Episode 4: Lusitania Arc

  Once Maiol’s acceptance to the Royal Adventurers' School had been confirmed, she decided to return to her family home in Lusitania.

  She wanted to introduce Seneca to her family, and when she invited her, Seneca agreed without hesitation.

  The journey from Baetica to Lusitania would take four days by carriage. Since they pnned to stay for an extended period, the two of them began their preparations.

  Seneca first made her way to Kito’s pce.

  Kito, who had sensed what was happening, saw Seneca off with a warm smile. Inspired by Seneca’s rapid growth, Kito had become more dedicated to her studies. Her demeanor had also become increasingly refined, and to Seneca, Kito's every gesture seemed to embody the poise of a noble.

  Though they hadn’t decided how long they would stay in Lusitania, they had pnned to head to the capital together once Kito's exams were over. They would need to return to Baetica before then.

  Next, they went to the guild.

  When Seneca spoke to Turia, she was informed of the materials currently in high demand in Lusitania. There were several easily harvested resources, so Turia suggested they take a rger supply with them on the carriage.

  It would make for a useful gift if they were to sell it to Maiol's family business.

  Turia, ever cautious, urged Seneca to be careful, already anticipating that some incident might occur, and mentally bracing herself for it.

  At the orphanage, Sister Cire was there.

  When Seneca mentioned their trip to Lusitania, Cire invited them into her room and shared several things of importance.

  Seneca’s main purpose for visiting Lusitania was to meet with the former vilge mayor and his wife from Cordoba vilge.

  Having asked Sister Cire to send a letter to the couple, Seneca was now returning to hear the response. She had been exchanging letters with the mayor’s wife once a year, and since the st letter had discussed skills and Lucius, the mayor’s wife would likely be up to date with the situation.

  Seneca decided to bring some of Yulia’s special tea as a gift.

  Sister Cire, ever watchful, gently reminded Seneca to behave, and though Seneca nodded, she ter realised that the caution had been a subtle warning, which made her smile awkwardly.

  Next, they visited Torga’s shop.

  Since Emily was absent, Seneca informed Torga that she would be away for a while.

  It had been a while since Seneca st visited the shop, so Torga took the opportunity to celebrate her promotion to Copper-ranked adventurer status and her acceptance to the Royal Adventurers' School.

  Torga kindly offered to make her some clothes before her departure, and though Seneca felt embarrassed, she accepted.

  Torga’s shop had made quite a profit during the noble embroidery scandal. While Torga was a cautious person and wouldn’t expand her business suddenly, Emily had mentioned that she was steadily growing her customer base.

  Seneca decided to walk to the baths, thinking it would be a good way to pass the time.

  Reflecting on how many acquaintances she had made, she felt a pang of sadness at the thought of leaving such warm pces behind.

  Perhaps it was the upcoming reunion with the mayor’s couple that made her feel sentimental, so she resolved to treat herself to something delicious that evening to lift her spirits.

  ...

  The Day of Departure

  The day of departure arrived.

  They were travelling with a shared carriage arranged by the Baetica merchant association. The carriages were part of a convoy, so while the fare was high, it ensured their safety.

  This particur merchant association also handled the transport of household goods for relocations, and on this occasion, they were loading the materials Seneca and Maiol had gathered onto the carriage.

  Although the person helping to load the materials was technically a business rival, Maiol maintained a neutral face, unfazed by the situation. Seneca, uncertain of how to behave in such a scenario, chose to remain silent and observe.

  The convoy included several adventurers hired by the merchant association to provide security. Naturally, the adventurers recognised the two girls and occasionally struck up conversations with them.

  While both were prepared to defend themselves should any trouble arise, nothing untoward happened, and they safely arrived in Lusitania.

  The road to Lusitania was well-maintained, so strong magical beasts rarely appeared.

  ...

  Lusitania: A Trading City

  Lusitania was known as a bustling trading city.

  Located in the pins, it was not far from the sea, rivers, or mountains. A wide array of goods passed through here on their way to the capital, making commerce thrive in the city.

  The shared carriage arrived at the square. Passengers with only small baggage disembarked.

  Seneca and Maiol switched to another carriage containing their belongings.

  Before boarding, Maiol gave the driver their destination and handed over the payment.

  According to Maiol, the merchant group employed their own drivers, which allowed them to offer lower fares while ensuring they were taken directly to their destination.

  Looking out from the carriage, Lusitania was lively. Seneca felt her spirits lift, but Maiol seemed somewhat downcast.

  Thinking that Maiol might be feeling nervous, Seneca quietly enjoyed the view, respecting her friend’s space.

