This Relic has a [Transformation].
Or was it [Shapeshifting]?
This Relic can literally change your body.
But not freely. Only some Grade I scumbag could pull something like that off.
It's not that convenient. You only get one transformation, and afterward you're stark naked.
Plus, apparently, actually nailing the transformation is really tough when you're not used to it.
"That's it — you're the holder of the Relic [Shapeshifting]!"
"Nyaah."
"Huh? No?"
"Nyaah."
Not only is there zero reaction, it's hopped onto my shoulder and is stroking my head with its tail.
"Whoa, long tail."
Was it always that long?
"Nyaah."
It had beautiful blue eyes.
How can cat eyes be so captivating?
Pakira's eyes are cat-like too. So beautiful I can't help but stare.
Completely mesmerized.
I sigh. Looks like I was wrong.
"A-ah, g-good morning."
"Good morning."
Sensing someone had arrived, I looked up to see Anemos standing there.
Hmm. Short green hair. Clear, jade-colored eyes.
Pale skin and a refined, clean-cut face.
The more you looked, the more she seemed like a beautiful elf girl. And not just any elf — rare-territory beautiful.
A stunning beauty even among elves. But he's a man.
"Looks like it's still just us for now."
"Seems so."
"Meow."
"A cat? So this is..."
"Yes. It belongs to the successful candidate from entry number 50."
Pleased to meet you.
"Meow."
"...Th-thanks..."
The cat politely bows its head, then looks at me.
It seems like it wants to say something but doesn't know quite how to put it.
So I threw it a lifeline.
"Something on your mind?"
"Um, Wof, you're, well, the witch's apprentice, right..."
"That's right."
"A-and, the one at the reception was the First-Class... the Immortal Rose Princess..."
"That's right."
"T-the examiner-in-chief is called the First-Class 'Second Coming of Generous'... and that purple hair... she's the real deal... right?"
"That's right."
She's the real deal.
"That cat-tribe girl is Pakira from Torquetam, right..."
"That's right."
Anemos looked bewildered by my instant answers.
Even so, she sure knew a lot.
I couldn't tell whether she'd looked it all up later out of curiosity or had known from the start.
"O-oh, um, that dog..."
Looks like even she hadn't gotten that far.
"That dog is Ken no Ken."
He apparently wasn't trying to hide his identity, so I told her.
"......Huh?"
"Ken no Ken."
"The strongest of the First-Class...?"
"Yes. That's really true."
"......Um, the King of the Death Wind, Audition, that's his role, right........?"
"Well, they did say something about it being some kind of role, I think."
I didn't know what the specific role was, but apparently things would get troublesome if it didn't exist.
"Oh, good."
Anemos let out a sigh of relief for some reason.
And Ambrosius was completely ignored. Magnificently so.
"Meow."
A cat meowed, and looking in that direction, a large blue dog was trotting over.
On its back was a massive, heavy greatsword.
"...The Sword of Swords..."
Anemos swallowed hard.
Standing behind the dog was Pakira. She gave us a faint, wry smile upon seeing us.
"You lot. You're early."
"You too, Pakira."
"H-hello there."
"Meow."
"My, what's this? A cat? And it's yours?"
He was surprised by the cat. I mean, yeah, that'd catch anyone off guard.
And when the time came, Ambrosius finally showed himself.
He was blinking rapidly at the sight of the cat.
"Oh my, where are the chief examiner and the other successful candidate?"
"He's not here yet."
"That's a problem."
"I'll try reaching out."
"Go ahead."
I thought how convenient it was to be able to use "Calls" at times like this. But before I could, a call came in from the other side.
"Hello?"
"What's 'hello'?"
"Oh, it's nothing. Never mind."
"Anyway, is everyone gathered?"
"Everyone except Narcissus and Ryuzugyal."
"Then come into the dungeon. The two of us are waiting."
"Wait, what do you mean by—"
"You'll understand when you get here."
The call ended.
"So what was the reason for the delay?"
"Well, it sounds like they're already inside the dungeon."
"What did you say?"
"Sounds like Ryuzugyal is with them too."
But honestly, that was predictable.
After all, she was the will of this Wind Dungeon.
There was no point in waiting any longer.
We entered the dungeon as instructed.
The Wind Dungeon was located north of Hydrangea.
A peculiar valley where the wind never stopped blowing. The Corridor of Wind served as the entrance.
Pass through the corridor, and beyond that was the first floor of the Wind Dungeon.
The sight of blue sky with white clouds drifting by was so convincing you'd think you were still outside.
This place was called the Bird's Plateau.
In the distance, snow-capped mountains stretched in a chain, and at their peaks, temples could faintly be seen.
