Day 37 in Samhae. It was a morning when my eyelids felt unusually heavy.
A day where I just wanted to keep sleeping like this.
"I know you're awake. Open your eyes, Hero."
"…Where did you hear that?"
"It's simply something I know."
A morning accompanied by Eosollujeun's clear voice.
Normally, I would have welcomed it, but today was different.
Today was the day I had to go fishing.
But the problem was that I was the bait, and that fish could kill me.
Not even a big-game fisherman would take on this level of risk.
But what choice did I have? If I didn't, I'd rot in this deep sea.
"Piiii…."
I stroked Jui, who was snoring away suspended in the air, and opened the submersible's hatch.
Opening the broadcast for the gallery as usual, I thought about how to lure the Gold Crown Fish.
[Deep Sea Escape Log Day 37, Fishing]
The two chats that popped up the moment I started the stream.
ㄴJilli Hakja: Hello!
ㄴBaldogeomseong: So today is the day you fish for that fish.
After that, another veteran's comment followed.
Etching the nicknames into my eyes one by one, I opened my mouth.
"Honestly, I don't have the confidence to catch that fish… Today might be my last day."
ㄴBaldogeomseong: You speak as if there was ever a time you didn't.
Baldogeomseong's comment appeared immediately.
Comments continued after that.
ㄴBaldogeomseong: Where you are is always a place where life and death meet. Yet you have survived until now, and you will continue to do so.
"…Thank you."
Words that seemed filled with conviction. In some ways, they might have been nothing more than a flimsy dream.
But perhaps because they were the words of the Sword Saint, my teacher, my tension eased a bit.
When the thumping caused by my nerves had subsided a little.
Someone approached from the side. Faintly smelling of roses.
She spoke in a voice quiet enough not to be picked up by the broadcast.
"For a moment, could you point the screen somewhere else?"
"…I could."
Though puzzled, there was no reason to refuse. I turned the camera toward the city where we would not be exposed.
Then, Eosollujeun made an impulsive move.
Taking off the gloves on her hands, she grabbed my right hand tightly.
Eosollujeun's cold left hand and my burning right palm intertwined.
"W-wait? Eosollujeun?"
I spoke in a hushed voice, thinking it mustn't be caught on camera.
Something began to change.
"Please, just wait a little longer."
Through our clasped hands, mana flowed.
But unlike before, our mana was being exchanged.
The mana flowing out of my body, to Eosollujeun.
The mana flowing out of Eosollujeun, to me.
After a few minutes, Eosollujeun withdrew her hand.
For some reason, her hand seemed a little warmer.
She spoke in a small voice, so the sound wouldn't enter the broadcast.
"I'm always cheering for you."
She turned back and returned to the submersible.
…Before her face was hidden, I thought I saw a smile.
Setting aside my unsettled heart, I returned the screen to its original position.
ㄴJilli Hakja: Hey, what just happened? What did you do? Huh? Answer me!
ㄴBaldogeomseong: Wasn't it something rather pointless?
ㄴJilli Hakja: This is why swordsmen are impossible. Anyone can see right now that the two of you—
Hiss, should I explain?
That worry crossed my mind, but unless I explained perfectly, it seemed like it would look as though I was dumping the matter on Juttak again, so I remained silent.
After all, once I boarded the submersible Sphere, all attention would be focused here anyway.
For some reason, my heart grew calm. Without any tension, only a warm sensation lingered.
[The mana brancher is currently set to 'Automatic'. When the designated submersible approaches, the direction will change naturally.]
As I boarded the Sphere and took the controls, a message greeted me.
Watching the surroundings on the screen, I carefully moved the Sphere to avoid scraping anything.
Whoooom!!
Perhaps because it was on land, the Sphere moved with a loud noise.
Weaving between the nearby rocks, I saw a barrier ahead.
Without hesitation, I moved the submersible toward the green light barrier.
The Sphere, entering bow-first, passed through without any resistance.
The engine, which had been turning the infinite treads, soon transformed into an engine for advancing into the deep sea.
Clunk. Thud.
The infinite treads retracted inward, and the engine noise quieted.
The immense noise melted into the vast liquid of the deep sea, becoming one with it.
"Hoo, I'm turning it on."
Ping… Ping….
The underwater radar that allowed indirect viewing of the deep sea activated.
The surrounding terrain was revealed over a green circle.
A constant noise continued.
