Volume Five, Chapter Three
Led by the orca gracefully cutting through the water, we find ourselves standing at the bottom of a sea valley, surrounded on both sides by towering cliffs—or maybe it’s more accurate to call it a trench? It seems our destination lies deep within the still-dark valley ahead.
‘Daughter. This is as far as I can guide you. I truly regret not being able to go further…’
“It’s okay, it’s okay! We’ll do our best with what’s ahead, so you go do your best with what you need to do!”
The orca looks so apologetic as it hangs its head dejectedly, but I don’t think it needs to feel guilty. The orca has its own duties to fulfill, and it’s about to go carry them out, right? Besides, the orca’s role is important for protecting the peace of the sea as much as possible. If it doesn’t hold its ground here, the damage will spread even further!
In other words, we’re just dividing roles and tackling the problem together!
…Well, even though I’m talking big, I’m just the support staff working behind the scenes. But still, I’m fully committed to providing food and rest place so everyone can explore in perfect condition!
‘…Hehehe! You’re absolutely right! I’ll go do what I can do!’
“Yup! Let’s both do our best so the next time we meet, the problem will be completely solved!”
The orca’s fin feels a little cool when we high-five. The black and white form turns gracefully and swims away into the blue. I watch as the orca gets smaller and smaller until it looks like a dot… Then I turn back toward the battlefield to which we need to head to.
“…Yup… this place is just oozing with a ‘something’s here’ kind of vibe…”
A bizarre building towers over sandy ground mixed with pebbles, where ship wreckage is covered in barnacle-like crustaceans and what looks like brittle, ancient bones are scattered about.
At first glance, it looks like a Greek-style ancient temple, but it has pointed towers and domes with a somewhat Middle Eastern flavor jutting out here and there… From its appearance alone, it doesn’t look like something straightforward to deal with. Moreover, while the building itself isn’t that tall, being sandwiched between steep cliffs on both sides creates a sense of oppression and intimidation.
“The structure itself looks quite similar to the Goddess’s temple we saw earlier, so it was probably originally a beautiful building.”
“Hmm… Maybe because of the massive amount of miasma, the impression is completely different.”
The alabaster temple that was probably once white is now filthy beyond recognition. It’s caked in twisting, chalky matter like some bizarre creature had slithered over it, and oozing black sludge clings to it, almost pitifully. Maybe it’s got a unique look just for this event…?
Beyond the front courtyard where thick, magnificent pillars stand in rows, there’s a massive gate wrapped in ancient darkness, quietly waiting for the time to be opened—that’s probably the only entrance.
“What is this feeling…? It’s like my whole body is screaming ‘Don’t go in there!’”
‘Mmmmrrghhh! Me too! Me too don’t like there!’
It’s like all my pores are opening, or like all the fine hairs on my body are being stroked the wrong way… This indescribable discomfort just won’t leave me alone. Even Gomamiso in my arms has its fur standing on end so much that it looks perfectly round! Ugh, what is this?! I’ve never experienced anything like this before! I have a feeling this ominous sensation may get in the way of completing the quest, and it definitely doesn’t feel good…
“Yeah. It just means your intuition is getting sharper, Rin.”
“Mm. It’s proof that you can judge… dangerous places.”
“Good for you, Rin! It’s one of the necessary skills for surviving as an adventurer!”
“Combined with your Survival skill, I think you’ll become even better at avoiding danger.”
Contrary to my expectations, everyone’s congratulating me?
…Well, I wouldn’t go so far as to call it a sixth sense, but maybe it’s the result of my instincts sharpening somewhat through my adventures with everyone?
“So, rookie adventurer, aside from that door, do you sense anything else unpleasant?”
Crimson eyes like candy apples sparkle mischievously as they look down at me. Feeling somewhat frustrated at being teased, I shift my gaze from the grinning Mr. Ville to the door.
A stone door constructed with a mixture of straight and curved lines. Maybe bioluminescent organisms are hitting it… The door illuminated by bluish phosphorescent light looks chaotic at first glance, but also seems to be decorated according to some law incomprehensible to human senses.
If I were seeing it somewhere else, it would probably have the charm of ancient ruins…
“Honestly, the door’s presence is so overwhelming that… I can’t sense anything else…”
My skin tingles from the overwhelming presence, giving me goosebumps involuntarily. Is this the kind of sensation unique to adventurers? …Which means everyone endures this indescribable feeling during adventures? Once again, I think Mr. Ville and everyone are amazing!
“But there don’t seem to be any physical traps… I think…”
I secretly checked the surroundings with Survival too, but there don’t seem to be any traps or enemies around… Doesn’t that just prove that the real threat is beyond that door?
“Well… no matter how bad the feeling is, we’ve got no choice but to go in there.”
“It’s fine, I’m prepared! We can’t make progress without going ahead!”
But yes, as Mr. Ville says, our only path forward is through there. The cause of this anomaly must be inside! The chill that has been clinging to me dissipates from the pat on my back. The power of "companions" is incredible!
Stepping on sand that swirls up with each footstep… we now set foot on the temple stairs to open the closed door.
As I observe my surroundings with a gradually calming mind, I realize there’s more life here than I thought. Seaweed grows here and there, and crab-like crustaceans scuttle across the floor—according to Survival, they’re not inedible but have too little edible meat. Lucky you! …Yup, I can tell now just how much I was overwhelmed by the atmosphere earlier.
The moment Mr. Ville, who climbed the stairs first, stands before the thick stone door…
“…Is this… some kind of welcome?”
The door I thought would require all our strength to open begins to lift with a faint vibration. Heavy, cold seawater surges around our feet as we instantly prepare for battle. From my feet up through my spine, something utterly unpleasant runs through me, like writhing tentacles or something touching my nerves. I get goosebumps all over my body! Gomamiso clings to me while making hissing sounds!
“…n, hey, Rin! Are you okay?”
Mr. Ville’s calm voice brings my nearly panicking mind back to composure. Apparently, he’s been calling out to me for a while. My gaze meets his strawberry-colored eyes looking at me with concern.
“Can you check if your skill will work here, Rin…? Do you think you’ll be okay?”
“Huh, ah, yes! No problem!”
I have confidence that summoning the Camping Car itself won’t be an issue. Maybe that’s a privilege of skill holders?
Looking inside the building, I can see narrow passages stretching ahead even at a glance. I peek inside the building and immediately see a narrow corridor stretching ahead. It is decent in height, but I doubt it is even three meters wide. I can bring out the vehicle, but the hallway’s just too narrow to move safely with everyone inside. Going straight might work, but turns would be a nightmare…
“Given how narrow it is, traveling by riding might be impossible. However, I think we can rest inside the vehicle and eat meals. I’ve stocked up on cooking ingredients to some degree.”
“…Good. I remember it also has concealment effects, so we’ve secured a base camp and safety zone.”
The best use of the Camping Car this time would be to explore on foot and rest or sleep in slightly larger rooms or where the corridor widens…
Fortunately, Mr. Ville seems satisfied with this proposal, so I guess I’m not off track.
“What should we do? Should we charge in already?”
“…What do you mean by ‘already’?”
“Well… I was thinking it might be better to have breakfast before entering, so we can explore more efficiently inside…”
The moment I casually mentioned "food," everyone pressed their stomachs and looked at me.
…Right. We actually haven’t eaten breakfast! We went to the sea with the casual feeling of quickly checking the sea’s condition and then having breakfast… but things moved at breakneck speed from there!
“Yes! Exactly! Breakfast!!!”
“Now that you mention it, we haven’t eaten anything!”
“Rin… Rin… so hungry…!”
With cries, Mr. Ed, Mr. Xenon, and Ms. Aria surround me. I can see the illusion of drooping ears and tails, but maybe that’s just my imagination?
Surrounded by hungry people and unable to move, I look up at Mr. Ville beside me…
“…Sorry, Rin… if it could be fairly quick, that would be great…”
From our slightly flushed party leader’s stomach comes an especially loud growling sound. I’m not in a position to say this as a fellow member of the glutton alliance, but Mr. Ville, do you have some monster living in your stomach?
“Understood! I’ll finish as quickly as possible!”
A heavy vibration echoes across the seabed. Inside bubbles emitting pale light, the familiar vehicle sits. The thin membrane lets me pass through without any resistance.
I throw open the cabin door and roll up my sleeves with renewed determination.
Sure, if there’s someone needing rescue, we should probably hurry… but as the saying goes, you can’t fight on an empty stomach!
“I actually have a dish I’ve been wanting to try out. As a good luck charm before heading out to explore, I’ll go all out this morning!”
Besides, I’m hungry too… I won’t have the stamina to charge in like this!
“Alright… time to get cooking!”
With gem-like eyes watching me intently, I mince garlic and onions. I wash the large tomatoes and set them aside for a moment.
Wow, I’m glad the Camping Car’s stove has two burners…! This way, I can use one burner to sauté vegetables and make tomato sauce, and use the other burner to make sautéed fish… I can work on both simultaneously!
“Rin. What exactly are you making today?”
“The base is called ‘shakshuka,’ a dish where you eat soft-boiled eggs with vegetable-rich tomato sauce… But since we’ve still got that fish from yesterday, I thought it would taste great paired with sautéed fish!”
“Shak-shuka… I can’t picture it at all, but if you say it’ll be delicious, I can look forward to it…!”
Around the time I started sautéing garlic in one frying pan, Mr. Ville returned from patrol and peered at what I was doing. He seems unable to contain his curiosity about the unknown dish. I understand the feeling. If I could watch the cooking process of a dish I’m eating for the first time, I’d definitely watch it too!
Feeling his gaze, I tend to the garlic carefully so it doesn’t burn. As the garlic turns golden while making sizzling sounds, a fragrant aroma fills the kitchen. Then, once the aroma develops enough, I add onions and sauté for a while…
“Now here’s the trick—grating the tomatoes right into the pan!”
This way is easier because I don’t have to blanch and peel them. And if you don’t mind the skins, roughly chopping and tossing them in with the onions works just as well!
The sweet, gentle aroma of cooked vegetables dissolves into the air. I add cumin-based spices randomly… The trick is adjusting it so it doesn’t become curry-flavored.
“Smells so good…! Is it done? Is it done yet?”
“Hmm… just a little more, I’d say. Ms. Aria, there’s leftover baguette over there, could you cut it to whatever thickness you’d like to eat?”
“Mm! Leave it to me! I’m good at cutting!”
As the sauce was nearly done, I called out to Ms. Aria while taking out the main dish—the fish. I asked her to cut the bread. I think Ms. Aria’s threads can cut bread without it getting squashed.
Oh, I bought fresh eggs and just baked bread at the market yesterday. It’s a bit of a luxury, but we should enjoy it while it’s fresh, right? A morale-boosting feast before the mission, that’s the idea.
Ms. Aria gave a cheerful reply—looks like I can trust her with this.
Once the tomato sauce is done, I sauté fish fillets skin-side down in another frying pan until golden. There’s no weird fishy smell and they have good fat content, so I think even the skin will be delicious.
“Once that’s mostly cooked, time to make soft-boiled eggs♪”
While sautéing the fish, I crack in enough eggs for everyone into the pan of sauce and put it back on the heat. My body moves as my mind planned. When I reach out, I can immediately grab the seasonings I want and the cooking utensils I need. I’ve really gotten used to cooking in the Camping Car’s kitchen—even with everyone watching me.
“Rin, Rin! I cut the bread!”
“Thank you, this is almost ready too! The soft-boiled eggs turned out perfectly, so let’s eat them fresh!”
Ms. Aria’s voice bounces as she holds up a large plate piled with bread, beaming. Looks like the staple food is ready.
While the baguette slices she cut are getting lightly toasted in the oven, the main dish finishes cooking too!
“Sorry for the wait! Let’s eat!”
The moment I carry out as many plates as I can hold, cheers erupt.
The illustration’s description: Aria with a plate piled with bread and Rin with fried pan with “shakshuka.”
Cutlery and drinks are already prepared on the table somehow. I’ve gotten used to this too, but everyone’s gotten better at organizing things related to meals, haven’t they? That just means they’re looking forward to my food… but I’m happy about it rather than feeling it’s a burden, so I’ve really been won over too.
“To be able to make this much food in that short time… You really are amazing, Rin…!”
“Just looking at it, it already looks delicious! Thanks, Rin!”
“Really, thank you as always. Being able to enjoy meals even in the middle of a quest is thanks to you, Rin.”
“Thanks to you, Rin, life’s pleasures have increased!”
When I slipped into my usual spot between Mr. Ville and Ms. Aria, words of appreciation and praise showered down from both sides. Mr. Xenon and Mr. Ed also sent me generous words… Ugh… I’m grateful and happy, but it’s incredibly ticklish!
I hope they don’t notice my ears turning red.
“I’m also happy that everyone’s pleased! But well, please eat while it’s still hot.”
Half to hide my embarrassment, I called that out, and everyone eagerly picked up their utensils, barely finishing their pre-meal prayer.
The fish sauté, with its crispy golden skin cracking open to reveal pure white flesh, is topped with bright red tomato sauce and a soft, creamy poached egg.
For a first try, doesn’t it actually look pretty tasty?
…But what should I call this? Yellow snapper sauté with shakshuka-style sauce… something like that? No, the name doesn’t matter. What’s important is eating it while it’s delicious!
“Alright, let’s eat!”
First, a bite of tomato sauce. Maybe because I finished it using only the vegetables’ natural moisture without adding water, the natural sweetness and umami feel concentrated. The spices add a sharp accent… Yup. Even just the sauce turned out delicious!
“The fish is cooked to perfection! Eating it with the sauce, I can’t stop eating…!”
“Hehehe! I was hoping to cook it so the center was just barely cooked through… I’m glad it worked out well.”
“The eggs too, they’re creamy and rich… the bread disappears in no time!”
“Oh? I’m glad you liked it. Tomatoes and eggs go really well together.”
That’s right. Since this dish has simple steps, I paid the most attention to the degree of cooking.
For the fish, I sear the skin side thoroughly until it makes a crispy sound when cut with a knife. But I adjust the center to be about half-cooked… That way, when you take a bite, the flesh falls apart softly, staying moist and fluffy, with delicious juices seeping out… Even though it’s cooked through, it doesn’t dry out.
The eggs are also cooked to soft-boiled perfection where the whites are just barely set and only the bottom half of the yolks are firm. When you scoop up these eggs and tomato sauce with bread… crispy, fluffy, creamy, sticky… it’s a parade of textures in your mouth!
By the time I finish eating, the mountain of bread and the evenly portioned main dishes have all completely vanished into everyone’s stomachs.
“Freshly made food is delicious…!”
“Mmhehe. As expected, your cooking never disappoints, Rin!”
“I’m happy to help with the baggage anytime—just promise to make us a breakfast like this again, okay, Rin?”
Hmm. Being this appreciated makes me want to cook again! Our party always puts these little things into words. They’re such charmers, really.
“Now then. With Rin’s delicious food firing us up… let’s go solve the problems happening in that den of evil.”
Mr. Ville’s words as he sets down his fork create a skin-tingling tension. I feel the atmosphere change instantly. That’s right, there might be survivors… With our spirits restored, it’s time to charge into the dungeon…
“—!”
Suddenly, a Survival alert pops up at the edge of my vision. At the same time, everyone must have sensed the presence outside. They instantly prepare for battle.
Mr. Ed and Mr. Xenon take positions on either side of the windows while Ms. Aria takes her thread-spinning stance in front. Meanwhile, Mr. Ville pulls me and Gomamiso behind the sofa.
In the silence where even breathing seems forbidden, there are sounds like something hitting the window glass—plop, tap…
‘…smo… that… is it?’
“…Hm? Hmm? Something… is talking…?”
‘Um… hello… are you… from Lady Lyu…?’
The intermittent sounds contain familiar words.
The color of the alert spreading across my vision is… blue…?
The skill has flagged it as non-hostile. I stay on guard, but the tension eases just a bit.
“…Could this be one of the children that the Goddess mentioned?”
“That’s probably it, but… Rin. How does your skill feel?”
“It’s a blue alert, so there doesn’t seem to be any hostility. Either way, we need to actually check…!”
While whispering quietly with Mr. Ville beside me, I peek carefully toward the window.
What catches my eye is the vivid blue that stands out even in the dim light. There are two of them, bumping their heads and tail fins against the Camping Car’s window.
‘Um, hello! Can you heeear us?’
‘You’re people blessed by Lady Lyusia, right? We’re also Lady Lyusia’s children!’
’Please help uuuuuus!’
The Survival alert remains blue, indicating no hostility or harmful intent. When I nod to Mr. Ville, he opens the window. The moment he gives the mysterious visitors permission to board the Camping Car, the two fishes that were outside dive in like blue bullets.
Wait, hold on! Right now this vehicle is protected by the Goddess’s blessing so water doesn’t enter! If fish come in here… even if we’re fine, they won’t be able to breathe! A washbasin!? A bucket!? Anything to put water in…!
‘Thank you, we’re saved!’
‘We were about to be eaten down to our bones!’
…My panic was unnecessary.
While voicing gratitude and joy, two blue fishes wrapped in large water spheres swim around us in circles.
…I see. When creatures that normally live in water enter this vehicle, that’s what happens! The principle might be different, but it’s just like the water sphere Mr. Ed made with magic before.
Water spheres floating in the air with beautiful fish swimming inside… how fantastical!
‘Hm? Wait, you are blessed by Lady Lyusia, but you all… are land dwellers, right?’
‘Come to think of it, you don’t seem like sea creatures. Are you okay with breathing and such?’
The fish that have been dancing around excitedly finally stop moving, water spheres and all.
O-oh… they just now realized we’re not sea-born? Maybe these kids are pretty carefree? Or did their confusion finally settle enough for them to see their surroundings? Either way, they seem kind enough to worry about our breathing the moment they realize we’re land creatures.
…Actually, like the orca, I wonder if it’s just my imagination that the children blessed by the Goddess seem somehow pure, honest, innocent… like they don’t know how to doubt people?
I don’t have any intention of deceiving them, but it makes me a little worried.
“Yes. We were guided by Offshore Dweller. We came here to solve the anomaly happening in the ocean.”
“As for breathing, we’re totally fine thanks to the Goddess’s blessing!”
‘Waaaa!!! We’re so happy, thank you so much!’
‘We were just thinking that we were really doomed!’
At Mr. Ville and Mr. Ed’s explanations, the two fishes trace joyful trajectories in circles. It’s like they’re dancing, so cute it makes me smile involuntarily.
Their shape resembles blue tangs from my world, but they’re about the size of Mr. Ville’s palm.
After dancing to their heart’s content for a while, the two fishes stop moving as if coordinating…
‘Um… first, our heartfelt thanks for your assistance!’
‘And with that, we ask again. Please… help us… help this sea.’
The two fishes quietly bow their heads together… or so it seems.
Water spheres float gently above the table where meals are usually placed.
‘It suddenly showed up, and then the structure of the temple started changing rapidly…’
The one speaking in a somewhat stiff tone is Raz. Of the two, he’s the one whose tail fin is tinged with a faint yellow at the tip.
‘Rooms that shouldn’t exist appeared, and passages multiplied—it was quite chaotic!’
The one speaking in a leisurely tone is Cele. Of the two, she’s the one with a single yellow horizontal stripe running through the center of her body.
Since Raz and Cele are floating side by side, the water sphere around them has taken on a gourd shape, like two jiggly jelly dumplings fused together.
“The structure suddenly changed… huh.”
