Chapter 203: Encounter with the Dogu
The lake, appearing dark and dull from above, reveals a beautiful deep blue when I look up from within. Is it because the light is coming from above?
After some contemplation and discussion, I decided to wrap my body in a thin layer of the Atmosphere Spirit and dove into the lake. As I submerged, I exchanged the air dissolved in the water. I didn’t feel any pressure, which was quite convenient.
Mermaid-like and fish-like Spirits swirled around me, their fins flowing like gossamer. Among them were some that resembled little birds—perhaps they were Atmosphere Spirits? I recalled the scene of small fish, like sardines, moving in a school, spinning as if they were one creature.
“Could you please move aside? I can’t see ahead,” I requested, and the Spirits shifted away from my feet.
As I dove deeper, I saw the submerged black trees stretching their branches, surrounded by reddish water plants and green moss swaying gently. Normally, these would be found in sunlit areas, but this place was different. The sunken forest was still home to many tree Spirits and green Spirits that had gathered, and the deeper I went, the more vibrant the greenery became.
Near the bottom, the fresh green was striking. Startled, a school of small fish reminiscent of neon tetras darted away, hiding in the shadows of the water plants.
The straight, dark trees swayed with the water current, accompanied by various aquatic plants. Their leaves appeared softer and more delicate than those of land plants.
The water plants, with their pale green, soft leaves, were filled with countless air bubbles. Photosynthesis? I couldn’t tell if the oxygen produced was from photosynthesis, but despite the limited sunlight reaching the bottom, it was faintly illuminated, likely due to the softly glowing moss and water plants.
When I touched them, the leaves released their trapped bubbles, which floated up. Some plants held bubbles as large as my face, and poking them was quite fun.
I had come here just to gather timber, but I found myself playing around.
Then, I noticed something large resembling a Shakoki Dogu peering at me. Is this a wooden station on the Gono Line? — At least it has both legs.
I couldn’t see its eyes, but it was clearly peeking out from behind a tree, not fully concealed. Pretending not to notice, I faded out from directly in front of it, and without a sound, it turned its body toward me.
Hey, how are you moving? I felt like it was being pushed by a Water Spirit like I was.
It’s a Spirit, right? I didn’t sense any hostility, but should I greet it? I always associated Shakoki Dogu with volcanoes and lava, so why is it underwater?
“Um, hello. Am I intruding?”
No way it can hide behind that tree with its width. I could tell it was flustered, even without any moving joints or expressions. Is it a recluse?
“I won’t harm you or drag you out against your will. Would it be alright if I took a few trees for furniture?” Given its size, I assumed it was the current master of this place, so I asked politely.
“Oh, this is soil from the field…” I gently inquired about the preferences of the surrounding Spirits and pulled out a hemp sack filled with soil from [Storage]. It was the soil infused with Pal’s power, prepared for the tower’s aerial garden.
As soon as I produced the sack, the water current wrapped around it and brought it to the Dogu. The soil was sucked into the Dogu’s eye holes. Wait, over there!?
The sack floated back to my hand. Just as I grabbed it, a dull vibration shook the area, causing four or five trees around the Dogu to rise to the surface. Clumps of black soil slowly fell from their roots to the lake bottom.
“Um, can I take that?” The Spirits around the Dogu affirmed my request.
“Thank you.” As I finished my gratitude, the Dogu quickly moved away, releasing bubbles. It didn’t move, so it felt a bit strange.
“Thank you, Dogu.” That saved me some effort. I expressed my thanks once more toward the trail of bubbles.
I stored the floating wood in [Storage] and resurfaced. Despite being a lake, it was deep enough that I felt I might get decompression sickness, but I had already prepared for that. It had been an unexpectedly enjoyable time.
I thanked the Spirits as well and thought about food!
I pulled out the same egg sandwich I had given to Chris and the others. Crispy, toasted bread filled with plenty of egg. Their portions might have cooled down and lost their crunch by now.
In this cold place, this warmth was a feast, with borscht as the main dish. Thanks to the beets, it had a striking, vibrant crimson color. I added a dollop of white sour cream, mixing it with a spoon as I ate.
While I preferred beef stew, pot-au-feu, or minestrone, this was a nice change.
I also took a bite of the shrimp roll sandwich. By the time I finished my coffee, my body felt quite warm. It was delicious and made me happy.
Now, even though Demon Beasts might appear, I had enough space to drop branches and reorganize them in [Storage].
I took out the five Great Trees I had received and began to shape them with the Zanzenken. Some were straight, while others had large knots. I had heard that the knotted parts had intricate and beautiful grain, so it seemed the Dogu had chosen well.
The branches were thick and looked useful. Just as I was marveling at them, I sensed another presence.