Rough Appearance of an Ally
A Rough Ally Appears
What should I do?
Pai fell into the water.
And she was caught by a long Tentacle.
It looked thinner than my wrist but firm.
At the same time, it wasn't dazzling, but the subtly emanating blue light was, how should I put it, radiant.
It felt less like a Tentacle and more like a giant stream of water.
But even so....
'...Do I really have to go in?'
The more I thought of Tentacles, the more my stomach churned.
Worm-like and wriggling... such disgusting forms.
The problem is, if such Tentacles were swarming in the pond, I wouldn't be able to handle it.
Honestly, I'm curious about Tentacle play, but... it's too much for now.
For me, with little experience, Tentacles are unappealing.
Besides, it's on a different level from the Tentacle Pai showed me on the first day.
This is big. It's literally like a worm.
If the Tentacle I saw on the first day felt like a loofah, this is the real deal.
I can never allow something like that.
Just imagining it makes me feel like I'll faint.
It seems my connection with Pai might end here.
Pai is, after all, just a helper.
Tutorial NPCs are bound to part ways eventually.
Still, just letting this go would prick my conscience.
"Hmm..."
While I was staring blankly at the pond.
*Ding~*
——
[ Warning ]
* Pai is anxious.
Please help Pai.
(Whether hints are displayed can be changed in settings.)
——
"...Haha."
I was thinking of just abandoning her and leaving, but then the Status Window immediately popped up.
As if grabbing my ankle.
As expected, this game... doesn't seem to be open-world.
The game progression is completely linear.
You'd call it a well-made game if there were options to leave things behind here.
*Splash.*
"...It's scary."
I crouched right in front of the pond and stirred the water with my fingertips.
At the same time, my reflection on the water's surface distorted.
Even if it's a game, I feel a sense of aversion to being in the water....
No, it's not really a personal trauma or anything, but because there are those Tentacles here.
It's human instinct to not want to go into a beach where jellyfish or sharks have been spotted.
But those are Tentacles?
"Hmm..."
After much deliberation, I reluctantly decided to go in.
Fortunately, the temperature was moderate. When I dipped my ankle in, it wasn't even cold.
And then I checked the depth of the pond.
*Splish.*
"Ugh..."
How should I put it, it was lukewarm and deeper than I expected.
It was already past my calves and up to my knees....
—*Splash!*
"W-Whoa—!?"
That's when it happened.
*Shlurrrk.*
The Tentacle that had just abducted Pai appeared on the surface.
Before I could even grasp the situation, it snatched my ankle.
"Ah, wait!!"
The moment I reached out my hand to quickly pull off the Tentacle clinging to my ankle.
—*Chwaaak.*
"Aack!?"
The Tentacle instantly grabbed my wrist.
*Splash!!*
Just like that,
I was sucked into the pond.
* * *
A floor and ceiling made of red bricks.
A burnt smell stung my nose.
"...Here."
Caught by the Tentacle in a daze, I seemed to have lost consciousness for a moment.
When I opened my eyes, I saw unfamiliar tools... no, items I had seen in the potion crafting room came into view.
Fortunately, no torture devices were visible.
That is, there were no things like a Spanish donkey here.
The only problem is... all the items are hanging from the ceiling?
"...?"
I turned my head and saw an iron door.
Is that the exit?
But why are there lights embedded in the floor?
...
"...Eh?"
A desk attached to the ceiling.
Lights embedded in the floor.
Only now could I realize.
I am currently,
hanging upside down.
My ankles were held by something like leather belts fixed to the ceiling, and I was dangling like a butterfly caught in a spiderweb.
"Ugh..."
Blood was gradually rushing to my head.
The feeling of my waist stretching out was refreshing, but if I stayed like this any longer, I felt like I would lose consciousness again.
So I tried to escape somehow, but....
"Ughhh...!!"
My damp hair only swept the dust on the floor.
My weak core muscles alone were insufficient to free my ankles from their restraint.
"Haa... Haa-ugh..."
Ah, this is bad.
My vision was darkening again.
Surely, this isn't another Bad Ending, is it?
I just did what the Status Window told me to do...!
Before I could even feel such injustice, my eyes closed on their own.
But then.
*Thud.*
"...Whoa!?"
