Chapter 140 Taking A Detour To The Sea
It's about time for the sunrise. According to the "Display Self-Status Mystery System," it's a little past 4 a.m. Maya-chan and I woke up early to start our investigation. We decided to first go on a reconnaissance mission to the lake in the early morning, with the help of Centrena.
The other side of the forest should be the north side. If it's getting slightly brighter, that means this world is where the sun rises from the north. It really feels like a different world.
I'm preparing to take off from the roof of the castle, but even from here, I can see that it's already quite bright. The people living over there are also from the Beastmen tribe, so there might be some who can see even in the dim light. As for the sky, it should be fine, right? That's why we decided to do a short reconnaissance.
"Brother."
"Yeah?"
"This side is the north, right?"
"I think so."
Maya-chan pointed towards the Wareels side and said,
"The sun rises from the north, right?" "Yeah, I thought so too."
"It really feels like a different world."
"Yeah, it does. By the way, Maya-chan, did you dress warmly?"
"Absolutely!"
Maya-chan showed me her cloak. It seems like she's dressed warmly underneath too.
"I wonder where you learned that from?"
"Ahahaha."
"Please be careful, okay?"
"I have my brother with me, so I'll be fine, Rosalier-oneesan."
"True, if it's just 'Goshujin-sama,' you'll be fine. 'Even if you kill me, I won't die...'"
Only Rosalier-san saw me off. Huh? Did she just whisper something under her breath? Well, can't be helped.
Everyone else is still asleep. Myla-dono also got a room near Rosalier-san's. Well, it's 4 o'clock, so it can't be helped.
"Alright, Centrena. I have a little favor to ask."
'Kuu'
We flew from Mother's castle and soared over the royal castle. There's a narrow waterway on the right side of the courtyard that continues all the way to the forest.
"Is that the waterway where you took the sample water?"
"Yes, it is."
"This morning, there's a faint mist, just perfect for an adventure. I don't think we need to fly too high, right?"
"Well, I'm not so sure."
"Maybe so."
"Brother, that tree over there is so tall!"
"Yeah, it really is. No wonder we can't see the lake from here."
It's a thin tree like a poplar, but it's incredibly tall. The space between the trees is narrow, making it hard to see through, like a wall. But I heard that long ago, this used to be one country, over there and over here.
"Was it called Wareels?"
"Yes, that's right. I think it was a country of half farming and half hunting. I heard that dog people and wolf-human people live there. Fluffiness is justice."
"But it's a problem when even in this world, dogs and cats don't get along, right?"
"Actually, it's more like wolves and tigers."
Wow, so Ensgard is ruled by Tigerman (Kojinzoku), and over there, Wareels is ruled by the Wolf-Human tribe.
"Hey, I bet their main food is meat, right? But hey, brother, don't dogs also eat fish?"
"Well, you know, it's a different world."
"Is that so?"
"If you think too deeply about it, you lose."
"Oh, I see."
"Centrena, go a little higher."
'Kuu'
With a little effort, Centrena went over the top of the tree. What's this? Just crossing the tree doesn't show the lake. The thickness of the forest alone must be hundreds of meters, right?
"Centrena, sorry, can you go a little higher?"
'Kuu'
I asked Centrena to go a little higher into the sky. Finally, it became visible.
"Wow, it's huge!"
"Yeah, this is amazing."
Hmmm, I wonder. The lake is so big that it can fit two Ensgard side by side, and it's so wide that I can barely see the other side. It's a pretty big lake. Was it called the Edna Lake?
I couldn't see well on this side because of the tall trees, but it's not so bad on the other side. I can see the forest, but the trees don't seem very tall.
"Hoho. I can see the sea on the west side. And I can still see mountains to the northeast."
"Yeah, this area is a plain."
"A wide river continues all the way to the sea. Do those great trout come up from the river?"
"Maybe."
"Ah, I guess that means the sea is also contaminated with Oso (Dreadful element)..."
"Yeah, I think it's probably contaminated. The concentration flowing in from here is considerable..."
"Can you 'appraise' from this height?"
"Yeah, I can tell. Maybe my level has gone up?"
"I see, but it's still a problem..."
"We only know the surface, right? It seems bad in the deep parts."
"Yeah. Thanks, Maya-chan. Centrena, can you go down along that river to the sea for a bit?"
'Kuu'
Centrena should be able to do it quickly. I'm still curious though. I wonder if the ocean is contaminated.
"How is it, Maya-chan?"
As we walk along the sandy beach, we start a simple investigation. Well, I just want Maya-chan to use her 'appraisal' skill.
"Hmm, 3%."
"Really?"
"Yes, really. I don't know what's beyond the horizon though."
While saying that, Maya-chan puts the sample into a bottle.
I also take it out of my inventory, scoop up some water and look at it through the bottle. I also take out the holy silver staff 'Nameless-kun' and touch the seawater in the bottle.
"'Detoxy (detoxification)', 'Detoxify', 'Detoxify'... How about this?"
"Hmm. 0%. Good-job. Clap, clap, clap."
"So I can remove Oso from seawater in the same way. Well, that's a relief. Shall we go back to the lake?"
"Yes, let's go."
We return to Centrena, who was lying at the foot of the windbreak forest.
"Centrena, sorry for the wait."
'Kuu'
"Centrena-chan, I have another favor to ask."
'Kuu'
Maya-chan leaps over Centrena's back as if jumping over a vaulting box. I could have done it without that, but oh well.
It's the same style as when Privia-san comes to me with Maya-chan behind. I tap Centrena's neck lightly to signal her. She stands up and jumps without causing any shaking.
"From here, Edna Lake looks huge, right?"
"Mmm"
"Centrena, when you confirm that no one is around from above, could you come down to the Ensgard side of the lakeshore?"
'Kuu'
Using my, Maya-chan's, and Centrena's eyes, we confirm the presence of the ship from above. For now, it seems like no one is there. If it was illegal fishing, it would have been better if there was fog like this morning, right? But it seems like I was worrying for nothing.
"Okay, can you land around there?"
'Kuu'
Yeah. It's by the water, but it's cold. The sandy beach wasn't that bad, but here it's covered in snow.
"But..."
"Hmm"
"What on earth is this?"
Me and Maya-chan were surprised.
"What is this deep hole?"
"A cliff? A dam? How many meters to the water's surface?"
"It looks like at least 10m (32.8ft)."
"Looking right or left, how do we get down from here?"
It's almost like a vertical natural dam. It's as steep as a breakwater. I didn't realize it when I looked from above, but this is bad.
Because no matter where you look, there's no place for boats to moor. How do they catch big fish here?
Far off in the distance, I can see the opposite bank of Wareels. That side probably has sandy areas too. After all, even though it's small, I can see something like a boat.
Having Centrena fly over that would probably be the best, but it's impossible because it would cause trouble because of me.
"Hey, you know what? It's like I have no idea who to ask. Seriously, brother."
"Yeah, I totally give up. Maya-san, always causing trouble. Sorry about that, huh?"
"Grandpa, you promised not to say that, remember? What are you making me say?"
"Hahaha. Alright then, let's go home, shall we?"
"Mmm, Maya is starting to get hungry now."
Maya-chan took out her phone and showed it to me. Oh no! It was already past 6 o'clock.
"Centrena, let's go home. You must be hungry, right?"
'Kukuku'
In a flash, we took off and headed back for breakfast.
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