Baggage Carrier 5
Two days later.
In the morning, I went through my daily routine as usual.
Lately, I’d decided to add running to my stretches to build up stamina.
I also doubled my Knife Handling practice and movement drills.
Building up the basics is important.
My current goal is to handle the knife as if it were an extension of my own hand or arm.
After finishing those and folding my laundry up on the Tower roof, a bird came flying over.
It landed neatly beside the window.
Seeing me, it used its beak to drop the scroll tied to its leg onto the floor.
It looked at me once more, then flew away.
“……”
I picked up the scroll and unfurled it.
It was a letter. There’s only one person it could be from.
The next day. The Witch’s House.
“Well, well, welcome.”
“I received your letter.”
“I’m glad it seems to have arrived safely, yes indeed.”
Yes, the sender was this Witch.
The concept of correspondence exists, but the concept of mail delivery doesn’t yet.
That’s why there’s no mailbox in front of her house.
Another reason is that letters are only used by a select few.
That’s because the literacy rate is low.
The era is shifting from scrolls to books.
Even so, it seems it will still take quite some time for the literacy rate to increase.
Therefore, there’s no standard method for correspondence. No set rules either.
Some people, like the Witch, use birds.
Waiting in the usual cluttered living room I was shown into was a single young man.
Flaxen hair. Light brown eyes. White horns. A dignified face.
He was of medium build, wearing a black tunic over green clothes.
On the worn black battle belt at his waist were a pouch and a knife.
Beside the sofa, a sword leaned against it.
A wooden sheath and hilt, how unusual.
“Are you Wof?”
“Y-Yes.”
“Nice to meet you. I’m Ax. Leader of the Fang of Thunder.”
He smiled, looking slightly embarrassed.
The leader of the Fang of Thunder. Ax-san looked like an ordinary young Faun.
“Now, now, standing and talking won’t do, will it? Have a seat.”
“Y-Yes.”
Feeling a little nervous, I sat down on the sofa opposite him.
The Witch spoke with a broad smile.
“Well then, well then, I’ll prepare some Herbal Tea right away, yes I will.”
“No, that’s quite alright.”
“I’ll pass as well.”
We politely declined.
“Oh my, oh my, how cold. And it was my masterpiece, too, you know.”
The Witch looked crestfallen.
Ax-san gave a wry smile.
“Well then… Wof.”
“Yes.”
“I am truly sorry!”
He suddenly bowed his head.
“Eh?”
“Hmm, hmm. What could this be about, I wonder?”
“Um, why did you apologize?”
“—For that, I need to tell you about my mother.”
“Your mother?”
“Yeah. As I think you know, my mother is a Tier II Seeker.”
“Yes, yes. That’s right. Clawblade of the Thunder God. Quite famous, yes indeed.”
“…”
I-I don’t know her.
Better keep quiet.
“And my mother has a disciple.”
“Not a Hired Pup, but a disciple?”
“Unusual, right? Anyway, about this disciple… by my mother’s orders, she’ll be diving into the Dungeon with us. Meaning, she’ll be accompanying us.”
“Does this mean you’re withdrawing the offer for the Baggage Carrier job?”
If that’s the case, then it can’t be helped.
It can’t be helped. Yeah. It can’t be helped.
“No, that’s not it.”
Ax-san slowly shook his head.
Puzzled, I asked.
“What do you mean?”
“That disciple is… a girl… a 10-year-old Seeker.”
“Hoh hoh. A 10-year-old Seeker, you say.”
“Aren’t Seekers supposed to be 14 or older?”
No, wait.
I think I heard a story about a girl who became a Seeker under special circumstances.
I had a bad feeling about this.
“She has exceptional talent and became a Seeker as an exception.”
“I know. I heard the rumors.”
“Right? We only knew through rumors too. Never thought she’d turn out to be my mother’s disciple.”
“You didn’t know?”
“Yeah. I haven’t seen my mother since I came of age.”
It’s normal to leave one’s parents after coming of age.
It wasn’t like that in my previous life.
“So, the reason you apologized to me is?”
“The Fang of Thunder is three guys, including me. We’ve always operated that way.”
“Meaning?”
“…It’s nothing to brag about, but we’ve been desperately working as Seekers for nearly nine years. None of us have girlfriends.”
“O-Okay…”
Um, what is he trying to say?
As I looked troubled, Ax-san said.
“So, could I ask you to be her Baggage Carrier?”
“Me?”
“Starting with carrying her bags, I’d also like to ask you to handle various chores for her.”
“…Um.”
“Please. You’re close in age, and the Witch told me you’re quite used to handling girls.”
I shot the Witch a reproachful look.
However, it had no effect on the Witch.
“No, I’m not really used to it or anything…”
“Actually, I saw it at the Cidre Tavern. I saw Wof having a meal with Pachira of Torquetum, and then… I saw you go up to the VIP Room on the second floor with Megidias the Darkgulper.”
“That’s, well…”
It’s not wrong, but the way he put it.
“Oh my, oh my, oh myyy?”
Stop smirking, Witch.
Stop spinning around and looking at me so gleefully.
“I-It’s true, there are no lies or exaggerations, but…”
“Hoh hoh, hoh hoh.”
“What is it with you?”
This Witch is annoying.
“What, what, it’s nothing at all, you know.”
“…If you say so.”
What’s with that sarcastic smile?
“So please, I beg you! Please. I’m begging you!!”
Ax-san pleaded desperately, his head still bowed.
He looked like he was about to prostrate himself.
Honestly, I didn’t like it because it felt like some misunderstanding was brewing.
Haaah, I guess it can’t be helped.
“Alright. If I’m suitable, I’ll accept the job.”
“Really! Thank you, thank you!!”
He stood up and gripped my hand firmly.
“You must really be desperate.”
“…Honestly. We have no idea how to interact with her.”
“Can’t you just act normally?”
I tilted my head.
There was nothing difficult about it.
“It’s pathetic, but we’ve barely ever spoken to members of the opposite sex.”
“…Even I think that’s a bit much…”
Though it’s rich coming from me, someone who doesn’t really want to socialize much.
“Y-Yeah, you’re right…”
“Well, well, that’s something for the future, isn’t it? You’re still young, after all.”
“I hope so.”
“By the way, by the way, does Kon not count as the opposite sex?”
The Witch was smiling broadly. Her eyes weren’t smiling.
“Ah, well, she is, but, you know, she’s like, an old acquaintance.”
Ax-san somehow managed an excuse.
The Witch acted like she accepted it, though she clearly didn’t. Her eyes still weren’t smiling.
“We depart in three days.”
“Understood.”
“We’ll meet up the day before for introductions. Tentatively, around noon. The place is the ‘Cidre Tavern’.”
“Understood.”
Three days from now, huh.
Ax-san thanked me once more before leaving.
A little while later, the Witch spoke.
“Well, now. My apologies.”
“For what?”
“For this whole situation, of course. I didn’t expect things to turn out this way, you see.”
“It can’t be helped.”
I guess I’m already committed now.
Plus, they said they’d increase the pay.
“Actually, actually. There’s something I must tell you, Wof-boy.”
“What is it?”
“It’s, it’s about the Fang of Thunder, you see.”
“What about them?”
“Actually, actually, none of them, including Ax, possess any Relics.”
“…Eh?”
I was dumbfounded.