Baggage Carrier 8
I didn’t touch the herbal tea the Witch offered and, with downcast eyes, explained everything from beginning to end.
How we met, argued, and parted ways angrily.
The Witch listened silently, nodding.
When I finished speaking, she gave a faint, wry smile.
“Well, well, that’s certainly… something, isn’t it?”
“I thought, maybe what happened… maybe it was done deliberately.”
“Hmm, hmm. You think Emi did that?”
“No matter how you look at it, it had to be intentional.”
Emi. Ax-san’s mother and Mineha-san’s master.
An active Tier II Seeker. An acquaintance of the Witch.
I don’t know anything about what kind of person she is.
But she arranged for them to meet while withholding crucial information.
Her disciple’s personality and her son’s complex.
If she understood those things, she should have been able to imagine what would happen.
It happened because it was bound to happen. That was my conclusion.
Still, even though I don’t know Emi-san, how should I put it…
It’s like she had to harden her heart.
Even though it involves her son and her disciple, there’s a sense that she’s keeping her distance somehow.
Is it because she’s a Tier II Seeker?
Still, her methods…
“Yes, yes. Now that you mention it, it does seem that way, doesn’t it?”
“I don’t understand why she would do something like that.”
“I suppose you wouldn’t, would you?”
“Do you know anything, Witch?”
“A while, while back, when I met Emi, she mentioned something. She said her disciple is talented, but lacks something important for a Seeker.”
“Something important?”
I hear phrases like that often, but what could it be?
“And, and also, about her son Ax, she appreciates that he’s working hard. His abilities are more than adequate. But she said he needs to properly acknowledge something. If he doesn’t, he’ll keep suffering. But she also said that would probably be difficult.”
“Acknowledge?”
Acknowledge what, I wonder.
Hmm. I kind of understand what she wants to achieve.
I also understand that it’s something important for both of them.
Still, I really feel this method is too rough.
“This could go badly…” the Witch said, unusually hesitant.
“You see, you see, Emi likes surprises and can be a bit scatterbrained at crucial moments, but even so, she’s a kind person who always cherishes her son and disciple.”
“…Was I worrying too much?”
Hearing that made me wonder if I was meddling unnecessarily.
I’m just an outsider, after all. Then, the Witch put on a gentle expression.
“No, no, Wof-kun, your concerns are valid. I’m sorry. This wasn’t supposed to happen, and now I’ve made you worry unnecessarily.”
“Well, it’s a job I accepted, so I want to see it through properly.”
“Hmm, hmm. I’ve thought this before, but you’re quite hardworking, aren’t you?”
“Am I?”
I think being hardworking is normal.
No… in this world, is it normal?
Come to think of it, I did nothing but work in my previous life.
Unpaid overtime was the norm.
I hate having this corporate drone mentality even after reincarnating.
Being a corporate slave across worlds is just too much, please spare me.
“Fufu, fufu, that side of you, Wof-kun… Kon finds it very appealing.”
“…Your face is close.”
It was super close.
So close I could see myself reflected in her eyes, and see the Witch reflected in the eyes of my reflection.
“Oh my, excuse me.”
The Witch spoke, her lips practically touching mine.
She smoothly and quickly pulled back.
“…N-No, it’s fine.”
That surprised me.
The Witch. Even like this, even acting like this.
She’s quite beautiful… seeing her up close, I was struck again by how gorgeous she was.
As expected of the Witch.
That’s the Witch for you.
“S-So, Witch. What do you think I should do, in the end?”
“Oh, that’s quite simple.”
“Eh? Is that so?”
I was surprised, feeling a bit let down.
It’s simple? The Witch smiled.
“Mm-hmm. Wof-kun. You don’t need to do anything.”
“………You mean I should just wait and see?”
“Mm-hmm. As expected of you. In the end, it’s a Matter Between Those Involved.”
“…I suppose you’re right.”
I gave another indescribable, wry smile.
It comes down to that in the end. But it’s also true that there’s nothing else to be done.
As for me…
I just want to properly handle the job I accepted.
I want to alleviate my concerns about it. But there’s probably nothing I can do.
A Matter Between Those Involved.
That’s really all there is to it.
Well, rather than being left completely in the dark, I did get some kind of answer.
Deciding that was enough, I left the Witch’s House.
I returned to town.
I need to get back and at least prepare for tomorrow… I thought, walking distractedly.
“H-Hey, you!”
A voice came from behind me. But I didn’t think it was for me, so I ignored it.
“Hey, don’t ignore me! Your name was, uh, M-Mof?”
How cute.
Hmm? Could she mean me?
The nuance felt like it, so I stopped and turned around.
And then I understood that yes, I was the one being called.
It was Mineha-san.
Flapping her small wings, she directed a displeased gaze at me.