“There’s a possibility that this temple itself has become a dungeon.”
While listening to Raz and Cele’s story, our party’s brain trust—Mr. Ville and Mr. Xenon—debate back and forth with various theories. I’m in charge of quietly offering barley tea so as not to disturb their discussion.
…When you stop and think about it, being able to drink tea at the bottom of the sea is seriously wild! The Goddess’s blessing is amazing!
By the way, regarding how Raz and Cele managed to reach my Camping Car with its concealment effect… apparently, the two of them followed the Goddess’s blessing to get here.
“I see… So then, do you remember any details about the being that suddenly appeared?”
‘Sorry. We were too busy trying to escape without being eaten.’
‘It was big and looked strong… but aside from that, we don’t really remember much…’
“Are there any other survivors besides you two…?”
‘Probably, we’re… the only ones who managed to escape…’
Perhaps Mr. Xenon’s questions made them recall what happened back then. The two fishes pressed close together, their bodies trembling.
Apparently, both of them originally served as guards—or maybe more like watchers—of this temple… That said, with the Goddess’s protection and divine presence surrounding the temple, hostile intruders were extremely rare. Their usual duties were more like chasing off stray fish and cleaning up.
If such non-combatants were suddenly attacked, of course, they’d be terrified… I can understand that well, having been suddenly transported to this world myself.
“That ‘big, strong something’ is probably the root cause that turned this temple into a dungeon.”
“When a monster with high magical power suddenly takes up residence, the disruption to the local magical field and magical power balance can lead to dungeonification in the worst cases.”
Ah, that makes sense. This time, something strong suddenly came and took over the place. During my first dungeon adventure, the area turned into a dungeon just because the local energy and magical power got disrupted… So that’s another way it can happen.
…Well, if I think about it calmly, "an external enemy appears in a place everyone had been using, so we go to defeat it" is a commonly used scenario trope. It wouldn’t be unused in this world either.
“So if that’s the case, we can restore this temple to normal by defeating that big, strong thing that’s been mentioned?”
“Yeah, probably.”
“Oh! That’s simpler than I thought! We just need to go to the deepest part and beat the crap out of it, right?”
“Hit it and it’s solved! Same as always!”
Seeing Mr. Ville nod at my question, everyone’s faces brightened up.
Yup. I panicked when they said it had suddenly become a dungeon, but the actual task isn’t so different from our usual adventures. Find the enemy and beat it with magic and physical force! A very Gourmands-like solution!
“Alright, now that that’s settled, we can head in… but what to do about you two…?”
“Since this temple’s turned into a dungeon, having them wait here could be risky.”
“We can’t predict at all when and where enemies might appear…”
Having reached a decision on our next move, Mr. Ville and Mr. Xenon turned their eyes toward the two fishes.
Ah… right. Since this place has become a dungeon, enemies might appear here too! Though taking Raz and Cele, who are non-combatants, along with us… In terms of being able to protect them when enemies appear, it would be safe in that sense, but there’s also the possibility of stray attacks flying their way, so it’s not one hundred percent safe.
But we don’t have time to return them to the Goddess either… hmm… How best to protect these lives that were just saved?
‘Um… we are the caretakers of this temple! Please, take us with you!’
‘The layout has changed, but there are traces of the original here and there. We think we could be of help!’
It was Raz and Cele’s heartfelt cry, burning with a sense of duty, that broke through our indecision.
Amazing, both of them! They have enough pride in their work to risk their own lives!
“Alright. Then you’ll come with us. However, absolutely do not stray from our side.”
“It’s easier to keep an eye on you and protect you when you’re close by.”
“The Goddess was worried about you two as well. We want to return you to the Goddess’s side with our full effort.”
Despite their small bodies, the two fishes’ dignified, chest-puffed attitude finally made Mr. Ville give in.
Watching Raz and Cele nod as they listen to Mr. Ed and Mr. Xenon’s words, I also steel my resolve as I face Gomamiso in my arms.
“Listen, Gomamiso. Raz and Cele… those fish are off-limits! No cat punches, no biting!”
As I locked eyes with Gomamiso and told it the promise I wanted it to keep, a pout of discontent immediately crossed its face.
‘Whyyy? Why not? Fish are my food, right?’
“Raz and Cele are our companions for this dungeon conquest! You can catch other fish, but not those two!”
‘Mmmrrrrrrrrrgh!’
I tried to explain it as simply as possible… but did Gomamiso really get it? The way it’s throwing practice cat punches in my arms is not reassuring. Honestly, I understand the cat’s feelings too. The water sphere floats around whimsically, and fish are swimming and fluttering inside it… For a feline, it would be a great toy! But those two are important companions for this journey!
“Instead, if there’s anything that looks delicious along the way, I’ll catch it for you as much as possible! But you absolutely can’t lay a paw on Raz and Cele, okay?”
‘Really!? You’ll catch food for me?’
“Really really! I don’t lie!”
As I knead and massage the dissatisfied kitten’s entire body while offering an alternative, its golden eyes immediately sparkle. Indeed, nothing is more effective for appeasing the Gourmands members than food!
“Rin. We’d like to get moving soon—are you ready?”
“Yes! My situation is also resolved! We should be able to avoid any friendly fire incidents!”
“Friendly fire… good that we could prevent it beforehand.”
The sound of everyone standing up with their equipment clanking is the signal that a life-risking adventure is about to begin.
When I show off Gomamiso—who was a problem child just moments ago but is now in a completely good mood—Mr. Ville’s cheek relaxes slightly, apparently understanding the situation.
“Well then, I’ll open it!”
Even when the cabin door opens, no water flows into the vehicle. Instead, only the cold presence of the sea floor creeps closer.
The water sphere around Raz and Cele mixes with the surrounding seawater and loses its boundaries the moment they dart outside. Instead, the blessing forms a membrane around us as we step out, blocking the water.
Neither buoyancy nor water pressure bear their fangs at us now.
Only the swirling silt rising like smoke around our feet reminds us we are underwater.
This time, the journey to our adventure stage is quite literally door-to-door. With a slightly larger party than usual, we line up in front of the temple’s gaping entrance.
From the dim depths of the building, an unpleasant presence continues to emanate intensely. Ugh… so this is what they call a boss’s presence!
“It’s fine. There don’t seem to be… any traps…”
“Right. Survival is giving me an all-clear too.”
“Having you two is reassuring. …Well then, shall we go?”
A double-check by our scout Ms. Aria and my skill. This has become our established routine lately.
From what we could see and from Ms. Aria’s scans, the corridor just ahead splits to the left and right. We decide to investigate which way to go once we reach the fork.
Ms. Aria takes the lead, with Mr. Ville and me following behind her. Mr. Ed and Mr. Xenon guard the rear and follow after us. Gomamiso is on my shoulder, with Raz swimming around the rear guard group… and Cele circling around the rest of us. When their elegantly swaying tail fins stir the water, the disturbed bioluminescent plankton emit a faint glow… making the paths the two swam visible.
“…This feels more like ruins or ancient relics than a temple.”
“Yeah. It’s probably the effect of dungeonification.”
Inside the building we stepped into, both the walls and floors that were probably beautiful originally have become terribly deteriorated. Crustaceans resembling barnacles and seaweed are stuck all over the place, making it almost impossible to tell what was depicted in the decorations on the walls. Still, the fact that the floor is relatively smooth is a saving grace, I suppose. It looks like we won’t trip up much.
“Just like it looked earlier—the corridor’s pretty narrow.”
“We could manage thrusting attacks, but there’s no room for the usual large-scale fights.”
“That’s… risky if we get surrounded! I hope it doesn’t get any narrower from here…”
Actually entering it, the passage felt narrower than I’d expected. While thread-user Ms. Aria and magic users Mr. Ed and Mr. Xenon might be fine, it would be a tough battlefield for greatsword user Mr. Ville. According to Mr. Ville, it’s not that he can’t fight… but we’ll have to stay even more alert for enemies. It’s better to be overly cautious than caught off guard!
As I steel myself anew, a pale blue light grazes the edge of my vision. It’s evidence that someone other than us is there. At the same time, a bright red alert fills my field of vision…!
“Mr. Ville!”
“Yeah!”
Not many words were needed. Just calling his name gets a response from a veteran adventurer.
Mr. Ville leaps in front of me and thrusts his greatsword out at lightning speed. Centered on the space pinned by the silver blade, something raced past while making my skin tingle and vibrate.
Wh-what was that!? It felt like being next to a drum performance—like the shock vibrated all the way through my gut…
‘Are you okaaaay? That was a death cry!’
“Huh? That vibration-like thing was? I didn’t hear anything like a voice.”
As I blink in confusion and Gomamiso’s pupils dilate with its ears and tail standing straight up, the blue fishes swim in circles around us.
‘Sea creatures’ voices often don’t reach land dwellers… but they do make sounds.’
‘With monsters or magical creatures, the sounds are imbued with magical power which gets transmitted as shockwaves!’
Ah, r-right…! Come to think of it, dolphins and whales make sounds that we humans can’t hear, but they do emit sound waves or something like that. Maybe this was just a powered-up version of that?
As I listen to Raz and Cele’s explanation, I suddenly feel a series of heavy thuds and tremors from the ground—coming from Mr. Ville’s direction.
“Whoa! This fish is huge… and long!”
“…Like a snake…”
At Mr. Ville’s feet as he sheathed his sword lay a fish with a hole through its body. About two meters long, maybe? It looks similar to a ribbonfish. But with a bigger mouth and sharper fangs. It seems completely dead now, not moving a muscle. Survival’s alert has also changed from red to blue, indicating no danger.
“Hmm. A Mirror Fish, huh? Yup, underwater exploration isn’t something to take lightly…”
According to Survival, it’s a monster that blends itself into the surrounding scenery to attack prey. This time we were saved because the enemy was exposed when it touched the bioluminescent plankton and triggered Survival’s alert… but if there hadn’t been such signs, we might have been slow to notice.
As I gaze at the prone fish, the entire dead fish body becomes wrapped in pale light and transforms before my eyes into fish meat wrapped in thin wooden sheets.
“…By the way, Rin. Is this thing edible?”
“It seems to have many small bones, but it appears quite delicious!”
As I examined the fish meat intently, Mr. Ville called out to me, unable to hide his anticipation.
The Mirror Fish’s long, pure white flesh has knife cuts in it, though roughly done. Since it has many small bones, this is probably bone-cutting preparation to deal with that. Drop items are convenient because pre-prepared meat falls… but if I start thinking deeply about why this specification exists, it gets a bit scary!
…Well, if someone told me "It’s game mechanics," I’d have to accept it with "Oh, I see.”
“With meat like this, it’d be delicious no matter how you cook it—deep fried, pan-seared in meunière sauce, grilled as teriyaki, you name it.”
“Fried!”
Everyone’s eyes sparkled at the menu I suggested. Mr. Ville, who shouted the loudest, clenched his fist tight.
I get it. Teriyaki—marinated in sweet soy sauce and grilled—and meunière are delicious too, but fried is in a class of its own. During exploration, we’ll be exhausting our stamina, so it makes sense to crave something calorie-dense. Even if it has many small bones, frying it in oil would solve that problem, and we could actually enjoy the umami from around the bones, making it even more delicious, right?
“Alright then, shall I go ahead and pack this up?”
“Yeah. Honestly, I was about to ask you myself.”
“If it becomes delicious food, the fish might rest in peace too.”
I take out a wrapping cloth from the body bag I always carry during exploration and secure the Mirror Fish. Given its length, the drop item is quite heavy… The hefty sensation feels heavier than Gomamiso.
Though I don’t feel it much because I’m protected by the blessing, the surrounding seawater apparently has quite a low temperature. In that case, like the traveling merchants often seen in period dramas, carrying the Mirror Fish on my back shouldn’t spoil it easily. I’ll summon the Camping Car later at an appropriate place and put it in the fridge.
I mean, summoning the Camping Car in this narrow passage would just be in the way, right? If enemies appeared the moment I summoned it, we’d be stuck between a rock and a hard place! So even though it’s a bit heavy, I’ll carry this myself until we find a suitable place. After all, look. I’m this party’s porter, you know? Lately, everyone only pays attention to my role as the cook, but my registered job at the guild is "porter"!
“Are you alright, Rin? It looks quite heavy—shall I help you carry it?”
“Thank you, Mr. Xenon. But I can’t have combat members carrying luggage!”
Looking genuinely worried, Mr. Xenon gently offered to help. But really, don’t worry about it!
For people who deal in life-and-death situations, baggage would just be a hindrance! I am the Gourmands’ porter, after all, so please let me fulfill my duties!
Offering my thanks again to Mr. Xenon who reluctantly backed down, I cast my gaze down the corridor ahead.
“Alright… so this is our first fork, huh?”
“Speaking of which, where in the original temple would this area correspond to?”
After walking only a short distance while carrying the Mirror Fish, a wall blocked our path ahead. Though the passage that ended in front of us extended left and right, beyond that lay thin darkness where we couldn’t make out the detailed structure.
Next to Mr. Ed who was tapping the wall, Mr. Xenon turned toward the blue fishes swimming around Mr. Ville.
‘This is where the ‘Prayer Chamber’ used to be! Originally, there was no wall like this, and you could swim straight through from the entrance!’
‘That’s right. The passage was actually much wider and brighter… you could see the Goddess from the entrance!’
Stirring the seawater with their tails, the temple guardians fulfill their role as guides. Even if everything looks different now, they still seem to feel something.
There was real passion in Cele and Raz’s words. This temple’s prayer chamber must have been a place of pride for them. Having it messed up like this… how frustrating and resentful it must be…!
“Hmm… then while it may no longer be directly connected from the entrance, there might be something like a doorway leading to the prayer chamber in one of these left or right passages.”
“Mm. Should I check it out?”
At Mr. Xenon’s suggestion as he pondered with his hand on his chin, Ms. Aria’s face immediately lit up.
That’s right! If the structure changed, there’s a possibility the entrance itself is still there, even though it’s been moved!
Cele and Raz must have realized this too, since their tail fin movements look more cheerful than before!
“Aria, Rin. Which way looks safer, right or left?”
“…Hmm… both are… kind of the same…?”
“Uh, umm? Honestly, both left and right are showing the same yellow caution-level alerts.”
Both I, who have activated my skill, and Ms. Aria, who has been scanning the area, tilt our heads almost simultaneously at Mr. Ville’s words…
Because just like Ms. Aria says, they’re both pretty much the same!
Neither passage is completely free of enemy presence. But there’s no sign of actual traps either. I don’t sense any strange temperature changes or gravity fluctuations… that kind of thing!
“This is… mm… troubling to decide.”
“If the danger levels are about the same, wouldn’t it be fine to choose either one?”
“That may be so, but wouldn’t you want one more factor to help decide?”
“Ville… your cautious attitude isn’t necessarily bad, but letting things stall like this would be more unproductive.”
Mr. Xenon, lowering his eyebrows with a troubled expression, called out to Mr. Ville, who furrowed his brow and crossed his arms. What Mr. Xenon is saying isn’t wrong either. If the danger levels are about the same, it shouldn’t matter which one we choose… But I also understand Mr. Ville’s feeling of "wanting a deciding factor." The decision is ultimately his alone, but he wants a little push from behind, you know?
“Ah! Then how about we try betting on Goma’s wild instincts?”
“Hmm. That might be good too. See, Ville? The ‘one more factor’ you wanted.”
The solution to break this deadlock comes in the form of a cat’s paw.
Contrary to Mr. Ville’s furrowed brow, Mr. Ed, who lifts Gomamiso from my shoulder, and Mr. Xenon, who laughs cheerfully at the sight, look very amused.
Amidst the heated exchange of opinions, Gomamiso probably realizes its name was called. Held high above Mr. Ed’s head, the lynx flutters its wings while proudly stretching out all four limbs and puffing out its chest.
‘This royal me think right! Right is good! Don’t know why though!’
“Ehhhh… that wild instinct is way too unreliable.”
The kitten’s oracle, swishing its tail quite pompously, is extremely unreliable.
Gomamiso’s acting like that random uncle at family gatherings who gives arbitrary advice, Wild instincts? Are you even alive?
“…Even so, let’s try going right. It’s a rare cat’s suggestion after all.”
‘Hmph! This me won’t fail. This me is definitely right.’
Still, maybe that kind of silly looseness is exactly what the leader needs right now. Mr. Ville, relaxing his brow just slightly, steps forward into the right passage. Slipping from Mr. Ed’s hands and leaping onto Mr. Ville’s head, Gomamiso flutters its wings with a proud expression.
Oh! When did they become so close?
“I hope we can get into the Prayer Chamber.”
‘The Prayer Chamber has an altar with a statue of the Goddess enshrined in the center.’
‘Sometimes, even the unblessed little fish swim around the sacred statue… isn’t that kind of heartwarming?’
Maybe it’s because there are no predators around? Raz and Cele swim cheerfully around me. When I call out to them, bright and lively sounds come back. To these two, the Prayer Chamber must really be a special place, full of meaning.
The scene of little fish playing around the Goddess statue… even just imagining it feels peaceful.
‘The Prayer Chamber is beautiful, but the treasure hall you can reach from the back of the room is also amazing! Once this commotion settles down, we’d really like you to see it!’
‘The walls of the room are decorated with coral and giant clam shells, and all kinds of gemstones… it’s said they “shine with their own light,” that’s how gorgeous it is!’
“Wow! Coral and giant clam shells and gems… like it’s decorated with the seven treasures? I’d definitely love to see that!”
Hm?
I got carried away by their excited chatter, but isn’t this pretty important information? The main objective this time, the "Pearl of Compassion," is in this temple’s treasury, and to get into that treasury…
“We can’t reach the treasury without getting into the Prayer Chamber first!”
“Then we absolutely must find the door to enter inside.”
Next to me as I exclaim, Mr. Xenon, who seems to have grasped the situation similarly, nodded with a tightened expression.
Now we have one more reason why we have to move forward! I need to quickly share this information with everyone and find the door to get inside as soon as possible!
“From here on, not just Aria and Rin—Ed and Xenon, you two keep an eye on the surroundings too, as much as you can.”
“Yes, of course. There might be clues to doors leading inside hidden in the walls or floor.”
“Got it! Right now, the more eyes we have, the better!”
Following Mr. Ville’s advice, Mr. Xenon and Mr. Ed both nodded with confident ‘leave it to us’ expressions. Seriously, our party’s teamwork is amazing! So reliable!
“Miso too, if there’s anything that makes you think ‘What’s this?’ let me know, okay?”
“Yeah! Leave it to me! This me will go swoosh swoosh!”
“No, don’t go swoosh. Tell me properly before touching anything.”
In contrast, the kitten’s unpredictability is so nerve-wracking… Please don’t go like, “Ooh, something fun! Click!” without hesitation, okay? Please?
Harboring a trace of anxiety, we proceed down the right path, being careful not to break formation and not to miss even small clues. After walking a bit, the path turns left. But there don’t seem to be any side paths or other branches before reaching there. The walls are still covered with marine life, making them hard to distinguish, but I don’t see any mysterious gaps that might indicate hidden doors. In the first place, while Survival reacts to traps, it doesn’t respond to mechanisms or gimmicks.
I mean, it tells me about edible things and items with high resale value, so why not flag important puzzle points too?!
“…Somehow, the path itself is more straightforward than I expected.”
“Indeed. I was prepared for something more complex…”
‘Originally, this place was a straight path with no way to get lost.’
‘But now, it has so many turns… this is actually more complex than used to be!’
