Finally, I can Retire, Or so I Thought

While the trading company’s staff unloaded the cargo with help from the villagers and automated golems, Dion escorted Aria and Edgar inside toward the mansion. As they walked, Aria clung to Dion’s arm while Edgar kept his eyes glued to the working golems, his sharp business mind already racing at the sight.

Meanwhile, Luna, Mei, Sheila, and Cleo trailed right behind them. Gina had tried to fly over to Dion, but the four girls stopped her, leaving the little dragon trapped helplessly in Sheila’s arms. Cleo glanced over at Luna on the far left, who was still scowling with an irritated expression.

”Luna, why do you look so upset?” Cleo asked.

”I just can’t believe that bratty princess actually showed up here,” Luna replied sharply.

”She’s... really a royal princess?” Mei asked, pointing bewilderedly at Aria up ahead.

”Yup... a princess who loves getting covered in soot inside a blacksmith’s workshop,” Luna answered.

”I know some princesses can be bratty and don’t care about who they hang out with, even commoners or slaves. We have one right here. But a princess who loves being a blacksmith? That’s a first for me,” Mei noted.

”Hey... what’s that supposed to mean, Mei?” Sheila asked, turning toward her.

”Don’t worry about it,” Mei replied curtly.

”Anyway, back when Dion, Rene, and I graduated, we went straight to Minatheras to register as adventurers. Only a month in, we got a letter from King Lamberd of the Thetor Kingdom saying his daughter was missing and had run off to Minatheras. He begged us to keep an eye on her. She’s a total pain,” Luna explained.

”Hmm... I think I’ve met a princess from the Thetor Kingdom before. They visited my father’s palace back when he was still around... If I remember correctly, she wore full armor and had blond hair,” Sheila said, scratching her chin as she recalled the memory.

”That’s Princess Evelyn, the knight commander. The second princess, Olivia, is a head librarian. And the third princess is... a blacksmith and crafter. To be honest, no one in the Thetor royal family is normal,” Luna added, rolling her eyes.

”Oh, I see,” Cleo murmured.

”Dion was originally engaged to Aria because King Lamberd and Dion’s father were childhood friends... But after Dion’s parents passed away, the engagement was officially canceled under the excuse that the king didn’t want to force Dion... That was the public reason, anyway,” Luna explained.

”Was it actually because of Dion’s strange class?” Mei guessed directly.

”Spot on. Dion was considered classless and rankless,” Luna answered.

”Huh... A guy with no rank... who casually alters geography, tensions global geopolitics, destroys ancient seals, raises a calamity dragon, and builds golems, towers, and surveillance spheres... And to this day, my analysis skill still fails on him,” Cleo remarked.

”Kyuuu?” Gina chimed in, though no one understood what she meant.

”And flattens monsters with a single punch,” Sheila added.

”Plus acts completely recklessly, as if his actions don’t cause massive headaches,” Mei noted.

”Yup... And that bratty princess knows all about it too. She refuses to share Dion with anyone,” Luna added, shrugging her shoulders.

Hearing Luna’s words, Mei, Sheila, Cleo, and even Gina instantly turned to look at her.

”What do you mean she won’t share?” Cleo asked.

”If any pretty girl gets close to Dion, she turns into a venomous snake and swallows them whole,” Luna warned.

”Oho... She’s welcome to try,” Cleo replied with a sharp, sinister smirk.

”Wait a second... I’m pretty! Does that mean if I get close to Dion, she’s going to pounce on me?” Sheila asked.

”Huh... You’re... pretty?” Mei asked, scanning Sheila from head to toe before pausing at her face.

”Hey! Look at my face, not my muscle mass!” Sheila shot back.

”Pretty much, yeah,” Luna added.

”Oh... That is unacceptable,” Sheila said, her temper flaring.

”Hey... stay calm. Personally, I’m not worried because I belong to Dion,” Mei stated calmly.

”Wait, if you’re not allowed to get close to him, how can Dion claim you belong to him?” Sheila countered.

Mei froze. The sound of gears turning inside her head was practically audible. Suddenly,

Shiiing!

Luna, Cleo, Sheila, and even Gina turned in surprise as Mei drew one of her swords.

”Whoa... What are you doing?!” Sheila grabbed Mei’s wrist.

”It is best to eliminate future threats early to prevent complications down the road,” Mei stated robotically.

”Cut it out! Why are you guys making such a fuss? Besides, no one has the right to tell me who I can or can’t get close to,” Cleo cut in, crackles of lightning sparking around her eyes alongside a dark smile. Her face made it crystal clear what she was thinking, ”How am I supposed to hold Dion responsible for my life if someone takes him away?”

”Give me a break... What is wrong with you people? Show some maturity,” Sheila grumbled.

