The Deprived One's obsession was powerful enough to rival an anti-tank mine, but not so much that he couldn't endure it. Ian continued answering the Deprived One's questions as he walked on.
Splash.
Before he knew it, the rainwater pooling up to his ankles parted to open a path for Ian's steps. The water at his landing points moved on its own, revealing dry ground beneath.
Thanks to that, Ian's shoes and pants didn't get wet at all. The sensation of walking wasn't too uncomfortable either.
"Sssp, hooo…"
He took a deep drag of his cigarette smoke and exhaled, glancing around.
'No more monsters chasing me now.'
Perhaps thanks to seizing and tearing apart the cocoon in the central tower, the theme park employees that had been endlessly surging forth had now completely vanished. All that remained around him was rainwater. A fingernail-shaped insect clinging to a streetlamp let out a chirring cry, then was swept away by the flowing rainwater and disappeared.
It was the life of an utterly common insect—a bug that couldn't even resist the pouring disaster. Whether its main diet in life was human flesh or whatever, once dead it held no meaning whatsoever. Ian flicked the ash from his cigarette and slowly climbed the sloping path.
[Daddy, Daddy. Mom says she's going to kill me right now. I'm so scared. Comfort me.]
The Deprived One spoke. Ian slightly lifted his head and gazed up at the sky.
A black sky. Through its gaps, things like dried tree branches were poking out jaggedly.
They looked like nerve stems, or perhaps the kind of alien parasite often depicted in media. Frankly, it wasn't a very pleasant sight.
But that too was a part of the Deprived One's body. When eating, it would reveal itself from beneath the submerged water's surface, but the flooding hadn't reached that level yet. In fact, it was safe to say that was the current full appearance of the summoned Deprived One.
Ian stared at the stark white stems and answered.
"If you're scared, wouldn't it be better not to say things that sound like you're scratching at your mom, daughter?"
[Eeh, I don't wanna. I don't want Mom hogging Daddy all to herself. You're our daddy, so why should we have to walk on eggshells?]
"...For starters, isn't the Master of the Outer Sea your creator?"
[They just made us and then neglected us, so what? Did you know, Daddy? In the Outer Sea, there really aren't many kids who like Mom. Only the Destroyer, the Conqueror, the Understander, the Pretender, and the Agonizer might like her? The rest all hate her!]
"...Hmm."
Ian let out a hum and tapped the grimoire in his hand.
The Destroyer was one Ian already knew. An entity composed of a massive red head, black spines, and multiple small heads. A tyrant of the Outer Sea that moved solely for destruction and consumption.
It was a creature with virtually no intelligence, so summoning it made proper communication impossible. Because of that, it was one of those beings you must never summon unless you intended to kill and annihilate everything indiscriminately.
And the Conqueror. Ian knew almost nothing about that creature either. The Understander, the Pretender, and the Agonizer were also names he was hearing for the first time.
They were probably recorded in the grimoire, but the number of creatures documented in the book was so vast that he hadn't checked yet.
While he was thinking about it, looking them up after dealing with the theme park might not be a bad idea. With that thought, Ian opened his mouth.
"Do you hate Mom too?"
[Of course! I hate her so much! I really hate her! She's a bad mom who does nothing but torment me every day!]
...
[I probably hate Mom the second most after my older sister.]
"Older sister?"
[The Precursor sister! She's the only sister in the Outer Sea who's older than me!]
"...You're the second born?"
[Yeah!]
The Deprived One answered brightly. Her voice, riding the vibrations of the rainwater, softly licked at Ian's ears.
[The Precursor sister is the first, I'm the second! The Understander is third, the Regressor is fourth, and the Submerger is fifth!]
"Wait, the Regressor? There's a Regressor?"
Ian asked, his voice surprised. The Deprived One, as if delighted by the very act of talking with Daddy, laughed a tinkling giggle and answered.
[Yeah! It's not that strong, but it's a kid who can foresee events that might put its life in danger! So it's never even encountered Mom!]
"...Ah."
Ian openly showed his disappointment, pursing his lips.
The Regressor.
In the past, it wasn't a particularly famous concept, but in the latest web novels, Regressors often appeared. They were generally portrayed as heroes armed with nobility and an iron mentality, saving the world through repeated deaths. There were exceptions, but that was the standard.
So when he first heard the name, he had secretly hoped, but in reality, the 'Regressor' was simply a superior version of the basic reverse-direction sight.
Of course, the effect would be good, but whether there would ever be a situation that truly required it, well—he couldn't help but tilt his head.
'Most dangers can be covered with just the sight alone. There's no need to keep a summoned creature around.'
If a moment came later where there was a high probability of great danger, it wouldn't be too late to summon the Regressor then. There was no immediate need for it right now.
