CHAPTER 52: OUJI METRO, 20TH UNDERGROUND FLOOR

“Oh, Shuu-san. Did you see the internal organs of the golem?” (Noa)

“Huh? Are you going to dismantle this creepy thing?” (Shuu)

　I split open the belly of the main body of the giant hairball.

　A small Ore Fungus of about two centimeters in diameter comes out. The surface of the Fungus is a little bit melted.

“The golem feeds on the fluids of small creatures and large creatures on the ground. But sometimes it seems to swallow Ore Fungus, too, and they come out of its stomach.” (Noa)

“I see.” (Shuu)

　Rare minerals are found in the deeper levels. So, if you defeat the golem there, you may be able to get some rare Ore Fungus.

“I guess it’s like a golem lottery. We need to go deeper and try to get the rare ones.” (Shuu)

“Golem lottery? Oh, the kind that city kids play with. It’s something with dolls in it and stuff.” (Noa)

“Oh, that culture still remains in this era, huh?” (Shuu)

　I looked at the hole where the golem had just come out. The hole is quite empty because of the large size of the body.

“If this continues every day, no matter how big the Metro is, the walls and floors will be full of holes.

“Umm… According to the guidebook, Ouji seems to change quite frequently. The golem’s hole may be blocked, or the debris may be absorbed.” (Noa)

　–Changes in the metro.

　I heard this phrase from Tamiko a long time ago.

“…Tamiko told me that the hidden room where I was sleeping came to the surface because of such changes.” (Shuu)

“Really, squeak?” (Tamiko)

“That’s right.” (Shuu)

“The principle is unknown, as usual, but it seems that Metro has two actions… One is to try to return to its original state and the other is to change into a different form. I think my case is the latter action, and Ouji’s case is a place where the former action is likely to occur.” (Noa)

　To be honest, this doesn’t sound very familiar to me, but I guess the point is that the root of the problem is the same as the [Metro Flood].

“But, by that logic, wouldn’t the holes in the elevators be blocked as well?” (Shuu)

“Hmm… I think it was written in my great-grandfather’s notebook. Sometimes it doesn’t happen and things stay that way, like a big scar on the skin that leaves a mark.” (Noa)

“…I see…” (Shuu)

　It is interesting to compare it to a human being or a living creature. The former is a wound-repairing action, while the latter is a mutation.

“Oh, so it’s theoretically possible to have an elevator pass through the deepest levels of the Metro.” (Shuu)

　Unless there is warp magic like in video games, the convenience of elevators is immeasurable. I’d love to see them put them through all the major Metros.

“It would take a tremendous amount of time and effort, though. They’d have to eliminate most of the Metro Beasts before they can do the work safely, and maintenance would be very difficult, and there are regulations in the New Tokyo Laws that would take effect.” (Noa)

“I see, the three major taboos, huh?” (Shuu)

“I think it’s time to go. I want to get to the 20th floor by the end of the day.” (Noa)

　I stood up and started walking again, but even so, the question from earlier was still stuck in my head.

　—What exactly is Metro?

　Compared to Outsuka, the density of metro beasts in Ouji is much thinner.

　It is said that there are metro beasts other than golems after the eleventh floor, but even without using [Beast Repellent Spores], we never encountered any until the thirteenth floor. There are also few signs of insects, geckos, bats, rats, or other small animals.

　Occasionally, I see areas of water and mycelial plants, but the grayish rock surface continues endlessly. This Metro may have been barren from the start, making it difficult for creatures to live here.

　As for golems, we encounter them several times. However, I only checked its floor, and since it was still low, I decided to run away without defeating it. The stray Rock Dolls wander around for a while in search of food, and then return to the bedrock, leaving their debris bodies behind.

“In short, they are like ghosts swimming around in the ground. It only needs an armor when it comes out of the shadows.” (Noa)

　The golem’s food is said to be the living blood of humans and beasts. Tentacles come out from the main body of the golem, and the golem sticks its tentacles into the body and sucks blood and sporangium from them. It is truly an evil spirit.

“What is an evil spirit, squeak?” (Tamiko)

“Uh, let’s see… It’s something like the soul or life of a living creature? A being in which only the soul or life of a creature has emerged from the body?” (Shuu)

“I don’t get it, squeak.” (Tamiko)

　When I say it again, I realize it is too abstract to explain. I don’t know if New Tokyo has such values or not, but at least it is difficult to explain to Tamiko, who is not familiar with it, in an easy-to-understand way.

“Well… Ordinary living creatures return to the earth after death, right? But if I were to die right now, for example, my body would be dead, but I would come out of it as a translucent ghost and fly around you and Noa. That’s a ghost. Do you get it now?” (Shuu)

“*Tearful squeak*… Abeshuu… Don’t die, squeak…” (Tamiko)

“I’m not going to die. Don’t cry. Don’t rub your snot on my shoulders.” (Shuu)

　Even though she’s a squirrel who doesn’t usually say sensible things. I think I am touched by this childish change.

