Arc Lab ①
The Witch’s House.
Hayyarn was attacked by the Witch’s Herbal Tea and collapsed.
A slimy green hand emerged from the cup, and that’s what took him down. That rabbit.
Setting that aside, I sat on the sofa facing her, just like usual.
Then, I explained to the Witch about Hayyarn, the Sacred Chamber, the Egg, and the damage to Mineha-san’s Spear.
The Witch crossed her legs, lightly brushed back her silver hair, and narrowed her jade-green eyes, nodding.
“I see, I see. That mechanism is certainly Kon’s kind of thing.”
She touched her little finger lightly to her lips, smiling amusingly and alluringly.
“I thought you’d say that. Because I thought so too.”
I did think she and Hayyarn might get along.
The Witch gave a faint, wry smile.
“However, however, he’s not Kon’s type.”
“…Witch, what kind of type do you like?”
“Eh? Eh? Th-that kind of thing… Um, are you interested…?”
“I was just a little curious.”
I replied calmly to the flustered Witch.
I wonder what’s wrong. Ah, right. The Witch wasn’t good with this kind of talk.
I was really just a little curious, though.
The Witch’s Fox Ears stood straight up and twitched; she seemed restless. What’s up?
“Well, well, you see. Kon’s type is… someone who can surpass Kon.”
“Surpass the Witch? Does someone like that even exist?”
I couldn’t think of anyone even after pondering it a bit. The Witch was staring intently at me.
Hah, this flow. Does this mean I have to state my type too?
“That’s right, that’s right. I’m hoping Wof-boy will surpass me.”
The Witch said this with a gentle smile.
Is this like the disciple surpassing the master? Hmm. Was that what this conversation was about?
“Um, yes. I’ll do my best.”
“Fufu, fufu, I’ll be waiting expectantly.”
“…”
W-why am I getting embarrassed? Besides, I was the one who brought it up, but what’s with this atmosphere?
How should I put it, it’s strangely awkward.
Last night, and this morning too… what is it? Anyway, the air feels weird.
I glanced over. Hayyarn was still unconscious. That rabbit.
For now, I tried to break the atmosphere by starting some idle chat with the Witch.
Perhaps sensing the mood too, the Witch responded to the small talk without pressing further.
“Speaking of which, does Mineha-san’s Spear have anything to do with you, Witch?”
“Mhm, mhm. Originally, Kon was the one who found that Spear.”
“You did, Witch?”
That’s quite an unexpected history.
“Yep, yep. Kon was in a Party with Emi and Ruriha for a time. The ‘Fairy Phantom Spear’ was something we found during an exploration back then. But when we found it, it was tattered and covered in rust. Anyone but Kon would have thrown it away.”
“Is that so?”
Ruriha is Mineha-san’s mother, huh.
A Rank 1 Seeker. The ‘Fairy Queen’, was it?
“Indeed, indeed. The one who polished up that piece-of-junk spear and made it respectable was Mineha’s late father. He was in charge of maintaining Ruriha’s weapons and armor back then.”
“So it’s a memento from Mineha-san’s father too?”
“That’s right, that’s right. Whether she knows it or not… She probably thinks it’s from her mother, but that thing is a gift from her father.”
“It’s something very precious, then.”
“That’s right, that’s right.”
The Witch glanced sideways.
“So that’s why it has a connection to you too, Witch.”
“Mhm, mhm. That’s probably why. I have a fondness for it.”
I really want to do something about it. And the one who can is that rabbit, huh.
Still unconscious. Hmm. This is the legendary Alchemist.
Suddenly, the Witch asked me.
“One thing, one thing, Wof-boy. There’s something bothering Kon.”
“What is it?”
“It’s, it’s that even though you’ve become a Seeker, you’re still using a Knife. It’s about time you carried a sword, don’t you think?”
“Ah… about that.”
I briefly explained the circumstances.
“Hmm, hmm. The Relic effect of Generous’s Favorite Sword, you say.”
“Do you know something about it, Witch?”
“Mhm, mhm. An OOPArts possessing a soul like that… I believe one of the Rank 1s possesses one. But possessing the soul of a god is news to Kon.”
Come to think of it, I feel like I heard something like that somewhere.
“But is something like that really possible?”
“Mhm, mhm. It’s possible. Immense Relics beyond human comprehension do exist.”
“I’ve been wondering for a while now, but Relics… what do they consume?”
“Hoh hoh. The resource for Relics. The energy problem, in other words.”
“Yes.”
Relics don’t have a resource like mana for magic.
But that can’t be right. Relics must also consume something to activate their effects.
“That, that is a very, very difficult question. Since ancient times, various things have been said; it’s believed that energy exists under various names like Aether or Mana. Recently, the concept of Mental Strength has emerged.”
“Mental Strength…”
That’s not much different from mana.
“Well, well, basically, it means we still don’t know.”
“I see.”
“But, but, perhaps that rabbit over there might know something.”
“You think he knows?”
I glanced at the rabbit.
Still unconscious. The Witch laughed.
After that, we continued talking.
The content was utterly ordinary, just talk about everyday things, nothing special at all.
Even though it was just that, talking with the Witch was enjoyable.
I enjoyed chatting with the Witch until Hayyarn woke up.
Well, I can understand the reason, but that doesn’t mean I can accept it.
“Honestly, I thought I was going to die. What was that green hand?! No, seriously, crawling out of a teacup, what the hell was that?”