[But Daddy.]
While he was thinking, the Deprived One spoke to him in a slightly subdued voice.
[Why are you talking about another kid when you're with me?]
...
[Focus on me. You said you loved me. Or is that a lie too?]
"...It's not a lie. I love my daughter. Love you the most. Yeah."
[Right? Hehe, I knew it! But there won't be a second time, so be careful, okay?]
Though said with a laugh, the emotion contained within was sticky and clammy. It was a feeling he often sensed from the Master of the Outer Sea.
'Maybe because she's the second born, she resembles her mother a lot.'
Ian let out a deep sigh and casually tossed his cigarette butt to the ground. Before long, it floated far away, carried by the submerged current.
He moved his steps toward the far end of the theme park, continuing his conversation with the Deprived One. Thanks to that, he managed to gain a few more pieces of information about the Outer Sea.
[From the firstborn sister to the fifth, there's only one of each. Including me.]
"Then even when summoned, it's always the same individual that appears."
[Yeah! So summon me again next time, okay? It's not hard to sneak away from Mom anyway. I might not know about the others, but I'm really good at hiding!]
"Alright, I'll summon you again if I get the chance."
[Promise!]
"Yeah, promise."
Ian chuckled and shoved his hands into his coat pockets. The Deprived One let out a sly laugh.
Whoooosh!
As he walked, the volume of falling rain grew even fiercer. Ian himself had no problem, but the rainwater, now rising to his calves, devoured all the remnants within the theme park, burying the world underwater.
Ian gazed into the distance at the wreckage of a collapsed roller coaster drifting along the current. A red-haired woman, her body crushed, drifted away with a gurgle, impaled on a steel beam.
'A survivor. What a pity.'
Ian inwardly wished for her soul's peace and continued circling the theme park, grimoire in one hand and axe in the other.
After a long while, he spotted the Circulator floating about in front of a public restroom and slightly furrowed his brow.
"What are you doing there?"
[Squeak!]
The Circulator, who had already known Ian was approaching, let out a high-pitched cry and swam toward him, then splashed about in the water. Ian lightly stroked her head and asked.
"The survivors? You haven't just been off playing by yourself, have you?"
[Squeak! Squeak squeak!]
With a voice that sounded indignant, the Circulator pointed to the inside of the restroom. Ian's gaze turned that way.
"Bail the water out faster. Are you trying to piss me off? Should I just abandon everything and leave?"
"I-I'll do it quickly!"
"Don't just say it, show it with your actions. We still need to go to the cafeteria, how long are we supposed to be stuck here?"
Inside the restroom stood Kim Yul with a fierce expression and survivors frantically scooping out rainwater. Yuna and Yuri stood behind Kim Yul, drilling a hole in the restroom wall, but since water had pooled outside as well, it had little effect.
"Hmm."
There was no reason to just stand and watch, so Ian let out a small laugh and entered the restroom. As if Moses had parted the sea, the water filling the restroom's interior drained out, following his steps.
"Oh?"
Kim Yul raised her head. Just then, her gaze met Ian's.
"Ah, Newbie!"
There was no silence. The moment Kim Yul saw Ian's face, she beamed brightly and scurried over to him. Yuna and Yuri also spun their heads around.
"I-Ian...!"
"I've finished my business. What about you guys? Are these the only survivors left?"
"No, there are more in the cafeteria. About 15 people. We just need to get them."
"Good, then let's go right now. Follow me."
Ian smiled and turned his body. Kim Yul immediately stuck close behind him, and Yuna also bustled over to take her place beside Ian.
Fortunately, perhaps because it had no particular interest in human females, the Deprived One didn't pay much mind to the two's approach.
Creatures of the Outer Sea each had their differences of opinion; some, like the Circulator or the Master of the Outer Sea, would be wary of any female regardless of species, while others, like the Deprived One, would simply ignore them.
If the Deprived One had a personality like the Master of the Outer Sea, who ostracized all females, it would have been quite troublesome. He probably would have collapsed from mental fatigue rather than physical exhaustion.
[Female bugs have latched on. Ugh, Daddy must feel gross. Only a pretty daughter like me should be by Daddy's side...]
Listening to the Deprived One's grumbling, Ian headed to the cafeteria with the group.
The rainwater, split to the left and right, instead of floating in midair, streamed sideways and flooded another direction. Kim Yul watched this and subtly pressed her body close to Ian.
"I wondered what was up when it suddenly started raining... So this was your doing?"
"To be precise, it's my summoned creature's doing, not mine. I can't do stuff like this. It's not a fantasy game; how would a mage control the weather?"
"Just summoning a creature like that is already fantasy, you know?"
