Chapter 77: Undine
ㅤ”U, Uoooh!?”
ㅤ”Uwaaaah!”
ㅤ
ㅤSherry-san and the knights scream inside the bubble.
ㅤ
ㅤThe magic bubble I created successfully enveloped the three of them, but it couldn’t withstand the force of the torrent.
ㅤThe bubble is violently shaken and swept away while spinning.
ㅤ
ㅤ（This is bad.）
ㅤ
ㅤI don’t think the bubble will break, but if we keep riding the current, we might be swept away to the transport exit outside the forest.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Rock, take root in the earth and rise!”
ㅤ
ㅤI immediately created a giant rock behind the bubble with magic.
ㅤThe bubble collides with the giant rock and stops moving.
ㅤHowever, as a result, the pressure of the water current on the front of the bubble increases, and I squeeze out Ether to somehow maintain the bubble.
ㅤ
ㅤThe water flow gradually weakens, and finally the water level drops to about knee height.
ㅤ
ㅤAt that point, I release the bubble and dash forward.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Minato!?”
ㅤ
ㅤSherry-san shouts from behind, but I ignore her for now.
ㅤ
ㅤI struggle through the knee-deep water and proceed down the passage, getting closer to where the water came from.
ㅤ
ㅤI see something blue at the end of the passage.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Th-This is bad dechi! It seems they weren’t swept away dechi!”
ㅤ
ㅤ”W-We have to run dechi!”
ㅤ
ㅤTwo blue humanoid figures call out to each other and try to escape.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Ether Shot!”
ㅤ
ㅤI use Ether Shot to destroy the ceiling in front of the “two” of them.
ㅤThe “two” of them stop in their tracks, startled by the falling debris.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Wait!”
ㅤ
ㅤ”W-We’re humans dechi!”
ㅤ
ㅤ”We’re angry dechi!”
ㅤ
ㅤI observe the “two” of them again.
ㅤTheir shapes are humanoid, but it’s obvious they aren’t human.
ㅤAfter all, their skin is translucent blue, and I can’t see their internal organs.
ㅤTheir entire bodies are made of a blue gel-like substance, and in the place of their eyes, they have two aquamarine pupils without any whites.
ㅤTheir height is a little taller than my waist.
ㅤ
ㅤIf I were to use my game brain,
ㅤ
ㅤ”Um, they’re like Undines, I guess?”
ㅤ
ㅤ”You know about Undines dechi?”
ㅤ
ㅤThe one with a more feminine form speaks.
ㅤ
ㅤ（But they’re speaking human language.）
ㅤ
ㅤTo gain their trust, I try selecting the Spirit Language from the options.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Why are you here?”
ㅤ
ㅤWhen I ask, the two of them look surprised.
ㅤ
ㅤ”You can understand the Undine language dechi?”
ㅤ
ㅤ”Yes, I’ve met Gnomes before.”
ㅤ
ㅤ”Ah, those guys dechi. A gloomy bunch who just dig holes and shut themselves inside dechi.”
ㅤ
ㅤ”I-Is that so?”
ㅤ
ㅤI had the impression they were quite cheerful, though.
ㅤ
ㅤ”So, was that water current just now your doing?”
ㅤ
ㅤWhen I ask, the two of them look embarrassed.
ㅤ
ㅤ”W-We can’t let humans go any deeper dechi. This is the Undines’ sanctuary dechi.”
ㅤ
ㅤ”I don’t want to defile your sanctuary. I’m chasing after this Dream Weaver guy…”
ㅤ
ㅤThe two Undines flinch at the name I mention.
ㅤThey look at each other and then say,
ㅤ
ㅤ”W-We don’t know any such person dechi.”
ㅤ
ㅤ”Th-That’s right dechi. Even if we did, we wouldn’t tell you dechi.”
ㅤ
ㅤ”Ah, don’t say anything unnecessary dechi!”
ㅤ
ㅤThe second Undine covers the first one’s mouth.
ㅤ
ㅤMeanwhile, Sherry-san and the others catch up from behind.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Um, could you explain what’s going on?”
ㅤ
ㅤAt my words, the two Undines lower their heads.