The world has turned monochrome and I’ve fought a few monsters since then.
I don’t know how many days have passed, but it’s been at least enough time for Hinata to grow to about the size of a ten year old.
If Hinata grows at the same rate as a human, that means I’ve been living in this forest for ten years.
I wanna say that’s stupid, but sadly, that’s reality.
Hinata has grown that much, and can now take down monsters in the forest if it’s one-on-one.
It can probably live on its own in the forest now. That’s how strong it is.
And so, I’ve tried to take Hinata and leave this place. Multiple times.
I’ve said goodbye to Totaro and tried to return to the surface, but I always end up back here.
I’m getting nowhere unless I can get through the loop in the forest. I already knew that, but looking around the forest hasn’t given me any results.
Where does it loop? How large is this area? I looked into it, but the distance isn’t consistent, and mappingool doesn’t give me correct results.
I combed the forest looking for a way out, but there’s nothing. I can’t search the whole forest anyway, because it’s too big.
I can’t look through everything when there’s 6000 to 10000 kilometers in a straight line.
I tried looking down from the sky, but the reddish brown world went on forever, and there was no end to the sky either. I know space doesn’t exist in the dungeon, but I didn’t think there was no ceiling either.
Then what about the other direction, digging down? I used Earth Magic to dig, and found a hot spring. And that was all.
That means there’s now a hot spring in the mansion, but as someone that doesn’t like long baths, it’s not a big deal. Fuuma and Hinata seem to like it, and always go in after training.
For some reason, the search ended up with more stuff for the mansion, making it more comfortable.
I’ve been going out to search regularly, but I’ve come up with nothing.
Ahh… I sigh as I sit down on a chair I made.
How many years have gone by on the surface?
I feel like it’s been more than five, but judging by Hinata’s growth, it could be ten. Even if I went back, I could end up like Urashima Taro and not adapt to the world.
I could live in the dungeon, but I want to at least see my brother or sister. And meet my nieces or nephews too.
If everything went well, they should be in grade school.
Hinata can’t go to school on the surface, but I wonder if they can’t be friends.
No, not as Hinata is now.
Hinata’s values lean a lot towards strength and weakness. It’s been educated and isn’t entirely shaped by it, but the special environment of the dungeon means its values are rooted on survival of the fittest.
If it met my nieces and nephews, and other kids the same age, it could try to dominate them with power. Not just kids, it could do the same to adults.
Worst case scenario, it could end up using its power to kill.
And then it would be targeted by seekers. I’d have to stop that.
It’s okay, Hinata is a smart kid.
When I teach it something, it learns on the first try. I quickly ran out of things to teach. That’s how smart it is.
If I teach it those values, it would understand for sure.
So first, can you stop with the sneak attacks?
I put the chair in the Storage Space, and fall to the ground. And a sword passes where my head was. The moment it notices it’s been dodged, it changes the trajectory to swing down, aiming for my torso.
I look at the attacker, and pull its leg to break its posture.
“Kyu!?”
It loses its balance and misses with the sword, and I throw the surprised Hinata from the ground into the lake.
I’ve had more opportunities for mock battles with Hinata recently.
It’s been getting better with the sword, and I want to check if it has any weird habits, but more importantly, there’s nothing to do.
I’ve mostly taught it everything about cooking, and it learns in an instant. I read all the manga I had a long time ago, so all I can do is train.
Basically, I’m bored.
I could explore, but I’ve explored the area around here a long time ago. The geography changes with monster fights, so I can’t imagine there’s something left there.
When trees are destroyed here, they soon return to normal, but for some reason, the ground doesn’t.
It’s not usual for the dungeon. But thinking about it more, it’s weirder to return to normal no matter what. I think the logic of the dungeon poisoned my brain.
A light lance flies at me from the lake.
It starts with that one, then a hundred powered up by magic circles appear.
I’m still laying on the ground, so I take the staff from the Storage Space, hit the ground with it, and create a magic energy wave. The spears covering the sky disappear.
One is left.
Ah, damn. I realize I got careless, and block the last one with the spear, causing an explosion.
“Kyurara!”
I cough as I use wind to blow away the smoke, and see Hinata letting out a happy sound, most likely happy that it hit me once.
Hinata rises from the lake, looking beautiful and androgynous with a big smile. That along with its blond hair down to its waist and its pure white wings makes it look like nothing else except an angel.
If we made it to the surface and Hinata was accepted by the world, it would capture the hearts of many men and women. Religious people might even worship it.
I’m still not sure if Hinata is a boy or a girl. I don’t even know if Hinata’s race has that distinction, but I can see that factor becoming a symbol too.
What I can’t see is Hinata going along with it.
“Kyurarara!!”
Hinata is dripping wet, and celebrating like it’s saying it’s the strongest.
I got careless. The difference in power made me think it was still easy, and I only used one hand to deal with it.
The biggest problem with that is the irritation from that celebration.
And so, I get my revenge by using wind to send it up to the sky.
“Kyurah!?”
It spreads its wings with surprise and tries to regain its balance. It feels like the way it rides the wind to go up is ingrained in its instincts.
It looks like it’s having fun too.
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