Chapter 19: Our Journey: Travelogue ⑫ – On the Water and Departure

The next day.

I gathered everyone in the observation room at the very back of the second floor and explained about the Sword Goddess’ daughter.

After consulting with the witch, I decided it was better for everyone to have the same understanding.

I also told them about my curse, leaving out the Knife Goddess.

When I finished, Bid spoke up.

“So… you’ve been using knives all the time?”

“Yes.”

“I thought it was just a hobby.”

“Haha. At first, I didn’t use it much because it didn’t suit me and was heavy, but somehow it turned into that.”

“I thought it was weird that you were so obsessed with knives, but if it’s a hobby, I won’t say anything.”

Hoss said it aloud.

“Yeah… that makes sense.”

I suppose it makes sense they thought it was a hobby.

“Still, the Sword Goddess’ daughter… she’s a mythical being. I couldn’t have believed it unless I faced her myself. It’s true she made Dukas worse?”

“Yes. But originally… he was a villain anyway.”

I felt bad for my old friend Hoss, but that part wasn’t wrong.

Hoss sighed.

“I know. Dukas was a little villain from the start. Trash, really. But… that there are three more of her in Heizen is terrifying.”

Right. There are three of the Sword Goddess’ daughters in Heizen. Or three swords? Three entities?

“…Hey, what about Torquetum?”

Mineha was worried about Pakira and the others who had gone ahead to Heizen.

I wasn’t sure if she had fully moved on, but it felt like Mineha was slowly returning to her usual self.

“Hm… indeed. If it’s them, it wouldn’t be surprising if they were ‘vessels’ too.”

I had thought the same. I didn’t want to, but it was my first thought. They could easily become vessels.

(Don’t worry. As long as Liv is there, the Sword Goddess’ daughters won’t come near.)

Huh? Liv?

(The Sword Goddess’ daughters fear and despise Liv. Even if they wanted Lupinus or Pakira as vessels, as long as Liv is there, they won’t approach.)

That’s a relief, but… why?

(…I don’t know.)

Absolutely a lie. I had been wondering about this for a long time. The Liv River, Liv Lake… is Liv somehow related?

(…Probably just a coincidence.)

Sounds fishy. What about that period? But yes, it is Liv. Well… there’s a lot about her, so maybe it’s best not to pry. As long as she’s safe, that’s fine.

Then we discussed precautions—though there wasn’t much we could do. Still, having even one way to destroy them was a small light.

“I intend to destroy all the Sword Goddess’ daughters in Heizen.”

“You’re serious?”

“…Wof.”

“…”

“Ah, I thought Wof would say that.”

“Yeah, Wof would say that.”

“Shaldina will help too.”

We can’t let another Dukas-level disaster grow unchecked. This is my selfish wish, so I plan to do it alone.

“Hey, Wof, trying to do it alone again, huh? That’s your bad habit. Kon and the others are here.”

“Well… but this is my selfish wish and dangerous—”

“Don’t be stubborn. We’ll help too.”

“I have a connection to Heizen, and I can’t leave Dukas-like things alone. I’ll help as much as I can!”

“Shaldina will cooperate as well.”

“And I…”

“….”

Mineha and Anna Kreutzen hesitated, as expected.

“Wof. Sorry.”

“…”

Both of them apologized.

“It’s not a forced participation, so don’t worry.”

“You shouldn’t overdo it.”

“I’ll stay calm.”

“Yes, yes. If necessary… you don’t have to go to Heizen.”

“I’m going.”

“…!”

“But—”

“There’s no option not to go.”

“…!!”

Both of them firmly rejected not going. Fine, then—nothing more to say.

After the discussion, we disbanded. I returned to my room to organize the luggage from the inn.

Even though it had been a while since I stayed here, for some reason, the room smelled nice.

A sweet floral scent? Honey? What is this smell?

It was strongest near the bed. Why?

“Hmm… maybe Shaldina spilled something while cleaning. Perfume, perhaps?”

Possible. But why perfume? Even Minos dolls are girls, so maybe.

Still, it smells natural… and familiar somehow.

There was a knock on the door.

