Chapter 26: Axe’s Worst Day ⓪

With the Great of Rounds tournament just around the corner, I’m scheduled to enter the venue the day after tomorrow.
My daily training is going perfectly.
Lately I’ve been increasing the number of 【Evil Eyes】 I control to raise the difficulty.

I’d just finished and was planning to relax today, when—

Ark Lab.

“The moment I saw it, I was so shocked I couldn’t say a word. The star-like spear Minéha unleashed—it was so dreamlike and overwhelming.”

Lupinus-san told us, enraptured.
Her cheeks were flushed; she looked like a maiden in love.

“So you’re saying you want something like that?”

“Yes, to sum it up, that’s exactly it.”

Seated firmly in his special chair, Haiyaan asked, and Lupinus-san answered clearly.
Even for rabbit-like Haiyaan it was a spacious, retro-stylish seat with a high round cushion and backrest, like something from an old café.
Combined with his lab coat, it was quite a sight.

Anyway, back to Lupinus-san.
It was rare for her to come alone to my house looking so intent.
But I understood. Torquetam is a good party with well-defined roles.

If there’s one weakness, it’s the main tank.
From my past-life memories, I recall—

A “main tank,” in other words, isn’t just about protecting allies.
Its essence is to be a decoy.

It draws all enemy attacks onto itself, creating openings and opportunities for allies.
That’s why it’s the shield, the sturdy one.

What Lupinus-san’s main tanking lacks is precisely that decoy element.
Without a way to focus all attacks on herself, she’s merely defending.

Against weak mobs, that was enough.
But not against large monsters or powerful foes.

If only she could become the decoy, take all attacks onto herself…

“That’s why I want offensive power too.”

“No, that’s wrong!”

I shouted without thinking.
Lupinus-san and Haiyaan looked surprised.
Her eyes narrowed.

“What do you mean?”

I explained what main tanks—main shields—really are.
Lupinus-san’s expression shifted, as if scales had fallen from her eyes, her hand at her mouth trembling slightly.

Haiyaan started operating a panel mid-conversation, probably searching the database.
When I finished, Lupinus-san’s eyes were sparkling, burning with heat.

“I… I’ll become the main tank! Wof-san’s words—they’re exactly the spirit of the House of Lord Denton! I was foolish to think of offensive power…”

“Well, there are things like battle tanks and guard-attackers too.”

Those are about hardening your body while attacking.
I think the witch called a certain First-Class Explorer a “human fortress”—a battle tank.
Come to think of it, “battle tank” just means “war tank” anyway.

“You’re very knowledgeable about main tanks.”

“Wof knows weird stuff sometimes.”

“As expected of the witch’s apprentice.”

“Hahaha… so Haiyaan, did you find something?”

“No OOPArts, but something close. Though this is a Legendary.”

“Ah, a decoy?”

“Decoy?”

“Instead of a person being the bait, an object is.”

“I see, that exists too?”

“Oh, and here’s another one—not an OOPArt, but tactically close. A plan for creating soldiers that use the same kind of provocation monsters do, but as a relic.”

“You mean 【Roar】 or 【War Cry】?”

That’s the standard provocation.

“No, 【Stomp】.”

“Ahh.”

“What’s that?”

“You stomp to make noise and provoke.”

“I see, that exists too.”

“Hmm. Yelling, stomping—the direction’s the same. Provoking and gathering by sound… hmm. The database doesn’t have any effective provocation-type relics. Alright. We’ll make one.”

I knew it would come to that.

“Make… a relic?”

“This much we can create. We’ll need materials though.”

That’s not normal, but if it can be made, fine.

“……”

Lupinus-san gave me a puzzled look.

All I could do was smile wryly.

“By the way, while looking at the database I found something interesting. We’ll also boost the defense of Lupinus-san’s shield. Otherwise, you might not withstand it.”

“Please do.”

“But for both, we’ll need materials. You’ll have to gather them yourself.”

“Of course. For the provocation type, I have a request.”

“What is it?”

“What?”

“Shouting. Please make it a roar. I’m confident in my voice.”

She smiled brightly.
At that unexpected request, Haiyaan and I looked at each other.

And then, thinking of shields, something came to mind—

“How about this for both of you?”

With my idea, the new shape of Lupinus-san’s shield was decided.
Haiyaan listed the necessary materials.

“Monster voice samples…”

“It’s for a roar-based provocation.”

“Well, yes, but…”

“We can get the ores, but what’s this?”

“That’s the core of the shield.”

“Blue-Green Crystal…?”

What the heck is that? Some kind of blue-green glowing power crystal?

“I don’t know it.”
“Nor do I.”
“Shall we ask the witch?”

No other choice.

“Please do. And about the monster voice samples, how should I handle that?”

“For that, I’ll now make a recording device.”

“I thought so.”

“Recording…?”

Haiyaan operated the panel, producing a square box.

We got instructions and tested it—recording Lupinus-san’s, mine, and Haiyaan’s voices.

Hearing her own voice played back, Lupinus-san kept saying “How embarrassing,” covering her flushed face with her hands, shaking her head. Cute.

We listened to mine and Haiyaan’s voices too, confirming it worked perfectly.
Still red to the tips of her ears, Lupinus-san thanked us and went home.

The monster roar samples would be collected by Torquetam.
If anything happened, they’d rely on me.

I was asked to check with the witch about the other material.
But real action would wait until after the Great of Rounds.
Pakira-san was also appointed as a Knight Attendant.

