Baggage Carrier ⑦
Ax-san’s eyes went wide.
“Wof. Even for you, that’s…”
“No, no, surely not.”
“That’s… gotta be impossible, eh.”
Rell-san and Hoss-san gave wry smiles.
In contrast, the Fairial girl’s eyes widened.
“How do you know my name!?”
“Wh-what?”
“No way…”
“You lie!?”
Ah, just as I thought.
“How do you know!? I’ve been trying to prevent my identity from getting out!”
“That identity protection… was that from your master?”
“Y-yes, it was. How do you know even that?”
Surprised, the Fairial girl—now identified as Mineha-san—regarded me cautiously.
Ax-san spoke up.
“That master is my mother.”
“You’re… Ax?”
Mineha-san looked intrigued.
“That’s right.”
“The master’s…? Hmm, I see the resemblance. I heard about the Fang of Thunder.”
“Indeed. My members are Rell. And Hoss.”
“Ah, nice to meet you.”
“Uh, likewise.”
“Wait, who’s he?”
“I’m just here for this one time, helping Mineha-san with chores and carrying baggage.”
Mineha-san stared intently at me.
I wonder why. Her honey-colored eyes held a suspicious glint.
“Hmm. So you’re a Hired Pup.”
“…Well, basically, yes.”
It wasn’t strictly accurate, but I nodded.
“Fine. I’ll introduce myself. I’m Mineha. Ten years old. My race is Fairial. I’m a Tier III Seeker. I’m participating in this Dungeon Exploration on my master’s orders.”
“I’m Ax. Leader of the Fang of Thunder. Good to meet you properly.”
“So it wasn’t an anomaly subjugation? I really thought that was it.”
“No, no, we’re Tier IV, you know. That’d be too dangerous.”
Ax-san gave a wry smile.
“Too bad. I wanted to join in.”
“You’re quite aggressive. Just like my fourth sister.”
“Sounds like a strong sister, eh.”
“Yeah, a battle maniac.”
What kind of sister is that?
“I’m not like that! I just want achievements. I want to aim higher.”
“Like Mom, aiming for Tier II?”
“No. If I’m aiming for something, it’s the very top.”
Mineha-san crossed her arms, full of confidence.
“First Class, huh.”
“Because I’m a genius. And I have a Relic worthy of one.”
At that moment, just barely, a flicker.
I thought I saw Ax-san and the others flinch…
“…”
Maybe it was my imagination. It might have been.
But the atmosphere had definitely changed. And subtly, in an unpleasant direction.
Mineha-san noticed it too.
“What’s with that reaction?”
“Mineha… did Mom not tell you anything?”
“Master? I didn’t hear anything specific, but… the same Relic as Master?”
“…………I see.”
This is bad.
Not just me, but Rell-san and Hoss-san wore similar expressions.
Even Mineha-san must have sensed the strange mood.
“What is it? How unpleasant.”
“Mineha-san.”
I couldn’t help but speak up.
Mineha-san turned around, looking displeased.
“What?”
“Fairials start out with one Relic from the beginning, right?”
“Yes, that’s right. Fairials always have one Relic.”
“What kind of Relic is it?”
“Huh? Why should I have to tell someone I just met?”
“S-Sorry.”
She had a point, certainly.
But this atmosphere was unbearable.
Ax-san spoke, his words heavy.
“Mineha. Did Mom say anything?”
“Not really. She just told me to go along with you guys.”
“…I see. Mineha. I don’t have a Relic.”
A sudden confession. I was dumbfounded.
Mineha-san scoffed.
“Huh? What kind of joke is that?”
“It’s no joke. And neither do I,” Rell-san added.
“M-Me neither, eh,” Hoss-san confessed as well.
I decided to stay quiet for the moment. Mineha-san was visibly shaken.
“What’s that supposed to mean? You’re Seekers without Relics?!”
Ah, that crossed the line… Ax-san slammed his hand on the table.
“If you don’t like it, you don’t have to come with us.”
“That’s right.”
“Yeah. That’s how we’ve always done it.”
“Wh-what is it! What’s wrong with you people! Acting like that when you don’t even have Relics!”
“What did you say?”
“Hey. That way of talking… it’s just like my sixth sister.”
“See, I told ya I was against this, eh.”
And so, it devolved into a pointless argument.
This is… no good.
If it’s like this right after meeting… doing Dungeon Exploration together is impossible.
“…………”
While wondering how to stop them, I took a sip of my lemon juice.
Actually, for things to be like this right after meeting… Wait.
Something felt off.
And I realized there was only one person who likely held something close to an answer.
Haaah… Guess I have no choice but to go.
And so, I arrived at the Witch’s House.
Lately, I feel like I’ve been coming here frequently.
“Yes, yes. Oh my, oh my. If it isn’t Wof-kun.”
“I came because there’s something I want to ask.”
The Witch grinned broadly.