I probably remembered that because of some complex.
Was it because I was closer to my current age back then?
"...I'm still me, in the end."
I'd somehow come to realize it.
Even after reincarnating in this world and living as Wof, nothing had changed from my past life.
That was just who I was.
I scoffed at myself.
"Well, it's not like I want to change."
"Wof?"
Someone called out to me.
I turned around casually, and my heart skipped a beat.
Light green hair with white streaks woven through.
Cat ears poking out from between the strands.
One eye hidden behind her hair, a straw hat hooked backward on her head.
Two white tails of different lengths.
Pakira—the beautiful cat-beastkin.
That much I knew. I knew it all too well.
"..."
"Wof? What's the matter?"
"Ah, no, well, you just startled me a little."
"Hmm?"
She was wearing a pure white dress.
I was surprised, sure enough.
But that wasn't it. The real reason — the one that made my heart skip.
Pakira's figure had faintly overlapped with her from that summer.
"………………"
They were nothing alike... was it just the white dress?
It had to be.
Same outfit — that's all it was.
Right.
That's all. I was just thrown off.
"What's gotten into you? You've been odd for a while now."
"Ah, um, it's just that you look different than usual."
"I do wear things like this, you know. Is it so strange...?"
Pakira seemed a little embarrassed.
"It suits you. Really, really well."
"……I-Is that so."
She blushed and looked down.
"……"
"……"
Something felt off between us. A strange, awkward kind of off.
"By the way, were you out shopping or something...?"
She'd felt it too, huh.
Pakira's voice was strained.
"Y-Yes. What were you doing, Pakira?"
"Just taking a walk."
"By yourself?"
"Mm. Sometimes you just feel like that, you know. What about you?"
"Is that okay?"
"That's just the mood I'm in."
She started walking. I had no reason to refuse, so I fell in beside her.
After a short walk, we reached the ruins of a watchtower overlooking the town.
There were only scattered remnants of the tower, but the view was wonderful.
Pakira gazed out, squinting against the light.
"Did something happen?"
I realized I'd pried a bit too much after I said it.
Pakira's cat ears flicked in the breeze.
"Well, I suppose. It wasn't unrelated to you either. Do you remember when you accompanied us on the anomaly subjugation?"
"The one involving Megadia?"
"Indeed. It was decided that I would accompany them, with departure set for early morning three days from now."
Early morning three days from now, huh.
"So you're really going?"
"Aye."
Please be careful.
He almost said it — that tired old line — but held back.
"Actually, I'm going to the dungeon too."
"What did you say?"
The look in her eyes changed.
"Three days later. As a pack-carrying errand boy."
"Oh my. A hired hand, then?"
"No, not hired — someone I know asked me to."
"Hmm. So you're going to the dungeon as well. Which party?"
"Thunder Fang. Have you heard of them?"
"A capable Fourth-Rank party, that they are. And famous for not having a Relic holder."
"...Famous, huh."
"Their skill is no question. But delvers aren't exactly a gathering of saints. There are all sorts who like to run their mouths or stick their noses where they don't belong. Nasty business."
"Bullying?"
"—But being able to handle that sort of thing is a skill in its own right."
"They're really that good?"
"A fine example of what a delver should be."
"A fine example..."
For Pakira-san to say that much about them — Axe and the others really are something.
I'll just turn a blind eye to the downside of that.
"You'll be able to pick up what you need as a delver, won't you?"
Pick up what I need. That means...
"You mean I can learn?"
"You are going to become a delver, aren't you, Wof?"
"Yes."
"Dungeon exploration — it's not an easy thing. Wof, what do you think is a delver's greatest enemy?"
"Monsters?"
"The environment. Of course, monsters are a threat too. But inside a dungeon, anything can happen. And you can only carry so much with you. Food especially."
"Food?"
"Most delvers prioritize lightweight preserved food for that reason. But preserved food is limited, and the thinking is just 'fill your belly and call it good'... salted dried meat, thick fatty cheese, hard black bread, dried fish. That sort of thing. Flavor comes second."
"...That really kills the motivation, doesn't it?"
"Exploration becomes a real slog. There's the sleeping arrangements too — tents, campcraft. It's obvious how much environment affects a delver's drive. Thunder Fang has the basics down; they'll teach you properly."
"I see... Learning. I'd never really thought about it that way."
It was a real eye-opener — the idea that there was another approach like that.
Pakira-san let out a thoughtful "hmm" and continued.
"That's right. There are very few who'd be willing to teach. Delvers — like I said earlier — aren't saints. They're a selfish bunch, neither kind nor gentle. Most don't even think about it that way."
"…Yes."
"Just look at how you treat hired help, and you'll understand."
"…That's true."
I remembered what had happened in the city.
I'd been treated practically like a slave.
"So I think this is a rare and valuable opportunity."
"Th-thank you very much."
"Hm? I haven't done anything worthy of thanks."
Pakira tilted her head in puzzlement.
"The truth is, when it came to this commission, I wasn't exactly enthusiastic about it. It just ended up that way, and since I don't really want to deal with people — honestly, I dreaded it."
There was also the matter of having felt my own weakness.
Was it okay for someone like me to be doing this?
"…Hm."
"Until I met Pakira-san, I figured all I had to do was what needed doing. That's all I was thinking about. But talking with Pakira-san — learning from her — that way of thinking made things a little easier for me. That's why I wanted to say thank you."
After saying it, I felt like I might have spilled more than I intended.
I felt a little embarrassed. Pakira looked up at the sky.
"Back in the old days, I used to be hired help myself."
"Pakira-san did?"
"Hired help, yes, but really I was more of an apprentice. I learned everything I could from a delver I could call a proper mentor. That all sank in and became part of me — and that's who I am today."
Pakira looked at me.
"That's how you developed the idea of learning, isn't it?"
"Mhm. Wof, you should go learn as well. It will surely benefit you."
Pakira smiled.
That smile overlapped with her smile from that summer.
And somehow… somehow I felt lighter.
I didn't know what exactly was lighter, but I was lighter.
"…Pakira."
"Yes?"
"…Are you hungry?"
"Hmm. Now that you mention it, I am, aren't I."
Pakira's cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
"If so, why don't I make us something to eat at my place right now?"
Pakira's eyes went wide, like a cat.