So because it was simple to begin with, the structure just can’t get all that complex even if it changed? Nah, come on… really? But the path ahead after turning also looks like a straight path, and there’s no sign of complex branching… it might be correct that it’s become a dungeon with a simple structure.
The problem is that we still can’t find the door to the Prayer Chamber.
We’ve already checked the front area connected to the entrance, the right side we continued into, and the rear part after turning the corner… and we didn’t find anything that looked like a doorway. And it’s not just me—everyone’s been searching!
…With this, only the left side section remains, but…
“Is there… no entrance to the inside?”
“I didn’t find anything that looked like a mechanism either…”
Even on the left side, we couldn’t find anything that seemed like a clue, and we couldn’t spot any passages or mechanisms that might lead to other places… without finding any clues, we’ve ended up back at the front section.
All we learned is that passages have formed to surround the original "Prayer Chamber," and that these passages have no doors leading to the inner room… A structure resembling the character "回"… does that make sense? The small "口" in the middle is the Prayer Chamber. The large "口" surrounding it is the passage.
“Wait, are we stuck? No, no way! There has to be some clue we missed!”
Ahhh! If this was going to happen, I should have asked Mr. Noah for strategy methods too! I got the event list and the shortest route for solutions, but I didn’t ask in detail about the mechanisms of each individual dungeon! No… Actually, Mr. Noah did say "My memory is pretty hazy now, so there are events I’ve forgotten, and there are quite a few dungeons where I’ve forgotten the gimmicks"… So even if I had asked, there’s a possibility he wouldn’t have been able to tell me…
I guess there’s no such thing as taking it easy after all. I have no choice but to work hard on my own!
Besides, "Wild Rose Maiden," which this world is based on, was according to Mr. Noah "an otome game that took the world by storm." They wouldn’t implement an unclearable scenario!
So if I search properly, there should be a solution!
“Clues in times like this are often closer than you think…”
“What’s wrong, Rin? Do you see something?”
“At times like this, I wish Survival would react and help us out.”
‘If even my royal eyes can’t find anything, maybe there is nothing there?’
Seeing me return to basics and start examining the front wall, Mr. Ville stands up to join me. He lines up beside me and starts searching the wall too. Seeing Gomamiso, who has returned to my shoulder, Raz and Cele quickly dart away.
Aww, too bad!
Pulling myself together, I lightly brush the wall covered with mysterious wavy attachments with my hand, and the marine snow that was stuck to it flutters up, turning the surrounding water white and murky. Seeing scenes like this makes me really think we’re underwater… though I tend to forget thanks to the divine protection.
“Hm? Oh, this is…”
Looking carefully at the wall, I find something round embedded among various attachments. It’s a perfectly symmetrical, beautiful sphere that doesn’t seem naturally formed. Looking closely, there’s a circular relief carved into the wall surface around the sphere. Survival isn’t giving me a warning alert, so I don’t think it’s a trap… but… Even when I extend my finger to check for safety in my own way, no warning alert appears.
I pull my extended finger back at the last second, then extend it again… While I’m repeating this, Mr. Ville seems to have noticed the mysterious sphere as well.
“Well now… this is practically screaming ‘press me’!”
“Somehow, when it’s this obvious, it makes me hesitate instead…!”
“That said, it’s the first clue we’ve finally found. Rin. Try pressing it.”
“Eh!? Me!?”
Everyone must have heard Mr. Ville’s laugh tinged with just a hint of exasperation and my absurd shriek. They all gather around in a rush.
“Come on, Rin, you’re the one who found it! It’s the discoverer’s privilege! Push it, push it!”
“Besides, doesn’t it feel like this is our only option? No matter what happens, no one’s going to blame you.”
“Mm! Rather, we have to… press it! Press, press, Go! Go!”
Mmm… everyone’s so enthusiastic!
…But I can easily imagine that this enthusiasm is meant to lighten my mental burden even a little. Everyone in our party is so kind.
After they’ve gone to such trouble for me, it would be more rude not to do it!
“…Well then, I’ll take you up on your offer! …Here I go!”
With everyone swallowing hard and watching, I press my finger against the sphere surrounded by the relief. The sensation is lighter than I expected.
With a small click, the hemisphere sinks just slightly into the wall. The moment that happens…
“Eh… ah, uwaaahhh!!!”
My body is suddenly pulled upward. The sound of water mixed with air bubbling and draining somewhere violently shakes my brain through my eardrums.
What… what is this!? There was no sign of a trap! Even the moment I pressed it, no alert appeared! If this isn’t a trap, does that mean this happening is the correct route!?
“W-What is this flow!?”
“Aria!”
“Eddie!”
We’re not laundry! I want to shout that as we’re being tossed around, and through glimpses I catch, the ceiling is wide open in various places. Could it be that this water flow is… because water is flowing in and out of those holes!?
Mixed with the raging sound of water, I hear everyone’s voices that sound like screams. Even though I want to confirm everyone’s safety, I’m being battered by the violent water flow and can’t keep my eyes open anymore.
“Uwah, ah… uahhh!”
‘—!!!’
Without being able to figure out the right answer no matter how much I think, my vision spins around and around. The kitten’s claws dig into my skin. Water gurgles and shouts in my ear.
An arm I instinctively extend seeking something to cling to is grabbed by something warm.
“Damn… Rin, this way!”
With Mr. Ville’s unusually panicked voice as the last thing I hear… my vision cuts to complete darkness.
◆◇◆
“Mmm… ugh… I feel like the world is still spinning…”
Even after realizing I’m lying face down on a cold floor, my vision won’t stabilize. Just trying to put strength into getting up makes the blood drain from my face and the world bend and warp. I have no choice but to lift my head just a little and look around while lying down. The faint light from my divine protection membrane dimly illuminates my surroundings.
The surroundings still look like the inside of a building, just like before. What’s different is the color of the walls and floor. The previous place had whitish walls even though they were dirty, but this place is quite dark. The material seems different too—when I explore with my fingertips, I can tell the surface is smooth and slippery.
The surrounding brightness has also dropped, and the world enveloping me is a deep, deep blue.
In this world of black and blue, something brown lies alone.
A light brown body with scattered dark sesame-colored spots.
A pair of wings hanging limply.
White-tipped paws like wearing socks stretched out limply without strength…
“Goma! Gomamiso!!!”
I jump up without thinking, and pain stabs deep into my head. The world spins round and round, and I feel like I might collapse at any moment. I want to confirm at least whether that soft-looking belly is moving, but my vision won’t focus at all.
Desperately suppressing my trembling knees, my running feet get tangled. But I don’t have the luxury to worry about such things.
My! My kitten!!!
‘Mnyuu… Can’t eat anymore… ♡’
The kitten I picked up with trembling hands muttered typical sleep talk with an utterly relaxed sleeping face. While moving its mouth with munching sounds, it purrs in its throat.
“Y-You… youuuu…! Give me back my worry and the serious atmosphere!!!”
Relief welling up, the emptiness and embarrassment of spinning my wheels, and bubbling anger…
Various emotions mix together… and finally, the strength leaves my trembling knees. Still, I can’t bring myself to let go of the warmth in my arms, so I slump down on the spot while holding Gomamiso.
‘…Mmm??? Huh? Where’s my meal?’
“…You’re awake, Miso? You little…! Making me worry like thaaat!!!”
‘Worry? Did this me do something wrong?’
“Well… it’s like you did, but also like you didn’t…? In any case, I’m really glad you seem energetic, Miso…!”
I must have unconsciously put strength into my arms. Gomamiso, who wakes up with its whiskers trembling, presses its paw pads against my face with a squishy sound. That face laughing with a "nyaha" is innocence itself.
…No. I’m just glad nothing life-threatening happened! I’m relieved Gomamiso doesn’t seem injured either!
Damn it! I worried for nothing! Too hard on the heart, you dummy!
“Geez… from now on, don’t make me worry like this…”
‘Hmm? Don’t really get it—! But if something happens, feel free to rely on me, okay?’
…So it’s not like I felt utterly comforted when those squishy front paws patted my head, or buried my face in that fluffy belly fur while my voice came out all choked up with tears! It never happened! Absolutely never!
‘Mnya? Hey, hey. Where are we?’
“…If I knew that, I wouldn’t be struggling. Gomamiso, did you see anyone else around?”
‘This me just woke up!’
“That’s true too!”
The kitten, who seems to have finally fully awakened, looks around with a puzzled expression. It jumps onto my shoulder as usual.
I asked on a whim, but all I got back was a perfectly normal and energetic response.
…Yup, come to think of it, it’d be creepy if either of us had seen someone. I mean, we were asleep—when would that have even happened?
“Hmm… I was holding onto a sliver of hope, but I guess we really did get separated…”
The Mirror Fish I had been holding firmly is fortunately found near Gomamiso, but there are no familiar faces anywhere I can see around us.
Confronted by reality, I stare off into the distance for a moment—until Gomamiso climbs back into my arms. I squeeze it tight, and despite everything we went through in that current, its fur is still as fluffy as ever.
My clothes aren’t wet at all either… the Goddess’s divine protection is amazing!
‘This me is here! No worries!’
“That’s right, my precious combat personnel! I’m counting on you!”
Whether it understands the current situation or not… when I nuzzle the frolicking kitten, I get back a bouncing laugh. Right now, Miso’s brightness is my salvation.
Fortunately, or should I say… thanks to forcing myself to get up, it seems enough blood has circulated to my brain. Thanks to that, I can observe the surroundings in more detail than before.
“This path looks wider. Though, with how terrible the floor is, driving the Camping Car here seems impossible.”
The width of the path and the height of the ceiling are much more spacious here. It would be perfect for the Camping Car, but… that’s not how things work out. The floor condition in this building is quite terrible. Even in the visible range, there are places where tile-like things are peeling up or holes have opened. The place where Gomamiso and I are is still better though…
If it weren’t for that, I’d search around for everyone with the Camping Car.
‘Nn?’
The kitten in my arms suddenly sits up and pricks its ears. I can also hear the sound of something stepping on rubble. The pale blue phosphorescent light scattered in the darkness is proof that something is there.
No warning alert is appearing. Then it’s not an enemy? If it’s not an enemy, then an ally?
Unable to make a snap judgment, Gomamiso leaps out of my frozen arms, tracing an arc of light as it launches itself.
“Rin! Gomamiso! Are you safe?!”
The one who caught the leaping kitten is our party leader.
As for Gomamiso who was caught, the moment it’s held by Mr. Ville, it stops moving in his arms and stays quiet. From that behavior, it probably recognized the identity of the footsteps before leaping. I hear cats have good hearing.
Seeing such a reassuring ally brought me almost to tears… But as Mr. Ville runs over, holding Gomamiso close, it is clear even at a glance how much tension has left his shoulders. He must have been worrying nonstop until he found us—I don’t want to worry him any more than I already have!
“Mr. Ville too! I’m so glad you’re safe.”
I think the voice I managed to coax from my constricted throat wasn’t trembling. Even if it’s stubbornness, even if it’s bravado… if I keep it up, it becomes the truth!
‘Ahhh! So this is where you were! I’m so glad we found youuuu!’
“Cele! You were with Mr. Ville!”
Toward me, who secretly wiped away tears that were about to spill, blue light emerges from behind Mr. Ville as he approaches. A blue fish with a single yellow horizontal stripe across the center of its body… it’s Cele!
Cele’s slightly drawn-out voice soaks gently into my heart.
“Rin… looks like you’re not hurt anywhere either.”
‘I’m so glad both the human and the kitty are alive!’
Neither Mr. Ville, who stands before me holding Gomamiso, nor Cele shows any sign of serious injury. And it seems Mr. Ville has also confirmed that Gomamiso and I are perfectly fine. I bump my clenched fist against the fist that Mr. Ville extends with his eyebrows relaxed in a smile.
As if celebrating our reunion, Cele scatters phosphorescent light while circling around us. Gomamiso watching this has slightly predatory eyes, but… it properly listens to what I say and refrains from reaching out to Cele.
“Still, I’m glad Gomamiso was by your side, Rin. Having combat power versus not having it makes a huge difference.”
‘Coz this me is super strong! The strongest ever! This me can go swoosh swoosh!’
“Sleep talk is something you say while sleeping, Miso.”
After the reunion, we finally started to calm down a bit… The two of us and the two creatures instinctively move closer to the wall. It’s way more reassuring than standing in the middle of the hallway!
Gomamiso, who returns from Mr. Ville’s arms to my shoulder, puffs out its chest happily when the leader pets its head. It’s an annoyingly smug expression. Seriously, this kitten really knows how to talk big… or something. I mean, it was mumbling in its sleep just a moment ago. Wait—could it be that Gomamiso is still dreaming?
“Earlier, I thought I grabbed your hand, Rin, but when I came to, you were nowhere to be seen… honestly, I panicked.”
“They say drowning people clutch at straws… I should’ve grabbed your hand properly too, Mr. Ville.”
“Well, back then we were both pretty much drowning. Even though we could breathe thanks to divine protection, it didn’t feel like being alive…”
I see. Just before losing consciousness, I thought something grabbed me… that was Mr. Ville’s hand! That makes sense!
If only I could have gripped back firmly. Then we might not have gotten separated…
“First, it’s fortunate that at least we could reunite. Now for Ed, Aria, Xenon, and Raz…”
“I saw Ms. Aria and Mr. Ed clinging to each other… but in this situation, I’m worried about Mr. Xenon who was separated alone…”
“…Well, that guy has oddly good luck. In situations like this, he often ends up benefiting the most overall…”
The conversation turns to members we haven’t reunited with yet.
Maybe it reminds Mr. Ville of something unpleasant—he is scrunching his nose—but either way, being left alone in a dungeon is seriously bad news!
Honestly, Team Mr. Ville & Me with Miso and Team Ms. Aria & Mr. Ed can divide scouting and attacks, and Team Mr. Ville & Me with Miso can even take breaks… but if Mr. Xenon is alone, that won’t work! He’d have to handle both attacks and scouting by himself, with no time to rest…?
…Actually, I often see Mr. Xenon using support magic and healing magic, but can he do direct attacks?
…Not just for dungeon clearing, but to protect Mr. Xenon’s life, we need to reunite quickly!
“Hey, Cele. Do you have any idea where we are now? I felt like we were pulled to an upper floor from that corridor earlier…”
“Or rather, did this temple originally have upper floors to begin with?”
‘Nope! There are no upper or lower floors! There’s only the Prayer Chamber where the Goddess statue resides and the treasury connected to it!’
At Cele’s response as she gently sways her tail fin, deep wrinkles form between mine and Mr. Ville’s eyebrows.
“Whoa… so that means a whole new floor’s appeared!”
“It really is turning into a dungeon, then…”
It’s an unexpected addition of a new floor.
Being in a completely new place that wasn’t created using the original building means… we can’t rely on the temple information Cele knows for map predictions or current location calculations. It’s like tackling a brand-new dungeon from scratch! Eh, ehhhhhh… wh-where should we even start exploring?
‘Ah! But but, I can somewhat tell where Raz is! How about we head in that direction first?’
It must have been obvious to Cele.
Those words, delivered in her usual bright tone, were like a divine revelation to us who were about to despair.
What does it mean that she can tell where Raz is!?
“Eh!? Is that like… those with divine protection are drawn to each other?”
‘Yes! Plus, Raz and I are siblings, so that’s probably part of it too! We can somewhat sense each other’s positions!’
“I see! The power of divine protection and the sibling bonds… the deeper the relationship, the easier the connection, right?”
I don’t know which of Cele and Raz is older, so I’m unsure if they’re an older sister and younger brother or an older brother and younger sister.
“By the way, can you tell roughly where Raz is right now?”
‘Hmmmm… Direction-wise, it’s over there!’
“I see, I see. That direction! Got it!”
Cele spun her head around in every direction before pointing diagonally to the front right. Since the path ahead is straight, there’s probably a fork somewhere up ahead.
She can tell the location, but not the fastest or best way to get there…
…Actually, originally these two’s workplace probably wasn’t this complexly branched, so that level would have been sufficient. In the first place, having corridors like this underwater would be rare. If they just swam in the direction where "Raz (Cele) seems to be over there!", they probably would have met smoothly.
I was hoping for something like GPS… hm?
My shoulders almost drop for a moment… but instead, something suddenly flashes in my head.
“GPS! That’s it! The Camping Car has navigation!”
Since we’re looking for people, route searching might not work, but if I adjust the magnification, I might be able to grasp the overall layout of this map!
“If we can tell where the forks are, the difficulty level would drop considerably, right?”
“Exactly! I won’t know if it’ll work well until I try, but if I can use that, it’ll be much easier!”
Fortunately, this floor has enough space to deploy the Camping Car. The floor where we are now seems sturdy and should be able to withstand the vehicle’s weight.
In that case, there’s no reason not to try!
“Alright! Come to me, Camping Car!!!”
My excitement gets the better of me, and I throw both hands up while shouting… but when I calm down, won’t this become one of those embarrassing memories? No, stop it. I won’t think about it!
“Starting the engine, turning on the navigation…?”
Inside the car, which produces a light engine sound even underwater, four heads peer at the navigation screen. A familiar navigation display shows an unfamiliar flat map.
“I see… So this is what dungeon passages look like without any buildings or landmarks, huh…”
Normally, you’d expect to see things like building names or road names on the map, but there’s none of that on the screen we’re all looking at. It’s just a plain white screen with a bunch of black lines of different thicknesses showing what must be the pathways.
First, I think I’ll check on someone whose location—direction?—I roughly know. I try typing "Raz" in the search screen, and…
‘Displaying route.’
After that robotic voice, a cheerful ping! rings out, and suddenly the plain black-and-white screen lights up with some color. When I zoom out, a red pin pops up on the edge of the screen—at the end of a thin path branching off from what this map shows as a thick passage.
Direction-wise, it’s definitely in the "diagonally to the front right from current position" area that Cele pointed out!
“I did it, Mr. Ville!”
“Your skills are truly extraordinary…! But honestly, right now I’m grateful for that extraordinariness!”
The whole car erupts in excitement at this unexpected turn of events. This is a pleasant surprise! Who would have thought you could search routes by people’s names?! Wow! Isn’t this feature incredibly useful when you want to find someone’s location? Like when everyone gets separated during a mission! Though given the Camping Car’s characteristics, it can only be used outdoors and away from people!
“Oh! Oh! Then maybe…!”
With trembling fingers from excitement, I type "Ms. Aria.”
Again, the voice says, "Displaying route…”
“Huh? Could it be the same place as Raz?”
“Yeah. The red marker appears to be in the same position.”
Both the way the road runs and the slightly wider-looking area compared to others… isn’t it the same place that appeared when I searched for Raz?
I search for Mr. Ed and Mr. Xenon’s names one after another, but the pin doesn’t seem to move at all.
That means…
“Wow! Everyone’s together! Yay!!!”
‘This me don’t really know what’s going on, but yay!’
‘We did it!’
Driven by emotions that are part joy, part relief, both my arms shoot up toward the sky. Cheers burst from my mouth.
Perhaps my excitement is contagious because Gomamiso and Cele’s energy is also rising rapidly. Though there isn’t an actual kitten wearing a towel dancing on my shoulder, it sure feels like one is, with a little blue fish swirling all around me.
Wow! What a supernatural and amusing sight!
“Plus, that group has an explorer, a fighter, and a support healer all together, right? Isn’t the balance perfect?”
“Yeah. They have both physical and magical attacks covered, and they should be able to hold out decently for a short period.”
