Chapter 45

Space Leap (2)

Breath-holding magic.

Naturally, since one cannot breathe underwater, this magic is necessary for exploring the lake.

And the enchantment magic, which I knew nothing about, was the only kind of magic that could be cast on me.

"Feel free to ask any questions."

I asked the man about these two magics, starting with the most important.

"First, is it possible to enchant the breath-holding magic on another person?"

Enchantment magic is very limited in terms of the types of effects that can be applied to a target.

While I knew that breath-holding could be enchanted in the game, I asked for confirmation.

The man nodded while chewing his snack.

"Yes, it is possible."

"How many people can you enchant at once?"

"Due to my lack of skill, the maximum is one person."

"How long does the enchantment last?"

"The duration varies greatly from person to person, but for an ordinary person who hasn't built up any mana, it should last about 2 hours."

He continued.

"If the person's mana and nature don't match well or if they have low affinity, the duration will be shorter. However, as long as you don't move too vigorously, it won't consume much mana."

If the limit is one person, then Aesel will have to stay behind while I go in alone... 2 hours.

Exploring the vast lake and uncovering its mysteries would take much longer than 2 hours, but it wasn't necessary to find everything on the first attempt, so it seemed sufficient.

Even if the duration were shorter, I couldn't afford to lose such a talented person.

"How long does it take to completely deplete and fully recover your mana?"

"Even with focused meditation, it takes at least half a day."

I did a quick mental calculation.

If I explore for 1 hour, recharge for 3 hours, and take a break, I might be able to dive and explore 2 or 3 times a day?

Regardless of efficiency, I couldn't find such a talented person elsewhere, so hiring him was a certainty.

The man didn't seem to have any intention of refusing the request, so I made the offer immediately.

"I want to hire you."

He wiggled his fingers in response.

"Of course, I would be happy to, sir. But when and for how long do you plan to explore the lake?"

"Departure is tomorrow. And there's no set duration. It could take a few days or a few weeks."

"......What? Wait, that's a bit......?"

"As you said, I'll give you a generous fee. 2 gold for the initial payment and daily rate, and 5 gold when the job is done."

He looked taken aback for a moment, then his eyes widened.

It was a standard offer, but the effect was undoubtedly excellent.

I looked around the bar and said,

"I'll pay for all the drinks here too."

"......You're quite a bold young master."

He soon smiled pleasantly.

"I should have introduced myself earlier. I am a top-tier adventurer named Heibel. May I ask your name, sir?"

"I come from a distant city, so my family name wouldn't mean much to you."

"Ah, I see. In any case, I'll do my best. I'll make sure the fee is well worth it! Hahaha!"

He immediately ordered a few more drinks.

I paid the bill generously and left the bar.

I need to enjoy today since I'll be busy from tomorrow.

***

The next day, I met Heibel at the agreed location.

"Ah, you're here."

His tone was much calmer than the night before.

It seemed he was a bit tipsy when we met yesterday.

We immediately took a carriage to Lake Gaithan.

On the way, Heibel told me various stories about himself, mostly about his past.

"......So that's when I first learned the breath-holding magic. I've been using it quite effectively ever since."

"I see."

I responded without much enthusiasm and asked him,

"How much do you know about Lake Gaithan?"

"Besides being a huge lake, I don't really know much. There's a rumor that terrifying monsters appear in the deeper parts, but how big can fish in a lake really get?"

Given the size of Lake Gaithan, one of the largest lakes on this continent, it was home to many formidable creatures.

Monsters far more terrifying than ordinary sharks or whales.

'Anyway, I don't plan to go too deep.'

The mystery I'm looking for is on the outskirts of the lake, so there's no need to go to the center.

If it were hidden somewhere in the middle of the vast lake, I wouldn't even attempt to find it.

And even if I did encounter something, with the blood technique, it wouldn't be a problem.

I recalled the landscape where the secret of Space Leap was hidden.

I hadn't found it myself but had seen it in another player's gameplay video, so I couldn't pinpoint the exact location.

'The walls on the outskirts of the lake, with rocks jutting out like sea urchins...... and there was a cave.'

This time, like when I found the stationary barrier, it would be a complete grind.

This thought became even stronger when I saw the lake's vastness upon arrival.

'......Crazy.'

Looking at the endless expanse of water, I cursed inwardly.

It was as vast as the ocean.

Finding the hidden mystery here?

It might take months, and even then, I might not find it.

"It's been a while since I've been here."

Heibel casually observed the lake.

For him, it was just a matter of casting the magic and getting paid.

The carriage stopped near the lake, and Heibel, Aesel, and I approached the water.

The dense forest near the lake was the landscape I vaguely remembered from the ground.

