episode_0111

Crentid World and Dimensions

“….Wow…. this is hard to cut…. The monsters or whatever living here also find it hard to cut this electric line…. Who on earth… or what kind of creature did this…?”

Dio V Runner looked at the severed line underground where Aria had just plunged her staff before finding the cave, greatly astonished and wondering what creature could have cut it. To think something like that was underground…. But… couldn’t it have been cut before then?! It’s a… a forest with monsters, after all…..

“Uh…. maybe a monster living here cut it? There was a dragon’s nest nearby, too….”

“No… I have a dragon friend I know, and even with his claws, this line couldn’t be cut. The material used for this line is extremely special…. Besides, the hole where this line was… it looks like something sharp was driven into the ground… What on earth did that? How is this possible…?”

A d-dragon friend?! No, more importantly, a line that even a dragon’s claws couldn’t cut?! As Dio V Runner explained how incredibly tough the line was, I was engulfed in a huge shock. That means… Aria’s power is stronger than a dragon’s?!

“Sigh…. Did it get soft because it rained? No, that wouldn’t be it either…. Do any of you know anything about this?”

When Dio V Runner couldn’t find any reason for the line to be cut, no matter how much he thought about it, he turned to us and asked if we knew anything. Uh… what should I do…? That… it seems like something that can’t be obtained here…. Still, it would be honest to tell him the truth, wouldn’t it…?

“W-well, actually…. Aria… could you explain it?”

“Yes? Are you sure it’s alright? I didn’t say anything because I thought Zeke-nim might be troubled.”

When Aria said she hadn’t spoken because she thought I might be troubled, I nodded and said it was fine. Then Dio V Runner tilted his head, waiting for our words, and Aria, as I requested, explained the situation at the time to Dio V Runner. Dio V Runner then became greatly flustered and looked at the staff Aria was holding, saying:

“You cut the line with *that* staff?! Just how strong are you?!”

“Hmm… strong enough to help Zeke-nim complete his journey safely.”

“…..You really have an incredible woman by your side, Zeke….. That line…. it usually can’t be cut…. If she can pierce it with a staff and sever it…. This woman…. it seems she could even go outside this dimension and return safely…”

“Is she that strong…?”

When Dio V Runner evaluated Aria as strong enough to return safely even if she left this dimension, I looked at Aria in great astonishment. Aria then wrapped her arms around me, smiling joyfully, and Dio V Runner, seeing Aria, chuckled and said:

“Aria, you really like Zeke.”

“Of course~ He’s the one who changed my life~ So, shouldn’t I have that much power to protect Zeke-nim?”

“….It seems more than enough, overflowing even…. Hmm? Aria, wait. That brooch on Zeke’s clothes…. Is it made from Magnode’s Tears?”

“Yes? This brooch, you mean? Yes… Aria made it herself from Magnode’s Tears….”

While Dio V Runner was greatly astonished by Aria’s power, he saw the brooch on my clothes and asked if it was made from Magnode’s Tears, and I replied that it was. Why was he suddenly asking that?

“Hmm…. I remember obtaining an ore called Magnode’s Tears when I came here before. I gifted it to that… what was the village name… Ruam. They say it was put up as the prize for the Last Point Tournament, or whatever it was called….”

“….!!! W-wait a minute, Runner-nim! Th-this… Aria received this by winning the Last Point Tournament…. Are you saying this is what Runner-nim gifted to Ruam?!”

I was greatly astonished that the source of Magnode’s Tears, which Aria had obtained by winning the Last Point Tournament, was none other than Dio V Runner, right before us. What… what kind of coincidence is this?! I didn’t know it, but we defeated the World Tree together, and now even Magnode’s Tears were all connected to this person…..

“Ah, you received it. Well… if Aria is strong enough to even cut this electric line, then she certainly would have won that tournament…. Congratulations on your victory, Ari…?”

The moment Dio V Runner, realizing Aria had won the Last Point Tournament, belatedly tried to congratulate her, Aria suddenly released me from her embrace, bowed her head, and took Dio V Runner’s hands. Both Dio V Runner and I were equally flustered by Aria’s reaction. Why is she suddenly acting like this?

“So Runner-nim was the source of Magnode’s Tears.”

“Huh? Uh-huh…. It was me. But why are you suddenly holding my hands…. Hmm?”

“Uhhhh-huh-huh-huh-huhu…. Thank you, Runner-niiiim….. You are my benefactor….”