Kim Yul snickered and pressed her damp body against Ian's. Just then, Yuna also plucked at her soaking wet clothes and let out a huff of breath.
"Ugh, so cold... feels so gross and clammy... Even my underwear is completely soaked... I didn't bring any spares..."
For reference, Yuna was wearing a white shirt over a black bra. The shirt, clinging to her skin, unfortunately no longer covered her body like before.
Also for reference, Yuna's pants, having absorbed moisture, were slightly heavier. Because of that, they had slipped down a little, subtly revealing the outline of her underwear.
...
It was so blatantly on display that it was hard to even pretend not to notice. Ian inwardly thought, 'How big...' and nodded to himself.
...
Yuna felt Ian's gaze as well. For a moment, her face flushed bright red with shame, but then she suddenly pursed her lips and puffed out her chest even more.
The shirt, heavy with absorbed water, grew taut, and the buttons quivered violently, crying out as if begging for mercy. Ian inwardly cheered for the Spider-Man that must be living on her shirt.
"...Newbie?"
At the sound of Kim Yul's voice from beside him, Ian snapped back to his senses. As if nothing had happened, he looked down at the Circulator scampering across the floor and murmured.
"Once we secure the people in the cafeteria, we'll head straight to the far end of the theme park. There's no point in going out the entrance. We absolutely have to break through the wall and get outside."
"Newbie, my chest is big too."
"If we succeed in getting everyone out, it'll basically be safe. But I'll be prepared just in case. In the meantime, I'll eliminate the theme park."
"Newbie?"
"Let's move quickly. Everyone's exhausted."
"Newbie."
Aside from the fact that Kim Yul kept trying to talk to Ian, the group walked on smoothly. After safely rescuing the 15 survivors inside the cafeteria, they crossed the quiet theme park and stood before the outer wall.
The water had already risen to their thighs. People walking far away from Ian had long since begun complaining of fatigue.
Rather than tending to them one by one, it was better to just break through the wall quickly. Ian turned to Yuna and said.
"Yuna, break it open."
“Ugh, yeah!”
She nodded vigorously and brought the tip of her staff to the wall.
“I, who have melted into reason, command you: become clay softer than anything else.”
Hwoong!
Yuna’s ether coiled around the outer wall in a circular shape once. Her face slightly pale, she gasped for breath and gave a faint smile.
“I-It’s a success. You can go now.”
“Good work.”
Ian lightly tapped her head and drove his axe into the softened wall. The axe sank in without any resistance, splitting the wall apart.
Crunch.
A hole large enough for about two or three people to easily pass through appeared in the wall. Even though the wall was breached, the water pooled in the theme park didn’t flow out; instead, it stayed in place, only raising the water level further. This was proof that the Deficiency’s feeding range was confined to the theme park.
Ian chuckled, stowed his axe, and looked back at the group.
“Now, everyone get outside. Once outside, you’ll be able to return to your families.”
Those words were the starting signal. The survivors hurriedly waded through the water and escaped out of the theme park. Granted, they only escaped the theme park, but that alone was enough.
“I-Ian, make sure you come out and not push yourself too hard? I’ll be waiting...”
“See you outside, newbie.”
Yuna and Gim Yul followed the survivors out of the theme park. Ian waved his hand at the two of them, then clutched his grimoire and turned around.
“Deficiency.”
[Yeah, Daddy.]
The Deficiency answered his voice immediately. At the same time, the rain falling from the sky stopped abruptly. The sound of rain that had filled the air subsided, and the pooled rainwater rippled gently.
[Bbyak.]
The Circulator, who had approached Ian’s side, let out a cry that sounded wistful. Ian stroked her head.
“Go rest. Thank you for helping.”
[Bbyaak.]
Splash.
The Circulator melted away like water. Perhaps because she had already filled her stomach, there was no resistance or defiance.
The Deliverer had been sent back earlier. Thanks to that, only Ian and the Deficiency remained in the theme park. He looked up at the pure white tree trunks descending from the sky and moved his lips.
“Are you ready?”
[Yeah.]
Gurgle...!
Bubbles rose to the water’s surface with the answer. Inside, between the sprouting trunks, part of the Deficiency’s body revealed itself.
A giant figure draped in a black cloak and a pure white hood. Where its face should be, only sharp teeth dangled, and its shoulders and back were covered in trunks. She looked down at Ian and moved her lips.
[If you say you love me, I’ll start right away.]
A sudden demand. Ian burst into a short laugh, and while staring at the trunks stretching from earth to sky and sky to earth, he answered.
“I love you, my daughter.”
[I love Daddy the most in the world too! I'm going to marry Daddy!]
Tap.
The tips of the two extending trunks made contact.
And then, before he knew it, Ian was submerged in a blue ocean.
The world had been flooded.