Volume 3 Chapter 6

Volume 3 Chapter 6: Overlapping chance meetings

Translator: “Pink Tea” Editor: ”Ryunakama”

「This feeling, what a nostalgic sensation, my dear friend!」

With a sparkling jewel on her chest, Daisy rubbed that small body of hers on my cheek, to which I couldn’t help but smile. Since something similar happened at Sylvestre as well.

「You look lively, Daisy.」

「I met my close friend after all. Of course, I’d be lively! And there we have, Saki and Beze, right?」

It looks like she noticed the two that accompanied me.

And of course, Saki and Berzelia also were familiar with this carbuncle, so all of them looked this way without the slightest bit of surprise.

「This metal beast was one of your best techniques. So I thought that it might be you, Cosmos. So you were in this City.」

「Long time no see, Hero of Training.」

「Yup, yup. I missed both of you.」

With fond gazes Saki and Berzelia greeted Daisy. In turn, Daisy raised one of her front paws and returned the greetings.

Ah, in the past it was pretty much like this as well—

「Ehm, Axel-san, everyone? Sorry to interrupt you, but this person, that appeared from the iron beast… Is it the Hero of Training?」

Cecile asked with a mix of surprise, doubt and slight excitement showing on her face as she peeked our way.

From their reaction, they might have seen the Hero of Training before, but from their point of view this development was quite sudden, so it was a reasonable response.

……I feel like every time I meet one of my old friends I end up explaining the backstory to the people around.

With those thoughts, I slightly twisted and looked at Daisy on my shoulder.

「Just as you said, this hero is one of the battle companions from my days as a hero,『Hero of Training』Daisy. Perhaps you are more familiar with this form of hers than her armored one.」

「Y-yes, I knew that there is a carbuncle hero, and I saw one earlier. How should I put it? I was surprised that she is in this city…」

「Yeah, when we were here, the hero of training wasn’t around……」

Cecile and George stared in amazement.

「Fumu… My friend, who are those kids?」

Daisy asked me after looking at the two.

Her legs tensed, it appears she is somewhat on guard toward them.

……Daisy is a carbuncle after all.

Carbuncles have magic stones filled with powerful magic embedded in their bodies. They are often targeted by magic beasts for food or to be used as a tribute for more powerful species.

As a result, they grow wary of strangers or humans.

For Daisy, it’s her first time meeting them.

As a result, this reaction was inevitable.

Then I just have to give a brief explanation. Thinking so I look at the siblings.

「They are skilled adventurers and clients for my current request as a carrier. They are originally from this city, their home is somewhere in this area, so I’m escorting them there. They also were the ones who guided me here, they are good kids.」

Perhaps, upon hearing my words she gained a bit of trust for them, but she now didn’t seem as tense.

「So that’s how it was. Sorry for interrupting your work. I’m not long in this city, so I couldn’t tell if they were originally from here or not. Well, I have no intentions of stopping you anymore, so my best regards to all of you!」

「Y-yes. Nice to meet you.」

「Whoa…… Amazing. We could talk not just with Axel-san, but with so many other heroes as well……」

Both of them appear quite excited. And when I thought that we smoothly got through introductions—

「However, request as a carrier…… Then that bag… So it was true that you became a carrier.」

Daisy said while sitting on top of my shoulder.

「Huh, you knew?」

It’s our first time meeting since I became a carrier.

「Yup. I heard rumors of 『Flying Carrier』with the same name as you. I also know that you defeated an ancient dragon. …So I thought that this carrier ought to be you.」

Looks like my name and moniker traveled all the way to the City of God Tree by themselves.

「It’s amazing that you could figure out that it was me from mere rumors.」

「Well, with something as outrageous as a carrier beating a dragon, I understood it instantly. Of course, I also considered it being a ruse…… But you are my close friend after all. Even with a different job you naturally would have at least that much power!」

Daisy said while tapping on my shoulder.

She is naturally very wary, but the same as Saki, when it comes to me, emotions get mixed with her reasonable thinking. Well, she wasn’t wrong, so I guess there is no problem.

…We knew each other quite well from our long friendship.

Thanks to that it let us save unnecessary explanations. And while thinking of how nothing but good comes from this I gently brush Daisy’s head.

Then, Daisy half-closed her eyes in pleasure.

「Ah, this, this is the stuff. Your job might have changed, but the feeling of your hand did not. I missed this, my friend.」

It’s been a long time since I last patted her, I’m glad that she still enjoys it.

「Ehm… Somehow, though I saw this scene before. When Master and Hero of Training are making out I do get a little jealous. And now even more so since the helmet doesn’t get in the way anymore.

「Such a coincidence. I never got to cling to him that much, so I am quite envious of Cosmos.」

Such gazes and voices came our way. Maybe because she heard those words—

「I feel some wicked gazes coming from there.」

Daisy said, now sitting on my head.

