Chapter 120 – Menew is Menew
“What’s happening…I suppose the others have already gone inside.”
While he was aware that he was at fault for jumping in without thinking, Menew had little doubt that the others would have followed after him.
The moment that he had stepped inside, he felt the sensation of his body being sucked by something as it sunk down.
But he had been able to talk in that state, so he knew it was not instant death.
The answer was not to go in alone, or everyone at once.
Perhaps there was something waiting there, that one person couldn’t deal with. However, it would be unwise for everyone to fall into a trap. Even if it wasn’t instant death, death might still be waiting up ahead.
He understood all of this. And so Menew tried to think of a way to escape.
Tonk. Tonk. He went around and tapped the walls in with his staff. The thickness seemed the same in every part. There was no section that was weaker.
He looked up as well. But both the ceiling and floor were just like the walls. Strangely, it was bright enough to see, even though there were no windows, doors, or lights in the room. Perhaps the room itself was emitting a soft glow.
He tried chanting a spell, but there was no reaction.
Next, he tried doing wind magic in the center of the room. And then…a small whirlwind appeared. It worked.
And then he tried hitting the walls with his sword. It was an overpowered weapon, so he expected to be able to make a scratch at least. However, the blade just went through the walls as if he were cutting through tofu.
“So you can’t attack the room… In that case, I must wait for something to happen.”
As Menew muttered with the wall to his back, he sensed movement from behind.
A human was growing out from the ground. Menew’s eyes widened in surprise.
“…Me?”
In front of Menew, there was an expressionless human who looked exactly like him. Though, his clothes were different.
He carried a staff and looked like some kind of rich nobleman. He then pointed the staff towards Menew and unleashed some water magic.
Menew rolled in order to dodge the attack. The water balls were sucked into the wall.
“I see…? So defeating this is the key?”
“Human weakling. Outside. Why do you live in this world?”
It was Menew’s voice, only more calm and flat.
“I’m alive because everyone and everything is alive!”
Menew answered as he attacked with his sword. The enemy floated in order to avoid the blade, and then he unleashed more water magic onto Menew.
Menew moved away, and then the enemy asked him again.
“Human weakening. Sent from a god. Why do you live in this world?”
Menew suddenly felt that his body was growing heavy.
His hair began to fall out and land at his feet.
As he wondered in disbelief, his arms started to get soft and wobbly, as if his bones had disappeared, and it was a bag of water.
“Human weakling. Drawer. Why do you live in this world?”
Menew raised his surprised face. His equipment was heavy. He could not straighten his back. His body would not move.
“I will ask again. Human weakling. Outsider. Why do you live in this world?”
The person in front of him was also changing along with Menew.
While their clothes remained the same, only patches of hair remained, and they became sickly pale with a hunched back… It was just like how Kazuya Yamamoto had looked before being reincarnated.
“Horrible. Horrible. You are horribly ugly. Why did you become like that? How can you still live?”
“Because I want to draw.”
For a second, Menew almost lost himself.
However, he was not in that small apartment. And he was not in the field of reeds.
“Drawing, drawing, drawing. It’s the result of not being able to do anything else. Exceeding instincts, as nothing else could satisfy.”
Food was just nutrition.
Sleep was just a necessity so he could continue to move.
He did not leave the house. He only got up to use the bathroom. That’s why his back was bent.
He had continued to draw in order to satisfy this urge. Even when his hair fell out, he didn’t care.
While facing himself, Menew cast the status effect magic. Resist. His body became lighter, and his body slowly returned to normal.
“Do you really want to draw that much? Can you be satisfied now?”
“I can. …The taste of food, the comfort of sleep, the feeling of having my feet on the ground, the comfort of being with others, they are all important to me now. Just as important as drawing.”
In other words, it was living.
“Why do you live in this world?”
“Because living is fun!”
Menew answered. And then he thrust out his sword at Kazuya Yamamoto.
The sword went in deeply. Strangely, he didn’t feel anything.
“I see. So you are having fun.”
“Yes. Living a civilized life is not bad at all.”
“I see… Human weakling. Even if it betrays you, enjoy your life.”
“I will.”
Menew raised his sword, and then the enemy turned into water that splashed on the floor.
The water began to increase. And in no time, it reached Menew’s knees.
“Hey!? Wait!?”
Menew protested, but the water kept on rising.
Thanks for the chapter!