”Hmm... That means you won’t be able to do any more physical contact with Dion,” Mei pointed out flatly.

Hearing that, Sheila instantly froze. The mental image of her hugging Dion, holding him, and carrying him shattered into tiny pieces in her mind.

Crack!

She cracked her knuckles, a sinister, terrifying grin spreading across her face. Gina immediately fled, flying over to hide in Luna’s arms.

”Fine... Let me help clear out the source of the problem,” Sheila said, her eyes flushing red as her grin broadened.

”See? Now all three of you understand how I feel,” Luna said, holding Gina tightly against her chest, so tightly that Gina tried to squirm away again.

”Loud and clear,” Mei, Sheila, and Cleo answered in heavy, synchronized tones.

Meanwhile, walking up ahead while being clung to by Aria and continuously talked to by Edgar, Dion suddenly felt a cold shudder run down his spine. An overwhelming murderous aura radiated from right behind them. Slowly turning his head, he spotted the four girls trailing behind with pitch-black expressions, alongside a thoroughly miserable Gina squirming in Luna’s grip.

”Huh... What’s their deal? Why are they looking like that?” Dion thought in panic.

Dion looked down at Aria, who was tightly wrapping her arms around his. He pulled his arm free.

”Hey... What’s wrong, my future husband?” Aria asked, looking confused.

”Isn’t our engagement over?” Dion asked her.

”Officially, yes. But I’m staying by your side whether you like it or not,” Aria replied stubbornly.

”I-I see... Um, Master Edgar, could you talk to Aria for a moment?” Dion pleaded, seeking a distraction.

”Lord Dion! What if I purchase those golems from you, or better yet, what if we partner up for mass production? I’m certain those golems would break the market!” Edgar cut in, completely absorbed in business talk.

”Uh... Well...” Dion stammered, rolling his eyes.

”As for the raw materials, I’m prepared to supply everything. Just name your requirements!” Edgar pressed eagerly, clearly fascinated by the novel technology in Dion’s territory.

”Hey! Don’t ignore me, my future husband... Oh, right! Can I have a space to set up my workshop? That way, you won’t have to bother crafting weapons anymore. Say yes, my future husband!” Aria whined, grabbing Dion’s arm again.

”So, Lord Dion, I can draft the contract right now so we can seriously negotiate the terms of our partnership,” Edgar urged.

Grrr...

Dion could hear low, ominous growls radiating from the four girls behind him.

”Kyuuu...” Gina whimpered faintly.

Dion’s head spun as his brain went into total overload. The situation felt eerily similar to dealing with his old boss, his ex wife Tessa, his demanding clients, and his younger sister Nora all at once back in his past life.

”Ugh... Why am I still dealing with this nightmare even after reincarnating? All I wanted was a quiet life... If I knew it’d turn out like this, I should have let the watchtower blast everything to pieces... I should’ve trusted my gut... Man... We haven’t even reached the mansion yet, and it’s already a war zone,” Dion thought, his mind completely numb.

Eventually, they continued on their way, with Dion entirely unable to take in the normal, bustling scenery of his growing village around him. Meanwhile, over at the village square, a crowd of locals had gathered. Edgar’s staff weren’t just unloading the supplies Dion and Luna had ordered; they had also set up shop, quickly drawing the keen interest of local traders.

***

At the exact same time, Rene, having just finished his breakfast, sat in the reception room of the royal palace in the Northgard capital. Seated directly across from him was Gred, the king, who scanned Rene up and down before looking back up at his face.

”Hey... Looking at your face brings back memories. You’re that guy who lost a duel to my sister Sheila back at the academy, the one who was always tagging along behind the guy who saved Sheila back then. If I remember right... his name was Dion?” Gred asked.

Rene’s expression, which had initially carried a hint of confidence, darkened in an instant. His jaw clenched tightly as he lowered his gaze and gave a slow nod, his knuckles turning stark white as he balled his hands into fists atop his thighs. Spotting this reaction, Gred let out a light smirk and extended his hand.

”Your name is Rene, right? What’s your class?” Gred asked.

”My class... is a hero class... I am an SS-rank Sword Saint... Your Grace,” Rene stammered out, reaching forward to shake Gred’s hand.

”Oho... And here I thought Dion was the SS-rank Sword Saint. I still remember how my buddy Yugo got completely crushed by him, his swordsmanship was absolute madness,” Gred noted, entirely oblivious to the fact that Rene was practically boiling over right in front of him.

Rene swallowed hard, his face flushing a deeper shade of red. In his head, he fumed over the fact that even his own class identity was being credited to Dion now. He forced his head up and plastered a strained smile onto his face before Gred, though his eyes burned red with suppressed rage.

”Shall we take our leave now, Your Grace?” Rene asked in a measured tone, struggling to conceal his fury.