Finally, I can Retire, Or so I Thought

A brief overview of the Minatheras Kingdom: as the largest empire in the western continent, its territory is divided into four main regions, each ruled by a lord who governs their own city. The first is Norlington in the north, home to the fortress city of Northkeep. This region controls the northern domain and contains the massive crater pass that forms the new border with the Kingdom of Lutherias.

The second is Esterios in the east, centered around the city of Lakewall, a thriving agricultural and trade hub. The third is the southern region of Sauriyan, anchored by Mageford. This city serves as the heart of the kingdom’s magical defenses and barrier grid because it borders an uncharted wilderness of dense forests and deadly deserts that no human has set foot in for thousands of years. Mageford collaborates with the Kingdom of Lutherias to guard this southern front, a realm recorded in ancient legends as the domain of the Demon Lord.

The fourth region, occupying the central and western lands, is the capital of Minatheras, the empire’s political and economic heart. This metropolis houses the world’s largest adventurer, merchant, artisan, and mage guilds, eclipsing even Lutherias’s magical department. It contains a massive military complex, knight barracks far superior to those in Thetor, a grand colosseum for entertainment and executions, and an ancient royal library containing the world’s complete history, strictly closed to the public.

***

Two nights later, in the city of Northkeep, where Dion and Luna had previously worked as adventurers and where Aria used to live, six hooded figures in long cloaks and face masks tiptoed through the quiet artisan and blacksmith district.

”Kyuu?”

”Shh... quiet. We’re almost there, just stay still,” Dion whispered to the pack under his cloak.

”Kyuu,”

”Why are we coming here?” Sheila whispered.

”We’re heading to my shop first. There’s something I want to show you all,” Aria whispered back.

”To think we’re back here again... ugh, if I knew, we wouldn’t have left in the first place, right Dion?” Luna whispered.

”This was your idea, so stop complaining. Besides, you were the one who said Duke Marvin is the lord of this city,” Dion replied sharply in a whisper.

”Can you all just shut up? What if the city guards spot us? Besides, whose bright idea was it to land a giant dragon right inside the city?” Cleo whispered aggressively.

”Who else but Dion?” Mei whispered back.

”Drop it already, stop bringing up useless stuff,” Dion said.

”Ugh... thanks to you, the whole city is on edge and we’re creeping around looking like suspicious creeps. What a pain,” Sheila protested.

”Exactly. We could have just landed outside the city and entered officially through the gates without doing all this,” Cleo added.

”What were you thinking, Dion?” Mei chimed in with a complaint.

”For real. We’ve been here before, so why are we sneaking around like this? You are seriously unpredictable,” Luna added.

Hearing all the girls gang up on him with their complaints, a prominent vein popped on Dion’s forehead. He spun around and glared at the five girls behind him.

”I didn’t even want to come! You guys forced me, so don’t complain to me,” Dion snapped back, annoyed.

”Kyuuu,” Gina chimed in.

”Okay... okay... sorry,” all four girls chorused in unison, raising both hands in surrender.

”But why go to your place, Aria? Aren’t we trying to get to Duke Marvin’s mansion?” Luna asked, quickly changing the subject.

”We’re taking a shortcut from there. Just shut up and follow me, stop asking so many questions,” Aria answered irritably.

”Is it much farther?” Mei asked.

”Right up ahead, just a bit more,” Aria replied.

They kept moving through the streets. Behind them, throughout the entire city, squads of guards were fanning out in search of the massive dragon that had landed right in the central plaza, sending citizens into a panic and mobilizing Northkeep’s knights. Reaching the end of the deserted road, Aria led the group down an alley to the right. After passing several storefronts and blacksmith shops,

”We’re here,” Aria said. ”Let’s go inside,” she added, unlocking the front door.

Once inside, they shut the door behind them. Dion pulled off his hood and cloak, allowing Gina to pop her head out of his backpack to catch her breath. Luna, Cleo, Aria, Sheila, and Mei followed suit, stowing their black cloaks into their respective dimensional bags, except for Aria, who carried no bag and simply opened her dimensional storage.

Dion looked around, recognizing Aria’s shop with its displays of spices, forged weapons, armor, and her workshop in the back.

”So we’re staying at your shop?” Dion asked Aria.

”Your place hasn’t changed a bit,” Luna added, also familiar with the shop.

