Chapter 66

It's the 5th day of exploring the caves.

Even though it's only within the barrier, it's too vast.

When I looked from above... it was vast, and it spread out.

There are too many caves!

I can't find what I'm looking for.

In the newly discovered cave, there were red and blue glowing minerals.

Fuwafuwa, who came with me, was delighted, but since it's not what I'm looking for, I'll put it off.

Sorry.

There was also a huge maze-like area in the cave... it was too deep, so I gave up halfway.

I'll put that off too.

5th day.

I found a cave, though the entrance was covered in green and a bit hard to see.

The atmosphere is a bit different from before.

When I went in, there was a strangely colored squirrel... frozen in ice.

Even after casting a purification spell, there was no change; it doesn't seem to be cursed.

...Scary, creepy.

I want to turn back, but I'm also curious.

I touch the ice, but it's not cold.

It doesn't seem to be ice; I look at the squirrel inside.

Actually, this squirrel has horns on its head... and it's blue-green.

Horns... are they aggressive?

It doesn't seem to be dead.

No, is it dead...??

It's a very mysterious space.

As I touch the ice-like substance, a crack appears.

...I did it, I didn't mean to break it.

The ice-like substance then cracks and shatters.

What should I do.

How do you make something like that ice?

I notice Kisa is on guard.

Soa doesn't seem too concerned.

...Is it dangerous?

I look at the squirrel-like creature inside the broken ice-like substance.

...Our eyes met.

It's alive... what should I do.

The squirrel-like creature looks around, confirming its companions who are also frozen.

It then looks at me again.

...

I break all the ice-like substances.

One after another, squirrel-like creatures... let's just call them squirrels.

There are 34 squirrels in total.

None of them seem to be a problem, which is good.

I feel relieved when Coa and Oyakata-san arrive.

They seem a bit surprised to see the squirrels.

But they don't seem scared.

The squirrels are friendly.

They climb onto my shoulders and rub against me; the horns are a bit scary.

But they're cute, even though I'm not familiar with their colors.

Since there don't seem to be any problems, I decide to take them all home.

...

I feel a bit helpless.

The cave where the Chata and others were, the one closest to home.

I checked it on the way back, and a magnet stuck to it.

I remember this is a different world.

Someone said iron is silver.

The rocks are black with patches of yellow-green.

Is it yellow-green iron?

...Is it really iron?

Remembering it's a different world, I start to doubt that just because a magnet sticks, it's iron.

What should I do?

...Thinking about it won't change anything.

I secure the yellow-green rock.

I'll find out by testing it.

For now, I'll go home and introduce the squirrels.

Looking at the squirrels, they all look the same and I can't tell them apart.

Names... might be impossible.