Pioneering the Apocalyptic World - Chapter 103
Chapter 38: People, Monsters and Gods
I moved to the cafeteria and drank juice with Fricka, did she have just returned from hunting, Fin came in.
“Welcome back.”
“Welcome back, Fin.”
“I’m home onee-chan. Rion-sama also woke up. Are your injuries okay?”
“A little bit.”
I wave my right arm, which is still wrapped in bandages. Then, as expected, a sharp pain ran through me, and I let out a strange voice.
“… Don’t overdo it.”
She let out a flabbergasted voice and warned me, and I, who exposed my stupidity, shrugged my shoulders and replied honestly with a “Yes…”. Unuu, which one of us looks like a child now…!
Even after I urged Fin to sit down and gave she juice, Uru didn’t seems to be coming in, so I tilted my head and asked her.
“What about Uru and Zephyr? I heard they went hunting together.”
“Uru-chan is washing the Zephyr because he got covered in mud.”
It seems that while he was chasing his prey, he fell into the mud because he had too much momentum. He’s still young, so I wonder he’s just bad at it or just a clumsy child…
When I heard a faintly excited cry from afar and Uru’s loud voice saying, “We weren’t playing in the water! Stay calm!” I couldn’t help but laugh.
“It’s about Zephyr, did he cause any particular problem?”
“Hmm. He’ll listen to what we say honestly, and if it’s not a dense forest, he can fly through the sky and find the prey, so it might actually been easier.”
Hmmm, I see.
…… Hmm? Wait a second?
Zephyr can fly.
In other words… If he gets big enough to carry a person, wouldn’t it be possible to go anywhere in this world except underground…?
If so, the range of available materials that I can get will be greatly expanded…? Then the number of items that I can make will increase…?
Mumu, I really need Zephyr to grow up fast…!
“… Rion-sama, she’s making the face like when she is thinking about making things again.”
“…… I agree.”
I was found out……!
Putting that aside, a room? For Zephyr, a hut? I wonder if I should make something like that.
No, even if I make one, it’s possible that he will grow too big and he won’t fit in anymore…? Hmm, well, I can just dismantle and expand it again.
And the food he’ll need will increase. It’s fine as long as it’s in the range that we can coverer by hunting, but if that’s not the case… Mu, it’s an attractive idea to be able to fly in the sky, but it seem like it’s going to be difficult from now on.
“Uuu, I’m hungry…”
“It’s noon, so let’s get ready for lunch. What about Rion-sama? You had a light meal earlier.”
“Hmm? Ah, let’s eat.”
Even after she drank all the juice, Fin wasn’t satisfied, perhaps because she was still growing up. Her remarks and gestures are reminiscent of Uru, and she seems to be learning(?) well.
Yeah, let’s eat before thinking about this and that, let’s do it.
“I will do it, so please rest.”
“Ah, I just had an idea.”
“? What is it?”
I made a suggestion to Fricka, who stood up to prepare the food.
I throw the necessary items into the item box and pick up Uru and Zephyr on the way.
Where we arrived at was the temporary temple of the earth god… I lied, it’s just a private house.
“Earth Goddess, are you awake?”
When I knocked lightly and called out, I felt a sign of movement from inside, and the door was slowly opened.
“I’m awake… What’s going on?”
“How are you feeling? Do you think you can move?”
The fatigue seems to have disappeared to some extent, and her complexion looks better than the day before yesterday.
However, it seems like the miasma hasn’t completely disappeared yet and the black marks looks painful.
“Thanks to you, I can move a little. I’m glad you’ve recovered.”
“T-Thank you…”
I wonder if Fricka told her about my state. …… I didn’t even say hello for a while, so she probably received some explanation.
Well, as long as she can move, it’s fine.
“We’re having a barbecue, would you like to eat with us?”
When I invited her with a smile, the Earth God opened her eyes in surprise for some reason.
And after a few seconds later, she let out a small sigh and replied with a wry smile.
“… Shall I have it?”
I set up a furnace, a table and chairs in the square a little away from the Earth God’s temporary lodging.
Originally, I’m the main cook, but since I can’t do anything with this hand. Fricka and Fin cut the ingredients, Uru skewered them, and Zephyr prepared the fire by flapping his wind, I sit in a chair with the Earth God and watch them. It feels like I am the guest.
“Earth god, what do you want to drink?”
“… Give me some grape juice.”
Wondering if it was because it resembled wine or because she just liked it, I poured it into a glass. At first glance, it might look like wine.
The sun was fairly hot, so I put in two pieces of ice that Fricka had helped me make.
“… I’ve never seen a miko who uses magic stones in such a luxurious way.”
“Is that so?”
The Earth God said something unexpected with an expression that could have been one of laughter or astonishment.
She continued while looking at the temporary house I had built.
“That’s right. Putting aside the water and the lights, even if there are baths, there were only communal baths.”
“…? What did everyone else use magic stones for?”
“Well, It’s obvious that’s for fighting monsters and for defending the village you live in.”
She replied back as if asking ‘why are you asking about such an obvious thing’. Well, it certainly is a matter of course. I’m doing it too.
“… Before the Earth God was sealed, was the number of magic stones that small? Or they were being constantly consumed and didn’t have the leeway to use them for other things?”
“No? Monsters have always existed, and that’s why there was a surplus to some extent.”
“Eh? No one used them even though they had some left over?”
What do you mean…? For me, even though I have a minimum stockpile for emergencies, I’ll use them as much as I can…?
“Isn’t it a waste to not use such a convenient thing…???”
Water, lights, baths, cooking, all kinds of places use magic stones. I can’t imagine living without magic stones anymore.
And of course because it’s so convenient, since the magic stones ‘are there’, don’t you think that the option to not make something with them does not exit…?
Hearing my heartfelt sincere intentions, the Earth God eyes were wide open… And she started laughing out loud.
“Pu… Hahaha! You say that’s a waste if you don’t use them! You’re certainly is a miko of the god of creation(Promethia)!”
W-What was so hilarious? She even started banging on the table!
Everyone was surprised by the sound and looked at us, but around the time when she said, “Is a miko!” I heard something like “Well, it’s about Rion…” and they went back to work… Hey!?
I averted my eyes from the Earth God whose voice was trembling and gasping for air from laughing too much and went to see how everyone was doing.
Uru and Fricka are standing side by side and grilling skewers while having a conversation about something. Both of them are smiling, and just looking at them seems to make me happy too.
Fin is scolding Zephyr for eating snacks. Looking at how a dragon can look so dejected makes me laugh and at the same time makes me smile.
…… Ah, It’s very??
“Peaceful isn’t it …”
The Earth God, who had returned to normal while I wasn’t looking, whispered what I was thinking.
“Earth god?”
“… It’s strange. Going beyond races, even beyond the wall of being a monster. Without fights, with no bloodshed, to just spend time laughing.”
Clinking the ice in the glass, ahead of her gaze is… What is she seeing?
Even if she looks like she’s in her twenties, she’s actually a god, and has lived much longer. She must have seen so many things in her life. I, who have only lived for twenty years, cannot fathom her thoughts.
However… I can say this.
“Then, from today onwards, a God will also join us.”
“–”
In response to my words, the Earth God stopped froze.
“… Is that so?”
She had a glamorous yet gentle smile on her face.