Baggage Carrier ⑯
Ax-san’s sudden confession.
He hates Relics.
But that wasn’t surprising at all; it felt rather natural.
If he didn’t hate them, he wouldn’t have formed a Party exclusively with people who don’t possess Relics.
Whether it was out of spite or something else, it would be strange if there wasn’t anger and hatred involved.
So, I wasn’t particularly shocked, but for him to say it himself was another matter.
Ax-san began to speak.
“My mother is a famous Seeker. Tier II, known as Thunderous Claws.”
“Yes. I’ve heard of her.”
I remembered Ax-san mentioning it when we first met.
“My mother possesses a powerful Relic. That’s why, even before I was born, people around had high expectations for me. But when I was born, I didn’t have a Relic.”
“…”
“People often whispered behind my back, saying she must have had an affair or that I wasn’t really her son. Some even said it right to my face when I was a child. There were times I actually thought it might be true.”
“But you are her biological son, right?”
“Yeah, there’s no doubt about that. But ten years ago… I was kidnapped.”
“Eh?”
“The kidnapper was someone who held a grudge against my mother. I thought I was going to be killed, but a Seeker acquaintance of my mother rescued me.”
“Where was your mother?”
“She was away on a request. She didn’t come back until… was it a month later?”
“…”
“It was after that. Things became awkward between my mother and me, and we naturally grew distant.”
“…”
“I hate my mother. There’s just nothing I can do about that.”
“Not having a Relic isn’t something even your mother could control, Ax-san. And the kidnapping, if she hadn’t been on that request…”
“—I know. I know my mother suffered a lot because of me, because I don’t have a Relic. But even if I understand, I can’t accept it. This, at least… there’s nothing I can do… I can’t yield on this.”
“So why did you decide to become a Seeker?”
I asked, perhaps a little forcefully.
Why walk the same path as the mother he resented?
“It’s spite. The stupid spite of wanting to become First Class even without a Relic.”
“I don’t think it’s stupid at all.”
I think it’s an admirable dream. Ax-san gave a bitter smile.
“Thanks. Well, there actually are First Class Seekers without Relics.”
“Eh? There are?”
“Sword of Swords. That’s what they’re called.”
“Sword of Swords?”
That’s an unusual Title.
“I was a bit let down when I found out, but knowing that it’s possible to become First Class even without a Relic actually made my dream feel more realistic, and I was happy. It motivated me.”
“I see.”
Having a real example does increase the perceived possibility of achieving something.
Whether one can actually do it is another matter entirely.
“And so, I became a Seeker. I started out solo, but I quickly hit my limits.”
“Is going solo really that difficult?”
“Are you planning on going solo, Wof?”
“Yes. That’s my intention. I’m not really good with other people.”
The biggest reason is that I have too many secrets.
Ax-san stated clearly.
“I wouldn’t recommend going solo. At least, that was the case for me. But that doesn’t necessarily mean it’ll be the same for you, Wof. There are actually quite a few successful solo Seekers out there.”
“Okay.”
“Let’s get back on topic. I met those guys in the same situation, Rell and Hoss, formed the Party ‘Fang of Thunder,’ and we managed to climb up to Tier IV.”
Most Seekers hit a wall at Tier V.
Yet Ax-san and his friends reached Tier IV without Relics.
And now they’re known as skilled Seekers.
That must have been incredibly difficult.
“Is becoming First Class still your dream?”
“Well, yeah. The desire to prove them wrong is still there. Besides that, there’s also a genuine desire to aim for it. You’re going to become a Seeker too, right, Wof?”
“Yes. But I don’t really have a dream like that yet.”
“That’s fine, isn’t it? You can just find one someday.”
“Y-Yes.”
Will I find one? A dream, huh?
“But, you know… Just the presence or absence of a Relic can nearly tear a family apart. I just find that so unreasonable, it makes me incredibly angry. That’s why I hate Relics. And I hate those who look down on others just because they have one.”
“You mean Mineha-san?”
“My mother’s favorite disciple. Became a Seeker at an unusually young age, and climbed higher than us to Tier III. She probably has a powerful Relic. On top of that, she’s a Relic supremacist, and a woman.”
“…Is that why you can’t apologize yourself?”
“It’s only natural that everything about her rubs me the wrong way!”
Ax-san looked annoyed.
