Chapter 1-25 : Lake Clar (part 2)
As soon as I jumped into the lake, I could feel the cold sensation of the water all over my body. It felt so real and refreshing. As expected from the best MMORPG on the market.
「Ahh~ It feels so good~」(Alice)
While I was floating and enjoying bathing in the lake, I felt something slimy on my back. Apparently, the Squidspider was poking me, telling me to hurry and follow it.
「Alright, alright. I’m coming. ーHaaaaaaamm!」(Alice)
After taking a deep breath, I put my head into the water and started diving.
The Squidspider who had been waiting patiently, wrapped one of its tentacles around my hand and gently pulled me downward.
「（So it does want me to follow it, but… I don’t think it has to grab my hand. It looks harmless but I need to be careful.）」(Alice)
While holding my wakizashi with my other hand, I started moving my legs, diving deeper into the lake.
I’ve just learned【Swimming】skill, so it’s still level 1. I don’t know if I can stay underwater for long.
My real body is still breathing just fine in the real world even though I’m holding my breath now, so I don’t have to worry about dying from drowning, but still, it doesn’t feel good when you die and respawn in the church with the death penalty debuff in this game.
As I dove deeper, several more Squidspiders appeared. They didn’t attack me, instead, they joined us and guided me deeper into the lake as well.
While I was wondering what they wanted me to see, something huge and white hanging on the wall of the lake came into view.
「（What is that…? A spider cocoon…?）」(Alice)
It looked like a giant cocoon made of millions of layers of spider webs.
That seemed to be these Squidspiders’ nest. I wonder if they want to invite me to their home. Well, it might still be a trap, so I can’t let my guard down.
I slowly approached the giant cocoon and looked closer at it. If this is their nest, there should be an entrance somewhere.
As I was observing, the Squidspider that was holding my hand pulled me again. It guided me to the bottom side of the giant cocoon and pointed its tentacle.
When I looked in the direction it was pointing at, I saw a hole that was large enough for a person to fit through. It seemed to be the entrance.
「（Is this the entrance? I wonder what’s inside…）」(Alice)
I approached the hole and looked into it.
However, what came within my sight surprised me.
「（What… is that…?）」(Alice)
I saw a huge golden eye inside the giant cocoon.
It seemed to notice me. It moved its gaze toward the entrance and looked at me menacingly.
Being stared at by it, I felt fear for a split second.
「ー!?」(Alice)
Soon after, I felt something invisible coming at me at high speed.
I felt danger, but my body was much slower than my instinct.
My mind told me to dodge, but my level 1【Swimming】skill didn’t allow me to move as quickly as I wanted.
I can’t dodge… Am I going to die…?
I’ve lost hope, but the moment I thought I was going to die, the Squidspider that was still holding my hand quickly pulled me away from the hole with all its might.
「（Waa!?）」(Alice)
I was surprised, but right after I was pulled away, I felt something like a tremendous invisible pressure going past me. It barely hit my shoulder.
I quickly turned my face around and saw it. The invisible thing that almost hit me seemed to be a water bullet. It traveled at high speed and hit the bottom of the lake.
ーKABOOOOOOMM！！！
「（Wh… What!? A water bullet!?）」(Alice)
It happened in a split second, so I’m still a bit confused, but I think I know what’s going on.
If this Squidspider didn’t pull my arm, I would have been hit by that water bullet. ーNo. Judging from how huge the crater was made on the bottom of the lake, it was more like a water cannon than a water bulletー A destructive, powerful water cannon.
I wouldn’t have survived if it wasn’t for this little guy. I shifted my gaze to the Squidspider and raised a thumb-up.
「（Thank you! You saved my life!）」(Alice)
At first, I thought it was trying to get me into a trap, but if so, it wouldn’t have saved me. It’s confirmed now that the Squidspiders in this lake are friendly and harmless monsters.
「（Hmmphー!?）」(Alice)
Suddenly, I felt suffocated. I thought it was due to the shock, but I noticed my HP began to decrease slowly.
