Chapter 42: The Whale of Salt

“What? What are you saying! There’s no such choice! Why are you making up your own story like this! Give it here!”

But the Old Man snatched the sword away again.

‘No choice?’

I grabbed the sword back as it was being taken away.

Even though I said I didn’t want it, the Old Man forcibly tried to take the sword.

“I refuse! We’ve already found the place the sword is guiding us to! This is worth far more than 30,000 gold. Why should I hand it over!”

“You broke that hidden Event? But that’s separate from this! Don’t make situations not in the manual! Hand it over!”

The Old Man held the sword, clearly frustrated.

Not in the manual?

He hesitated for a moment and then let go of the sword.

It was different from when we faced the Orc Overlord.

“Is it really not there? No choices at all?”

“Exactly! And even if there were choices, why would you be the one to decide? The player makes the choices! I see all kinds of crazy people these days, really.”

The Old Man grumbled gruffly.

[Confirm]

Only the word ‘Confirm’ appeared on the screen.

A situation where even the player couldn’t choose.

I couldn’t understand why there were no other options.

“Oh, Dolores, your old habits are back again! Do you have to hit everything to feel satisfied?”

“If it’s not in the manual, then there’s no Easter Egg either. Give it up, brother.”

Rose and Gobori spoke.

After a moment’s thought, I pressed ‘Confirm’.

[You have obtained 30,000 gold!]

“Tch, I see all kinds of crazy people…”

The Old Man turned and walked away with the sword.

I thought something would happen again this time.

But it seemed like the same twist wouldn’t repeat.

“Hmph. Still, it’s a shame. I thought you’d accomplish something different. Guess it’s not always the same, huh?”

“Hehe. I can understand why you feel that way, brother. I thought something would happen too.”

Rose and Gobori tried to comfort me.

Though I didn’t really need comforting.

I awkwardly smiled and nodded.

“Hehe. I probably sounded like a country bumpkin just now, didn’t I?”

“Oh my? You don’t know what a country bumpkin sounds like?”

“Pft. Embarrassing. Sorry.”

“Ah, I’m just joking! That’s part of your charm! Keep finding things like this! I’ll be rooting for you!”

Rose laughed as she tapped my shoulder.

I nodded with a smile.

“Oh! Hero! You’re here just in time! That’s a relief!”

At that moment, the merchant who had gone to the caravan returned.

What’s going on?

It seemed something remained after the sword-selling Event.

“Haha, well, I’m going to the Salt Desert tomorrow morning and was wondering if you could escort me. I’ll make sure the payment isn’t stingy!”

The merchant spoke while looking into the air.

I pressed ‘Yes’ on the screen and continued the conversation.

Again, no other choices appeared.

“Ah! Thank you! I knew you’d help, Hero! But why do you need an escort? It’s because of the desert’s king. It’s a huge Salt Desert Whale, but it’s been getting more ferocious lately. Also, the Lizardmen are dangerous… Please, I’m counting on you! Haha!”

The merchant smiled slyly as he asked.

[★★★ Indomitable Sword Stalker’s…….]

[★★★ Indomitable Sword Stalker Lv. 42]

[★★★ Sane Explosomaniac’s…….]

[★★★ Sane Explosomaniac Lv. 35]

[★★★ Sane Explosomaniac Lv. 36]

[★★★ Sane Explosomaniac Lv. 37]

[Mission Clear!]

[+500 Gold]

[Pet Bonus!] [+170 Gold]

[Pet Bonus!] [+100 Steel Shard]

[+1 General Card]

And so, we cleared the dungeon.

Thunk!

I returned to the stage with a slightly bored feeling.

‘Maybe because everyone’s levels had risen?’

The numbers showing level increases had begun to shrink.

Rose didn’t even level up at all.

“Heh heh! Everyone’s back! Now we can finally talk! Come on over!”

Dulv, who had been waiting, greeted us.

The other heroes were sitting at the table watching the battle.

They had gotten somewhat friendly and were sharing their impressions.

“Krrr. Our boss here fights like an artist, huh? The Only Swordmaster of Hille A, they say! Not bad!”

A marauder sitting at the table said.

Swordmaster?

‘How did they know that?’

I tilted my head and asked.

“Huh? How so?”

“Hahaha! I told them! Since you’re a close friend of mine, I boasted about your exploits! Your pride is my pride! Haha!”

