Two weeks before the day.
The last person still hasn't been found.
Bidd must have been thrilled about [Flash Step].
She left on an expedition, calling it training. Told me she'd be expecting souvenirs.
After finishing my first quest, I haven't taken on another one.
I've been going to the Witch's place lately.
The Witch finally finished the bulk of her repair work.
So the letter from her familiar said I was welcome to come by.
That worked out perfectly. There was a technique I really wanted the Witch to teach me.
I asked her about it, and she agreed. I'd learn the technique and do some self-defense training as well.
I'm getting ready so we can move the moment the last person is found.
Well, there's only so much I can do, but I used the chance to sort out my equipment.
Durable yet light monster-leather armor, a brand-new jacket, and the Seisei gauntlets.
I'd like more knives, but there's a limit to what I can carry.
Even four is pretty heavy as it is.
So I can't add any more. And I can't let a single one break.
I made that promise. No more breaking knives.
Still, the equipment weight is no joke.
I'm small. Being thirteen, that's only natural, but I'm even a little shorter than most kids my age.
But I wasn't discouraged. My growth spurt just hadn't kicked in yet.
Yeah, my growth spurt just hadn't kicked in yet.
"...I'm getting hungry."
Another day beat down by the witch's training.
Alright, let's head to Cider Hall. Time to order a big plate of butter rice to help me grow.
Cider Hall was bustling again today. I took an open seat and placed my order.
I caught snippets of conversation nearby.
"Hey. It's almost time, apparently."
"Almost time for what?"
"The city dungeon. Sounds like the investigation squad's report is about to lift the restrictions on it."
"Finally. There's probably a huge backlog of requests by now."
"There were some guild-commissioned jobs too, right?"
"One way or another. There are materials you can only harvest and monsters you can only hunt in that dungeon."
"So when are we talking?"
"Sooner side, a week. Longer end, two weeks to a month."
"Well then, guess we just wait in no hurry."
"Yeah. Oi! Two ales over here!"
"Coming right up!"
The city dungeon would be unsealed. Once that happened, I could reach the twelfth floor.
The Ark Ruins, huh. Before that, the Holy Chamber of the Junkyard.
"Whew."
"Oh. Axe?"
A male fawn passing by me. It's Axe.
"Wof, huh."
"Hey there."
"...That seat there — mind if I sit?"
"Go right ahead."
Axe sits down across from me.
"What about Rel and the others?"
"Ah, yeah — I'm solo right now."
"Huh? You're not active as Thunder Fang anymore?"
"It's not like we disbanded or anything. It's just — how should I put it — the two of them are... on the run."
"Huh...?"
"No, it's not like they committed a crime or anything. Sorry about that. One extra-large ale, please."
"Coming right up!"
Axe places his order with a passing waitress.
"Why are they running?"
"Well, more like — they're running from Rel's older sister."
"Ah... Sheshu, you mean?"
Juicy is a younger sister too. Dova doesn't look like she'd have the stamina for that.
That would be Sheshu. A famous mercenary serving as a bodyguard.
Axe was surprised.
"You know her?"
"Yeah. I've got some peculiar connections with those women too."
"Is that so. That's so like you, Wof."
"Huh?"
"If that's the case, you must know Tasan too."
"Yeah, of course. Um... I could see Rel, but Hoss too?"
They don't seem to have anything in common, do they?
"That guy. He went and caught Rel's sword in the spur of the moment."
"Ah..."
So he went and did it, huh.
"That's why those two have been out of the city for a while."
"So that's why you're running solo."
"Something like that."
"Sorry for the wait. One extra-large ale."
"Sorry for the wait. One large butter rice."
Wof and Axe's orders arrived at the same time.
Axe grabbed the oversized mug and chugged the ale.
"Ahh, now this is what I'm talking about."
"Uh-huh. This is the stuff."
I eat the butter rice and nod with satisfaction.
Loaded with meat and vegetables, and a hint of soy sauce gives it just the right kick.
I chewed, swallowed, and then asked.
"So, do you not have any quests or anything right now?"
"Hmm, let me see. Nothing in particular at the moment."
"Well, I've actually got a request that was directed at me specifically. How about it — want to join?"
"A directed request?"
"Oh, before that — I became a delver by special exception."
"Seriously!?"
"Yeah. But I'm Rank V."
"...A witch did it, huh."
"Yep."
As expected of Axe. Caught on right away. Hahaha.
"Still, a directed request for someone Rank V? Who's the oddball behind that?"
"Alhazard Aburamirin."
"...Hm?"
"Alhazard. Aburamirin."
"That's not... the name of the butcher shop guy down the street, is it? You know, something like Aburamirin Kalbitan."
What kind of yakiniku is that?
"Yes. Alhazard Aburamirin, the Grand Guild Master."
"............—Seriously?"
Axe's eyes went blank.
"Yes."
I nodded straightforwardly, and Axe silently drained the rest of his ale.
Once he'd emptied his oversized mug, he ordered another and turned to me.
"Care to fill me in on how this all started?"
"Sure. It all started when—"
I told the story pretty much the same way I had for Pakira and the others.
