章節 62: Chapter 62: Diverse Friendships Part 2
In the early morning, I set out alone for the sea. Although Lloyd offered to accompany me, I declined while citing a shortage of gill pills as an excuse.
Using sardines as bait, I summoned a nearby seal and rode it to the dungeon's location, whereupon I consumed a gill pill and dove underwater.
First, I meticulously planted black seaweed around the cave entrance to the dungeon. The thicket was so dense that it would be difficult for anyone to even notice the existence of the cave. Once I had finished, the area around the cave transformed into a forest of black seaweed. Given the inherent toxicity of the black seaweed, I doubt anyone would recklessly search through this area.
After passing through the dark cave, the entrance to the dungeon came into view along with remnants of sea goblins lurking around. I wore the shadow cloak and entered the dungeon with my presence concealed. An eerie silence greeted me.
-Peep!
When I blew the whistle made from the skull of an imperial seahorse, a clear sound rang out along with bubbles. Shortly thereafter, the young red kraken emerged.
It swam quickly towards me and jumped into my arms like a puppy. Although only a day had passed, its size had already become comparable to Ayla's. This was probably due to the effect of the [Familiar] skill. Even though it was born as a small mutant, the [Familiar] skill effect might allow it to grow to an enormous size…
After stroking what I presumed to be its head, I sliced my palm with a dagger and fed the creature a certain amount of blood. Its body turned an even deeper shade of red. It was so dark it almost appeared black.
Knowing I couldn't stay in the Echaits waters forever, I planned to teach the creature how to hunt before I went away.
Together, we headed towards the location of the sea goblin remnants I had previously noted. Despite the significant number of sea goblins my party and I had eliminated, their numbers remained substantial.
Training the young Kraken proved easier than expected. Thanks to the [Familiar] skill connecting us, I could effectively convey the art of hunting sea goblins. While it couldn't compare to lessons from a mother kraken, I trained the creature to the best of my ability.
-Whoosh!
-Thwack!
-Splash!
Thus, six sea goblins fell to the young Kraken's tentacles. I watched as it devoured the sea goblins it had hunted and didn't forget to offer praise.
"Well done, Ken. From now on, make sea goblins your main food."
-Mkkyun~!
"Good to know you like the taste. Feel free to eat as many sea goblins as you like."
The reproductive capacity of sea goblins was beyond imagination, so it was actually a good thing that they lived around here. After all, a growing kraken has an insatiable appetite.
After the Kraken, or rather Ken had thoroughly devoured the sea goblins, I took the opportunity to teach him some "rules"—things he must not do. For example, destroying this temple, attacking ships, or killing humans…
-Mkyunkyuk~!
Ken already recognized me as his parent so he accepted the "no killing" rule quite easily which was a relief.
Once the rules were established, I let Ken roam free to hunt sea goblins while I attended to other matters.
What matters?
Of course the Origin God quest.
This dungeon, or more accurately, this "temple" harbored tales of the Origin God. A myth that no one knows about.
I'm not sure if I can interpret it correctly though…
But it was important to grasp even the slightest hint.
I pulled out an old book from my belongings and checked the main quest page.
[Main Quest: Find the Temple of the Origin God.]
The quest neither specified what I was supposed to find nor how to find it.
How could a quest be so unhelpful?
But I must finish this to return.
After gently caressing the page I'd examined countless times with my palm, I closed the book once more.
Could this place be the Temple of the Origin God?
I meticulously rechecked the main quest page. Nothing had changed. Of course, it couldn't be that the Temple of the Origin God was here.
But there must be a hint here.
I slowly surveyed the interior of the temple. I was intent on searching for anything.
The temple's interior was embellished with scenes from myths unknown to the world and carved and decorated in various spots. Naturally, due to the chaos caused by the likes of the Kraken, most were damaged, with few remaining intact.
But the altar where the Kraken's egg was found is still in good condition.
After exploring the entire temple, I headed back to the altar. Ken must have had his fill of sea goblins, as he had returned to my side and was swimming circles around me.
"Ugh."
I swept away the clutter atop the altar and peered at the delicately carved stone tablet. To the average person, the ancient script would have been indecipherable, but my [Polyglot] trait made it not so difficult for me to understand.
I began to read while tracing each of the ancient characters with my finger. Like most myths, the beginning was predictable. In the beginning there was chaos, and out of that chaos the world and life itself were born. The well-known gods of AOE also made their appearance during this era.
…There's no mention of the Origin God?
Being the Origin God, shouldn't it have appeared from the very beginning?
"Hmm…"
Putting my budding doubts aside, I continued to delve into the myth engraved on the tablet. The tales spanned the great twelve gods and the dreadful demons, the world brimming with life and the hells filled with nothing but torment.