As if listening to the endless crashing of waves, my heart beat calmly.
With the patience of one who casts a line and waits.
I waited for the Gold Crown Fish, existing only as a body, to rush at me.
Ping… Ping….
The noise continued.
There was no change in the terrain that disappeared and reappeared.
It might have looked like a meaningless action, but I was certain.
That the Gold Crown Fish, which only had its body left, couldn't have gone far.
And fitting such expectations.
Pinginginging!!
The underwater radar began to ring violently.
A red dot had appeared on the previously unchanging radar.
The red dots multiplied over time, properly revealing its form.
A headless, zombie-like fish. Golden waves rippled across it as seen on the screen.
Whoooom!!
I jerked the controls sharply, luring it toward the city.
The Gold Crown Fish chased me with golden waves. But I felt none of the fear from before.
Since I lured it near the city, it didn't take long.
But my goal wasn't simply to return. I had to lead the Gold Crown Fish's body inside.
Whooong….
ㄴJilli Hakja: You're stopping here? It's coming!?
I stopped right in front of the barrier.
Behind me, the Gold Crown Fish was naturally in pursuit.
Pingpingpingpingpingping!!!
The underwater scanner rang sharply, and when that ringing reached its peak.
"Now!!"
Whoooom!!
I jerked the controls and accelerated rapidly at the same time.
The Gold Crown Fish flying at very high speed from behind, naturally.
Thud!!
Unable to decelerate, it crashed directly into the barrier.
Without stopping there, I immediately turned sharply and rammed the staggering body of the Gold Crown Fish.
[The direction of the 'Isolation Barrier' changes.]
Kwaaang!! Screeeech!
The direction of the Isolation Barrier changed the moment it hit the Gold Crown Fish's body.
The submersible entered the city as is, scraping against the sandy bottom.
The entire interior shook, and the impact was transmitted directly.
When I gripped the brake tightly, it stopped with a screech.
"Wow…."
The Gold Crown Fish flapping intermittently, visible outside the screen.
Seeing it, the tension in my body melted away completely.
Perhaps because the adrenaline disappeared, fatigue came instantly.
I staggered out of the Sphere and looked at the Gold Crown Fish.
Even out of the water, the Gold Crown Fish's body was still jumping.
But its momentum was gradually dying down.
ㄴJilli Hakja: With just this, can we go to the next city?
ㄴBaldogeomseong: Its vitality is quite tenacious. Similar to the undead I saw before.
Approaching closely, golden flesh was visible between black scales.
The place where its head had disappeared was already tightly covered with scales.
"It seems to have good regenerative ability too."
But perhaps survival without water was impossible, as its movements soon disappeared.
After waiting a few more minutes to confirm it was truly dead, I safely brought it to the submersible.
At first, I wanted to drag it myself, but….
ㄴJilli Hakja: Wow, I noticed it before, but it's huge.
ㄴSurisam: At this size, couldn't you use it as a boat?
Since its length was roughly twice my own, I had no choice but to use the Sphere.
I moved by tying the Gold Crown Fish and the Sphere together with ropes I had stored away in advance.
Rattle, rattle, rattle, rattle….
Perhaps because it had taken a heavy impact, there was considerable resistance as I moved it, but I somehow managed to bring it to the submersible.
Getting off the Sphere, I saw Eosollujeun feeding fresh meat to Jui.
"You succeeded."
Looking at Eosollujeun's expression, I saw a strange certainty.
A certainty that seemed to say she knew I would succeed.
"Pii!"
"Welcome back."
Perhaps happy to see me, it ran straight to me after finishing the meat.
As I stroked Jui's head while it clung to me with its stubby legs, some of today's fatigue washed away.
Stroking Jui's head, I thought.
That now, I would be able to advance to another city.
***
The process of crafting the weapon wasn't very long.
Except for the body of the Gold Crown Fish, all the materials were easy to obtain, and Eosollujeun's information greatly helped shorten the time.
Day 39, I crafted the weapon and attached it to the Sphere.
Day 40, I finally turned my steps toward another city in the deep sea.
The Sphere, which had been somewhat damaged from obtaining the Gold Crown Fish's body, was sparkling again before I knew it.
A new weapon gleaming with light from its blade was attached to the Sphere's side.
In the first city I advanced to, leading the upgraded Sphere….
"What is this…?"
Completely different from the previous city.
A ruined city befitting the apocalypse was visible.