Tier V Seeker ⑥
After the battle with the Water Fairy Dancer, Bid-san cornered me.
She pressed closer and closer. Too close, too close.
“What’s the meaning of this, Woff-kun?”
“Th-The knife, that was—”
“That’s not it’s. Well, that too’s, but I mean you acting as bait’s!”
“That was… I thought it might be better that way.”
“I get it’s, but we could’ve discussed it more and planned a strategy’s. We managed to beat it in the end’s, but there’s no guarantee it’ll work next time’s. Our lives are on the line here, so we need to be more careful’s, y’know?”
“I’m sorry.”
She was right. I’d acted rashly on my own again.
When I reflected on it and apologized, Bid-san patted my head.
“Still, that’s an amazing knife’s. Is it an OOPArts?”
“Well… something like that.”
“You should’ve told me about the knife’s.”
“I’m sorry.”
Bid-san kept patting my head with a smile.
Filled with remorse and apology, I silently let her do it.
Once she finished petting me, we headed to the shrine.
Peeking inside cautiously, we saw a single boat floating on the water.
It was a Black Boat. Quite large for a two-seater.
The front was shaped like a bamboo leaf, and the rear had an inverted fin.
Furthermore, the front of the boat had an oval-shaped guard attached.
Strange white boxes were installed at the back. Four boxes in total, above and below the boat’s waterline.
Moreover, the back of the boxes functioned as thrusters, connected by pipes.
Looking closely, the inverted fin was also a thruster.
Were they connected? Bid-san murmured.
“What is this thing’s? I’ve never seen anything like it’s.”
“……”
This boat, it’s something quite incredible.
It’s amazing a boat like this survived. It must be because it’s so deep in the woods that no one has come here.
But weren’t there any weirdos or curious folks who thought of exploring these woods?
Well, since the route to the next floor involves crossing the Great River by boat, maybe no one came this deep.
Even if someone did, they might have seen the Water Fairy Dancer and fled, or fought it and lost.
It’s a bit puzzling why no Seeker strong enough to win didn’t come this deep into the woods.
In any case. With memories of my past life, I know what this is.
This boat is a Motorboat.
Or something very close to it.
“Haaah, it’s a boat’s, but what can we do with— Woff-kun? What’re you doing’s?”
Bid-san looked puzzled as I climbed aboard.
The inside of the boat was pure white, with a glowing blue line drawn down the center.
There were three seats, arranged like a triangle.
Looking around, this seemed the most suspicious part.
The seat at the apex of the triangle. Right below the front guard. On that seat was a black pedestal.
On the pedestal rested a sphere with two black horns growing out horizontally from its sides.
The black horns weren’t sharp, shaped like they’d be easy to grip.
The sphere was gray and slightly translucent.
I placed my hand lightly on the sphere. It lit up.
“Whoa!”
“What’s that!?”
As if instinctively, Bid-san also jumped into the boat.
Text appeared on the sphere. Ancient characters.
Hmm, hmm. [Activate] or [Deactivate].
Looks like you select by pressing with your finger.
A liquid crystal panel? A crystal sphere? I pressed [Activate].
Fweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeen.
“That sound is—”
“Wha-?”
“Aargh, geez! Now what’s happening’s!?”
The sound of something starting up came from the rear. Did the engine kick in?
And judging by the seat position, the two horns growing from the sides of the crystal sphere are… I see.
I turned around.
“Bid-san. W-Wait, wh-what are you doing!?”
Bid-san, halfway through taking off her jacket and top, looked blankly at me.
Beneath her black shirt, a light pink bra was clearly visible.
Modest, but huh, it’s cute. No, that’s not the point.
“What d’you mean? I don’t really get it’s, but you’re planning to head out in this boat, right Woff-kun?”
“Y-Y-Yes, that’s right, but why are you undressing?”
“Why? Less clothing makes it easier to swim if I fall in the river’s.”
“W-Well, that’s true, b-but in your underwear—”
“This is a swimsuit’s.”
“Eh? A swimsuit?”
That’s right’s. Bid-san finished taking off her top.
Then she reached for her spats.
“Y-You’re taking those off too?”
“Mm? Yeah, I am’s?”
“……”
Since the spats clung tightly to her skin, Bid-san peeled them off slowly.
