The Retired [Armed Merchant]’s Laid-back Journey Across the Continent 37

Chapter 37: The Rip-off Artist is Gifted a Watch.

After thoroughly savoring the cave cuisine of South Helt, we wandered through the intricate city, sightseeing.

This town is quite interesting.

The entire town has a layered structure, like a town built inside a labyrinth.

The eccentric nature of the craftsmen, who seem to care little for tourists, shapes the entire town.

“Um, that way to the right.”

“And then down these stairs… and to the left.”

Getting to the watch shop that the owner of the ‘Salamander’s Tongue’ Inn told us about was quite a chore, but it was fun.

There are various workshops in various places, and many stalls.

And everything you pick up is of high quality.

If I had to say, I’d want to stay for another three days.

“Oh, there it is.”

After several passages, several doors, and going up and down stairs several times, we found a place where a small sign that said ‘Misty’s Watch Specialty Shop’ was sticking out from the rock face.

You wouldn’t find this unless you were looking for it… I thought as I pushed open the door.

“Welcome. Who sent you?”

“Gadan the Steel King and Moggy the Red Tongue.”

“Those are some big names. Have a seat, let’s talk.”

The middle-aged proprietress, smoking a pipe, gestured to the chairs, inviting us to sit.

The atmosphere of the shop was more like an alchemist’s workshop than a watch shop.

The clinging magic was as thick as in a dungeon.

It seems this lady… is a rather powerful magician.

“Hm? You’re a knowledgeable one, aren’t you?”

“Are you talking about me?”

“Yeah. You do magic and alchemy, don’t you? I have a good nose for it.”

I was a little surprised by the proprietress’s grin.

It’s true what she says, but how did she know at a glance?

I’m starting to get a little scared.

“No need to be so wary. There aren’t many people who are compatible with this shop, so I was just happy.”

“Is this compatibility? I feel a bit of pressure.”

“Well, I’m the master here now. Now, enough with the small talk… what kind of watch do you want?”

At the proprietress’s question, Al and I exchanged a look.

I had thought a watch was for telling time, and I hadn’t expected the word ‘what kind’ to be attached to it.

“Um, I want to give this girl a watch.”

“What’s your relationship with her?”

“M-My girlfriend.”

I’m not used to announcing our relationship in public, so I became a little flustered.

But the proprietress, hearing my answer, smiled fearlessly.

“I see, I see. Heh, you love and are loved quite a bit. What’s your name?”

“Al.”

“Al. Hmm, a lovely name. But it’s a little incomplete.”

The proprietress brought the tip of her red-manicured nail close to Al’s forehead.

“Hey, what are you doing?”

“Be quiet. My watches are special, they can’t be wrong. So, everything has to be right.”

“You’re a half-elf with mixed blood, aren’t you? Have you heard anything from your parents?”

“They were gone by the time I was old enough to remember.”

This is going too far.

I should probably stop this… the moment I thought that, a faint blue light lit up at the tip of the proprietress’s finger.

“Your true name is Alfiorna. You were given the name of the forest god of fruitful celebration, ‘Fiornia’. It’s a good name.”

“Eh—”

“It’s okay, you were born loved. You might have been unlucky, but there’s no need to be afraid of loving and being loved, or to worry about it.”

A single tear streamed down Al’s face at the proprietress’s words.

Her expression was so beautiful and warm.

“Well then, Alfiorna. You have two choices. To get the same watch as this man, or to give this man a watch.”

“Hey, hey, I was going to get Al a watch…”

“Be quiet, handsome. Don’t get in the way of a woman’s life.”

I was silenced by her sharp words.

This proprietress had the power to make me do so.

“…I don’t know. What should I do?”

“That’s for you to decide, Alfiorna. This man is at the center of your being.”

“I can decide?”

“That’s right, you decide. The fact that you’ve made it here means that’s how it is.”

It’s like a Zen koan.

I have no idea what’s going on.

But Al seems to understand.

“Then—I want to give Rody-san a watch.”

“Hey, Al…”

“In exchange, can you entrust Rody-san’s watch to me?”

The magic that had been swirling around us had become so thick that it was visible, glowing faintly.

This is a very abnormal situation.

Some kind of power that I’ve never seen even in a dungeon is at work.

“At times like these, a handsome man’s answer is always the same.”

“As you say.”

I returned the proprietress’s lighthearted banter with my own.

No matter what, there’s only one answer.

I turned to Al and nodded with a smile.

“I’ll give you my watch, Al.”

“Yes, Rody-san.”

Al took my hand and smiled softly.

Seeing that, the proprietress of the watch shop clapped her hands with a beaming smile.

“Excellent. The contract has been made! In the name of Misty Aquans of the ‘Timekeeping Observation Faction’, I declare the vow of tuning, the law of fate, and the order of time!”

The moment the shopkeeper uttered words I had never heard before, the magic in the shop converged and flowed into me.

It wasn’t unpleasant, but the sense of unease was strong. That too eventually faded.

“Now, take it. This is a watch that will tick away the time you and this girl spend together.”

A pocket watch, slowly descending with a faint light, settled into my hand.

The silver watch had a gold design reminiscent of Al’s hair, and a light blue gem sparkled on it.

“A present from me.”

“Oh, this is a fine watch. I’ll treasure it, Al.”

“Do your flirting outside the shop. Now, get out, get out.”

I asked the proprietress, who was waving her hand as if to shoo us away.

“What’s the price?”

“Gadan the Steel King and Moggy the Red Tongue have already paid.”

“Huh?”

“The fact that you came here means you were qualified. Now, go… and when we meet again, tell me your story.”

As we left the shop, still not understanding what had happened, a gust of wind blew, kicking up a cloud of dust.

And when I looked back, Misty’s Watch Specialty Shop had vanished without a trace.