Chapter 71

'This driver must be new to the city for ignoring Lili who was also an adventurer' was my first thought on the situation.

I then cleared my throat, trying to get the driver's attention and hide my amusement with the current situation. My curiosity at the design of the carriage got the best of me, so I decided to ask.

"Morning sir" the driver greeted first. It was weird being called sir now but I needed to ask my questions ."Morning" I replied before continuing. "So, tell me," I began, trying to keep a humorous tone in my voice, "What's the deal with the design of your carriage? It's not everyday you see something quite so... interesting."

"Draco nii" Lili suddenly yelled while running towards my direction and buried her face on my legs, while pouting. I just kept patting her head while waiting for the driver's reply.

The driver looked at me, a mixture of surprise and amusement flickering across his face. He adjusted his hat finally acknowledging Lili's presence, who was still pouting. "Well here sir, this here carriage is my own creation. I like to call it the 'Quirky Cruiser.' It's got a touch of eccentricity to it, you see. I moved in about 4 days ago to this city, to my surprise the city was mostly destroyed. Strangely business was bustling so I needed something to stand out and here we are". The driver concluded.

It seemed that my initial guess was correct about the driver. I couldn't help but chuckle at the drivers explanation. The carriage was indeed peculiar, with mismatched colors and whimsical decorations. It was like a work of art on wheels.

"Well you certainly achieved that" I replied, gesturing to the carriage. "its definitely hard to miss".

Lili, who had been silently observing our conversation, finally chimed in. "But why did you ignore me earlier? I was the one who brought you here".

The driver removed his weird hat and scratched his head sheepishly, a hint of embarrassment on his face. It seemed that the driver had realized his mistake.

"Oh, I apologize, young miss. It's just that I often get requests from children who want to play around in the carriage. I assumed you were one of them".

Lili's pout softened into a smile, satisfied with the driver's response. I was a bit surprised that Lili handled it quite easily, earning her an extra head pat. She was growing up well now, which was a good thing.

"So where to?" the driver asked, snapping me out of my thoughts. I shook my head, realizing I had been wasting time. "To the market," I replied, quickly wearing my bag and motioning for Lili to join me. We hopped onto the carriage, and with a jolt, the trip began.

The city of Orario was a sight to behold. It was recovering faster than anyone could have imagined after the evilus attack. The streets were bustling with activity, and people seemed determined to bring life back to normal. As we rode through the city, I couldn't help but notice the curious stares we attracted. The weird carriage we were in drew a lot of attention, which was both amusing and slightly embarrassing.

I glanced at the list of tasks I had to complete for the day. First, I needed to help Lili gather the supplies she needed, just as I had promised. Second, I had to find a trustworthy merchant who could deliver a letter to my family, informing them about Clair's passing. It was a difficult task, but I knew I had to fulfill it.

Next on the list was getting a short spear for Lili and new light armor for myself. After all, we couldn't afford to go into any more dangerous situations without proper equipment. Lastly, I needed to make a stop at the guild and inform Rose about my Familia's upcoming dungeon expedition with the Astraea Familia. Maybe I could even find some time to meet up with Bahamut and Hephaestus.

As we rode through the city, Lili couldn't help but look wide-eyed at the bustling streets and the different stalls lining the market. She was like a kid in a candy store, and I couldn't blame her. Thinking a bit more, it was our first time riding a carriage. We usually walked to most places, because we were adventurers.

Once we arrived at the market, we immediately set off to find the supplies Lili needed. As we strolled through the crowded aisles, I couldn't help but notice the curious glances from the other shoppers. It was as if they had never seen me before, or maybe it was just the sight of Lili sitting on my shoulders that attracted their attention. I couldn't see why they would find it weird considering that there were others doing it too.

After successfully finding everything on our shopping list, we made our way to the merchant who would deliver the letter to my family. I handed over the sealed envelope with a mix of sadness and relief. It was never easy to deliver news of a loved one's passing, but it was a necessary task that had to be done.

Next on the agenda was finding a short spear for Lili and new light armor for me. It was important to be prepared for any future adventures, and having the right equipment was crucial.

We browsed through various weapon shops and armor stalls, haggling with the merchants and pretending to know what we were doing. It was quite the sight to see an eight-year-old girl negotiating prices with such determination.

We haggled for a bit longer but the prices weren't getting any smaller. Apparently there was a huge demand for a lots of materials but not enough supply available. Well considering that the city was recovering, it was understandable.

"Why don't we try the newbie blacksmith's at the Hephaestus familia stores. But first I need to stop at the guild before going there. Do you want to come with me or return home first" I asked Lili.

She took on a pondering expression before replying. " I will go with you" she replied. We decided to walk this time as we had enough attention and embarrassment for the day.

Soon we reached the guild, and there she was, Rose, sitting in her booth like the hardworking queen she was. Lili and I joined the line like all the other adventurers, but for some reason, I was still drawing attention. "Shouldn't they be used to seeing me by now?" I muttered under my breath.

Finally, it was my turn. I mustered up all the charm I could and greeted Rose with a big smile. "Hi Rose!" I exclaimed, trying my best to sound enthusiastic.

She looked up from her paperwork and returned the greeting with a warm smile. "Hi Draco! Oh, and Lili's here too, hi Lili!" she said, acknowledging my little partner.

I couldn't help but notice that Rose's expression seemed a little downcast. Concerned, I asked, "How are you doing after Clair's death? Are you ok?"

Rose sighed sadly. "I'm doing fine, Draco. I guess I just miss her, you know? Anyway, why are you here?"

I took a deep breath and explained, "Well, I'm here to inform you that I'll be absent for a while. Both my familia and the Astraea familia are going on a dungeon expedition."

Rose's face fell even further, and she replied with a low tone, "Oh..."

Curiosity getting the better of me, I asked, "What's wrong, Rose?"

She hesitated for a moment before answering, "Nothing much, really. I just thought we could have dinner or something on my day off next week, with the evilus stuff mostly taken care of. But I guess it's fine."

My cheeks turned red with embarrassment. She had invited me to dinner for ages now, and I felt guilty for putting it off.

But the expedition couldn't be canceled, and I had to go through with it. "Definitely when I get back!" I blurted out, desperately trying to make it up to her.

Fortunately, my quick response earned me a smile from Rose, and I couldn't help but feel a little relieved. Meanwhile, Lili pouted by my side, and I couldn't figure out why. Maybe she was just hungry.

Rose and I chatted a little longer before it was time for me to leave the guild with Lili. As we walked towards the Hephaestus familia area, I couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement for the upcoming expedition and a twinge of longing for that postponed dinner with Rose.

But hey, life's an adventure, and sometimes we just have to embrace the unexpected twists and turns.