Miraculous Waters of the Upper Tier
The device known as a matchlock lighter was crafted using rare gems harvested from a secret vein of ore jealously guarded by the royal family. When an electrical current was run through these gems and they were struck against each other, they produced a spark. Because of this, the lighter's mechanism was remarkably simple: a self-generating electrical substance concocted by alchemists, and two of those mystical gems. Conductors were attached to the gems to carry the current, and a simple button mechanism allowed the separated stones to strike together when pressed. Finally, the exterior was wrapped in an insulator to prevent the current from shocking the user. The price of the lighter was determined entirely by what material was used for this insulator.
The lighter currently in Chester's hand was designed to look like metal at a glance, but it was actually a low-end model. Of course, because matchlock lighters were so prohibitively expensive to begin with, even a budget model was far beyond the reach of the average wealthy merchant.
Click, click! Chester pressed the trigger with his thumb. The gems struck together, throwing off a shower of bright sparks.
"Is it broken on the inside?"
"No. If it were broken, it wouldn't do anything at all. I think they sold us a defective unit that failed quality control from the start."
"I see."
Click. Click. Watching the sparks fly a few more times, Chester nodded in satisfaction.
"Still, with this, we won't have to carry live embers around anymore."
"Exactly. Ha, I never imagined I'd see a matchlock lighter again on the Floating Island."
A lighter was a marvel of modern convenience, a cutting-edge piece of technology that made even a machete look primitive.
"The lighters we used back at the Duke's estate were excellent," Chester mused. "You could catch any kind of firewood on fire instantly. We didn't even need to make kindling."
All they had to do was stack the logs into a campfire shape and hold the flame to it, and the fire would roar to life.
"Did you know? The royal family was actually considering using these as weapons."
"Hmm. If you scaled a lighter up, it would certainly make a formidable weapon."
"Yes. But since they can't find raw gems large enough, the idea is practically useless."
Monia spoke casually as she took the lighter from Chester's hand to examine it. Stamped small on a bottom corner was a brand crest.
"Hmm. It's from the Sandros Workshop. They make a lot of luxury goods, but they also mass-produce mid-to-low-tier items like this, so I'm not a big fan of them personally."
"Is that so?"
"Well, their stuff is incredibly durable, at least. People say once you buy a Sandros, you'll never have to buy another."
Considering they had just bought a defective unit, Chester found the claim of durability highly questionable, but he simply nodded. In matters of high society brands, Monia was far more knowledgeable than he was.
"Didn't you receive brand training too, Chester?"
"For me, it wasn't about personal use. I only learned about them to source or prepare whatever you or the Duke ordered."
To maintain the dignity of the Duke's household, Chester had memorized only the absolute highest-tier brands for every category of goods. He had spent years handling luxury purchases, to the point where he was treated as a VIP client. Yet, in all those years of shopping, not a single item on those lists had ever been for Chester himself.
Click! Testing the lighter one more time, Chester carefully tucked it away.
"Shall we get moving?"
At Chester's words, Monia chewed the last piece of snake meat and nodded.
"Yep. Let's go."
"Come on, Ant."
"..."
"..."
Not long after they set off, the trio was forced to halt. A fierce battle was unfolding between two massive creatures right nearby.
One was the giant, horn-nosed beast they had seen before. The other was a massive, predatory creature—resembling a cross between a tiger and a wolf—equipped with leathery, bat-like wings. The two monsters tore into each other with savage fury. With every clash, the ground gouged open, boulders shattered into dust, and ancient trees were ripped up by their roots, leaving a trail of absolute devastation.
"Crazy beasts!"
The moment Chester and Monia threw themselves to the ground and rolled out of the way, the massive tree they had been hiding behind was pulverized into splinters.
—ROOOOOOOAR!!
Bellowing a bizarre, guttural cry, the horn-nosed beast pinned the winged predator and charged forward, dragging it along. The winged beast was swept underneath the colossal weight and mercilessly trampled.
—SCREEEEECH!!
The winged beast managed to wriggle free from the crushing hooves and lunged back to sink its fangs into the horn-nosed monster's neck. Seizing the moment while the path ahead was clear, Chester, Monia, and Ant bolted past the warring giants.
Supporting Chester's injured leg as they ran, Monia wiped the sweat from her brow and let out a ragged sigh.
"My goodness. We almost got crushed to death."
"Tell me about it. Now I know how an ant feels when humans step near."
"Ahaha."
Monia let out a weak laugh at Chester's dry humor and glanced back. The thunderous sounds of the two beasts clashing still echoed from the distance.
"Phew."
"It's a miracle this forest is still standing with monsters like that running wild."
"It's because of those molds. Or rather, maybe we should call them parasites?"
"Parasites?"
"Yeah. I noticed it when we got close. There was a green, powder-like substance clinging to the horn-nosed beast's fur."
"Green powder..."
Monia recalled the strange, green mold-like organism they had seen devouring the fallen trees.
