Chapter 29: Axe’s Worst Day (3)
Explorer’s Guild – Training Grounds, Arena #19.
Axe dashed forward in a blur, leaping high as he swung his greatsword down at the blue dog with a blade strapped to its back.
Unlike the first and second bouts, there wasn’t even a hint of hesitation in this strike.
“Zeeaaahhhhhh!!!”
“…”
The blue dog lifted its wooden practice sword with its mouth — no motion, no stance — and cleanly blocked the blow.
“Guhhh!”
It was a bizarre sight.
The blue dog sat neatly on its haunches, lightly biting down on its wooden sword, and yet it easily deflected Axe’s attack.
Axe quickly broke away, then rushed in again, unleashing a fierce assault.
“Zeeh! Tah! Teyah! Tittittiyaaah!!”
He swung from every direction — up, down, left, right — a whirlwind of heavy, savage strikes.
But every single one of them was parried by the blue dog’s simple mouth-held sword.
And the dog hadn’t even taken a single step since the start — still calmly sitting there.
“…”
The blue dog gave its sword a tiny flick.
Axe was sent flying like a ragdoll — not falling, but staggering backward.
“Haah… haah… what is this damn dog!?”
“Good question.”
“Yeah, what is it, really.”
“…”
I watched the mock battle, then glanced over at Emi, seated behind us.
She rubbed her belly quietly, eyes fixed on Axe.
For the record, Axe and the others had drunk a special anti-intoxication elixir, so they were completely sober now.
Still, Emi looked pretty shocked.
Axe tried again, slamming down a brute-force strike.
The blue dog deflected it with insulting ease.
It wasn’t even a match.
That dog… I knew it. It was the one Celeste had been looking for — her master’s apprentice’s dog.
Her master was the First-Class Explorer known as “The Sword of Swords.”
So of course this dog had to be connected somehow. It even carried a greatsword on its back.
But… how did we even end up like this again?
Oh, right. Because things were getting too tense downstairs, we’d rented the VIP room on the second floor.
That’s when everything started.
VIP Room
Across the table sat Axe and his mother, Emi.
“This is a very nice room.”
“…Yeah, it’s a VIP room. First time I’ve ever been in one.”
“Axe, are you sure we should be here?”
“Feels kind of awkward, honestly.”
“Same.”
“…Sorry. Please, stay.”
“I’m sorry to trouble you.”
Emi apologized softly, and we nodded.
We understood — being alone with her son after all this time would’ve made the silence unbearable.
There were two table sets in the room — left and right.
Axe and Emmy sat to the right; we took the left.
Once we’d all ordered drinks (non-alcoholic this time), the introductions began.
“Come to think of it, I never introduced myself. I’m Emi Hylant, Axe’s mother.”
“Rell Tasan.”
“Hoss.”
“I’m Wof.”
“Rell and Hoss, you’re both from Thunderfang, right?”
“‘Rell’ and ‘Hoss’—uh, yeah, that’s right.”
“Yeah.”
“And you, Wof?”
“I’m… just Axe’s friend.”
“Oh, I see. Nice to meet you.”
After that, Axe got straight to the point.
“So, the reason our letters went unanswered… was because we sent them to the house?”
“Yes. I’m sorry. I couldn’t go back.”
“Even so — you could’ve written at least once. About the pregnancy, about Dad… something. If you’d sent even one letter, Mineha and I wouldn’t have reacted the way we did.”
Everyone silently agreed.
If even one letter had reached them, things wouldn’t have gotten so twisted.
“I’m sorry. I really couldn’t.”
Emi bowed her head.
“Mom… I want to know why.”
“I can tell you now that it’s over — it was because of a confidentiality clause.”
“…Confidentiality… clause?”
Axe frowned deeply.
That was the last thing any of us expected to hear in this world.
A confidentiality agreement — a contract preventing the release of sensitive information.
“I’m truly sorry for keeping everything about your father to myself. That was my selfishness.”
“Y-yeah… I never knew a thing about him. What happened to Dad?”
“Ens became a First-Class Explorer, and shortly after that, he received a direct commission from the royal family. An expedition to a high-difficulty dungeon known as The End of Snow.”
“That’s where he went missing, right? Wait—royal family?”
“Yes. But that matter is already over.”
She clearly didn’t intend to elaborate.
Axe gestured for her to continue.
“I couldn’t let go. Every year, I went there under the pretense of visiting his grave — to explore that dungeon myself.”
“You were doing that all this time?”
“For fifteen years. And finally, I found him. Ens, and his comrades, frozen solid at the very bottom.”
They were all frozen?
“And you thawed them out?”
“No. It wasn’t that simple. That ice wasn’t ordinary — it was cursed frost, a legendary type of magic ice. I didn’t even know if Ens and the others were still alive inside. But I couldn’t leave them like that. I searched for a way to thaw them. But even for a Second-Class Explorer, there’s only so much one person can do. So I turned to the witch, who introduced me to Count Steeland’s family.”