“Short period… ah. That team will gradually become worse off the longer it goes on because they can’t resupply.”
The Mr. Xenon, Mr. Ed, Ms. Aria team—abbreviated as XenEdAria—has excellent combat balance, but their weak logistics department is their Achilles’ heel. Even if they defeat enemies and food drops, none of them can cook… The more they fight, the more exhausted they become, and they won’t be able to recover!
In that regard, we Glutton Alliance members can resupply and rest as much as we want with the Camping Car! Plus, with Mr. Ville and Gomamiso here, we have no problems combat-wise either…
“We should join up with them as quickly as possible.”
“Yeah… I think they’ll be fine, but if… if Raz ends up in their stomachs, I don’t know how I’d make amends…!”
“I don’t think they’d go that far…”
“Still… under extreme conditions, you never know what someone might resort to…”
A shudder runs through me at Mr. Ville’s bitter mutter. I can’t stop my gaze from secretly following Cele.
…No, surely… that wouldn’t happen, right?
“…Look, I have absolutely no intention of eating anyone myself, but… is a fish like Cele even edible…?”
“Well… about that…”
While I couldn’t stop thinking totally inappropriate thoughts, Mr. Ville leaned in close to my ear like he was about to share a secret. His voice was so hushed, I couldn’t help but glance around nervously.
Both Cele and Raz, regardless of size, look exactly like blue tangs. And among blue tang relatives, there’s a fish called "damselfish" that’s delicious to eat. So you can’t help but think, "If they’re damselfish relatives, wouldn’t they taste good if you tried eating them?" Of course, the damselfish on Earth is tiny, like bite-sized, and there’s barely anything to eat on them, so I’ve never actually tried it.
…But you know… Raz and Cele are bigger than Earth blue tangs, so maybe fried, tempura, or at worst just salted and grilled…?
“I’m afraid to check with Survival and see ‘delicious’ come up… so I’ve only looked at their description with squinted eyes… sorry.”
“Don’t worry about it, Rin… I understand the feeling…”
“Let’s keep our mouths shut about this!”
I don’t want the kid who’s grown fond of us to be scared of us!
Having reached a tacit understanding with each other, Cele, who had been watching us with a puzzled expression, tilts her body slightly.
‘? Is something wrooong?’
“No, nothing!”
“Nope, nothing at all!”
Our appetite-stained secret conversation apparently wasn’t overheard. Cele just flops sideways, confused, but still believes our “nothing’s going on” excuse without question.
Ugh! My heart… my conscience hurts!
I have to somehow join up with XenEdAria before Raz becomes a sacrifice…!
With that firmly agreed upon, we nod to each other secretly, making sure the blue fish playing with the kitten doesn’t notice.
After copying down all the roads we could come across onto a notepad, we’re now advancing along those paths relying on that memo. Our formation is mostly side by side… or rather, more accurately, Gomamiso rides on my shoulder as I walk alongside Mr. Ville, while Cele swims around us in circles.
XenEdAria is probably searching for us too, so we’ve agreed to check our location with the navigation after advancing a certain distance. If we don’t correct the discrepancies that arise from both sides moving, we’ll end up searching endlessly.
“By the way, Mr. Ville, where did you wake up?”
“Let’s see… it was around there.”
When I bring up the topic while walking, Mr. Ville draws a circle with his finger near where he was just before. Distance-wise, he was closer than I thought.
However, there are many turns and branches everywhere, so that’s probably why it took time to meet up.
“When I woke up, Cele had been lying on the floor too… I thought she might already be dead…”
‘Aahhh! I do apologize for worrying you back then!’
Perhaps remembering that moment, Mr. Ville shows an involuntary bitter smile, while Cele gently sways her tail fin.
Hmm… déjà vu. We’re doing similar things.
While having such a casual conversation, the path approaches a fork. According to the memo, turning right would be the shortest route.
“Ah! Turn right at that fork. Let me take a look ahead a bit!”
“Got it. I’m counting on you, Rin.”
Checking for traps, enemies… I peek out just a little from around the corner to look ahead down the path we should take. If I peek too much and get spotted by enemies, it would defeat the purpose!
My skill alert is yellow. This means "there’s no direct danger to life, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing dangerous, so be careful.”
It looks empty at first glance—but after that Mirror Fish incident, I knew better. “Nothing visible” doesn’t mean “no enemies.”
“For now, it looks safe enough.”
“Understood. Keep staying alert.”
I step into the fork while watching the surroundings so I can move immediately if something happens. Mr. Ville’s voice also sounds a bit tense. After all, this passage is more deteriorated than the previous passages, and there are lumpy masses here and there, making it extremely difficult to walk… wait…?
“…Hm? Hmmmm? Survival is reacting?”
I thought it was just lumps on the ground and walls, but yellow alerts are floating above them.
[Deep Blue Avalon (Extremely Delicious)
A type of conch that inhabits the ocean floor. Also known as Gross Eater Avalon. It uses a file-like tongue to scrape up magic essence along with surrounding materials, consuming and absorbing them. Therefore, anything consumed by Deep Blue Avalon somewhat loses strength and becomes brittle.
Extremely delicious, but very difficult to capture due to its habitat. Sometimes discovered in seaside dungeons, but even that is rare, and they hardly ever appear on the market.
A rare delicacy recorded in literature as having been ‘served only once at a grand banquet for royalty and nobility.’
The bigger they are, the better they taste, but they stick on with sucker-like flesh, so peeling them off requires strength.
There’s a folk belief that feeding them to feline magical beasts will melt their ears, but this is superstition—eating them actually causes no health problems.]
…Huh…? A rare delicacy…? And extremely delicious too!?
These things stuck to the floor and walls are THAT? Eh, ehhhhhh? They don’t look like it at all from their appearance… but Survival has never lied to me.
Actually, it says right in the description that "anything consumed by Deep Blue Avalon somewhat loses strength and becomes brittle"! The reason this floor’s layers and walls are so deteriorated is definitely because of these guys!
Damn them… making the floor so brittle that the Camping Car can’t drive on it!
“Mr. Ville, Mr. Ville! These lumps on the floor and walls are apparently luxury ingredients, so let’s harvest them! It’s definitely not just me taking out my frustration on them!”
“Luxury… these lumps?”
‘Are we eating this? Really?’
“Yes. According to Survival, they’re apparently a type of shellfish… and they seem to taste very good too.”
At the end of our gazes is a particularly large lump-like mass stuck to the floor.
If this is a luxury ingredient, how much would something that big be worth? Plus, if bigger ones taste better, wouldn’t that one be absolutely exquisite?
It seems safe to feed to Gomamiso too, so isn’t there nothing left to do but exterminate them and clear our heads?
‘Me! This me shall catch a lot! This me will go swish-swish!’
Gomamiso’s eyes sparkle as it vigorously swings its front paws at the floor lumps… but…
“Gomamiso seems to be struggling… How exactly do we harvest those things?”
Looking at the lump that shows no sign of moving despite receiving cat punches—if anything, it’s stuck even more firmly to the floor—Mr. Ville tilts his head.
“I think you do it like this… stick something spatula-like in and peel it off from where it’s attached before the shellfish can show a defensive reaction.”
Like when harvesting limpets, I think you aim for when the shellfish is off guard and use leverage to peel it off. If you can’t remove it in one strike, it’ll stick on tight like with Gomamiso now and become impossible to deal with. Though I’ve only seen it in rock fishing-related videos myself.
I try explaining with a lot of gestures, and Mr. Ville seems to get it.
He readies the greatsword on his back and takes aim…
Just as a silver flash seems to flicker, the next moment a lump—an extra-large Deep Blue Avalon—is in Mr. Ville’s hands.
Truly lightning fast. This is what they mean by speed too quick for the eye to follow.
“Interesting… that ‘pop’ feeling when it comes off is kinda satisfying.”
“Wow! When you flip it over it really does look like a shellfish! Like an abalone or something like that!”
Inside the shell, cream-colored flesh is squirming and wriggling! It does look thick and delicious from the looks of it!
“Maybe I’ll make a dish with this during our next break? Sashimi, or rice cooked with it… sautéing it with butter might be delicious too…!”
“Sounds good! Then we’d better have more of them.”
…Ah… Mr. Ville’s eyes have completely become those of someone targeting prey! Gomamiso is still going swish-swish with its paws too. Luxury ingredients are fearsome…!
“Sorry, but you’ll have to become our dinner!”
‘Food! My food!’
Just as Mr. Ville’s sword seems to slip smoothly between the abalone-like thing and the ground, the lump flips over exposing white flesh in an amusing way. Gomamiso’s job is to roll it toward me with cat punches.
Thanks to the Glutton Alliance members who show even more power than usual when it comes to food, the lumps stuck to floors and walls alike are exterminated in no time.
‘Those guys absorb magical power and divine protection along with the wall and floor materials, so buildings become brittle! Their clinging power is strong too, so it was hard for us alone to remove them!’
They might be luxury items on land, but creatures that absorb magical power and divine protection from a goddess-blessed temple are just a pest here. Cele, looking a bit angry, repeatedly body-slams the abalone-like things rolling toward me.
Ah, I see now. The reason we didn’t see any Abalone-likes on the previous floor was that Cele and Raz had been diligently removing them from the original building, keeping their numbers low!
Both of them are amazing! Super amazing!
‘This isn’t a temple, but I feel a bit refreshed! Thank you!’
As the number of abalone-likes quickly decreased, Cele let out a cheer. She might’ve been giving off a slightly dark aura, but you could totally tell she’d had a hard time with them… so it’s understandable.
Cele watches happily as Mr. Ville and Gomamiso hunt the huge abalone-likes with the brightest smile. It’s a spirit of "serves you right" or karmic retribution… we were just getting ingredients for our meal, but I’d be glad if we could be of some help.
By the way, my current job is throwing the abalone-likes that roll over into the manifested Camping Car! Vengeance for the Camping Car! I’ll turn you all into delicious meals!
“Did we hunt most of the edible ones?”
‘Mufuu! This me worked hard!’
In no time at all, all the visible lumps were cleared out. Though they were huge, so there weren’t that many of them to begin with.
At the feet of Mr. Ville, who hasn’t broken a single sweat, Gomamiso puffs out its chest looking very pleased.
“At this amount, I think we can eat it all ourselves.”
I’d thought about selling them to the guild if we caught a ton since they’re luxurious, but… this much might just be perfect for a group dinner once we reunite.
What was it called, bandit-style grilling or pirate-style grilling? A cooking method where you put live abalone directly over an open flame. I think it would be rich and delicious to eat the flesh cut up with the liver after dropping butter and soy sauce on the freshly grilled portion.
If there’s still some leftover, maybe I could make simmered shellfish over low heat?
“Tastes great and it’s revenge for Cele and the hallway. Two birds with one stone!”
‘Thank you so much! Every time I clear those guys, I’ll remember this scene and keep going!’
The vivid blue color swims around us in happy circles.
“Ah. Since I brought out the Camping Car, shall we check on that team’s movements?”
“Yeah. There might have been some developments since then.”
Since I’ve summoned the Camping Car anyway, we might as well coordinate. Mr. Ville and I climbed into the vehicle with the door left wide open. Cele and Gomamiso are enjoying a peaceful game of tag, going in and out right at the boundary between sea and divine protection.
“Hm? Huh? Ms. Aria’s group doesn’t seem to have moved from their previous location… Maybe they’re waiting for us to avoid exhaustion?”
The destination pin indicating Ms. Aria’s group hasn’t moved from the slightly open area, same as before. I thought maybe they chose to stay put and wait for us rather than move around and exhaust their stamina since they can’t resupply… but Mr. Ville disagrees:
“Those guys aren’t passive enough to stay in the same place just because they can’t resupply, knowing they’ve been separated from us.”
“…Which means there’s a reason they have to keep staying there, right?”
“Yeah. Probably. And not just any reason—one that’s kept them pinned down for a while.”
Mr. Ville’s words make my spine tremble. I can feel the blood draining from my face.
I thought I could feel relieved because everyone’s together… but the situation might be worse than I think.
“As long as Xenon who can use healing magic is there, the possibility that someone’s injured and can’t move is low.”
“Unless… Mr. Xenon’s the one hurt badly and unconscious?”
“That’s possible too… or maybe they’re surrounded by enemies so strong they can’t move from there?”
Ugh! This is bad! In my imagination, Ms. Aria’s group keeps getting more and more battered. Even when I try hard to think of other possibilities, my mind keeps turning to the worst scenarios!
Aaah… if only I could drive the Camping Car at times like this, I could reach everyone right away! But the floor’s too deteriorated because of those abalone-likes to drive on…!
As my impatience grows, a weight presses against my foot.
‘Heeey, wanna get there quickly?’
Looking down, Gomamiso sits at my feet with its almond-shaped eyes sparkling as it looks up at me.
…No, you’re cute! I think you’re cute! But now’s not the time for that! Sorry, Gomamiso, but we have to leave as soon as possible!
“Yup! As quickly as possible! As fast as we can! So, come on… let’s go, Miso…”
‘Hmm. Then, ride me, and we’ll go fast!’
“Huh? W-Wait, Gomamiso!?”
The arms I stretch out to pick up the kitten stop at a rather awkward position. It’s because Gomamiso’s back, now adult-sized, is right there. My entire palm sinks fluffily into the soft fur covering its supple muscles.
I’m shocked when a shoulder-riding kitten suddenly becomes tiger-sized!
True, during Lady Meel’s incident and the Drauwurm battle, it did say it could "get big!" But why now?!
‘Hehehe! This me is super express!’
“No, what do you mean super express… eh, whoa!”
“Wait, Gomamiso!”
Though it’s become somewhat intimidating, that face and puffed-up chest still strongly resembles its kitten days.
Before the question floating in my head could be resolved, its extending tail scooped up my legs. My body, losing balance, ended up riding on the large body that slipped underneath me. The impact that followed on my back was from Mr. Ville being pulled along and collapsing behind me. Looking back over my shoulder, confused strawberry-colored eyes are also staring at me.
Our thoughts sync perfectly:
This is going to be bad…!
‘Eeeeveryone, hold on tiiight!’
The moment my head, filled with question marks, understands what Gomamiso is saying, my body moves instinctively. Right after I grab Cele who’s floating and swimming nearby, and Mr. Ville firmly holds me, Gomamiso’s broad back curves supplely.
From there, it happened too fast to even think.
‘Nyahaaa! Witness my speed!’
“—!!!”
Using its entire body like a spring, Gomamiso rockets forward. Just as its sturdy paws lightly kick off the ground, large wings flap to generate even stronger propulsion.
Probably because the wings’ lift allows it to minimize ground contact, Gomamiso races through the halls happily, utterly unfazed by the uneven footing.
Its speed seems to leave even the screams bursting from my constricted throat behind. Scenery and screams alike flow past like they’re flying.
“W-Whoa… insane…!”
‘Nhaha! Impressive, right? So fast, right?’
Riding on Gomamiso as it cuts through the water at tremendous speed, my vision is surprisingly steady. Despite running this intensely, it should be shaking violently. Gomamiso glances back at me with an utterly innocent smile. Its face looks like it could have a "Sparkle☆" sound effect attached.
Its body got bigger, but mentally it hasn’t changed at all, the usual Miso…
“Goma! Gomamiso! That was supposed to be a right turn! Stop, stoooop!”
‘Nyeh? Did this me make a mistake?’
When I pull on its mane to stop it, the cat who looks back with the most puzzled expression stops its paws immediately. Its thick, long tail sways left and right to maintain balance. The impact of the sudden stop, ignoring various laws of physics like inertia and braking distance, is smaller than I expected.
“Whoa! M-Miso stopped faster than I thought…!”
“Stopping that fast from that speed… impressive!”
Still, it wasn’t without impact. If Mr. Ville hadn’t been holding me, I would have tumbled off Gomamiso’s back! I’m glad I didn’t crush Cele enclosed in my palms too!
I open my hands to release Cele. At first, she seems frozen, not understanding what happened… but perhaps coming to her senses, she starts swimming around in circles at high speed.
‘Wow! Wooow! What was that?! That was amazing!’
Cele seems quite excited too.
While being buffeted by the current created by the frolicking fish, I check our current location against the memo in my hand. Thanks to Gomamiso listening immediately, we can get back to our planned route with just a little backtracking.
“Thanks, Miso. Thanks to you, we made good time.”
‘Huh? Getting off already?’
When I dismount from the surprisingly comfortable Gomamiso Express, its tail immediately droops sadly.
When I scratch its forehead with my fingertip as it tilts its head and looks up at me, it purrs contentedly. Though the sound has become much deeper, its happy demeanor hasn’t changed at all.
“Well, You were certainly fast, but… I don’t want to push you too hard, Gomamiso.”
True, thanks to Gomamiso running, we covered quite a distance. We did, but… it’s not like I want Gomamiso alone to work hard.
I remember when it was basketball-sized… heck, it’s still basically a kitten! This sudden growth spurt…! This can’t be easy on its body…
Sure, riding on Gomamiso’s back was fun, but I feel too guilty to keep riding like this…!
“So… come here, Gomamiso.”
When I spread my arms, the tilted Winged Lynx’s head straightens. Just as its stern face visibly melts into a smile, it kicks off the ground toward me.
Watching its too-big-for-my-arms form shrink midair feels like watching a well-animated scene. I catch and hug Gomamiso, who returns to a size that fits in my arms in no time. Even though we’re in the sea, when I breathe in its fluffy belly fur, it smells like warm sunshine.
“Good work, Gomamiso. Thank you.”
“Yeah. Thanks to you, we covered more distance than expected. Thank you.”
‘Hehehe♡ This me is excellent!’
Though Gomamiso puffs out its chest proudly while I hold it, the fatigue from suddenly growing large and running at full speed must be setting in. As Mr. Ville and I take turns petting its head, it starts nodding sleepily.
“Your feelings made me really happy, Gomamiso. Thank you.”
‘Mm… Me worked hard, right…’
“You worked hard, you worked hard! Sleep a little now, okay?”
When I rock its small body, Gomamiso rubs its face against me while mumbling incoherently.
To not waste Gomamiso’s hard work, we have to meet up with everyone quickly…
Hugging the bundle in my arms tightly, I think this once again.
Mr. Ville and I, the main members of our glutton alliance, are making good progress without any major problems—aside from the time Gomamiso missed a turn.
‘This me was such a good boy, right?!’
Miso, who had been sleeping soundly just a moment ago, seems to have fully recharged its energy. On my shoulder, it puffs out its chest proudly, stretches out all four limbs, and smugly waves its wings and tail. Still, Gomamiso has every right to be proud. Thanks to Miso, we were able to cover more distance in less time than expected.
Thankfully, no troublesome enemies have appeared so far, and at this rate, we might be able to reunite with the XenEdAria team earlier than anticipated!
“Are you alright, Rin? You look like you’re carrying something quite heavy.”
“I’m fine with this much! It looks bigger, but it’s surprisingly light.”
Mr. Ville looks concerned as he gazes at Gomamiso, who has grown to be about one size larger than a basketball.
It looks bigger compared to when we first met, but when it’s awake, the kitten can manipulate its own weight with magical power, making it light as a feather… I never thought I’d find myself thinking like a heroine in a shoujo manga…!
There’s no way I’ll have to worry about Gomamiso being swept away by cherry blossoms or have it bump into me at a corner with bread in its mouth and then we reunite at school, shouting "Ah!" while pointing at each other, right? What? That’s too old-fashioned? Leave me alone!
