part1 · 022-ep22

Episode 22: Monsters of the Second Floor

Ren hid in the shadow of the rocks, watching the monster at a little distance.

The monster was eating the plants around it. After a while, it headed for a nearby spring and began to drink.

"...I see."

Ren observed the monster's movements, closely.

Where it had come from. Where it was going. Where the water source was. Where the plants that could be food were growing.

He memorized it all, little by little.

Ever since his days on the first floor, Ren had observed his surroundings the same way. In this place he'd entered with nothing, memorizing was the only way to go on living.

"...That's the water source."

Ren confirmed the terrain around him. Then his eyes went to a nearby rock.

On the rock's surface remained a small scar he'd cut some time before. A marker so Ren could find his way back.

"From here, I can see that rock."

He ran the route through his head.

No paper. Nothing to write with. So he remembered.

So he wouldn't forget, he used distinctive rocks and trees, forks in the passage, as markers. It was the only method available to the Ren of now.

Ren turned his gaze back to the monster.

"...If it comes to the water, I'd better remember that spot."

The monster finished drinking. It simply walked off in another direction.

Ren didn't move right away. He waited until the monster was out of sight. Then he headed for the spring.

Arriving at the water, Ren checked around him. No monster in sight.

"...There's water."

Ren scooped it up in both hands and brought it to his mouth. Cold. At the feeling of it wetting his throat, Ren let out a small breath.

"...That helps."

He had no canteen. No container for carrying. So he memorized where the water was.

When he needed it, he could just come back here.

Ren confirmed the landmarks around him once more. A big rock. A bent tree. The passage continuing beyond.

"...Memorized."

This would do. At the very least, he knew a place to return to.

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After a while. Ren came back to where the monster had been.

No monster in sight.

"...Now's my chance."

Ren advanced carefully, checking around him.

But—

He heard a sound from a little way ahead.

"...!"

The monster had come back. Ren hid in the shadow of the nearby rocks.

The monster drew closer. He could still run. But Ren gripped his spear.

He would fight here.

That was what he decided.

"...No way around it."

The monster passed by the rocks.

That instant—

Ren burst out. He thrust the spear.

The monster whipped around. Sharp claws closed in.

Ren ducked low to evade. And swung the spear through, in the same motion.

—Slash!

The spear pierced the monster's body. It fell.

"...Brought it down."

Ren let out a ragged breath. Then he checked around him. No new monsters.

Ren looked down at the monster he'd killed.

"...I've got to remember this one, too."

He burned the monster's traits into his head. How it moved. How strong it was. What kind of attacks it used.

All of it would become information to survive on.

Ren stood up.

He had no map. No tools for record-keeping. And precisely because of that, he remembered with his own head.

Rocks. Trees. Passages. Water sources. Monsters.

The things he needed to live in this place — he memorized them, one by one.

Exploring the second floor had only just begun.