episode_0152

“When I was trapped inside the Sea Demon and pulled into the deep sea, this is how I survived!

First, open your extra-dimensional storage.

Then, move everything inside the Sea Demon’s belly into the storage, leaving it completely empty.

Once it should have begun digesting, instead of feeling full, the creature will feel hungry and will surface to hunt for more prey.

Second, wait without being digested.

When it feels extremely full, the Sea Demon will start secreting strong digestive juices.

If you don’t get dissolved and reach the surface, your survival rate will dramatically increase to 1 percent.

Third, break out of the Sea Demon’s body.

The Sea Demon remembers where it last hunted. It means it remembers its favorite restaurants.

So when you return to where you were swallowed, make a hole anywhere and get out.

If breaking through its thick hide is difficult, I recommend going up through its esophagus and escaping through its mouth.

Additionally, the Sea Demon has a very long lifespan and causes considerable damage to humans, so you should hunt it quickly—”

“A novel written like that would flop…” “No, but it actually worked.”

For some reason, the person who couldn’t believe what happened to us wasn’t anyone else but Tier herself.

First, I lost consciousness after falling into the water, then I collapsed again in the Sea Demon’s belly from the stench of decay.

I repeatedly fainted and woke up, unconsciously helping with my work. It was only natural.

I think it was like a half-dream experience.

I went through a similar ordeal, but I didn’t have time to sit there blankly.

Immediately after receiving the compensation, the Liberty Port Guild Master personally commissioned me.

“So, the first thing you do when you get back is tell us to go into that thing’s belly again?” “No, I… I didn’t necessarily mean that…” “Yes, you did. You want us to exterminate an unknown number of giant sea monsters, leaving no guarantees that we won’t be eaten again?”

Once was enough of that experience for me.

I can tolerate anything else, but I absolutely never want to smell that disgusting gut again.

I still feel like the stench of decay clings to my skin, and the unpleasant feeling just won’t go away.

However.

It’s also true that I can’t ignore this message flashing before my eyes.

『Checking progress conditions.』 -[Condition: Making happy memories ♡]

If I back down now, the beaches and harbors will undoubtedly remain under a gloomy sky due to the monster’s damage.

Then, a joyful atmosphere won’t remain anywhere in Liberty Port, and we won’t be able to make memories.

I’m being held hostage by happiness and have no choice but to give up happiness.

“It’s not that I absolutely won’t do it. You’re just grabbing my pants so desperately that I said I’d slowly consider things like conditions.”

Actually, I knew from the beginning.

I just didn’t want to believe it.

How could I possibly think that I’d be working at a resort we came to for a relaxing vacation together?

After honestly expressing all of my true feelings, I revealed the real, real, ultimate reason I was hiding.

“Forget everything else; let’s talk about compensation.”

Liberty Port.

A place where trade is more active than anywhere else on the central continent.

To eliminate the risk of such an important waterway being cut off, the amount of compensation provided by the merchant guild was…

too much money to refuse.

. . .

“You don’t have to come with me. I’ll just do my job as usual, and this isn’t an obligation for you non-adventurers.”

Honestly, if I put my mind to it, I can take out that Sea Demon all by myself.

The Liberty Port Guild Master entrusted the commissioned request to the adventurer Narias, and no one else has an obligation to help.

But as is often the case with solo play, uncontrollable variables appear without me knowing, and…

the success rate is inevitably lower compared to party play.

But Yuri’s words weren’t about such cost-benefit analysis.

“Success rate and all that nonsense, variables and all that… we just always ask why.” “Why?”

Representing everyone’s opinion, she stepped forward and spoke in her usual gentle voice.

“Why did you accept this request?”

Even if I said it was for the money, Yuri wouldn’t believe me.

No one, not even Yuri, here would believe it, and they’d scoff and insist that it’s a lie.

It’s not that I’m chasing such materialistic things.

Because love, happiness, and the future, clichés as they are, are the things I value most.

The past has proven it and proven it again.

