The Retired [Armed Merchant]’s Laid-back Journey Across the Continent 5

Chapter 5: The Rip-off Artist Agonizes.

We had a late lunch while watching the scenery of a grain belt with its swaying wheat, then returned to our cabin.

The sight of the still-disheveled bed made us both instinctively look away. We shared a small, wry smile and sat down in the chairs.

We should ask the cabin golem to make the bed for us later.

“Where do you think we are now?”

“About five more hours to Im City.”

“So we’ll arrive at night.”

Al murmured, gazing at the wheat fields glowing in the western sun.

For some reason, the conversation wasn’t flowing. The awkwardness was getting in the way.

“Master, you’re acting a little shifty.”

“I know, I know. But how are you so calm?”

“It’s not that I’m calm… it’s just, um…”

Al trailed off, casting her eyes downward.

“Was it… unpleasant for you?”

“Of course not, but I definitely feel like I messed up. I haven’t been this unsettled since I ran into a vampire on the eighteenth floor of the dungeon.”

“I don’t really get that comparison.”

I don’t know what I’m saying either.

But I’m aware that this situation has shaken me to that extent.

Come to think of it, I’ve been all work and no play for nearly twenty years.

A bustling adventurer city has its red-light districts, so I could have easily paid a little money for some relief. But since I never knew when I might end up as a corpse in the dungeon, I never thought about getting involved with any particular woman.

In short… I’m a middle-aged man whose years without a girlfriend equals his age, with extremely limited experience with women.

And now, this.

I’d accidentally slept with my disciple, who I’d thought was my little brother or something and had been living with all this time.

I slumped onto the table, my thoughts a jumbled mess, and muttered.

“What am I supposed to do…!”

“You’re thinking out loud again.”

Al chuckled and ruffled my hair.

Inside me, the feeling of “How rude, treating your master like that,” and the feeling of “I’m happy to be touched by Al like this,” were dancing a waltz.

What am I to Al now?

“It wasn’t… unpleasant for me, you know? To have you do that, Rody-san.”

“…What do you mean?” I asked, my face still on the table.

I knew I looked pathetic, but I wanted to hear Al’s answer.

“I told you properly, didn’t I? That being with you, Rody-san, is the most important thing to me.”

“…What do you mean?”

“That’s what I mean.”

I lifted my head slightly to see Al smiling shyly.

Ah, I see. She intended for this to happen from the very beginning.

It was just that I, through my own misunderstanding and assumptions, had failed to notice.

She must have been sending me signals all along.

“Ah, I’m so dense.”

“You are. That’s why, well… it was good timing. We’re going to be traveling together from now on, after all.”

“I see. It’s a new start in life, so maybe the timing is good.”

I nodded slightly and looked intently at Al’s face.

“W-What is it?”

“It’s been five years since I took you in, you know? I’ve treated you like a boy this whole time. It’s going to take time to switch my mindset.”

“You’re so serious about the weirdest things.”

How rude. I’m always serious!

“You can’t do it all at once. I can’t either. So, we can just take our time and get used to it.”

“You say that, Al, but in these situations, there’s a matter of propriety…”

“You’ve got a serious virgin complex.”

“I’m not a virgin!”

As we bickered, the Magitek Train continued its silent journey through the sunset-drenched wheat fields.

◆

The sun had completely set, and the moon was rising in the sky.

After finishing dinner and relaxing in our room, the Magitek Train came to a quiet stop.

The sight of it slowly pulling into the station was quite spectacular, and I’m embarrassed to admit that I got as excited as Al, despite my age.

This train has now arrived at Im City. Passengers disembarking, please be careful not to leave any belongings behind.

Simultaneously with the announcement, the sound of doors opening came from the hallway.

The stop in Im City will be for 20 hours. We ask that all passengers who go out please return by the departure time.

Hearing that announcement, Al’s pointed ears twitched.

It was a habit she had when she thought of something, but I had a pretty good idea of what she wanted to say.

“Rody-san, Rody-san.”

“Hm?”

“That announcement just now… can we get off?”

“Yeah. As long as you’re back by departure time, you’re free to do as you please during the stop.”

As I said that, an idea occurred to me.

I’d been to places like Im City before for business, but Al, being a former orphan, had never been outside of Alanis.

Since this is a special trip, it wouldn’t be a bad idea for the two of us to do some proper sightseeing.

Besides, there are things in Im City that Al would probably enjoy.

“Since we have the chance, how about we do some light sightseeing in the morning?”

“That’s what I’m talking about!”

I smiled at Al’s delighted expression and said, “Alright, let’s get some sleep,” but my gaze fell on the bed and I froze.

Right, this room was a shared room for me and Al, with just one bed that wasn’t even a double.

Before we left, I was thinking, “It’s just me and my disciple, the kid. We can just crash on the bed, whatever,” but now… that seems to be a problem.

“…Rody-san? What are you doing?”

“Looking for the blanket I use for camping in the dungeon. You can have the bed.”

Al peered at me as I rummaged through my trunk and let out a deep sigh.

A very, very deep sigh.

“Why don’t we just sleep together?”

“You think so?”

“I do. It’s a little late to be shy now.”

I let out a small groan as Al tilted her head.

What is this…? My disciple is acting so normal, am I the strange one here? It hasn’t even been a full day since the ‘accident’.

“I want to be with you, Rody-san… don’t you?”

What is this adorable creature? Was my disciple always like this?

That said, my answer was already decided.

“Let’s go to bed.”

“Okay!”