Chapter 57: Monolith (4)

“Rohan. I have a canteen with about one sip left. It’s embarrassing and I should reflect on my carelessness for not resupplying water before leaving Academy City…”

This place is uncertain when it comes to food and water.

So, let’s collect urine while we’re still in a healthy state, before dehydration sets in.

That was the meaning of Shion’s words.

Indeed.

Originally, given the circumstances, I would have had to rack my brains and seriously consider her words, even with my shallow knowledge.

But it was fine.

Because there’s the Shop.

In Abyss City, a Skill that would have been useless for anything other than replenishing unused consumables, depending on proficiency and control. That Skill, now a reality in this Dungeon, has become brilliantly radiant.

The Monsters we’ve already dealt with on the way here are enough to provide the girls with food and water.

Possessing the Shop Skill makes one a God Tier champion in the Dungeon. The Mineral Water that Shion is worried about can be purchased for 2 Points.

As Shion finished speaking, a hand tugged lightly at Rohan’s sleeve.

“Oppa…”

Clara, her legs pressed together, trembled with a tearful face.

Even this kind of reaction shows that she’s willing to act based on decisions, which is commendable.

Honestly, Clara’s reaction is cute and funny, and Rohan considered watching it a little longer.

However, he had a hunch that playing around with this would lead to trouble. Rohan quickly made a decision.

“Shion. Don’t worry about the water. Go with Clara. I have a way.”

“Understood.”

“I, I’ll be back…!”

Shion accepted without a word and started looking around for a safe place to go.

Clara, her face flushed, glanced back at Rohan as she followed Shion.

“If anything happens, shoot your gun or yell!”

The two girls signaled their understanding, each in their own way.

Rohan turned around and opened the Shop, scrolling down to purchase the item at the very bottom.

Reaching into the shimmering void, he pulled out a cool bottle of Mineral Water.

The first Mineral Water he purchased was in a label-less plastic bottle, 500ml in size.

Rohan felt relieved and satisfied with the properly functioning Shop Skill.

I can’t starve them for days.

It’s not like he has a huge number of people to be responsible for in the Dungeon. It’s not like the estimated escape time is long enough to be counted in months.

Ensuring the two girls maintain their best condition is beneficial for Rohan himself.

A brief explanation should be enough to convince them. They’re both tight-lipped anyway.

Besides, he can’t hide it from Clara and Shion forever.

Especially considering the future.

Rohan chuckled at the notification windows that popped up while he was pondering.

How far did they go?

He only heard a small noise, one that would be missed if he wasn’t paying attention. Yet, it seems they’ve already killed a Monster and earned Points.

The resources consumed by the girls during their absence were easily replenished.

How long had Rohan been standing in the shade, avoiding the sun?

Shion and Clara reappeared, looking unharmed.

“Everything alright?”

“There were Monsters, but they were weak, so no problem.”

“…”

Clara’s closed mouth displayed a mix of relief and an indescribable embarrassment.

Rohan wanted to comfort her, saying it was natural and that she shouldn’t worry, but he felt that might backfire. So, he handed the water he was holding to Shion.

“Ta-da, here’s your water.”

“We were only gone for a few minutes… This is amazing. There are no visible impurities or foreign substances.”

To Shion’s naked eye, the water was clean. She opened the cap and found no peculiar smell.

As the girl went through the confirmation process, Rohan revealed the truth.

“It’s my Skill. We won’t run out of food or water until we escape.”

“!”

“…You possess an incredible ability.”

“I can’t pull things out indefinitely, though. There’s a price.”

“I figured as much. Even so, thank you for revealing your Skill to us.”

“Oppa. Thank you…”

For Clara, it was a literal close call. Just thinking about it made her head spin, but thankfully, it was all averted.

More than anything, she was incredibly embarrassed by the thought of Rohan drinking her urine. How could she have endured that?

Rohan urged them to move on, adding, “Still, if you’re thirsty, don’t ration it too much. Maintain your condition as best you can.”

