I never expected to end up traveling with Riv.
But it was fortunate that I didn't get treated with suspicion.
It's probably because of her quirky, generous personality.
We advance through the cave.
I glance at the light orb floating diagonally above.
"That's a handy Legacy."
"...Mm."
Wait — that's not a Legacy.
The cave is dark. Unlike a dungeon, there's no light source.
It's truly pitch-black; you can't see a thing.
So right after entering, I tried to light a torch.
Then Riv pulled something from her hip.
More precisely, from a storage compartment on her suit.
She released it, and it became this light orb.
If you searched the world, there are probably Legacies like this.
I'm sure there are Legendary ones too. But this light orb is different.
Maybe it's for planetary exploration?
Or perhaps there's something like an emergency survival kit.
In games from my past life, there were items like that.
I hadn't thought about it much, but is this world a planet?
Since there are moons and satellites, it probably is.
Well, there's no point dwelling on it. I'm not that interested.
"There — two of something up ahead."
"...Mm. Got it."
Red dots moving around the corner. She slashes the goblins hiding there.
The goblins fall apart like tofu being cut.
The cuts are so precise they're inorganic.
You'd think the pieces were some kind of block.
"Aren't you going to collect the subjugation parts?"
"...Mm... just from the boss is fine."
"I see."
The goblin boss, deep in the nest.
If you subjugate it, the remaining goblins will abandon the nest.
Without a boss, goblins don't form groups.
"...If you want them... I'll give them to you... boy."
"No, I don't need them either."
"...I see."
Even if I received them, I can't sell them — I'm not a delver.
I find myself looking at the blade.
"That's an amazing sword."
"...Mm... you're interested in this...?"
"Y-Yes."
Riv brought it to my eye level so I could see.
"...Mm... Pleiades Blade... Riv's OOPArt..."
A single-piece black blade.
There's no guard — instead, multiple round rings overlap.
Seven in total, maybe.
Patterns and what look like characters are drawn in places along the blade and handle.
I can't read them, of course. And this sword isn't an OOPArt.
"Ah, so that's why it's Pleiades."
"...Mm."
"It's incredible."
"...I think what's incredible... is your Relic... boy."
"I-Is that so?"
"...Mm... Danger Discernment... a Relic suited for delving... ...handy."
"Ah, thank you."
My Relics, with one exception, are all geared toward delvers.
That's why I decided to leave my hometown and become a delver.
"...So you're going to become a delver...?"
"Yes. I come of age next year, so I'll become one."
That's right — next year, I'll become a delver.
But it's not like becoming a delver is my dream or anything.
It's just that being a delver seems to suit me, and I can probably make a living at it.
"...Mm. If it's you, you can make it..."
"Thank you."
"...Mm."
We descend.
Immediately, four red dots come into view.
When I point them out, Riv's blade flashes erupt.
In an instant, four of them become chopped meat.
Strong.
Even this strong, she still lost to a Chimera that wasn't even a nue.
But that Chimera's albino form...
I used that under time pressure, but it didn't feel that strong.
Or maybe that Chimera...
Had a Relic it didn't use when fighting me?
If so, why didn't it use it against me?
No, wait — it was like I Banished something invisible.
That might have been the Chimera's trump card.
Well, I certainly can't ask it now.
"Riv, why are you doing goblin subjugation solo?"
"...Field... training protocol..."
"Training?"
"...Mm... training... intensive practice... honing... I do..."
"To get stronger, right?"
Maybe because she lost to the Chimera.
That's understandable.
"...There's a purpose..."
"...Can I ask what it is?"
"...Mm... to challenge... that forest..."
That forest — the one where no one who enters ever returns?
"Ah, ahead. There are a lot."
"...Got it."
"Seven in total."
"...Mm... handy..."
Riv broke into a run. The light orb didn't follow.
Her peach-white hair vanished into the darkness.
"Riv!?"
"...
Space form...
Pleiades ... Kelaino Blade"
Multiple low screams accompanied a yellow, distorted arc.
It was a slash trajectory so warped and curved that it was almost impossible for a sword's path.
"Are you all right?"
"...Mm... no worries. Let's move on."
"Y-Yes."
At this rate, goblins wouldn't stand a chance even in a swarm.
We proceed smoothly through the cave.
The only monsters that appear are goblins, and there are no traps.
Also, since it's just a cave, there are no treasure chests.
But the Mōryu grass we're looking for isn't here either.
Does it only grow deeper inside?