“I don’t know if it’s a fairy tale or what, but there’s no such thing in real life. You’ve never seen the ghost of a Metro Beast, right? Even if it’s the country of threads, even if there are monsters and demons, there are no ghosts. It’s very unscientific.” (Shuu)

“Well, it seems that the story that the body of a golem is haunted by a ghost became popular in the past.” (Noa)

　When I turned around, Noa was shining her [Lightball] on her face from below.

“The story is about the time when the ecology of the golem was unknown. The souls of hunters who died an untimely death in the Metro, unable to move to heaven or return to the earth… and as they wandered around in the Metro, they became trapped in the rocks… suffering from thirst, dragging their heavy bodies around in search of the blood of the living. …crying ‘I’ll make you a rock doll too!’” (Noa)

“Pigya!” (Tamiko)

“Not in my ears! My eardrum!” (Shuu)

“Well, now it’s well known that they’re full-fledged creatures. It’s like the ghost stories that miners use to discipline children who stay up late after work.” (Noa)

“Tamiko, my shoulders are slightly warm.” (Shuu)

“It wasn’t me, squeak.” (Tamiko)

“Then why did you move to Noa? Are you somehow dissatisfied with me, after you puked on my right shoulder and pissed on my left shoulder?” (Shuu)

　Golem seems to sense its surroundings not by smell or light, but by vibration, including sound. This is why the [Beast Repellent] does not work.

　On the 17th floor, the path is blocked, forcing us to a battle. This time, the level is about 17. So, Noa was once again the solo challenger.

　Noa was about eight levels higher than the Golem, but the Golem had the advantage in physical strength due to its race. Even so, Noa, with her superior speed, skillfully maneuvered and literally took the fight to the Golem. She does not aim to stop its movement completely, as she did earlier, but only to impede its movement, using that opportunity to find a vital point.

“Ha!” (Noa)

　I shattered its knee with a hammer to stop its movement.

“To its right chest! Now!” (Shuu)

　At that moment, Noa makes a desperate move.

　Noa’s [Dagger] thrust, with all her weight on it, is sucked into the vital spot. Whitish bodily fluids spill from the rocky crevice, and the golem collapses.

“I did it! I did it!” (Noa)

“You did it! Noa is amazing, squeak!” (Tamiko)

　The two girls are excitedly taking each other’s hands. I’ve always thought that Tamiko spits a lot of poison at Noa, or rather, she’s becoming sweet. Maybe it’s because she sees herself as an older sister. But it is good that they get along so well.

“Abeshuu, we’re aiming for the top, squeak. Hurry up, you’re too slow, squeak.” (Tamiko)

“Be nice to me too.” (Shuu)

　The is no Ore Fungus in the body this time. Is it possible to have a dud lottery ticket?

“Well, we picked up a few Ore Fungus along the way. I’ll save my luck for later.”

　And so we make it to the 20th floor before night falls. We’re doing well, thanks to the map.

“There seems to be a hunter’s camp on this floor.” (Noa)

　It was on the map, a free lodging facility. They say it’s an area where golems don’t appear, so we can spend the night safety.

“It’s a mid-level camp, though, so I guess it just has tents and water source nearby.” (Noa)

“What’s the problem?” (Shuu)

　If I can have a BBQ at the camp, I don’t need anything else. But I want a hammock or something.

　From around the fifteenth floor, Metro Beasts other than Golems also show up with a reasonable frequency. Green Goblins, Eight-Eyed Bats, Almirajs (Horned Rabbits), etc. It’s not a good opponent level-wise, but they are easy to deal with using [Beast Repellent].

“Next time you see an Almiraj, don’t chase it away, hunt it. It’s for tonight’s dinner.” (Noa)

“Then, I’ll take care of it, squeak.” (Tamiko)

　Using [Sensory Spores] and Tamiko’s [Hearing], we search for an Almiraj, and after finding it. I saw that the rabbit is around the size of a big dog. It’s kind of cute, including the fact that it’s the size of a large dog.

　While Noa and I watch on anxiously, Tamiko approaches with her [Camouflage]—but she is still noticed. A rabbit, indeed, has a good ear.

　She turns around and confronts Almiraj head-on—a white Tamiko, that is. It is her mycelial doppelganger.

　In the split second that Almiraj is distracted by it, a brown ball of fur attacks it from behind.

　It screamed out, “Gyii!” The larger, white furball flails about, then stops moving. On top of it stands a squirrel with a bright red face.

“…Done for, squeak…” (Tamiko)

“Don’t say things like that. Don’t bite your tongue.” (Shuu)

　The three of us put our hands together and removed the sporangium. Soon, Noa begins bleeding and dismantling the Almiraj.

“What level was this one?” (Shuu)

“About 50, squeak.” (Tamiko)

“Liar.” (Shuu)

　I questioned the vain squirrel, and she said it was around 20 or so.

“I’m going to try to find some ore on the horn, squeak. It’s okay, squeak.”

“Well. The golem will get stronger and stronger, so we have to be careful too.” (Noa)

　The color of the firefly moss is changing from white to blue. It will be night soon. We hurry to the campsite.