Return to the Everyday

Leaving all the aftermath in Princess Tianis's hands, we set off for home.

Luido was a peaceful place.

Tell anyone it had nearly become a drug manufacturing hub and they'd never believe it.

I'd like to visit again someday, under better circumstances.

We said goodbye to the innkeeper and prepared the cart.

It was empty now, so I figured I'd buy something on the way back. Sugarcane was in season, and I managed to stock up on sugar at a steep discount.

Strangely enough, the amount I'd bought was almost exactly what we'd used up.

The supplier teased me, asking if I was going to use it for candy.

He even said he'd buy some if I ever sold that candy.

Those sweets had apparently been a big hit.

On our way out, we passed a group of children. They seemed to remember our faces.

"That candy was really good. Thank you!"

"Glad to hear it. Thanks for telling me."

After exchanging greetings with the children as they thanked us one after another, we left Luido.

They waved us off, so Azu and the others waved back along with me.

… The dark future that might have been should be averted now.

Whether the trauma of the past was truly resolved, I still couldn't say.

But I had a feeling that childhood friend would stop appearing in my dreams.

There was no sign of Princess Tianis's entourage anywhere along the road.

That massive contingent had vanished like smoke.

"Teleportation magic, most likely."

The high-level magic that the manager of the auction on the sky island had used.

A magic so rare that even Alexia, who by my estimation was a high-ranking mage, couldn't use it.

That was Alexia's conclusion for how they'd moved so quickly.

It would certainly explain the speed.

"It wouldn't be strange for a royal court mage to have that ability. It's quite convenient, after all."

"So normally it's used for this kind of thing, and in a pinch, it doubles as an escape route."

I had a single-use scroll that could do the same.

I'd considered selling it but decided to keep it for emergencies.

You could never have too much life insurance.

Unless it fetched as much as the Anti-Magic Orb, anyway.

"Teleportation is troublesome, you know. Even if you corner someone, they can just escape. And if you chase them recklessly, they can close it midway and your body gets split in two."

"It can be used like that too?"

We chatted about things like that all the way to the Royal Capital.

Luido wasn't far from the capital, so even at a leisurely pace, we arrived before sundown.

I'd planned to use the portal from there, but it was out of service.

They wouldn't say why, but since it would be available tomorrow, we gave up on traveling further and looked for an inn.

A reasonably upscale one had a vacancy, so we settled on that.

From here, it was just the trip home.

Daily life would be waiting on the other side, so for now I just wanted to rest up and not carry any fatigue with me.

We rented a single large room, ate dinner, and bathed.

The food in Luido had been far better.

Maybe the ingredients were fresher there?

Both the meat and the vegetables had been richer in flavor.

"Cross the divider and I'll kill you."

"How rude. Fine, fine."

Finn moved my bed to the spot closest to the door and placed a partition there.

A perfectly natural reaction from a girl her age.

Azu and the others were slaves, but Finn was not.

I understood that, so I accepted without argument.

If I actually set foot past it, she probably wouldn't stop at a warning.

After one night, we boarded the portal and made it back to Kassad.

First, I headed to Ramiza-san's shop to report how things had gone.

"You met that princess?"

"I didn't, but my people did."

"I see. She's not a bad person, but she may have taken an interest in you."

"You think so? Putting you aside, Ramiza-san, I'd imagine we're nothing more than pebbles on the roadside to royalty."

"Let's hope so. Anyway, well done. This outcome is a result of your decision."

"No. Thank you for your help."

I thanked Ramiza-san and left her shop.

I'd asked a lot of her and built up a considerable debt. I'd have to pay it back little by little.

Next, I went to see Jacob.

He'd helped me out this time as well.

Being able to borrow a communication stone in Luido and get in touch had been thanks to Jacob.

Though I was surprised that by the time I'd made contact, Princess Tianis had already made her move.

"This matter is now entirely in Princess Tianis's custody. You'll likely receive some commendation for your role."

"That's a great honor."

Though "commendation" probably just meant a brief word relayed through a soldier.

The situation was completely different from when we'd helped Anatia, a duke's daughter.

"Luido's leadership was deeply entangled in the drug operation. There'll be a near-total replacement. Detailed interrogations are probably underway as we speak."

From what the Second Princess had said, the law almost certainly called for execution.

Whether they'd die quickly or slowly was at her discretion.

"Honestly, I'm relieved it ended this cleanly. If the drugs had actually hit the market, Luido might have been burned to the ground. Seizing the physical evidence before it spread was huge."

"I'm relieved about that too."

The poppy plants and the refined drugs would be properly disposed of.

If this case served as a deterrent, all the better.

Since orders had been flying over Jacob's head, there were details he wasn't up to speed on either.

We finished reconciling what we each knew, and that concluded the conversation.

For a mere merchant, this had been an absurdly large affair, but we'd come through it.

Of course, that was only thanks to having allies and dumping the cleanup on others.

Back at the shop, Kaimol and the staff had kept things running smoothly.

I'd need to let Kazusa and the others know it was over, too…

"Master, you're still tired no matter how you slice it. Let's rest today. I'll go tell them."

"All right. Tell them to come by the shop tomorrow. I promised I'd look after them."

"Got it. I'll pass the word."

Azu had to be tired too, but she didn't show it at all.

What energy. Must be youth.

Finn, equally young, had already retreated to her room.

I'd need to talk with Finn about what came next.

So much to do…