The Retired [Armed Merchant]’s Laid-back Journey Across the Continent 8

Chapter 8: The Rip-off Artist Gets to Work.

Stunned by the extraordinary event of a nobleman bowing his head, we hastily finished our breakfast and boarded the carriage that had been brought alongside the diner.

Black lacquer with gold trim. I couldn’t confirm the family crest, but one look at the interior told me it belonged to a high-ranking noble.

Realizing I had stuck my neck into some serious trouble, I glanced at Al sitting next to me.

Her first trip, her first stopover, her first time in Im City, and yet her precious time was being taken up by trouble. I felt terribly apologetic.

That said, telling her to go back to our cabin first would seem like I was pushing her away, which would be bad. And more importantly, having made a nobleman bow his head, I couldn’t just walk away as if it had nothing to do with me.

“It’s okay. This kind of thing is part of the fun of traveling.”

Al, who seemed to have noticed my gaze, smiled and playfully squeezed my hand.

Being cared for by my disciple is a little pathetic.

Still, if that’s the case, I should focus on getting this over with quickly.

“So? I haven’t been told anything yet.”

“I was planning to explain the details upon arrival, but a certain person has fallen ill… We were searching for a high-level magic user to help.”

“There seems to be a misunderstanding. I’m not a magic user. I’m an armed merchant.”

At my words, the nobleman’s mouth fell open in surprise.

Well, he thought he was bringing in an expert, so of course he’d be surprised and disappointed.

“I’ve never seen or heard of an armed merchant who can use sixth-tier magic.”

“Really? I know a few.”

In the Labyrinth of Alanis, there are powerful healing magic users called ‘Healers’ and magic user/armed merchants who can use the seventh-tier spell Teleport, called ‘Transporters’.

They all seem to be doing it for fun, so you don’t run into them in the dungeon as often as me.

“No, at this point, I won’t concern myself with your background. What’s important is that you’re a skilled user of healing magic.”

“You look like a high-ranking noble or his attendant. Aren’t there more trustworthy magic users than a shady person like me?”

“If there were, we wouldn’t be in this predicament. We want to handle this as discreetly as possible.”

For someone who wants to be discreet, searching for a person like that seems a little careless.

No, perhaps the situation is just that urgent.

“Well, fine. But as I said before, I’m an armed merchant, not a magic expert. Don’t get your hopes up too high.”

“…Even so, I implore you.”

The man bowed his head again.

Having made a nobleman bow his head twice, a single misstep could get my head chopped off.

Good grief, what in the world is going on?

“…Master, it’s a mansion.”

“Hm?”

Through the small window of the carriage, I could see a large mansion.

It seemed we had passed through the main street and entered the grounds.

“When you say nobles in Im City, there’s only the Duke of Im, right?”

“That is correct. This is a request from His Excellency, Count Im.”

The nobleman opened the carriage door and jumped out.

Thinking there was no point in rushing now, I got out first and offered my hand to Al.

“I can get down by myself.”

“This is the domain of nobles. If I don’t at least escort you, it will lower your status.”

“I don’t get what you mean…!”

Though she said that, Al took my hand with a somewhat happy expression.

The fact that she landed perfectly on her feet was a charming quirk.

“Don’t tell me something happened to the Duke of Im?”

“No. First, please come this way.”

Following the man, we quickly stepped inside the mansion.

As we crossed the carpeted hall and headed deeper inside, I was somewhat impressed.

As expected of the mansion of a grain-producing noble. He has a rather fine residence.

“This way.”

The moment the door opened, a peculiar smell hit my nose.

It wasn’t something I was used to, but I recognized this specific scent.

“Al, use a handkerchief as a mask. Hey, you… why is it like this?”

“A few days ago, she said she was bitten by some insect, and then this happened.”

“Where’s the doctor? The healer?”

“We called them. But they said there was nothing they could do…”

“Damn it,” I cursed at the stammering man and thrust my hand into the magic bag at my waist.

Do I have anything in this bag that can deal with this?

“Master, please explain.”

“The subject is afflicted with the ‘Rotting Sickness’. And it seems to be quite advanced.”

“…That’s bad. Is it infectious? Or is it a poison plague?”

“I don’t know that either. Sealing the room was the right call. But all the other measures are useless!”

I glanced back at the man.

“Is it alright if I ask who you are now?”

“I am Torus, the butler of the Im family.”

“Check immediately if anyone else in the mansion is infected! Where is the Count?”

“My lord and lady are currently in the royal capital…”

“Then the one here is the young lady. Ah, why didn’t you start treatment sooner?”

The daughter of Count Im is known in the east as a beauty, simple yet lovely.

I’ve never seen her face in person, but I’ve heard she has visited Alanis several times.

For her to catch the ‘Rotting Sickness’ is beyond unfortunate.

“Al, bring my entire trunk from our cabin.”

“Got it!”

“Torus, was it? You, go to the town apothecary and get the medicines written on this paper.”

“Can you treat her?!”

“How should I know? But I’ll do everything I can until the sun sets! Also, send a Mail Bird to Alanis. Address it to the Adventurer’s Guild and write that they should send a ‘Healer’.”

After rattling off instructions, I stepped into the room filled with the stench of rot.

It was a unique smell, different from ordinary decay, a mixture of a peculiar sweetness and sourness.

Probably a poison plague from an insect—a monster.

The infectivity is low, but there’s a possibility that monsters of the same kind will be drawn to this stench.

I recall there was a gadfly-type monster on the 8th floor of the dungeon that used the same method.

I’ve treated a few people for it in the dungeon.

But I don’t know if the same method will work when it’s this advanced.

“Who… are you…?”

“Just a passing armed merchant, my lady. May I touch you for a moment?”

“You’ll get sick, too.”

Even as her body rotted, her voice was cool and clear.

She was feigning composure so as not to worry me.

For a girl not yet of age, she was quite brave.

“I’ll be fine. First, a physical examination… then, I’ll cast a healing spell. It might hurt, but can you bear it?”

“…Yes, I leave myself in your hands.”

What an obedient girl.

Much easier to deal with than the adventurers in the dungeon who try to tough it out.

“Alright, here I go.”

I flicked my fingers to cast a protective spell on myself, then gently touched the rotting abdomen of the young lady.