episode_0150

Underground Facility Exploration Log

Underground Facility Exploration Day 5

It’s already been five days since we arrived at this mysterious facility. Aria and I go outside to gather food whenever we have a moment, and Dio V Runner always investigates all the data found that day. Thanks to him, we can hear the research results without expending any effort… but I want to participate in that process too…!! And so, I resolved to definitely learn the language of this place and read its data like Dio V Runner. Aria and I have been diligently studying the language of this place every dawn. Of course… while making the decision was good…

“Ughhh…” “…Zeke? Why is he collapsing again today…? No, he’s already slumped over the desk.”

Thanks to that, I’ve had less time to sleep, so every morning at breakfast, I’ve been slumped over the desk, and Dio V Runner has looked bewildered seeing me like that. It’s understandable, since Aria is perfectly fine while I’m like this… This change in lifestyle certainly put a big burden on me… but it didn’t matter. Because we have…

“Hehehehe… It seems Zeke-nim needs my special cooking again, doesn’t he? Ta-da~! I’ve prepared delicious food that will make you forget all your fatigue!!” “Uh… uh… Th-thanks, Aria…”

Because Aria is here…! Whenever I’m exhausted like this, Aria makes me energizing food, so I can regain the strength to move vigorously again today! And Dio V Runner, who was watching this, sighed deeply and said to me,

“Hey, Zeke. In other dimensions, there are drinks called energy drinks that give you energy… but their fatal flaw is that you can get incredibly tired afterwards. Perhaps this is also like that…” “What are you saying right now?! Do you think my food can be compared to such a potion, Dio V Runner?! If you’re so suspicious, don’t eat it!!” “…?! N-no, that’s not what I meant!!”

When Dio V Runner suggested that Aria’s food seemed to have the effect of making one use up their energy prematurely, like an energy drink, Aria flared up at his words and took back the steak she had placed in front of Dio V Runner. Dio V Runner stammered, trying hard to calm Aria down. But later, I found out. Just as Dio V Runner said, Aria had secretly added a small amount of potion to the food… Of course, my all-night studying was also a problem.

Underground Facility Exploration Day 12

“Let’s see… this also seems to be about safety rules. This is… hmm… nothing special. A crossword puzzle? It seems these humans here must have been quite bored…” “Is it another dead end today?”

When Dio V Runner lamented that all the documents they found were useless, Aria asked Dio V Runner. Dio V Runner quietly nodded, then looked at the pile of documents they had found beside him, sighed deeply once more, and explained to them.

“Uh… most of it is just the same content. But really, if they had nothing to do, did they do things like snack votes…? What on earth were these humans doing?” “…It really is bewildering… Anyway, you worked hard today. You worked hard too, Aria.” “Hehe~! To praise me so much for something so obvious, I don’t know what to do with myself!” “Honestly… to have such a good atmosphere even in a place like this. You two are truly peculiar…”

Seeing Aria and me, who hadn’t lost our smiles even in such a secret and mysterious place, Dio V Runner chuckled as if envious and spoke to us. After finishing their investigation for the day, they began studying at dawn with the documents Dio V Runner had translated. At first, there were some challenging parts, but after a few days, they reached a point where they could begin to understand the grammatical structure.

“So… does this mean ‘something-something is’?” “No, Zeke-nim. This seems to be a particle meaning ‘to whom’.” “Ah… so this means ‘Do not curse at employees’… What a truly kind rule statement…”

At first, they needed Dio V Runner’s translated versions to interpret anything, but now, having reached the point where they could interpret even simple sentence structures to some extent, they felt a sense of accomplishment for having started studying. Of course, Aria was simply satisfied that I could study alongside her, wasn’t she?

“Huh? Aria. This…” “Oh, it’s that crossword puzzle document Dio V Runner-nim found earlier… Let’s see… Hmm? This seems like some kind of game. It’s a bit similar to word chain… Oh my…?” “…”

Aria, who had been carefully examining the crossword puzzle that Dio V Runner had just found, discovered something and began to grin widely. Seeing that grin, I felt something ominous and instantly got goosebumps all over my body. Wh-what? What is it that’s making her grin like that?!

“Hehehe… Zeke-nim. This looks like it would be fun to do, doesn’t it? Since it’s about guessing words, it might even help with our studies…” “Uh… uh… I… I get it… but what is this ominous feeling?”

As Aria suggested that the crossword puzzle would be helpful for their studies, without letting go of her grin, I nodded and said I understood. What is this feeling? This feeling… I feel like I’ve felt it somewhere before… Although something felt ominous, I decided to proceed with the crossword puzzle as Aria suggested and listened intently to her explanation of the rules.

