Chapter 14: Underground Waterway #3

Chapter 14: Underground Waterway #3

Magic Arrow is the most basic offensive magic.

However, depending on how it’s used, it can become a powerful weapon even until the end of the game.

I hope Flora realizes this too.

How much the power of the same magic can vary depending on how it’s used.

How vast and profound the world of magic is.

Crack-

If Flora’s Magic Arrow was a heavy dodgeball,

my Magic Arrow is a laser shot from my fingertip.

It hits the moment it’s fired.

You can’t even see its trajectory.

The giant rat, hit in the head by Magic Arrow, died instantly.

The large hole in its head clearly shows its destructive power.

“Estel, what was that just now…?”

Flora murmured, lost in thought.

“I’ve never seen anyone use Magic Arrow like this at the magic tower… How on earth…”

“It’s thanks to you, senior.”

“Huh? M-me?”

“You taught me so well, senior, that I quickly grasped the knack. I’m good at applying things, but it takes time to learn the basics. Thank you for helping me.”

“Ah- I-is that so! I was helpful? That’s a relief-“

Flora nodded, then smiled proudly.

…She’s such an easy person to handle.

On the other hand, I’m starting to worry a bit.

Wouldn’t she be easily fooled and fall for anything if someone sweet-talked her a little?

After we part ways, I might feel like I’ve left a child by the water.

‘Speaking of which, there’s still a long way to go.’

It was good that I modified the magic using the knowledge I had.

However, my mana was instantly depleted with just one shot of Magic Arrow.

Did I overdo it trying to look cool in front of Flora?

I could use it a couple more times by summoning the abilities stored in my Reliquary…

Even so, the absolute amount of my mana is still extremely low.

‘Being fancy isn’t always the best answer.’

The “Estel Style” modification, which requires precise aiming and firing like a pistol, consumes additional mana.

The same goes for imbuing the frost attribute.

As the power increases, the amount of mana consumed also skyrockets.

After resting for a while to recover some mana, I decided to try the next spell.

The second spell I learned from “The Principles of Magic.”

As I concentrated mana into the dagger, its blade turned blue, and white steam began to emanate.

“Frost Sword,” a basic offensive magic of the “Frost School.”

Although Frost Sword is less destructive than Magic Arrow, it is clearly superior in terms of efficiency.

It lasts for a certain period after use, and when cast through a dagger like this, the mana consumption is much lower.

“Senior, fire away.”

“Okay-“

As I pointed at the giant rat, Flora cheerfully fired a Magic Arrow.

Even if it doesn’t kill it in one hit, I finish off the critically wounded giant rat with Frost Sword.

With this strategy, we can hunt monsters with minimal mana consumption.

‘This is going smoothly.’

The real enemies of the underground waterway haven’t appeared yet, but the hunts so far are proceeding smoothly as planned.

I felt satisfied and began to collect the corpses of the giant rats I had hunted.

First, I’ll pull out the whiskers, which are concentrated with magic.

Next, I’ll cut off the thick tail.

“Ugh- Do we really have to take that?”

Flora said, frowning.

She stood at a distance, seemingly disgusted to even come close.

“Of course. It’s all money. We have to take everything we can.”

“Ugh…”

“Senior, come here. Open your bag.”

“Yes? M-my bag?”

“Are you going to carry it in your hands?”

Flora seemed very reluctant to put the rat’s by-products into her bag.

Well, what can you do? She has to get used to it.

I don’t like it either.

Who would enjoy handling rat whiskers or tails?

But just hunting monsters and taking only the magic stones isn’t profitable.

Unless you’re a knight with generous support from nobles, adventurers have to grab everything that could be profitable whenever they get the chance to survive.

“Eek…”

Flora, unable to bear looking, stood with her eyes almost closed.

She stood in an awkward pose, stretching her arm out as far as possible to keep her bag away from her body.

Seeing her like that, I felt a mischievous urge.

Wiggle-

I rubbed the base of the rat’s tail with my hand, and it twitched as if alive.

“Whoa, what? Senior, it’s moving! Be careful-“

“Kyaak-!”

Flora jumped more than a meter in place and backed away frantically in panic.

…That’s too strong a reaction.

“Wait, senior, behind you-“

Splash-

Flora, losing her footing, landed right in the middle of the water flowing in the waterway.

Oh dear.

“Are you okay? Are you hurt?”

“…”

Ah.

She’s not saying anything. Her expression is also stiff.

Was the prank a bit too much?

“Sorry… I was just playing a prank.”

“…”

“Your pants are getting all wet, senior. Get up. Come on, hurry- Don’t make that face. Here, hold my hand.”

Flora turned her head sharply.

Oh my, she seems genuinely upset.

“⋯You’re too mean.”

“I’m really sorry. I won’t do it again.”

As I took another step closer…

Splash-

“Ugh!”

“Ahaha- Gotcha?”

Flora splashed water at me, seizing the moment.

“Aigoo, ptooey- It got in my mouth…”

Flora, soaked to her hips, laughed heartily.

