Chapter 79: The Old War Axe (1)

“…….”

At my proposal, Toric was at a loss for words for a moment.

“…How on earth did you know?”

Then he finally, slowly, released his grip on my collar.

“Did you perhaps meet my former comrades?”

“Something like that.”

Actually, you told me.

The future you.

Because the way the game intended for Toric to be recruited was a little different from now.

First, you meet the Kapers in Tiaria.

You hear from the Kapers about their old comrade and legendary warrior who is holed up in Haim Village.

You receive a ‘quest’ asking if you can help because they have news to deliver to him but are currently in a situation where they can't move themselves.

And you come to this village and temporarily accompany him to take him to Tiaria where his old comrades are waiting.

Then, after hearing the news from the Kapers── that Stras, whom he thought he had beheaded and killed, is still alive and is active as an executive of the Demon King's army, you head to the Demon King's Castle together to catch him.

This was the intended progression of the Toric recruitment quest.

“…Did they ask you? To get me out of here?”

Therefore, in the game, it was impossible to recruit Toric without meeting the Kapers first.

The ‘choice’ itself doesn't appear.

If you don't show him a letter from his old comrade, he won't move a single step from this village.

But, as I mentioned before, this village is far from Tiaria.

Even without going back and forth on such a long road, I was confident that I could make him a companion.

“I know why you're trying not to get involved with anyone.”

Because I, know Toric very well.

Perhaps even better than he knows himself.

Even his old comrades who give the ‘quest’ don't tell you in detail about Toric's past… about what Toric went through and how he ended up holed up in this village.

So naturally, not even how he felt wanting to be alone all this time.

“It's because you don't want to lose anyone ever again.”

“…!”

“You don't have to worry about that.”

Therefore, I, looking at Toric, raised the corners of my lips in a grin.

“Because we have no intention of dying before you die of old age.”

At these words, Toric's eyes widened.

“…You brat.”

Then, he soon let out a snort as if in disbelief.

“We can make a bet if you want.”

“…….”

At my nonchalant proposal, Toric let out a long breath through his nose.

Then he fell into deep thought.

It meant that the last blow── a decisive remark for [Persuasion]── was needed.

“I grew up listening to the heroic tales of the Kapers.”

Perhaps he had instinctively noticed this fact.

Perhaps that's why Miki, who had been quietly listening to the story, courageously took a step closer and said.

“If I could become a companion of a hero I have always admired, a companion of Sir Toric, it would be a truly great honor for me!”

However, Toric just showed a bitter smile.

“……Hero, you say.”

As if he had no right to be called that, he chewed on the word.

Even though the sincere words of an upright young man like Miki were surely pleasing, unfortunately, it was not the blow needed right now.

As I said before, I know Toric well.

He would surely think that if he joined our party, he would be in a position to take responsibility for us.

In terms of age and experience, and just because he was that kind of person.

He has a strong sense of responsibility.

In the first place, if he wasn't that kind of person, would he have joined a secret society of justice?

Moreover, he was a person who was born into a prestigious family and could have lived a life of luxury, but he threw all that away and took an oath to do good and protect justice without any reward.

He couldn't not be like that.

“I am…”

So, he is afraid.

That he will fail to fulfill his responsibility again.

“Toric.”

──In short, right now, it was better to just throw him a trivial reason rather than words that would instill such a sense of responsibility in him.

For example.

“There’s still a lot of liquor left in my bag that I brought from Stout.”

Like.

“Want to have a drink together?”

At that, Toric, who had been turning his head away to avoid Miki's expectant gaze, looked up at me again.

For him, in fact, it probably didn't matter what happened to the liquor now.

--

[Persuasion]

Success

--

“…Why are you suddenly speaking informally?”

“What’s the big deal. It’s better than being treated like a retired old man, isn’t it?”

“Ha.”

--

The warrior ‘Toric Silverhand’ officially joins the party.

--

“You really are an impertinent brat.”

* * *

“There's a place where I buried my axe.”

While we were having breakfast together at the campsite, Toric suddenly brought it up.

“It's the axe I used during my Kaper days.”

As soon as the words ‘Kaper days’ were mentioned, Miki, who had been taking a large bite of bread, quickly went to Toric and asked with sparkling eyes.

“W-What kind of axe is it?!”

“…It's just an ordinary axe. It's not the kind of thing you'd expect.”

Toric, who seemed slightly burdened by Miki's gaze, averted his eyes and continued.

“It's just that, it seems better to hold something familiar in my hands right now.”

The current Toric was in a position where he had to regain his rusted skills.

So, he must have thought that it would be faster to get used to what he was originally familiar with rather than getting a new axe and getting used to it.

Moreover.

“With an axe like that, you can only cut down trees.”

The only axe our party had now was the ‘hatchet’ he had pointed to, the one used for chopping firewood.

“Where did you bury it?”

“On the summit of this mountain.”

“What? No, why on earth would you bury it in a place like that?”

“…I didn't want to keep it too close. I wanted to forget about it quickly.”

“Then why didn't you just forget about it?”

“…That's what I'm saying.”

Ibi's reaction was one of disgust.

It hadn't been easy to climb up to the village, and the thought of having to climb to the top of the mountain was probably a nuisance.

“But the path isn't too rough. In fact, this is more of a hill than a mountain.”

“Hill, my ass. No, why do all the dwarves I meet, young or old, say things like this? Don't they know what a mountain is?”

“Do you elves, with your long legs, call something like this a mountain?”

“Is this old man crazy? And, I’m a half-elf.”

And it wasn't just climbing, but on the way, we would surely encounter ferocious monsters again.