Kumgui laughed loudly in response.

Apparently, Kumgui had told them all.

“The fight was clean and efficient. No wonder he’s your favorite character.”

“Wow! Our party leader? He’s so cool!”

“Incredible! You’re even better than yesterday! Did you take some kind of elixir?”

Ogre Brahms, Finley the Tooth Fairy, and Apprentice Sophia all praised me.

“Thank you. But I’m still lacking in skill.”

I smiled sheepishly and scratched my head.

The compliments made my face flush quite a bit.

“But what did you want to talk about? Was that the story you wanted to tell?”

I looked at Dulv again and asked.

Dulv shook his head lightly.

Then he pointed to Sage Ian beside him and introduced him.

“Ah! No! The Sage here wants to take charge of repairs. Go ahead and say what you want. The player will listen.”

“Uh… Do I just speak? This feels kind of awkward…”

“Hahaha! Didn’t I say? Our party’s player hears our voices. Just speak comfortably! Go ahead!”

Dulv encouraged the Sage with a smile.

I watched and listened to the Sage.

“Well… After talking with this Dwarf, they said they’d entrust the repairs to me! I’m not very skilled, but I do know a bit about magical tools! If given the chance, I want to handle the repairs! Please, Hero!”

The Sage looked into the air as he spoke.

“Hehe. I’m good with iron, but magical tools are another matter. Luckily, the Blacksmith’s Workshop is now Level 2, so two heroes can participate. It would be great if I could work with the Sage here. Please entrust it to us, Hero.”

Dulv added his words while looking into the air.

‘Blacksmith Level 2 allows two heroes to join?’

Well, I had no reason to refuse.

I smiled and nodded.

“Alright. Let’s entrust it, Hero!”

Since it came to this, I decided to give the repairs a try.

[Starting Repairs!]

[Estimated Completion Time] [4:31]

Thunk!

A flash of light appeared above Dulv and the Sage.

The items being repaired were a newly obtained book and the Sage’s White Staff that Rose used.

“You really heard our conversation? How could this happen…!”

The Sage chosen by the light looked bewildered.

“Hehe. Did you think I was joking? I’ll be back!”

“Hehe. This is our Hero. If you say the wrong thing, it’s off to the training grounds!”

“Heh. You’ll get used to it quickly. Our user actually communicates pretty well!”

Dulv, Gobori, and Rose bragged proudly.

“Wow. You really understand our language?”

“Eh, it must be a coincidence. Users hear our language strangely anyway.”

After Dulv disappeared, the stage buzzed with murmurs.

‘Would they now ask to be sent into the dungeon?’

But the thing I worried about didn’t happen.

I thought they’d ask to be sent into the dungeon, but something unexpected occurred.

“Strange. I thought everyone would ask to go into the dungeon. It’s so quiet.”

I murmured softly.

Of course, I said it so Gobori would hear.

“Hehe. The dungeon is over level 40 now. If the level gap is too big, you won’t do damage and it’s hard to stay in. They only ask for carries if it’s worth it. It’s impossible for a level 1 hero to join the dungeon now.”

“What’s ‘carrying and leaving’?”

“It means join when you can and leave when you should! It’s tough anyway, why ask to be included?”

Gobori shrugged as he answered.

Ah, they didn’t volunteer because of the level difference.

I was glad to avoid unnecessary conflict.

“Hahaha! You really hear our voices? Then I want to go to the battlefield! Please use me!”

“Me too! Carry me through the dungeon! I want to reach 3-star!”

“Ah! I want to go 3-star!”

“Don’t shout, idiot!”

But starting from Kumgui, all the heroes whispered among themselves.

‘Pft.’

I laughed lightly, covering my lips.

In the end, I intended to fulfill everyone’s wishes.

[Lv. 45: White Salt Desert]

Back to the dungeon.

Thunk!!

“Oh! Welcome! The caravan is ready! Let’s go!”

The dungeon started just moments ago at an oasis.

[Escort the Caravan!]

[Remaining Merchants: 5]

A message popped up on the screen.

‘I had to protect five merchants?’

We advanced through the desert with the merchants.

Scorpions and Lizardmen charged as before, but we easily repelled them.

I expected the escort mission to be difficult, but it was straightforward.

“Oh?”

