part1 · 044-ep44

Episode 44: The Underground Water Source

Shouldering the materials taken from the Bloodwolf, Ren started walking again.

Fangs and claws. And the pelt he'd cut away.

It shouldn't have been all that much, but on his back it was surprisingly heavy.

"...I really do need to figure out how to carry all this."

Thinking that, Ren pressed on toward the unexplored places.

He'd been walking a while when it happened.

"...?"

Ren stopped. He pricked up his ears.

A small sound reached him. Continuing at steady intervals.

"...Water?"

Ren walked toward the sound. Slipping between the rocks.

And—

"...Found it."

A small watering place spread out before him. Clear water flowed from a gap in the rocks, forming a shallow pool.

Ren didn't approach right away. First he checked around him. No sign of monsters.

Even so, he approached the water carefully.

"Appraisal."

《Name: Groundwater》

《Status: Good》

"...Groundwater, huh."

Ren gazed at the water. Status: good. But judging it drinkable on that alone was risky.

Ren thought a moment.

"...Let's try a little of it."

He scooped some up in his hand. First, just a tiny amount into his mouth.

"...It's just normal water."

Nothing off about the taste. Nothing wrong with his body, either.

After watching for any effects for a while, he drank a little more.

"Seems safe."

At last, Ren relaxed. He'd found a place to secure water on the third floor.

"I'll remember this place."

Ren looked around. Several plants were growing around the water.

"...Never seen this one either."

He looked at one plant. A slim stalk. Small leaves.

Ren used 《Appraisal》 before touching it.

《Name: Sturdy Grass》

《Type: Plant》

《Status: Good》

《Trait: Possesses tough fibers》

"Tough fibers..."

Ren pinched the stalk with his fingers. Put a little force into it. It wouldn't snap easily.

"...This looks useful."

The plant vines he'd found before had worked for tying things, too. This one might have its uses as well.

Ren gathered only what he needed.

　　　　　◇

Ren looked at the load on his back. The Bloodwolf's fangs. Claws. The pelt.

And the magic stone.

For now, every one of them was, to Ren, just "material that might be useful." The magic stone especially — he had no idea how much it might be worth.

"...For now, let's leave it all here."

He set the bundle down near the water. The magic stone, too.

"I can come back for it later."

With the load set down, his body felt light all at once.

"...I can move like this."

Ren took up his spear. From here on, if he hauled materials along every time he gathered them, it would hinder his exploring.

He could use this watering place as a temporary storage spot.

"And it's easy to remember where to come back to."

Ren checked around the water once more. No sign of danger for now.

"I'll remember this place."

Ren left the water. There were still many unexplored places on the third floor. He didn't know where the stairs were, either.

All the more reason to check things one by one.

Ren tightened his grip on the spear.

"...Let's go."

And he started walking toward the places he had never seen.

Nothing on his back. He was incomparably lighter than he'd been moments before.

Staying alert, Ren pressed deeper into the third floor.