Chapter 182 - I Still Want to Standardize the Units
"Sensei, your aura was completely different from when you were a student."
"I thought so too."
After that, I was shown an old club activity album (physical), and Yata-sensei looked incredibly plain with black-rimmed glasses and a hime cut.
There's a slight resemblance to her current, somewhat stylish red-rimmed glasses, but that's about it.
"Woof."
"Thanks for the meal."
Tonight's in-game dinner was a stew of Parpigeon and Rudish. The dried Chagatake broth gave it an incredible umami...
"Are you going to pick up the Dragonkin's magic tool today?"
"I think tomorrow is fine for that. It probably won't be ready until a day later anyway, and they didn't seem to be in a rush."
Apparently, the Dragonkin are entrusted by the Goddess with managing the Ancient Ruins, but this island is quite far from the mainland.
Unlike the runaway facility, it seemed to be operating stably, so I don't think it's a dangerous facility. Though the fact that I can't reach the control room due to the collapse is a bit unsettling.
"Are you going straight ahead today?"
"Yeah, that's the plan. I hope we can get to the other side of the island."
"Shou-kun, why don't you get the map skill before that? I'm sure it'll be useful later."
"Oh, right! Thanks!"
Ahem, the map skill is... huh?
"I can't get it..."
"Huh? Does it require some prerequisite...?"
"I think so. In that case, it must be uncommon or rare..."
What kind of prerequisite would a map skill need?
Ah, surveying and measurement, is it that kind of thing? No, I don't see any such skills.
"Something I was wondering, what about units like length and weight in this world?"
"Now that you mention it. It's fine for players to communicate using meters and kilos... wait, the monster encyclopedia listed heights in meters, so maybe it's understood?"
"Ah, I'm sorry. You can answer later."
"Yeah. Well, I'll ask Bell-buchou about it tomorrow."
"Okay."
...
...
...
"Alright, no monsters visible or within Presence Detection range, it seems."
"Woof-woof."
To my right, an ascending staircase; to my left, a descending staircase; and a straight passage ahead.
I've already explored the passages to the left and right, and I'll have to go there again sometime, but today I chose to go straight.
"~~~!"
Sweee was cheering from my hood, sounding like a joyful "Go-go!"
Well, even a Queen has her quirks...
"If the [Record] is correct, there should be another [Unlock Code] door, right?"
"There should be. Is that why the people who fled encountered issues?"
"I'm also concerned about the collapse in the upper passage."
"Yeah. I can't imagine it was like that when the rampage happened."
As we chatted, we reached a familiar door without any further forks in the path.
"Is this 'that' door that needs the [Unlock Code]?"
"It is."
The pattern, or rather, the magic circle drawn on the door, was apparently different. I couldn't tell the difference.
"Okay, I'm opening it."
"Please be careful, okay?"
"Roger."
I gently placed my hands on it, answered the usual query with "4725", and confirmed that the lock was disengaged.
Pushing it open slowly, a passage stretched before me, illuminated by a faint light from the ceiling.
"Phew. First hurdle cleared, nothing happened."
"I'm so nervous."
Last time it was like, 'Open the door and there's a Skeleton!'
If those Skeletons were people who escaped the Ancient Magic Facility's rampage, then they probably aren't beyond this door.
"The lights are on in here, so this must be a different section..."
"Woof."
"Alright, let's go."
Lupi trotted ahead, so there probably weren't any enemies.
Ah, the thing I need to be careful about in situations like this is...
"Sweee, occasionally check behind us."
"~~~♪"
It shouldn't be possible, but I asked just in case.
I thought about closing the door, but it would be troublesome if we needed to escape.
"Will this area be divided like the south side?"
"If it's symmetrical, then yes. Well, in that case, I'll start from the left side, the west side."
"Is that so?"
"Because this path is more westerly. The west side should be closer to getting outside."
"I see."
Still, I don't really have a good grasp of the overall size of the island.
When I chose the Uninhabited Island Start, I saw a rough shape on the selection map, but it was just like, 'was it diamond-shaped?'...
"Huh? Upstairs?"
"It doesn't seem symmetrical."
"Woof-woof."
"Okay, let's go."
It was a bit anticlimactic, but going upstairs likely means heading outside. Position-wise, perhaps the northwest of the island?
I went straight north, turned west and climbed up, and then it became a straight passage. Continuing along it, I reached...
"Is this one of the regular magic doors?"
"It is."
Which means, if I open this... it'll probably be a cave? And there's a high chance of monsters.
"Lupi, Sweee, monsters might come out."
"Woof!"
"~~~!"
I placed both hands on the handles of the double doors, and the usual query to the Blessed Ones was heard. Answering "Yes," I pulled the doors open, and the light spilling from the corridor illuminated what lay beyond...
"Gah! [Fireball]!"
Seeing a giant centipede, about 3 meters long, illuminated in what looked like a cave, I instinctively cast a Fireball spell. Then, I immediately closed the doors.
From beyond the doors, the sound of the Fireball exploding...
"...This might be bad. I cast it without thinking, but a Fireball was a mistake."
"It can't be helped. Even I... was a bit taken aback."
Most people would find that physiologically impossible to deal with, wouldn't they?
That aside, I hope the ceiling didn't collapse from the Fireball's explosion.
I put my ear to the door, trying to hear sounds from the other side... I hear some rustling.
"Guess I have no choice but to do it..."
"Woof."
Lupi answered energetically, but Sweee... seems to have burrowed into my hood.
Well, Fairies probably aren't too fond of centipedes or spiders.
"Please be careful, okay?"
"Yeah. Lupi, don't let your guard down. Centipedes might be poisonous, and they can stay alive for a while even if cut, you know?"
"Woof-woof."
Is that a 'I know' look? If so, I'm relieved.
I've got antidotes made from Lexon in my inventory, just in case.
Now, to properly request the Spirit's Blessing. For poison resistance, I'd hope for the Water Spirit...
"I'm counting on your support."
At my words, light burst from the Spirit Stone and enveloped me.
Quick status check. Confirmed [Spirit's Blessing (Light, Tree, Water)].
I'll fall back a bit when I open the door.
It'll be safer to strike down anything that enters this bright passage than to be surrounded.
"Lupi. I'll lure them in, so step back a little."
"Woof."
Alright, let's do this!