Torquetum ③
I immediately returned to the inn and hurriedly called the two of them.
“What is it now?”
“Nn… Pachira. You smell… of alcohol…”
“You. Surely you haven’t been drinking?”
“I have not been drinking. More importantly than that. I have something important to discuss with you two.”
At the table, the two looked at each other with suspicious faces.
“What is it?”
“…Nn…”
“Just a little while ago, I met with Megidias the Darkgulper.”
“What did you say!? You mean the Tier II Seeker?”
“Nn… Same as 【Ruinblade】… Tier II Seeker… Solo…”
“What happened?”
“Well, it was, uh, how things turned out, well, various things happened. And so I was able to speak with her. And I received a proposal from her.”
“A proposal?”
“Mhm. Listen closely. It’s a proposal for us, Torquetum. To accompany her in subjugating the Dungeon anomaly.”
“What did you say!?”
“Nn… Accompany…”
“The decision falls to Lupinus. You are the leader.”
“That’s already decided. There’s no way we’d refuse, is there?”
That’s what I thought. Yep. That’s right.
“Liv, are you alright with this too?”
“Nn… Of course. Liv also… agrees…”
Of course.
But Liv nodded and continued.
“Nn… It’s fine, but… Pachira… smells like a man…”
“What did you say?”
“Wh-!?”
“Pachira. What is the meaning of this?”
“Well, that’s…”
Urgh, blast it. I’d forgotten about Liv’s unusual sense of smell.
“Nn… And it’s… the smell of a boy I know…”
“What did you say?”
Huh? What did she say?
“Wh-what is the meaning of this, both of you!”
“What do you mean? Liv, you know Wof?”
“Nn… Wof…?”
“What is it? Wof? Pachira. What exactly have you been doing? And what’s this about accompanying someone for anomaly subjugation in the first place?”
Lupinus. Her eyes are scary.
“…It just happened that way. It really just happened. Alright? First, he helped me get a book I couldn’t reach… Then he said he was looking for something. So, since I owed him, I helped him. As thanks, he treated me to a meal at the Cidre Tavern, and that’s when Megidias the Darkgulper was having a drinking contest with ‘Ruinblade’. And then, somehow, thanks to Megadia and Wof, I was able to talk to her.”
“Nn… Too… fast…”
“…Somehow, this sounds like one of those love romances you like.”
Lupinus glared. That’s why her eyes are scar— What!?
“Wh-! Lupinus. Wh-wh-what are you saying! More importantly, Liv!”
“…Nn.”
“You. Do you know Wof?”
“………I know him, but I didn’t ask his name…”
Oh, honestly.
“Liv. Where exactly did you meet this boy?”
“Nn… Goblin Nest…”
“What did you say?”
Goblin Nest?
“Come to think of it, you did say you took a solo request.”
She did say that. It’s usual for her, so I just let it pass.
Liv’s swordsmanship alone could be said to rival a Tier II’s. Though her swordsmanship style is still a mystery. She herself says it’s a Relic.
“So Wof was in the Goblin Nest?”
“…Nn. He said… he had business there…”
“Impossible. He’s just a child, not even a Seeker.”
“Nn… Wof… has a Relic…”
“What did you say…?”
“What?”
That guy. He has a Relic?
“What kind of Relic is it?”
“Nn… A Relic that judges… discerns… danger… Similar to Echo or Search… It can also tell the location of hidden enemies.”
So it’s a perception or detection-type Relic. What are Echo and Search? Anyway.
“Oh my, that’s very convenient, isn’t it?”
It certainly is convenient… convenient, but… A cold sweat broke out on me.
Calm down. Check this slowly and calmly.
“Liv. Can it really tell the location of hidden enemies?”
“…Nn. That’s how we… wiped out all the Goblins.”
“The location of hidden enemies too… Hmm. Liv. Just what you can recall is fine. Can you tell me in more detail?”
“Nn……… Only what I remember…”
“That’s fine.”
“Pachira. Is something bothering you? It sounds like a common Relic.”
At first glance, it might sound like that, but this is more than just ‘bothering’.
“Lupinus. At least within my knowledge, I don’t know of nor have I ever heard of a perception or detection-type Relic capable of revealing the location of hidden enemies. The same goes for you, doesn’t it?”
“Hidden… Ah, you’re right, there aren’t any like that.”
“…Nn…”
“Both of you, think carefully. It can reveal the location of hidden enemies in a Dungeon. And, Liv, regardless of obstacles like walls, right?”
“Nn… It was just like… Echo or Search…”
“Does that mean you can’t be ambushed either?”
“Not only that, it makes it possible for us to launch surprise attacks.”
It probably detects traps too. What are Echo and Search?
“What a terrifying Relic…”
It seems Lupinus has realized. Liv closes her eyes as if thinking.
“Nn… Now that you mention it… Goblin subjugation… was incredibly easy. The boy… just told me where, and I cut… Amazing.”
“That’s a Relic any Seeker would absolutely want.”
At that moment, something crossed my mind. Perhaps, back then, Megidias the Darkgulper… wasn’t joking, but genuinely wanted to make Wof her Hired Pup? Does that mean Megadia knew about Wof’s Relic… or found out? Seeing through another’s Relic. But that’s a legendary-class Relic, supposed to be lost now.
“………”
“Speaking of boys, Pachira. That reminds me.”
“What is it?”
“It’s about that Elixir boy.”
“Ah, there was that too.”
Still no leads. But he’s also a boy, huh. Well, I doubt it’s possible, but it wouldn’t be funny if they were the same person.
Nah, impossible. If it were true…
“Nn… About… that…”
“What is it?”
Not funny.
“What is it?”
“Nn… I forgot. Wof… the boy. He’s the boy… who smells like Elixir…”
“Wh-what did you say?”
“Haheh?”
Haheh?