Chapter 90

The lake, which had its water restored, was incredibly beautiful.

The clear water allowed one to see all the way to the bottom. There, colorful aquatic plants grew, and every time they swayed, the color of the lake's surface changed.

The beauty of the lake, as depicted in CG, was due to these aquatic plants. The real thing was even more beautiful than the CG—

"‘Good’ isn’t it! ‘Good’ it is!!"

—While looking at such a lake, I was being scolded by Muto.

"‘Defeat’ means to blow it away! Young elf, surely you haven’t forgotten your purpose!?"

I sat by the lake's shore, with Muto, who had her hands on her hips, scolding me incessantly.

The [Water Snake] had returned to the lake and was looking at me with its head out of the water.

Muto had hurriedly flown and brought back the [Water Snake], which was about to turn into a cloud (it was almost a cloud).

The lake was still warm, but the [Water Snake] didn’t seem to mind. Groundwater was flowing in, keeping the temperature just right.

"Objective…"

"Yes! Didn’t I explain it clearly!?"

"Ob…jective…"

When Muto said this, I thought about why I had been fighting the [Water Snake]. Hmm…

"Restore the water. It will make me stronger. It’s exciting. Defeat…"

"Wait, wait, wait! That’s not it! The treasure! You need to find my treasure to stabilize your abnormal magic!"

"…Huh…"

That’s right…!

I was startled by Muto’s words.

I hadn’t forgotten, I don’t think I had. I just couldn’t say it right away! The battle with the [Water Snake] was so enjoyable that I had inadvertently lost sight of the final goal…

I always do this… I get so engrossed in what’s in front of me that I end up doing things impulsively…

I hung my head in disappointment at my own forgetfulness.

Then, Sami, who was sitting next to me, stood up in a hurry.

"Milady Rini, there’s no problem at all! The dragon said that to defeat the [Water Snake] is to obtain the treasure! Milady Rini has done just that. There was no specification on how to defeat it."

"There was no need to specify! I never thought you’d blow it into the sky!"

"Milady Rini is an outlier."

"That’s abundantly clear! Don’t be so proud of it!"

Muto shot back at Sami, who was puffing out her chest.

Sami frowned and looked at Muto with a "Huh?"

"Firstly, what position are you speaking from? Are you on Milady Rini’s side or against her? Is there any value in the words of someone who can’t clearly state their position?"

"Ugh, I am the [Black Dragon of the World’s Foundation]! I exist for the balance of the world! I just want to prevent the young elf from disappearing along with the gem!"

"Then, you should simply hand over the treasure. You only guided Milady Rini to the [Water Snake] and made her fight. Milady Rini didn’t blame you for that and led to victory with her passionate spirit and noble magic, as well as her excellent quick thinking. Are you going to nitpick about the method of battle?"

"I don’t take sides with anyone! …That’s the world!"

Sami’s words left Muto speechless.

Muto wants to stabilize my abnormal magic by obtaining the treasure to prevent the world’s destruction, but she probably doesn’t want to intervene any further than guiding me to the location. …Or maybe she can’t.

Muto is the [Black Dragon of the World’s Foundation]. As the name suggests, she is the foundation of the world, and the land exists on her body. The game’s movie explained that the [Black Dragon of the World’s Foundation] is the world itself.

She always takes an overview position and doesn’t take sides with any one individual.

"To me, the humans you flew, the villagers, the [Water Snake]… they are all the same. The same goes for elves and the young elf. I… just watch. I won’t interfere excessively in the affairs of those on the land!"

Muto said this and turned her gaze away from us with a huff.

I nodded in agreement. Muto first appeared to retrieve the gem from me, the vessel (Sami had knocked her away). My life or death didn’t matter to her.

Now, she is traveling with me to prevent the world’s destruction.

Muto is neither an enemy nor an ally.

Sami sighed at this.

"If you want to remain in a third-party position, that’s fine. However, be more careful with your words to Milady Rini!"

"But the young elf was losing sight of her purpose!"

"Milady Rini is very dedicated to everything! It’s wonderful!"

"That’s not the issue! The [Water Snake]’s treasure is with the [Water Snake]! If you blow it away, you won’t get it!"

"Is that so?"

I had been watching their conversation, but when it came to the part about not getting the treasure, I exclaimed, "Eh?"

Muto nodded and looked at the [Water Snake].

"Come on, spit it out."

The [Water Snake] made a "weh" sound. …Yes, a "weh"…

"Wow…"

With a splat, something shiny was expelled onto the shore along with gastric fluid.

"There, that’s the treasure. The [Water Snake]’s gastric fluid is toxic and dangerous. The treasure has been in its body for years and is contaminated with the poison. Be careful when you approach it."

"Milady Rini, please wait here!"

Sami said this and, avoiding the [Water Snake]’s gastric fluid, carefully picked up the treasure with her arrows like chopsticks. She then placed it in the lake.

Immediately, a sizzling sound was heard, and thick black smoke rose from around the treasure.

"To purify it without hesitation in this beautiful lake… Elves must have no hesitation…"

"I can’t give such a nasty thing to Milady Rini. I’ll wash it thoroughly before bringing it to her!"

"Um…"

I wondered if it was okay to wash it in such a beautiful lake, but since Sami didn’t seem to mind, it was probably fine… yeah.

I turned my gaze from Sami, who was working, to Muto, who was floating above the lake.

"Muto, thank you."

"Hmm?"

