Finally, I can Retire, Or so I Thought

As the caravan drew near, Luna and Cleo walked out to join Dion, Sheila, and Mei standing near the village entrance. Spotting the emblem painted on the lead carriage, Luna glanced over at Dion.

"Hmm... Aetherias, huh? That means they actually went ahead with considering the trade route I pitched back then. Let’s just hope they brought our last supply order," Luna noted.

"Yeah... Your solo trip was definitely a success," Dion said.

"Great work, Luna," Sheila said, flashing her a thumbs-up.

"Good thing you were the one who went. I wouldn’t have been able to talk shop over there," Mei added softly.

"We should still exercise caution. Look at that noble carriage in the back, it bears the seal of the Kingdom of Thetor," Cleo warned, gesturing toward the luxurious transport bringing up the rear.

Everyone turned to inspect the final carriage Cleo pointed out. Sure enough, it was massive, with the official crest of the Thetor royal family proudly emblazoned across its doors.

"Huh... Royalty?" Luna mused out loud.

"Do you recognize it, Luna?" Cleo asked.

"Yeah... Only the royal family is allowed to sport that crest on their carriage doors," Luna answered.

"Who could it be? Is someone from the royal palace actually coming out here?" Sheila asked, thoroughly perplexed.

"Hmm... Stay on your guard regardless. We have no idea what their motives are. Fortunately, Gina isn’t around," Mei said.

"Kyuuu?"

Mei looked up to find Gina hovering right above her before landing gently atop her head. Mei could only shake her head with a soft sigh.

"Scratch that... We had better stay sharp," Mei said, resting her hands on the hilts of the twin blades strapped to her waist.

"Come on, don’t be so tense, Mei. I’m sure it’s fine," Luna offered.

"Luna’s right, loosen up a bit. Besides, it’s just a group of merchants with no guards in sight. I doubt they’re bringing violence to our doorstep," Sheila added.

"Well... just be ready for anything," Cleo noted nonchalantly.

Luna, Mei, Sheila, and Cleo then turned their attention to Dion, who was staring intently at the approaching convoy. Their expressions quickly shifted to shock when they noticed Dion’s face had gone slightly pale, as if he had just seen a ghost.

His gut feeling had proven completely right. But before any of the girls could ask him what was wrong, the caravan ground to a halt right before them. A middle-aged man sitting in the driver’s seat of the lead carriage hopped down.

Dion and Luna recognized the man immediately. Stepping forward to greet him, Dion extended his hand.

"Master Edgar? I didn’t expect to see you all the way out here," Dion said.

"Wait... Dion?! Oh... so this is your domain?" Edgar asked, caught off guard as he shook Dion’s hand.

"How have you been, Master Edgar?" Luna greeted smoothly.

"Luna?! Ah, so you’re out here with Dion... That means the person who stopped by my shop in the Thetor Kingdom back then was you?" Edgar asked, shaking Luna’s hand in return.

"Precisely, sir. I’m just glad you decided to turn our territory into one of your official trade routes," Luna answered with a wide smile.

"Ah... right! Actually, I came out here to deliver your order of 100 swords, 100 spears, 100 shields, and 100 sets of chainmail. It was you who placed that order, correct?" Edgar double-checked.

"That’s right, Master Edgar," Luna confirmed, her smile broadening.

"So you came all this way just to deliver our gear, huh?" Dion asked.

"Hmm... Not entirely, to be completely honest..."

Before Edgar could finish his sentence,

"Diooooon!"

A sharp screech echoed through the air, cutting Edgar off instantly. Dion whipped his head around, his eyes widening in pure horror. He watched as Aria charged straight toward him with open arms and a wildly cheerful expression. It wasn’t just Dion, Luna was equally stunned, her face instantly souring into a dark, furious scowl.

Bwaaak!

Aria slammed into Dion at full speed.

"Cough!" Dion practically spat up saliva from the sheer impact of the tackle before,

Splash!

Both of them tumbled backward straight into the river behind them.

"Dion!" Luna, Mei, Sheila, and Cleo shrieked in unison, genuinely panicked.

Dion rubbed his eyes, his face draining of color as he looked at Aria, who was practically beaming down at him with sparkling eyes and a wide, radiant grin. Dion, of course, forced out a completely strained smile.

"We finally meet again, Dion!" Aria squealed, wrapping her arms tightly around him in a hug.

"Y-Yeah... Princess Aria," Dion squeezed out slowly.

