad reputation like me.

I should be glad that she even showed her face.

“What a beautiful place…! It looks like something out of a picture book.”

“Yeah, it’s magnificent. Though it seems a little empty for a tourist spot.”

“This isn’t a tourist spot.”

Mifa shook her head in response to my comment.

“Hm? Is that so? Then the royal capital is beautiful everywhere.”

“That’s not right either. This is the upper residential district, so Lombard citizens and tourists can’t enter.”

“Hmm…?”

“Let’s not stand here talking, please follow me.”

I nodded at my stepsister, who started walking with an air that left no room for argument, and Al and I followed behind her.

A road made of hardened colored sand with almost no bumps. Well-tended flowerbeds. A quietness that you wouldn’t expect in a city.

The people we occasionally pass are dressed in well-tailored clothes and give a nod of acknowledgment when our eyes meet.

It’s so high-class that my back is starting to tingle.

“What is this… I feel out of place, like I’m not supposed to be here.”

“You’ve finally noticed? I’ve felt that way since the moment I got out of the carriage.”

We walked for a few minutes, whispering to each other.

In a corner of a plaza with a small fountain, Mifa stopped.

“Where is this?”

“This is my house. Please, come in.”

Mifa turned the key, opened the door, and gestured for us to enter.

It’s smaller than the other houses in the upper residential district, but there’s a clear difference compared to our shop/home back in Alanis.

To think she’s living in a house like this, she’s really become respectable.

“Excuse me.”

“Pardon the intrusion.”

The inside of the house was well-organized, clearly reflecting Mifa’s meticulous personality.

In the time after Mifa left for the Royal Academy Preparatory School and before Al came, I, who can’t clean, had made a complete mess.

“I’ll make some tea, so please sit and wait.”

My stepsister pointed to the sofa in the living room and walked to the back.

I nodded and sat down on the fluffy sofa with Al to wait.

This, too, must be quite expensive furniture.

I had heard she had become a high-ranking official, but for someone so young, she’s done very well.

Seeing her actual life, I realize once again that my stepsister has truly left my care and become independent.

“Here you are.”

An expensive-looking cup—no, I’ve seen this before… I saw the old man from the Toneriko Company with one.

It’s a tea set from the long-established tableware maker ‘Mulligan’.

The kind you have to pay a gold coin for a single set.

Is this for everyday use in the royal capital?

Or is my stepsister being considerate and bringing out her good cups?

I have no idea.

“Thank you. It’s a nice cup.”

“It’s probably hard to get in Alanis.”

“Oh, the tea smells wonderful.”

“Oh, can you tell the difference from other tea leaves?”

I feel like no matter what I say, she’ll have a thorny reply.

Now, as her brother, I should probably reprimand her for this attitude, but we haven’t seen each other for over five years, and we’re both adults now.

In two days, we’ll be leaving this place… this might be the last time we see each other in this life.

If possible, I’d like to spend our time peacefully and part peacefully.

“It tastes delicious, too.”

“Yes, it’s a good tea leaf. It’s probably from the south… around Morezze. It’s been bathed in a lot of strong sunlight, so the aroma and flavor are strong. You can feel a slight saltiness in the aftertaste, right? That’s a characteristic of southern tea leaves.”

“I see.”

“But it takes a bit of skill to brew. I can’t brew this well. It takes technique to drink it this deliciously.”

I tilted the cup and took a sip of the clear black tea.

It’s a perfect cup, with almost no bitterness.

You probably couldn’t taste this even if you paid for it.

“So, Nii-san. Will you tell me the details? What happened in Alanis?”

“I said it before, but there’s nothing more than what I wrote in the letter. My business license was suspended by the decision of the Merchant’s Guild, and I couldn’t continue my business. That’s all there is to it.”

“What about your future plans? You wrote that you’d be traveling on the Magitek Train.”

I feel like my stepsister is being strangely forward.

“No, I haven’t decided much. For now, I’m thinking of going to Sardin on the western edge of the continent. After that, nothing.”

“…I see.”

Mifa took a sip of her tea.

Then, she looked at me intently… and opened her mouth.

“So you’re not going to be an armed merchant or an adventurer anymore, is that right?”

“Well, yeah. I’m retired and living a comfortable life.”

I answered with a wry smile.

Maybe Mifa was worried about my work in her own way.

I did worry her by coming home injured in the past.

But the words that came out of my stepsister’s mouth were unexpected.

“I understand. Then, the journey ends here. —From now on, let’s live together in the royal capital.”