Chương 113: Chapter 6:"Underground Geesnatura"

I had come to District 5, Block 3 on foot without using that warp gate, Trive. This area is lined with many shops, and there are so many people passing by that it feels cramped now. On the way, I walked while looking for a place that had some food, but as usual, I couldn't find it anywhere, and I was very troubled. Since I can make drinking water with magic, I'll be fine for a few more days, but I really want to be spared from starving to death like this. It has become completely night.

Starting with electric lights installed here and there, colorful electric boards and neon signs (I don't know if they are, but things like them) attached to each building are illuminating the night city sparklingly. Thanks to these, Diesnatura was bright even at night. Also, the night here seems to be very cold. Freezing wind frequently hits my skin. It's cold enough to make me shrink my shoulders and shiver. If I sleep in a bad place, there might be a danger of freezing to death.

When I was walking while thinking about such things. A black-haired boy with a shabby appearance came from the front mixed in the crowd. He passes right by me. If it were just that, it would be nothing, but my eyes didn't miss it. His hand—slipping the World Gauge out of my waist pouch. A pickpocket, huh. There are people like this here too. I grabbed the arm of the boy who tried to leave quickly with a casual gesture on the spot.

"Ueh!?" Did he not expect his arm to be grabbed suddenly? He looked back with a terribly surprised expression and raised a hysterical voice.

"What is that in your hand?" I ask with a strong tone with conviction. He admitted his guilt with a frustrated face.

"Gu. To think that I, called Idaten (Fleet-footed), would be caught before escaping."

"That's something precious. Could you give it back?" When I said so softly but with a resolute attitude, he shook his head as if he had given up.

"Okay, okay. I said I'll return it. It was intended as a little test originally anyway~."

"Test?"

"Here." I got the World Gauge back easily. I put it in the waist pouch immediately.

"Wow~, you're amazing, miss. It's the first time I've been caught by someone. Moreover, to be caught so easily." Unlike the frustrated face earlier, he praises me with a pleasant smile. It seems he was impressed. Certainly, his hand movements were skillful, and his slender child's body seems to have light movements. He might have been quite confident in his skills. Anyway, I was curious about the word "test," so I asked again.

"What do you mean by test?" To me who didn't get the point at all, he signaled to bring my ear closer choi-choi. While suspecting what he intends to say, when I crouched down and brought my ear closer as instructed, he said in a whisper.

"You are a Humite, right?" I almost raised my voice in surprise, but I managed to hold back. However, it seems I couldn't hide some agitation completely, and seeing through it, he made a triumphant face.

"I knew it was a hit. Just as Remi said."

"Who is Remi?" I don't see the picture at all. Even though I ask repeatedly, he didn't deal with it and told me his business.

"Well, let's talk about the details later. You have the skill to catch me easily, so you pass without complaint. My Boss is waiting for you, so follow me." Boss, huh. It seems this contact is planned. Where on earth was I being marked from? Did I do something conspicuous without knowing again...? Besides, this child says to follow him, but... Should I trust him easily and follow him casually? I hesitated a little, but well, I have no other leads, so I thought it would be okay to follow him for the time being.

Knowing that I am a Humite (though I'm not really a Humite), seeing that they tried to contact me, there seems to be hope compared to other guys who don't listen at all. However, it would be bad if they think I don't know suspicion and look down on me. Thinking so, I decided to show a tentative caution as a pose.

"Boss, huh. Why do I need to follow you?" Being told so must be within expectations. He also played a negotiation card with a composed face.

"Hmm. If you don't come, you don't have to. Instead, I'll reveal to Dieclan that you are That, though."

"Could it be, you are threatening me?" So it comes to this. Certainly, if he tips off Dieclan, it will be very troublesome. If I become unable to move even with this body, it is too severe to get by in this town full of potential enemies. Besides, since there is a high possibility that there are other associates who know my true identity. Although I don't intend to, even if I silence this guy here, it would be counterproductive rather than meaningless. Does it mean there is no choice?

"Well, I guess that's how it is. If you don't like it, come quietly. Besides, I don't think it's a bad story for you either. You want various information and food, right?"

"... Fine. Let's go." The fact that he bothers to dangle bait and call out to me while being in an overwhelmingly superior position means he is that interested in me. It is certainly not just a bad story. Will a demon or a Buddha appear?

"Okay. Then follow me." I follow right behind him, obeying him. We were gradually heading to a place with few people. Looking back on the way, he said as if he remembered. The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

"That's right. I haven't introduced myself yet. I'm Ryuto. What's your name?"

"I'm Yu."

"Yu, huh. Cute name. Or rather, you are quite cute."

"Fufu. Thanks for that." Eventually, we arrived in front of a large staircase leading underground.

"The place down here is the destination. This is not the only entrance and exit, there are several others. Well, I'll teach you that later. Shall we go?"

"This is..." Beyond the long, long spiral staircase was a huge hollow spreading under the silver plate that covered the surface of Diesnatura. There, a scene completely different from the magnificent ground was spreading. Covered in dull metal colors, with a faint smell of rusted iron drifting, a dirty Underground City spreads out. Even if it's an underground city, it's not just lined with shops, but a genuine town. Although inferior in scale and appearance to the ground, countless houses were lined up.

This place, where the sunlight definitely does not hit due to the silver lid covering the top, is a little dim, but instead, here and there are illuminated by white electric lights emitting strong light. So, I didn't have trouble with vision. There are not many things floating in the air, and rather, this side has an impression closer to the appearance of ordinary towns I know well. The area of the hollow seems to correspond to almost all parts of Diesnatura.

However, only one place, the part corresponding to the Central District in the middle, was covered with silver material, and I could tell at a glance that it was a huge pillar penetrating the hollow up and down. It seems that supports the whole. Also, the people walking around there look exactly like the people on the ground at first glance. But looking closely, I could see here and there that their bodies were aging or parts were damaged.