It seems like I’m running out of time. I have to get some oxygen, or I will drown.
「（Sorry, but I have to go!）」(Alice)
I pointed my index finger up, making a gesture to tell the Squidspider that I needed to get to the surface.
It seemed to understand me. It immediately pulled me upward, helping me to get to the surface as soon as possible before my HP decreased to zero.
「Pwaaahh!! ーSuuuuhaaaa… suuuhaaa… *breathing*」(Alice)
I took a deep breath as soon as I got to the surface.
After breathing a few times, I got out of the lake and sat on the ground to catch my breath.
The Squidspider finally released my hand and just stood next to me and stared at me.
「Phew… That was close. Thank you, little guy. You saved me from that water cannon and took me to the surface.」(Alice)
While thanking the Squidspider, I put my hand on its slimy head and stroked it.
It felt sticky and slimy. It didn’t feel good at all, to be honest…
「Ugh…」(Alice)
After wiping my hand clean, I took out some potions and drank them to get my HP back to full.
Now that I’ve calmed down, it’s time to process what is going on in this lake.
First of all, it seemed that these Squidspiders didn’t take me underwater to invite me to their nest but to show me the ‘thing’ inside their nest.
That golden eye… I wonder what that is…
I only saw its eye, but it was probably a boss monster or something, and these Squidspiders wanted me to do something about it.
When I told this Squidspider that I had to get to the surface, it immediately helped me. I feel like this fella understands what I say.
Perhaps I can try asking it.
「So… Do you want me to do something about that ‘thing’ invading your nest?」(Alice)
It slowly nodded in response.
「Wow, so you really understand what I say. Incredible!」(Alice)
Seems like Squidspiders are intelligent monsters in this game. They don’t talk, but they understand what players say.
「It’s a monster, right? Do you want me to kill it?」(Alice)
It slowly shook its head this time. It’s a no, I think.
「Wait, you don’t want me to kill it? But you want it to go away, right?」(Alice)
It nodded.
It wants that thing to go away, but it doesn’t want it to be killed. That’s weird.
「Isn’t it your enemy? Why do you want it to go away, but you don’t want it to die?」(Alice)
Responding to my question, the Squidspider started moving its tentacles slowly, making gestures.
It was trying to tell me something, but… I don’t get it at all…
Seems like I can only ask yes-or-no questions.
After asking it a few more questions, I could draw three conclusions.
1) They want that thing to go away from their nest.
2) However, for some reason, they don’t want to hurt it.
3) They want to solve this problem peacefully if possible.
「Haaahh…」(Alice)
I couldn’t help but sigh.
That’s an extremely difficult request.
Killing it will be much easier, though I don’t think I can do it alone with my current abilities. First of all, I need to level up my【Swimming】skill so that I can move quicker and stay underwater much longer.
But… Judging from how powerful its water cannon was, that monster is very strong. It’s at least on the same level as an area boss.
This game is still new and doesn’t have many strong players yet. Even with high level【Swimming】, I doubt there are players who can defeat it.
In the first place, how in the world do we get inside the cocoon? It will shoot that powerful water cannon as soon as we peek into the hole.
I don’t think it’s possible for us players to solve this problem now.
The Squidspider wrapped its tentacle around my hand and gently pulled me, telling me to follow it again into the water, but I shook my head.
「I’m sorry, but there’s nothing I can do right now.」(Alice)
The Squidspider understood what I said. It let go of my hand and looked at the ground.
It looked disappointed. I feel bad for the little fella, but I will definitely get killed by that thing if I go back. There’s no doubt about it.
「Uhh… Cheer up. It’s not that I don’t want to help you, but I’m just too weak to deal with that thing right now. I promise I will return after I become much stronger, so will you wait for me?」(Alice)
After I said that, the Squidspider turned to me and nodded. It then went back into the lake.
It may be impossible for me now, but I will definitely complete this task in the future!
With that in mind, I left Lake Clar and went hunting monsters somewhere else.
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