Chapter 66
It's the fifth day since I started exploring the caves.
Even though it's only within the barrier, it's enormous.
From above... I guess it was spacious. Well, I did expand it, after all.
There are far too many caves!
I can't seem to find what I'm looking for.
The new cave I found contained ores that glowed red and ores that glowed blue.
Fluffy, who came with me, was delighted, but the ores weren't what I was looking for, so I put them aside for now.
Sorry.
Some caves even have areas like giant mazes... They were too deep, so I gave up halfway through.
I'll put these aside, too.
The fifth day.
Although the entrance was covered in greenery and a little hard to see, I found a cave.
The atmosphere is a little different from the caves I've seen so far.
Inside, right in front of me, was a strangely colored squirrel? ... encased in ice.
Purification had no effect, so apparently it isn't a curse.
...It's scary. Creepy.
I want to turn back, but I'm curious, too.
I try touching the ice, but it isn't cold.
Apparently, it isn't ice. I look at the squirrel inside.
Actually, this squirrel has a horn on its head... and it's blue-green, too.
That horn... Is it ferocious?
It doesn't seem dead, though.
Wait, is it dead...?
What an utterly strange place.
As I touch the ice-like thing, a sharp crack shoots through it.
...I did it. I didn't mean to break it.
The ice-like imitation continues to crack, then shatters.
What should I do?
How do you make that ice-like thing, anyway?
Looking around, I notice Kisa is on guard.
Soa isn't nearly as wary, though.
...Is it dangerous?
I look at the squirrel-like creature inside the broken ice-like thing.
Our eyes met.
Was it alive...? What should I do?
The squirrel-like creature looks around and confirms that its companions have been encased in the fake ice.
It looks at me again.
...
I smash all the ice-like things.
Squirrel-like creatures emerge one after another... I'll just call them squirrels.
There are thirty-four squirrels in all.
Thankfully, none of them seems to have any problems.
Just as I'm feeling relieved, Core and Big Boss-san arrive.
They seem a little surprised to see the squirrels.
But they don't seem afraid.
The squirrels take to me.
They climb onto my shoulder and rub against me. Their horns are a little scary.
But they're cute, even if I'm not used to their coloring.
Since they don't seem to have any problems, I decide to take everyone home.
...
Somehow, I feel helpless.
The cave where Chata and the others had been was the closest one to home.
Since it was on the way back, I checked it just in case, and the magnet stuck to it.
I remember now—this is another world.
Who said iron has to be silver?
The rock is black, mottled with yellow-green.
Could this be yellow-green iron?
It really is iron, right?
Now that I remember this is another world, I'm starting to doubt whether a magnet sticking to something is enough to prove it's iron.
Well, what should I do?
I remember, too, that some things can't be helped by thinking about them.
I collect some of the yellow-green rock.
I'll know once I try it.
For now, I'll go home and introduce the squirrels.
I look at the squirrels; they're all identical, so I can't tell them apart.
Names... might be impossible.