Several hours after that shocking introduction.
I went home and flopped onto my bed.
Isibara wished for a human body instead of a monster's body.
The reason was something I could more or less figure out after seeing Ms. Ennea.
A monster's body came with all sorts of limitations. She'd probably grasped that firsthand just by watching her.
Well, Isibara's true feelings were probably more along the lines of, "Seriously?! Someone actually brings back real decorations?!"
But a human body, huh... Well, fine. I'll consult the witch.
Consulting the witch whenever I ran into trouble had somehow become the default response.
We were starting to feel less like master and disciple and more like the kind of relationship you'd see in some national manga or anime from my past life memories.
So I went to consult her.
The short answer: impossible here. Impossible in Heisen.
I'd kind of figured as much.
For now, let me try creating one in the dungeon.
I could make something resembling a human body inside the dungeon.
The catch was, I couldn't do it.
What Isibara wanted was a female body.
I didn't know the first thing about the structure of a female body.
Well, okay—from my past life memories I actually knew a decent amount, but... Could I really pull this off?!
I'm only thirteen! It'd be way weirder if a thirteen-year-old boy knew all the mysteries of the female form.
And that's embarrassing. The thought of what everyone would think when I completely built a female body.
How they'd look at me.
The worst reaction would be something like "oh, obviously."
Like "as expected of the Night King," or "well, he's the Night King so of course," or "being the Night King, it's only natural."
Seriously, what even is a Night King!?
So I decided to have Mireace make one instead.
But... what she could make was something resembling a human body.
Sure enough, the monster parts of the black spider-woman couldn't be removed.
Well, I figured if it was closer to a human body than before, that'd be fine, so I had her try.
But all she could make was a spider-woman.
It seemed the humanoid female monster data in Hyzen's dungeon was limited to the spider-woman.
Mireace worked really hard trying different things, but the black spider-woman was the closest to human.
So that left... only one option. I had no choice but to head back to Hydrangea for now.
Go back and ask Hayan to build a Minosdole.
But I'd have to go through a lot of trial and error. Left as-is, it would develop its own will again.
Meaning a soul would end up inside it. I needed an empty vessel — a soul container with nothing in it.
"So I really have no choice but to go back."
But the problem was the distance. A round trip would take up to a month.
Even in the best case, it would be over a week for sure.
"Well, there's nothing I can do about that."
The next day.
I told everyone that I would be returning to Hydrangea once.
At first, everyone was puzzled. But when I explained the reason, they accepted it.
There was a bit of a fuss, but in the end, only I would be going back.
It was going to be a hassle, but there was one thing that became a little easier.
When returning, I could connect a gate, so it would be instant.
I decided on tomorrow for departure. Better to go early.
Now then, I should go say hello to Isibara, who was in the deepest part of the dungeon.
"Going back?"
"You saw Shaldina and the others, right?"
"...Got the explanation. Minosdore. But doesn't look human."
"I'm going to retrieve that Minosdore body. That's why I have to go back."
"For my sake... huh."
"Yes. Going there takes time, but the return will be instant. I'll connect a gate."
"Teleportation... gate... right."
"Yes. I'll bring the body then."
"............When do you leave?"
"Tomorrow. I'm planning to go early."
"...Got it."
"Then I'll prepare for tomorrow, so I'm heading back today."
As I was about to leave the dungeon early, Ishibara stopped me.
"Wait, Wof. You've forgotten something."
"Forgotten?"
"The reward for subduing the dungeon's anomaly."
Oh, right. That was a thing, wasn't it.
I'd honestly thought the creation of this dungeon was reward enough.
"If I recall... I was supposed to get a ship, wasn't I?"
A ship.
Yeah. Sailing down on my own ship was an option too.
That would let me go much farther down. Cut down on travel time.
Yeah. A ship. Nice.
I was curious what kind it would be.
"Exactly. Convenient timing. I'll hand it over now. Step outside for that."
"Got it."
We left the dungeon.
Lake Rieve.
The unnaturally perfectly circular entrance to Heizen.
It wasn't a fully enclosed lake—it connected to the Claudia Sea beyond.
It was the hub of Heizen's trade, with ships coming and going every day.
Come to think of it, Lake Rieve had an interesting phenomenon.
Ships traveling across Lake Rieve never pass through the center.
Traffic splits into upper and lower routes on the right and left sides, always avoiding the middle.
That's because the central area appears to be completely empty at first glance.
In reality, though, the tidal currents there swirl with a strangely violent intensity.
What's more, the central area is riddled with reefs and hidden rocks — venture in carelessly, and you'll sink.
We were standing on the lakeshore, having walked straight from Uncle's hideout.
Right in the middle of Lake Rieve's shoreline. You could see the horizon.
"...Come to think of it, this lake is part of Heizen's dungeon too, isn't it?"
"That's right. But this lake is Heizen's lifeline. We don't touch it."
"Um, there's something I've been wondering about."
"What is it?"
"Why is it called Lake Rieve?"
"That... long ago..."
There
was
once
a
ship
called
Rieve
...be
cause
it
came
crash
ing
down
.
"
"Huh?"
At that moment, the whole of Hydrangea trembled slightly, and something rose up from the center of the lake.
It floated up from the water's surface into the air, then drifted slowly and silently toward us.
What is this? A different dimension?
Before long, it had come to hover right above us.
Isibara stood before it, grinning.
"Well then, go on and accept it."
"......"
"This here's the Dimensional Transfer Ship Riv, the reward for subjugating the anomaly in Hydrangea's dungeon."
"...Ah, I see. So it's that kind of ship..."
Dimensional transfer. I see. So it's this sort of... this kind of ship.
Right. So that's how it is. What even is this thing.
Half-escaping from reality, I gazed blankly up at the "ship."
Right.
Summer's almost over, huh.
――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――
Season 4 ends here.
Thank you all so much.
To celebrate the end of the long Season 4—
And to celebrate the comic adaptation kicking off next Tuesday—
It'll be starting on Square Enix's Manga Up!
Please check it out!
To those of you who've read this far, found it entertaining, and are looking forward to more—
Especially — Wof! Mineha! Pakira! Knife! Juicy!
Hoss! Narcissus! Witch! Nekia! Isibara!
Samania! Ennea! Bido! Knife Goddess!
Megadia! Annakluiten!
Someone from Torquetam and Thunder Fang! Someone from the First-Class Delvers! Everyone else! And everyone else... (inanimate objects included)!!!
If I managed to make you think about your favorites—
Please drop a follow, a star, or a heart — it truly means a lot to me.
Heh heh heh heh heh heh heh.
If you're someone who just thought, "Oh wait, I still haven't put in a ☆ or a ❤ yet," and you press that little button to add one, it would make me incredibly happy.
The follows, stars, and hearts from you readers.
More than anything, they're the source of my motivation, my energy, and all sorts of fuel for writing.
I mean it. They really lift my spirits. They encourage me so, so much!!
Please, I'm counting on you!!
And now, on to Season 5.
I'm planning to start in about a week.