A few days later, they finally arrived at the Labyrinth City of Arcadia. Its walls were incomparably higher and sturdier than those of Greenbear Village.

Beyond that, there were towering spires reaching for the sky, countless people he had never seen before, and bustling streets filled with life. Christophe gazed out the window with childlike excitement upon seeing this magnificent sight for the first time in his life.

"Oh, woah... There are so many buildings here that I've only ever seen in books."

As Christophe raised his voice in excitement, Sylvia gave a wry smile.

"Hehe, Christophe-san, your reaction is kind of childlike. Haven't you ever been to the Labyrinth City before?"

"It's the first time. I have basically always been holed up in the village."

Christophe felt a slight sense of shame at the remark that he was like a child, and his cheeks turned a bit hot.

In such a peaceful atmosphere, they proceed through the Labyrinth City by carriage. After a while, the carriage they rode in is left at a stop, and the two of them begin to walk freely through the city from there. Sylvia points to the lively main street as if to guide Christophe.

"This is Adventurer's Street. Up ahead, there's a guild, and there are many weapon shops and tool shops, always bustling with adventurers. And do you see that large, old building? That's the entrance to the Labyrinth, which is a symbol of this city. It connects to the underground Labyrinth, where many adventurers challenge themselves every day in search of wealth and fame."

"...There are a lot of people."

Christophe turned his gaze towards the direction Sylvia was pointing at the massive stone building adorned with magnificent decorations.

The place looks as if it has been standing for decades and is built like a ruin.

"The guild is right nearby. I'm keeping watch there to make sure no monsters come out."

"...I see. So, sometimes monsters appear?"

"Yeah, that's true. Still, since the guilds and clans take turns keeping watch, not much happens."

The surroundings were bustling with adventurers coming and going, and the excitement could be felt even from a distance.

The strong warriors are heading towards the dungeon, carrying large weapons. Meanwhile, another adventurer is coming out of the dungeon and looking utterly exhausted.

In the sight that could never be seen in Greenbear Village, Christophe felt overwhelmed yet somehow had a sense of excitement in his chest.

"...For now, let's head home for today. You must be tired from the long journey, right?"

"Yeah. It's been a while since I rode in a carriage for a long time... my back is a bit sore, ugh."

Even with healing magic, complete treatment of aging is impossible. Still, it can be mitigated, and since he had always admired adventurers, he kept his body active every day.

Therefore, Christophe was still more mobile than his age would suggest, but even so, the long hours of traveling by carriage were taking a toll on his body.

"That's right. I'm not very good at traveling by carriage either. Shall we head to my house?"

Together with Sylvia, who was wearing a smile, they headed towards the mansion.

Following Sylvia's lead, Christophe stepped into a district slightly removed from the hustle and bustle of the Labyrinth City, where clearly luxurious mansions lined the streets. The cobblestones were polished, and the street trees were beautifully pruned.

The clothing of the people passing by also looks somewhat elegant.

As Christophe felt out of place, at that very moment, Sylvia stopped in front of an especially large building.

It was a mansion far too large to be called a "house" anymore. Surrounded by high walls, the heavy iron gate exuded an intimidating presence.

"Sylvia? I can't believe it, but is this your house?"

"Yes, that's right. A long time ago... I got this house as a reward for my achievements. Now, let's go inside."

Sylvia approached the enormous gate with the ease of someone entering a neighborhood shop. As Christophe watched in a daze, the gate quietly opened from the inside, revealing an elderly man dressed in a neat uniform, probably the butler and several maids who bowed deeply to welcome her.

"Welcome back, Sylvia-sama."

"Yes, I'm back... And this is Christophe-san, who will be staying in this house from today. He is my... important... healer, so please be respectful."

When Sylvia introduced him while slightly blushing, the butler and maids all turned to Christophe and bowed deeply once again.

"Christophe-sama, welcome and thank you for coming."

"...Ah, thank you. I'll be in your care from now on."

Christophe was not accustomed to being called with an honorific and treated with such courtesy as he bowed his head in a similarly low posture and stepped into the mansion as prompted.

The interior was even more splendid than the exterior. The polished marble floors, the massive chandelier that sparkled as it reflected the light pouring in through the skylights, and the magnificent paintings and tapestries hanging on the walls. Perhaps these items had been installed from the very beginning.

Even just the entrance hall is so spacious that it seems like multiple of Christophe's clinics could fit inside.

"This is... it was magnificent from the outside, but once you step inside, it's a continuous series of surprises."

Seeing Christophe exclaim in admiration, Sylvia smiled happily and a little smugly.

"Hehe, are you surprised? But this is going to be your home from now on. First, let me show you around inside."

Sylvia walked a little ahead of Christophe, starting the tour with a light step. Her profile had a somewhat cheerful expression, and she exuded an age-appropriate aura.

"This is the reception room, and over there is the guest room. Well, we've prepared a proper room for you, Christophe-san, so you probably won't need to use the guest room. And this is the dining room. It's spacious, isn't it? From now on, we'll have meals together here every day... um... let's enjoy them together."

Sylvia occasionally glanced at Christophe's reaction, and when their eyes met, she shyly looked away. That gesture was so adorable that it was hard to believe she was an S-rank adventurer renowned across the continent.

(...Together, every day, huh? No, is this what it's like between an employer and their personal healer?)

Christophe follows Sylvia while absentmindedly thinking about such things.

Chapter 9