New chapter of Ordinary Person is out! (3/3 chapters)

 

 

Chapter 112

(Thank you for reading at bayabuscotranslation.com)

The filming, which had resembled a scene of public humiliation, finally concluded, and I fled into the dungeon. It was, in truth, a complete act of escapism from reality. I vented my frustrations upon every goblin I encountered, striking them without restraint, and only after surpassing the third floor and entering the fourth floor did I finally regain some composure.

The fourth floor was partially covered by a lake, about half of it, and I had been informed by a member of the Self-Defense Forces, whom I had met during the previous terror incident, that the area between the forest and the lake was relatively safe. I wondered if, since the strike, accessing my smartphone had somehow become a trend among the Self-Defense Force personnel. I had no memory of exchanging numbers, yet calls came in as though it were perfectly ordinary. This was before the filming of that incident.

Once again, the call came from an unknown number.

“Hello, is this Kouta speaking?” (Kouta)

“Ah! It has been a long time! But answering a call from an unknown number is quite improper, you know?” (??)

“Then, shall I hang up?” (Kouta)

“Wait, wait, wait! You will understand if you hear me out!” (??)

Even over the phone, I wondered if my aura of lethality was conveyed. Or perhaps, there was something important they wished to tell me. Ordinarily, one would assume the latter, would they not? Yet there was also the matter regarding Onee-san… It was indeed a predicament.

“I have filming for a broadcast shortly, so please be brief.” (Kouta)

“I see! I am looking forward to it!!” (??)

Huh? That sounded exceedingly joyful. Well, I am pleased as well, but… when one is received with such delight, it induces a peculiar sensation, a kind of ticklish thrill or something of the sort…

“Oh, right! I almost forgot! I imagined that you would soon challenge the fourth floor, so I thought I should relay some points of caution!” (??)

“Is that permissible? Would it not anger your superiors if information were carelessly disseminated?” (Kouta)

“Well, perhaps, but I believe it would be worse if people were left uninformed and fatalities occurred.” (??)

“Then, I shall accept it with gratitude.” (Kouta)

“The water spirit monsters that appear in the lake are neutral; they will not attack unless provoked. And then…” (??)

And they were terrifyingly strong.

I was utterly astonished by the existence of monsters that would not attack me; such a thing seemed almost impossible. Yet, upon reflection, even rabbits never attack, so it was not entirely unreasonable. The creatures in the goblin settlements possessed strength that seemed to disregard the limits of the floors entirely. In that context, nothing about this was unusual. It seemed I had been granted invaluable information; I would need to send a thank-you email at the very least.

On the fourth floor, within the forest, goblins and wolves predominated, with the occasional rabbit seen grazing on the grass. The serene scenery almost lulled me into relaxation. After narrowly evading the spell of a goblin mage and defeating it, I made my way to the lake to dispel the lingering tension. The water of the lake was clear enough to drink, though it was said to be unpleasant in taste.

As a precious water source within the dungeon, I also used the opportunity to wash my face. I stepped into the lake, discarded the remaining water in my PET bottle, filled it with lake water, washed my face, and drank from it, grimacing.

“Terrible.” (Kouta)

Though safe, the lake water was indeed unpleasant, far worse than I had anticipated. Suddenly, I felt an overwhelming drowsiness and leaned against a nearby rock to rest. Perhaps the tension from the filming had finally caught up with me.

A brief rest…

…Had I fallen asleep? Here… in such a place!?

‘Myu? Have you awakened?’

…Who was speaking!?

A figure leaned over me as I sat, peering upside down, and its face was not that of a human. Its translucent, deep blue, gleaming visage was pressed close to mine as it spoke.

‘I followed you because I wanted the delicious water from earlier!’

“Water?” (Kouta)

‘Yes! Water, indeed!’

“Who… who are you?” (Kouta)

‘I am a water spirit, you see!’

The water spirit…was it the amoeba-like creature I had seen moving above the lake earlier? Yet this one had a fully humanoid form—was it the same entity?

“Is this the water you desire?” (Kouta)

I held up the water in my PET bottle for her to see.

‘Haaah☆’

Her eyes sparkled with delight.

She was scarcely fifty centimeters tall, resembling a toddler of perhaps one year of age. A semi-transparent, blue little girl adorned in a long-sleeved dress with an ornate chest. This was she.

‘Quickly! Quickly!’

Her small frame bounced as though with anticipation, reminiscent of a one-year-old child. As I removed the cap and prepared to pour the water, she extended her head toward me with eager expectation, smiling broadly.

Should I pour it directly there? Would such an action risk being construed as child abuse?

‘Quickly! Quickly!’

Despite my apprehensions, the little girl urged me onward.

Resolutely, I poured the water onto her narrow head. A gentle stream.

‘…No! No! This is not it! This is not the one!!’

What was wrong?

I tested it by taking a sip myself.

Yes, it is water… the unpleasant water from the lake.

I rummaged through my backpack and retrieved a bottle of fresh, natural water, pouring it upon her.

‘Kyaaa♪ Kyaaa♪ Kyaaa♪ This is it! This is what I wanted!!’

She thrashed about in delight, squealing with joy. Her exuberance was precisely that of a one-year-old child.

‘Puhah~. This is the finest!’

For some reason, she placed her hands on her hips, wiped her brow, and said this with profound satisfaction. Her mannerisms were almost comically mature, yet utterly endearing in her infantile form.

Overcome by her charm, I poured the remainder of my spare water upon her… leaving only the lake’s bitter water. Thoughts of our return journey brought a tinge of melancholy.

‘Is there none left!?’

Her sparkling eyes made it impossible for me to say no.

Thus, I replied.

“There is none at hand for now. Once we exit the dungeon, we shall obtain more.” (Kouta)

‘Mew? Then, we shall leave the dungeon!’

At that very moment, some unspoken connection seemed to surge between her and me.

 

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