The mystery was likely to be found in this area.

I looked around the lake and turned to Heibel.

"Are we starting now?"

"Yes."

"Understood. If you feel any discomfort, let me know immediately."

Heibel immediately began casting the magic.

A blue light gathered in his hand and slowly absorbed into my body.

I felt the mana surging through my body. Since gaining super-senses, I could feel mana and similar energies much more clearly.

'......Oh.'

The effect of the magic was immediate.

I could breathe without feeling any discomfort.

Heibel, looking a bit surprised, said,

"It seems you've never practiced mana, yet the enchantment's efficiency is quite high?"

"Efficiency?"

"Your affinity for mana is high. With proper practice, you could excel in both martial arts and magic."

So, I have a talent for mana?

I thought it might be flattery, but his expression suggested otherwise.

Since it wasn't important right now, I focused back on the lake.

'......Then......'

Where should I start?

There was no point in delaying.

I began to take off my clothes.

It would be impossible to swim in these thick clothes.

I stripped down to a thin t-shirt and shorts.

"I'll leave them with you."

"......Ah, yes."

Aesel, looking a bit flustered, carefully took the clothes.

"And be careful not to move too vigorously in the water, sir. The more you move, the more mana the breath-holding consumes."

After hearing Heibel's advice, I sent the two back to the carriage.

I would be in the water for a while, so there was no need to keep them waiting.

"Hmm......"

Alone, I stretched and approached the water.

I wasn't particularly nervous about diving.

One of my few skills, besides being a gamer, was scuba diving.

Unlike me, my very active younger brother would drag me out of the house on weekends and take me to various places, like skiing or climbing.

Among these, scuba diving was something we both enjoyed, and it suited my tastes.

Of course, I was now diving without equipment, but with super-regeneration and the ability to move without tiring, I wasn't worried.

Splash!

I dived into the water and immediately checked my breathing. No issues.

With my super-senses, I could clearly feel the mana being consumed while holding my breath, so there were no problems there.

'......This should last more than 3 hours, not just 2?'

Maybe my body has a high efficiency for enchantments.

I slowly swam, moving my limbs.

My super-senses were effective underwater, making the view as clear as on land.

As I went deeper, fish began to swim past me.

I stopped at a suitable spot and began to move along the lake's wall.

This would be a never-ending grind until I found the mystery.

......And roughly 2 hours had passed.

I grabbed a protruding rock and sighed.

'This is really hopeless.'

I had expected it, but experiencing it firsthand was different.

How long would it take to find it this way?

My mana was starting to deplete, so I decided to return.

I returned to the marked spot and climbed out of the water.

Back at the carriage, Aesel and Baros were eating with Heibel.

"......You're back."

Seeing my drenched state, Baros slightly curled his lips and bowed.

It was probably unconscious, but with my super-senses, I could see it clearly. That guy is smirking.

Heibel asked me,

"Did you find what you were looking for, sir?"

I shook my head.

"It will take much longer than I thought."

I dried off by the campfire and joined them for dinner.

In the late afternoon, I returned to the lake to continue the search, but I still couldn't find the mystery. That was the end of the day's exploration.

This went on for a week.

Today, I came to the lake early in the morning and swam around, searching for the mystery.

But as the mystery remained elusive, my doubts grew.

'Really, can I find this?'

If it were something I could throw more resources at, I would, but since it's a mystery, I can't.

I lay in the water, floating aimlessly, lost in thought.

If I had the certainty that I could find it, I would invest the time, but the lack of certainty was the problem.

Just as I was pondering this, I felt a massive presence approaching quickly from a distance.

A giant shark, almost as large as a boat, appeared in my field of vision.

【Lv. 51】

......Why is such a creature here when I haven't gone deep at all?

The shark immediately opened its mouth and charged at me.

'That thing.'

I immediately used the blood technique to shoot a blood droplet.

But then I felt another presence approaching quickly from the opposite direction.

A blue light of mana cut through the water and struck the charging shark.

Boom!

The shark, hit directly, writhed in pain and lost its composure.

Then I felt something grab my waist.

'......What?'

I looked at the person holding me.

A woman with a blue head and a body covered in scales.

She must have come to save me, thinking I was in danger.

We couldn't speak underwater, so I was dragged to the surface without understanding what was happening. How fast is this?

"......Phew!"

The woman, out of the water, took a deep breath and glared at me.

"Hey! Are you crazy, human? Did you plan to die by going so deep?"

"......"

"Good grief, you're completely out of it. You're really lucky I decided to save you."

She grumbled and began to shake off the water.

As she did, the scales on the parts she dried began to turn into human skin.

I widened my eyes slightly at the sight.

'......Mermaid?'