“Steeland!?”
I couldn’t help blurting it out.
Everyone turned to look at me.
“What’s wrong?”
“Something up?”
“S-sorry. That name just caught me off guard.”
The Steeland noble family.
Their third son once led a notorious clan called Dragon Fang Row.
They were stripped of their title after we discovered some incriminating records in their vault.
A thoroughly corrupt noble house — and the witch introduced them?
I’d heard that name from Munieka before.
“Anyway,”
Emi continued.
“I made a few agreements with them and received funding and information from Steeland — but in return, I was bound by that confidentiality clause. I couldn’t speak or write about anything related to the cursed frost, Ens, or my pregnancy.”
“So that’s what it was.”
“What happened after that?”
“Through that information, I finally obtained a legendary artifact capable of melting the cursed frost. I thawed them out — Ens and his comrades. I’d nearly given up, but… they were alive. After more than twenty years asleep inside that ice.”
“Frozen for twenty years… hard to believe.”
“But it’s true, huh.”
“Yeah. Ens is here now — living proof.”
Axe-san muttered to himself.
From my memories of my previous life, the word “cold sleep” came to mind — a state of suspended animation achieved through freezing, allowing someone to cross an almost eternal stretch of time.
But in reality, that process comes with countless challenges. You can’t just freeze someone and expect it to work.
What they called “magic freezing” was clearly a perfect version of cold sleep.
“After that, it took a while to run tests and confirm that they really were Ens and his group. You can never be too sure with cases like that — they could have turned into something else entirely, even monsters…”
“Yeah, that makes sense.”
“Those days after reuniting with him felt like a dream. I thought I’d never see the man I loved again, but suddenly, I was living by his side every day… But then, it all happened so suddenly. The Steeland, who had helped with the thawing, betrayed us. We didn’t know what was happening — they imprisoned us in their base. One of our revived comrades was taken hostage, so even when we wanted to resist, there was nothing we could do. Still, we didn’t give up. Then, just a few weeks ago, the Explorers’ Knight Order attacked their base. We don’t know who hired them — well, I have a pretty good idea — and we were rescued, finally free again. After getting the weakened survivors hospitalized, I went home, read your letter, and immediately took a carriage to Hydrangea. I was in such a hurry that I arrived before any reply could reach you. I’m sorry — that’s why I couldn’t explain everything sooner.”
“…I see. So, Mom, you didn’t have to be hospitalized yourself? You’re okay?”
“Yes. Since I was pregnant, even in captivity they treated me fairly well. But thank you for worrying about me.”
“I see. Then… that’s good. I get now why you couldn’t send a letter. You really went through a lot.”
“Yes… I’m glad I could finally tell you properly.”
Emi-san exhaled in relief and sipped her drink.
I bowed my head slightly.
“Um… I’m sorry about what the witch did.”
“Why are you apologizing?”
Emi blinked at me.
“I, uh… forgot to mention it earlier. I’m the witch’s apprentice.”
“Oh, that’s right. The witch’s apprentice — Wof, wasn’t it? You mean that Wof?”
“That Wof.”
“The same Wof.”
“Yup, that Wof.”
“Y-yes.”
Yep. That Wof.
“I deeply apologize for all the trouble my master caused.”
When I bowed again, Emi chuckled softly.
“Don’t worry. It’s true that it was the witch who introduced me to them, but she was deceived too.”
“Deceived? Why would the witch ever deal with people like that?”
Well… she’s a witch.
Dealing with shady types isn’t exactly unusual. But stepping on an obvious landmine like that? That’s not her style.
“She had a perfectly normal business relationship with them — just another client. She knew they were shady, but she didn’t think they’d ever harm me, who she introduced to them. I’m sure you already know — your master wouldn’t stay fooled for long.”
“She settled the score then, didn’t she?”
“Oh, I’m sure she did.”
Yeah, if it’s the witch, she’d definitely do that.
Actually… wait, could she have been the one who hired the knights?
“Well, it’s the witch, after all.”
“Sorry, Wof, but if she got hit, she’d pay it back a hundredfold.”
“She really would.”
“She’s the witch, through and through.”
“Their estate was destroyed, but that probably doesn’t matter to her. Actually, it might’ve been her who had it destroyed. She’s totally capable of that.”
Uh, yeah… about that — the one who destroyed it was Leold.
But that was mostly my fault.
Still, they deserved it, so I’ve got no regrets.
“As expected of the witch.”
“As expected indeed.”
“Yes… the witch.”
Everyone nodded in quiet agreement.
Right then, our food and drinks arrived.
We ate, drank, and when Axe finished his enormous mug, he spoke quietly.
“Mom… about Ens. Why did he do all that?”
“You mean the exhibition match? He said he just couldn’t bring himself to treat you like a son. He knows full well you’re his child, but…”
“Well, that’s… understandable.”