  ...

  Arrival at Maiol’s Family Business

  Maiol’s family business, the Merida Merchant Company, was very close to the city centre.

  When Maiol pointed to the shop, Seneca was taken aback, unable to hide her surprise. The building was unusually rge.

  Though Maiol had told Seneca that her family was involved in a mid-sized merchant company, the scale of the shop put it on par with the rgest stores in Baetica. Seneca, having been accustomed to Baetica’s standards, had never imagined that Maiol hailed from such wealth, realising for the first time that Maiol was the daughter of an incredibly affluent family.

  For Seneca, who had grown up in the orphanage and lived modestly, the wealth of most people seemed vast, but Maiol’s family stood apart in its grandeur.

  "Seneca, wait here for a moment. I’ll fetch someone."

  With those words, Maiol entered the opulent shop through its grand doors.

  After a short wait, voices came from inside, followed by the sound of several men unloading goods from the carriage.

  Before long, Maiol returned.

  "Seneca, my parents are inside. Let me show you the way."

  Seneca followed Maiol, still trying to process the immensity of what she was seeing.

  "Surprised? This is where I grew up. If I’d stayed here and been spoiled, I would never have become an adventurer," Maiol said, with a hint of a smile.

  That thought resonated with Seneca, who nodded in agreement.

  "When I first started living independently in Baetica, I was completely lost. Everything was different. I was so na?ve."

  "By the time I met you, though, Maiol, you were already so well-adjusted."

  "That’s true. I’d just started getting the hang of it when I met you."

  As they walked and talked, a loud bang echoed from behind, followed by the sound of hurried footsteps. Maiol stopped abruptly, sighing deeply.

  "Maiol!!! You’re safe!!! Finally come to terms with things, huh? Well, that’s good. You’ve got so much talent, after all. Take your time to find it in this city. I’m so gd you’re back!" A man, likely in his middle age, shouted boisterously, wrapping Maiol in a bear hug.

  This was Maiol’s father, as Seneca quickly realised, noticing the resembnce in their eyes.

  "Dad! Let me at least say ‘I’m home’!" Maiol huffed, tugging herself out of her father’s grasp with surprising ease.

  Her father, caught off guard by how easily Maiol had freed herself, stared at her, fbbergasted.

  "Let me expin!" Maiol decred, holding up her acceptance letter with a flourish. She had practiced this move many times in the dormitory in Baetica, with Seneca acting as her audience.

  "Huh?" Maiol’s father was still trying to process the information.

  "I’m a Copper-ranked adventurer now! And I got accepted to the Royal Adventurers’ School!" Maiol said proudly.

  "HUUUH?!"

  The entire Merida Merchant Company echoed with the deep voice of Maiol’s father, still in shock.

  ...

  Once Maiol’s father recovered from his surprise, he led the two girls to the sitting room.

  When he introduced himself to Seneca, he appeared every bit the capable merchant, but in front of his daughter, he seemed a little less composed.

  Maiol’s mother and eldest brother joined them soon after, followed by a few other siblings. Her younger brother was still at home, while the eldest two were away on business.

  In the sitting room, Maiol proudly shared the news of her promotion to Copper-ranked adventurer and her acceptance to the Royal Adventurers’ School. Her family, initially shocked, came to accept it after checking the certificate and seeing firsthand the remarkable improvements in Maiol’s abilities.

  Maiol’s family treated Seneca with utmost kindness, offering her the freedom to stay at their home for as long as she liked.

  Though Seneca wasn’t sure how to act around such wealth, the warmth of the family made her feel at ease, and she had a wonderful time. She smiled inwardly, realising that, despite their differences in background, she felt deeply connected to Maiol and her family.

  ...

  A Night at Maiol’s House

  Later, Seneca was taken to Maiol’s actual family home. The rge building she had seen earlier was just the family’s shop. Hearing this, Seneca’s anxiety peaked, but Maiol reassured her.

  Maiol’s family home was as grand as the shop.

  The gates were manned by gardeners, and as soon as Maiol called out, a group of people quickly gathered to welcome the two of them.

  Inside the house, there were so many rooms that Seneca felt like she might get lost.

  The two girls were to stay in Maiol’s room, which was enormous. Back at the orphanage, they’d have had dozens of children crowded into a space like this, so it felt surreal.

  Despite all the differences in upbringing, Seneca couldn’t help but feel a deep connection with Maiol. She realised that circumstances don’t solely determine who a person becomes, and with that thought, she hugged Maiol tightly, feeling grateful for their bond.