"Slurp."

Inside the carriage heading to the Qing Nation.

"Backward... backward."

With her cheeks pressed against the window, the young miss was blowing steam from her nose like a curious baby, watching outside as the carriage crossed the border.

"Hiiiiik..."

I couldn't tell if she was excited about traveling after so long, or if she was thrilled about the chance to give a piece of her mind to the king of Qing Nation with whom she'd had a previous conflict.

"Hiiiiiiiik..."

Her nostrils were flaring wildly.

-Flare... flare.

What noble in the world could control their nostrils so freely? As someone who could witness Miss's talents up close, I smiled slightly and opened my lips toward her.

"Miss."

"Mmm."

"It's been a while since we've traveled so far."

"..."

Miss pressed her lips tightly, looked at me, and said with a serious expression.

"Ricardo."

"Yes."

"That man."

"What man?"

What man?

Confused by Miss's question, I looked around inside the carriage. There was no one who could be called "that man" in our moving carriage except for the servant who had worked for the Desmont family for over 30 years.

Miss knew him well.

-Haha, Your Grace, I've finally become a father. I hope she grows up to be a strong-willed woman like you.

-Damn it.

-I'm so honored that you congratulated me...

-Damn it...

-No, you don't need to visit personally.

-Daaaamn it.

-Then I'll visit with my wife soon.

He was a servant with such impressive credentials that he could translate Miss's childhood language, and someone whose loyalty gauge showed nothing but devotion to the Desmont family.

[Carriage Driver Lv.52]

[Occupation: Desmont Exclusive Coachman/Desmont Affiliated Assassin/Olivia Language Interpreter]

[Affection: 100]

[Favorite Conversation Topics: Desmont, Desmont's prosperity, Your Grace's kindness, Your Grace's loveliness, loyalty]

[Disliked Conversation Topics: Rebellion against Desmont, traitors, disloyalty, the ominous resemblance of his daughter to Your Grace.]

Sure enough, Miss was glaring at the coachman who was driving with a gentle smile, furrowing her brow and whispering to me quietly.

"That man looks suspicious."

"Miss..."

"Hmm?"

"You've known him longer than you've known me."

"Hiik?"

"He's been working for our family for over 30 years. He was also personally selected by the head of the family."

"Hiiiik... I'm still nervous. What if he sells us out like last time?"

I smiled slightly and nodded.

"I understand."

I didn't entirely dislike Miss's concern as she tightly gripped my sleeve.

Miss was holding onto my sleeve as if she didn't want to let me go for even a moment. Though curious about the outside world, she was like an older sister worried about losing her child.

"Ricardo, you just need to trust me."

As Miss pounded her chest while blowing steam from her nose, I smiled slightly and nodded. It wasn't a matter of trust or distrust; I just enjoyed seeing Miss's reliable appearance.

-Boing... boing...

I could proudly say that I absolutely wasn't looking because Miss's treasure pouch was bouncing.

The carriage continued to move forward.

"Backward..."

The carriage kept moving forward to the point where the familiar Empire's milestones were no longer visible.

"Miss."

"Hmm?"

"It's not 'backward nation,' it's the Qing Nation."

"Isn't it backward?"

"No."

"It looks like a village though."

"That's because we just crossed the border. It will be more bustling as we get closer to the capital."

"Same difference."

As Miss yawned lazily, I smiled slightly and recalled in my mind why we had come to the Qing Nation.

-There's something I need to do.

I absolutely didn't want to come, but the reason for this journey was due to the boss's request, which I couldn't refuse.

That day, the weather was nice.

After the long rainy season had ended, while I was contemplating whether to go to the sea or the valley, a familiar face was standing at the front door of the mansion.

-Hiiiik... Ricardo, the person who feeds you is here.

-Pardon?

-Him.

-Oh...

Miss told me to go down quickly with an excited smile, and when I discovered Malik at the entrance, I greeted him with a bright smile. Little did I know that would be the shortcut to heading to the Qing Nation.

-Ahem... do you remember the snack shop we opened in the capital?

-Yes, I remember. I worked there occasionally too.

-Well...

-Did something happen? Did it go bankrupt...?

-I think we need to go to the Qing Nation.

-...?

-An envoy from the Qing Nation tried tteokbokki and asked us to open a branch there.

-Why are you telling me this...?

-It's also a request from the Crown Princess. She said it would be good for building friendly relations between the two countries.

-Again, why are you telling me this...?

-While we're at it, I came up with a new business idea, and I need dwarven technology.

-What?

-Let's go together.

-...?

-I'm scared to go alone.

Even though he can use aura and has strong backing, he asked me to go with him because he was scared.

I refused the boss's request several times, but...

-I'm really scared. I don't know what they might do to me if they find out I'm his son.

Seeing Malik genuinely afraid, I had no choice but to nod and agree. It was only natural to fulfill the request of my benefactor.

-We need to make Ferry 2.0...

It absolutely wasn't because of rising male desire that I followed him. Miss could now walk a little bit too.

-This time with two seats...

I could say, with my conscience intact, that I went along not to fulfill my personal desires but to protect the boss. Sincerely.

