The problem was who to pick. Reflet might be the better choice. If she acquired the Foam skill, then she could have a way to attack. But I couldn’t shake the worry that Reflet would be unable to use the Foam skill. While it was mainly used to hinder enemies’ movements and dealt minor damage, it was still classified as an offensive skill. There was the possibility that an elemental monster, who specialized in crafting, wouldn’t be able to use an offensive skill even if they acquired one.
“Then maybe Perca is the safest choice?” I wondered aloud.
“For what?” Siegfried asked.
“I was thinking of using my Foam Emblem.”
“I-I see. Wow, Yuto.”
I got the sense that Siegfried was getting a little weirded out. I mean, even I knew I was going too far too, but there was no going back now that I’d come this far, right?
I could still use the emblem for crafting, but being able to strengthen my monsters was much better. Reflet was a unique specimen, so she would be strong even without a special evolution. In that case, it was probably a better bet to give Perca a shot at a chance to evolve.
“Okay, Perca it is!”
I’d already been planning to switch out Olea for Perca once we got to the river. It was a little early, but I decided to summon Perca in now. We weren’t that far from the river anyway.
“Honk honk?”
“Hey there, Perca.”
“Hooonk!”
“Oho, you’re going to use it on Perca?” Siegfried asked.
“Yeah, since he’s probably compatible with foam.”
I took out the emblem. Once Perca saw it, he jumped up. He must’ve known what it was.
“Hooonk! Hooonk!”
“W-Wow, nice reaction.”
“He’s dancing! Look at him go.”
Perca started dancing rhythmically in front of me. He looked like he was enjoying himself.
“This seems like a good sign, right?” Siegfried said.
“Hmm, I think you’re right.”
It was unusual for Perca to do a happy little jig like this. This sort of response was obviously different from his normal behavior.
“All right! I’m gonna use the Foam Emblem on Perca!”
“Honk hoonk!”
All right! Come on, evolve! From Highway Penguin to what? What?!
Perca started glowing, and I was pretty sure it was even brighter than the light that shone out of Carro! This had to be it!
“WOO—hoo...? Huh?”
“Y-Yuto? What’s wrong? That face you’re making... I-It can’t be, can it?”
“Ha ha.”
“A dry laugh!”
Siegfried caught on instantly that, yes indeed, Perca hadn’t evolved! Who was it who said that light looked brighter?! I did!
“Come onnn!”
I felt like I was withering away. It had been a while since I felt so stupefied. I felt sorry Siegfried had to wait for me to get back on my feet.
Our break turned out to be longer than intended, but we managed to arrive at our destination.
“Yuto, look. Could that be the rock?”
“Hmm? Oh yeah, I think you might be right!”
If Siegfried hadn’t said anything, I might’ve stayed in that stunned daze until I had to log out. What a dependable guy. I did feel a little guilty for being a burden on Siegfried, which helped me kick myself back into gear.
“Man, if you hadn’t helped me out back there, we wouldn’t have made it here in time.”
“I didn’t do anything.”
“Oh, don’t be so humble.”
“No, I mean it. If it were me, I would have just logged out right then. I was amazed at how quickly you were able to bounce back. Your positive attitude was impressive.”
“No, no, it wasn’t like that.”
“Yes, it was. I was a little surprised by your optimism.” Even at times like these, he just wouldn’t take pride in his achievements. He was so modest. “I really didn’t do anything, though...” Siegfried repeated.
All right, Siegfried and I couldn’t just keep bowing to each other forever. I only had an hour left before I’d be forcibly logged out.
“Just like our information told us, there’s the large, tall rock right at the bend of the small river,” I explained. “At the base of that rock, the river should be deeper.”
“And that’s where the yokai will come out.”
“Yeah. Just give me one moment.”
I activated my Yokai Detection and Yokai Searcher skills, and I got a strong reaction from both. This was definitely the place.
“If we get closer, I’ll be able to pinpoint where it is...”
I had to applaud Hamakaze for discovering such a remote place. I heard she scoured any areas where she suspected yokai to be, but it must have been real tough work. After all, this Southern Great Rainforest was filled with countless small rivers. She would have had to take the time to walk around all of them while using skills that could detect yokai. Talk about being tenacious.
“Okay, let’s go. Are you ready?”
“Yeah, whenever you are.”
“I just need to take out this hanging scroll.”
From my inventory, I produced a decorative hanging scroll. It was a Japanese-style painting that depicted a very striking—or creepy, some might say—kappa. It looked like the type of kappa that would pull out someone’s shirikodama and eat it. It was one of the rewards for clearing the Mayoiga that I had bought at the auction.
Appraising the hanging scroll came up with this description: “If you take this painting to a certain location...” That “certain location” was this very place. At last, the time had come where I could use this scroll in the spot it was intended.
“Use the Kappa Hanging Scroll?”
Holding on to the scroll, which was strangely staying dry despite getting pelted with raindrops, I approached the riverbank. As I did, I heard an announcement asking me if I wanted to use the scroll, and a window popped up with options to accept or decline.
“‘Yes,’ of course!”
As soon as I pressed the button to confirm, I saw a pale blue light shoot up from the deeper part of the river at the base of the large rock. Suddenly, the light expanded, swallowing us in its glow. If I hadn’t heard this would happen beforehand, I probably would’ve panicked.