“Hmm… So it’s that kind of game… But is there really a need to take turns? I think it would be better to just solve the problems together.” “Oh, come on~ It’s about having fun! It’s like a game where we compete with each other, you see? Alright then… Zeke-nim, you go first!” “Uh… uh… *Sigh*… It’s a game where you deduce the meaning to figure out the word, *sigh*…”

When Aria handed me the crossword puzzle, telling me to go first, I took it dazedly and began reading the word definitions according to the rules. But perhaps because the language was different, no matter how much I looked at the definitions, I was still confused. In the end, to be sure, I handed the crossword puzzle back to Aria and said,

“No, this isn’t working. Maybe I haven’t studied enough… It’s difficult. I’ll pass on my turn.” “Hehehe… Is that what you mean…? In that case, this word contains the word ‘handshake,’ and the person who gets this word right… gets to kiss the other person…” “…Right, hand…?! W-wait, what did you just say?!” “Hehehehehe…”

When Aria suddenly said that the person who guessed the word ‘handshake’ would kiss the other person, I was startled and shouted. I immediately looked at the crossword puzzle and realized something important, freezing solid. Th-this crossword puzzle… it was a game with penalties?! Every… every word had a corresponding penalty… No, wait… Are all of these penalties?! What is this?!

“Alright, Zeke-nim… Then, according to the rules…” “Ugh… Uwaaaah!! Save me!!!”

After that, I somehow managed to persuade Aria and barely managed to escape from that game. How I persuaded her… that’s a secret.

Underground Facility Exploration Day 34

My name is Dio V Runner. I am exploring an underground facility that cannot be found in this dimension, called Elum Dimension—or Krantid World by its inhabitants—along with Aria Ritt, the Black Saintess who lives here, and Zeke Luprian, the explorer. When the three of us found documents, I proceeded with the investigation by interpreting them. However, there was one thing that bothered me. That was…

“Zeke-nim~ Ah~” “…Must you really do this, even with Mr. Runner right here…?” “Of course~! Hehe…” “…”

It was Aria. When Zeke was by her side, she was no different from a truly trustworthy saintess, but without Zeke beside her, Aria, who kept giving me glances, was… not extremely terrifying, but not entirely un-terrifying either. Among the comrades I met during previous wars, there were some with strong personalities, but Aria… she was truly on a different level.

Before, a Kajju named Arik told me that out there, some people with such extreme personalities would go beyond normal bounds for the sake of their loved ones… That seems to be exactly what he meant about Aria. Well… I thought that much would be fine, but that night…

“Phew… It seems I had an unusually restless night today. Is it perhaps because I crossed too many dimensions…?” “*Sniff sniff* *Haaah*…” “…”

Unable to sleep, I had a restless night. As I yawned and walked down the corridor, I stopped dead in my tracks when I heard a strange sound coming from the room where Zeke and Aria were sleeping. And then, peering inside through the crack in the door to find out the source of the sound, I saw…

“*Inhale deeply and exhale slowly*… It seems I can start today vigorously with Zeke-nim’s scent again… Ahhh… I feel ecstatic… Indeed, Zeke-nim’s scent is… Hehehehe… Hehehehe…” “…”

Watching Aria become ecstatic while sniffing the blanket covering Zeke, I realized. Aria was an even worse type than the kind Arik had mentioned. And I did everything I could to somehow forget that scene.

Underground Facility Exploration Day 36

Hello! My name is Aria Ritt… Uh… but there’s no need to show this much respect to others… No, let’s just continue… I am currently in front of the shower room where Zeke-nim is washing! And I’m holding a camera I found earlier, too…

“Why did I bring a camera here, you ask? Well… to take pictures of Zeke-nim, of course! But since Zeke-nim might notice… Oh, Omnipotent One in the heavens… please envelop me in light…!”

If Zeke-nim finds out, it could be a huge problem, so if I envelop myself with divine power like this to minimize my presence… then I’m ready! Now… to take pictures of Zeke-nim… Hehehe… Oops! This kind of behavior is a crime. Do not imitate me!… But why do I do it, you ask?… Do you have any complaints about me taking pictures of Zeke-nim?

Underground Facility Exploration Day 38

“I think this much is enough for today… *Hmph*… I think I can interpret even long texts now.” “You worked hard, Zeke-nim! I hope you have a comfortable night today.” “Alright. You go to sleep too, Aria…”

Zeke-nim went to sleep first. Actually, Zeke-nim doesn’t know this… but I continue to study even after he falls asleep. The reason I study for an extra hour like this is obvious. For Zeke-nim! When Zeke-nim gets into trouble, won’t he need a reliable woman by his side to help him? That’s why I study a bit more like this… but there’s actually one more reason. That is…

“…It’s a relief to see you sleeping so peacefully tonight, Zeke-nim. Hehe… This Aria will always… protect Zeke-nim’s side, so don’t worry and sleep soundly… *Kiss*.”

It’s to secretly kiss Zeke-nim’s cheek. Today, tomorrow… and the day after tomorrow, I hope only good things happen to Zeke-nim and me… And… I hope Zeke-nim and I can always be together… Good night.