Finally, I can Retire, Or so I Thought

Dion, who was now awake, leaned to the side to look ahead. The carriage rolled down a gentle slope, revealing a clear, sweeping view of the entire capital city of Lutherias up ahead. It was a vast city stretching wide from west to east, bordered by lush forests and towering mountains.

On the eastern side, before the forest boundary, lay countless fields and farms blanketing the area. This section wasn’t enclosed by a outer wall, but it was heavily monitored by three watchtowers positioned along the forest edge, in the middle of the grounds, and at the corner of the main fortress wall.

Inside the city perimeter, dense clusters of houses and buildings stood behind high, thick stone walls, teeming with a large population. Deep within the urban grid, two towering magic spires flanked a massive cathedral, situated right before a grand palace perched high on a hill near the mountain range.

Dion let out a bitter smile at the sight. He used to visit this city often, as it was only a three-hour horse-drawn carriage ride from Phobos. Luna and Mei poked their heads out on either side of Dion, their eyes sparkling at the majestic city unfolding before them.

”We’re finally here!” Mei said cheerfully.

”Yeah... how many days are we staying here, Dion?” Luna asked, turning her head toward him.

”Hmm... just overnight. We’ll shop for supplies and head out tomorrow,” Dion replied casually.

”Okay... sounds good to me!” Luna chimed in brightly.

”Luna, don’t you want to visit the Hestalia Cathedral in the city center?” Mei asked, pointing toward the heart of the capital where the massive cathedral stood.

”Hmm... nah, no need,” Luna said after a moment’s thought.

”Back when we came here with Rene after graduation, didn’t you want to visit the cathedral?” Dion asked.

”That was right after graduating from the academy, I only went there to submit a report. After that, it wasn’t mandatory anymore. Besides, Holy Saint is just a class, right?” Luna replied casually.

”Yeah... an SS-rank class... the kind that supposedly appears once every thousand years whenever the world is in danger,” Dion muttered in his head.

Dion then glanced down at Mei, who was holding his arm while taking in the cityscape, and then over at Luna, who was pressing tight against his other side.

”Hmm... come to think of it... back at the academy, there were only ten people in the SS-rank class, and two of them are right here, sandwiching me. If they ever have to leave to defeat the impending darkness that’s prophesied to appear once every thousand years, that means I’ll have my territory all to myself... Nice... real nice. I hope the darkness comes real soon,” Dion muttered in his head with a broad grin.

The carriage continued driving down the hill until they finally arrived at the front gates about an hour later. Dion could see a heavy presence of Lutherias Kingdom soldiers stationed at the entrance, accompanied by several knights and soldiers from the Eredor Kingdom. A thorough carriage inspection was underway.

Dion quickly had Luna and Mei swap seats since Luna was sitting on the far end, then he muffled Mei and covered her face, pretending as if she were fast asleep or sick. When a gate guard pulled back the rear curtain and climbed up to inspect the cargo, he spotted the three of them sitting along the bench.

His eyes locked onto Dion, who was physically muffling Mei beside him. As the guard stepped closer, Dion immediately signaled for him to keep quiet while gently stroking Mei’s head, which was bowed down in fake sleep. The guard understood,

”Are you employees of the trading company? Can you show me your identification cards?” the guard asked.

”Oh, right here, sir.”

Dion pulled out his adventurer card, as did Luna and Mei. The guard inspected the cards and scrutinized their faces, except for Mei, who kept her hood drawn.

”Hmm... alright. Welcome to the capital of Lutherias. If you happen to see this person, notify the authorities immediately,” the guard said, handing Dion a rolled-up piece of paper.

Once the guard stepped down, the carriage started moving again. Dion unrolled the paper and ”gasp!” he gasped in shock. Drawn on the parchment was a portrait of his own face, captured in his terrifying Berserk Monk form. Above it was the word ”WANTED,” and below it read ”G 2,000,000.00.”

”Whoa... you’re famous!” Luna remarked, peering at the sheet.

”Um... I’m so sorry, Dion. It’s my fault you ended up with a bounty,” Mei added apologetically.

”Sigh... don’t worry about it. Don’t sweat it,” Dion said, rolling the bounty poster back up and slipping it into his dimensional waist pouch.

”Wait, you’re an adventurer too, Mei?” Luna asked, surprised.

”Um... yeah, but I only take quests near Eredor... since, well, you know what my actual job is, right?” Mei asked.

”Hmm... if I recall correctly, you’re a member of the Shadow Hand, the Eredor Kingdom’s intelligence agency, right?” Dion asked, turning to look at Mei.

”Yep... that’s why on my adventurer card, my name isn’t Mei, it’s Maya,” Mei answered.

”Oh, I see. Wait, how did you know that, Dion?” Luna asked, looking confused.

”She talked about her family back when we were at the academy, hahaha,” Dion answered offhandedly.

