Day 301-310/Day 307

Day 307
Somehow I managed to locate a safe place without monsters ambushing out of nowhere. I wanted to have some warm cooked food using the harvested ingredients - but this is underwater (normally fire won't exist in water). I used some abilities so that the water around me could be eliminated temporarily. Therefore, it became possible to use fire strong enough for its cooking function. Right after that, I continued with my plan of capturing this dungeon.
In this underwater cavern, not only is the the internal structure more complicated the deeper you get in, the water current started fluctuating. I would sometimes get pushed back by the rapid water current coming from the front. However, I could also swim faster than usual by being pushed from behind. Sometimes, I got washed away and lead anywhere getting pressurized from the left or the right by the current.
Moreover, when I made contact with the nasty monster [Mine Jellyfish], it would explode for sure. The sound from the explosion would resonate with the dungeon monsters that occasionally come riding by in the water current. They are suicide bombers called [Exploding  Blowfish]. Forget the idea of countering these creatures one by one since basically, they flow in a school of several dozen units. Although the shock waves produced by the explosion move in all directions, that in itself wasn't fatal. However, it was quite intense, so continuing the capture became difficult.
**
Finally, with a size of about 10 meters, it began to appear. It also boasts the strength of the hierarchical boss-class. It is [Demonic Earthquake Shark: Megalodon]. The skin of the [Demonic Earthquake Shark] somewhat represents a fine blade that could slice its enemy by simply ramming its body. The bites from its hard and sharp fangs were able to cut steel into tiny pieces, as if chewing a pudding.
It can improve its overall status with a berserk ability which would get triggered by the smell of blood. When it turned on berserk mode, its skin became tinged with a red glow. Its berserk state releases magic that it produces high-speed vibrations. Its swimming speed is also fast, not only can it advance through the narrow interior of the cave without trouble, it can also erase its signs of presence while being in the vicinity, escaping notice. It's quite nasty for a dungeon monster.
Nevertheless, I will advance after having defeated it, which is a forgone conclusion.
**
The deepest part of the undersea cavern. Almost all parts of the bottom is spreads in spaces with a spherical shape, except the ceiling part of the entrance and the center of the space. It was a place that was filled with abundant amounts of marine plants.
The walls are covered with seaweed which made it impossible to see. Although it quite common for seaweed to be found in the sea, it doesn't give a good feeling if they have a density up to this point, as one might expect.
I unintentionally frowned from its presence. There was a humanoid type of Parsley (a biennial plant with white flowers and aromatic leaves) who was slowly coming up from among the seaweed. The dungeon boss who's sitting in the deepest part of [Deep Lair: Blessing of the Algae Women] is the [The Splendid Algae Empress who Grant Blessings]
The whole body of The Splendid Algae Empress who Grants Blessings appeared to be covered in a great variety of seaweed. I have no information about this except that it is a humanoid type. Its figure was the appropriate representation of a true shape of seaweed in human form.
Magnificient, its figure is likely constructed from brown algae, green algae and red algae. Although, I couldn't help but have the thought that it didn't have a very good associated idea for the concept. I have no choice but to say that It really lives up to its name. Well, this place's name is also so similar to the personal impression of her. To end it quickly this time, I tried to attack but...
『"Ara ara", It's the first time a visitor comes to such a place like this you know ~♥ 』
『If you'd like my seaweed, won't you try to eat it? ~♥ 』
『It is very delicious, I'm proud of it you know ~♥ 』
The [Splendid Algae Empress who Grant Blessings] uttered such a voice towards me. I listen intently after hearing that voice, it is such a beautiful voice, like that of an angel. Spontaneously, I stopped my movement. Dungeon monsters that have a degree of intelligence have the ability to speak with a voice, similar to previous examples like the Flame Dragon Empress.
Although, it's not like that I only met【God】rank dungeon boss so far, but here is a【God】Rank. In other words, it is a kind that, even just being able to speak,rather seems to be impossible. We are actually speaking eye to eye. When I thought about what the heck is actually going to happen, [Algae Empress] begins pulling at her body of seaweed and had it shredded, separating them with a knife that appeared from out of nowhere, likewise, she also started to toss it into a pot that was taken out of nowhere.
In addition, she also placed various ingredients into the pot, but the dish does not leak out of the pot even though it is still underwater. A certain elegance can be felt, even from that gesture,
『It might not fit the taste, here you go if you'd like, please try a cup.』
As she speaks with a carefree beautiful voice. While being underwater, the brown liquid in the soup bowl sits there without flooding out. You can also see the pieces of sliced and torn seaweed, but other than that, I was also able to confirm a number of fish and shellfish. At first glance, it was a miso soup. I try to write a smell in the bubble that was created inside the space with temporary repelled water. Nevertheless, this is unmistakably the taste of those miso soup.
