第１４７６堀：精霊とお話 (Part1)
Chapter 1476: Talking with the Spirit
Side: Yuki
"Hoh. I’ve heard rumors, but so this is a Dungeon Master."
"You’ve heard of us?"
"Aye. From Miyabi, Touya, and Lithea, over there."
"When you say Lithea... do you mean Saintess Lithea?"
"I know not if she is a saintess, but she was a woman who kept a creature called a tiger."
No mistake. If she has a tiger, it must be Saintess Lithea. She is undoubtedly the daughter of that pink-haired goddess Lilishe and Faide, the god who works so hard at agriculture.
"Say, Water Spirit, do you feel uncomfortable here?"
"Is the water too far away?"
Before I could ask about the environment, Aslin and Firia beat me to it.
"No issues. My place is beneath the lake’s surface, and the water is right there, so I am at ease."
The Water Spirit replies that there is no problem. As you might gather from the conversation, this dungeon is located beneath the surface of the lake. I had prepared this field specifically to ensure we could speak in safety. Of course, I had obtained the Water Spirit’s permission beforehand. While there is a certain charm to talking outside in the night breeze, it is undesirable from a counter-intelligence standpoint. I also had them join us at the table to match our customs.
"Do the table and sofa feel strange to you?"
"They do not. Or rather, I lack the judgment to distinguish between good and bad. You are the first to ever invite me."
"Well, I’m honored. But did Lithea, Touya, and Miyabi always talk to you while standing?"
"Aye. They were all in the midst of their travels and had no intention of settling down. I have experienced tents, at least."
Now that they mention it, that makes sense. They only met while traveling; there was no reason to go through the trouble of setting up an environment like this.
"Also, we’re having tea and such. What about you?"
"Whether it is necessary or unnecessary to sustain me—it is unnecessary. However, I enjoy the indulgence. I learned of it from Lithea and Touya."
"I see. Then, if you’d like some..."
As I said that, Orelia and the others bowed and immediately began the preparations... but.
"And why wasn't Queen Miyabi’s name on that list?"
"That one lacked consideration. She had no desire to share in the enjoyment."
"How rude. It was merely what was available to begin with. It is strange to think of sharing one’s own meal with a being that has no need for sustenance."
Ah, I understand what she’s getting at. Since the other party doesn't need to eat, the question becomes: would you really cut into your own rations to share? Above all, this world is harsher than Japan. Obtaining food is a struggle. It’s not a world where you can just walk into a supermarket or convenience store and buy what you need. Putting oneself first is not wrong at all.
"Indeed, those two were special for giving me something I did not need. At first, I struggled to understand it. But that was the catalyst for me to learn that such things are enjoyable."
While we were talking, Orelia and the others finished the preparations and brought us tea and sweets.
"I don't know if it’s to your taste, but it’s something we find delicious."
"I shall accept it with gratitude."
The Water Spirit skillfully held the cup and drank the tea with what appeared to be a mouth.
"Hmm. Hot water infused with fragrance. Yes, this is good. The scent spreads through my body. And is this what you call a sweet?"
They proceeded to eat the cookies we had prepared.
"Hoh. It is sweeter and softer than the hardtack I have eaten before. It melts in the mouth. I did not know such things existed."
It seems they took a liking to it, as they repeated the process of eating two or three more and sipping the tea.
"To think you’d understand the merits of tea and sweets. You, who once claimed you didn't understand the point of what humans consume."
"That was at the beginning. I learned from Lithea and Touya that one can enjoy them as a form of entertainment. Though, what Lithea gave me was dried meat. Touya was more refined."
"Hmph. The difference between the first Saintess and my husband. The skill in cooking is worlds apart."
"I feel it is the other way around, but no matter. So, was it Yuki? You had something you wished to discuss, did you not?"
"I do, but please, listen while you enjoy your tea and sweets. Would you like a refill?"
"I shall."
And so, we finally entered the main topic.
"To put it simply, Water Spirit, I came here to confirm your existence."
"Confirm me? Am I not right here?"
"Yes. I had heard of you, but I am glad to see you actually exist. As for the reason I needed to confirm it..."
This is where it gets troublesome, but I have no choice but to say it. It concerns the possibility of the Water Spirit being targeted—or perhaps already being targeted—by those looking to make money through slave trading or by those seeking to secure magical power.
"Hmm. It seems the outside world is noisy."
"What are you saying? For you, the outside is generally a noisy place, is it not? Though, even I think it has been quite loud lately."
Well, it’s one event after another. I, for one, would like to see a hundred years of peace follow this. I think it would be nice to have some time to just spend with my wives. Still, if we don't resolve these incidents, the clamor won't die down. We have no choice but to act. Being passive is one way to go, but that’s too much of a hassle.
"However, to capture me... is it even possible?"
"No, we are the ones who want to hear that. Wait, could you do it, Yuki-dono?"
"Hmm. I haven't quite grasped what kind of existence a 'Water Spirit' is, but I suppose if I were to draw all the water from the spring into the dungeon, one could say I’d 'captured' you, right?"
"Hoh. Indeed, that would be a capture."
"Only a Dungeon Master or a Great Archmage could pull off such a feat."
"Queen Miyabi, you could do it too, couldn't you?"
"Well... I can only think of threatening to blow the entire area, spring and all, to pieces."
"Barbaric. But it is a valid method. I am water. I do not die unless the source is severed. Anything less would not be much of a threat."
"Ah, so it’s a matter of threatening to capture."
I thought they were talking about a way to make them vanish, but that was a curveball—or perhaps a straight fastball...
"Well, it’s good that you’re safe for now. The problem is that there’s a possibility the dark guild causing these troubles might make contact."
"Hmm. To capture and sell me. Though, I rarely speak with humans."
"Come to think of it, I wanted to ask about that. You met with us normally, and you said you met with Lithea, but have you met anyone else?"
"No, I have not. Occasionally, people come to leave offerings, that is all."
"That would be the folks from the Lithea Faith, I imagine. They leave them at the altar, right?"
"That is correct."
"Wait, there was an altar?"
The grass was so overgrown, I hadn't noticed it at all.