"Thanks to you, I got the treasure."

"Mm…"

"Thanks for bringing it back. Thank you."

Muto seemed confused by my gratitude at first and widened her eyes.

But when I continued, she seemed to understand what I was thanking her for, blushed, and laughed, "Hahaha!"

"Of course! That’s right! It’s because I’m here! …That’s right! You can fight as you please! I’m here! That’s right, that’s right!!"

"Milady Rini, you complain about her battle style and then tell her to fight as she pleases. Which is it?"

"You defeated the [Water Snake], young elf! Bringing it back to the lake wasn’t taking sides… Ugh! It’s the world’s judgment that the [Water Snake] should be here to protect the lake!"

"In that case, Milady Rini’s gratitude isn’t necessary. It’s a waste."

"Ugh, nu…"

Sami once lifted the treasure out of the lake and gently placed it on the shore.

However, the ground where the treasure was placed began to burn.

That treasure, if I put it in my item box, would probably be cursed… It would give me a bad status effect…

"By the way, Milady Rini, what was the technique you used to blast the [Water Snake] out of the lake?"

"Oh, the sudden boiling?"

"Yes, that’s what you called it."

"Right, right, what was it?"

"Well, I don’t understand everything, but…"

It’s a phenomenon called "bumping." Normally, when a liquid reaches its boiling point, it forms bubbles. However, sometimes the liquid can reach the boiling point without forming bubbles, becoming superheated. In this state, the superheated liquid can suddenly boil when a foreign object falls in or it is disturbed, and the bubbles formed will rapidly expand and rise.

To prevent this, we add boiling stones during science experiments. I wasn’t good at group experiments, so I don’t have many good memories of them.

During my hikikomori days in Japan, I experienced a sudden boil when I heated milk tea in a microwave. Fortunately, I didn’t get burned, but cleaning up the milk tea that splattered inside the microwave was sad…

I used the knowledge I learned then. Microwaves are prone to sudden boiling.

I explained it as best I could, using terms that were understandable in this world, and Sami nodded in admiration, while Muto raised an eyebrow skillfully.

"Of course, Milady Rini. Not only do you know about this phenomenon, but the fact that you could think of it and execute it immediately is amazing… I still need to acquire more knowledge and think on my feet…"

"Young elf, you are truly mysterious. You seem to know nothing, yet you use such mysterious knowledge and have abilities that are out of the ordinary…"

"Oh, Milady Rini! The purification is complete!"

Sami said this and ran over with the treasure in her hand.

It seemed she could now hold it with her hands.

"Milady Rini, here it is."

"Wow!"

Sami respectfully handed the treasure to me.

I gently took it. This shape is—

"Short sword."

—A short sword.

The blade is about 30 cm long and is sheathed in a golden scabbard adorned with many gems.

The hilt is decorated with intricate gold work, suggesting it was made more for display than practical use.

I drew the sword from the scabbard. Despite being in the [Water Snake]’s stomach for so long, there were no chips or rust on the blade. It was straight and double-edged, gleaming silver in the sunlight.

I was mesmerized by its beauty.

And I whispered those words.

"Status."

And! What I wanted to see was this! The status!

This is an item I haven’t obtained in the game. I wanted to know the item name and its effects!

- [Water Snake’s Short Sword]

- One of the treasures of the [Black Dragon of the World’s Foundation]. Created to save the world when the [Black Dragon of the World’s Foundation] fell into a deep sleep.

- Always: [Magic Manipulation] +200%, [Magic Resistance] +200%

- When used: [Magic Consumption] +100%, [Magic Power] +100%

"Wow…"

This is a magic cheat weapon… Honestly, it’s not very strong in terms of attack power. The [Cat’s Hand Gloves] I heavily upgraded in my previous life are much stronger as a weapon.

But the magic buffs are incredible. It’s not meant to be a main weapon but a support weapon.

And—

"…My body feels light."

—My body feels light…!

I hadn’t really thought my body was strange before. Well, maybe it was, but I started in this world as a baby who couldn’t move, and I’m only four years old. When I had a [Magic Outburst], I felt hot and sleepy, but when I wasn’t, I thought I was normal.

"Let’s run."

I sheathed the short sword and took off the [Cat’s Hand Gloves].

Then, I ran along the shore, "te-te-te-te-te!"

"Milady Rini?"

"What, what, all of a sudden?"

I turned around and returned to Sami. Of course, I was much slower than when I was a cat. But even so…

"Ri, I can run faster!"

"Yes, yes! Indeed, you can!"

I was out of breath immediately, but if my previous top speed was 50%, I felt like I was now at 70%!

"Um-hum. That’s the power of the treasure. The young elf lacked both magic and a vessel. The treasure strengthens the vessel and makes it capable of handling magic. It’s working in a positive direction. Eventually, as the young elf grows, she will naturally acquire these abilities, but for now, it’s best to rely on the treasure’s power."

"Okay!"

"That’s great… That’s wonderful, Milady Rini…!"

Sami’s eyes welled up with tears.

This is just the first treasure, but I feel like if I get all three, I won’t have a [Magic Outburst] anymore. The treasure is amazing!

"Ri, was I fast?"

"Yes! It was like the speed of light!"

"That’s fast."

I didn’t expect it to be the same as the speed of light. I know that’s impossible, but I’m happy that Sami said it so straightforwardly.

I couldn’t help but hug her.

Then, I looked up at Sam