“Well, I suppose.”
For him, it wasn’t just a triple yakuman; it was worse.
Suddenly, Ax-san voiced a question.
“Why did my mother send Mineha to me?”
That’s probably the Witch’s doing.
Because of the Witch, Ax-san’s resentment towards his mother is building up.
I feel sorry for his mother, Emi-san. Damn that Witch.
However, I know the Witch has her own feelings. I understand that much.
“I wouldn’t know either.”
“Yeah, you’re right. So anyway, Wof. I can’t do it.”
“What do you mean, ‘anyway’?”
“I’ll save face for my mother. We’ll do the Dungeon Exploration together. But I won’t get involved with her, with Mineha. As long as she doesn’t cause trouble, she can do whatever she wants.”
“You’re just going to ignore her?”
“She’d probably prefer it that way too.”
“Are you okay with that?”
“It’s not about being okay or not. Neither she nor I have any intention of meeting halfway. We never did. There’s no need for me to make the first move. Normally, I would have refused her participation altogether. I only agreed to save face for my mother. But so that something like this never happens again… once this request is over, I’m cutting ties with my mother.”
I was speechless.
To go that far.
“Cutting ties?”
“It’s better for both of us that way. We shouldn’t have been parent and child.”
Ax-san stated it calmly. How could he say that?
Well, if that’s how he feels, he should do as he pleases.
“Understood. If you’re fine with that, I won’t say anything more. I’ll apologize to Mineha-san for you.”
If Ax-san has decided, then so be it.
It never had anything to do with me in the first place. Let him do what he wants.
There’s no merit or demerit for me in trying to mediate between them.
The request is strictly to look after Mineha-san.
Making them get along isn’t part of it.
Ultimately, it’s someone else’s problem. Even the Witch didn’t say I had to get involved or solve it.
Ax-san apologized.
“Seriously, sorry for dragging you into this.”
“Please show your apology through my payment.”
“R-Right.”
It can’t be helped now that things have come this far.
But I expect at least that much compensation.
“So, what should I do?”
“Just keep acting as her errand boy and stick with her.”
“Understood.”
That seemed to be the end of the discussion.
Then, Ax-san asked casually.
“By the way, Wof. You have a Relic, right?”
“I do.”
I answered honestly.
It doesn’t matter anymore how he figured it out.
It might have been a bluff, but it’s too late now.
He surely doesn’t know I have four, and I won’t tell him.
Ax-san continued asking.
“What do you… think about Relics?”
“They’re just convenient tools or technology. Nothing more, nothing less.”
I answered immediately. It was my genuine opinion.
Ax-san looked extremely surprised. What is it?
“You… That’s what— Understood. Thanks. For listening to me complain about various things.”
“? It’s fine. But can I ask one thing?”
“What is it?”
“Why did you tell me all this?”
I wondered about it.
This kind of story. Would you normally tell someone you’ve only just met?
“—I wanted to vent.”
“Eh?”
“I’ve never talked about this with Rell or Hoss, but they probably sense it somehow. I don’t know their deep circumstances either, but I can somehow tell.”
“Because you’ve been together for so long, right?”
“Yeah, so venting… I couldn’t do it. It sounds weird, but you were convenient, Wof. We haven’t known each other long. Plus, you’re looking after my mother’s disciple, putting you somewhere in the middle between us.”
“That’s true.”
Honestly, it’s an unpleasant position, like being stuck in middle management.
“Besides, you’re a kid. Though you seem to know a lot about the world for one.”
“Only somewhat. So, I was just convenient for venting, huh?”
Ax-san gave a bitter, awkward smile.
“I said I wanted to vent, but I only just realized that now. It’s probably because of her.”
The things Ax-san had carried for so long. The things he had kept suppressed.
They all came spilling out, triggered by her.
“Mineha-san, you mean.”
“Sorry. That wasn’t my intention.”
“It’s fine. So, did venting make you feel better?”
“…I wonder.”
A vague reply.
Understandable, since the problem isn’t resolved.
And there’s no prospect of it being resolved either.
“Dinner should be ready soon, let’s go.”
“Yeah.”
I’m hungry in more ways than one.
As we moved, I glanced over at where Mineha-san was camped.
Center and edge. The distance wasn’t that great.
But to me, that distance felt incredibly vast.