Below the Bird's Plateau, forests spread out, with grasslands too.
A few large lakes were visible as well.
This Wind Dungeon was the largest by area in the borderlands.
And yet, it only had a single basement floor.
Every bit of this visible field was the Wind Dungeon.
Right near the entrance, we found Narcissus and Ryuzugyal.
Narcissus had her arms crossed, looking smug as always.
"We've been waiting!"
"Huh? How are you already here?"
"What a silly question. We entered the day before, obviously."
"Seriously…"
"Narcissus. Did you actually stay overnight in the dungeon?"
"Stay overnight?"
"Yes, I stayed at the inn they recommended — 'At the Mercy of the Wind.'"
"...There are lodging facilities?"
I had no idea.
"There are villages too. Ranches as well."
Luz Gyar was quick to show off.
"It was quite comfortable."
Narcissus was somehow smug about it.
"I had no idea..."
"This is the first I've heard of it..."
Anemose and I muttered in unison.
Pakira added.
"Hydrangea has the largest area of any dungeon, y'see. Dangerous monsters lurk deeper inside, but food is plentiful too, so there are quite a few who live there."
"I'm going for a homey vibe."
Luz Gyar proudly showed off with a blank expression. What kind of dungeon is "homey" even supposed to be?
Back then I'd been mainly focused on archery practice, so I never actually explored anything.
And besides, I hadn't touched the bow since then either.
"Now then, let me explain the second trial. You hunt monsters using only a Wind Relic. The person who hunts the most monsters becomes the King of Wind's Death."
"Only a Wind Relic...?"
Anemose asked.
"That's right. If you use anything other than that, you're disqualified. Also, each person gets their own examiner, so no cheating!"
"That sounds interesting."
Ryzugiar said, expressionless and without a trace of emotion.
Hmm. I couldn't tell what she was really thinking. What was she after?
But this second trial seemed simple yet interesting, I thought.
Wind Relics weren't really my thing.
And I didn't have many good memories with them. Ironically, the reason was the King of Death's Wind itself.
"Wof, you're on Anemos duty."
"Y-yes."
"Pakira, you're cat."
"Mm, mm."
"Ken no Ken—"
"Wait a second. What about me?"
"Oh, right. Then Ken no Ken and Ambrosius go with Ryzugiar."
Ambrosius, who was completely overshadowed yet again this time.
And so we parted ways.
We moved from the plateau into the forest.
Because there seemed to be more monsters in the forest.
"Favorite food? Apples and fruit, I guess."
"Huh. I'm more of a meat person. I especially love the butter rice at Cider Hall."
"I go to Cider Hall a lot. It's cheap, delicious, and I'm fond of it."
Walking beside me, Pakira lets out a faint, bashful smile.
What is this. This overwhelming date vibe.
Chatting and strolling alongside Pakira feels exactly like a date.
What is it about this guy. Every reaction, every little gesture — it's all so girly.
And his build is slender and trim, and he looks soft, probably just as soft as a girl.
So you'd naturally think he's a girl.
"...You're a man, though, right, Pakira?"
"Oh— y-yes. I get told that a lot, but I am a man."
He recovered fast. He really must get that a lot, huh.
But even that helpless little smile of his is cute, and I don't know what to do about it.
"Sorry. You probably don't like being mistaken for a girl."
"Well, I am used to hearing it, and even looking at myself objectively... every time I see my face in a mirror, even though I know my body is male, I can't help but think of myself as a woman sometimes..."
Pakira lets out a dry laugh — ha ha ha — and speaks as though he's given up.
Faintly, the highlights in his eyes — not her, his — had gone out.
That sorrowful expression is so adorable too; I quietly tuck it away inside my heart.
He's self-aware, or rather, he understands it himself, which probably makes it even harder.
As the two of us walked through the forest, chatting away like that, something suddenly appeared.
A deer with three horns. A trihorn elk.
It was larger than a regular deer, and its center horn was especially sharp.
"Well then, Anemos. Do your best."
The thing looked pretty tough, but it wasn't that great a monster.
Probably mid-tier bronze rank at best.
"Okay. Here I go."
Anemos answered, sounding nervous.
I figured she'd play it safe — probably a wind cutter, the kind Pakira uses.
But while I was thinking that so carelessly, something red... flowed around Anemos.
"Hm?"
Something red spiraled around both of Anemos's arms and clung to them.
It was — wind.
It was definitely blowing.
"Red wind..."
I murmured without realizing it.
There was no mistaking it. That red wind.
The death wind that Hargan, the King of the Death Wind, had used.
Anemos.
She wasn't just a tomboy after all?