"Ah."
"When the beast eats the leaves, the parasites consume the leftover wood. Then, those parasites break down the wood and accelerate the growth of new trees, essentially regenerating the beast's food source."
"But do they really have to wait for the trees to fall?"
"Hmm, maybe they can't digest the outer bark and need to get to the soft wood inside. There's always a reason in nature."
Chester looked at a fallen trunk nearby as he spoke. The green powder from the beast was smeared all over it. Upon closer inspection, it wasn't powder at all, but tiny, bulbous sacs containing something.
Chester tossed a small stone at one of the trunks. Upon impact, the sacs ruptured, and a swarm of tiny green insects came pouring out.
"Eek! That's disgusting."
"I wonder if those are edible."
"Don't even think about eating those!"
"Hmm..."
"I said, don't think about it!"
Monia grabbed Chester's arm and dragged him away as he stood there, genuinely contemplating whether the insects were safe to consume.
"Why are you always so obsessed with eating bugs?!"
"Because they're easy to find anywhere, anytime. When you don't have the energy to build traps or hunt game, insects are the ultimate survival food."
"Once we get you healed, we won't even have to be up here!"
"Hmm. Good point."
Chester reluctantly let go of his lingering attachment to the insects.
Their journey through the Upper Tier continued in this fashion. Following the scent of water picked up by Ant, they searched for food, water, and a safe place to shelter each night.
"Still no sign of a river."
"Yeah. What do we do if we don't find one tomorrow?"
Chester and Monia squeezed moisture from broad leaves to quench their thirst, their anxiety growing. Though Ant was still tracking the scent of water, the source was proving much further away than they had anticipated. They had been walking like this for days now.
"Ugh, so bitter!"
"I could really go for some fruit right now."
"I just want water that doesn't taste like dirt. Gah!"
Monia grimaced as she swallowed the bitter leaf extract.
"Don't waste a drop."
Chester reached out and wiped away a stray droplet that had trickled down Monia's neck.
"Ah!"
Monia flinched at the sudden, intimate touch on her neck, but Chester paid her reaction no mind. His fingers traced up her jawline, brushing her cheek and catching the moisture on her lips. Then, he popped his wet finger into his mouth and sucked it clean.
Slurp.
"Ah..."
Monia's face flushed bright red, and she quickly covered her neck with her hands.
Unfazed, Chester plucked another leaf, balled it up in his fist, and squeezed. With his thumb extended, the extracted juice trickled down his thumb and dripped directly into his open mouth.
"Alright. Shall we keep moving?"
"I really want some fruit..."
"Fruit. Yeah, that does sound good. Want a little bite?"
Deciding they needed a quick boost of energy, Chester pulled a bamboo canister from his basket.
Removing the leaf sealing the opening, he revealed the preserved fruits inside—the salted fruits Monia had prepared. Chester and Monia took out a few pieces, nibbling on them to restore their strength.
They pressed on, eating any edible plants they stumbled upon, gathering water wherever they could find it, and rationing their smoked meat when fresh game was scarce.
But the lack of clean water presented a critical problem: Chester's wounds were festering. His injuries needed to be washed with fresh water daily, but with no water to spare and the constant strain of navigating the rugged terrain on his bad leg, his condition was rapidly deteriorating.
Pus and blood oozed from the gash on his thigh, and the wound on his chest had turned a fiery red, radiating intense heat. Though Chester did his best to act as if nothing was wrong, the rising fever was beginning to cloud his mind.
He could mask his pain during the day, but his body betrayed him at night. He tossed and turned in his sleep, letting out low, pained groans of agony.
Every time, Monia would wake up quietly, watching him with a face etched with worry. She would gently wipe away his sweat, waiting by his side, praying for the fever to break.
Just as Chester was reaching his limit from the infected wounds and Monia was collapsing from sheer exhaustion and lack of sleep—
—Woof! Woof! Woof!
Ant let out a series of barks louder than ever before and bolted forward.
Splash!!
A loud splash echoed through the trees. Hearing the sound, Chester and Monia rushed forward, parting the tall, thick brush to gaze upon the sight before them.
"Wow..."
"Oh my..."
It was a breathtaking vista that stole the words right out of their mouths. Hidden deep within the untouched, primordial forest lay a stunning, Glowing Blue Lake. And swimming happily in its center was a wolf... or rather, their oversized pup.
Dragging his heavy feet to the water's edge, Chester shed his shirt. He scooped up some of the glowing water in his canteen and poured it over his shallowest wound. To his utter amazement, the jagged laceration on his shoulder began to knit together, healing right before his very eyes.
"...Hahaha. Incredible."
"Wow! Ah! Oh! It's so good! Haaaa!"
Right beside him, Monia had plunged her face directly into the water, gulping it down like a wild animal.
Gulp, gulp, gulp.
"..."
Chester stared at the esteemed Duke's daughter, completely speechless, his mouth hanging open in silent disbelief.