Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 295: The Strategy to Conquer the Centipede Maze
“This is bad… it’s really like an ant nest.”
Rest, Isis, and Urla continued down the tunnels in search of the centipede queen. Unfortunately, the tunnel didn’t lead straight to her. At first, it was a relatively linear path, but it gradually became more complex with countless branching passages.
These weren’t human-made tunnels—they were likely dug out by the centipedes themselves.
Thinking they were getting closer to the queen, they’d find themselves going in the opposite direction, and just when it seemed like they were nearing her again, they’d drift away once more.
Guided by magic orbs of light, they pressed on, but the path to their goal remained elusive.
“[Presence Detection] can pick up living beings, but not the layout of tunnels… this is turning out to be much more of a challenge than I expected.”
“Dig a hole?”
“Don’t. It might collapse.”
Urla raised her hand with a suggestion, but Isis quickly shot it down. Even though they could easily dig with magic, doing so recklessly could trigger a cave-in.
“Sha-la-la-la-la-la-la!”
“More small fry… ugh, this is getting old.”
Rest struck down another centipede with a blade of water. They had already defeated over fifty, but there was no sign the numbers were decreasing. Just how many of them were there? Clearly, the only real solution was to take out the queen.
“But… even with Presence Detection, we can only tell which direction she’s in—not how to get there…”
It was going to take more time than expected. While pondering what to do next, Rest noticed Urla conjuring water with magic.
“Water Control.”
“Urla?”
“What’s up?”
“Letting the water flow.”
Urla gave a short answer and began flooding the tunnel with water.
“Huh… wait, I get it now!”
Isis was the first to catch on, and she began releasing water into the tunnels as well.
“Wait, are you both seriously trying to flood the centipede nest? That seems… a bit much.”
It reminded Rest of how children in his past life would pour water into anthills as a prank. He had never done it himself, but he’d seen others try.
“I mean, the scale of this place is huge. Trying to flood it could even affect the surface above…”
“No, that’s not the point. This water—it’s magic.”
“Water…? Oh! I see!”
Thanks to Isis’s explanation, Rest finally understood.
“Water Control!”
He conjured a large volume of water and directed it into one of the side tunnels. The water flowed deeper and deeper, branching off into side tunnels.
“Presence Detection.”
With that, he activated his magic again. Using the magic-infused water as a guide, the structure of the tunnels began to form in his mind. Because the water contained his own magic, he could detect its flow and use that to map out the layout of the maze.
By pouring magic water into the tunnels, they could effectively visualize the structure of the centipede nest.
“I see… That’s a clever idea. Nice thinking.”
“Praise me.”
Urla said smugly, tilting her head toward Rest. When he just blinked at her in confusion, she leaned in even closer.
“Pet me.”
“Ah… I get it now. Sure, I don’t mind.”
Rest placed his hand on her purple hair and gently stroked it like he was petting a beloved animal.
“There, there. Good girl, good girl…”
“Haaa…~”
A blissful sigh escaped Urla’s lips. Her thin shoulders quivered slightly, as if she were overcome with emotion.
While stroking the head of this strange, entranced girl, Rest couldn’t help but reflect.
(Am I doing something really questionable right now…?)
He couldn’t shake the feeling that something about all this was wildly inappropriate. Even if she was still a child, she wasn’t family or a relative—just a girl he barely knew.
(And now that I think about it… what’s with that ring I promised to give her? That was meant for a fiancée. Isn’t giving the same thing to someone else, like, seriously wrong?)
Ever since reincarnating in this world, way too many things had happened. He was starting to think his judgment was totally shot. Being approached by beautiful girls, sharing beds and baths… it was no wonder he was off balance.
(Still, I can’t go back on my promises now… This whole situation feels like walking through a minefield while thinking it’s a picnic.)
“Mmm… So jealous… I wouldn’t mind a bit of that myself…”
Isis muttered something beside him, but Rest, overwhelmed by a vague sense of crisis, continued to stroke Urla’s head in silence.