“Come in.”

“Excuse me for intruding.”

It was Mineha.

“What’s the matter?”

“I have a request… no, a personal request for a Fifth-Class Explorer, Wof.”

“A request…?”

I wondered what it was. It wasn’t illegal to bypass the guild, but it was formal. She looked serious.

I gestured for her to sit on the bed. She refused when I offered a drink.

“Do you know about the Full Moon Bazaar in Heizen?”

“Yes, I’ve heard.”

“I want to get a new weapon there. Wof, I need your relic power to help me.”

“…Wheel of Fortune?”

“Yes. Ordinary weapons won’t beat them. I need a spear equal to or stronger than Demon Star Spear.”

So, a spear, after all.

Fairials almost always use spears. The only way they grow stronger is to increase their weapon cards.

Mineha’s mother, Ruriha, owns many spears, each equal to or stronger than Mineha’s Demon Star Spear.

I later learned that Fairials are naturally genius at handling weapons. Apparently, it’s a racial trait.

Even OOPARTs, no matter how strong or difficult, can be used easily. But outside weapon handling, they’re weak. That’s a Fairial.

“…Hmm.”

“Is it a problem?”

“No, I just can’t distinguish the rarity. I can only tell how rare it is, not the weapon type.”

If I could distinguish, I could help—but Wheel of Fortune only tells me rarity.

“I see…”

“Mineha… those guys…”

“The Sword Goddess’ daughters.”

Mineha intends to fight. Perhaps she must fight to overcome them.

“Alright. Let’s ask the witch.”

“The witch?”

“She might have a solution.”

When in doubt, rely on the witch. We headed to her workshop on the second floor and knocked.

“Oh my, come in.”

“Excuse us.”

“Come on in.”

“Oh my, what’s the matter?”

The witch was fiddling with a glowing sphere made by Haiyaan.

“What are you doing?”

“Just analyzing it for research.”

“From Haiyaan’s lab, right?”

“Yes. Trying to learn their techniques.”

“Any progress?”

“Some. Now, what do you want from Kon?”

She removed her hands from the sphere and turned to us, motioning us to sit.

“Actually—”

I explained after sitting down and relaxing slightly.

The witch responded simply:

“Hm, hm. So you want it to only respond to spears, right?”

“Yes, temporarily.”

“Do you have a method?”

Her fox ears perked up. She grinned mischievously.

“Of course, of course. There is a way.”

“There is!?”

“Yes. Since ancient times, there’s been a desire to control relic powers or limit them. Through long research, it’s not perfect, but it’s been achieved. For Kon, it becomes a control potion.”

“A potion?”

It was her specialty. But can a potion really control a relic?

“Yes, yes. With medicine, it only lasts a short time. If that’s fine, I can make it.”

“Wait… it won’t be free, right?”

“Oh.”

Ah, yes. Mineha’s comment reminded me—it won’t be free.

The witch laughed joyfully, as if she’d been waiting for this.

“Of course. Nothing’s free, but I’ll do it for free.”

“Eh!?”

“Really?”

“Well, occasionally.”

“If that’s okay with you, please.”

“I’ll ask too.”

“Yes, yes. First, we need to prepare the reagent. I’ll have it ready in two days.”

Finally, we had a plan.

Departure Day

The water-mode Skia Coffin Ele departed from the port town of Lees.

Our destination: the trading city of Heizen.

“I feel uneasy…”

“Is that so?”

On the balcony of the observation room, I gazed at the Liv River while muttering.

Next to me, Gymnema casually ate a sandwich: chicken, lettuce, cucumber, and orange sauce on white bread beans.

“We’ve got a lot going on—uncle’s hideout, the Sword Goddess’ daughter, and Mineha’s search for a new weapon.”

“That sounds troubling. The Sword Goddess’ daughter?”

She wasn’t present during the discussion.

“She’s the enemy.”

“I see. I have an enemy too—a grand one.”

“What kind of enemy?”

“Water.”

“…Because you can’t swim?”

“Yes.”

The fish-headed tuxedo monster munched his sandwich. I still wondered why he was here.