Finally, I can Retire, Or so I Thought

The capital of the Thetor Kingdom was a vast metropolis ringed by a wide, sweeping river. Fortified by three massive gates, the flat cityscape teemed with bustling residents, residential blocks, and towering landmarks, including a grand Cathedral, the local Adventurer Guild, trade centers, market districts, a knight training academy, a colosseum-style arena for gladiatorial contests, and a pentagram-shaped high command headquarters equipped with cavalry stables.

Expansive farmland spanned the grounds outside the stone ramparts surrounding the city, flanked by two small outer villages connected directly to the capital through the western gate.

The city was divided into two primary zones: the outer district, home to the common populace, and the inner district, an upscale haven of noble estates and exclusive merchant houses. Tucked behind the inner district stood a grand royal palace under heavy guard, fronted by several knight barracks.

At that very moment, Luna was browsing inside the flagship store of the Aetherias Trading Company located within the noble shopping district. She stood double-checking her inventory checklist against a massive stack of wooden crates, boxes, and supplies piled up beside her.

”Hmm... got the iron for Dion... got the construction equipment... got clothes for the villagers... got spices and food supplies... looks like everything’s here. So why do I still feel like I’m forgetting something?” Luna thought to herself.

”Pardon me, ma’am. Your total comes to 2,350 gold,” the clerk chimed in, snapping Luna out of her focus.

”Oh! Right! You accept this, right?” Luna asked, presenting her black card.

At the sight of the black card, the clerk’s posture instantly shifted into deep deference. Accepting the card with both hands, he bowed politely and stepped into the back room to retrieve his ledger, leaving Luna alone. Luna naturally drifted back into thought. Suddenly, a lightbulb went off in her head. She checked her purchased goods once more, and upon realizing what was missing, she casually strolled into the back room right after the clerk.

”Excuse me, do you sell pre-brewed ale here? If you do, I’ll take ten barrels,” Luna requested.

”Oh!” The clerk flinched, startled to see a customer stepping into an employee-only area. However, remembering the black card in her hand, he refrained from escorting her out.

”My apologies, ma’am, but we don’t carry ale here. Might I suggest visiting one of the taverns in the outer district?” the clerk offered, forcing a polite smile despite his annoyance at her boundary-crossing.

”Ooh, right! Well then, please go ahead and load all these goods onto the wagon. That total price includes the home delivery fee, right?” Luna asked.

”Everything is covered, ma’am. We’ll also be discussing the new trade route to your region with our superiors,” the clerk answered smoothly.

”Awesome! Thanks a bunch! I’m taking off for a bit, please hold onto my stuff,” Luna said casually.

Luna trotted outside with a cheerful smile, while the clerk watched her leave, shaking his head with a look that silently screamed, Spoiled nobles, doing whatever they please. Stepping into the front courtyard, Luna spotted the two golems that had accompanied her.

”Oh, right! I’ll just have them do it!”

Luna walked up to the two golems and instructed them to head over to the distant outer district, drop by a tavern, and purchase a few barrels of ale. But before doing that, she ordered them to visit the local Adventurer Guild to hand over the loot collected during their journey alongside her detailed savings log.

The two constructs responded with crisp nods, one of them taking notes on a small slate. Luna handed her bag and coin pouch to the nodding golem. Accepting the items, both constructs offered a sharp military salute, turned on their heels, and marched off without a word.

With the golems dispatched, Luna sank into a nearby bench. Sigh. Letting out a long breath of relief, she glanced toward the city gates.

”Should I drop by my family’s house since I’m already here...? Nah, better not look for trouble. I’ll just rest up here for a bit... Hopefully those two can pick up a high-tier quest thanks to my guild card, hehe,” Luna thought to herself. She opened her dimensional handbag, pulled out some snacks and a drink, and enjoyed a quiet lunch.

***

While Luna was taking a break, over at the Adventurer Guild in the outer district, blam! the front doors swung wide open. Everyone inside snapped their heads toward the entrance, immediately dropping into defensive stances as two short, round iron golems waddled into the hall, carrying a leather bag and a coin pouch. Pay no mind to the stunned adventurers gathered around them, the duo marched straight past the crowd.