—*Thwack!*
A puddle formed beneath my head.
The rope holding my ankles snapped, and I plunged my head squarely into the puddle.
"Ow, ow, ow..."
What a relief.
I almost thought I was going to faint.
By the way, did it just come undone on its own?
'...Surely, it's not telling me to escape like this?'
*Thump-thump.*
"...?!"
Someone's footsteps echoed in my ears.
*Clink.*
I looked around for a place to hide, but there was nowhere to hide here.
I even thought about hiding under that table, but unless they were an idiot, they'd surely find me....
In the end, I just sat there, staring blankly as the door opened.
"...You're awake, Harin."
And then a black silhouette appeared... no, a woman wearing a black hoodie walked in.
"...Pai?"
...I thought it was Pai, but it wasn't.
"What nonsense."
Compared to the silhouette, her voice was quite clear and resonant.
*Swoosh—*
The shadow that enveloped her receded, and her form, entirely made of water, came into view.
"I am not Pai."
A subtle blue glow emanated from her transparent body, and she appeared about a handspan shorter than me.
Moreover, water droplets fell every time she moved her body.
"I am a Water Spirit."
Finally, she cast off her hoodie and spoke in an aristocratic tone.
"My name is Dina... Harin...! I have descended here to pass judgment upon you."
Introducing herself as Dina, she covered her face with one hand and looked down at me arrogantly.
"A Spirit... you say...?"
That's right. The person in front of me was not human.
...And she just said, 'pass judgment.'
"Haa.... Witch of Brainwashing, have you forgotten your contract with me?"
I barely managed to suppress the hollow laugh that was about to burst out.
What kind of setting is this now?
"Long ago, you and I made a contract...."
"A contract...?"
"Yes. On the condition that you would free me, you... did that for me, didn't you?"
"...."
We stared silently at each other.
She... seems embarrassed about something.
"Aish...! But why have you only appeared now?!"
Then she stomped her foot, as if feeling wronged.
"It's already been a year since I was trapped in this lakeside! But why...!!"
Every time Dina stomped her foot, transparent water splashed onto my face from her body.
It felt slightly lukewarm. There was no sticky sensation at all.
"Haa... It seems you've truly lost your memory. ...Anyway, hurry and get up."
Dina extended her hand towards me.
"And why aren't you wearing pants, for goodness sake.... Come on! Hurry! Get up!"
"...Uh, uh."
I just grabbed her hand without thinking, but....
*Tok-tok. Chwaaak—!*
Dina's hand turned squishy and burst.
"U-Ugh?!"
—*Gulp.*
Witnessing a hand burst in front of my eyes, I was left speechless with my mouth agape.
I mean, a hand bursting....
There was no way I, who can't even watch zombie movies, would be immune to that sight.
"Th-th-there... A-Are you o-okay...?"
Just as I instinctively recoiled from the growing chill down my spine.
"I-If you grab it that tightly, my hand will burst! Gently... grab it gently!"
*Chururuk—*
Dina showed a momentary look of embarrassment, but soon grumbled and instantly restored her damaged hand.
As if accustomed to it, the water that formed Dina's body flowed up her hand and restored it to its original state.
"Honestly... you're as clumsy now as you were then, just like Pai."
"W-What...?! How is this...?"
It felt like witnessing cutting-edge nanotechnology.
The chilling sensation that had run down my spine was gone, and I blinked, mesmerized by the strange sight.
What on earth is the principle behind its movement? ...No, since it's a game anyway, knowing might be meaningless.
"Whew... Let's go. Pai will be waiting."
She picked up the hoodie that had fallen to the floor and wrapped it around her body again.
She seemed somewhat inexperienced.
Her shorter height than mine, and her insistence on using an awkward aristocratic tone, both contributed to that impression.
"W-Why are you staring so intently? If you intend to stay here, I'll have no choice but to lock you up."
"Ah, no."
Whatever it was, she seemed clumsy.
"Whew..."
Dina raised one corner of her mouth, looking awkward.
I followed her out of the room.
* * *
"Harin~"
Following Dina through a long corridor, a spacious living room unfolded before my eyes.
What greeted me there was none other than Pai, wearing a mask.
She was sprawled on a large sofa, waving her hand at me.