Suddenly, Aria lifted her head and started shedding tears, expressing sincere gratitude to Dio V Runner. Dio V Runner, who had been maintaining a stoic expression, also showed a flustered look at Aria’s reaction, and I, too, couldn’t understand why Aria was reacting that way….! Ah… that’s why.

“Uhhh-huh-huh-huh….. If Dio V Runner-nim hadn’t gifted Magnode’s Tears to Ruam….. *sniff*….. I would have lived in eternal anxietyyyyyy…..”

“Wh-what? What’s that supposed to mean? I couldn’t hear your story because I was checking on the severed electric line for a moment, so I haven’t grasped the situation yet. Hey, Zeke. What is all this about?”

“Ah…. Ahahaha…. I’ll explain everything, but first, how about you fix that electric line or whatever it is….”

“Uh… uh-huh…. Understood.”

I told Dio V Runner I would explain everything once the repair was done, then I took Aria’s arm and pulled her towards me so she would release Dio V Runner’s hand. Dio V Runner nodded and began to fix the object he called an electric line. But… what exactly is that thing?

“By the way, what exactly is that thing?”

“This acts as a conduit for electricity. It’s connected to the barrier device installed inside the cave. I truly wonder how you managed to pinpoint and cut this particular electric line….”

“….I’ll just assume Aria’s luck was incredible…. But, electricity flows through it? You mean… like lightning?”

“Yes. There are places in other dimensions with technology superior to this…. But I only know about things like this for now… Still, you have to be careful when handling them. Otherwise, you could get electrocuted as if struck by lightning and die.”

“It’s a bit similar to handling complex magic.”

“Exactly.”

As I discussed the electric line with Dio V Runner, I realized that the mechanical technology of other dimensions had similarities to how we handle magic. Just as we must be careful with fire and lightning magic, we must also be careful with machines to avoid losing our lives… Well… it’s common sense, though.

“Alright, it’s done. Let’s go inside and continue talking. By now, the water should have boiled.”

“Ah, yes.”

After fixing the electric line, Dio V Runner re-buried it in the ground, covered it with soil, and told us to go back into the cave. So, we followed Dio V Runner back into the cave. Then, Dio V Runner stopped halfway and pressed a button on the wall.

“That button is…”

“If you press this… it becomes like this.”

“….?!”

When Dio V Runner pressed the button, there had been nothing behind us… but a rock appeared and instantly blocked the passage. And at that moment, something hanging from the ceiling began to glow, and the inside of the cave instantly brightened. Th-this is a machine?!

“There’s no need to be surprised. Aria can also use magic that illuminates, just like this light bulb. This light bulb also consumes something to emit light, so there’s no need to find it mysterious.”

“Hmm… But isn’t this different from me? I use my own power to emit light, but this doesn’t use your power.”

“Whether it’s my power or not… in the end, it’s the same in that something is consumed. You might think it’s convenient, but ultimately, it could cause inconvenience elsewhere. Although, even saying that, Aria, as you said, this is designed not to harm anything… Now, quickly, let’s go inside.”

Dio V Runner, who had been explaining by contrasting machines with Aria’s abilities, eventually admitted that the light bulb he was using was indeed different, as Aria said, and led us further inside. Returning to Dio V Runner’s workshop, we sat on chairs, and Dio V Runner brought three teacups with forks and tea, placing them on the table. Then, he put the food from a metal container onto plates and said:

“Alright, let’s comfortably talk about each other. Who wants to go first?”

“Hmm… We’ll go first. Earlier, Runner-nim seemed curious about our story.”

When Aria said she would go first and tell her story, Dio V Runner nodded and picked up a pickled fruit from his plate with a fork. So, Aria and I explained everything that had happened so far, handing him the exploration book, and Dio V Runner, hearing it, couldn’t hide his surprise.

“Oh-ho…. So there were such circumstances. So that brooch helped persuade Aria.”

“Yes. So Runner-nim is effectively a great help to us.”

“But it didn’t necessarily have to be Magnode’s Tears. You… you know that well now, don’t you, Aria?”

“…..When you put it that way, I have nothing to say. But isn’t it human nature to want to give a good gift if you’re going to give one?”

“….Indeed. This time, I have nothing to say.”

