I Picked Up the Abandoned Hero

21 – 21. Cheers to your eyes

“Hylas is in this cave!”

“Hylas never came out of this cave!”

“So she ended up not being able to come out forever!”

Arsel and Alfred were guided by the nymphs and reached the front of a cave.

All the spring water in this forest was flowing from here.

“We don’t get in here, we don’t get in, because if we go in, we’ll never get out!”

“Yes! You can’t go in because you’ve become like Hylas!”

The nymphs sang as if the guide ended here.

It sounds like they’re talking like a joke, but in reality the nymphs didn’t even come close to the cave.

Until now, there were nymphs everywhere, but there were no other nymphs here.

“You did a good job though, these perverted fairies, here’s something you guys will like in return. My grandmother likes it too, so I’m sure you will like it.”

“Wow! Thank you!”

After the guide, the nymphs received the glass bottle Alfred gave them and disappeared into the spring.

The strange phenomenon of only a glass bottle sinking into the water and disappearing was reflected.

“Alfred, isn’t that wine?”

“Since nymphs cannot see any liquid other than this spring water unless they go outside, liquids other than water must be very interesting to young nymphs, right?”

I wonder how he got those things out of the little pockets of his coat, but that’s not the point now.

“How is it, can you feel the energy of your sword here? Close your eyes and look for it.”

“Okay. Let’s try.”

Arsel reached out to the spring water flowing from the cave.

Then, a blue light flows from the spring water and covers Arcel’s hand.

Alfred watched the scene in silence, and Arcel let out a sigh of relief and stood up.

“…This seems to be the right place. The holy sword is definitely here.”

“Ummm, the owner put it under water for years and I’m afraid it might be rusted.”

“Work, I didn’t do that on purpose! I tried several times to take it out again, but… I just couldn’t…”

“So, let’s get your sword back this time.”

Before going into the cave like that, the water was shaking.

“Right! Now that you’ve given me a present, let me give you one piece of advice! Advice is good!”

“Advice?”

A nymph that had left a while ago stuck its head out of the water.

What advice did you come back to?

“Hilas has a bad temper! So, humans kill all the tribes in sight! So watch out! Pretty human!”

“…I am the one who gave you the gift.”

“But you are scary! Scared! As scary as Hylas! Thanks for the gift though! Enough!”

The nymph waved again and disappeared.

This time it really seems to have gone.

“Am I that scary? I think I’m pretty… But do I look that scary to you?”

“I don’t think nymphs are afraid of you because of your appearance.”

“That’s right, though, I didn’t do anything except try to use nymphs as an ingredient for magic.”

They didn’t know why the nymphs were afraid of Alfred.

Only Alfred himself.

“Let’s go into the cave first. Shouldn’t you find the holy sword and heal your friend quickly?”

Arcel nodded his head.

“…There are a lot of interesting things.”

When I entered the cave, I could see blue crystals blooming here and there.

It looks like a jewel, but when you touch it, it distorts and has a jelly-like texture.

The reason why the inside is bright even though the sunlight doesn’t come in is thanks to the crystals that emit light.

“It was probably created by vaporized mana coagulating in the cave. Because Hylas was a nymph with the power to purify even magic.”

“…I see.”

“Yeah, unfortunately it doesn’t seem to be able to purify magic that has already been completed.”

For some reason, Arcel showed an unpleasant reaction.

Even though his holy sword is here, he seems to be worried about something else.

“Hey, Alfred…”

“Why? Any problem?”

Arsel said while walking through the cave.

“According to what you said, Hylas must be no longer in this world, right?”

“Of course, the story came from her mother’s mother’s grandmother. No matter how fair it is, it doesn’t have that kind of lifespan.”

Alfred asserted.

If it is a normal fairy, her soul will disintegrate and return to nature after thousands of years.

Not just the lifespan of the body, but the lifespan of the soul.

It is said that overcoming it is like an eternal homework given to all living things.

“However, the nymphs outside refused to enter this cave.”

“Why is that?”

“And I had the help of a nymph at the fountain of Hylas, without which I would not be alive today.”

“Isn’t it? Getting out of that well alone as a human being… Huh?”

Alfred tilted his head slightly in surprise.

According to Arsel, a nymph had to remain in this cave.

But all the nymphs outside the cave refuse to enter this place. The nymphs who followed Arcel around also went back one by one as the cave got closer.

“Could it be that the nymph was Hylas…”

“No way. It’s unlikely. Perhaps a nymph accidentally entered this cave. You said you were also swept away by the heavy rain?”

“Yes, but it does not seem unlikely.”

“Furthermore, beings without a fixed entity such as fairies sometimes have residual intentions that appear as phenomena, so it should be said that it is closer to the ghosts you humans refer to.”

But Alfred said there was no problem.

“What if it’s Hylas in the first place? Rather, you might get help in taking out the holy sword.”

“Ummm…”

Even if another nymph enters the cave, the young nymph is not in great danger.

Nymphs that are not fully grown can at best manipulate a small amount of water, and even then use all their abilities to purify the water.

They said there was no need to worry about the nymphs harming them.

“And you are a warrior, right? Having defeated the demon lord, it’s a shame for you to be frightened by a water fairy. You can be more proud of yourself.”

Alfred stroked Arcel’s head to reassure him.

“Me, I am not a child enough to be petted by others.”

Arcel turned his head away and hid his expression.

It must be because his emotions leaked out enough that he had to cover his face.

“Oh, I think we finally arrived?”

“Wait Alfred! When you fly like that, it’s hard to follow!”

“Walk slowly and come! I have something to check!”

After a moment of silence, we finally reach the center of the cave.

Alfred flew towards the square excitedly.

Reluctantly, Arcel had to run with his skirt up.

