Chapter 125 – Caprichio
Menew was absorbed with drawing.
He drew the hair as if they were swirling waves in the sea.
The body like the gentle curve of a river.
It had felt like water to the touch, but somehow warm, with a cold core.
Like sinking to the bottom of a deep sea. Like welling up from the peak of a mountain. While the brush moved across the page, Menew was with Caprichio, and they were traveling together around the world.
On the first page, he drew the bold form in all its glory. With small details and surrounded by decoration.
On the second page, he drew a gentle profile of the mother sea, and finished it off with a wave design.
He compared Caprichio and his sketchbook a few times and then nodded with satisfaction.
“…It’s finished!”
“May I see it? Brother.”
Caprichio had been waiting quietly next to Quelle, but upon hearing Menew’s words, approached him slowly.
While she was large like a giant, she shrunk down to normal human size as she got closer. Like Kanon, she could transform freely.
The beautiful water person smiled when she saw the drawing.
“How beautiful… So this is how I appear to your eyes.”
“Caprichio, while drawing you, we were traveling. The great rivers, wells and seas were all connected to you.”
“Yes, that is right. Even the moisture in the air is from me. It is a wonderful picture that expresses it all.”
Caprichio said as she touched the sketchbook. And then the elements in the air began to shine and gather together.
This drawing would not vanish. Any time, if Menew wanted it, Caprichio would appear.
It was then that Menew suddenly opened his status. He had had a hunch.
“…Illustrator Mage?”
Up until now, there had only been a ‘???’ behind ‘Summoner.’ But a new job had been added.
“I see. That sounds perfect for me.”
He closed the status again and put a hand on Caprichio’s shoulder. A warm current flowed over his fingers.
“I might need your help if something happens.”
“I’ll be happy to help. For you, brother, I will bring the waters of blessing or the rains of disaster.”
And so the contract was made.
Menew then took his sketchbook and approached the others who were drinking their tea.
There was praise and approval in Ralph’s eyes, and Totto’s face lit up behind his glasses. Mofusen laughed happily and even Sety looked impressed.
It was a well-drawn picture, while also being a little rough. However, that was perfect for depicting the water. It looked like it would move if you touched it.
“You really are good at drawing. You should have just become a painter.”
“But then I wouldn’t be able to go on adventures like this. I want to be able to draw everything.”
Menew answer Sety excitedly.
Draw everything.
Everything within this world.
“Now you are a little closer to the book of death. However, brother. Not all spirits will be your allies. Like this time, there may be dragons who turn against you.”
“I don’t mind.”
Menew answered frankly.
Yes, he didn’t mind. Art was freedom. Even if someone was hostile against him, he would just draw it as it is.
Menew’s soul was constantly greedy towards drawing. It was his source and his core.
“Thank you, Caprichio. And Quelle. …Is this place going to return to being a dungeon?”
Sety had said that it would, earlier. But Caprichio’s answer was a little vague.
“It will return to functioning like a dungeon. However, Quelle and I will likely leave it empty. Staying in one place might call forth disaster again, but if water is something that always flows, then it will be difficult to catch it.”
Menew turned to Sety. She spread out her arms and shrugged.
“I don’t mind. Besides, it wasn’t the dungeon that I was looking for.”
“I see. Yes, there is a dungeon that Sety wants to go to.”
“Exacctly. As for what I got here… I just lost my memory. Well, I suppose I’m thankful to be alive.”
Menew and the others didn’t know what to say to that.
That Set was inside Sety, and that he had helped them. It was to be a secret.
“In that case, why not take the blessing of the sea? You are someone who overcame the trials, so a little…”
Caprichio then spread out her arms.
And then several stones that shone brightly appeared in front of her chest.
They were natural precious stones that had been polished by the current of a river for years.
Caprichio dropped the stones into Sety’s hands and then tilted her head as if to ask if she was satisfied.
Set’s eyes widened as she looked at them in surprise.
“…Is it not enough then?”
“No! It’s not that! If anything…this is too much, considering that I didn’t do anything…!”
“You have overcome the trials, so it’s only right for you to take it. Please use it for your travels.”
And so Sety put them away in her bag. She had a rule of accepting things that were given to her.
“What about Menew and the others?”
“I’m satisfied, because I was able to draw.”
“I don’t need money.”
“It was a rare experience.”
“The trial was rather fun.”
Said Menew, Ralph, Totto and Mofusen. Indeed, they had more than enough already. Though, Sety did not understand how they had enjoyed being in a dungeon.
“Still, please take one to help you remember this journey.”
Caprichio dropped one stone into each of their hands.
“Now, I will send you back to the exit. Once the world is at peace again, please visit this place. I will surely be here.”
Caprichio said, and then the room glowed white.
They lost all sense of direction or up and down. And in the whiteness, Quelle and Caprichio grew more distant.
Before they knew it, the five of them were back at the entrance again.
Arty’s boat was docked at the pier in front of them.
“That was fast. I thought you would be gone for at least three days, but you came back in just two. What was it like inside?”
Menew and the others were surprised that two days had passed. Inside, it had not felt any longer than half a day.
Still, they might have been affected by the real time that passed, as Menew suddenly felt hungry.
“In any case, could we eat now?”
Arty agreed heartily, and he joined the party as they prepared a barbecue in front of the dungeon.