Chapter 83

"Beautiful... Mina..."

I had been looking forward to the Lake of Cool Rain so much. I never expected the water to be dried up.

The sight, so different from what I had imagined, made my shoulders slump in disappointment.

"Lady Rini, please look over there!"

"Huh?"

Samu approached the dried-up lake and peered into the large hollow, then called out to me.

When I looked in the direction Samu was pointing, I saw—

"There's something there."

"Ah... Yes. Ah... There it is."

Muto mumbled.

At the bottom of the deep hollow, a small amount of water remained. A blue snake, much larger than the space, was barely submerged in the water.

Due to the lack of water, only the underside of the snake's large body was submerged. It was coiled up, but its head was drooping on top of its body.

...It was clearly weakened.

This must be the Water Snake that Muto mentioned, which guards the treasure...

"Long... and strong?"

I couldn't help but ask Muto, given its pitiful state.

According to Muto, the Water Snake is very strong, but honestly, it doesn't look that way now, probably due to its lack of vitality.

Muto looked up at the sky in response to my words.

"The Water Snake, you see, is a snake that controls water."

"Uh-huh."

"It can shoot water like a blade or create a shield of water, making it a very difficult monster to fight."

"Uh-huh."

"...In other words."

"Uh-huh."

"Without water—it's just a big something."

"A big something..."

Muto pointed gently at the Water Snake.

"You should finish it off in one go. Then, you can obtain the treasure."

"Is that okay?"

I thought Muto was expecting me to fight the strong Water Snake and obtain the treasure.

But when I was told I could easily defeat the current Water Snake, I tilted my head in confusion.

Muto nodded.

"I could restore this lake, but this is also a matter of fate. It's the luck that the young elf has drawn."

"I see."

Muto is a dragon that became one of the foundations of the world. He must be quite philosophical about such things. But I—

"Jump."

I kicked off the ground with the Hare Boots and floated down to the lake bottom, where the water had dried up.

"Long"

"..."

I was just a step away from the Water Snake.

Even if it was weakened, if the Water Snake were to lash out now, it would be a problem for me.

The Water Snake seemed to sense my presence and stretched its head out.

However, it didn't bare its fangs at me and simply placed its head back on the lake bottom. It opened one eye slightly and then closed it again.

'Go ahead and do what you want.'

That's what it meant, I think.

"Is the water dried up?"

"..."

"Who did it?"

"Human"

"I see."

I placed my cat hand gently on the Water Snake's nose.

"I don't need the treasure right now."

Muto said to defeat it and obtain the treasure.

I could use any skill, and with just one move, I could defeat the Water Snake and obtain the first treasure. An overwhelming victory.

But—

"...I want something more fun."

See! An overwhelming victory is good, but the fun of the game isn't just that!

Facing a strong enemy, leveling up, using items, changing party members, swapping skills. If that doesn't work, sometimes watching a walkthrough video. Winning through strategy and skill, and the depth of the game—that's what I like too.

So—

"I'll restore the water."

—Restore the Lake of Cool Rain to its original state!

Then, I'll fight and defeat the Water Snake at its full strength. That will surely be the most fun.

The Water Snake opened both eyes wide at my words. I nodded firmly in response.

Then, I released my hand from the Water Snake and kicked off the ground.

"Samu, I want to restore the water."

"Yes! Lady Rini!"

I returned to Samu, who nodded with a smile at my declaration.

Muto was shaking his shoulders...

"Hahaha! Interesting! Good job, young elf! This is delightful!"

He laughed loudly, showing his fangs.

"I thought helping you would disrupt the natural order, but now I see that it's fine! Your desire to fight the strong Water Snake is well noted."

Muto's purple eyes narrowed with a sly smile.

"This area gets a lot of rain. The rain that falls in the forest becomes groundwater, which then surfaces here, forming this lake. So, if the lake is dried up, it means there's something wrong with the groundwater, the source of the water."

He pointed sharply into the depths of the forest.

"The smell of water ends there. Shall we go check it out?"

"Muto, thank you for the information."

I had planned to have Samu investigate, but thanks to Muto, I saved some time. I thanked him, and Muto puffed out his chest.

"This is nothing! But, young elf, this will be much more complicated and troublesome than just defeating the Water Snake here."

Muto's purple eyes glinted suspiciously, testing me.

So, I nodded.

"I'll go."

To fight the strong Water Snake in the most beautiful Lake of Cool Rain!

"Samu, let's go!"

"Yes!"

Next week, on August 20th, the third volume of the manga will be released!

Mr. Masume Yoshimoto has drawn it beautifully.

Not only is the strong and cute Rini beautifully depicted, but also Samu's "I can't show you!" expression and Caries' nervousness are drawn perfectly!

I hope you will pick it up and enjoy it.