Baggage Carrier ⑩
I was taken aback by her attitude.
I wish she’d ease up a bit.
“Ah, you are willing to meet halfway, right?”
“I am. But not using Relics is out of the question.”
“Why?”
“Look. Let me be blunt, I think becoming a Seeker without a Relic is just a nuisance.”
“A nuisance? I don’t think you should put it like that.”
I bristled.
Calling someone a nuisance just because they don’t have a Relic was a terrible thing to say.
“They are doing fine as Seekers. As I said earlier, they have the experience and achievements that could serve as a model for other Seekers.”
“A model Seeker? Experience? Achievements? So what? Relics are supernatural powers. There are many things in Dungeons that can only be dealt with using supernatural power. Because Dungeons are supernatural too. No matter how exemplary their skills, experience, and achievements are, can they stand up to the power of Relics or Dungeons? Can they even compete?”
“That’s…”
“You should understand something that simple, right?”
“…………I don’t. I’ve never delved into a Dungeon before.”
I lied. For some reason, I felt incredibly irritated.
“Ah, that’s right.”
Mineha-san suddenly backed down.
Perhaps she thought it was pointless to talk any further with someone who didn’t know anything.
“The only part of the Dungeon I know is the Junkyard on the first floor.”
“Junkyard? Is that where all the Dungeon’s trash gathers?”
That reaction. Has she never scavenged the Junkyard?
“I scavenge there and exchange what I find for money.”
“Is there anything worth selling?”
“The belongings of dead Seekers. Their equipment and such also end up in the Junkyard.”
“Ah, I see. You have it tough too, huh?”
“Well, moderately so.”
It’s tough, but there’s enjoyment in it too.
That’s why I really want the anomaly subjugation to succeed.
And also, Paki, no… I want everyone to come back alive.
“Anyway. That’s why, honestly, not having Relics makes them a hindrance. Dead weight. If someone dies in the Dungeon, it will definitely be their fault.”
I think that’s taking the argument too far, but she’s saying it with complete seriousness.
The fact that she isn’t joking makes it even worse.
“…I understand what you want to say… but please, absolutely do not say that to them.”
It would definitely lead to a fight to the death.
“I know that. It’s not like I intend to pick a fight either.”
I gave a faint, wry smile.
Her attitude didn’t look like someone who didn’t intend to pick a fight at all.
“Then isn’t it okay to meet halfway?”
“Even so, there are things I can’t back down on or compromise.”
“Is that about Relics?”
“That’s right.”
It’s impossible. This is just impossible.
Her resolve is firm. She has absolutely no intention of conceding even an inch.
“Enough. This conversation is over. I hate it when warm food gets cold. Let’s eat.”
“…………”
Mineha-san turned towards the food.
She just said what she wanted to say and forcefully cut off the conversation.
Honestly, I was annoyed, but also relieved.
I have no intention of arguing with her here either.
It would definitely affect tomorrow’s Dungeon Exploration.
Honestly, at this point, it’s less that I find Mineha-san difficult and more that I dislike her.
She’s a typical Relic elitist.
I understand why Relic holders develop a sense of superiority.
There’s a clear difference between those who possess them and those who don’t.
This tendency has been strong among Seekers who use Relics since long ago.
That’s why Relic elitism is more deeply rooted than racial discrimination.
But this was the first time I’d met such an extremist.
No matter how you look at it, her way of thinking is awful.
The presence or absence of a Relic can’t possibly determine a person’s worth.
If that were the case, then what am I… No, let’s stop thinking about that.
“…………”
Also, I noticed something while eating.
She was clearly distinguishing between me and Ax-san’s group.
Perhaps it was the difference between a boy and adult men.
But she shouldn’t know whether I possess a Relic or not.
For some reason, she was differentiating me from Ax-san’s group based on Relic possession as well.
I wanted to think it was just my imagination… but such a rare possibility vanished in the next instant.
“Huh?”
The food was gone.
Eh, wait, three whole platters piled high with meat dishes are already gone.
“What?”
She said, stuffing a meatball far larger than her face into her mouth.
“Eh, the food?”
“I’m eating it, obviously.”
“!?”
The meatball vanished. Huh? Just now, right before my eyes… that chunk of meat for her.
This speed is clearly physically impossible.
Physics in this world—is it a Relic?
Right. That must be it.
A Relic for eating large quantities? Or perhaps gluttony?
Relics are things where anything is possible.
And then, eight platters of food disappeared.
“I guess I’m about eighty percent full.”
“…………”
I glanced at her stomach. No change whatsoever.
Startled, my eyes met hers.
“What is it? You pervert.”
“S-Sorry.”
I wanted to deny being a pervert.
But since it was true that I was looking, I apologized.
“Well, whatever. It can’t be helped if your eyes are drawn to this captivating body.”
“Eh, ah, yeah.”
“What’s with that reaction! More importantly, I’ve been hearing weird noises from the next room for a while now.”
“Eh, weird noises?”
“Yeah. Like ‘ahn’ or ‘aaahn’…”
“Alright! Let’s get out of here, let’s go!”
I scrambled to my feet.
Ignoring Mineha-san’s “Hey, wait a sec,” I left the VIP Room.
I pray I never have to use this place again.
Leaving the Cidre Tavern, alright, I need to prepare for tomorrow.
“Well then, see you tomorrow.”
“Hey, wait!”
“What is it?”
“You didn’t tell me.”
“Tell you what?”
“The meeting place and things like that.”
Ah, right, we parted on bad terms, so we didn’t settle that.
“Early tomorrow morning. In front of the East Gate.”
“Early morning?”
“From when the morning bell rings until the next bell rings.”
Hydrangea has several bell towers.
Whether it’s precise or not, the time until the next bell rings was considered roughly one hour.
The bell rings twice at the next interval, three times after that, increasing by one each time, and stops in the evening.
Then it rings just once at midnight. That marks the end of the day.
“I know that much. So, the East Gate?”
“It’s that way.”
I pointed with my finger. But Mineha-san looked unconvinced.
“How am I supposed to know? I just arrived in this city today.”
“Even if you say that…”
“You. You’re my baggage carrier and caretaker, right?”
“Yes, but…”
“Then let me stay at your place.”
“No way.”
The words came out naturally.