”W-what on earth are those?!” an adventurer clad in heavy armor and wielding a tower shield gasped.

”No idea,” the archer beside him replied, staring blankly.

”I’ve never seen constructs like that before,” a female mage carrying a staff added, hovering near her party members.

”Bizarre... completely bizarre,” a female thief muttered.

Unbothered and brimming with confidence, the two golems waddled up to the main counter. Finding a crowd of adventurers blocking the desk, they casually hopped right onto the counter top. The receptionist gasped in sheer shock, losing her balance and tumbling onto her rear.

”W-what?! Why are there ancient artifact golems in here?!” the woman standing beside her exclaimed.

Both golems turned their heads, spotting Cleo standing right in front of the counter, staring back at them with a pale, utterly bewildered expression. The adventurers standing behind Cleo, who appeared to be her hired expedition party, were equally dumbfounded, not just by the sight of two iron constructs standing on the counter, but by Cleo’s completely shocked face.

Picking herself up off the floor, the receptionist slowly brushed off her skirt. Her face was still pale and her heart was undoubtedly hammering against her ribs, but she quickly pulled herself together like a true professional.

”How... how may I help you?” the receptionist asked, her voice trembling slightly.

One of the golems promptly presented Luna’s official adventurer card to the receptionist, while the other unzipped the dimensional bag Luna had entrusted to them and dumped its contents right onto the wooden counter.

A collective gasp echoed through the hall as the pile spilled out: fifty severed goblin ears, twenty preserved orc heads, two massive tusks from a giant tusk boar, five intact salamanders, and one colossal wyvern head. The sharp, metallic stench of carcasses and blood instantly flooded the room, driving several faint-hearted adventurers rushing out the front doors for fresh air.

”Oh dear... if you’re submitting monster bounties, that’s handled at the side counter, not here,” the receptionist groaned, pinching her nose in disgust.

The two golems traded looks, simultaneously shrugging their round shoulders and holding out their palms. A moment later, they bowed politely to the receptionist in apology.

”Never mind... I’ll process the tally here. Please step down and wait,” the receptionist sighed, immediately getting to work.

The two golems hopped off the counter and sat quietly on a bench, keeping their glowing camera-lens eyes fixed on the receptionist. Cleo, who had witnessed the entire display, leaned forward to inspect the adventurer card left on the desk.

”Wait... Luna? These constructs... belong to Luna? Is Dion somewhere nearby?!” Cleo thought to herself, her mind racing.

”Royal Mage, shouldn’t we step outside? The stench in here is unbearable,” an adventurer suggested, waving his hand in front of his nose.

”Right... let’s head to Millfrost City up north. It’s still within the kingdom’s borders, and we might find clues regarding Gemmeth’s whereabouts there. Nobody in the capital saw a black dragon fly over,” Cleo instructed.

”Understood, Royal Mage. Shall we depart immediately?” the adventurer asked.

”Yes... we move now,” Cleo replied.

Cleo glanced toward the back row, spotting a young man in golden armor leaning against the wall with his eyes closed, looking thoroughly unbothered and bored out of his mind.

”That means you too, Rene. Just because this is your home city doesn’t mean you get a free pass to head home. Let’s move,” Cleo called out sternly.

”Yeah, yeah... stop nagging, Cleo,” Rene grumbled in annoyance.

Cleo and her hired party, including Rene, turned and exited the guild hall. As Rene walked past the two golems sitting quietly on the bench awaiting their payout, he threw them a cold glare. The golems instantly glared right back, their glowing eyes turning blood-red as their camera-lens pupils narrowed in apparent anger.

”Tch... damn useless toys,” Rene muttered under his breath, walking past them.

The two golems tracked Rene with their gaze until their round torsos spun completely around. Suddenly, one of the golems turned toward the main quest board and tapped the shoulder of its companion. Both constructs locked their gaze onto the board, their camera-lens eyes widening in unison.

Hanging prominently among the notices was a bounty poster featuring a drawing of a giant, titanic dragon, a $1,000,000 gold reward for capturing Gina, dead or alive and a $200,000 gold finder’s fee just for reporting her location.