“Okay!”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

Shion and Clara were quick-witted in these matters.

They were girls who wouldn’t ask about the price being paid unless Rohan brought it up first.

They also wouldn’t ask if he created the Mineral Water or pulled it from a stockpile.

Because they knew it was bad manners to pry into someone else’s Skills.

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Rohan had considered going straight to their destination to save time.

However, if they couldn’t shake off these Monsters and ended up surrounded by hundreds of them, even these two couldn’t guarantee a complete victory, so he dismissed the idea.

The group moved at a steady, brisk pace.

As the three continued, the Monsters gradually grew stronger.

Their numbers also started to increase.

“Hah!”

───KWOONG!!! The refrigerator, walking on vines as legs, shattered and tumbled as Shion’s Telescopic Baton struck it.

At some point, the Point gain increased from 1 to 2.

It must be influenced by the level of the Monsters.

“Look at this. The parasitic nature is stark.”

Shion called the two over to look at the deactivated Monster. With the refrigerator door blown off, the inside was clearly visible.

Vines stretched inside like blood vessels. Presumably, the unseen internal components were the same.

There was no other word besides “Monster” to describe how it activated and launched strange attacks without a power supply.

“It’s not an ordinary plant, but a type of Monster.”

In fact, Rohan knew.

The name of this plant-type Monster is Parasitic Ivy. As the name suggests, it’s a parasitic vine.

Its power varies depending on the object it takes root in, but naturally, there’s a limit.

After her observation, Shion wiped the sweat dripping from her brow and retracted her baton.

She voiced the speculation she had been pondering.

“And this is just a hunch, but it’s as if they’re trying to block us from going in this direction.”

“It does feel like we’re heading straight for the center.”

“O-Oppa, the place you initially wanted to go to must be the right one…!”

Rohan affirmed without spoiling their naive speculation.

Maintaining positive morale and atmosphere is important at times like this.

Besides, this path is correct.

““…””

More than five hours had passed since they fell into the Dungeon.

The air in this space was still filled with intense heat. It had definitely surpassed 40 degrees Celsius at some point.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

The three continued moving without stopping.

Beads of sweat dripped from the ends of Rohan and Shion’s hair due to the repeated battles.

Even Clara, who wasn’t usually affected by heat, started to sweat a little.

“Oppa.”

“Yes?”

“J-Just a thought…”

“Tell me.”

It was rare for Clara to offer an opinion.

Rohan smiled and listened attentively, even as he sweated, and Clara hesitantly looked up at the sky.

“The sun… doesn’t seem to be moving…”

“Now that you mention it, it does seem that way. Hasn’t quite a bit of time passed?”

Shion also found it strange and looked up.

‘They haven’t even been shown the time. Smart girls.’

Rohan wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve and looked up at the sun hanging in the sky.

As Clara said, the sun never sets in this world.

Just as he decided to confirm Clara’s observation, Rohan remembered a question that had been buried in his subconscious as he focused on the current situation.

But why is this Dungeon related to Solaris?

He never thought about it when playing as the Protagonist.

He had also avoided reading fan theories and speculation because nothing was confirmed.

But now that Rohan himself is involved with Solaris, he couldn’t ignore it.

It’s related to the country, but I haven’t been to the Southern Region…

Rohan racked his brain, chewing over related information.

The temple where he first woke up came to mind. He didn’t reject the memory, keeping it in his consciousness.

The Country That Worships the Sun. Just as he was trying to find a connection to Solaris…

Awareness and acknowledgement.

The change manifested based on Rohan’s recognition of the situation.

Ah…

A sentence seeped into his mind.

It compelled him to speak it aloud, to solidify it.

“When the dark ones commit persistent sins, we were certain.”

A murmur escaped Rohan’s lips.

The girls turned their heads.

“Oppa?”

“Hmm?”

Shion and Clara, unable to comprehend the sudden words, focused their gazes on him.

But Rohan was still looking up at the sky with a dazed expression.

“…They fear this power.”