If you examine the ingredients with【Goods Appraisal (Detect・Analyze)】, together with the seaweed that floats out of miso, there's stuff that appears to be like those "Miso kelp", "Sea tofu (Wakame)" which creates a texture and color similar to tofu when you boil it. I can enjoy the textures, such as the onion from "Heavenly water onion", then the small clams with the firm body that is tightly good from delicious small clams, "Stiff meated freshwater clam".
Many ingredients that were used are rare things among the dungeon ingredients. I let myself be tied up in the fragrance of such a grand miso soup and thoroughly enjoyed it. Judging by the smell, there was no poison inside.
I watch [Algae Empress] before bringing it to my mouth, I am wondering if she would probably smile. Part of the seaweed falls on her face, it seemed to be looser somehow. Well, even if she has any purpose with it, it does not matter to me how deadly the poison is that was mixed into the miso soup.
If anything is ingested by my mouth, even if it is a deadly poison that can kill a dragon with one drop, it is harmless with my ability【Absorption】. It is right where I want it since rather than getting poisoned, it only becomes my food. With that said, I'm really grateful since I got called for the miso soup. At that moment, my tears are overflowing. This was not because it has become some kind of attack. But simply because the miso soup was delicious.
All of the ingredients are drawn out by each other's merits. It was an enigmatic kind of art of how gently palates got spoiled by the exquisite taste and become rich in harmonization, yet it is clear and stimulating. A large amount of pleasurable substance comes along with the comfort such as those secreted in the brain, to the nostalgic taste which is reminiscent of the distant past.
It reminds me of the miso soup that my deceased mother made in my childhood, I wonder if I shed even more tears. Anyway, I have finished eating the miso soup quickly to the cups' base. The taste that is reminiscent of that distant time is something that I also eventually get used to, but it felt like eating the simply delicious miso soup again became more familiar. I come to regret getting embarrassed because of the soup bowl has become rather clearer than the sky itself.
『"Ara ara", Oh, come now, so I wonder if it was delicious? Then, would you go for another serving?』 is what "Algae Empress" said.
Of course, my answer had been decided.
----
RAWS
“三百七日目”
それなりに安全な場所を見つけ、採取した品を使って温かい料理――水中だが、アビリティを使えば一時的に水は排除できる。そのため火を使う事も可能だ――を堪能し、攻略を再開する。
ここは深ければ深いほど内部構造が複雑になっていくだけでなく、ある一定の深度を超えると、定期的に水流が変動する仕組みになっていた。
