Torquetum ②
I couldn’t help but sigh.
“You should have remembered sooner.”
“…Sorry.”
“So, you said it was a boy?”
Pachira closed her book and asked.
“…Mhm. A boy… not even an adult…”
“And you smelled Elixir on this boy?”
“…Yeah.”
“Hmm.”
I asked Pachira, who was sitting next to me.
“Pachira. What do you think?”
“Well now. Liv. By the way, what kind of boy was he?”
“Mhm… He felt… strange…”
“What about his hair color or clothes?”
“Did you get his name?”
“Mhm… Don’t remember… Didn’t ask.”
Liv shook her head slightly.
This is quite troubling.
First of all, what does Elixir even smell like?
Is what Liv says correct?
Regarding these questions, I can say this with confidence.
Liv is right. If she says it, then it’s the truth.
It’s true that Liv’s words and actions are often strange.
But I absolutely trust her swordsmanship and unique senses.
I have an eye for people.
“However, I might know what that boy is.”
“What do you mean?”
“…Mhm?”
“That boy who smells of Elixir is a Hired Pup.”
“A Hired Pup? You mean those glorified slaves for Seekers?”
Honestly, I feel sick.
Hired Pups. Treating children who aren’t even adults like tools.
“…Slave…”
“Lupinus. That sounds bad. While there are problems, they’re originally meant to be like master and apprentice, or a knight and squire.”
“Oh? Nowadays, they’re just legal slaves.”
“Mhm… The boy… a slave…”
“Lupinus! Look. Now you’ve made Liv worry.”
“Even if you say that…”
Liv started trembling strangely.
“Liv. I don’t think that boy is necessarily being treated like a slave.”
“…Not?”
“Is that so?”
“I believe he’s a Hired Pup in the traditional master-apprentice or squire sense. The basis for this is the smell of Elixir. Elixirs are Legendary. They aren’t easy to come by. They’re extremely valuable. The fact that he smelled of it suggests the boy was present when it was used. Meaning, he must have watched it being used. If he were treated like a slave, he likely wouldn’t be permitted to witness the use of a precious Elixir. Besides, the kind of slave treatment Lupinus mentioned involves skimming profits from the Junkyard or stealing treasures. They wouldn’t even be acting together.”
“…So…?”
“It means the boy isn’t a slave.”
“That’s right.”
“Mhm… G-good…”
Liv sighed in relief. Still…
“Pachira. You seemed strangely defensive. That’s unlike you.”
“…I used to be a Hired Pup long ago.”
“Oh, is that so?”
“It was a master-apprentice relationship. I learned many important things.”
So that’s why she got defensive.
A master-apprentice relationship. A surprising past for a genius Relic user.
“Anyway, let’s start by searching for that boy.”
“Mhm… Find the boy… Lupinus, what then…?”
“Thanking him is a given, of course.”
“…Yeah. Saved… my life…”
“There’s that, but there’s something else I’m curious about.”
“Mhm… What…”
“Hmm.”
“The reason he saved us. To put it bluntly, his ulterior motive!”
Even if it was out of goodwill.
The reason he went so far as to use a precious Elixir to save us.
I absolutely must know.
“But finding him will be quite difficult.”
“That’s true.”
“…Liv… remembers… where I met the boy…”
“Oh? Where?”
“Mhm… Antique Shop… Arifa’s… place. Was looking for… a Knife…”
“Ho. Arifa-san’s place, eh?”
“Well, perhaps Arifa-san might know something.”
Arifa-san is a veteran Tier III Seeker. She’s our senior.
She helped us out a lot when we were just starting.
“Then it’s settled.”
“Yes.”
“…Yeah.”
“By the way, this is unrelated, Lupinus, but ‘Ruinblade’ is in this town.”
“Oh? ‘Ruinblade’? You mean the Tier II one?”
“There’s no other, is there?”
“…’Ruinblade’… User of Relic [Annihilation]…”
“And a Tier II Seeker.”
“Rumor has it he’s a Faun man.”
“His name was… Agaro, I believe.”
“Mhm… Agaro…”
I’ve never met him, but I wonder if I will.
There’s a river a short distance from Hydrangea. The Little Leef River.
It’s a tributary of the Middle Leef River, which is itself a tributary of the Great Leef River.
Along the banks of this Little Leef River, there are several rocks with a good view.
Perfect Fishing spots.
“…How exactly is a Fishing Reel constructed?”
I muttered to myself, drew back the rod, swung it, and dropped the line onto the water’s surface.
Though I call it a rod, it’s just a stick with a line attached to the tip.
I have memories of these being made from bamboo, but there are no bamboo groves around here.
However, this wooden stick is made from a branch of a Biyon tree, which bends well like bamboo.
A line is tied to the tip, and the hook is made from animal or monster bone.
The bait is just some nearby bugs.
There are plenty around.
“Since you wind it, something inside must rotate…”
No good. I don’t get it.
I only started Fishing in this world out of necessity, anyway.
I had experience with it in my previous life, but it wasn’t a hobby.
So there’s no way I’d know the structure of a Fishing Reel.
But not having a reel is pretty inconvenient.
Even if a fish bites, all I can do is push and pull or swing the rod.
I can’t reel in the line to bring it closer.
You have to push and pull, then yank it hard at just the right moment, or you won’t catch anything.
And most of the time, I fail.
Worst case, the rod breaks.
“…A Fishing Reel. I wish someone would invent one…”
Relying on others.
I’m just an ordinary reincarnated person, after all. No particular hobbies either.
My hands are reasonably dexterous, though. But I don’t have a Relic for that sort of thing.
Meaning, making my own reel is impossible.
Also, the fish aren’t biting at all. Why is that?
Well, it’s not like I always have much luck Fishing anyway.
“Oh, you’re at it.”
A voice spoke, and someone approached.
Red hair. Jade-green eyes. Stubble.
Holding a liquor bottle… face flushed, wearing a black metal eyepatch over his right eye.
A tall, muscular body. Black horns visible through gaps in his hair.
He’s a Faun. A sword hangs at his waist.
“……”
“Whoa there, I’m not anyone suspicious. Name’s Agaro.”
“Uh… I’m Wof.”
I gave a small bow.