As soon as I got back to the inn, I hurried to summon the two of them.
"What is it now?"
"Mm... Pakira. You smell like... alcohol..."
"Dear. Don't tell me you've been drinking?"
"I have done no such thing. More importantly—I have something important to discuss with you two."
The two of them exchanged glances across the table, wearing skeptical expressions.
"What is it?"
"......Mm......"
"I just met with Megadia of the Black Devourer."
"You did what!? You mean that Rank II one?"
"Mm... Same rank as the Doom Sword... Rank II delver... Solo..."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, it's—how should I put it, things just sort of happened, you see. The point is, I was able to talk with her. And she made me a proposal."
"A proposal?"
"Indeed. Listen well. She proposed that our party, Torquetam, accompany her on a dungeon aberration subjugation."
"You're kidding!"
"Mm... Accompany her..."
"The decision is yours, Lupinus. You're the leader."
"That's not even a question. There's no way we'd refuse."
I suppose that's right.
Yeah. That would be so.
"What about you, Riv?"
"Mm... Of course. Riv... agrees as well."
So she did.
But Riv nodded and continued.
"Mm... It's fine, but... Pakira smells like... a man."
"What did she say?"
"W-What!?"
"Pakira. What is the meaning of this?"
"Well, you see..."
Ugh, I'd forgotten.
I'd completely forgotten about Riv's extraordinary sense of smell.
"Mm... And it's... a boy she already knows..."
"What did you say!?"
Huh? What did she say?
"Wh-What is the meaning of this. Both of you!"
"What do you mean? Riv, do you know Wof?"
"Mm... Wof...?"
"What do you mean, Wof? Pakira, what exactly have you been doing? And for that matter, what does accompanying us on this anomaly subjugation even mean?"
Lupinus. Her eyes are scary.
"...It was just how things happened. Truly, it was just how things happened. Understood? First, I had him fetch a book that hadn't been delivered... and then it turned out he had something he was looking for. Since he already owed me a favor, I helped him out. As thanks, he treated me to a meal at Cider Hall, and that's when Black Devourer's Megadia and the Doom Sword were having a drinking contest. So somehow, thanks to Megadia and Wof, we ended up talking."
"Mm... too fast... talking..."
"That sounds like... one of those romance novels you're fond of."
Lupinus's eyes narrow sharply. That's why they're scary, I said!
"Gwah! Lupinus! Wh-wh-what are you saying! More importantly, Riv!"
"Mm."
"You. You know Wof?"
"We've... met, but I never asked his name..."
You're something else.
"Riv. Where exactly did you meet that boy?"
"Mm... goblin nest..."
"What did you say?"
A goblin nest?
"Now that you mention it, he did say he took on a quest solo."
He did say that.
It was the same as always, so I just let it slide.
Riv's swordsmanship alone could be said to approach the Second Tier.
It's still swordsmanship I don't really understand, though.
She herself claims it's a Relic, though.
"So Wof was in the goblin's nest?"
"...Mm. He said he... had business..."
"Don't be ridiculous. He's just a child — not even a delver."
"Mm... Wof has... a Relic..."
"What did you say...?"
"Come again?"
She told her about the Relic.
"What kind of Relic is it?"
"Mm... one that identifies... danger... It's close to Echo or Search... it can also tell where hidden enemies are."
So it was a perception or detection-type Relic.
What were Echo and Search again? Setting that aside...
"Oh my, how very convenient."
It was certainly convenient... but.
I broke into a cold sweat.
Calm down. Take it slow and check everything calmly.
"Riv. So it can identify hidden enemies as well, hmm?"
"...Mm. That's how I got all the goblins... in one shot."
"Hidden enemies too... Hmm. Riv, just what you can remember is fine. Could you tell me the details?"
"Mm... only what I remember..."
"That will do."
"Pakira. Is something bothering you? It's a common Relic, after all."
That was how it sounded, but it was hardly something merely "bothering" her.
"Lupinus. At the very least, within the scope of my knowledge, I have never heard of a perception or detection Relic that could pinpoint the location of hidden enemies. I expect the same holds true for you."
"Hidden... ah, that's true, I haven't either."
"Mm..."
"Just think about it, both of you. A Relic that reveals where hidden enemies are in a dungeon. And it was Riv, wasn't it? With no regard for walls or other obstacles, mind you."
"Mm... it was like... Echo or Search... or something."
"Which means surprise attacks are out of the question."
"More than that — it makes it possible for *us* to launch the surprise attacks."
Traps would likely be detectable as well.
What on earth were Echo and Search?
"What a terrifying Relic..."
Lupinus seemed to have caught on.
Riv closed her eyes, as though thinking.
"Mm... now that you mention it... goblin subjugation... was incredibly easy. The boy told me... just cut... amazing."
"Every delver would absolutely want a Relic like that."
That was when the thought crossed my mind.
Could it be — Black Devourer's Megadia, back then?
She had not been joking. She had been dead serious about hiring Wof, wanting to make him her apprentice.
Which meant — had Megadia already known about Wof's Relic? She had known.
Seeing Through an Opponent's Relic
But that was a legendary-class Relic, and it should be lost by now.
"........"
"Come to think of it, Pakira. That reminded me of the boy."
"What boy?"
"The elixir boy."
"Ah, right. Him too."
Still no clues. But this one's a boy too.
Well, I don't think it's possible, but if they turned out to be the same person, that would not be funny.
No, that's impossible.
If it were, though...
"Hmm... that... well, the thing is..."
"What about it?"
I couldn't help but laugh.
"What is it?"
"Hmm... I'd forgotten. Wof... the boy. He's the one who smells like elixir..."
"Wh-what did you say?"
"Haa..."
Haa?