”Yep, course it hasn’t. We’re staying here... but not inside this building. Everyone follow me,” Aria answered.

”Huh... where to?” Sheila asked.

”Just follow me,” Aria replied.

”Hmm... suspicious,” Mei murmured.

”Unbelievable... I’ve officially become a criminal... what is my life coming to? I’m genuinely terrified for my future,” Cleo grumbled under her breath.

”What are you rambling about?” Dion scolded gently.

”Kyuuu,” Gina chimed in, echoing Dion’s scolding.

”Whatever, let’s not waste time. Go on Aria, show us what you wanted to show us,” Cleo said, changing the subject.

Aria led the group behind her counter into her forge. Walking behind the anvil, she pulled back a heavy tarp covering the floor, revealing a hidden trapdoor.

”Can someone help me open this?” Aria asked.

”Sure... leave it to me,” Sheila said.

Sheila casually yanked the trapdoor open, revealing a stone staircase leading down into the dark.

”What’s down here?” Mei asked.

”Just come on,” Aria said, stepping onto the stairs.

They filed down the steps, arriving in a long tunnel lit by wall torches, looking every bit like an underground escape route.

”Wow... there’s a tunnel like this under your house? Why am I just finding out about this now? You never mentioned it when we used to hang out,” Luna asked.

”Hah... who are you that I need to report everything to you?” Aria shot back coldly.

”You were someone under royal surveillance by the king’s order, so don’t get attitude with me,” Luna snapped back.

”Give it a rest... why are you two always fighting?” Dion stepped in to break it up.

Luna and Aria glared at Dion, then at each other. ”Hmph!” Both turned away simultaneously, crossing their arms with huffs. Mei, Sheila, and Cleo, walking behind them, just smiled and shook their heads at their childish antics.

”Good grief,” Cleo uttered dryly.

”Forget it... they’re always like that,” Sheila chuckled.

”I’ll just hug Gina, she’s so warm and soft,” Mei said, cuddling the creature.

”Kyuu?” Gina squeaked softly, looking a bit embarrassed by the tight squeeze.

When they reached the end of the passage, Aria pushed open a rotted wooden door. Dion, Luna, Cleo, Mei, and Sheila stared with wide eyes at a massive underground cavern housing an abandoned settlement. Seeing her companions frozen at the doorway, Aria turned around.

”Come on... we still have a ways to walk to get to Duke Marvin’s place,” Aria urged.

”Wait... this cavern leads all the way there?” Dion asked, surprised.

”Yeah... this cavern is part of a massive network beneath the city. It leads anywhere and it’s completely safe. Besides... Duke Marvin has no idea this passage exists beneath his city. It’s the local underground trade route,” Aria explained.

”Oh... I see. Typical syndicate boss,” Luna mocked sarcastically.

”Stop whining and hurry up. We need to meet my people inside first,” Aria shot back.

”Alright... alright... lead the way,” Sheila said.

They resumed walking, passing through the abandoned village that had once sheltered the slaves Aria liberated, who were now residing safely in Dion’s domain. Beyond the village, they entered another tunnel at the far end of the cavern. Lit by torches, it felt less like a dungeon crawl and more like walking through a mine shaft.

After walking for a while, they reached the end of the tunnel, emerging into a large cavern with a sheer drop on the left side of the path. Dion immediately shifted toward the center, bumping into Cleo, who instinctively grabbed his arm.

”Watch your step,” Cleo warned.

”Yeah... whew... that was close,” Dion exhaled in relief.

”Come on, over there,” Aria pointed ahead.

Everyone looked ahead in surprise at a building bearing a sign painted with a giant, overflowing mug of beer and the words Greasy Orc.

”Huh... there’s a tavern down here?” Mei asked.

”I definitely didn’t expect that,” Sheila added.

”Hurry up, that crazy princess is already walking ahead,” Luna nudged them.

They approached the tavern. Upon reaching it, blam! Aria kicked the door wide open. Screeech! Inside, every patron, a rough crowd of intimidating men looking like bandits and slave traders, sporting various weapons at their waists and showcasing a mix of classes, turned toward the entrance in unison.

”What’s up, boys? I’m back!” Aria declared loudly, resting her hands on her hips.

Dion glanced at Aria beside him, then surveyed the room full of terrifying men who looked straight out of a mob syndicate from his past life.

”Oh boy... I really hope I don’t get dragged into anything illegal here,” Dion thought to himself.