But after a while, the caravan stopped.

They halted in front of a pure white statue.

The merchants admired the statue in awe.

“What luck! This is a huge block of rock salt! With this, we don’t even need to go all the way to the desert king’s territory! Let’s gather this! No need to go to the salt desert!”

“Wow!”

“Let’s mine it!”

The merchants started moving at the word.

Watching quietly and staring at the screen,

“Unfortunately, the escort ends here! Here is your reward! Thank you!”

[Surviving Merchants] [5/5]

[Obtained 5,000 gold!]

[Achievement: All caravan merchants survived the White Salt Desert battle.]

The merchant escort ended here.

“Huh? The city? If it’s the city, just keep going in that direction! You’ll have to pass the desert king’s territory though… But I’m sure the heroes will win! Good luck!”

The merchant spoke into the air.

“Is there any particular reason to go to the city?”

“Does Valhalla need a reason? Just take it as it is.”

“Pft. Right. Let’s go.”

“Yep!”

I spoke with Gobori as we set off.

Oh!

We soon arrived at a white desert filled with flying salt.

Below, what was that…

‘Was that really salt?’

I touched it lightly and tasted a hint of saltiness.

This was the desert the merchants wanted to reach.

“Hey! Why are you eating that! Jijiya!”

“I’m replenishing my salts after sweating. Want some?”

“No thanks.”

“Just kidding.”

Rose and I joked with smiles.

Anyway, this desert was the territory of a giant whale?

That whale was definitely the next dungeon boss.

The notorious ‘Mobydick, the White Whale.’

Thud! Bang!

Suddenly, the ground shook and rose up.

‘Had the boss appeared?’

“Cutscene! Just watch!”

“It’s okay. No questions.”

Gobori and Rose said.

We watched silently, staring at the horizon.

Thud!

What rose from below was a sandworm similar to the ‘Raging Spirit Maw’ we had fought before.

I thought the desert whale would look like a whale I knew, but it was a somewhat disappointing monster.

Thud! Thud! Kukuku.

The rising worm surged toward us.

‘Shouldn’t we prepare now?’

But Rose and Gobori were calm.

Watching quietly, the tremors grew stronger.

Kukuku… Bang!

Something even bigger rose from beneath the salt.

A whale.

A monster similar to the whale I knew.

Of course, this creature was three or four times larger than any whale I’d seen.

“Krr. That’s a really well-designed boss.”

“I get nervous every time I come here.”

Gobori and Rose talked.

“Puuung…!!!”

A massive roar echoed over the desert.

I covered my ears and enjoyed the tremors.

The whale, treating the desert like the ocean, swallowed the giant sandworm, and the heavy salt waves surged toward us.

It was quite an impressive spectacle.

“So now we fight that whale? The guidebook didn’t say anything about a fight like this.”

I raised my shield and asked again.

But Rose was inside my armor.

Gobori clung to my leg, crouching low.

“What are you doing? Why?”

“We’ve done everything in this dungeon! We just have to get eaten!”

“Get eaten? By that whale?”

“Yes! The next dungeon starts inside the whale’s stomach! Don’t worry, you won’t die! Just be careful not to get salt in your mouth!”

Gobori hugged my leg as he answered.

Just get eaten?

Before I could doubt my ears, everything around me went pitch black.

“Puuung…!!!”

The massive whale descended.

I knew it was a cutscene, but it was still a jaw-dropping moment.

[★★★ Indomitable Sword Stalker’s…….]

[★★★ Indomitable Sword Stalker Lv. 43]

[★★★ Sane Explosomaniac’s…….]

[★★★ Sane Explosomaniac Lv. 38]

[★★★ Sane Explosomaniac Lv. 39]

[★★★ Fairy Rose of the Rose Blossom’s…….]

[★★★★ Fairy Rose of the Rose Blossom → Lv. 43]

[Mission Clear!]

[+510 Gold]

[Pet Bonus!] [+170 Gold]

[Pet Bonus!] [+120 Steel Shard]

[+100 Diamonds]

[+6 General Cards]

And so, we cleared the dungeon.

Thunk!

The three of us returned to the stage clinging tightly together.

“Ughk! Ptooey! Ptooey!”

I shut my mouth late and ended up with salt all over the inside of my mouth.

I have no idea what kind of strategy this was.