Chapter 46
Exploring the cave with the giant ant.
Contrary to my first impression, the giant ant is gentle.
It quietly helped me when I stumbled over a rock inside the cave.
My physical abilities have improved since coming here, but for some reason, I still stumble.
Well, I've been doing that since I was in Japan.
I feel relieved when there's actually a rock there.
Stumbling over nothing hurts a little.
Well, once it happens often enough, I get used to it... Hahaha.
...
The giant ant guided me through the cave? To the deepest part.
The giant ant's children follow along, clinging to the ceiling and walls.
What an interesting group.
The baby ants really are baby ants this time... though there's no way to confirm that.
The place it led me to was the deepest part of the cave.
It was dark and hard to make out, but there seemed to be something like a lake.
I could feel the curse's influence here too.
I held my hand over the lake and used "Purification."
Since the giant ant and the baby ants were cute, I tried doubling the mental image of sending the curse back.
I don't know whether it's helping, but I'd be happy if the curse itself weakened and the shadow disappeared.
While I was at it, I used "Curse Release" so it would spread throughout the forest.
I don't think it will make much difference, but this is for my own satisfaction.
There might be monsters or animals in this forest possessed by the curse.
Well, I'll explore the forest at my own pace.
I'll do what I can.
After the purification, what appeared was a blue-glowing lake like the blue cave I'd seen on TV.
However, no light was entering this cave.
The lake was probably glowing blue on its own.
Combined with the atmosphere of a cave, it had become a mystical place.
I'd like to keep looking at it, but then I remembered exploring the forest.
I decided to come back and finished exploring the cave.
The giant ant is coming with me... Huh?
I hesitated for a moment about what to do, but it wasn't really a problem.
As we left the cave together, Boss-san appeared.
Had Boss-san been waiting for us?
Why?
The giant ant and Boss-san.
Both of them immediately gave off killing intent.
"That's not okay."
The two of them stared at me with four eyes—or rather, Boss-san has six eyes, so eight eyes in all.
No fighting!
You need to get along.
For some reason, the giant ant and Boss-san went off somewhere together.
I wonder if they'll be all right?
I was a little worried, but I decided to believe they'd be fine.
Then, I found a black fruit about the size of my fist a short distance from the cave.
It was an incredibly striking color.
This was the first time since I came to this world that I harvested something with my own hands.
There are way too many things in this world that I can't reach!
I looked at Hio and made an eating gesture.
Hio nodded, so I peeled it and took a bite.
"It's salty!"
I was surprised because I'd imagined a sweet fruit.
What's more, I could taste the salt I'd been hoping for on my tongue.
Come to think of it, this was another world. Was looking for Japanese salt a mistake?
I harvested the black fruit.
I harvested all the salt fruit within reach... Now, the rest...
Boss-san returned and helped me with the harvest.
Thank you.