While fondly feeling the kitten’s healthy growth, I return to where Gomamiso took the wrong turn and manifest the Camping Car on a floor that’s in slightly better condition. I want to confirm our route and double-check everyone’s location, but…
“Ah! Ah! Look, Mr. Ville! The other team has started moving!”
“Really, Rin?!”
“Yes! And they’re heading in our direction! I’m sure Raz is leading the way toward Cele.”
The XenEdAria team, who should have been in a small room or plaza-like area until just now, has moved to the passage beyond. And they’re continuing to move in real-time!
“The pin’s moving… that means they’re okay, right?”
“Yes. I think that’s exactly right!”
Mr. Ville’s face softens slightly as he watches the red pin moving across the screen like a tracking dot. I can hear him exhale in relief. That’s only natural. From Mr. Ville’s position, he must have been extremely worried about everyone.
Well, when I check everyone’s location on the nav, it displays properly, and Cele says she can sense Raz’s presence, so I think they’re still alive!
I hope Mr. Ville can feel more at ease as our journey progresses smoothly…
“Still, to instantly display the route to where they are… Rin, your skills are as extraordinary as ever!”
Mr. Ville’s eyes widen in surprise, but I really think so too. The Camping Car and Survival are truly excellent skills, even if I say so myself…! That’s exactly why I, as their user, must strive harder to make better use of them!
“That spot at your feet is dangerous, Mr. Ville!”
I reflexively cried out at the sudden alert that appeared in my vision.
The moment Mr. Ville reacts instantly and pulls back his foot, the floor where he was about to step crumbles and falls through. If he had been just a moment later, wouldn’t he have fallen through?
Even though it looked like an ordinary floor, it was that fragile!
“Hm. Sorry, Rin. That was helpful.”
“Some floors are more deteriorated than they appear… I need to be careful about where I summon the Camping Car too.”
‘It’s definitely those fake abalones’ fault! Damn them!’
Beside Mr. Ville, who draws in a sharp breath, Cele groans resentfully.
I totally get how she feels!
I mean, If it weren’t for their interference, we could’ve just zoomed through in the Camping Car!
…Wait, if this hole is the abalone-like creatures’ doing, does that mean when they devour things, they don’t just erode the surface but make the inside crumble too? No. Rather than making the inside crumble, they probably weaken structural elements like floor joints. It did say something about making materials brittle.
…Which means even if something looks fine on the surface, there’s a possibility the floor could fall through like just now when you actually try to walk on it! …Eeeh… isn’t that a bit too dangerous? Gomamiso really managed to run without making the floor collapse! I think that’s amazing in hindsight. Fortunately, when push comes to shove, Survival seems to react like it just did, so I just need to be careful about that going forward!
From what I confirmed on the Camping Car’s navigation earlier, if both teams choose the correct routes, we should be able to reunite a bit further ahead. Even if they deviate from their path, we can adjust our route accordingly.
“…Anyway, let’s move forward while being careful!”
“Yeah. Rather than worrying about troubles arising, reuniting with them takes priority.”
Exactly. All we can do is keep moving forward! First, we need to conquer this obviously decrepit corridor.
I scan in every direction—beneath, above, and ahead into the hazy corridor—as we advance at the fastest safe pace.
…Mmm…! So this is the level of technique everyone uses for their jobs all the time? Their focus is unreal.
Since I’m still not used to it, I’m scared I might carelessly overlook something if I let my guard down! I can’t even bring out the reliable Camping Car because the area we’re traversing is too rough!
“From what I checked earlier, I think this direction is correct, but… I can’t be certain.”
“Don’t worry, Rin. The fact is we’re making progress. They are probably looking for us too, so we’ll meet up soon.”
‘Yes, yes! Raz’s presence is getting closer, so it’ll be fine!’
Mr. Ville’s hand and Cele’s pectoral fin touch my back as I tilt my head while holding a notepad serving as a map. Both of them are encouraging me, even though they must be worried about their own companions too. Thinking about this makes something warm seep into my chest.
“Mr. Ville, Cele… thank you!”
‘You’ve got me! It’ll be fine!’
“Gomamiso, thank you too!”
Gomamiso is also patting my back with its tail and pressing its head against my cheek.
Encouraged by my reliable companions, I turn the corner just ahead—
“…Hm? Huh? Don’t you hear some kind of noise coming from somewhere?”
I can hear the sound of something hard colliding and what sounds like human voices. But the echoes in the corridor make it impossible to tell where it is coming from.
But these voices are…!
“Isn’t this Ms. Aria and everyone!?”
“Yeah! They’re probably in combat! Let’s hurry, Rin!”
“But even if we hurry, we don’t know where the sound’s coming from… I’ll summon the Camping Car and check…”
Everyone’s so close we can hear them! Just as I start to panic, a sleek blue fish swims gracefully toward me.
‘At this distance, I can clearly sense Raz’s presence! I can guide you right to them!’
Cele swims around in circles, swaying her yellow-striped fish body. Her expression doesn’t change, but the atmosphere around her suddenly brightens!
…Come to think of it, fish have their unique radar organ—the lateral line! Not only can they sense water pressure and currents, but also water vibrations, so she can probably pick up signs of battle more sharply than we can.
This lateral line is a delicate organ. It can even detect vibrations from walking on the shore, making it a troublesome organ for anglers who don’t want to alarm fish. I never thought that this lateral line, which I considered a nuisance, would help us now…! I feel like I finally understand just how vital that organ is for a fish’s survival.
‘Mr. Ville, Ms. Rin, and kitty too! Come on, let’s go!’
Cele dashes toward where Raz—and by extension, the XenEdAria team—should be.
We try to follow her, but our steps are inevitably sluggish. We want to reunite as quickly as possible now that we know our companions are nearby, but the rough terrain is really slowing us down!
“Ah! Wait! Not here! And that spot’s bad too!? Huh, is this side okay?”
Even while desperately chasing Cele, when an alert appears before my eyes, my body instinctively senses danger and freezes up, stopping my movement. At times like this, I’m envious of Cele, who doesn’t have to worry about poor footing.
‘Saaay… want me to get big again like before?’
Gomamiso, who runs lightly across the ground I’m treading so carefully, shows signs of enlarging again.
Ah! It’s true that if Gomamiso carried me like before, I wouldn’t have to worry about footing, but…
“I’m fine for now! Instead, I’d like you to help fight if there are enemies.”
“Yeah. Gomamiso, conserve your strength for now. We’ll handle this part.”
I think it would be better to have the kitten use its power in combat rather than for transportation. It’s true I’m fumbling a bit, but compared to before, my reaction speed to alerts has improved dramatically, and Cele occasionally looks back while leading us, so there’s no worry of getting lost. I think we can advance fairly quickly without burdening Gomamiso.
Racing desperately through the bumpy path, turning many corners here and there…
“Mr. Ville, Mr. Ville! Don’t you feel like the sounds are getting closer?”
“Yes. At this rate, they’re quite close!”
The vibrations echoing in my gut and the overlapping shouts of several people—it is loud enough now that even with the echoing, we can tell which direction it is coming from!
Thinking we could reunite soon, I put more force into my feet kicking the ground. I can feel the floor beneath my heels crumbling away, but I no longer feel the fear of potentially falling. Rather, my desire to see everyone wins out. We haven’t been separated for that long, but I desperately want to see everyone’s faces. Ms. Aria’s, Mr. Ed’s, Mr. Xenon’s… and of course, I want to hear Raz’s voice.
The moment we all look at each other’s faces and start running again, a shock that makes my head bend and sway, along with a sharp explosive sound, attacks us.
Cele, who is in the lead, falls to the floor… followed by Gomamiso, who is running at my feet, collapsing forcefully onto the floor.
“Cele! Gomamiso!”
‘Uuuugh… My head is pounding…!’
‘My ears hurt! My precious adorable royal ears!’
This shock and sound have enough power to make even my ears ring for a while. Mr. Ville is also groaning while covering his ears.
I know it was sudden, but we took way more damage than I expected!
It must have been even more painful for Cele with her lateral line and Gomamiso with its naturally good hearing. Both of them are rolling on the floor, writhing in agony! I cradle Miso in one arm and scoop up Cele in my other palm, while beside me, Mr. Ville shakes his head as if to dispel the discomfort.
“…It’s neither magical sound nor the sound from Aria’s strings.”
“…! Let’s hurry, Mr. Ville!”
Mr. Ville’s expression, with his brows furrowed, suddenly clouds over. Indeed, if it’s neither Mr. Ed’s or Mr. Xenon’s magic nor Ms. Aria’s string manipulation… there’s a high possibility this sound is an enemy attack.
I stayed alert, but that loud sound only happened once. Maybe the fight’s over… or…
“—Ah, w-whoa!”
Dominated by ominous thoughts, I try to turn the nearby corner with momentum… and crash into something coming from the other direction! A head-on collision upon meeting, with enough force to make me fall backward on my bottom…! If this had happened while in a car, it would have been a terrible accident!
Looking down at me as I raise my face to at least confirm the identity a pair of pale ice-colored eyes, widened in surprise. Behind them, eyes harboring heavenly blue and fresh green are also lined up…
“M-Ms. Aria…? Mr. Ed and Mr. Xenon too…”
“R…Rin… Rin!”
At such an unexpected reunion, my eyes blink involuntarily. Because, because…! I never thought we could reunite so suddenly!
Eh? Eh? This isn’t some convenient hallucination, right…?
It’s so unbelievable that my mouth hangs open foolishly. Before me, a doll-like beauty catching her breath drops to her knees.
“Safe… safe… Rin and Ville are both safe!!!”
“Ms. Aria… I’m so glad you’re all safe too!!!”
Slender arms wrap around my body. As I hesitantly hug back, a cool coldness transmits through my palms.
…This isn’t a dream…!
Ms. Aria is really here right now! This isn’t my hallucination!!!
This time, I couldn’t hold back the emotion welling up inside. The two joyful blues that dance around us blur in my teary vision.
“Ed! Aria! Xenon! Are you safe!?”
“Ville! Finally, we meet again!”
“I never thought we’d be separated!”
Above us sitting on the floor embracing, Mr. Ville and the rest seem to be celebrating their reunion too. I can hear the sound of the three of them bumping fists.
“Speaking of which, we heard an incredible sound earlier—are you all alright?”
“Ah, so you heard it too, Rin.”
“That’s right, Rin! We encountered a rather troublesome opponent!”
Mr. Ed helped Ms. Aria to her feet, his face scrunched with concern, while Mr. Xenon—who offered me a hand—lowered his brows in frustration.
From this way of speaking, it seems the XenEdAria team was held up fighting something.
“With just us, we somehow lacked a decisive blow. We found an opening to put it to sleep and escaped… things don’t go very smoothly.”
“When I checked everyone’s location, I noticed you were staying in one place for quite a while… So that’s why—you were fighting a troublesome opponent.”
So the sound stopped because they temporarily withdrew from combat! I’m glad it wasn’t that everyone got injured and became unable to fight…!
Whether he was frustrated at not being able to defeat it, or feeling some other emotion… Mr. Xenon, looking more dejected than usual with drooped brows and shoulders, told me about the situation at the time. No wonder they were pinned down there for so long. The compatibility was too bad and they were in a deadlock…
I feel bad, but I can’t help nodding in agreement—it all makes perfect sense.
“…So basically, we need to get as far from that opponent as possible, while we still have the chance, right?”
“Yes. There were no enemies in the direction we came from, so let’s escape that way.”
Together with Mr. Ville, who agreed with my outcry, I peer in the direction the XenEdAria team came running from. The depths of the corridor swallowed by darkness remain eerily quiet now. There didn’t seem to be any sign of whatever they were fighting chasing after us, but you never know when enemies might appear in a dungeon. They might even suddenly warp in.
Ms. Aria, Mr. Ed, and Mr. Xenon, who were out of breath until just now, seem to have calmed down a bit, so it looks like we should leave this place as soon as possible.
“We’ll backtrack a little, but there was a place where I could set up the Camping Car. Let’s rest there and recover our strength!”
Even though their breathing has somewhat returned, they haven’t fully recovered. Thinking it might serve as a starting point to encourage everyone, I suggested a break…
“Ugh… come to think of it… I’m hungry…”
“I’m so glad Rin came to the Gourmands!”
“Yes, truly. You’re a lifesaver.”
The effect was immediate! Light returned to the eyes of the battered and exhausted XenEdAria team all at once.
“We picked up some ingredients along the way, so please eat until you’re full!”
“Rin…! You’re the best!!!”
Just as the overwhelmed Ms. Aria is about to knock me over, Mr. Ville supports me at the last moment, averting disaster.
The monster husband’s gaze stings and the elf’s gaze watching warmly also pierces my heart, but… in any case, I’m glad everyone is able to reunite safely…!
“So, from here on, leave it to the cook!”
From here, it’s not my turn as a porter, but as the cook!
I summon the Camping Car in a place with relatively solid footing and roll up my sleeves decisively in the kitchen inside.
“Well then! Let’s start with the Mirror Fish!”
The first thing I should tackle is the pre-processed Mirror Fish. The plan is to have everyone eat this while I work on the abalone-like creatures! Fortunately, thanks to the surrounding low temperature, there’s absolutely no sense that the freshness has declined. The flesh is also beautifully white—this looks delicious!
“Butter-grilled or meunière would be delicious too, but we need a bit more calories, right?”
That said, serious deep-frying is a hassle… fritter-style pan-frying might be just the right compromise.
“Rin. Is there anything I can help with?”
“Mr. Ville! Could you prepare the plates and drinks then?”
“Sure. Leave it to me!”
While Mr. Ville takes barley tea from the fridge and prepares cups, I cut the white flesh—so delicious-looking you’d never believe it was originally from a monster—into chunks. Then I lightly coat these with soy sauce, dredge them in flour mixed with a little starch for the batter… and pan-fry them all at once in a frying pan with plenty of oil!
“I’ll give the edges to Miso, so that’s sixteen fillets…”
Worrying about where that one extra piece might go, I release the Mirror Fish into the shallow sea of oil. The oil dances with a vigorous sizzling sound. A fragrant and wonderful aroma spreads all around. Pan-frying seems to have less splattering compared to serious deep-frying, which is appreciated.
“Hehe… what a nice color!”
Once the batter firms up, I give them a gentle flip, one after another…
Among the fillets swimming in the oil sea, I pick up a reasonably sized piece with cooking chopsticks. A faint vibration transmits through the chopstick tips, so it feels like it’s cooked through. Well, Survival did say that if the freshness is good, raw consumption is possible. I think it would be delicious with the surface quickly heated and the inside rare. One bite, two flavors—the heated part and the half-raw part.
“…Well, that’s something I should check and see.”
Destroying the evidence of that extra piece… I mean, checking if it’s properly cooked is important. Full of ulterior motives, I pop the freshly fried, still sizzling piece into my mouth.
“Ow! Fff—hot, hot…!”
When I bite through the steaming batter, it’s so hot my teeth ache to the core. Hot steam trapped in the gaps of the crispy batter shoots out, instantly scorching the inside of my mouth.
Even in that blazing state, the Mirror Fish is delicious. The flesh that crumbles apart is fine-textured, and I don’t mind the small bones at all. As I chew, rich umami gradually seeps out and clings to the base of my tongue. Thanks to coating it directly with soy sauce, there’s no fishy smell, and it’s delicious even without adding anything!
While puffing out the hot air from my mouth, I plate the fried fritters.
“Mirror Fish is delicious! This should satisfy everyone’s stomachs for now, right?”
“That smells quite good, Rin.”
“Mr. Xenon! Perfect timing!”
What I hand to the handsome elf who pokes his head out while twitching his nose is a plate piled high with golden-brown fritters. The heat from the piping hot fried food transmits warmly through the plate.
Mr. Xenon’s eyes narrow happily at the mountain of fritters… but when he notices the small plate beside me—this one has a single serving of fritters—his blue eyes round with suspicion.
“Um, Rin. That plate on the work surface? Don’t tell me you’re not eating with us?”
“You’re sharp, Mr. Xenon! As you guessed, I’ll be snacking while I cook!”
When I tell the perceptive Mr. Xenon that "I still have more things I want to make" and puff out my chest holding the abalone-like creature, his well-shaped brows droop sadly.
Honestly, the dining table and cooking counter are right next to each other… practically side by side…! It’s like eating together anyway!
…Or so I thought, but…
“Oh… that’s a bit disappointing. I’d hoped we’d gather around the dining table together.”
It’s only a few dozen centimeters to me, but Mr. Xenon seems to feel it’s quite far apart. On top of that, "Won’t you please join us?" He bends at the waist to peer into my face. Even though he’s much taller than me, he’s giving me perfect upward glances! Ah! This is troubling, customer—being looked at with those pleading puppy-dog eyes, ah! This is troubling, customer, ah! Ah! Customer!
“It pains me soooo much, but I want to make a few more dishes. I’ll be right nearby, so please talk to me about various things!”
“How disappointing. I’ve been turned down. But if it’s Rin’s cooking we’re talking about, I suppose I can’t stop you.”
“Hehe. I’ll put my skills to work and make something delicious!”
“Yes. I’m looking forward to it.”
That said, he seems unable to resist his loudly rumbling stomach. Smiling in a troubled way, Mr. Xenon places the plate loaded with fritters on the cabin table.
The members who were on watch or checking weapons had already taken their positions on the sofa, drawn by the smell of fried food! Mr. Ed is distributing plates, Ms. Aria is handing out cutlery, and Mr. Ville is pouring tea… What excellent teamwork!
“Let’s eat!”
“Okay! Dig in, everyone!”
Everyone must have been quite hungry. With only perfunctory pre-meal prayers, forks reach for the fritters with enthusiasm that you can almost hear cheering. Hot food is best eaten while hot—I understand. I’d do the same.
“Delicious…! Mirror Fish is delicious!”
“Is it because it’s freshly fried? The flesh falls apart with just the tongue.”
“The contrast between the crispy batter and the fluffy soft flesh is amazing!”
“The saltiness is just right. It has a faintly fragrant feeling too… I could eat any amount of this.”
While puffing out heated breaths, everyone shouts their praise. Relief that they like it fills my chest.
On the table I’ve placed seasonings for when the flavor might be too mild—salt, pepper, soy sauce, and unusual ones like ketchup and mayonnaise—but no one’s reaching for them.
Seeing the fritters on the plate disappearing before my eyes, I can’t just be happy. I need to fill these hungry people’s stomachs! There are countless menus I want to make, but there’s overwhelmingly too little time! Elaborate dishes will have to wait for another time!
To psych myself up, I pop another of the fritters I’d set aside for myself into my mouth. I face off with the abalone-like creatures I’d thrown into the sink. Thanks to Mr. Ville casting cleaning magic when we caught them, the abalone-like creatures are sparkling clean, shells and all. Having the washing step eliminated is really appreciated when you want to cook quickly!
Offering gratitude in my heart, I select one of the smaller abalone-like creatures—though it’s still bigger than two of Mr. Ville’s fists—and thrust a table knife between the shell and flesh.
“Hm, hmm? It’s softer than I thought! I expected it to be much harder.”
Even though I have been prepared to put in serious force, the round blade of the table knife easily separates the flesh from the shell.
Come to think of it, monsters and magical creatures increase their defensive power by circulating absorbed magic particles and magical power through their bodies… someone explained that before. This abalone-like creature probably did the same when it was healthy.
“Well, getting tossed into a freezing cold fridge would zap anyone’s strength.”
