NOVEL NEXT Chapter 27
Chapter 27. Let’s Find a Water Source (2)
The list displays various buildings and structures. Among them, the only water-related item is a “well.”
For someone like me, accustomed to modern society, a well feels daunting. I can’t help but gaze off into the distance.
To begin with, even building that “well” requires 500 KP, and of course, I’d need to gather materials too. The material names include things like stone,”wood, and rope. Is this the type where you draw water up with a bucket?
“This other world—what’s its cultural level anyway? The bathhouse properly provides both hot and cold water separately. Ugh. Seriously, it’s kind yet cruel at the same time.”
Letting out a heavy sigh, I gather the dirty dishes—like the skillet and cookware—and carry them to the bathhouse.
Even washing dishes in the bathhouse feels wrong, you know? If there were a well, I’d probably wash them by the wellside instead.
“Well, my top priority is drinking water, I guess.”
After finishing the dishes and changing into jeans, I head to the campsite’s management cabin. No way do I have the courage to expose my thick lower half. Besides, I plan to go shopping afterward anyway.
“Good morning.”
“Ah, Mochizuki-san, good morning.”
Inari-san, who had been reading a newspaper, turned their gaze toward me as I entered the cabin.
“Um, there’s something I’d like to consult you about.”
I brought up the issue of securing water.
“Going out to buy bottled water every time is a hassle, and it’s not exactly cheap either.”
As for the well, it’s out of the question right now since I barely have any KP.
“I see. Hmm… I think there’s a spring somewhere in the mountains, if I recall.”
“A spring?”
“Yes. If I’m not mistaken, there’s something like an animal trail at the western edge of that open area…”
“An animal trail?”
Now that you mention it, I think I saw something path-like on Tateru-kun’s map. Though, in reality, there wasn’t anything visibly resembling a path.
“Mochizuki-san, do you have your tablet with you?”
“Ah, it’s in the car.”
“Then mine should work.”
With that, Inari-san pulls out their own tablet and boots up “Hirogel-kun.”
“Opening the map… Can you tell where this open area is?”
I can make out the tent, the simple toilet, and the bathhouse, so I nod.
“And here—this path, right?”
Inari-san points to the path I noticed last night while relocating the toilet.
“Beyond this path…”
As they say this, the map’s scale shrinks, revealing the entire mountain.
This mountain has two peaks—something like a double-humped camel, you could say. Our current campsite is near the “rear” of it. From there, a narrow path seems to cut through the mountains, leading somewhere.
“And this leads to…?”
“Hm? It technically connects to a village or town in a certain country.”
“Ohhh…”
“Though hardly anyone comes all the way out here.”
Their words stir a slight unease in me.
Come to think of it, they did mention something about beasts being around. Something about how they avoid this place, or whatever.
“Anyway, about the spring…”
They open the app’s menu, revealing several options, and tap one of them.
“Yep, as I thought… This is probably the closest one.”
The spot they indicate is… a little above the area between the two humps… a place not connected to any path.