The day after tomorrow…

Our base, The Lightning Fangs, is set up in a ruined old inn.
It’s a small two-story place — the first floor used to be the entrance and dining area.

And right now, sitting at one of the dining tables, was an unusual guest.
Mineha. In her large form, she was seated in a chair.

“A letter, huh.”
“Yeah.”

Across from her sat our leader, Axe.

Both of them wore grim expressions — understandably so.
After all, they’d just received a sudden letter from someone who hadn’t contacted them in months.

From Axe’s mother — and Mineha’s mentor.

I’ve never met her myself, but I’ve heard the name: Emi, a Second-Class Explorer.

“So, what does the letter say?”
“She’s coming here.”
“She said she’s coming.”
“To Hydrangea?”

I sat down in an open seat.
Hoss was in the kitchen cooking.

“Seems that way, but it’s way too sudden, you know? That’s so like my master.”
“Yeah, really.”
“Agreed.”
“We’ve sent her tons of letters before, and she never replied.”
“Yeah…”
“Well, it’s just like her, I guess.”
“Yeah…”
“Hey, how long has it been since you last saw her?”

Mineha twirled the letter between her fingers.

“It’s been years for me.”
“That’s right. It’s been… a few months for me, I think.”
“If I remember right, Axe, your mother’s an elf, isn’t she?”
“Yeah, she’s an elf.”
“I don’t know much about her. What kind of person is she?”
“Let’s see… She looks sweet, really cute even. Her personality’s bold and strict at times, but she’s playful — and surprisingly timid.”
“Timid, huh? Yeah, I can see that. Well, I’ve kept my distance from her ever since I was pretty young, so you’d know more than me.”
“What was she like when you were little?”
“…I remember she used to cry sometimes. Looking back, she was probably thinking about my old man. Oh, and speaking of timid—”
“What about it?”
“You’re adding something?”
“Cowardly.”

Hmm. Axe continued.

“I don’t know anything about my old man. The only thing I know is that he was a faun, like me. And that he was an explorer.”
“My mother told me a bit. He was strong — and when he became a First-Class Explorer, your mom was promoted at the same time.”
“My old man was First-Class!?”
“You didn’t know?”
“No way.”
“I didn’t! First I’ve heard of it! She never told me a damn thing, that old hag—!”

Axe swore.
Normally, calling your own mother an old hag wouldn’t sit right with me, but this time I let it slide.
Even Mineha, who’d usually scold him for it, seemed to let it go.

“Well, my mother said they were a disgustingly lovey-dovey couple — sweet as sugar.”
“That’s something I didn’t need to hear.”
“She also said it was good you were in your mother’s belly at the time. Otherwise, she might’ve followed your dad to the afterlife.”
“Guess that means you were her reason to live, Axe.”
“…I got nothing to say to that.”

Axe sighed deeply.
Right then, Hoss brought out the food.

He placed the dishes on the table — Mineha’s plate was a mountain of fried rice topped with thick meat sauce.

I don’t know how she eats that much. Though to be fair, it’s nothing compared to my tenth sister.
She’s in the capital now — hopefully the city’s restaurant guild doesn’t go bankrupt feeding her.

“By the way, you’re serving as a Knight Attendant, right?”
“Yeah, that. Honestly, I don’t understand a damn thing about it. But I do understand that Wof’s as much of a mess as ever.”
“Agreed. I really wonder what that guy’s been doing.”
“Well, that’s Wof for you.”
“No argument there.”

Hmm. This mixed-meat pasta is pretty good.

“So Mineha, your mother’s the ‘Fairy Empress,’ right?”
“That’s right.”
“It’s been a while since you’ve seen her too, hasn’t it?”
“Now that you mention it, yeah. But we exchange letters, so I don’t really feel distant from her. More importantly, Axe — you really don’t remember?”
“Nope. Who the hell’s Ens?”
“The family name was Hylant.”
“Nobles?”
“Definitely nobles.”

Axe paused mid-bite of his butter rice, frowning.

“…That name Hylant… sounds familiar somehow.”
“So you have heard it before.”
“Yeah, but I can’t place it. There’s nothing about it in the letter either.”
“Still, if your mother’s coming here in person, it might be related.”
“Yeah, I get that feeling too. I’ll ask her when I see her — that’s today, right?”
“Seems so.”
“Today, huh?”
“That’s sudden.”
“Tell me about it.”
“The letter only arrived this morning.”
“Well… can’t argue with that.”

I’m no expert on postal matters,
but given the state of the world, unstable borders, and travel distances, delays are to be expected.

These days, explorers handle mail delivery as part of their commissions.
Personally, I think they should just establish a dedicated postal organization — though I’m sure there’d be plenty of challenges.

The Explorer’s Guild, apparently, has its own postal and communication network using teleportation circles.
In terms of efficiency, nothing beats it.
But since teleportation circles are so rare, they can’t be widely used.

“The meeting place is the Hydrangea Grand Hall.”
“That’s the big theater in Hydrangea’s central district, right? You’ve seen it — looks like an arena.”
“Oh yeah, that one.”
“Pretty sure the Great of Rounds is held there too.”
“Huh. Well, guess I’ll go see my old lady then.”
“Yeah.”
“Be careful, alright?”
“Bring back some good stories.”

Axe gave us a strange look.

“Uh, you two are coming too, you know. The letter said she wants to meet The Lightning Fangs.”
“You could’ve said that earlier.”
“No kidding.”

Hoss and I just laughed awkwardly.