It is not quite live-killed… but the abalone-like creatures stored in the Camping Car’s fridge seem to have reached their activity limits due to the extreme cold. Because of that, they seem unable to handle magical power properly either.
“Ooh! Amazing! I can process them so smoothly! Easy!”
Thanks to the abalone-like creatures being large, the fine details are very easy to see. The flesh is soft, and the working area is easy to see, so I can remove them from the shells without damaging the organs attached to the back of the flesh. Once I’ve done this much, I just need to separate the adductor muscle and liver, remove the hard mouth… and the preparation is complete!
If Raz and Cele saw this scene of the hateful abalone-like creatures being smoothly processed, they’d probably be pleased… yes, indeed. They must be tired, as the two are currently sleeping snuggled together.
“Hmm… maybe I should shell two or three more.”
I finish shelling the first abalone-like creature in no time and start on the second. I thought one wouldn’t be enough to fill everyone’s stomachs!
“Rather than sashimi, sauté would be more filling, right? And we’ll need carbs too… maybe a mixed rice dish… or even a risotto!”
“…Are you okay, Rin? Is there anything… I can help with?”
From behind me as I move my hands while pondering various menu items, Ms. Aria pokes her head out. I thought maybe the fritters had run out… but when I glance over, there are still Mirror Fish remaining on the plate.
…Wait, could it be that she offered to help me even though she was still in the middle of eating because she was being considerate of me!? Whoa, that’s love…! BIG LOVE…♡
“Thank you, Ms. Aria! I think there are lemons in the basket by the fridge, so could you cut those up again?”
“Yes! Got it!”
I can’t just brush off those feelings!
Fortunately, lemons can be used for fritters and also for the sauté, I’m planning to make next. Having them prepared won’t hurt!
Right after I sense Ms. Aria enthusiastically wielding her threads, the scent of citrus mixes into the air inside the car. This refreshing aroma makes me feel like my lungs are being purified all at once.
…Well, Gomamiso quickly escaped to my feet though.
“Ah. Felines don’t like citrus, right? Are you okay, Miso?”
‘Nmm… this me hate this smell!’
“Whoops. But it doesn’t seem like the juice got directly on you, so bear with it for a bit, okay?”
‘Mooo! Take better care of me! Love me the most in the world! Prostrate yourself and worship me!’
As I start on the third “abalone”, the kitten rubs its head insistently against my shin. Immediately, I hear a flurry of indignant complaints from below… This is what they mean by “instant feedback,” I think.
Still, prostrating oneself… I momentarily imagined myself kneeling before a kitten lying like Buddha in nirvana! Just how holy does my kitten think it is…?
If I were to kneel before you, it wouldn’t be to worship you but to sniff your belly fur! Remember that!
I want to pay more attention to Gomamiso, but the next step involves using oil, though not as much as deep-frying. It would be pitiful if the oil splattered and burned the kitten, so I should have it move away for a bit.
“Come on, Gomamiso. I’ve prepared your food, so go eat with everyone.”
“Oh? Then, Ville will take the seat Rin was meant to have, so the seat next to me will be open. Come join us here for a meal.”
“Hey, Xenon! Don’t just—well, I don’t mind switching seats, but still…”
“Come here, Goma! Do you want to eat fritters too? Should I peel the batter off for you?”
While I’m putting the fish scraps from this morning and the Mirror Fish scraps I set aside earlier on a plate, the guys take care of Gomamiso.
Mr. Ville changes seats, and Gomamiso brazenly settles next to Mr. Xenon while Mr. Ed brings it treats—as one would expect from a family of cats, tirelessly working to make all humanity their servants.
With the contented kitten’s purring as background music, I turn back to the stove.
“Butter sauté and risotto—a carb and fat attack!”
When the butter in the frying pan melts and starts making sizzling sounds, I add two abalone-like creatures that I’ve scored in a fine crosshatch pattern with my knife. Immediately, the splattering fat burns my skin, but not enough to cause burns.
When I was scoring them earlier, they felt tough and crunchy under the knife… but I’m curious to see how that texture changes with cooking!
I lower the heat a bit to prevent burning and resist the urge to fiddle with it while cooking…
“Yup, now’s the moment!”
“…This is… the smell of butter mixed with the ocean scent, it really makes me hungry…!”
“There’s nothing quite like the smell of seafood cooking over heat …”
When I flip one over to check, it has a nice golden-brown sear. It was worth the restraint! As I flip the now golden-brown “abalones”, the briny aroma intensifies. What an appetite-stimulating smell.
I glance back and see Mr. Ville sniffing and narrowing his eyes. Everyone else has stopped eating too, drawn by the aroma.
But this isn’t the end!
“Flambéing… is kinda scary, so I’ll pass. But I’m still using alcohol!”
“Wow! Fancy!”
Behind me, as I pour alcohol generously into the frying pan, cheers erupt. Hey Bro! The floor excitement is at its peak!
To trap that heat, I quickly put the lid on to create a wine-steamed state. This way the alcohol circulates throughout and makes it tender… I think! When steam starts escaping through the lid gaps and air holes, I lower the heat a little more.
“Well, that should do it?”
I turn off the heat when my instincts whisper that it’s probably good. I’ll leave this as is and let it cool a bit.
Then, after moving the frying pan with the “abalones” aside, I put a deep stir-fry pan on the heat.
“After all, exploration needs carbs too! Power is strength!”
“True. In the end, strength often determines the outcome…”
“Exactly. Whether it’s physical strength, stamina, or intelligence… what you can truly rely on is your own ‘power.’”
Ah. I was joking, but Mr. Ville and Mr. Xenon took it seriously! Before this gets more complicated, let’s make the main dish!
The key to this risotto is the abalone-like liver! No, I’m not joking! According to Survival, "The liver of Deep Blue Avalon has concentrated umami and is prized as a delicacy. Also, since the absorbed magic particles and magical power are concentrated there, aiding magical recovery when eaten, but because it’s too concentrated, eating the ingredient raw is not recommended. It’s good to combine it with other ingredients in soups or stir-fries to appropriately dilute the magical power!”
The plan is to extract all that concentrated umami and magical power into the broth, then let the rice absorb it to its heart’s content!
I sauté and crumble the liver with plenty of butter, add the rice… and cook it with half the wine-steamed essence from the sauté and broth… The rice went from pure white to deep green in no time… It smells amazing, but yup, the look is a bit intense. I only season it with salt and pepper, but the liver’s umami and slight bitterness create a nice depth. This alone is plenty delicious!
While stirring the bubbling risotto now and then to prevent sticking, I start slicing up the reserved “abalone” meat… but… The sautéed pieces were cooked through, but for this, I want it just lightly cooked by residual heat. Too big and it won’t cook through, too small and it’ll lose all texture.
“It turned out more than I expected… Guess the abalone-like creatures were big.”
Keeping the word "moderate" in mind, I diced them and ended up with more than expected. Savoring this pleasant miscalculation, I add this to the green risotto and give it a big stir.
Then I just need to heat it until it bubbles again…
“Finish with residual heat and sprinkle cheese!”
After adding cheese and turning off the heat, let’s finish everything in one go!
The “abalone” sauté I let rest has cooled to just the right temperature but the flesh is still plump and firm. When I put the knife in, the texture has completely changed to something soft and chewy!
I add some soy sauce to the leftover steaming juices in the pan and reduce it down—that makes the sauce for the sauté.
I arrange the sliced “abalone” sauté on a large plate for everyone to serve themselves at the table. I’ll bring out the risotto in the pot too, so everyone can eat as much as they want. That’s probably the least troublesome approach.
“Alright, here comes the main dish! Please clear the table!”
“Got it.”
“Ready anytime, Rin!”
I place the large plate and frying pan on the ready table with a thud. Mr. Ville, who passed by me heading to the sink, seems to have taken the empty plates.
Since Gomamiso, who had finished eating at some point, smoothly got down from the sofa, I took the seat. Since I usually sit between Mr. Ville and Ms. Aria, facing Ms. Aria feels kinda fresh!
“Abalone-like sauté and risotto! You can eat the sauté and risotto separately, or for a change of taste, you could put the sauté on top of the risotto…”
I tried introducing the dishes, but… everyone’s reaction to seeing the risotto seems lukewarm…? Is it because it’s not an appetite-inducing color? I think it tastes good though…
“Didn’t Ville make some kind of stew in this color before…?”
“Yeah, he did… It was harsh and bitter… It was terribly difficult to force down.”
“…Don’t all gang up on me and dig up memories I’m trying to forget! It’s not like you guys are innocent either!”
Mr. Ed and Mr. Xenon looking at each other and shrugging, and Mr. Ville with an expression like he’s chewing bitter bugs… Ah, I see. It’s one of those past trauma things.
…Actually, what on earth did you make, Mr. Ville!?
Everyone seems reluctant to dig in, but in times like this, I think it’s best for the person who made it to take the lead.
“Uhhh… it looks kind of questionable, but… it smells amazing… Looks tasty!”
“I tasted it a bit while making it, and I think it turned out delicious.”
“…If you say so, Rin… then I’ll eat it.”
Ms. Aria, who has been looking back and forth between my face as I serve the risotto into soup bowls and the risotto itself, resolutely holds out her plate as if making up her mind.
“Wait, Aria! I never said I ‘wouldn’t eat it’! If Rin made it, it’s definitely delicious!”
“That’s right! Unlike something Ville made, anything made by Rin’s hands is guaranteed to taste good!”
“Xenon… do you have some kind of condition where you’ll die if you don’t comment on everything?”
Hands stretch out with something like screams, each holding plates firmly. While suppressing the laughter that wells up, I evenly divide the risotto among the four plates.
Mixed with the rich ocean scent and the fragrant aroma of butter is the savory smell of soy sauce. Every time I move the serving spoon, appetite-stimulating aromas graze my nose.
“Alright then—Itadakimasu!”
I clap my hands together and plunge my spoon into the risotto. Even without trying, I have picked up a good chunk of meat!
“…Mm! Mmm! The risotto’s so smooth… and delicious!”
“The outside is soft, but the center still has some bite… Each chew brings out more flavor.”
“The sweetness of the fat and the sweetness of the rice… just when that might become too rich, the slight bitterness of the liver neutralizes it…! This is dangerous… I can’t stop eating.”
“Ahhh! The risotto’s great, but the sauté is amazing too… So plump and juicy… I could chew it forever!”
Seeing is believing, but nothing beats actually eating it. Honestly, even I can’t stop myself!
The rice that absorbed every drop of “abalone” umami is fluffy and creamy, sliding smoothly down my throat. The abalone-like creatures cooked with residual heat are chewy on the surface and crunchy inside, with the texture changing with every bite. The umami-rich juices overflow and soak into my tongue…!
As for the sauté, it turned out exactly how I planned! It cuts easily with teeth but has a moist, elastic texture that clings, with umami so concentrated it doesn’t lose to the richness of the butter and soy sauce… When I squeeze the lemon Ms. Aria cut, the acidity and fragrance reset my palate, making the next piece delicious all over again.
Moreover, when you put the sauté on the risotto… the umami of rice, butter, soy sauce, and seafood explodes in your mouth!
Wahhh… what is this luxury…!
“…This is… I can understand why Rin started singing while cooking.”
“…Did I do that?”
“Yeah. You looked happy.”
At Mr. Ville’s murmur after swallowing his sauté, cold sweat runs down my back. Ms. Aria’s smile as she looks at me with eyes that see something heartwarming deepens my certainty in an unpleasant direction.
“What was it again? I think you were saying something like ‘Abalone liver drowning in butter, green horror spreading in the pan, adding white rice and stir-frying for better’ or something?”
“I was thinking how skillfully you rhymed, Rin.”
“Gaahhh!”
Mr. Ed and Mr. Xenon, smiling cheerfully, finally delivered the finishing blow.
I don’t remember it, but apparently, I was happily singing while swinging the frying pan. While watching me, completely absorbed in cooking, they were having conversations like "She looks fun.”
Hey, point it out! If I’m humming such weird songs, tell me!
After coming to my senses, it would definitely become †Dark History†. No way!
Actually, what was I thinking at that time!? It wasn’t the time to be cheerfully rhyming!
“Well… you might not notice it, but you actually sing pretty often, Rin.”
“You seemed so happy, so… we just let it be…”
“…Ugh… please tell me next time…”
I’m happy that both the abalone-like creatures and Mirror Fish were well-received, but the backlash hit me even harder, okay?!
As I cover my face and crouch down, someone strokes my back—whether it is Mr. Xenon or Mr. Ville, I couldn’t even tell, as my brain is just boiling with the heat of shame.
◆◇◆
For me, it was stormy… for the other members, it was a peaceful meal break, and once that ended, what we needed to do was share information from when we were separated.
“A crab?”
“Yeah. It was incredibly huge! Even when we attacked, everything got deflected!”
Compared to the glutton alliance that had nothing particular happen, the information from the XenEdAria team that had encountered enemies and fought was quite valuable. Apparently, they fought a ridiculously huge crab that kept nullifying magical attacks.
“Man! That thing would clack its claws together and cancel out mine and Xenon’s magic!”
“I tried to bind it with threads to stop its movement… but I was the one getting dragged around…! So frustrating!”
“The fact that it can cancel Ed’s and my attacks means we can also cancel its attacks with our magic… but…”
“We just couldn’t land a decisive blow! Ugh, so irritating!”
Mr. Ed and Ms. Aria, who downed their barley tea in one gulp, let out voices stained with anger and resentment. Magic nullification and a shell hard enough to deflect Ms. Aria’s threads… For the XenEdAria team, which excels more in magical attack power, it must have been an extremely incompatible enemy. Even the usually calm Mr. Xenon is frowning with frustration… it clearly conveys how much trouble they had.
Fortunately, just when they were thinking "At this rate, we’ll be slowly worn down," Mr. Xenon’s sleep and paralysis magic, cast while hidden behind Mr. Ed’s magic, somehow managed to take effect. It wasn’t like there was no option to continue fighting, but everyone was quite exhausted to continue… If the attacks didn’t work and the crab woke up, it would be seriously bad, so they chose strategic retreat.
“That giant crab… next time we meet I’m definitely turning it into grilled crab…”
“Yes. There won’t be a next time… next time we’ll definitely sink it…”
“…Definitely… certain death…”
Hmm, it really feels like that grudge has sunk deep into their bones… I swear I even heard someone grinding their teeth.
“Still, as you all say, that giant crab does sound like a tough one.”
“True. If we’re going to keep exploring, we’d better face it while we’re still in good shape.”
“If we encounter it when we’re tired, we might repeat what happened last time…”
Because right now we have the full team assembled, and everyone’s stamina has recovered from the meal break! I think this is the perfect time to face a super-durable boss.
And it seemed like everyone, not just me, thought the same way. We all agreed our first priority should be taking down that annoying crab. After that, we could resume exploring with peace of mind.
“Rin. Could you use your skill to track down that crab, like you did earlier?”
“Ah! That would be convenient! I’ll try.”
At Mr. Ville’s request, I got into the driver’s seat. I turn on the navigation and try searching, but…
“Hmm… the crab-like thing doesn’t seem to be available as a destination target.”
The navigation in front of me gives no response whatsoever. Whether I search for "crab" or "enemy" or "boss"… the navigation doesn’t react. It just kept showing the same flat map.
“You could set Ed, Aria, and Xenon as targets, but not the crab… there must be some rule to it.”
“Ah… maybe I need to know the official name, or maybe I can only search for people who have vehicle registration settings?”
I tried reading the Camping Car manual that I had completely forgotten about, but it didn’t have detailed information. However, there was a passage like "recognizes the magical power and life signature—wave-like things that differ from person to person—of people with vehicle registration settings," so it seems certain that I can search for people who can enter the vehicle.
Other possible conditions might be that it only works on people or things I’m familiar with.
“I thought it might save us trouble if we could find it… but things don’t go that smoothly.”
“What are you saying, Rin?! Despite being inside a dungeon, being able to eat and rest safely like this is only possible because of your skill.”
“That’s right! Just this alone is amazing enough, you know?”
Everyone’s kindness in offering encouragement to me as I involuntarily sigh really touches my heart…! But what I’m most grateful for is that no one seems discouraged at all.
“Enemies like that… you have to wear down body and mind… and search for them from scratch… Not knowing their location is… normal!”
“Yeah. Originally, we should have lost much more time when we got separated. Instead, we reunited in no time and even got to rest… what more could we ask for?”
Listening to Ms. Aria and Mr. Ville, it seems everyone has the mindset that "enemies to defeat and gimmicks to clear in dungeons are things you find with your own feet." That’s why, even if I can’t search for enemy locations with my skill, we just need to explore as usual. There’s nothing to be discouraged about—that’s what they seem to think.
“Understood! In that case, I’ll change my mindset and move forward!”
“Yeah. You’re full of fighting spirit, Rin.”
Then what I can do is just work hard at exploring in my own way. Be alert with Survival, occasionally let everyone rest in the Camping Car, and make meals. I hardly get to play a role in combat, but you can count on me for everyone’s backup!
“…Alright. So, do we have any idea where that crab might have gone?”
“Let’s see… That giant crab seemed strangely obsessed with intruders… No. Rather than obsessed, it seemed to have a single-minded determination to kill anyone who entered.”
“Maybe it thinks of that place as its territory. If so, odds are it hasn’t moved from there.”
“Or there’s also the possibility that it’s guarding something it treasures…”
Starting with Mr. Ville’s comment, words poured out one after another from Mr. Ed and Mr. Xenon.
Based on their impressions from actually fighting it, they add further advanced speculation. Our male members are amazing with how they keep coming up with analyses… It’s not that I’m not thinking, but the men’s minds work one or two steps faster.
“I have the location where Mr. Ed, Ms. Aria, and Mr. Xenon were marked down, so shall we just go and see?”
“Good idea. Even if it’s not there, there might be something that could serve as a clue.”
Fortunately, the path back to the small room where the battle with the crab took place still physically exists. I’ve even roughly marked the spot where we met up with the XenEdAria team and where I previously summoned the Camping Car.
Going from our current location to that place shouldn’t be difficult! In the first place, I can just zoom out the map to check the area, and it shows where we are now, so plotting a route should be no problem at all. That’s if the crab in question is at that location though!
“In any case, we’ll just crush whatever stands in our way!”
“We’ve got the full team now—no backing down this time!”
“Yes! We’ll beat it to a pulp!”
“Eh, ah… g-good luck!”
“Hm? O-oh… right!”
Mr. Ed and Mr. Xenon were fired up for revenge… and Ms. Aria too. Caught up in the mood, I couldn’t help but raise a clenched fist. Mr. Ville, seemingly swept up like me, also raised his fist, though he looked a bit puzzled about it.
It is a bit loose for a rally, but our general policy is decided.
Now we just need to face it head-on!
“Everyone, we’re departing soon, okay?”
‘Fwaaah… departing alreadyyy?’
‘Mm, mm… thanks to the break… I recovered a bit.’
‘Mmm… still sleepy though…’
“I’m glad you are feeling better, Cele, Raz! Gomamiso, I understand how you feel but c’mon—time to wake up!”
I shake awake Cele and Raz who were sleeping soundly… and Gomamiso. Unlike the wide-awake Raz-Cele combo, Gomamiso still seemed sleepy and complained a bit, but I hardened my heart and made it wake up! Gomamiso, who wipes its sleepy face with its front paws, rubs its body against my leg affectionately. It’s the completely familiar "pick me up" signal. When I extend my arms, it immediately jumps in with a hop.
…But I know! I know that it plans to make me hold it and slack off sleeping during the move!
