Chapter 92
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 92
Chapter Title: The Purified Lake and the Siren
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Whirr...
The lake water was incredibly clear. So clear that even at depths exceeding 2 meters—nearly 3 or 4 meters in places—the bottom was perfectly visible. I'd always assumed pools stayed pristine despite constant use because they drained and refilled the water every day.
But later in life, I learned that wasn't the case. Draining and refilling a pool takes an enormous amount of time just for the water alone, not to mention the cost. So most pools purify and reuse the existing water.
They install filters and circulation pumps right in the pool itself, but the key is disinfection. They sanitize with sodium hypochlorite or bleach, then adjust the pH levels to purify the water.
Some people get squeamish about not dumping the old water, but scientifically, it's extremely safe and economical.
'This is the same principle.'
[Water Purifier (Lv. Max)]
In Cleaning Game, anything that fit the 'Cleaning' category got tossed in first, ask questions later. Naturally, there were maps for cleaning pools—or even massive lakesides. That's where this [Water Purifier] came in.
Sprinkle it on dirty water, and all the floating pollutants or algae blooms coagulate and sink. No exceptions—it drags everything down. Then just remove the sunken gunk later. Done.
'Should be fine for the creatures living in there, right?'
In the game, it was just background scenery, and cleaning dirty lakes never showed harm to fish or aquatic life. So it should be okay.
I had no idea about the exact mechanism. Never thought about it while playing. But judging by how powerful the cleaning tools had been so far, it'd probably work.
Pffft...
"What's that this time, Master?"
I pulled the [Water Purifier] from my inventory and started sprinkling the powder into the lake. Erzsebet approached, her face curious about my next tool. I pushed away Dry's head as it tried to taste it and explained.
"Purifies the water."
"Purifies?"
Erzsebet stared at the green pond after hearing me. White powder rained down, but the water showed no change.
"Doesn't seem like much... Why not just drain the whole lake?"
"I thought about that, but..."
It wasn't a bad idea. Tools like the [Dry Mop] could probably suck it all up eventually. The problem was how the [Main Quest] would judge it.
This lake was part of the [Demon God's Ruins]. Mess it up permanently, and I might never complete the [Main Quest].
"Just watch."
"Watch what... Hm?"
Normally, you'd need to stir the water thoroughly or use a circulator. But with the [Water Purifier] at max level, no need.
Blorp...
"The lake...?"
The entire lake churned violently after the purifier.
Not a breath of wind, yet the calm surface rippled. The filthy green algae covering it moved on its own, drawn together, clustering mainly where I'd sprinkled the powder.
"Telekinesis...? No, attraction? What the..."
"Food?"
"Not food."
Though... could Dry eat that stuff? Nah, too gross. Better not.
It was like time fast-forwarded. Or rewinded? More like time reversing in this case.
The green-tinted water cleared rapidly. The rotten stench faded. Clumped pollutants sank slowly to the bottom, revealing the pristine depths inside.
Once clear enough, Erzsebet pointed. A mermaid swam gracefully, clutching a cutely shrunken slime with her sleek fins. She stared blankly at the sinking black pollutants.
Splash...
The mermaid slowly surfaced. Her dazed eyes held no hostility.
"Hello?"
"......"
No need for casual talk on first meet. I raised both arms slowly to show no threat (while keeping the [Quick Movement] window open) and approached the mermaid... siren.
The siren glanced between me and the clearing lake, confused. Like she was asking if I'd done it.
"The lake looked dirty, so I cleaned it a bit... Did it bother you?"
It looked unlivable, but she'd survived in that filth, so maybe she preferred it dirty. I asked carefully, but she shook her head blankly.
Splash.
Once pollutants settled, she scooped up lake water in her palm. Crystal clear, drinkable on the spot. Her face lit up at the sight.
"Awwa...!"
"??"
What? Sounded like baby babble.
"Sirens can't speak out of water, Master."
"Ah..."
Damn. Should've said so sooner. I'd been awkwardly chatting away.
"At least... she seems happy?"
"Yeah."
"Aww... Oooh...!"
The mysterious blue-haired woman splashed joyfully, clearly delighted with the clean lake.
Erzsebet edged away, hating water on her skin. Dry sneaked to the shore, extending roots to slurp lake water.
...The water level's dropping a bit. Nah, imagination. Easy there, Dry.
Slurp...
"Oh?"
After splashing forever, the siren approached us. In the shallows, foam enveloped her jewel-scaled lower half, transforming it to human skin tone. When the bubbles cleared, she had perfect legs.
"Human form? Wow, only a rare few sirens can do that..."
Erzsebet admired from behind, but I just shrugged. I'd stopped being surprised by the ruin's demons' powers.
Instead, I tried not to stare at her barely foam-covered privates and offered a handshake.
"Hello? I'm Eugene..."
Grab!!
"...!!!"
"Guh? This girl..."
"Daddy?!"
The siren approached slowly... then suddenly hugged me tight.
She'd just left the water, so she was dripping wet. She mumbled like she was trying to tell me something—but it was just bubbly babble. No, more importantly!!
'Whoa, boobs.'
"Master! Snap out of it! Get off her!"
"Daddy. Hug me too."
Erzsebet looked annoyed for some reason and tried prying us apart. Dry watched casually, arms wide for a hug.
Kyu-ing? Kyu-ing!
The slime she'd held emerged too, then freaked at Dry and dove back to shore...
Chaos... Whoa, boobs.
Pffft...
"?!?!"
As the siren squeezed and rubbed against me, the [Janitor's Clothes] dissolved her foam covering from the contact points. Glimpsing something...
"Get off!"
"Whine!"
Splash!
Erzsebet finally yanked her off by force and tossed her into the lake.
Ah. Shame.
"What were you thinking, Master?"
"Nothing."
If Earth's sirens matched this world's, maybe they had seductive powers over sailors—luring with song, or just their existence being alluring...
"Nothing like that, Master."
"Ahem."
Erzsebet's glare stung. I shoved away the lingering sensation and tried talking to the siren, upper body out of the water, focused on me.
"We came from beyond that door, and the slime..."
"Oong..."
"I'm Eugene, this is the Blood Demon Tribe's Erzsebet. And that's Dry."
"It's Erzsebet, not Erzse, Master."
"Whine."
"Ever heard of Cleaning Game... no, Super Wash Simulator? Demon God's Ruins? Earth? What this ruin is? Why you're here...?"
"Oong!!"
"...Is this even a conversation?"
She tried answering eagerly, but it just sounded like baby talk to me.
"Erzsebet. Understand her?"
"Nope."
Even my reliable Erzsebet couldn't. Frustrating. Everyone in these ruins was quirky, but this one was mute?
She could talk in water, so I dunked my head in—only bubbles. Still, some body language got basic info across...
"So you don't remember much either?"
Nod.
We pieced together via gestures: memory gaps. Woke sleeping in the ruin's lake. No exit. Can't stay out long, so endured the filth.
"Not living dirty on purpose, huh."
Nod!
Then I showed up... actually, first the slime nibbling pollutants bit by bit. Grateful, until Erzsebet's group appeared, subdued it, tried taking it—she impulsively leaped out and snatched it.
Now, after I purified the lake, she returned it. Currently in Dry's arms.
Kyu-ing...
"...Dry. Don't bully it."
I kept blocking Dry's swallow attempts and gazed at the siren, beaming infinite goodwill for cleaning her lake.
I hadn't expected real info anyway. Figured she'd lost memories too. No clue why ruin encounters all had gaps, but now was for another purpose...
"Siren."
"Whine?"
"Wanna work for me?"
Time to register a new employee?