As a large square appeared and a huge spring greeted the two, it was known that this was the spring where a nymph named Hylas lived in the past.

“…”

“Alfred?”

“It’s nothing, and for a second you’d better not see Sam. He had strange visions.”

“No, you don’t have to cover it yourself. Since I entered the plaza, my eyes were closed.”

Alfred, who was staring blankly at Sam, covered Arcel’s eyes for a moment.

“You can open your eyes now. I put a thin curtain in front of your eyes If that’s the case, it’s okay to look at Sam.”

After about 10 seconds, Alfred lowered his hand, and the obscured vision returned.

Except for the surroundings appearing brighter than before, nothing in particular has changed.

“Yeah… It was here. I barely managed to get out of here with the help of a nymph. If that’s the case, there must be a holy sword somewhere here… Over there.”

Arsel searched the wide spring and found a partner he had traveled with for a long time.

The holy sword was in the middle of the spring, in the deepest place.

Looking at it with the naked eye, it seems as if you could reach it at any moment if you stretched out your hand, but in reality it will be deeper than most deep seas.

“But what should I do now? Is there any way to get the sword out?”

“I’ll have to think about that from now on. If it were me, there would be no problem if I went all the way down, but if I can’t lift the holy sword like you said, it’s just a waste of time.”

“You must be able to manipulate the terrain, by any chance, can’t you make only the part where the holy sword is embedded rise?”

“There’s no way that kind of trick would work on the holy sword, the holy sword wouldn’t even work with flying magic. Simply dispelling magic is more than Hylas spring water.”

The Fountain of Hylas purifies magic, so magic does not work.

Aside from the owner, the warrior’s holy sword cuts through magic itself, so any interference through magic is destroyed.

“…If there really is no way-“

Arcel looked at his hand with his trembling eyes.

If you can save Stella and the Elf species with that much pain, then you can be patient enough.

A mere physical pain was nothing compared to the journey to subdue the demon lord.

“Oh, that was a joke. Do you really think I came here without thinking?”

Unlike Arcel, who was in serious trouble, Alfred seemed to have no worries.

Thump!

“Aisle…?!”

Suddenly, the passageway in the cave collapsed, leaving only the plaza with spring water.

“Alfred? What are you trying to do?”

“You’re trying to take out your holy sword. Watch it sometime.”

Alfred heads for the ceiling with the surprised Arcel in his arms.

“Certainly, your holy sword is in a very deep place, a terrifying depth that is probably thousands of meters. No matter how long you hold your breath, you will soon reach your limit.”

Alfred pierces the ceiling and flies up the cave.

The rock recedes on its own, and now the light from outside comes in.

Alfred, who was flying into the sky while holding Arcel in his arms, came into contact with another self reflected in the sky before he knew it.

The Alfred below smiled and looked at Arcel in the sky, and the Alfred in the sky looked down at Arcel below with a smile.

The two Alfreds laugh.

It seemed like a good idea came to my mind.

The two Arcels looked at Alfred with gulps of saliva.

What is Alfred trying to do?

Couldn’t it be that you’re trying to have a ridiculous accident again like in the past?

As Arcel had seen Alfred’s accidents with his own two eyes and dealt with them himself, it was natural for him to be worried.

“In the end, the problem is that the water is too deep…”

And that question is finally resolved.

“In that case, it is enough to suck out all the spring water that is the source of the problem.”

“What are you talking about?”

“It’s literally. It sucks up all the spring water. Like drinking fruit juice through a straw.”

Coo goo goo…!

The forest began to vibrate loudly.

A large canyon begins to form around the cave, and it seems that this is all Alfred doing.

“My God-“

Arcel covered his mouth at the sight that unfolded next.

Kwagwagwa-!!!

From the peak of a huge mountain, from the exit where Alfred flew in with Arcel just a moment ago, spring water gushes out as if a volcano had exploded.

The huge amount of spring water flowing from the mountain is put into a pre-made gorge.

The spring water filled in the gorge begins to spread throughout the forest, similar to before.

“How is this possible? Considering the size and depth of that spring, it was not possible with magic. No, more than that, isn’t that spring water not subject to magic?!”

“I didn’t enchant the spring water, did I tell you? It’s because you suck it up with a straw.”

As he said that, Alfred was drinking a cocktail from a glass through a straw.

“Let’s toast together. It is hard to see a minister like this anywhere.”

It’s a bonus to pass a drink to Arcel, who was staring blankly at you.

“Still, I can’t believe it.”

“I only drew all the air inside the cave with magic. That level of magic is very easy for me.”

Even so, the scale is unbelievably huge.

The size of the cave rivaled that of a tolerable royal castle.

To get all the air inside, you’ll need magic beyond causing a huge storm, and preventing collapse due to pressure is also a part you need to pay attention to.

Alfred does that very easily.

While holding Arcel in the sky, enjoy her drink and enjoy it leisurely.

“What is your true identity…?”

At that unbelievable sight, Arcel was shocked and asked.

“I am me. They’re just demons who have nothing special to do but have an aggressive mother and a timid father. Ah, but it wasn’t a little too radical, it was a little too radical.”

“Is that so? Was my mother too aggressive?”

Arsel’s reaction was astounding.

“Yes, compared to my mother, the Demon King is rather peaceful. At least he spewed more words out of his mouth than fireballs, right?”

Arsel was even more speechless when he saw Alfred smiling broadly.

The amount of water from the spring, which had been gushing out endlessly, is gradually decreasing.

The nymphs on the ground gather in the canyon Alfred made and sing a song with an unknown meaning.

“Then are you ready to get your sword back soon?”

“…Yes, the resolution has already been completed.”

The enormous amount of water that used to come out of the cave stopped coming out and cut off.

The only thing left under the cave was the warrior’s holy sword.