“Seriously… I’m waking you the second we get off the Camping Car, got it?!”
‘Mm♪’
“Sheesh… you’re not listening to me at all?”
While petting the purring kitten’s back, I peek outside through the cabin window… Doesn’t look like there are any enemies in sight. Survival isn’t showing any alerts either.
“…Yes. It looks safe…!”
“Understood! Everyone, GO!”
Ms. Aria, who slipped out through the crack of the door I opened slightly, beckons us while staying alert of the surroundings. My job is to open the door wide at Ms. Aria’s signal and let everyone out. And finally, to jump out and put away the Camping Car.
When I deactivate the Camping Car skill, the large vehicle disappears soundlessly. At the same time, I ran toward everyone who had left space in formation and waited for me.
“Rin. Do you remember the shortest route to that room?”
“I’ve drilled the route into my head! For now, it’s straight ahead, then right at the second turn.”
“Good. I’ll leave the directions to you, Rin.”
“Yes!”
Getting patted on the back gave me renewed energy. Just in case, I’ve shared the route with everyone, but I’m the one holding the notes!
…With that in mind, we resumed our search, but…
“We can say it’s going smoothly… so far.”
“Well. Should we be happy that we’re conserving stamina?”
Mr. Ville and Mr. Xenon’s suspicious conversation reaches my ears without me really listening.
…Their doubts are quite reasonable. It’s going so smoothly that it’s almost scary!
The distance to where the crab probably is isn’t short, but the path isn’t that complex. Proceeding while being alert for enemies and traps isn’t too troublesome with Ms. Aria. It’s not that we didn’t encounter enemies along the way, but they were quickly sliced in half by Ms. Aria’s thread manipulation and Mr. Ville’s greatsword and that was it.
Things are going so smoothly that I can’t help but suspect there’s going to be some big plot twist after this!
“Mm, Rin… look at this…”
A cool voice interrupted my spinning thoughts. A pale finger pointed at something silver, tinged red, swaying gently.
“…A fish head? And this looks like guts… judging from the head size, it was originally quite a large fish.”
“Yes. They’ve been scattered around here and there since a while ago.”
What was lying in the passage was a fish head. About a bit larger than yellowtail scraps you’d see at the supermarket. When I pick it up, a faint current carries its blood into the water, staining it red. Its eyes aren’t cloudy, and the gills are still crimson—super fresh like it’d been killed moments ago.
The cut is all messy—like something had torn into it in a rush.
“…Come to think of it, I did notice stuff lying around… but I was distracted by other things.”
“Mm. At first, everyone’s overwhelmed… That’s normal. But it helps to notice even little changes like these!”
“Hehe. Thank you for the guidance, senior.”
On the other side, as I bow my head, Ms. Aria puffs out her chest proudly.
According to the beautiful cute wife who’s acting like a senior, the vivid remains of fish and shellfish—heads, tails, and such—seem to be gradually increasing.
…With each step, more and more fresh remains… a giant crab… a recent battle… oh, I just had an unpleasant realization!
“…Don’t tell me these are the leftovers from that crab…”
“Mm? From that giant crab, you mean?”
“Maybe it got worn out from fighting and started attacking anything it could find to eat and regain strength…?”
I cautiously spoke while staring into those icy blue, blinking eyes.
In that instant, the place falls silent. Everyone’s gazes gather on me whether I like it or not.
Someone seems to gulp. The strawberry-colored eyes in front of me close lightly… and slowly open after one breath.
“…It’s… a plausible theory…”
“If so, we need to find it quickly! It will be troublesome if it recovers any more!”
“Ugh… we got exhausted too, but I thought we’d tired it out!”
“Getting all worked up for nothing is so damn frustrating!”
The pressure from the group that faced it is intense!
…I mean, you brace for a serious fight thinking, "We’ve already knocked down a good chunk of its health," only to find it’s completely recovered—yup, I’d be mad too.
“Whether it’s good luck or not… that place from before is just around the corner now. Should we rush in all at once?”
“Right… the reason we haven’t encountered any enemies is probably because that crab devoured them all.”
“Like cannibalism? Sounds like it’s gone totally berserk.”
Mr. Ville is right—if the crab ate everything in sight to recover its stamina, then the low number of enemies we’ve seen makes perfect sense.
I wonder if I should resent the fact that the crab’s stamina has recovered, or be glad that our own stamina has been preserved because of it… What a complicated feeling!
“Yikes… Everything’s been torn apart and devoured.”
“Mm… as we go forward, there are… more…”
“If that’s the case, then we’re heading in the right direction!”
Without thinking about enemies, I quicken my pace while only paying attention to traps and footing. As we advance, the number of remains scattered in the corridor increases, and sometimes there are even ones that are still twitching and convulsing.
“Almost there… wait…!”
Ms. Aria wrinkles her nose as she’s about to turn the corner… and suddenly presses herself flat against the wall.
…Right. I was so absorbed in following the remains and moving forward that I didn’t notice, but beyond this corner ahead is that very place.
Following Ms. Aria’s lead, I stop, and through the soles of my feet, I feel vibrations of something hard scraping and piercing the floor with grinding sounds. When I peek around the corner, I see a place that’s vastly more open compared to the corridor. The ceiling is high and curved… it’s shaped like a small hemispherical dome.
And in the center of it… there it is.
A large body covered in a visibly hard shell, four pairs of legs protruding from the sides of that body, and one pair of enormous claws…
“Whoa, it’s way bigger than I thought!”
As I blurted out without thinking, Survival presents information before my eyes.
[Fragore Crab (Extremely Delicious)
A crab monster that prefers to inhabit rocky reef areas. "Fragore" means "explosion" in an ancient language. True to its name, it’s famous for striking its giant claws together to generate lightning-attribute shockwaves. It lurks in hiding spots to ambush prey, capturing them by hitting approaching targets with these shockwaves.
It grows by repeatedly molting, and some individuals become so large they get stuck in sunken ship cabins where they settle. The shockwaves produced by larger individuals are correspondingly more powerful and reach farther distances. Its shell, which combines hardness and elasticity, is extremely durable and is used as material for armor.
The internal organs are not suitable for eating, as some individuals have a paralyzing poison in the part of the body called “miso”, which is filled with the poison.
On the other hand, the leg meat is supple and tender despite the massive body, and the shoulder meat and claw portions are densely packed with firm fibers… each part offers different textures, and the fine-grained, richly flavored meat quality is extremely delicious and highly popular.]
Shockwaves! So that explosive sound we heard before reuniting was caused by this crab! It looks like a mix of various crab species, but to think it even has pistol shrimp-like elements… How greedy can this thing get?!
“Ahhh! So when it clapped its claws, it created a shockwave that canceled out Mr. Ed’s magic!”
The shell also seems to be not just hard but flexible too… cutting it with thread would be difficult. This is indeed a terrible matchup for the XenEdAria team.
“Let’s go, get ready!”
At Mr. Ville’s signal, we all burst out from around the corner at once.
Almost simultaneously, in the open space beyond, the massive body slowly turns to face us.
Its roundish shape reminds me of a horsehair crab, but the sturdy thick legs and sharp spikes protruding from various parts of its body also give it red king crab qualities. The area around the base of its claws where fluffy hair grows is like a mitten crab… Its belly area seems a bit swollen too—could those be eggs? It’s a size I’ve never seen before, but each part is certainly familiar.
“Xenon, protect Rin while providing support magic as needed.”
“Understood.”
“Aria, use your threads to distract it.”
“Mm! Got it!”
The giant crab—Fragore Crab—that stands before Mr. Ville as he gives instructions is overwhelmingly large. Not only does it have width to match its long legs, but its height is a full head taller than Mr. Ville. What’s particularly striking are those enormous claws that generate shockwaves! As the saying goes, "the name says it all"—they’re so big they must be about half the size of its entire body. Though that size might work against it in terms of mobility, giving us the advantage, that shell looks incredibly hard…
‘Hey! Stop spacing out! Stay behind me!’
Gomamiso leaps from my arms, hissing with fur bristling as it arches its back and hops in place… Oh! This must be the legendary "You wanna fight" step!
As it darts around, its body grows larger and larger… and it stands protectively in front of me.
“I wasn’t spacing out! I was just thinking about something!”
Hmmm… I feel like I once looked up how to kill a live crab… but how did it go again?
While gazing at Mr. Ville’s back as he draws his greatsword, I rack my brain desperately.
I’m sure there is a way to finish one off in one shot, no matter how hard the shell!
“Heeey, Ville. What about me?”
“Ed, when that thing’s shockwave comes, I want you to neutralize it with magic.”
“Got it!”
While I’m searching through my brain’s hippocampus, the battle keeps progressing.
It must have judged Mr. Ville, who glares at it without backing down an inch, as an enemy. I think I saw the crab’s claws swing down toward us at lightning speed… instinctively, I grabbed Raz and Cele who were swimming nearby. Gomamiso braces itself, putting strength into its front paws.
Before I can cover my ears, the air shakes with a rumble and a shock hits us… but honestly, it’s not unbearable…? In fact, the sound and impact we experienced initially seemed more powerful. As proof, Cele, who took enough damage to fall to the floor before, and Gomamiso too… they both look relatively fine.
Huh… I thought the shockwave from that massive body would be more intense?
“Reaaally? Is slamming your claws your only move? That’s so predictable!”
“When we know an attack is coming, we just need to strengthen our defenses accordingly.”
Mr. Ed raises an eyebrow while Mr. Xenon lifts his chin, both holding their staffs and sneering.
Oh no… our party has surprisingly high taunting skills…
I don’t think it realizes it’s being provoked, but still angrily striking down its claws, the crab matches the movements of Mr. Ed and Mr. Xenon as they wave their staffs. Each time, I see invisible forces crash and burst between us and the crab, while a veil-like barrier wraps protectively around us! Watching it like this, I can clearly see that both the crab’s shockwaves and their magic are just pure energy colliding.
What a spectacle!
“I thought the initial blast was way too strong, but it’s your magic that’s dulling the shock now, right, Mr. Xenon?”
“Oh, you’re referring to when we were fighting earlier? Without any protection, you took the full brunt of it… How do you feel now? Are you experiencing any ill effects?”
“Thank you! I’m completely fine now!”
I give a thumbs up to Mr. Xenon, who worries about me even while using defensive magic. Thanks to him, my ears don’t hurt and my brain doesn’t shake anymore! Perhaps reassured of my safety, Mr. Xenon gives me a gentle smile. It’s such a kind expression, completely different from the chilling smile he was throwing at the crab just moments ago.
What breaks this heartwarming atmosphere is the sound of something hard being deflected—the sound of Mr. Ville’s greatsword bouncing off the shell.
“Damn… this shell isn’t just hard! It bounces attacks back because it has slight elasticity!”
“Yes! My threads get deflected by that too!”
Ms. Aria responded to Mr. Ville’s frustrated voice, waving her arms… her threads while still angry. The whooshing and snapping sounds we heard occasionally were the sounds of Ms. Aria’s attacks being deflected!
If it were just a hard shell, we might have been able to smash through it with brute force, but having some elasticity is really annoying! It means the hard shell can physically absorb attacks and whatnot while also dissipating some of the force and impact, right? And on top of that, it has long-range attacks so you can’t even get close easily! Isn’t that a bit unfair? This crab is seriously annoying!
I wonder if there’s a way to break through this all at once…? From how it’s been devouring food everywhere, its stamina seems to have recovered, and even now its mouth area is still munching on something…
“That’s it, the mouth! The mouth area!”
I’ve seen fishing videos where someone sticks an ice pick into a crab’s mouth to finish it off! They said something about destroying the nervous system all at once… The shell might be hard, but the mouth area and inside the body can’t be the same, right?
“Mr. Ville! The mouth! Aim for the mouth area and pierce straight through to the inside of its body! That should probably defeat it!”
“The mouth!? Got it! I’ll give it a try.”
“If crab meat drops, let’s have a grand seafood party! I’ll put my all into it!”
“Oh? Now that sounds fun…!”
Along with a gesture like piercing through something, I shouted as loudly as I could. Though clumsy, it seems the veteran party leader understood. His strawberry-colored eyes take on a fierce gleam for just an instant.
“You all heard that, right? Rin’s cooking us a grand feast tonight.”
Mr. Ville looks around at each member’s face and grins, lifting the corners of his mouth. Through the gap in his slightly parted lips, I catch a glimpse of pearl-colored fangs that are usually hidden.
Am I imagining things, or did everyone flare up with battle spirit all at once?
“Ed, Aria—focus on distraction. Xenon, attack while continuing to support as needed! Gomamiso, keep protecting Rin!”
“Huh? Just distraction is enough?”
“Well, if I can take it down… it’s not like I’m not allowed to, right?”
“Mm. Let’s show it what we’re made of…!”
“Good grief… you all seem plenty motivated, which is reassuring.”
Maybe it was Mr. Ville’s rare fierce tone, maybe all that pent-up aggression finally boiled over—or maybe both. Either way, everyone’s wearing some scary good smiles right now…
With members full of killing intent, this humble cook couldn’t be more reassured.
“Will take the lead…!”
“Ah, wait Aria! I wanna fight tooooo!”
Ms. Aria is the first to leap out. Each time she swings her arms, the sound of threads cutting through water rings out clearly. It seems she’s repeatedly targeting the soft joint areas instead of the shell parts.
Looks like she learned from last time—nice one, Ms. Aria!
Most attacks make deflecting sounds, but… occasionally dull sounds start mixing in. Yes! It seems to be working!
Mr. Ed follows after her, wielding his wand to unleash magic. Of course, the crab also swings its claws to neutralize the magic, so each time energy clashes and sparks between them… the glittering energy fragments in the water look just like fireworks.
“Hey! We’re still here too, you know!”
“Don’t forget we’re in this fight too!”
Mr. Xenon, wielding his long staff, deftly cast buffs for Aria and everyone, and debuffs on the crab—slipping support spells between threads and spells. He fine-tuned his casting with masterful control.
Just how much training would it take to hit targets without friendly fire in this chaotic battle…?
Of course, Mr. Ville isn’t falling behind either. Heavy strikes that send dull sounds and impacts all the way to where I am at the edge of the dome keep landing one after another.
‘Everyone is amazing!’
‘They each seem to be moving separately, but looking at the whole picture, they’re perfectly coordinated…!’
Cele and Raz, hiding behind Gomamiso, watch the nail-biting battle with sparkling eyes. I understand. I get it! When I watch everyone fight, I’m just completely overwhelmed too!
Not only does everyone clearly understand their role, but they can perform that role perfectly. On top of that, they move in ways that make it easier for their other companions to act… thinking about it that way, isn’t our party seriously amazing!?
“Yup. They’re incredible! They’re my pride and joy!”
‘Heeey? Heeey? What about me? This me is amazing too, right?’
“Of course! I’m counting on you too, Gomamiso!”
When I pet the back of the winged lynx who turns around with a slightly sulky expression, it flutters its wings with satisfaction. Even when it’s big, this part of Gomamiso is still cute…
While the non-combat group is mesmerized by the battle, the crab’s movements, being toyed with by attacks from all directions, are getting sluggish. Well, of course. The crab might have recovered by eating food, but we had a proper meal break too, you know?
Besides, you can’t even compare that scramble we had right after the forced teleport—when everyone didn’t know what was going on or who was missing—to this well-prepped full party battle! This is a whole different level!
‘Ah, ah! The big guy’s making a move!’
At the particularly loud cheer, I look up to see Mr. Ville’s greatsword striking the crab’s swollen belly hard. Without losing the momentum from being deflected, he strikes once, twice… landing consecutive attacks.
What entangles the finally staggering crab are Ms. Aria’s spider threads as she swings her arms at just the right moment. The sound of the crab’s joints creaking and groaning as they’re bound in a crisscross pattern reaches even us.
“Nice one, Aria! Hold it down just like that!”
“Mm! I’ll absolutely never let go! I’ll tear off the joints themselves…!”
“That’s the spirit! I’m counting on you!”
Even weakened, the crab doesn’t ease its resistance. It seems she’s being overpowered as she’s being dragged closer… but Mr. Ed immediately follows up. He embraces Ms. Aria from behind… this is… the gravity manipulation magic he used when we went fishing for catfish on Lady Dragon’s request?
With the crab’s movements finally weakened, Mr. Ville kicks off the floor hard enough to make it creak and leaps high into the air, right above the crab.
‘Wow, amazing… even with the Goddess’s blessing, to move that much underwater…’
“As expected of Mr. Ville! The physical ability of a dragul is no joke…!”
Raz can’t help but be captivated as Mr. Ville leaps high, high… almost to the ceiling, then repositions his sword vertically.
“Xenon, cast weight enhancement magic on me!”
“Got it!”
Mr. Xenon’s staff swing and Mr. Ville’s sword piercing the crab’s mouth happen almost simultaneously. A sound that could be called neither "squish" nor "crunch" echoes around us.
Weight enhancement means… he cast magic to make Mr. Ville heavier so the sword would pierce the crab more easily! And indeed… the crab with a sword sprouting from its mouth jerks up in one big convulsion…
“Is this… did we get it?”
“I think… we did… but…”
As soon as Mr. Ville releases his grip on the sword and leaps back, the legs of the crab that falls on its back start moving erratically. One leg twitches and convulses as if clawing at the air, while the opposite leg repeatedly bends and straightens meaninglessly. The leg next to it makes swimming motions while a claw moves up and down as if beckoning… It’s reacting the same way as in the video I saw! I think we crushed its nervous system.
…Though, somehow… when the crab fell, it felt like something white shot out from around its belly area? Was I seeing things?
Seeing me tilt my head, he probably judged that we hadn’t delivered the final blow yet. Mr. Ville turns his face toward Mr. Ed and Ms. Aria, who are still snuggled together.
“At the very end, it felt like something white escaped… did you see it, Mr. Ville?”
“No, sorry. I was focused entirely on the piercing… but if you say so, Rin, we should be extra careful. Ed, I’ll leave the finishing blow to you!”
“Got it! Time to pay you back for all those spells you canceled out!”
From Mr. Ed’s hands as he still embraces Ms. Aria, blue-white light bursts forth without delay. It travels along Ms. Aria’s threads… How should I describe Mr. Ed’s expression at this moment? Innocent yet overflowing with sadistic pleasure… with such an indescribable face, Mr. Ed laughs.
“Waaah! Lightning magic!”
From the crab wrapped in violent sparks, a savory smell begins to drift. This is… less “electrocution” and more “perfectly grilled”… yup, it’s cooking very nicely!
Mr. Ville’s sword is also wrapped in blue-white light, seeming to help conduct the electricity.
“No matter how tough the surface is, if you’re cooked from the inside of your body, you don’t stand a chance, right?”
“It feels like I’m watching a science experiment!”
Under the relentless, merciless magic that continues to be unleashed, the crab finally stops even convulsing. After Mr. Ed’s magic recedes like a tide, all that remains is the giant red crab body steaming with savory vapor… But that too quickly turns into black mist, darkening our vision.
“Wow! Wow! These are magnificent crab claws, Mr. Ville! Oh! There’s shoulder meat and leg portions too!”
“With that size, there are quite a lot of drops. Can you carry them, Rin?”
“Whoa, just the claws are incredibly heavy! These are packed with meat!”
What remains after the current pushes away the mist are two giant crab claws that could be called the origin of the Fragore Crab’s name, and two sets of shoulder meat portions with thick legs still attached.
Size aside, the shapes themselves are ones I’ve seen in mail-order catalogs!