"Hey! How many times do I have to tell you? I’m not a princess anymore! I’m just an ordinary girl who loves smithing and crafting things," Aria insisted, staring down at Dion.

"Hoo... Look who it is. The spoiled princess who happens to be two years younger than Dion and me, the same spoiled princess who ran away from the academy to Minatheras just to stalk us."

Hearing the voice, Aria turned to see Luna standing at the riverbank, hands planted firmly on her hips with a murderous glare. Aria released her grip on Dion, stood up, and helped him out of the water.

"Well, well, if it isn’t Luna von Arthera, the girl who can never seem to detach herself or stay away from my fiancé," Aria sneered, meeting Luna’s glare head-on.

"Hah?! Fiancé?!" Mei, Sheila, and Cleo shouted simultaneously.

"She’s completely delusional! The engagement between her and Dion was officially called off the moment Dion’s parents passed away! Don’t think I don’t know the truth!" Luna retorted, attempting to calm the three bewildered girls beside her.

"Hah! Canceled or not, Dion already belongs in my heart, and that can’t be canceled!" Aria shot back in protest.

"Hold on a second... Are you... Luna von Arthera? The daughter of Baron Arthera?" Edgar asked, looking at Luna in surprise.

"That’s right. Why do you ask, Master Edgar?" Luna asked, confused.

"Oh! Your father happens to be the primary financial backer of my merchant guild! That’s precisely why my company is named Aetherias!" Edgar revealed.

"Oh... Is that so? Forgive me, Master Edgar, I don’t really pay attention to my father’s business affairs," Luna replied casually.

"She’s telling the truth, Uncle Edgar! Her head is filled with nothing but eating, sleeping, and Dion, there’s literally no room for anything else!" Aria mocked.

"Hah?! What did you just say, you stupid princess?!" Luna snapped back, stepping forward to confront Aria face-to-face.

"Bring it on! You want to fight me, don’t you?!" Aria challenged, squaring her shoulders and taking a fighting stance.

"Hah! You think I’m scared of you, you stupid princess?!" Luna barked back, rolling up her long sleeves as she prepped for a brawl.

Realizing an all-out fight was about to erupt, Dion sprinted forward, grabbing both Luna and Aria by their shoulders as he thrust himself between them.

"Enough, both of you! Cut it out!" Dion yelled, forcing them apart.

"Stay out of this!" Luna and Aria screamed in unison, snapping round toward Dion.

"Oh... okay! Just don’t fight!" Dion squeaked, recoiling instantly and taking a hasty step back.

While Dion struggled to mediate the heated shouting match between Luna and Aria, Cleo quietly observed Aria from a distance, crossing her arms over her chest with an amused grin.

"Hmm... Interesting," Cleo noted softly.

"What is?" Sheila asked, glancing over at Cleo.

"What’s interesting?" Mei added, turning to look as well.

"Turns out she’s no ordinary blacksmith... She possesses one of the ten legendary Hero classes. She’s an SS-rank Arsenal Merchant," Cleo revealed.

"Huh?! For real?!" Sheila and Mei gasped in surprise.

Both of them turned to inspect Aria, who was noticeably shorter than Luna yet stood fiercely on her tiptoes, glaring right into Luna’s eyes without showing an ounce of hesitation. Turning back to Cleo, Sheila asked,

"How can you tell?"

"I have the ability to analyze the class of anyone weaker than myself, though obviously, my skill doesn’t work on Dion," Cleo explained smoothly.

"Hmm... That makes sense. Dion completely defies logic anyway," Mei replied.

Deciding it was best not to intervene, the three girls stood back and watched Dion endlessly struggle to break up the quarrel between Luna and Aria. Edgar, equally uninterested in getting dragged into the chaos, took a discreet step back, while Gina happily resumed her nap in Cleo’s arms. A few moments later, the shouting match finally ground to a halt as both Luna and Aria ran out of breath. Dion turned his head toward Aria.

"Why are you even here, Aria?" Dion asked, genuinely curious.

"I heard this was a settlement for former slaves! I brought my own crew with me, around 40 people in total. Please take us in, my future husband!" Aria declared cheerfully.

Dion turned to glance at the carriages parked behind the main transport. Sure enough, the doors to several large transport wagons swung open, and dozens of people began stepping out onto the grass. Dion’s face instantly went grim.

"I knew it... My gut never lies," Dion muttered to himself in his head, a sudden pounding headache coming on.