Nowhere was there a story about the Origin God.
"Is this even possible?"
Even after reading it again from beginning to end, there was no mention of the Origin God. I stared blankly at the tablet, overwhelmed by a feeling of emptiness and a creeping fear. Was the quest for the Origin God going to hit a dead end here?
There were no famous players or guide pages here. This quest was something I had to solve entirely on my own.
Can I really do this….
Could there be another stone tablet? Or perhaps the crows had run off with something important when they took over this place…
"Damn it."
Just when I thought things were starting to make sense, everything became tangled.
I bit my lip and glared at the stone tablet. As if staring it down would make something pop out…
"Uh?"
Hold on. I placed my hand on the tablet once more.
"…Is this a vertical script?"
Indeed.
At second glance, the stone tablet which I had thought to be nothing more than a tedious myth, cunningly concealed a vertical script. One line on the left, one in the middle, and another on the right.
"Seek out…"
I began to read slowly from the left.
"The pieces…"
As I voiced the words, the characters slowly started to glow.
"Of Earte."
Earte.
It seemed to be the name of the Origin God.
The letters called out by my voice all emitted a brilliant light.
[Seek out the Fragments of Earte.]
The light overtook my vision, and soon, the shimmering characters came together to form the familiar "Quest Window".
Is it finally beginning?
My heart raced. I reached out towards the Quest Window with trembling hands.
-Whoooosh!
And I lost consciousness.
***
I woke up in endless darkness.
"…. Am I dead?"
In the distance, I saw a single tree shining in gold. And I walked towards it as if I was spellbound.
Although it was only one tree, it felt like a forest; such was its size. Its lush green leaves, the gentle breeze blowing through them, the warm light enveloping my body, and the refreshing ripples of water swirling around the tree…
When I approached closer, I noticed a child lying in a hollow in the middle of the tree, much like a cradle.
A child here?
The child's skin was so transparent that it almost appeared to be white, and long silver hair cascaded down around it, rippling like waves in the water. One could tell at a glance that the child was of extraordinary beauty, making one wonder who the parents might be. The child seemed to be sleeping peacefully as if in a dream. Only the sound of breathing was missing.
Small flowers and fruits were incessantly blossoming and withering in a continuous cycle around the child.
The life force here is tremendous…
I gazed at the child as if I was spellbound again.
-Pyooooo!
Suddenly, a long cry echoed above my head. When I raised my head and looked up, I saw a bird perched on a branch take flight. its iridescent feathers sparkled beautifully in the darkness. The bird circled around the tree and slowly came down and landed on my shoulder.
"Envis…?"
In this world, the only bird with rainbow-colored feathers was Envis, the guardian of the World Tree. It looked at me with its bright eyes that seemed to contain the colors of the universe, and then it cried again.
For some reason, that cry sounded almost like a plea for help.
I quietly watched the creature before turning my gaze back to the tree. The child showed no signs of waking.
"...."
Could the child be ill?
Or perhaps…
I knelt on one knee and gently placed my hand on the child's forehead.
In that moment,
-Whooooooosh!
A powerful surge of life force erupted and enveloped my body. It was pure power, unlike anything else. I was startled and tried to pull away but my body didn't respond. I had no choice but to accept this overwhelming power.
That power that was shimmering in five colors not only enveloped my body but also devoured the surrounding darkness. And in place of the darkness …
What is…. that?
Scenes began to unfold. There were sandy pits in a desert, islands with bubbling lava, an underground city resembling an anthill, a maze within a dark forest, and then darkness, vague darkness.
[Seek out the Fragments of Earte.]
Suddenly these words appeared in front of my eyes. It was then I realized that these landscapes were the hiding places of the 'Fragments of the Origin God.'
"… Are you saying I need to find all of these?"
As if in response to my words, the landscapes merged into a single light and transformed into a square piece of paper, which then fell into my hand.
"A map?"
Indeed.
What had landed in my hand was an old map.
-Piiyooooo!
As if its task was complete, Envis left my shoulder and soared high into the sky with its tail stretched out like a rainbow. While I was looking at its figure blankly, a brilliant light enveloped me again.
"Wait, just a minute, hold on!"
Before I could shout for Envis to tell me more and to explain, my vision went dark just as it had when I lost consciousness before, and I felt all strength drain from my body. Damn it, no. This can't be happening!
"Kuh-ack!"
…. When I came to my senses again, all I saw before me was a deserted temple and the young Kraken looking at me with concern.
[Quest: Grand success in conquering the Echaits Deep-Sea Dungeon!]
[Reward: ??? Map]
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