Watching her pull them off when they snagged on her foot was a bit too stimulating for me.
Why? It felt incredibly lewd.
Bid-san gave a slight, wry smile.
“Tehehe, almost tripped there’s.”
After stowing her removed clothes in her pouch, now in her swimsuit, she put her blue jacket back on.
“Huh? Is that okay?”
“This thing becomes a flotation device if I fall in the water’s. Plus, it dries quickly’s.”
“I see… convenient.”
“Liv-san gave it to me’s.”
“Ah, I see.”
Still… a swimsuit and a jacket, it’s kind of…
“What is it’s, Woff-kun?”
“Ah, no, just thinking it suits you.”
“R-Really’s? Ehehe, I’m happy’s.”
Bid-san laughed, looking embarrassed.
Feeling my heart pound for some reason, I sat down in the frontmost seat.
Even though it’s inside a shrine, it should have been exposed for a long time.
Yet the seat felt brand new and plush.
Then I noticed. There wasn’t a speck of dust inside this boat.
Furthermore, as I fastened the belt, I realized. I’m a bit too short.
The moment I thought that, the seat adjusted itself automatically.
This is some seriously amazing technology. No, no, what is this boat?
I started feeling uneasy, but having come this far, I had no choice but to ride it.
“Eh, sit? In this chair’s?”
“Yes. Please fasten your belt once you sit down.”
“Belt…? Ah, found it’s.”
Bid-san sat down and fastened her belt.
Confirming she was secure, I gripped the two black horns extending from the side of the crystal sphere—the control horns.
The Water Dungeon. The Great River on the 3rd floor is the first great river Seekers encounter.
It’s so wide you can’t see the opposite bank, dotted with islands large and small, which they travel between by boat.
Aquatic Monsters lurk in the Great River, and one must be especially wary of large monster fish.
Among them are troublesome ones that can swallow Seekers, boat and all.
Since it’s only the 3rd floor, they aren’t overwhelmingly strong.
But you have to fight in the narrow, confined space of a boat.
Moreover, you’re surrounded by water. Fall in, and you could become monster food.
Even more dangerous is being swept away by the river’s current.
You’d be lucky to wash ashore on an island.
But the end of the Great River is a waterfall. A massive waterfall.
What’s more, it skips the next floor, the 5th, connecting directly to the Great River on the 13th floor.
Given that height and the raging torrent, survival is practically impossible.
“Uooooh, damn it! Row, row, row!!”
The Seekers on a large boat carrying over ten people rowed their oars desperately.
Closing in from behind was a large monster fish, a Baogoon.
Its scales glittered as it opened its massive mouth.
Several people attacked, but their shots rarely hit.
To hit from a boat rocking erratically, you’d need a Relic.
However, none among them possessed such a Relic.
Most had elemental Relics or Relics specialized for close-combat.
“Uooooohhhh! The next island! To the next island!”
“Leader! I see an island!”
“Alright! Just a little more! Row, row, row—”
“Leader!?”
Something sharp struck the leader’s head, and he fell into the Great River.
Instantly, numerous small fish leaped out from the water’s surface.
They had single eyes, and their pointed mouths served as gun barrels.
Seeing them, one of the Seekers screamed.
“It’s Archerfish!!”
“You gotta be kidding meeee!?”
The large boat was instantly riddled with holes. Just before it sank, the Archerfish fled.
They must have sensed the Baogoon approaching. Miraculously, several people survived.
But behind them, the Baogoon was coming, its huge mouth wide open.
The Seekers despaired, thinking it was all over.
It was then. An unfamiliar, intense crashing sound echoed, and the Baogoon was sent flying through the air.
Exposing its surprisingly scrawny lower half, the Baogoon crashed onto the island ahead.
A fish out of water is just food.
Whether the Baogoon was edible or not, it was like a carp on the cutting board.
“Wh-What just happened?”
“W-We’re saved, somehow…”
“Y-Yeah…”
“What was that black thing?”
The mystery remained, but they were saved.
Something black had streaked past them at unbelievable speed.
“W-Wait, hold on, hold on, we just hit something’s!”
“Eh? Even if you say that, I can’t stop iiiit!”
“Whoa, whoa, an island’s!?”
“Owaaah! St-st-st-stop!”
The Black Boat soared through the air.