Chapter 11. Summer and the Sea (7)

Hearing that there was an intruder, the first thought that came to mind was, ‘Who on earth dared to break into this facility?’

It’s true that most of the facility was empty. Ria had chosen the schedule and location considering my swimsuit situation, so we were the only ones ‘playing’ in this facility. Since Ria had informed her ‘uncle,’ it’s highly likely that the association wouldn’t send anyone while we were here.

However, even so, there must be someone managing this large facility. Even if they weren’t patrolling the building while we were playing, there were people guarding the entrance. At night, they probably patrol as well.

Although the number of people wasn’t large, there were likely CCTV cameras inside the building, and a security system was probably in place. Buildings that are vacant for a large part of the year are good places for suspicious people to enter and settle in.

Therefore, it was natural that the first thought upon hearing such news was, ‘Who could it be?’

And the thought that followed immediately was-

Did I hear wrong?

It’s possible that the footsteps of the patrolling guards were mistaken for ‘intruders.’ Perhaps a stray cat had wandered in and was moving around, or maybe I mistook a sound caused by the wind through an open corridor.

“Who was the first person to hear it?”

I asked, having changed from the slightly thin and comfortable nun’s habit I wore for sleeping back into the nun’s habit I wear for daily life. Someone cautiously raised their hand.

Dabi.

She was Gloria’s maid.

Hmm.

I don’t know what kind of person Dabi is. She didn’t even appear in the original novel.

However, I don’t think this person would lie. She was someone who managed to save Gloria even in that situation, and more importantly, the novel often mentioned that elves’ senses had advantages over ordinary human senses.

“…It was a rustling sound.”

And the words Dabi provided were also sounds that seemed somewhat removed from an ordinary situation.

“You said ‘intruder,’ right?”

When I asked again about the ‘rustling sound,’ Dabi flinched.

Although she looked much better than when I first saw her, she still seemed very wary. Well, if her mission is to protect Gloria, it’s understandable.

And the events she experienced when she first came to this world were also terrible.

Someone who has been through a lot of hardship tends to react sensitively to suspicion or hostility directed at them.

However, seeing her standing slightly in front of Gloria, it seems Dabi also remembers her duties well. That’s probably why she reacted so quickly to the sound.

“I don’t know much about the species that humans know. I’m studying them, but I’ve never encountered a world with so many gates.”

Gloria explained on behalf of Dabi.

“There are demons with lower bodies like snakes. In the first place, there are so many types of monsters that there are many individuals that cannot be classified as species. The beings we classify and call by name are mostly those that have survived and taken root.”

And beings that have taken root in that way also possess some biological characteristics. Such beings cannot survive in too much mana. Just like how all Earth creatures lived in the sea in the beginning and now live on land.

“So, you mean it could be a monster.”

“It’s near the sea.”

Hmm.

I looked at Ria.

Ria, as if she had already figured out how to solve the problem while listening to the story, shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly.

“Well, if that’s the case, there’s only one way.”

Ria said with a smile.

“Of course, we have to call an expert, don’t we?”

To Ria’s very sensible idea, I also smiled and nodded.

*

In novels featuring energetic youths, characters are often too young and disregard established ‘procedures’ or ‘expertise.’

They say the less you know, the more you think you know. No, perhaps it happens because you don’t know that you don’t know.

They go to dangerous places without telling anyone, get into trouble, get beaten up and covered in blood, or deliberately do things that experts absolutely forbid.

Well, I understand. If the protagonist were a well-behaved person, there wouldn’t be any incidents in the novel. And such novels are not fun.

However, everyone here is an adult. Including me, most of us still have some youthful features on our faces, but according to the laws of this country, we are legally adults starting this year. Gloria and Dabi might have been treated as adults since they were younger.

And adults are beings who must take responsibility for their actions.

The fact that I went to the Gnome village and suffered greatly, or went to the Dwarf Kingdom and suffered greatly, is the suffering I endured as a result of my own choices. I gained something from it, and I also suffered losses.

