Chapter 168 - Where I Was Born and Raised
"Woof."
Lupi, as expected, seemed to know this area well, urging me to come this way.
Of course, I had no reason to refuse, so I followed her, but the overgrown weeds made it hard to walk.
“Shou-kun, be careful.”
"Yeah. Sorry, Lupi. Could you go a little slower?"
Lupi turned back at my words, nodded, and then walked slowly. So smart.
After advancing through this narrow, observatory-like area for a while, the path gently curved to the left and descended.
"This place feels like it used to be maintained."
“It does feel that way.”
It was a relatively neat staircase, and the soil was so hard that weeds were sparse.
After a 90-degree turn, the stairs ended, leading to a mountain path just wide enough for one person.
So, the place I just came out of was an observation deck after all?
"It's overgrown, but this also looks like a maintained mountain path."
“Was it used in the past?”
"Probably? Maybe the person who left that 'Record' used it."
With no more danger of falling from the cliff, Lupi's steps were light as we continued north along the mountain path.
After a slight ascent, and then a descent...
"Woof!"
"Oh! So this is the water source!"
Clean water overflowed from a rock crevice that spread before my eyes, forming a small stream that flowed southeast.
"Could this be connected all the way to the river next to the cave?"
“Ah, you’re right. I think it’s exactly in that direction.”
So, this stream, augmented by rainwater and groundwater, forms that river?
They've really reproduced it so well...
"Woof."
Lupi started drinking the spring water deliciously, and I felt a bit like drinking it myself, but...
“Shou-kun. You brought Magic Crystal Stones, right?”
"Ah, yeah."
For now, that comes first, I guess.
Yesterday, all the magic stones I had were converted into Magic Crystal Stones.
I hadn't expected to reach this water source today, but I naturally brought Magic Crystal Stones for it.
I forgot to use the medium-sized one as a battery, though...
"Do I just dip it in the water?"
“Yes.”
I took out a tiny Magic Crystal Stone and...
"~~~♪"
"Ah! ...No, it helps, but still."
Just as I was about to put it in the water, Sweee snatched it and flew towards the water source.
She made the Tree Spirit Stone for me, so I should trust her, but I wish she'd ask before taking it.
"Is soaking it all there is to it?"
“I wonder. I haven’t actually seen it either.”
Watching Sweee, I wondered if she was looking for a good spot.
After fluttering around and checking various places, she submerged the Magic Crystal Stone—probably now a Spirit Stone—under a small step.
"Is there some special spot... Oh?!"
“It’s beautiful...”
Sparkling droplets seemed to leap and then were absorbed into the Magic Crystal Stone.
After that continued for a while, it settled back to its original state, and Sweee brought back the Magic Crystal Stone—probably a Spirit Stone by now.
"Thanks. Here, this is for you."
I split a Torotoro Dried Papu Fruit, which I had in my inventory as a snack, and gave her half.
If Sweee is with me, I feel like I could collect all the Spirit Stones just with snacks...
“Shou-kun, Appraise it.”
"Ah, yeah."
[Spirit Stone (Tiny): Water]
A Magic Crystal Stone imbued with a Water Spirit. Spirit Magic: Can command Water Spirits by consuming MP.
Ohh, I'm so happy!
I feel like I'm grinning so much it's embarrassing.
"Alright, alright! Thanks, Lupi and Sweee!"
"Woof~"
"~~~♪"
Lupi looked happy being vigorously petted, and Sweee gave a thumbs-up while stuffing her cheeks with the Torotoro Dried Papu Fruit.
It's not exactly relaxing, but I'm really enjoying doing what I want, aren't I?
“Shou-kun, I’m here too, you know?”
"Ah, yeah. Of course, Mion too. As a thank you, or rather, I'll come cook for you again."
“Yes!”
...
..
.
"Phew. What time is it now?"
“Um, it’s just past 3 o’clock.”
"Thanks."
Sweee was enjoying sweets, and Lupi was enjoying Greydeer meat as snacks during our short break.
The spring water was wonderfully cold and delicious, and squeezing in some Greenberries gave it a refreshing lemon-water-like taste.
I'll spread the word about this in the next live stream.
"Alright, shall we explore a bit more?"
"Woof."
This area seems to have been Lupi's territory, so it's probably best to leave it to her.
Sweee, after eating, seemed to get sleepy, and I could hear her sleeping, no, snoring from inside my hood...
Lupi trotted ahead on the mountain path leading northeast, across the stream.
She didn't seem particularly cautious, so this area must be a safe zone, or there were no formidable opponents here.
"Location-wise, this is upstream of the river next to the cave, right?"
“I think so. We couldn’t go north from there, but I think we’re on the north side of it now.”
"You're right. I feel like I really should make a proper map."
But I don't know how much we warped with the elevator.
“Shou-kun, don’t you have a map skill?”
"Eh? Ah, I might..."
That's right.
I'd been convinced I had to measure and make maps myself, but a Map Skill? Or a Drafting Skill? Those seem like they'd exist.
"Woof."
"Whoa, sorry. What is it?"
Lupi turned around and called me.
She then veered left off the mountain path and stepped into the thicket.
“What’s wrong, I wonder?”
"I wonder. Maybe it's Lupi's old sleeping spot?"
Wolves supposedly make their dens in covered burrows or between rocks, but this is IRO, a game.
Anyway, as I followed Lupi, we eventually reached a rocky area, but...
"Lupi, did you used to live here?"
"Woof-woof."
Before me was a cave entrance I could enter by crouching.
I felt like I'd seen it somewhere before...
“Doesn’t it look a bit like the holes the Gnomes dug?”
"That's it. I thought I'd seen it before."
As Mion and I were talking, Lupi trotted inside.
I hurried to follow, and then,
"Ah, right. Light."
I continued crouching for a while, light following me.
I reached a slightly wider space and straightened my back. I had to be careful, the ceiling was quite low.
"Lupi?"
Lupi, who was sitting at the very back, seemed agitated.
Curious, I peered over her shoulder and saw a skeleton of a pure white wolf...