Not only that, but when we reached the summit, there would undoubtedly be a ‘boss’.

But, even if it was a little troublesome, we had to go.

The 「Old Toric's War Axe」 was, in effect, the reward for the dungeon that was this mountain path.

Since he was the last companion to join, it could also be said to be a dedicated item for Toric, who couldn't bring his own items.

“So, I'd like to go up to the summit first, is that okay?”

In fact, Toric had just answered as if it were no big deal, saying it was just an axe he used to use, but he was wrong.

That axe── 「Toric's War Axe」── was indeed a ‘big deal’.

Because in the past, a master craftsman of the continent who was in a cooperative relationship with the Kapers had specially made it for him.

“Of course.”

In other words, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that it was the legendary weapon that Miki had been looking forward to with sparkling eyes.

Literally, it was a ‘legendary’ grade weapon.

“Of course we have to go find it.”

However, just like Toric's skills and body, it had rusted away and become the 「Old Toric's War Axe」, but the fact that it was a masterpiece of ‘unique’ grade remained unchanged.

And in the future, if he went to see the master craftsman who had made the axe again, it could be restored to its original ‘legendary’ grade.

“Thank you.”

“Instead, there's one condition.”

“…Huh? A condition?”

Perhaps he hadn't expected a condition, though he had expected a refusal, Toric asked with a slightly cautious expression.

“…What is it?”

At that, I first took a breath and paused, then said in a solemn voice.

“Give me a piggyback ride.”

“You need to exercise, you bastard.”

“Ah.”

Thwack.

Ibi's hand hit the back of my head.

But, I hate climbing…!

‘Legendary item’ or whatever!

Even before my body became like this (?), I didn't particularly like climbing!

“Just kill me instead!”

“Then die.”

Toric, who had been looking back and forth between me, who had started to whine, and Ibi, who was cursing as if she had seen something she shouldn't have, soon let out a deep sigh and muttered.

“…We’ll all be dead before we even cross the wall, these guys.”

That's why I brought you along.

So that we don't die before crossing the wall.

* * *

After that, what awaited us when we somehow reached the summit was, as expected, the ‘boss’ of this mountain.

“What's that now…?”

Seeing the boss's appearance, some of the companions were greatly flustered.

While climbing the mountain path, we had often encountered ferocious ‘animals’ like the 「Moon Hunt Bear」, but.

“……A flower?”

A ferocious ‘plant’, was a first.

「Man-eating Flower」.

As its name suggested, it was a flower that ate people.

While a few of the companions faltered for a moment in front of the strangely shaped flower they were seeing for the first time in their lives.

“It’s coming!”

Shwaaaak──!

The petals opened wide, and as if spring had come, pinkish 「pollen」 began to scatter in all directions.

“Don't breathe it in!”

I shouted this and quickly covered my mouth with my sleeve.

As soon as they heard my words, everyone either immediately covered their mouths and noses, or quickly moved to the side where the 「pollen」 was not being scattered, but.

“…Ah!”

Miki, who was wearing armor and holding a shield, couldn't.

Since his weight was heavy, he couldn't get out as quickly as Ibi, so he tried to cover his mouth and nose in a hurry, but it seemed to have gotten in through the gap between his gauntlet and his face.

In the end, Miki, who had been exposed to the 「pollen」, began to cough, and as he did, he ended up inhaling the 「pollen」 completely.

The 「pollen」 of the 「Man-eating Flower」 was a debuff skill with a random effect that caused one of several status ailments.

Among them, the representative status ailments were ‘confusion’, ‘charm’, ‘sleep’, and,

“U-Ugh──”

Seeing his eyes and head start to spin, it seemed that Miki had hit the ‘confusion’ jackpot.

So if left alone, Miki would soon attack us.

Well, that wouldn't happen though.

──Fwoosh!

First, the 「gale」 that Rine had created with her specialty, chantless casting, cleanly cleared away the scattered 「pollen」.

And as soon as she could open her mouth again.

『Wash me clean!』

Lily immediately shouted a prayer of 「purification」 towards Miki, who was in a state of ‘confusion’.

“──Hah!”

And Miki, who had come to his senses from the ‘confusion’.

──Swoosh!

Quickly ran to 「guard」 before the vines of the 「Man-eating Flower」, which were wriggling like tentacles and extending from all directions, could reach Rine.

Meanwhile, Ibi easily cut down the vines that had flown towards her at the same time.

At that moment.

“What──”

Shwaak!

A clear liquid splattered from the cross-section of the cut stem onto Ibi's body like blood.

“Ugh!? It’s sticky!”

Ibi, who was annoyed by that, then tried to jump up to get away from the liquid that had also gotten on the floor, but.

“──Oh”

Thud!

She ended up falling to the floor.

It was because she couldn't jump properly due to the 「sticky liquid」 she had just been hit with, and her feet had gotten tangled.

Because that liquid was also a type of debuff that slowed down the target── it greatly reduced ‘dexterity’ and gave a disadvantage to checks.

Seeing Ibi, who had ‘fallen’ because of it.

“…Huh?”

The 「Man-eating Flower」, as if it wouldn't miss its chance, quickly extended its vines and instantly wrapped them around Ibi's ankle.

“S-Sister Ibi!?”

Then, it lifted her high into the sky.

“W-Woaah──!?”

Ibi, who was dangling upside down, began to struggle, but the more she struggled, the tighter the vines squeezed her.

“Wh-What is this?!”

Towards Ibi, who had been ‘bound’ like that, several vines extended all at once again.

“H-Help the half-elf──!!”