I couldn't help but sigh.
"You should have remembered sooner."
"...Sorry."
"So that's what you call a boy?"
Pakira closed her book and asked.
"...Mm. A boy... not even an adult..."
"That boy smelled of elixir?"
"...Yeah."
"Hmm."
I turned to Pakira, who was sitting in the seat next to me.
"Pakira. What do you think?"
"That's right. Riv, by the way, what kind of boy was he?"
"Mm... he felt... strange."
"What about his hair color or clothing?"
"Did you hear his name?"
"Mm... I don't remember... I didn't ask."
Riv shook her head slightly.
This was quite the predicament.
First of all, what did "smelled of elixir" even mean?
Was what Riv said accurate?
As for these questions — I can say with confidence.
Riv was right. If she said it, then it was the truth.
It was true that Riv's words and actions were always strange. But her skill with the sword and her unique senses were absolutely trustworthy.
I have an eye for people.
"But we might have figured out what that boy is."
"What do you mean?"
"...Hmm?"
"That boy who smells of elixir is a hireling."
"A hireling? You mean those delvers' useful little slaves?"
Honestly, it makes me sick.
Hirelings. Treating children who haven't even come of age like tools.
"...Slaves..."
"Lupinus, that sounds terrible. There are problems with it, but originally it was more like a master-disciple relationship or a knight and their retainer."
"Oh, but nowadays they're just legal slaves."
"Mm... a boy as a slave..."
"Lupinus! See? You've gone and worried Riv."
"Even if you say that..."
Riv started trembling strangely.
"Riv. I do not think that boy was being treated as a slave."
"...He wasn't?"
"Is that so?"
"I think he was a hireling in the old-fashioned sense — more like a master-disciple or knight-and-retainer arrangement. The proof is the smell of elixir. Elixirs are legendary. They're not something you just come by. They're incredibly valuable. If he smelled of it, that means the boy was present when one was used — meaning he must have witnessed it. If he were being treated as a slave, they wouldn't allow him to see a precious elixir being used. Besides, what Lupinus means by 'slave treatment' is skimming profits from the Junkyard or snatching treasures. They wouldn't be acting together like that."
"...In other words...?"
"The boy isn't a slave."
"Exactly."
"Mm... th-that's good..."
Riv looked relieved. Still, though.
"Pakira, you got awfully worked up. That's not like you."
"...I was a hireling myself, once."
"Oh, is that so?"
"In a master-disciple relationship. I was taught all sorts of important things."
So that's why she'd gotten worked up.
A master-disciple relationship. The surprising past of a genius attribute Relic user.
"Anyway, let's start by looking for that boy."
"Mm... the boy... find him... what will Lupinus do...?"
"A reward is only natural, right?"
"...Yeah. He saved my life..."
"That's part of it, but there's something else I'm curious about."
"Mm... what..."
"Hmm."
"His reason for helping us. That's what I really want to know!"
Even if he meant well, the reason he'd use a precious elixir to help us — I absolutely had to know.
"But if we're going to look for him, it'll be quite the challenge."
"It will indeed."
"...Riv... do you remember where you met the boy?"
"Where was it?"
"Mm... an antique shop... Arifa's place. I was looking for a knife..."
"Oh, at Arifa's shop?"
"Well, maybe Arifa knows something."
Arifa is a seasoned Class III adventurer. She's our senior.
She helped us quite a bit when we were just starting out.
"Then it's settled."
"Yes."
"...Mm."
"Come to think of it — this is a separate matter, but Lupinus. The Doom Sword is in this city."
"Oh, the Doom Sword? That Class II one?"
"There's only one of them, surely."
"...The Doom Sword... wielder of the Relic [Doom]..."
"And a Class II delver."
"By the rumor, he's quite the Fawn-like man."
"His name was — Agaro, I believe."
"Mm... Agaro..."
I've never met him, but I wonder if we might.
There's a river not far from Hydrangea. The Little Leve River.
It's a tributary of the Middle Leve River, which is itself a tributary of the Great Leve River.
Along the banks of the Little Leve, there are several rocks with a good view.
A perfect fishing spot.
"...I wonder what kind of structure a reel has."
I muttered, then pulled the rod back, flicked it, and let the line dangle over the water's surface.
By "rod" I mean just a stick with a line tied to the tip.
I have memories of making these from bamboo, but there are no bamboo groves around here.
However, this wooden rod is made from branches of the bion tree, which bends just as well as bamboo.
The line is tied to the tip, and the fishing hooks are made from animal or monster bones.
The bait is just whatever bugs are around.
There are plenty.
"It probably rotates the inside when you wind it..."
Nope. No idea.
Fishing itself was something I started out of necessity in this world.
I had experience with it in my past life, but it was never a hobby.
So there was no way I'd know the structure of a reel.
But without a reel, it's extremely inconvenient.
Even when a fish bites, I can only play the line or jerk the rod.
I can't wind the line to reel it in.
I have to play it and pull in one swift motion at just the right moment, or I won't catch anything.
And most of the time, I fail.
At worst, the rod snaps.
"...A reel. If only someone would invent one."
Putting my hopes on others.
I'm just an ordinary reincarnator with no particular hobbies.
My hands are reasonably dexterous, but there's no Relic for that either.
In other words, making my own reel is out of the question.
Also, the fish aren't coming at all. Why is that?
Well, it's not like I always catch anything anyway.
"Oh, you're at it."
A voice came from behind me — someone had arrived.
Red hair. Emerald-green eyes. Stubble.
A bottle of liquor in hand... flushed cheeks, with a black metal eye-patch over his right eye.
Tall and muscular. Between the gaps in his hair, I could see black horns.
He was a Fawn. A sword hung at his hip.
"..."
"Whoa, I'm not suspicious or anything. The name's Agaro."
"Nice to meet you... I'm Wof."
I gave a small bow.