Megidias the Darkgulper ③
Knockdown. The Tier II Seeker, Agaro-san the Ruinblade, collapses.
Megadia-san turns on her heel and leaves, looking uninterested.
“Oi, there.”
Ms. Pachira called out.
How bold. Megadia-san looks down at us.
Whoa, what presence.
The giant woman in gothic lolita attire smiles sweetly.
“Oh my, hello.”
“Mm. Hello.”
“Hello.”
“You know who I am, don’t you? So, what is it?”
“I am Pachira. A Tier III Seeker. A member of Torquetum, ja.”
“I know. The all-female group…”
Megadia-san looks at me.
“I’m different. I’m not a Seeker either.”
“In that case, perhaps you’re her Hired Pup?”
That’s how it would look.
Ms. Pachira says, looking troubled.
“No. Wof is… well, never mind that. If you have time, how about we talk, ja?”
“Yes, that’s fine. Provided… it’s your treat.”
“Are you still drinking?”
I asked without thinking.
“Just cleansing my palate. Let’s see. I’d like some Cidre.”
Megadia-san smiles, her lips bright red.
She’s still drinking?
Since she stands out, Burns-san prepared a seat for us on the second floor.
I’m grateful. The second floor has private rooms.
It’s what you’d call a VIP section.
The construction has a somewhat luxurious feel.
Megadia-san sat down on the expensive-looking sofa, almost sprawling across it.
Ms. Pachira and I sat opposite her, across the translucent table.
“This is nice. I can drink peacefully here.”
Megadia-san takes a gulp of her Cidre.
“Well now. You certainly can drink, ja nou.”
“I do like drinking.”
I bet she does.
“I am grateful you agreed to talk.”
“It’s fine. So, what did you want to ask?”
“…How does one become Tier II, ja?”
Megadia-san’s hand twitched, jostling the glass of Cidre she was holding.
She drained it and set it down.
“I see. You want to become Tier II.”
“Not just I. Everyone in Torquetum does, ja.”
“Why?”
“Hm?”
“You shouldn’t have any trouble living as you are now.”
Right. They shouldn’t have trouble making a living.
In fact, even Tier V Seekers can live quite comfortably.
“If you ask why, the reason is simple, ja. If one can aim higher, one goes as high as possible. Otherwise, it would be boring, wouldn’t it? That is all, ja.”
Ms. Pachira said proudly.
Megadia-san takes a sip of her Cidre.
“Is that how Torquetum is?”
“Basically, yes, ja. Though Liv and Lupinus might have their own thoughts or goals. But that is my goal, ja na.”
“How interesting. That’s wonderful. I want to support you.”
“That is encouraging.”
“By the way, what about you?”
“Eh?”
Megadia-san suddenly directed the conversation towards me.
“You’re going to become a Seeker, right?”
“Yes.”
“Are you aiming for Tier I?”
“Not really, no. I’m like most people. I’ll be happy if I can make a living around Tier V.”
“So being a Seeker is just a means to live, then.”
“That’s right.”
“Hmm.”
What? Why did she ask me that?
Ms. Pachira looks puzzled too.
“Um, why did you ask me that?”
“This is what’s normal, you see.”
“Hmm?”
“Normally, people have motivations like Wof-kun. I too. I used to be like that.”
“But you are Tier II, ja.”
“Various things happened. I think this is fine for now. Torquetum is aiming for Tier I, right?”
“That is so, ja.”
“That makes sense.”
Suddenly, Megadia-san glanced at me.
Then she refilled her glass with Cidre and drank.
“Well, it’s fine. Anyone can reach Tier II.”
“Hm. What do you mean by that, ja?”
“You’ll understand when you become Tier II. Anyway, right. That’s right. Everyone in Torquetum is Tier III, yes?”
“That is so, ja.”
“All women, right?”
“That is so, but… ja ga?”
“That’s perfect timing. About the Dungeon anomaly. Of course, you know about it, right?”
“Of course, ja.”
“Yes. It’s causing trouble.”
I blurted out.
Megadia-san reacts with a puzzled look.
“Trouble? It’s true it’s closed, but there are other Dungeons.”
“The Junkyard is only in the closed Dungeon.”
“The Junkyard… Right, that was it. In that case, we need to resolve this quickly. Right, right. I… I wanted companions for the anomaly subjugation. I’d love for Torquetum to accompany me.”
“What!?”
“How about it?”
Ms. Pachira wears an expression close to bewilderment.
Her cat ears twitch as if confused.
“I cannot answer for everyone alone, ja. I will consult with the others and give you an answer.”
“I’ll expect a favorable reply.”
“That’s great, isn’t it, Ms. Pachira?”
“Y-Yes, I suppose so, ja nou…”
Ms. Pachira was bewildered by the unexpected offer.
It’s understandable. Even I can tell this is too big an offer to just come out of the blue.
Still, something’s strange.
I don’t know why.
For some reason, Megadia-san keeps trying to include me in the conversation.
She only really has business with Ms. Pachira.
Is she feeling sorry for me feeling left out and trying to be considerate?
I wonder about that.
It has nothing to do with me in the first place.
I myself have nothing to talk to Megadia-san about either.
Besides, forgive my rudeness, but she doesn’t seem like the type to be that considerate.
And yet, Megadia-san keeps looking at me frequently.
What could it be?
For now, I’ll just drink my tea.
Haaaah, calming.
“Hey, Wof-kun.”
Megadia-san spoke to me again.
“What is it?”
“Won’t you become my Hired Pup?”
I almost spat out my tea.