And adults are beings who don’t feel the need to take responsibility for others.

We called the guards. Surprisingly, there were quite a few resident staff members in this facility, so the number of people who gathered quickly approached thirty. It seemed they were just not around us.

Although they are called ‘guards,’ they are all hunters belonging to the Hunter Association. Their assigned post is just here.

In the first place, if a monster appeared in the sea, there would be people to deal with it.

That’s right. In the first place, since there are experts, is there any need for us to check this entire huge facility? The people who have worked in this facility for years would be able to check it much more reliably.

Those experts moved around with some equipment in their hands, checking the situation. No, it seems this building itself is equipped with a lot of mana measurement devices.

Furthermore, people were going out to the sea and searching more diligently. Just like Ria gave me a ride, they were riding hoverbikes or similar vehicles, measuring the mana in the sea.

As the situation escalated, Dabi’s complexion gradually turned pale.

Gloria glanced at Dabi. Since she is likely the only other elf in this world besides herself, she must be concerned, even though they have never been seen conversing openly.

“Um… after checking, there don’t seem to be any particular anomalies.”

The man who seemed to be the leader among those acting as guards said so.

“We’ll need to patrol the building a bit more to be sure, but for now, it doesn’t seem to be a monster issue.”

At those words, Dabi’s face hardened further.

“What about the possibility of it being a person or a living creature?”

Gloria asked.

“We’ll need to investigate that further.”

The man nodded and said.

“First, we’ll continue to investigate for the remaining time. We’ll also place guards in front of your rooms.”

“Thank you.”

Ria bowed very politely.

Throughout the conversation, I kept a close eye on Dabi.

Dabi, who had shown a somewhat flustered expression when she first heard that there was no problem, was trembling slightly by the time Ria expressed her thanks.

I imagined it. If there were a princess in my country, and I were her maid, and I woke the princess from her deep slumber in the middle of the night due to my mistake-

Well, frankly, I find it a bit hard to understand. Atheists mostly believe in the equality of people. Although I know it’s not possible to be completely rational due to practical issues, the idea that I possess some biological superiority over other humans is absurd. The concept of superiority itself is a concept created by intelligent beings.

Biological ‘superiority’ is about survival. Surviving and procreating.

…Although I am in a somewhat ambiguous position.

I slowly approached Dabi. Dabi’s face turned even paler when she realized I was approaching. No, it might be more accurate to say she turned ‘even more’ pale.

“Don’t worry too much.”

I said softly.

“There’s no harm in being careful.”

In the first place, I’m in no position to criticize Dabi. How can I judge someone based on a mere warning when I myself went into truly dangerous places by telling a lie called prophecy?

…I already know that there are people who want to claim the Saint in the original work, so is it okay for someone to be particularly cautious?

However, Dabi was still just trembling slightly at my words.

Gloria looked like she didn’t know how to comfort Dabi like that.

Hmm.

I can’t do anything for her right now, but maybe she’ll get a little better if I take her around diligently.

Watching Dabi fidget, I thought so.

*

In the end, nothing else happened until the next day.

Since we were scheduled to return to Seoul a little later in the afternoon, we decided to go into the sea in the morning and play a bit.

And, to me like that, Ria-

“Want to ride that one more time?”

She asked if I wanted to try riding the mana motorcycle again.

“…Why me?”

“You seemed scared yesterday. I wanted to enjoy that expression a bit more.”

Is she doing this because I teased her?

I was going to refuse. After all, it was obvious she was saying this because she wanted to get back at me one more time.

“Why? Are you scared?”

I know that’s a provocation.

Ria said that with a bright smile-

“…Okay, since I’ve ridden it once, there shouldn’t be any problems this time.”

However, honestly, it’s a little hard to resist when ‘Ria’ says something like that.

So, I turned back and glared at Ria as I answered.

I don’t know why.

Is this relationship also following the original work? Am I also being influenced by that plot?

Looking at Ria, who had a smile like a carnivore looking at its prey, I pondered seriously.