***

As we proceeded through the underground waterway, we became increasingly accustomed to hunting.

The monsters are increasing, and now three giant rats appear simultaneously.

“Senior, shield.”

“Using it now-“

Flora skillfully used Magic Shield before I could even finish speaking.

After blocking half of the narrow waterway passage with Magic Shield.

-Squeak-squeak-

“Here I go!”

CRUNCH!

I immediately attacked the giant rat emerging from the gap I deliberately left open with Magic Arrow.

Flora, with much more mana than me, provides cover from behind.

I also swung my dagger at the giant rat without hesitation.

-Kyak.

The blade imbued with frost attribute sliced through the rat’s neck like cutting steak.

As the giant rat behind it pushed its head over the corpse of its companion, the same situation repeated.

Good, good. Keep sticking your heads out one by one.

‘It was a good decision to bring Flora. The hunting speed is much faster than hunting alone.’

It took less than 2 minutes to defeat the three giant rats.

“We can handle five at once now.”

“I think so too. Estel, I think I understand now. How to use magic.”

Indeed, Flora’s magic proficiency is clearly improving by leaps and bounds, even in my eyes.

As expected, there’s no better teacher than practical experience.

As Flora’s bag became heavy with the giant rats she caught.

The narrow single path of the waterway ended, and a wide, circular space appeared.

The path ahead split into two.

One was a large, wide path, and the other was a narrow path barely wide enough for one person to pass.

“Shall we explore the narrow path first?”

Flora said, her eyes sparkling with adventurous spirit.

She seemed to think that a more exciting adventure awaited in the narrow, dark path.

“Wait a moment.”

I stopped Flora by her shoulder.

“Senior, I have a bad feeling about this. Let’s put that path on hold for now.”

“Really…? I don’t really know…”

“The smell is strange.”

Flora sniffed and tilted her head.

But what would she know even if she did?

Actually, I’m the same.

I don’t know much about smells or anything else.

My sense of smell has long been numbed from wandering in the stench-filled waterway all day.

The reason I stopped her is because I already know what awaits us ahead.

‘The underground waterway’s sub-dungeon, the Contaminated Deposit.’

The rewards are quite substantial, but it’s also very dangerous.

At least, it’s a difficulty level that we, as we are now, cannot rashly challenge.

I marked the location of the sub-dungeon on the map.

‘I’ll come back later to clear this out.’

Although it was a blank white sheet at first, the map is gradually filling up as I explore the waterway.

Of course, I’m not making it just for fun.

It’ll be helpful when clearing the underground waterway, and I might even be able to sell it for a good profit by the time I leave the frontier.

Adventurers must always be able to create side income.

No one will just hand you money out of nowhere.

As I was squatting and drawing the map, Flora approached, her curiosity piqued.

“What are you doing, Estel?”

Flora looked at the map and giggled.

“Ah- you were resting while drawing. Hehe… How cute.”

“⋯I’m not playing.”

I gave her a sideways glance, utterly dumbfounded.

Does it look like I’m playing with drawings?

Do they think I’m a real child?

However, after hearing Flora’s words and looking at the map again…

‘My drawing skills are a bit… lacking.’

The lines and letters drawn with colored pencils were not very satisfactory.

Without prior explanation, it could look like a child’s scribble.

It can’t be helped.

It must be because I lack the “Map Making” skill. I don’t have the “Drawing” skill either.

It’s definitely not because I’m short and draw like a child.

“Senior, you go first.”

“I’m fine… I’m still full of energy.”

“You’ve been yawning since earlier. It’s safe here, so you can sleep soundly and wake up.”

The underground waterway is an early-game dungeon, so there’s no need to worry about night ambushes.

Neither the giant rats nor the ratmen, who will appear in earnest from the next section, patrol actively; they only guard their own territories.

The point where we are currently located is a checkpoint and a resting area.

“Rest when you can. Tomorrow won’t be as easy as today.”

There was no reply.

When I turned around, Flora had already fallen asleep.

She must have been quite tired…

Even so, wouldn’t it normally be difficult to fall asleep in such a foul-smelling place?

She fell asleep instantly as soon as she lay her head on the ground.

It’s a talent, if you can call it that. Almost enviable.

I watched Flora’s sleeping face with a sense of absurdity for a moment, then covered her with a blanket.

May you have sweet dreams.

Now, then, I have something I need to do on my own.

I took out the necessary items from my bag.

Giant rat’s molar.

And an antidote, just in case.

‘Honestly, I’m not keen on this.’

It would be fine in a game, but I hesitate to experiment on myself.

However, I need to confirm this once. Preferably when I have the leisure, like now.

‘If my hypothesis is correct, my future growth direction will undergo a drastic change.’

I was curious.

What is the potential of the “Immortality” trait?

Even I, a seasoned player, don’t know this.

In the game, “Immortality” was a trait that players could not possess.

To understand the detailed information, I had no choice but to gather information by dying myself.

Sigh.

I’m hesitating a bit now that I have to do it.

“One, two… Hup-“

After taking a deep breath.

I deeply inserted the giant rat’s molar into my wrist.