”Hmm... is that so? I had no idea you were that close with Mei back then,” Luna said, staring at Dion with deep suspicion.

”He was close with me, Luna. Aside from me, there was Shei...”

Dion quickly clamped his hand over Mei’s mouth before she could utter their friend’s full name. He offered a sweet, innocent smile to Luna, who was now pouting slightly as she stared him down.

”Why didn’t you ever tell me? I thought you only hung out with me and Rene!” Luna huffed.

”Well... sorry. Back then, I thought you and Rene were dating... I didn’t want to play third wheel, hahaha,” Dion replied.

”Dating?! Where on earth did you get that idea?! I never looked at him like that for a single second!” Luna shouted in protest.

”Okay, okay... my bad,” Dion replied, holding his hands up defensively in front of Luna’s face with a bitter smile while releasing Mei’s mouth so she could breathe again.

The carriage continued driving into the city center before finally pulling up outside a massive structure featuring a large sign that read Aetheras Trading Company. The company staff member sitting next to the driver turned around to face them.

”Alright, we’ve arrived! If you have the time, please take a look inside. Our merchandise is considered top-of-the-line in this city,” the staff member pitched, a practiced salesman smile plastered on his face.

”Will do, sir. Thank you,” Dion replied.

They climbed down from the carriage and took in the grandeur of the building. It was sprawlingly wide and stood five stories high. Dion turned to Luna and Mei, who had lowered their hoods and were staring up at the structure.

”Want to check it out inside?” Dion asked.

”Hmm... sure! I’ve never been inside before. Usually, only nobles shop here, right?” Luna said.

”Same here... I’ve never been inside either... Even with my status back in my home city, I never stepped foot in one,” Mei added.

”Well then, what are we waiting for? I’m curious too, let’s go in,” Dion replied.

They stepped inside together. The interior was packed with an enormous variety of goods sold by Edgar’s trading company: bottled rare spices, high-end cookware, dimensional bags of every shape and size, trendy noble fashions, gleaming armor displayed behind glass, and magic crystal jewelry infused with various functions. They walked up to the shopkeeper standing behind the main service counter.

”Welcome! How may I assist you today?” the shopkeeper asked politely.

Dion glanced at the wide assortment of magic crystals arrayed inside the display case, sorted by elemental category, utility, and size. Something clicked in his head. He looked straight at the shopkeeper.

”Hi... I’m looking to buy raw, unrefined magic crystals. I need thirty large ones and fifty medium ones of any type. Can you supply that?” Dion asked.

Hearing Dion’s order, Luna and Mei whipped their heads toward him, their eyebrows knitting together as they stared at him, silently questioning why on earth he needed that many magic crystals.

”Hmm... is there a specific element you require, or will any do?” the shopkeeper asked.

”Anything works. I’m not picky about the element,” Dion answered.

”Understood. Let me check our backroom inventory real quick,” the shopkeeper replied.

”Sure thing, take your time,” Dion said easily.

As the shopkeeper stepped into the back room to check their stock, Dion felt eyes on him. He glanced to his left and right, finding Luna and Mei looking completely baffled.

”What?” Dion asked.

”What do you need that many magic crystals for?” Luna asked.

”Hmm... to craft stuff later, plus extra supplies. Why?” Dion asked.

”You mean those weird artifacts you occasionally pull out when we’re in dungeons?” Luna pressed.

”Pretty much... since we hardly ever clear dungeons anymore and only take surface quests that rarely drop magic crystals, my stock is running dangerously low,” Dion explained.

”Oh, right! Whenever we used to go into dungeons, your favorite pastime was hoarding monster magic crystals,” Luna recalled.

”Yep... exactly. So now I’m just buying them,” Dion replied.

”But... aren’t magic crystals usually super expensive?” Mei asked.

”Um... well, yeah. Anyway, why don’t you two browse around? They’ve got nice clothes right over there,” Dion said, pointing toward the adjacent room, which housed a fashion and armor boutique.

The two girls stared at Dion, their brows furrowing in unison with dead serious expressions. Then they exchanged a quick look and walked off, leaving Dion standing alone at the counter.

”Sigh...” Seeing them walk away, Dion let out a heavy sigh and turned back around, leaning his elbows against the display glass.

”Even if I tried to explain that I need these crystals to craft gear when using my Mechanical Crafter and Gunner classes later... they wouldn’t understand anyway,” Dion muttered in his head.

Suddenly ”chime!”

Dion heard the front entrance door open behind him. He remained casually leaning against the display counter without bothering to turn around. But then,

”Wait... Dion?!”

Hearing a girl’s voice behind him, a voice he definitely recognized, he slowly turned his head, then spun around completely. Standing there was a beautiful girl with long silver hair, clad in full mage attire complete with a pointed hat, holding a large staff topped with a glowing blue gem.

”Cleo von Stein?” Dion asked, pointing at the girl.

”Yep! How have you been, Dion? It’s been way too long!” Cleo said with a radiant smile.