Chapter 21

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Translator: True Detective

Chapter: 21

Chapter Title: 5-Channel Melani

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"Ah, by the way, Elli. What about the night watch?"

While I glanced at the gallery, Rubyel asked Elisicia.

For now, this was the 4th floor of the labyrinth, where monsters were practically nonexistent, and the entrance was sealed with a barrier.

'This should be safe enough without a night watch.'

But Elisicia shook her head, apparently thinking differently.

"Even if it's the 4th floor, a labyrinth is still a labyrinth. It's not good to get complacent, so maybe we should stand watch just to be safe."

"······I wanted to get a good night's sleep today."

Rubyel grumbled in a voice tinged with slight dissatisfaction.

It had been years since she'd had a proper wash, and she'd filled her belly with delicious food.

'I'd probably want to crash hard too.'

So I spoke up on Rubyel's behalf to Elisicia.

"I'll handle the night watch somehow, so everyone get some solid rest tonight."

"You, Castaway? Are you saying you're going to stand watch yourself?"

"Not exactly me—my guard dog will take care of it."

The moment I brought up the guard dog out of nowhere, everyone gave me puzzled looks.

Actions speak louder than words here, so I stood up and pulled Rover out of my inventory.

Thud—

Rover materialized in midair and landed on the tent floor, scanning me and the Hero Party.

It seemed wary of these new faces, so I quickly explained to prevent any misunderstandings.

"These are my companions—we'll be together for a while. Anyway, can you stand guard outside the tent?"

Rover scanned the Hero Party once more, then nodded.

"If any unidentified intruders approach from outside, let me know right away. And hold out as long as you can until we come out."

It understood the orders without issue, nodded again, and headed out of the tent.

The entire Hero Party, Elisicia included, watched Rover leave in silence before turning to bombard me with questions.

"Castaway, what the heck is that summon?"

Elisicia seemed to have mistaken Rover for a summon.

Rubyel, on the other hand, had pegged its true nature more accurately.

"It's not a summon—looks more like a golem. But on a whole other level from the ones old man Jeff showed me back in the day."

"A golem? It understands speech, and its movements are so fluid."

"That's what I said. A whole other level."

Elisicia, still not grasping it, asked again.

"So, Castaway, what is it really?"

"Not magic—it's a machine. Made with science and technology···."

The problem was, I had no clue how Rover was made or how it worked.

All I knew was that it was a product of 4ch's advanced science and technology, so my explanation wasn't very precise.

"Seems like even you don't know much about it?"

"······Yeah. But to put it simply, think of the lantern hanging over the tent right now, or the water from the shower earlier. It's an item made from tech like that, taken to the extreme."

"Really? That's fascinating. Do you have any other stuff like that?"

She was probably asking if there were other wondrous items besides Rover.

'She didn't seem that amazed by the lantern, showerhead, or hairdryer.'

It looked like only true 4ch-level stuff would impress Elisicia.

Excluding Rover, the only 4ch items I had were the Thunder Bolt and Plasma Pistol.

'The Plasma Pistol might blow her mind.'

But I'd never used it myself, so I'd be amazed too.

Plus, I couldn't just whip it out and fire it off here, so I answered no.

"Nope."

Then Rubyel's voice chimed in.

"It's pretty amazing. Can I have a golem like that too?"

"Do you really need one, Rubyel?"

"Why wouldn't I? Looks like it even has a saddle—you could probably ride it around."

If it was just for riding, maybe there was something better than a guard dog robot.

Asking 4ch's Quick Fix Doctor☆ would clear it up, but it was too late now—I'd check next time.

"I'll ask about it later."

"Ask later? Isn't it something you brought with your ability?"

"I bought it from 4ch."

When I honestly said 4ch, Elisicia and Rubyel stared at me with wide eyes.

"What's with the looks?"

"No, just... 4ch sells stuff like that? Blew my mind."

Rubyel answered, though she didn't seem to grasp the implications.

"What's wrong with 4ch?"

"Yawn~ I'll explain later. Getting sleepy now."

Rubyel let out a small, cute yawn and promptly closed her eyes.

It was surprising how casually she fell asleep next to a guy she'd just met.

"Guess I'll turn in too. Good night, Castaway."

Elisicia followed suit, murmuring good night and shutting her eyes.

Less than a minute later, their breathing had steadied into deep sleep.

'They conk out fast.'

Was this a skill honed from labyrinth life?

I lay down to sleep too, closing my eyes, but it wasn't easy.

With Elisicia and Rubyel on either side, I was unconsciously tense—sleep wouldn't come.

'Maybe browse other channels.'

Maybe the gallery would bore me to sleep.

As I scrolled through other channels, 5ch suddenly popped into mind.

'Come to think of it, what's 5ch like?'

I only had a handle on channels 2 through 4.

1ch wasn't being used by anyone, and 6ch was already doomed, so no intel there.

'That leaves 5ch and 7ch.'

6ch might have some old posts worth checking, but did I need info on a dead world?

'If I posted here, they'd probably be on guard.'

5ch was using the gallery purely for duty reports.

A guardian angel popping in wouldn't be welcome.

'Better to approach just one person.'

I scanned the posts and picked the youngest poster.

Even the youngest were over 100, so maybe it didn't matter.

'101-year-old Melani. She's the baby here.'

Realizing the "youngest" ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was 101 gave me a surreal chill.

Still, to learn about 5ch, I needed someone to tell me—so Melani it was.

'Now, request 1:1 chat···.'

Short chat, and she seemed cheerful for a 101-year-old.

I felt like things were clicking, so I asked Melani about 5ch.

Melani seemed not to catch on, so I dove into Modern Item Purchase.

Scanned for something good and spotted chocolate—bought it.

-Milk Chocolate 34g: 1 point

'Most women would like this, right?'

Melani sounded female from her name.

A stranger's gift—she might not eat it, but her personality suggested she would.

I went ahead and bought 10 chocolates, sending them her way.

Melani hadn't expected 10, judging by her ecstatic reaction.

Time to ask about 5ch's world? Before I could, Melani volunteered the info.

"······."

5ch wasn't normal either.

"······."

Hold up?

'So 5ch fell because···.'

The witches killed everyone else.

Usually it's some external force, not self-inflicted doom.

Good—the genocidal outer god was gone.

So 5ch was a witches-only world, but what race were witches?

Melani paused, pondering her answer.

Even Melani, presumably a witch herself, didn't know the details.

Puzzled, I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠skimmed 5ch posts again and spotted one item.

[201-year-old Otil. Mana Potion production complete: 100 bottles.] [1]

'Mana Potions?'

Rubyel had mentioned mana recovery gets tougher deeper in the labyrinth.

'Maybe snag one.'

I jumped back into Modern Item Purchase and bought a pack of candy this time.