“Especially when your son’s older than you.”
“It’s kind of impossible to act like parent and child, huh.”
Yeah, that’s only natural.
That situation’s bizarre no matter how you look at it.
“You’re right. I can’t really say anything about that myself.”
“Yeah… that’s fine. I can’t think of him as my dad either. Having a younger biological father just makes no damn sense.”
Right, even hearing it, it sounds absurd.
Emmy smiled wryly, holding a glass — sweet nectar water, if I remembered right.
“Still, he’s been trying, in his own way, to get closer to you.”
“Yeah, well… I don’t like it, it’s complicated, but it’s not like I want to fight him.”
“He’s just… clumsy about it.”
So that clumsiness took the form of an exhibition match, huh.
“What kind of clumsy are we talking about?”
“The seventh sister kind — completely hopeless.”
“And if you want to land a hit on him, I’ll be honest — at this rate, you won’t touch him even once.”
“I know. He’s First Rank now. But Mom, you’re… fine with me hitting him?”
“If it weren’t you, I’d stop it.”
Well… yeah.
It really is just a parent-child fight, when you get down to it.
“…I see.”
“That’s why I’ll be your sparring partner.”
“…There’s no way I can fight you, Mom!”
“Oh? And why not?”
“Because—you’re pregnant!”
“Oh, that’s fine. I’m already in my stable period. As long as I don’t move too violently, it’s perfectly safe.”
“Is that really the issue here?”
“I don’t think that’s the issue at all.”
“Yeah, that’s definitely not the issue.”
“Emi-san… I really think you shouldn’t do that.”
I said instinctively.
Emi blinked at me, looking puzzled.
“It’s fine, really. Something that light won’t count as strenuous exercise. A little mock battle’s nothing serious.”
“A mock battle isn’t light exercise!”
“Definitely not light.”
“Absolutely not!”
“Mom… please, I’m begging you—don’t do this…”
Axe pleaded desperately. Emi gave a wry smile and nodded.
“Well, if you’re that against it, fine. Let’s see… what should we do then? Ah, I know! There was someone I know downstairs—I’ll go ask them.”
And with that, Emi left the VIP room.
We were left speechless, staring after her. Axe sighed deeply and muttered:
“Sorry… my mom’s causing trouble again.”
“I can tell you love her but don’t know how to deal with her.”
“It’s not really trouble, but yeah… she’s a handful.”
“She’s an energetic mother, huh.”
“…She’s three hundred forty this year.”
Axe added flatly.
“Three hundred forty!?”
“She’s still considered young for an elf.”
“Yeah, still in the prime of life.”
Rell, another elf who wasn’t even a hundred yet, nodded knowingly. Considering elves lived for a thousand years, she really was still young.
“Still… it’s rough seeing your mom acting all giddy like that.”
“Ah, yeah, that makes sense.”
“I get it.”
“But she’s cute though.”
“Her looks, sure. But the fact that you can still say that about my mom, Wof, is what’s amazing.”
“Eh?”
“Sorry to keep you waiting. I got permission.”
Emi said as she returned—
and standing beside her was a blue dog, carrying a massive greatsword on its back.
The look on Axe’s face at that moment… I don’t think I’ll forget it for three days.
Axe spun half a turn through the air and went flying.
The blue dog had simply jabbed at the flat of Axe’s blade—just a tap—and yet the force behind it was monstrous.
“He’s not even putting up a fight, huh.”
“What the hell is that dog?”
“I… don’t know.”
Its strength was unbelievable.
Comparable to Alweld—no, maybe stronger. Impossible, right?
“Well, it can’t be helped.”
Emi said casually.
“The opponent is who she is, after all.”
Her words made me finally voice a suspicion I’d had for a while.
“Could it be… that dog is—”
“Lucky you,”
Emmy interrupted.
“You get to be trained by the Sword of Swords. Isn’t that great, Axe?”
“…”
“…”
“…”
Everyone fell silent.
Ah. Yeah. I knew it.
So that’s the “Sword of Swords.”
Or maybe… “Sword Dog”?
“Hey there, looks like you’re training hard.”
A man suddenly appeared beside me, and I gasped—
his face resembled Axe’s almost exactly.
I immediately understood.
“Are you… Ens?”
“Yeah. Ens Hylant. So that’s the Sword of Swords, huh? Looks like Axe’s found himself a fine training partner.”
“Oh my, dear.”
Emi said softly, smiling and waving to him.
Ens smiled back.
“Hey, Emi. Take care of Axe for me, will you? As for me, I’ve got something to do with Wof here. You’re Wof, right?”
“Yes.”
“The witch asked me to see you. Mind coming with me to the next training hall?”
“Uh—y-yes, of course.”
The witch asked him?
Still confused, I followed quietly.
Behind me, Axe was spinning in the air, doing what looked like a triple corkscrew.
Amazing.