Dio V Runner, hearing Aria’s retort, recalled the human desire to give a good gift, just as Aria said, and chuckled. Then he looked at Aria’s face and said:

“Now that I think about it, seeing you reminds me of someone. Someone with very strong possessiveness who gave others a hard time… No, there was Kaju….”

“Oh, come on…. Still, no one could possibly overcome Aria’s possessiveness, could they?”

“No… You should consider yourself lucky that you’re Aria. Beyond this world…. you might have heard from others already, but there are madmen who imprison and kill their beloved partners.”

“Huh…?”

When Dio V Runner spoke of madmen beyond this world who imprison and kill their beloved partners, I was so shocked I almost dropped my fork. Then Dio V Runner continued his explanation.

“Well… such people might exist in this world too…. Oh, right. In a place I went to at the request of those R.S guys, there was a woman who, with a knife, killed all the women lingering around her lover.”

“Hmm… I can somewhat understand that. If it were before, I might have done the same.”

“….”

“….”

When Dio V Runner spoke of a terrifying person who had committed murder out of love, Aria said she could somewhat understand it. Hearing that, Dio V Runner and I both looked at Aria with serious expressions. Aria… I told you not to do that….

“….Well… but since Zeke-nim doesn’t want such things, I’m trying to abandon those thoughts now.”

“….Yes… I guess you are better, Aria…. Just don’t become like those people Runner-nim mentioned.”

“Hehe. Everything is for Zeke-nim~”

When Aria said all of this was for me, I let out a dry laugh. Well… if the reason Aria is trying to abandon such thoughts is because of me… maybe it could be a good thing…. My head feels a bit dizzy…

“Well… pure love is good, but considerate love is usually better. Since you say so… Zeke’s life will be safe. Alright then… I should explain about myself now, shouldn’t I?”

“Ah, yes. What was Dio V Runner-nim’s purpose for coming here?”

When Dio V Runner said it was his turn to introduce himself, I asked him what purpose he had for coming here. He might have come here because of some significant matter, enough to set up such a personal workshop in a cave… So I was curious about his objective.

“Ah, I’m looking for someone. By any chance… is there a girl named Cain in this world?”

“A girl named Cain? Well… I’ve never heard of her before…”

In response to Dio V Runner’s question about knowing a girl named Cain, Aria and I both shook our heads, saying we didn’t know. Dio V Runner then nodded, suddenly stood up from his seat, took something out of a bookshelf, and spread it on the table. This is….

“Isn’t this… a map of the Herlos region?”

“That’s right. The reason I came here is because I discovered something strange. First… before explaining that, it would be quicker to explain this dimension… Elum.”

“Elum…. You said outsiders call the Crentid World Elum, right?”

“Yes. The Elum dimension possesses characteristics that are fundamentally different from other dimensions. Elum’s dimensional location changes periodically, making it difficult even for those R.S to figure out its whereabouts.”

“Its location changes periodically?”

I was amazed that this dimension we live in had the peculiar characteristic of periodically changing its location. Dio V Runner then nodded, pulled out a pen from inside his protective suit, and began to explain again.

“Yes. And normally, dimensions have many dimensional pathways clustered together… but this dimension only has one. This is its biggest characteristic. While you can leave freely, entering is extremely difficult. What’s even stranger is that it’s connected without any issues to the underworld, where the deceased pass through. In short, this dimension is unfathomable.”

“…..To think we’ve been living in such a dimension…. Aria, isn’t that amazing?”

“Hmm… Still, I’m satisfied as long as I’m where Zeke-nim is… so not really…”

When Aria said she was satisfied anywhere as long as I was there, Dio V Runner and I both nodded, acknowledging Aria’s words. This was because both Dio V Runner and I knew Aria’s thoughts very well….

“Well… you would say that…. The truth is, the reason I’m saying all this is because what I’ve told you is related to something I discovered while exploring the Herlos region.”

“….Wait…. wait a minute…. Something discovered in the Herlos region is… related to dimensions?!”

“Yes…. The location was definitely….”

Dio V Runner recalled the location of what he had discovered and began to mark it on the map with a pen. Then, Dio V Runner drew a circle over a forest and tapped the circle with his finger, explaining to us.

“This location. In this rarely visited place, where there were almost no living creatures, I saw it. An otherworldly… underground facility that doesn’t fit in here at all.”

“…..An underground facility… exists…?”

When Dio V Runner said there was an underground facility in a forest in the Herlos region that didn’t fit with the Crentid World, I was dumbfounded.