Axe nodded along as he drank yet another oversized mug of ale.
"I see... but still."
"What is it?"
"That mansion where it all started... I know it's Torquetam's base."
"You knew?"
"Of course. Torquetam's famous, after all. Three beautiful girls like that? Even someone like me who's no good around women has heard about it."
"Well, true enough."
They certainly stand out in all sorts of ways, but I guess he's still no good around women, huh.
Axe asked.
"So you went into the mansion after that."
"That's right. Riv invited me in."
"...That's so like you, Wof."
"Huh?"
"Sure, I'm in. If you'll have me."
"Oh, thank you!"
What did he even mean by "that's so like you"?
He's been acting weird like this for a while now.
"So who else is in the party?"
"It's me, Mineha, and Riv."
"Riv as in Torquetam's?"
"Yeah, that's right."
"Ah, I see."
"Mineha too, huh? Come to think of it, where does she even live?"
"Huh? You didn't know? She lives at my place."
"...Wof's place?"
"Yep. She just moved into the tower in the courtyard without asking."
"I see... That's so like you, Wof."
"Huh? What do you keep saying I—?"
What the heck did he mean by "that's so like you"? Was he misunderstanding something?
Axe looked somewhat reluctant to speak, but then opened his mouth.
"Ah, you're still as friendly with women as ever, huh?"
"...I won't deny that..."
I wryly smiled. That much I really couldn't deny.
Axe shot me a "my bad" kind of look and apologized.
"Nah, I know I've always been bad around women. But being bad around them doesn't mean I hate them. I'm a guy too, y'know."
"Yeah, well, I get that."
"So, y'know, I just blurted out 'that's so Wof.' Sorry about that."
"No, it's fine... I was just curious about the reason. Hey, Axe, do you have, like, a type when it comes to women?"
"Straight outta nowhere, huh. Uh, let me see... I guess elves?"
"You like elves?"
"...My mom's an elf."
"Ah..."
An elf, huh. Interesting.
"No, wait. Not in a weird way. It's just that the closest woman to me happened to be an elf."
"Then what about Lupinus?"
"Absolutely not."
The answer came instantly.
"But she's an el—"
"Absolutely not."
"Okay."
He shut that down before I could even finish.
"So, what about you?"
"Huh? I, um, I still don't really know much about that stuff"
"Oh boy. Then let's drop this topic"
"Sure"
Axe took a sip of his ale.
My throat was dry too, so I had some lemonade. Ahh.
"Well, regardless. I'm looking forward to it"
"Yeah"
"First, to Wof becoming a delver"
"Thank you"
"And to Aburamirin's old man's named quest going well"
"Yeah"
And with that, Axe proposed a toast and downed it in one gulp.
The next day.
We gathered at the Cidre Inn.
Seated at a table were me, Mineha, Riv, and Axe, in that order.
After we'd ordered some ale and such, Axe gave a wry smile.
"Well, no need for self-introductions at this point, I suppose"
"Right. Axe, it's been a while. Did you get in touch with the Master?"
"Not yet. The old lady — apparently she still hasn't come back"
"Sounds like the Master, all right."
"Exactly. So, uh, it's been a while. Riv."
"Mm… Axe… acquaintance… relieved."
"Well, for this job, we can only ask people we know."
"Fair point."
"Right. Okay then, let's start with the party name."
"Figured it would come to that."
I was a little exasperated. I had no fond memories of this part.
Mineha asked.
"So, any ideas?"
"Mm… Wof Investigation Team."
Riv said first, of all people. Something about it sounded familiar.
Except, absolutely not.
"Well, well, that's a fine idea."
"No, no, why is my name in it?"
"Because this is a commission that specifically called for you. Anyway — how about the Impromptu Wolf Pack?"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Mm… wolf… pack?"
At least that was ten billion times better than the Wof Investigation Team.
Axe took a sip of ale before speaking.
"Except for Wof and Mineha, Riv and I are in a party but right now we’re solo. Being solo means we’re basically lone wolves. And a bunch of these lone wolves have gathered here on the spot. So that makes us the Instant Wolf Pack. What do you think?"
"That’s great! It’s really, really great!"
I was completely on board. I didn’t really get the whole lone wolf part, though.
The wolf part sounded cool. It was a hundred billion times better than the Wof Investigation Team.
Mineha ate a bone-in chicken leg twice the size of her own body and spoke.
"Not bad. Riv?"
"Mm… sounds cool… so yeah… good."
"It’s settled then. We’re the Instant Wolf Pack. Wof, you’re our leader, alright?"
"Me, as usual?"
"That’s right. Leader."
"Yo… leader."
"Good. Everyone, pick up your mugs."
We did as Axe said.
"Wof, our leader. Please lead the toast."
"O-okay. Um, a toast to the Instant Wolf Pack!"
"Cheers!"
"Toast."
"Mm… cheers."
"Nah!"
Our glasses clinked together.
And just like that, the Impromptu Wolf Pack was born.
I never would have guessed.
Who would've thought I'd end up using the name "Impromptu Wolf Pack" again and again from here on out.