The Retired [Armed Merchant]’s Laid-back Journey Across the Continent 7

Chapter 7: The Rip-off Artist’s Breakfast is Interrupted.

“This is delicious, the best!”

“Glad to hear it.”

Wiping Al’s mouth with a napkin, I also reached for the breakfast in front of me.

This wild and luxurious breakfast, a single plate piled high with cheese, thick-cut ham, bacon, and scrambled eggs, could be called an Im City specialty without exaggeration.

And then there were the freshly baked breads, brought out one after another.

This one meal could probably last me the whole day.

“Eat up.”

“Mm, I feel like you’re treating me like a child.”

“That’s not what I meant… well, maybe it is. I guess I can’t quite shake the old habits.”

“If you suddenly changed, Rody-san, I’d feel unsettled, too.”

Al chuckled as she took a bite of greasy bacon.

I might have made her worry unnecessarily.

“Well, we’ll take it one step at a time. For me, just knowing that you see me as a woman is enough for now.”

Al’s frank words made me choke on my ale.

This little… she just threw a nasty jab with a straight face, didn’t she?

…Well, not a ‘little guy’ anymore.

“You’re surprisingly tough, you know that?”

“And you’re surprisingly innocent, Rody-san… or should I say, detached from the world.”

“Well, I’m a man who’s spent more time underground than on the surface for the past ten-plus years. What do you expect?”

When you think about it, I’ve interacted with more monsters than people.

Most of my communication has been life-or-death struggles or with the adventurers who come to the dungeon.

Of course I’d be detached from the world.

“Oh, but… what you did earlier was really cool!”

“She would have died if I’d left her.”

“The people in Alanis just don’t get it. There must have been plenty of adventurers who were saved just like that.”

“Bad reputations spread more easily. Besides, not all the rumors about the ‘rip-off artist’ are lies. Many are misunderstandings, though.”

In fact, I made a point of not bringing ‘good and evil’ into the dungeon.

Whether they were a rookie or a veteran, poor or rich… I did business with a clear-cut attitude, regardless of all that.

If you show kindness or goodwill carelessly in the dungeon, someone will inevitably take advantage of it.

And helping some but not others… in a dungeon where life-or-death situations are commonplace, having such rumors spread would be a bigger problem.

Just ‘rip people off’ in the deepest parts of the dungeon.

Provide services and goods that match the price.

That was the rule I operated by.

Of course, I have the spirit of mutual aid that adventurers share.

I allowed those on the verge of death to pay later, and if they didn’t have the money, I’d put it on their tab.

And no one ever skipped out on their payment.

But to those who watched from the sidelines, I must have looked like a terrible miser.

Especially to the merchants on the surface, who weren’t even armed merchants, someone who made money like me might have seemed like an unscrupulous merchant engaged in shady business.

Ordinary merchants like them can’t understand how valuable a handful of wheat is in the depths of the dungeon.

“Well, the timing was right, and I think it was a good opportunity. I’m even able to travel on the Magitek Train I’ve always dreamed of before my body gets too old.”

“But still, it’s a little frustrating.”

“Just having someone who says that is enough for me.”

“I’m sure the adventurers in Alanis feel the same way.”

As if prompted by Al’s words, the faces of the Alanis adventurers came to mind.

The folks at the ‘Goldnic Adventuring Company’ tend to be a bit reckless, counting on me to be there. I hope they’ll be more careful from now on.

Well, they’re a group of veterans. I’m sure they’ll manage just fine without me.

“Hm?”

As I was lost in thought, the shop door was thrown open with force.

A well-dressed man for an Im City resident stood there, followed by several soldiers who looked like the town watch.

They had tense expressions, as if they were searching for a major criminal.

“What’s going on?”

“Looks like they’re looking for someone.”

As we watched them out of the corner of our eyes while biting into our ham, one of the soldiers shouted, “There he is!” and pointed at us.

I followed his gesture and looked at the table next to us, but no one was sitting there.

When I looked back, the finger was pointed directly at me.

“…Me?”

“Are you the man who used magic on the main street?!”

A man who looked like a nobleman approached me with incredible intensity.

“Ah, yeah. Was that a problem? It was an emergency, so I took the liberty.”

“You used a fourth-tier spell, I hear?”

“Fourth… ah, Cure Serious Wounds? Yes, I used it.”

“What other spells can you use?”

I gently pushed back the shoulder of the nobleman who was getting closer and closer and shook my head slightly.

I couldn’t understand what was going on, and Al was getting scared from being surrounded by soldiers.

Our precious breakfast time was ruined.

“First of all, who are you people? Even if you’re dealing with a commoner, this is beyond rude, don’t you think?”

“…I am an emissary of a certain personage. I was searching for someone who used high-tier magic during the earlier commotion.”

The air about him said, “I have no intention of giving my name, you should be able to guess.”

I see, so he’s in a position where he must be cautious until he’s sure I’m the right person.

“In that case, it was indeed me, but I had no intention of disturbing the peace of the town. There was a seriously injured person, so I administered emergency treatment.”

“We will overlook that matter. So? How much magic can you use?”

“Up to the sixth tier for offensive spells, and up to the fourth for healing. I’m an adventurer, so what I’ve learned is rather sporadic.”

At my reply, the nobleman let out a sound of admiration. “Hoh.”

Sixth-tier magic is something that chooses its user. It’s magic in the realm that requires talent.

It’s not something you see every day, if I do say so myself.

“I have a request… actually—”

“Wait.”

I cut off the nobleman who was about to start his story.

There was nothing but the scent of trouble in the air.

“I’m traveling with my companion, and we’re leaving on the Magitek Train tonight. I can’t accept any requests.”

“Wha…?!”

He probably didn’t expect to be turned down before he even made his request.

It might have been a bit of a surprise for the arrogant nobleman, but if you don’t refuse these things before you hear them out, you can get into a lot of trouble.

“Sorry, but please find someone else. I’m on vacation.”

“Mmph, nnngh… grrr.”

The nobleman groaned with a rather strange expression.

I don’t know what he wants me to do, but is it really that much of a problem?

As I was thinking that, the nobleman turned to face me with a look of determination.

“No, I understand. Just until the departure time will be fine. Would you please accept?”

As the man bowed his head, Al and I exchanged a look and then nodded.