正面から来る猛烈な水流によって押し戻される事もあれば、後方から後押しされて普段以上に速く泳ぐ事もあり、左右から押されてどこともしれない場所に流される事もある。
しかも厄介な事に接触すれば爆発する“機雷クラゲ”や、自爆して爆音を響かせる“爆音ジバフグ”といったダンジョンモンスタ－が時折水流に乗ってくる。
一匹一匹ならばともかく、基本的には数十匹単位の群れで流れてくるので、その際の全方位から浴びせかけられる振動は致命的ではないものの、攻略を続けるのが難しくなる程度には強烈だ。
それ以外にも階層ボス級の強さを誇る、十メートル程の体躯を持つ“魔震鮫メガロドン”が出現し始めた。
魔震鮫の細かい刃となっている肌は体当たりするだけで敵を削り、硬く鋭利な牙の噛み付きは鋼鉄をプリンのように咬み千切る事が可能だ。
そして血の臭いを嗅ぐと凶暴化して全ステータスが向上し、凶暴化した時に赤い魔力を帯びる肌は高速振動する能力を秘めている。
遊泳速度も速く、狭い洞窟内部を難なく進むだけでなく、気がつけば傍にいるほど気配を消して行動できる為、かなり厄介なダンジョンモンスターだ。
それでも倒しながら進んでいけば、やがて終わりはあるものだ。
海底洞窟の最深部。
球形の空間が広がるそこは、天井部にある出入り口と空間の中心部以外はほぼ全て、夥しい量の海藻で埋め尽くされた場所だった。
壁面は海藻によって覆われ、見る事も出来ない。海では普通に見られる海藻だが、流石にここまで密集すると気持ちがいいものではない。
思わず顔を顰めると、海藻の中からゆっくりせり上がってくるヒト型があった。
【藻女の深き恵みの洞窟】の最深部に座すダンジョンボス、“恵み施す華麗な藻女帝タングレイス・エンプレス”だ。
現れた“恵み施す華麗な藻女帝”の全身は、多種多彩な海藻で覆われていた。
ヒト型である事以外はコレといった情報はない。ヒト型の海藻、そう表現するのが適切な姿形だった。
華麗、とあるのに褐藻かっそう類やら紅藻こうそう類やら緑藻りょくそう類やらで構成されていそうな姿は、とてもではないが連想できない。
名前負けしている、と言わざるを得ないだろう。
まあ、そんな個人的な感想などさて置き。
今回もサッサと終わらせる為、攻撃しようとしたのだが、『あらあら、こんなところにお客さんが来るなんて初めてだわ。良かったら私の海藻、食べてみない？　とても美味しくて、自慢なのよ』と“恵み施す華麗な藻女帝”が声を発した。
聞き入ってしまうような、天女の如き美声である。
思わず動きを止められた。
声を発する程の知性があるダンジョンモンスターは、灼誕竜女帝という前例があるように、存在している。
今のところ【神】級のダンジョンボスとしてしか出会った事は無いが、ここは【神】級だ。
つまりそういう事であり、喋ったとしても、有り得なくはない。現に目の前で喋っている。
一体何事かと思っていると、“恵み施す華麗な藻女帝”は身体の海藻をブチブチと引き千切り、何処からともなく取り出した包丁で海藻を捌き、同じく何処からともなく取り出した鍋に放り込み始めた。
その他にも色々と具材を入れているのだが、変わらず水中であるにも関わらず、鍋から料理が漏れ出してくる事がない。
楽しそうに調理を進める“恵み施す華麗な藻女帝”は時折味見をするように鍋の中身を口に相当する場所に運び、納得したのか満面の笑み――海藻で顔も覆われているが、仕草で何となく想像できた――を浮かべ、鍋の中身をシンプルな汁椀に注ぎ、俺に差し出した。
その仕草からは気品すら感じられ、『口に合わないかもしれませんが、良かったらどうぞ、飲んでみて下さい』と屈託のない美声で語りかけてくる。
水中でありながら、汁椀の中の茶色い液体は溢れる事なくそこにある。
引き千切った海藻の姿も確認できるのだが、その他にも幾つかの魚介類が確認できた。
一見して、それは味噌汁だった。
一時的に水を退けて生み出した泡の中で匂いを書いてみるが、やはりこれは紛う方ない味噌汁だった。
具材を【物品鑑定ディテクト・アナライズ】で調べてみると、どうやら“ミソコンブ”という味噌味のダシが出る海藻と共に、茹でると豆腐みたいな食感と色になる“海豆腐ワカメ”や玉ねぎみたいな食感が楽しめる“水天玉ねぎ”、それからギュッと引き締まった身が美味い小型の二枚貝“剛筋シジミ”などを使っているらしい。
使用されている食材は迷宮食材の中でも希少なモノが多い。金額にすれば金貨や金板が軽く飛んでいくだろう。
そんな豪勢な味噌汁の匂いをしばらし堪能する。
匂いからは毒などの類は無いように思える。
口を付ける前に“恵み施す華麗な藻女帝”を見るが、多分ニコニコしているのだろう。顔に当たる海藻の部分が、何だか緩んでいるように見えた。
まあ、何か目的があり、味噌汁に猛毒が混入されていようとも俺には関係ない。
口から摂取したモノならば、例え一滴で竜が死ぬような猛毒でも【吸喰能力アブソープション】によって無害となる。むしろそんな毒なら俺の糧になるだけなので望む所だ。
という事で、ありがたく味噌汁を頂いた。
その瞬間、溢れ出る涙。
これは決して何かしらの攻撃をされたからではなかった。
ただ単純に、味噌汁が美味かったのだ。
全ての具材が互いの長所を引き出す、ある種の芸術めいた絶妙な旨味とコクの調和によって舌は優しく、しかしハッキリと刺激される。
脳内で大量の快楽物質が分泌されたような心地よさと共に、遠い昔を思い出させるような懐かしい味がする。
幼少の頃に他界した母親が造ってくれた味噌汁を思い出させるそれに、俺は涙を流したのだろうか。
ともかく、俺は味噌汁を瞬く間に喰べ終えた。
遠い月日を思い起こさせる味もやがては慣れるが、慣れると単純に美味い味噌汁をまた食べたくなった。
未練がましく空になった汁椀を持て余していると、“恵み施す華麗な藻女帝”は『あらあら、まあまあ。そんなに美味しかったかしら？　なら、お代わりはどうします？』と言った。
無論、俺の回答は決まっている。
――お代わり、お願いします。
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Category:Novel
Category:Re:Monster Volume 8