And upon seeing that Berzelia and Saki’s expressions changed.

「Ah, that carbuncle, she is clearly looking at us like she won something……!」

「That face is clearly saying『Masters’s head and shoulders are my domain』, that hero of training……!」

「Ahahah, their reactions are the same as always.」

「Daisy, don’t provoke them too much. ……Ah, that’s not the point. I’m glad to see you, but what are you doing at such a place?」

That’s what I wanted to ask.

Then, she suddenly stopped her movements.

「Hmmm, I think telling my friend is fine, but……」

She seems somewhat reluctant to talk about it.

「Is it something troublesome?」

「Well, just a bit. So I’m not sure if I’m suitable to make a judgment on whether to talk about this or not……」

And while I was talking with Daisy on my shoulder—

「——Daisy-san. Please allow me to take it from this point.」

Resounded a voice ahead of us.

There, we saw a middle-aged man awfully drenched in sweat.

Though he is wearing armor that has both metal and leather parts, it was possible to tell just how well he is built with what could be seen through the gaps in it.

He looks like a combatant, but who might it be.

「F-father!」

「Old man!」

But I soon understood it from the shouts that came from behind.

The middle-aged man that they called a father, looked at the two behind me and gently smiled.

「It’s been a while, you two. Welcome back.」

Then, he turned from the siblings to Daisy and made a slight nod.

「Daisy-dono Thank you for going on patrol despite how busy you are.」

「Don’t mind it, Sidonius. During experiments with the effects of the chemicals, I’m rather free until effects will start to show. It’s a good change of pace.」

Hearing Daisy’s words, the man called Sidonius breathed a sigh of relief.

「I’m glad that you’d say that. And… This person here, is the carrier Axel-dono, I presume? 」

Sidonius asked looking at me.

「That is correct… Sidonius-san. Did we meet somewhere?」

Unfortunately, I had no recollections of Sidonius’ face or name.

So I was a bit surprised that he knew my name.

……Perhaps he was listening in on the conversation that we just had with Daisy?…

When I asked in reply, Sidonius though appearing delighted, shook his head.

「No, it’s our first time exchanging words like this…… I often heard rumors about『Flying Carrier』-dono. As they say, there is a wonderful carrier that travels together with the hero of magic and a dragon girl that once was a partner of a dragon knight. But I didn’t even think that that Flying Carrier-dono would be together with my children……」

Saying all that, Sidonius then went 「ah」.

「I apologize. I went on rambling without even introducing myself. A bit late to say this but I’m the current captain of the Knights of God Tree, Sidonius. Nice to meet you.」

「Ah, sure, nice to meet you too. I’m Axel, a carrier.」

And after replying, I then realized that there was a certain word in his self-introduction.

「Mm? Cecile and George’s father is the leader of knights?」

「Yes. Or rather, they didn’t tell you? Those kids.」

「My first time hearing that.」

「I see…… Seems like the rumors about you accepting a task even without knowing of status were true. ……It’s an honor to meet you, Axel-dono……!」

Saying that he held out his hand. When I accept the handshake I feel a strong grip, quite in line with his vigorous tone of speaking.

「Since the time I observed your fighting prowess from the ground while you were 『Invisible Knight』 I always hoped for a chance to meet you.」

To those words, I slightly inclined my head to the side.

「Hm? Sidonius, you knew that I was previously a dragon knight?」

Could it be that this also became a subject of the rumors?

「No, saying that I knew wouldn’t be quite accurate. It’s my deduction. It’s possible to guess by the way you interact with the other heroes present here. And there is also a somewhat similar aura around you. ……I’m not mistaken, right?」

Sidonius asked after he glanced over at the two of my companions and the beast on my shoulders.

I replied with a nod while wondering that there aren’t that many people who understand everything so well from the beginning.

「Yeah, that is correct, previously a hero and a dragon knight, Axel. Not sure though, if I’m the person that you imagine me to be.」

「Is that so…… So you really are 『previously』 a dragon knight.」

To my words, Sidonius showed a slightly disappointed expression.

「Hm? Is that a problem?」

「N-no, not at all! ……It’s indeed a great honor to meet you……! And by my authority I’d like to explain to you the situation and the reasons why I called Hero of Training here. 」

「Are you sure? I just arrived in this city.」

Even Daisy hesitated to talk about this. Is it really fine to so casually decide on revealing this to me? When I ask so—

「It is by no means an arbitrary decision. Those emblems of cardinal guilds on your ring are enough proof of your credibility. ……And most of all, my pretty troublesome kids are looking at you with a faith in their eyes. All of that is enough for me to trust you.」

Sidonius said that and pointed with his hand at the God Tree.

「Then, this way, please. I will take you to the entrance to the God Tree. It’s a secret matter after all, so I will explain everything where no one can hear us.」