The shell… isn’t left behind… Well, it seems the crab miso isn’t edible anyway. At least the legs made up for it with a big drop!
Ah, but still, how should I cook this crab?
“Hehe. If the shell remained, I thought we might be able to process it into armor… but it’s beautifully all meat portions.”
“Well, that’s more like us, isn’t it? Rin seems motivated too. With this, we can look forward to dinner!”
“Mm! Armor isn’t bad either, but… Rin’s cooking is super important!”
As I cheerfully gather up the crab meat, talk about armor reaches my ears.
…Come to think of it, Survival’s explanation mentioned it could become armor… I completely forgot in my excitement over the crab meat! But, well, how should I put it… from the conversation that follows, I can tell everyone understands me well, which is wonderful!
Yup! I’ll make something delicious to meet your expectations!
“While Rin and I load the crab legs, Aria, could you with everyone investigate if there’s anything in this room?”
“Mm. Roger!”
“Even while eating, it eventually returned to this spot. There must be some reason for it.”
“It sure was fixated on this room. Well, what will we find?”
Seeing off the three as they quickly spread out, I summon the Camping Car. We’re still in the middle of exploration, so for now, we’ll just load everything inside.
“…Um, Mr. Ville. This is really late to ask, but this place became a dungeon because of that crab, right?”
“Now that you mention it… yeah. I thought that crab’s appearance disrupted the balance of magic particles and magical power…”
“We defeated the crab… but it’s still a dungeon…”
Even after loading all the crab legs, even after putting away the Camping Car… there’s no sign of the dungeon wavering at all.
With my limited otherworld dungeon knowledge, don’t dungeons get cleared by defeating the boss or destroying the dungeon core…? When I met Gomamiso, it was destroying the dungeon core. The hidden dungeon near the royal capital was cleared by defeating the boss Drauwurm, I think?
“Um… I don’t really want to think about this, but…”
‘Could it be… that the Pearl of Compassion has become the dungeon’s core?’
“…Ah…!”
Raz and Cele, huddled together, voice a terrifying premonition with trembling voices. Their misery is such that their blue bodies seem to look even bluer.
The Pearl of Compassion… the Goddess’s treasure used to bestow blessings to the surface. Even if it’s just a remnant, the accumulated divine power and magical power over centuries must be immense.
“It’s not an impossible theory…”
“If that’s the case, then destroying the Pearl of Compassion would be necessary to clear this dungeon…?”
‘No way, that can’t be…! To destroy the Pearl of Compassion…’
‘But! Staying trapped here isn’t exactly ideal either…!’
Unpleasant sweat runs down my back.
The Pearl of Compassion is needed to bestow the Goddess’s blessings to the surface… but destroying the Pearl of Compassion is an essential condition to escape this dungeon…?
“Wait. The pearl isn’t necessarily the dungeon core, right? Maybe there’s something else… some other condition.”
“R-Right! Nothing’s been confirmed yet!”
I tried to follow Mr. Ville’s strained voice, but it wasn’t enough to lift the mood. Well, of course. If you’re told you might have to destroy the treasure you’ve been protecting and are desperately searching for… this reaction is understandable.
But honestly, the idea that there’s another method feels more right to me. For example… maybe we haven’t defeated the mastermind who turned the treasure hall into a dungeon yet. That mysterious white thing that escaped from the crab’s belly… I can’t get it out of my head.
“Ville! Rin! Over here, over here!”
“There’s something like a door in the floor! We might be able to get through to the lower level from here!”
Just before being swallowed by the whirlpool of thoughts, Mr. Ed and Mr. Xenon’s voices pull my consciousness back up.
Right. That’s right. It’s not decided yet that we have to destroy the pearl…! To turn uncertain elements into certain ones, we need to move forward now!
Mr. Ville and I look at each other and nod… then rush over to Mr. Ed and everyone waving us over.
“Look, this! Doesn’t the decoration look similar to the door from the floor below?”
“It’s gotten pretty worn down, but yeah, it definitely looks the same.”
There it is, in the corner of the floor that Mr. Ed points to. Something like a square lid about one meter on each side, clearly made of different material from the rest. Did the crab try to pry it open using its claws or something…? The decorations and patterns are chipped and crumbled. But indeed, the relief of intertwined seaweed covering the entire surface is what we saw on the walls of the lower floor. It would be a bit unreasonable to say this has nothing to do with the lower level.
“These claw marks… do you think the crab was trying to get down here?”
The scratches on the floor are too numerous to be coincidental, and the crab’s behavior of not wanting to leave this spot. What flashes in my mind is the image of a crab trying to somehow get through this door. I don’t know its purpose, but when only this place has scratches… you’d think there’s something there, right? Well, with that crab’s size, it probably couldn’t get through this small door anyway.
“Hmm… certainly not an impossible story.”
“Survival isn’t showing any danger alerts, so should we try pulling it a bit?”
“…Yeah. Let’s try opening it.”
I pointed to a round stone handle set into the upper edge of the square. About the size of a large water bottle, maybe a bit thicker. Even if the crab found it, it probably didn’t have limbs that could hook into the ring.
After thinking for a bit, Mr. Ville pulls up the knocker-like stone ring. Instantly, fine particles like dust swirl up, clouding the surrounding seawater.
“Ed. Can you cast gravity manipulation magic on this slab?”
“Okay☆ Leave it to me!”
“Alright… nghh…!”
At the same time as Mr. Ville’s short exhale, I feel faint vibrations through my feet. It’s like stones rubbing against each other deep beneath our feet. The vibrations never stop once, and as the source of the tremor moves closer, the thick slab Mr. Ville is pulling on gradually begins to lift. At last, with a heavy thunk, the slab comes loose, leaving a gaping hole in the floor. Soft light spills from the square opening, so it doesn’t seem to be pitch black below. Taking advantage of this, Ms. Aria and I peer down together.
The opened hole seems to be at the edge of the lower floor. The distance to the floor is about three or four meters. Judging from what looks like walls surrounding it, the lower floor also seems to be a small hall.
“…Mm… feels pretty spacious… and there’s something in the middle of the room.”
“No alerts are showing, so there don’t seem to be any traps at the landing point.”
From what I can see, aside from a statue-like object in the center of the room, there’s nothing else that really stands out. It doesn’t seem like a dangerous place.
“…Ah! Maybe this is the Prayer Chamber we were looking for?”
“Might be! There is a statue!”
Ms. Aria and I, who raised our faces at almost the same time, looked at each other and then turned back to our companions behind us at similarly matching timing.
Just then, a blue bullet rushes past us.
‘Wah! No doubt about it! It’s the Prayer Chamber!’
‘The Goddess’s statue is safe too! Everyone, hurry, hurry!’
Cele and Raz, who had plunged down to the lower floor and immediately returned, swam around us in circles with complete excitement. Carried away by the momentum of the two creatures bouncing with joyful voices, Ms. Aria leaps into the hole. Mr. Ed immediately follows after her, with Mr. Ville and Mr. Xenon chasing their backs.
Huh? Me? I don’t have the courage or physical ability to just hop down from this height!
As I hesitate about what to do, Gomamiso, who had jumped down earlier, grows large and comes to pick me up from right below me. With just one downward beat of its wings, the winged lynx’s massive body floats in the air, ignoring lift, buoyancy, and… various laws of physics.
Even when I timidly climb onto its back, there’s no sudden falling… or anything like that. With me on its back, it slowly and safely lands on the ground.
‘Mufufu! This me is suuuper useful this time, right?’
“Good job, Gomamiso! You’re totally the MVP!”
While petting Gomamiso’s head as it proudly wags its tail, I head toward the center of the commotion—an elegant goddess statue.
The Goddess’s figure is carved with intricate and delicate detail, sitting on a bivalve throne with a gentle smile. She’s carved with such intricacy and finesse that her flowing hair and the drapes of her robe seem ready to flutter in the ocean breeze—despite being solid stone.
‘Oh my? Actually, there’s an entrance to the treasure vault in the back of this room, you know…?’
“Wait, Cele! Don’t go near it!”
Cele, who had been gazing at the divine statue in fascination, must have recognized something. Mr. Ville’s sharp voice stops her as she tries to swim closer to the statue with a puzzled look. When I hurriedly look around, everyone has their weapons ready and is on high alert.
…I honestly don’t understand what happened. I mean, I don’t sense any enemy presence at all…
Before our bewildered eyes… the space at the Goddess statue’s feet suddenly begins to distort.
…Rather than distorting, something like a white haze suddenly appears and takes shape while wavering.
‘Power… Power… I want… Power…’
“Whoa, it talked!”
It sounds like an old person, yet also like a child, male and female, many voices yet as if only one person is speaking… the only thing certain is that it’s an unpleasant voice that scratches at my eardrums.
[Rhizocepha (Inedible)
A type of parasitic monster that moves and reproduces by parasitizing various creatures. Rhizocepha itself is not particularly strong, with its strength depending on the host it parasitizes.
It controls actions by spreading its magical power throughout the host’s body. It accumulates magical power as the host grows, and when sufficient magical power is stored, it abandons the current host to parasitize a stronger creature, repeating this growth cycle. Additionally, during this process, the original host’s magical power is completely absorbed by the Rhizocepha, leaving behind only a shell-like corpse.
However, when the host is about to be consumed by other creatures, it often abandons that body and escapes. In such cases, it cannot recover the magical power that had been distributed throughout the host’s body and becomes weakened.]
…Huh? Parasitic creature…? Could it be that the white thing that came out of the crab’s belly earlier was this guy!?
‘More, power…! The goddess’s, powerrrrrr!’
The physiologically disgusting voice shakes my eardrums.
I understand it wants power, but why is this thing in this place? Since it’s called a parasitic creature, doesn’t it need a host?
Even though the crab was defeated, it doesn’t seem like it’s looking for a new host…
As I’m about to tilt my head in confusion, the atmosphere around Raz and Cele completely changes. This skin-tingling feeling is… could it be anger?
‘N-no way… your target is the Pearl of Compassion!?’
‘That does contain Lady Lyusia’s power, but it’s not for someone like you to use!’
Raz and Cele spread their gills wide in a threatening manner and roared with all their might. Anyone would be furious if their workplace was ravaged and then they had to listen to a declaration of "I’m about to steal your treasure" right in front of them.
I get it now… This thing’s goal is the divine protection and magical power accumulated in the Pearl of Compassion. It’s trying to steal that and make it its own nourishment. The description says it accumulates magical power to enable parasitizing higher-level creatures.
However, judging from Survival’s explanation, this thing itself seems quite weak… so it manipulated the host giant crab and tried to somehow get in here?
But because the crab itself was a fairly strong individual, the treasure vault became a dungeon. Because of that, it still hasn’t achieved its original purpose! If that’s the case, it makes sense why the crab being manipulated by that thing was so fixated on that location. After all, there was a door leading to this place… to what seems to be the Prayer Chamber connected to the treasure vault!
“…I see. So, in short, you’re the one behind all this, huh?”
“You abandoned your host halfway and escaped, and now you’re a wreck ‘cause you couldn’t recover your magical power!”
“How dare… meddle… with… us…!”
…Hmm. The XenEdAria team’s hate for having to fight the crab in the first battle is incredible. Being forced into a strategic retreat seems to have really affected them.
‘Power… give me… your bodyyyyy!’
“Like hell we will, idiot! Burn to ashes!”
It probably aimed for Ms. Aria in the front line. Writhing tentacles extend, but Mr. Ed’s magic, filled with anger, strikes them down. Even after fighting the crab, Mr. Ed’s magic is razor-sharp. He doesn’t look tired at all.
“Too… slow…!”
What wraps around Rhizocepha’s body as it shows a moment of hesitation is Ms. Aria’s thread. With the momentum of swinging her arm, she spins her whole body around… oh! Could this be… a tornado throw using her entire body’s twist!?
Waiting in the trajectory of the parasitic creature thrown into the air by centrifugal force is Mr. Xenon with his staff ready!
“No need to waste magic on the likes of you. This finishes it!”
“Well, I’ll still apply a little gravity manipulation to reduce resistance!”
Direct hit!
The staff Mr. Xenon swung through accurately struck Rhizocepha. Thanks to Mr. Ed’s magic, the monster’s body flies away with tremendous force despite being underwater. The pitiful parasitic monster becomes a silent flower against the wall where it is slammed. The countless scattered fragments turn into black mist and are swept away by the waves, disappearing.
“We did it! So refreshing!”
“Man, I really hate getting looked down on like that.”
“Indeed. I feel very refreshed as well! I’ll sleep well tonight.”
The XenEdAria team, having achieved their revenge magnificently, seems completely satisfied. They exchange high-fives with beaming smiles.
‘Amazing! Magnificent!’
‘That was beyond satisfying! Thank you for showing us such a sight!’
The joy of Raz and Cele, who had watched the culprit who ravaged their workplace and the root cause of this commotion get defeated from the front row, goes without saying. The two frolic together, swimming around the XenEdAria team.
As I watch the celebratory corner with a warm smile, the entire room suddenly shakes violently.
“Huh!? Ah, whoa…!”
“Is the dungeon transformation being undone because the root cause disappeared!? Don’t scatter, gather together!”
I hear Mr. Ville’s voice tinged with urgency right next to me. I can see Ms. Aria, Mr. Ed, and Mr. Xenon with tightened expressions catching Cele and Raz and running toward us.
At the same time, bubbles rise from underfoot with tremendous force, and as I’m about to instinctively cover my head for protection… suddenly light overflows from the Goddess statue’s pedestal. The pure white light is not only divine but also somehow feels gentle.
“Mr. Ville, look! Over there!”
“At the Goddess statue’s feet…? No, there’s no time to hesitate! Jump in there!”
If we jump in there, we’ll be safe. Everyone must have felt that conviction-like premonition. Starting with Mr. Ville’s voice, we all rush toward the light. I also jump into the light together with Mr. Ville… and in the sensation of gentle waves enveloping my entire body, my consciousness fades for just a moment.
The soles of my feet touch the floor. There’s no pain anywhere, and I’m not having trouble breathing. When I timidly open my eyes, I’m surrounded by soft light and a serene atmosphere. Sparkling jewels are embedded here and there in the walls, making the entire room shine brilliantly. I don’t need to ask where this is—I can tell. This is the Goddess’s treasure vault we heard about.
“…Wow…”
Glittering seashells and magnificent large coral with splendid branching. Rare items are enshrined everywhere, but that thing’s presence is on a completely different level. Nestled inside the shell of a massive giant clam is a round pearl, large enough to fill both my arms. Its glossy, smooth surface doesn’t have a single scratch.
‘Ah, it’s safe! Thank goodness… what a relief!’
‘This is the Pearl of Compassion! It’s said to be made with stardust that fell into the sea as its core, layered with moonlight…’
Raz stroking the pearl with his fin and Cele nuzzling against the pearl looks genuinely happy.
The moist, calm milky-white radiance does indeed resemble moonlight.
“It seems to be safe. Should we return to the Goddess and report that we’ve recovered it?”
‘Yes! We’ll go tell Lady Lyusia ourselves!’
‘Please, everyone, feel free to rest here in the meantime!’
Raz and Cele line up in front of the pearl and bow their heads toward us. Looking at each other, they swim smoothly toward a corner of the wall… where light forms a curtain-like barrier. They’re going to crash… I furrow my brow, but right before my eyes, Raz and Cele slip through to the other side of the wall.
“Eh… huh? They passed through the wall!?”
“…Come to think of it, they did say the entrance to the treasure vault was originally behind the Goddess statue. So this must be it.”
“Ah, I see. If the dungeonification was undone, the building’s structure should be back to its original state too!”
Since I don’t know the original building and it’s been dungeonized and then reverted, I can’t quite grasp where I am right now. Well, all that’s left is to wait for the Goddess, so maybe I’ll take my time exploring during the wait.
Following Raz and Cele, I step into the curtain of light myself. I don’t feel any resistance or obstacle at all.
I was expecting some kind of tingling pressure, like walking through an air shower, so honestly… I’m a little disappointed it’s so normal.
‘W-W-What’s with all these Deep Blue Avalons!’
Before I can look around at my surroundings, my attention is drawn to a loud voice that’s part scream, part angry shout. The scream came from the center of the room… around where the Goddess’s statue was.
Before the trailing scream fades, Ms. Aria bursts out from behind the curtain. Without pause, Mr. Ed appears following Ms. Aria, and Mr. Ville carrying Gomamiso under his arm and Mr. Xenon chases after them.
I also chase after everyone to the Goddess statue… and as soon as I arrive at the scene, I immediately understand the cause of the screaming.
“Wow… that’s quite densely packed…”
‘Uww! Get! Away! From! Me!’
‘Why are there so many of these things…!?’
Because countless abalone-like creatures are swarming around the Goddess statue. There seem to be several large, well-grown individuals, but most are much smaller than what we saw in the dungeon. Next to Cele bravely tackling the abalone-like creatures repeatedly, Raz is also body-slamming them relentlessly.
“This might be leftover effects from the dungeonification.”
“They might’ve gathered here, drawn by the magical power leaking from the pearl.”
“For the future’s sake, we should probably get rid of them now!”
The abalone-like creatures wriggling on the floor mainly feed on magical power. Maybe because the dungeon transformation disrupted the internal magical power balance, or because there were no guardians like Cele and Raz around and security was thin, they all gathered here at once?
Mr. Ville, who peeled off a small abalone-like creature with his bare hands, wrinkles his nose. Ah… that’s the face that says, "This size isn’t worth eating.”
“Hey, Rin. Can we eat ones this size too?”
“No problem! For the small ones, let’s slowly simmer them and make them into luxurious preserved side dishes!”
If they’re small, there are ways to eat small ones! Simmered shellfish can be eaten as snacks as they are, or they’re apparently delicious prepared carpaccio-style. Most of all, I think they’d be amazing in seasoned rice!
My thumbs up is the go signal for the food lovers. With cheers, the hungry members attack the abalone-like creatures. At this rate, the creatures should be exterminated without taking much time.
“Cele, Raz. We’ll take care of exterminating those creatures, so go to the Goddess now!”
‘Are you sure? Thank you! We’ll take you up on your kind offer!’
‘We’ll dash over and be right back with the Goddess!’
“Hmm… I’d really like enough time to exterminate them though.”
The little fish raise their hands… I mean, fins in welcome as their natural enemies are being neutralized, swimming desperately toward the Goddess by moving their tail fins.
At this rate, they might come back faster than I thought…! I hope we can finish exterminating the abalone-like creatures by then…
“Become our flesh and blood!”
“Rin’s… food…!”
I don’t know what principle it works on, but when Mr. Ed swings his arm, the abalone-like creatures stuck to the floor pop and peel off explosively, and Ms. Aria’s thread slips between the wall and the abalone-like creatures before cleanly slicing them off. Gomamiso’s job is to roll around the shellfish that Mr. Xenon has weakened their gripping power with paralysis and sleep magic using cat punches…
Thanks to party members who demonstrate even greater power when it comes to food, the abalone-like creatures stuck to floors and the statue alike are quickly exterminated regardless of size.
…Yup. Looks like there is nothing to worry about!
So what I need to do is prepare to load up the large quantity of abalone-like creatures that will be coming.
The floor of the restored underwater temple is solid, and it seems like I could summon the Camping Car anywhere without it breaking through. Not having to worry about footing is really comfortable!
While watching everyone with beaming smiles carrying armfuls of abalone-like creatures, I gently pat the door leading to the cabin as if to comfort it.
No comments:
Post a Comment