CH 140

I was shocked by Borok-san’s words and was at a loss for words.

There is no cure for the symptoms caused by death dust. If that’s the case, was it just my imagination that I felt like I was cured? Or does the [Holy Wind] have a higher curative effect than existing magic and potions?

“Are you sure…… there’s no cure for this?”

“As far as I know…” (Borok)

Borok-san sighed.

“But you wore a mask and gloves. How could did this happen to you…”

“You can’t completely prevent it… It doesn’t matter how careful you are, once you go in there, you’ll get poisoned little by little.” (Borok)

Why did Borok-san continue to enter the Death Cave despite knowing all of this?

I saw Borok-san who was suffering in pain.

Borok-san said there was no cure. But maybe it can be cured with [Holy Wind]. I’m not sure yet, but I’m sure… At the very least, it can alleviate the symptoms.

“…”

I slowly closed my eyes.

Well, what should I do?

…Well, I already have my answer, but I’ll ask myself once again.

I don’t have to use [Holy Wind] on Borok-san. I’m not going to use it and pretend as if it never happened… No, I can’t. I’m not sure I will do it by then. However, one day I will regret not doing anything.

“…Borok-san.”

I decided to use the [Holy Wind] without chanting.

(Sacred wind, surround him, [Holy Wind].)

At that moment, the magic in the depths of my stomach circulated through my body and was released from my right hand. The magic power became a gentle breeze and surrounded Borok-san, gently caressing his beard.

“I’m not going to be around much longer, so if you’re interested in…? Huh?” (Borok)

Borok-san slowly stood from kneeling on the ground, and he began patting his body. The pain on his face is gone. Was it successful?

“Borok-san, how is your chest?”

“How… am I feeling? I haven’t felt this good staying in this cave for decades… Huh, but you, that magic.” (Borok)

“…well, there may or may not be such magic.”

“Either there is such a thing or there isn’t… well, whatever. It seems that you have saved me from a lot of trouble,” (Borok)

Borok-san got up from the ground, brushed the dust from his clothes, and continued.

“Thank you.” (Borok)

Shion, who had peeked out from under my hood, squeaked in reply on my behalf.

A little over ten days later, the day finally came for me to leave the cave.

I helped Borok-san, as usual, that day, ate a full course meal of Fungus, which I was getting tired of, and left the village when it was getting dark. When I thought about it, this village might have been longer than the one in the south. When I thought about it, I started to feel a bit melancholic, but I shook it off and left the dwarven village.

As I headed for the waterfall that had blocked my path before, I made a last check with Borok-san.

“Very well. There are always landmarks along the main road in the Dwarven tunnels. If you follow the main path, you will always find your way out.” (Borok)

Borok-san pointed to a hammer symbol on the wall of the cave.

It’s a mark that looked like the letter “T” drawn horizontally with something white. I remembered that I had seen it before in this cave.

“Basically, the direction of the head of the hammer points toward to is the back of the cave, and the handle points to the entrance. If you remember this wrong, you will…?” (Borok)

“I can…”

I hurriedly took out a piece of paper and a pencil.

As we talked, we came close to the waterfall, but I couldn’t hear the sound of rushing water, which I used to be able to hear from a distance.

“?”

Feeling a little mystified, I came to a place where the exit was once blocked by a cascading waterfall.

—There was the outside world, illuminated by the moonlight.

The waterfall that used to be there had disappeared, and a world of pale moonlight had begun.

I slowly approached the exit of the cave and looked out over it.

The view was spectacular.

A place surrounded on three sides by cliffs that seemed to reach the sky. Or maybe it was a waterfall basin surrounded on three sides by waterfalls since there were usually waterfalls there. Anyway, the exit of this cave was in such a place.

“What do you think, it’s a nice view, right?” (Borok)

Borok-san said to me as we gazed at the view for a while.

I was fascinated by this scenery and barely replied, “Yes, that’s right.”

“For some reason, the waterfall stops on a full moon night. You can only pass during that time.” (Borok)

Then he pointed to the cliff across the path. There was a cave, vaguely visible in the moonlight.

“If you go through that cave, you’ll find a village, and beyond that a town. That’s where you would want to go.” (Borok)

Borok-san took out a long, thin package and a letter from his backpack.

“What is this?”

“It’s a parting gift. And I want you to give this letter to Kevin in that town.” (Borok)

Kevin? I’ve never heard that name before.

“Kevin… san? Who is he?”

“Hmm? He’s my son.” (Borok)

“Eh? Son? No, I thought—“

I thought he was dead. When I rented the room, he gave off this air that I wasn’t supposed to be asking, so I was careful not to mention it!

“What is it?” (Borok)

“…No, it’s nothing.”

“Is that so? Be careful on your way. Rook and Shion act wisely.” (Borok)

“Thank you for your help. I’ll be sure to get send your letters.”

“Kyu!” (Shion)

I shook hands with Borok-san and I will return the favor.

The place where there should be a river leading from the waterfall basin. I walked along a stone bridge that crossed the river, heading for the other side of the cliff to the cave.

After walking for a while, I stopped in the middle of the cliff and looked around.

The place was surrounded by sheer cliffs on three sides. Normally, waterfalls flowed from all three sides of the cliffs, and it was not a place where people could enter. Feeling a little strange about that, I burned this spectacular view into my mind.

On Earth, I could have used a camera or something to capture it, but in this world, such items are not available. I had to memorize it in my mind.

“…maybe there is?”

“Kyu?” (Shion)

Maybe there is something like that. Magic tools, artifacts, something. If so, I might want to get one. If I can afford one.

Suddenly, I looked up at the sky.

There was two moons side by side.

The two moons were glowing pale blue, illuminating us as if they were watching over us.

I turned around and looked toward the dwarven village.

At the exit of the cave, lit by the moonlight, was Borok-san, still looking at us.

He slowly raised his right hand and opened his mouth.

“Yo! Hey!” (Borok)

I turned my body toward him, raised my right hand as I had done when we first met and said the words with a different meaning than when we first met.

“Yo! Hey!”