Chapter 308: A Conversation with the Boss of the Lake!

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We listened to the story of the lake’s boss.

…Apparently, this place is an ancient ruin. The ruin seems to encompass the entire oasis, the whole area surrounded by the high wall.

“Those buildings are ancient ruins!? That makes them a genuine World Heritage, no!? …Don’t tell me…this lake as well!?”

The boss confirmed my question.

＊

This area had been a lot more fertile in the distant past. But, the ancient people perished, only leaving behind their town. The lake’s boss kept protecting the lake across all those years ever since then. The lake itself was created through several artifacts capable of producing water. The ancients had apparently installed those artifacts all over the place before their downfall.

At present only this lake was left, and even here it’d become difficult to maintain the water production for the lake since several of the artifacts had broken down.

When the water level dropped too much at one point, the artifacts rang a warning and afterwards, things had been recovering very slowly.

“…And that warning told people they’d be cursed with diarrhea if they drank the water, huh?”

What a very nasty curse!

“Oof, those ancients were terrifyin’. Even their way of warnin’ folks is scary as fuck!”

I agreed with Swords view on this.

＊

After pondering about it for a while, I told the boss, “…I’d like to repay you for the knowledge you passed on to us. I can’t promise you anything without a proper examination, but I think I might be able to repair or build those artifacts anew. But, would that be anything you desire?”

Sword looked at me while being deeply impressed.

“Your really insatiable when it comes to knowledge. Moreover, repayin’ for this…”

“I can’t deny that, but the boss of this lake was actually acquainted with those ancient people, you know? Don’t you think that’s amazing? In short, the boss is part of 『history』 as he had actually experienced and witnessed the events of that time. As far as I’m concerned, I’m deeply impressed by the mysteriousness of this world.”

Sword responded with a cold voice, “Normal people wouldn’t be able to communicate with that boss. A conversation with him is only possible because of you. In other words, your the mysterious one here.”

……Ignore!

The lake’s boss told me that he’d like me to repair the artifacts. He had been embracing the philosophical view that he’d ask for them to be repaired, if someone capable of it were to show up, and otherwise accept his fate.

“Hmm, I see. If you live for such a long time, you start to take such a philosophical outlook on things, I guess. I got it, I’ll try to fix them.”

Once I declared so, something suddenly flew my way from the lake like a bullet.

Boin.

Once I caught it in my hand, a transparent slime, which appeared to be covered by water, wobbled on my palm.

“Ufufu.”

“……I kinda felt like I heard somethin’ gross just now?”

Sword scrutinized me as if watching something disgusting! But, this guy is super cute, okay!? Unlike Slirin, he’s transparent and bouncy, you know?

“You too fawn a bit too much over monsters, don’t you? Won’t Slirin sulk if you prioritize other slimes over him?”

“I’m just admiring this one here! After all, cuteness is justice!”

Cuuuuuuuute!

“…A clone? Will you be okay for it to be away from your main body? Want to travel together with us? What do you usually eat?”

Once I started to talk to the slime, Sword shouted at me with a frightened voice, “Scary, scary, scary, your friggin’ scary!!! Don’t fawn on a slime with such revoltin’ expression and voice!”

Shut up!

＊

We were told by the lake’s boss that its clone would guide us to the artifacts, but that it’d also be fine to take it along with us on our journey.

Yaaay!

“Cuuuuuuuute!”

When I kept rubbing it fondly, Sword drew back with his face cramped up.

＊

We got 【Wobblin】――that’s the name I gave him――to take us to take a look at the artifacts. We decided to have him first show us the working artifacts.

I leaped into the lake together with Wobblin and dove to the bottom.

The artifact was drawn on a very deep part of the lake’s bottom, buried under stones.

I see, I see.

*click*

I took a photo with my tablet PC.

Once I looked to the side, I discovered that Sword had dived as well. He had changed into the swim-wear I made for him a while ago.

Damn it! I totally forgot! This was the perfect opportunity to wear my swim-wear. But instead, I ended up diving in my normal clothes.

『Did you find out ‘nythin’?』

『It’s a fairly complicated magic circle. It’s not just producing water, but also set to cooperate with the others. It looks like it can also run other magic arts in accordance to certain, fixed patterns. I could perfectly copy it, but…I’d like to see the others first』

Once I informed Wobblin, he took us to the other spots.

＊

As we moved all over the place, Sword tapped my shoulder.

『…Hey, your somehow handlin’ the breathin’ with magic, right? Cast the same magic on me as well』

I stared at him while blinking in surprise.

『I thought you’re somehow handling that part yourself, you know?』

『I’m a normal human! I’m askin’ you to do it because I can’t do it myself! I’m holdin’ my breath here! But, I’m ’bout to reach my limit!』

So you’re saying it’s normal for humans to hold their breath for such a long time… We’ve been diving for more than 30 minutes by now, so how do you still have some air left?

I quickly engulfed Sword in a pocket of air. Immediately following, Sword gasped hard with his hands placed on his knees.

『Can normal humans hold their breath for such a long period of time? It seems impossible to me, to be honest』

『You should be able to survive even without breathin’, but this much is the limit for me』

That was his retort, but is Sword considering me to be some sort of alien life-form or something? Isn’t he actually a whale or seal himself?

＊

After checking the condition of all artifacts, I nodded as I now knew that I’d be able to somehow handle things.

『I’ll go back for the time being, create sorcery liquid, and come back here. …But before that, can’t you fix the artifacts with that restoration magic of yours?』

Sword shook his head, 『It becomes impossible if too much time has passed. Bloody Witch and I are limited to one hour back at the most』

A spell that can rewind time!? Sword is truly incredible, as I thought.

I was deeply impressed while astonished, but Sword smiled wryly and said while pointing at the air, 『Neither Bloody Witch nor I can use this sort of magic art』

I transformed water and magic elements into air and enveloped him with it. It’s not that much of a spell, but it sounds like Sword considers this one to be a bigger deal.

We swam back up to the surface and went back to the Ryokus who had been waiting for us.

“Ryoku, please take out Char.”

In response to my request, Ryoku did as told.

Hmm…I have to admit…Char with a lake as backdrop makes for a great painting.

…Oops, now’s not the time to get charmed by the scenery.

I started to make the sorcery liquid. I guess I’ll use the remaining magic tools as servers while setting the ones I’ll make as clients. And it’ll make things easier if I build the clients in a way allowing them to repair themselves automatically and reinforce the server magic tools.

＊

I built client magic tools and server enhancement magic tools, went back into the lake, and set them all up.

Ooohh!! The volume of the lake is increasing at an incredible rate!

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