"...Ah! A sofa is not for lying down! Get up right now!"
"Whyyy~"
"And take off that mask! Wearing it isn't good for you!"
Pai idled, ignoring Dina's words.
While Dina and Pai bickered, I surveyed the room.
Dust piled up in the corners, unorganized experimental tools. And even stairs leading to the second floor....
How should I put it, the structure was quite similar to the house in the village I had escaped from.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say it was an exact replica.
'...Could it be that they reused the map?'
The only difference was that it looked dirtier than the house in the village.
The dust and stagnant water in the corner of the floor kept catching my eye.
"Now, sit here, Harin. From now on, I will tell you the strategy for fulfilling the contract."
Dina's body sloshed every time she moved.
...It seems the stagnant water on the floor came from Dina's body.
"First, Harin... do you know what situation you are currently in?"
"It seems the Royal Family is looking for me.... I don't know the details either."
It seems the Water Spirit, Dina... she's going to be my helper character from now on.
So it's probably best to be honest.
"Harin... you truly know nothing."
Dina let out a deep sigh.
Of course I don't know.
I'm not from this world.
With that thought, I inadvertently made a bored expression.
"You... you...!! Do you want to be captured by the Demon Lord!?"
"...Eh?"
Dina shouted at me, as if dumbfounded.
"To lose your memory at such a crucial time, of all times...!"
She clenched her fists and squeezed her eyes shut.
"Whew... I'll be blunt. Harin... you must capture the Demon Lord."
"...What?"
What? Did I hear that wrong?
"Of course, it would be impossible right now. She is extremely dangerous. Moreover, with the Royal Family having identified you, it's a difficult situation to act recklessly...."
As she spoke, she swiftly snatched the mask from Pai's hand.
"...Ack!"
Dina held the mask and lightly shook it.
"Therefore, we must first focus on what we can do. Here, wear this."
*Swoosh.*
"...Huh?"
Dina naturally forced the mask onto my face.
The mask Silver used.
My vision should have been completely blocked, but strangely, I could see outside clearly.
But that wasn't the problem.
*Thud.*
"Eh...? Pai...?"
Pai, who had been watching from the side, suddenly collapsed.
"It might be a little dangerous, but for you, who's lost your memory, it'll be a hundred times more effective than just explaining it with words."
"...Hey, Pai? Are you okay?"
Could it be because of the mask?
I cautiously poked Pai's collapsed body.
"Uung... Ugh..."
"Take it off if you have to."
Dina looked at the groaning Pai as if nothing was wrong.
Her expression wasn't very serious, so just as I was looking at Pai with a 'what's going on' feeling.
"Ugh... Wh-Where is this...?"
Pai rubbed her forehead and groggily opened her eyes.
"W-What's wrong? Why did you collapse?"
"...."
As I helped Pai up, our eyes met.
Somehow, her expression was one of confusion.
Well, it's not normal to ask someone who collapsed why they collapsed, but....
"H-Huh...?!"
For some reason, Pai looked startled, glancing back and forth between Dina and me.
"Wh-Where is this...!? Wh-Wh-Who are you people...?!"
"...As you can see, Harin, if you wear this mask, you can turn off your brainwashing passive."
"...What?"
...It was quite shocking information.
Not only that I could turn off my brainwashing passive, but the fact that she was aware of my abilities in the first place was shocking.
She's no ordinary person. Come to think of it, she wasn't acting like she was brainwashed from the start....
"S-Slime monster...!?"
That's when it happened.
Pai, who had been quietly watching from the side, seemed to notice Dina's appearance and let out such a small voice.
"This is quite interesting too. So this is Pai's original personality."
Dina's lips curled into a faint smile.
This is Pai's real personality...?
No, it's normal for her to be confused now that she's been freed from brainwashing.
"H-Heeek!? G-Get away from me!!"
"...Harin, shall I show you something interesting?"
Dina turned her head towards me with a suspicious look.
"This potion... do you remember it? It was something I was going to give you as part of our contract."
The item in her hand was none other than a potion.
A green glowing liquid was contained in a long test tube.
"I d-don't know."
"Hehe.... Well, as a Spirit, I don't know what's so fun about this, but...."
Dina placed the bubbling potion in my hand.
"This is the Futanari potion."
"...What."