Anyway, I suddenly ended up following Malik to the Qing Nation.

Since Miss would worry a lot if I went alone, I received two invitations and headed to the Qing Nation with Miss.

Of course, she opposed at first.

-Hiiiik!! Absolutely not!

-Miss...

-I won't give Ricardo away... I told the king no!

-That's not it, in the Qing Nation...

-No!

-They say there's really delicious meat...

-Beef?

-Yes, it's called Blue Cow, a cow with blue fur...

-Ugh... that sounds disgusting.

-It looks that way, but they say the taste is amazing. It melts in your mouth...

-Hiik?

After persuading her with local specialties, I was now heading to the Qing Nation with Miss.

The Qing Nation.

Honestly, I didn't think I'd ever go there, and I certainly didn't expect to be heading there so soon. I thought I might visit someday... but I didn't expect to be heading to the Qing Nation this quickly.

Well, I figured things would work out somehow, but...

-Clatter... clatter...!!

From the moment we crossed the border, diligent bandits started following us, making it unlikely that this would be a peaceful journey...

-Stop!!!

-Hand over everything you have!!!

-Fight! War! Plunder!

"Haah..."

What kind of country welcomes visitors this way?

"Hueeeeek!! Ricardo!!!"

"Please wait a moment."

It seems like nothing ever goes smoothly.

***

After defeating numerous bandits, by sunset...

-Beer~ Jerky~ Come have a drink!

The carriage that had been running finally arrived at the capital of the Qing Nation, accompanied by Miss's curious snorts.

"Hiiiiiik!!! Qing Nation!"

"Yaaawn... we finally arrived."

"Ricardo! Ricardo!! Look at that!! There's a huge dragonfly!"

"No way... huh?"

Seeing street food made from skewered giant dragonflies, my eyes widened slightly, and I shook my head while trying to calm Miss down so I could unload the luggage.

Miss, who could now walk a little bit...

"Hiiiik!!! I want to get out!!!"

She was the very definition of a tomboy.

"Please wait."

"Hiiiik!!"

"Let me unload the luggage first, then I'll help you down."

"Mmm."

The Qing Nation was bustling.

-Selling orc-exclusive greatswords!

-Selling special medicine for sirens!!! Come here if you know what this is!!

-Daggers made from kobold front teeth! If you want revenge on kobolds! Buy a dagger made from the Kobold Chief's teeth!

Various merchants selling weapons filled the streets despite the late hour.

-Hey handsome~ Come have a drink with me♥

I could see the red-light district lighting up. Though I had no interest in such places, I smiled gently as I began unloading luggage from the carriage, seeing a different image of the Qing Nation than what I'd seen in western paintings.

"I'll unload it."

The coachman, who had parked the carriage at a station where carriages could be parked, quickly got up from his seat and stopped my hand, but I smiled awkwardly and said I would help. I thought he must have accumulated considerable fatigue after driving the carriage for such a long time.

"It's fine."

"Heh heh...!! This is my job. Are you trying to take away this old man's profession, Butler?"

"Still..."

The coachman showed me his forearm with protruding veins while stopping my hand. True to being a Desmont servant, he showed no signs of fatigue, and I chuckled and nodded.

"I'll move the luggage to the lodging."

"Lodging?"

"The head of the family said the king of Qing had arranged it... Didn't you hear? Then I'll find another lodging..."

'That man...'

I smiled awkwardly and didn't refuse the Qing king's hospitality. I don't know how he knew, but I was sure he would come looking for us if we refused.

As my head started to throb with the journey becoming difficult from the start...

"You've worked hard."

Malik, who had gotten out of the carriage ahead of us, took out a cigarette from his inner pocket and greeted me.

"Thanks for going along with this."

"Not at all. I thought I'd have to come here eventually anyway."

"Is that so."

Malik looked at the bustling area and said to me.

"Why don't we look around?"

"Pardon?"

"We're in a foreign country for once, we should look around."

"Ah..."

I appreciate the consideration, but...

"I don't know where to go."

Since it was my first time in the Qing Nation, I smiled awkwardly and looked around, not knowing where to start or what to do.

Still...

"Wow... dwarves."

I was a bit excited because there were many races I hadn't seen in the capital.

The Empire was a country composed of humans, but in the Qing Nation, racial harmony seemed to be well-established, as many dwarves were sitting in the streets and markets selling weapons.

-Just like a human, holding a hammer like shit.

-Shut up, shorty... your fingers are too thick to even hold a beer mug with a handle.

-Still bigger than your thing.

-You bastard.

Occasionally witnessing the culture that transcended races, I clicked my tongue and looked at Miss.

"Oh..."

I felt a chill down my spine when I realized Miss wasn't in the carriage.

"Damn."

This doesn't bode well.

"Hiiiik?"

Miss's voice coming from behind me sounded so ominous today that I was afraid to turn around.

I thought she might calm down a bit in a new country, but...

"Your head is shining."

The moment I saw Miss with her hand on a dwarf's bald head, I had to stop thinking.

Miss was...

"Hey."

"Hiiiik...?"

"If you're a woman, act like one..."

She was fighting with a dwarf.

"Damn it."