“Is that so? Please don’t talk too much.”
“H-hey. Wait. That girl from earlier. Wasn’t she cute?”
“Don’t move, don’t talk.”
I was getting fed up with the red-eyed rabbit fidgeting on my shoulder.
Right, not purple eyes. Hayyarn’s eyes had turned red.
That was the work of a small hair ornament attached to his ear.
According to the Witch, this hair ornament is apparently a transformation Legendary that Edda used long ago.
Its only effect is changing eye color. What purpose could something like this serve?
The reason Hayyarn was riding on my shoulder was simply because he was small and couldn’t match my speed.
“Wonderful. Women are beautiful in this era too, after all.”
“Is that so.”
“By the way, Wof, we’re being followed.”
“I know.”
“So you noticed.”
“Well, I have a Relic for that.”
I had already noticed the multiple red dots behind us with the Relic [ Danger Detection ].
It’s probably them. That clan called ‘Dragon Fang Row’.
“Hoh. Truly interesting. So, what are you going to do?”
“If they don’t cause any harm, I’ll leave them alone.”
“Surprisingly sensible.”
“What did you think I’d do?”
“A boy who punches without warning. Ah, sorry! Stop holding me like that!”
“Haaah.”
Seriously, this rabbit. I lowered him while still holding his ears. Maybe I should just carry him like this.
That’s probably not good. As I tried to lift him back up.
“Wait, stay like that, just a little more and I can see up her skirt— Nuooooh! Don’t swing me around!”
“Haaaah.”
This rabbit. Maybe I should just throw him at the guys behind us.
Reluctantly, I placed him back on my shoulder.
“Kuh, I was so close!”
“Please stop it. Honestly, this rabbit.”
“Mmph, those guys behind us.”
“Looks like they’re making a move?”
Are they going to start something in such a busy street?
Hayyarn looked dubious.
“…Who are those guys?”
“They’re inferior versions of you.”
“What?”
“It’s a Clan. Called ‘Dragon Fang Row’.”
“You’re being targeted by a Clan?”
“Yeah, well, it seems I’m getting in their way.”
“Hmm. Meaning your very existence is an obstacle. I myself was often told the same.”
He was told that 4500 years ago too?
Not surprising at all. Then, the red dots started getting closer.
“Hey.”
Someone called out rather loudly. Turning around, I saw a man.
He was tall, with short black hair and an ordinary face. From his equipment, he was a Seeker.
“What is it?”
“You. Brat. You’re Wof, right?”
“I am, but? Who are you?”
“Hmph, so you really are just a brat.”
The man sneered. I sighed.
“I am a brat.”
Did he not like that response? The man suddenly threw a punch.
I deflected the fist with one hand, lightly grabbed his arm, and tripped him, making him fall simultaneously.
The man hit his head and body hard on the ground. The impact knocked the wind out of him for a moment.
“Gaah!?”
“What do you think you’re doing?”
“You brat!”
I grabbed his raised arm, twisted it, and simultaneously stomped hard on the man’s torso.
“Gehaa!!”
The man lost consciousness.
“What in the…”
Hayyarn had an indescribable expression.
It looks surreal when a rabbit does it.
“It’s self-defense taught directly by the Witch.”
“Self-defense…? Looks like martial arts to me, though.”
“Well, I can’t deny that either.”
“But, for that lewd Witch to teach something like this…”
“Don’t call someone’s master lewd.”
It’s true, though. But still, what was with that guy?
Trying to punch someone out of the blue in a busy street like this, he can’t be sane.
“Those guys, they disappeared.”
“Looks like it.”
The red dots were moving away. What did they want to achieve?
Eventually, the man was taken away by the guards.
However, I need to think a bit about Clan ‘Dragon Fang Row’.
Getting accosted every time I go out like this is really getting unbearable.
But what should I do?
It’s a pain having to thin their numbers every time they attack. Maybe I should just…
“Hmm… Hey there, Wof-boy.”
“Wof-kun-ssu!”
“Liv-san. Bid-san. What are you two doing here?”
The two of them appeared suddenly, just like always.
“With Bid… doing… a request…”
“And we just finished up-ssu.”
Apparently, the two of them had teamed up.
And Hayarn immediately reacted.
“Ooh, the beautiful Miss Liv and… who might that lovely young lady be?”
“I’m Bid-ssu, and— That rabbit is talking-ssu!?”
“Hold on, don’t you look like a rabbit yourself?”
“She’s not a rabbit. Bid-san is a Rabbitfolk.”
“That’s right-ssu! So, what’s with this rabbit-ssu?”
“…Rabbit.”
Liv-san skillfully managed to look openly disgusted while keeping her face expressionless.
Then she shifted her gaze to me.
“Hmm… Wof-boy… Looks like… something’s… troubling you… Here, tell… your onee-san… all about it…”
“What’s up-ssu? Wof-kun, you got problems-ssu? I’ll help out too-ssu! Go on, tell your onee-san all about it-ssu!”
“Huh? You just said anything— Hey! That’s why— Stop holding me like that!”
“Yes, well, I am currently dealing with a problem, actually.”
While still gripping Hayarn’s ears, I explained what had happened earlier.
Liv-san and Bid-san listened silently, and when I finished talking, they spoke.
“Hmm… Okay, got it… Your onee-san… has a good… idea…”
“What a coincidence-ssu! I’ve got a great idea too-ssu!”
The two onee-sans beamed. I had a bad feeling about this.