“It’s all for you. To regain the peaceful sea and let everyone enjoy their summer vacation.”

Tier rubbed her forehead. Aspi clasped her hands, looking moved and her eyes getting slightly teary. Lulu beside her nodded silently. Nix shrugged, with a smug expression as if to say, “See? That’s my master’s ambition”—

Yuri softly closed her eyes.

“Then, there may not be an obligation, but there’s a reason.”

What always attracts people is desire.

And what pushes people forward is justification.

“We’ll be with you, Unni.”

Yuri’s eyes, which opened again, shone brightly like jewels.

. . .

The next morning.

After eating Yuri’s homemade sandwiches, we headed towards the sea.

“The plan is the same as yours yesterday. Yuri and Lulu will freeze the sea in the center, and I’ll catch it.”

From Nix, I heard that the two had shown quite a spectacular performance yesterday.

Because I couldn’t witness it properly, the thought of seeing it soon made me excited.

With two heads just begging to be pet sitting before me, I gently placed my hands on them and made eye contact.

“I want something bigger today.”

Yuri wriggled, arching her neck like a puppy, begging for more pets; Lulu lowered her body like a cat, escaping my hand.

“Aspi will join the guild’s adventurers to blockade the beach, and relentlessly hunt anything that even tries to cross the edge where I’m not. Nix, you patrol the area for support.”

It seems Aspi insisted on bringing the armor I told her not to bother with since it was a day off.

Having finished wearing full plate armor, she bowed slightly and responded.

“Yes, ma’am.” “Yes, my master… Khihih—”

Nix followed her, starting a role-playing game in her head.

After assigning roles to everyone, one person seemed useless in this operation.

“Um… me…?” “Ah, right—! I forgot you were here too.” “Yaaaah…!!”

Tier, who had been watching the situation from a little distance, concluded that she was useless—

And grabbed my arm, bursting into tears.

“I’m useful too…?! I’m confident in my healing magic, second to none…?!?” “We’re not in a dungeon, so we have potions at our disposal… we don’t need to hire a healer.”

She puffed out her cheeks.

“Potions are better than me?” “Potions don’t complain.” “Th… this is outrageous…!!”

Every time she bounced my back with her hands raised, Tier’s enormous breasts swayed wildly.

I have something similar, but such outrageously large breasts are truly a sight rarely seen anywhere in the world.

I watched the sight with satisfaction, enjoying it fully, then waved my hands.

“Just kidding. You’re the most important person in this operation.” “…Really?”

Suddenly—

The moment she heard what she wanted to hear, Tier stopped moving her arms and her eyes sparkled intensely.

She’s easy to manage, but not so easy.

She seems to be confused whether she’s a saint or an idol, having received so much cheering from people.

Just a few words, “You’re the best,” “You’re the most important,” make her grin and rush forward… a ten-year-old wouldn’t be that extreme.

“I’ll work hard!” “Yes, yes. Stand straight there first.” “Yes!!”

Tier stood straight in front of me, holding her staff and smiling brightly.

“Now bring your arms closer inwards—” “Ye-es—!!”

As I instructed, she held her arms inward, putting her staff in a perfect position to be bound.

“Now cast sacred strengthening magic?” “Yes!! [Sacred Enchant Force]—!!!”

The overflowing mana of light.

It was a truly angelic appearance, one that could hypnotize just by looking at it.

It’s not just me who enjoys such intense mana.

KuGuGuGuGung—

The ground trembled intensely, and magic began to spew forth from the deep sea.

I immediately stretched [Etheric Barrier] thinly and long and tightly bound Tier.

“Um… Nari, what’s this? Being tied up like this, I look like—” “Bait?”

Tier realized something was wrong, but it was too late.

All she could do was cry begging to be released.

Only to fly helplessly like an earthworm when I swung the Etheric Barrier rope tightly.

“E—aa—aa—a—”

Her screams gradually diminished, according to my precise calculations.

Tier landed just above the surface.

And soon, the Sea Demon, having spotted the delicious-looking prey, poked its snout out of the water.