It looks exactly like a slum, but the atmosphere is not that rough, and it is full of muddy vitality different from the ground. There was such a place. Amazing. To me who was completely widening my eyes, Ryuto explained with a knowledgeable face." Geesnatura. The Underground where outcasts like us live. Another face of Diesnatura spreading under the silver plate city."

"Another face..."

"Yep. This is a so-called lawless zone. For the 『Beautiful and Clean Capital Diesnatura』, it's a place where all inconvenient parts are stuffed. The government guys have decided to ignore its very existence." I see. Until now, I thought this town was a very perfect and beautiful place, but that was because I had been looking only at the front side all along. Actually, just as there is always shadow where there is light, this place is no exception, and it means there was a back side.

"The policy here is to refuse no one who comes and chase no one who leaves. The number is small, but your fellows live here too."

"Are there Humites?"

"Yeah. By the way. How on earth could you wander around like that without getting caught by the Humite Sensing System? Even though you don't seem to be wearing Sephic." Sephic. Another unknown word appeared. It's hard when I just came to a new world because there are many things like this. Besides, Humite Sensing System, huh. Does it sense human life reactions? I was really impatient when my location was identified in real-time while escaping.

"Maybe because I'm a little special." Since I have no confirmation, I answered vaguely, and he seemed to feel deceived.

"Hmm. Looks like I was dodged." Crossing his arms behind his head, he has a slightly dissatisfied face. Honest and cute.

"Well, I'll have you talk about that including everything in front of the Boss."

"How much I talk depends on your move."

"Hee. You say it~. Do you understand your position?"

"Of course I understand." I reply smoothly without being moved by him who tried to threaten me mischievously. Then he made a somewhat impressed face and didn't continue further.

"I see. Then it's fine. The Boss's place is almost there." Soon, what I was guided to and arrived at was a small shop. On the signboard in front of the shop, it is written 『Moisture for your Body! Oil Shop Novots』." Novots. I brought the person in question." Ryuto called out to a well-built man standing at the counter. He, called Novots, glanced at my figure and raised a loud voice.

"Ou. Is that girl the exampl... wait, isn't she just a little girl! Is it okay?" I return a vague smile appropriately. Well, it's a common reaction. Since my appearance stopped at 16, I look like just a little girl at a glance.

"She looks easy, but she is not ordinary. After all, she was caught before this Idaten could escape!" Ryuto talks about my greatness proudly as if it were about himself.

"Hoh. That is amazing!" Thanks to that, Novots seemed to have revised his evaluation instantly. He came out of the counter vigorously, grabbed my hands as they were, and shook them strongly bun-bun.

"If you lend your strength to these guys, it's like the strength of ten men!"

"Eh, no. I haven't decided to cooperate yet..." Flinching at the sudden offensive, my tone inadvertently became weak.

"Don't be so stiff! Life is about helping each other, right! Here, I'll give you our special oil!" Saying that, he takes one bottle of high-class oil from the shop shelf next to him and holds it out to me.

"No. I'm fine." I don't need oil. I can't use it. Troubled, I pushed his hand back gently. He put his hand on his forehead saying "Oops" and laughed heartily.

"Ah right! Humites don't use oil! Gwahahaha!"

"Ahaha..." I had no choice but to smile wryly together.

"Hmm. So Yu is weak to pushiness." Ryuto, who was watching the exchange happily from the side, was analyzing my weakness calmly.

"Let us through soon~. Novots."

"Ou. That's right." Reminded by Ryuto's voice, he goes back to the counter. He typed the number into the number lock door behind him and opened the door.

"Go ahead. The Boss is waiting with his neck stretched long." There was a staircase beyond the door, and when we went down there, we finally came out to their hideout.

"We arrived. Welcome to the 『Gathering of Ausser-Chilion』." Introduced, I was amazed from the bottom of my heart at the appearance. Above all, at the appearance of the members there. Unbelievably, everyone looks like a child no matter how I look. There was not a single figure of a full-grown adult.

"Surprised?" When I nodded honestly kokuri to Ryuto's question, he taught me the circumstances with a face as if saying 'I knew it'.

"Everyone looks like a child, but it's not like they are all real brats like me. Most of the guys are children who were supposed to become adults, but couldn't become adults."

"Children who couldn't become adults?"" Ausser-Chilion (Outer Children). People who couldn't perform Body Update due to various circumstances are called so, and they end up feeling very uncomfortable up there. Thus, they naturally end up coming here."

"I see."

"And the one who manages them is our Boss."

"Is that so." Body Update. I don't know the exact details yet, but guessing from the meaning of the words and his story, does it mean that in order to become an adult from a child, it is necessary to change the body from one for children to a new one for adults? Certainly, thinking about it, since a mechanical body cannot grow naturally, such a thing might be necessary at some timing. However, what does it mean to prepare bodies of different sizes and stage "human growth" by doing such troublesome things?

I felt that the mystery of the existence called Natura deepened further. Since he walked ahead quickly, the atmosphere became such that I couldn't ask further. And, it seems we finally came in front of the Boss's room. Told to wait a little, he enters inside once. After a while, he came out again.

"You can enter now. Well then, I'm off here."

"Yeah." As he left, he looked back and said with a smile without hidden meanings.

"I liked you a little. If you lend us your strength, treat me well again."

"What will happen depends on this discussion, I guess." While saying so, I didn't feel bad either. A little cheeky, but isn't he an honest and cute child? I feel like I got along with a Natura for the first time. Now then. What on earth do they want? From the feeling so far, it seems they want me to cooperate with something. Let's fire myself up so as not to be taken advantage of. Slapping my cheeks pan with both hands, I tighten my mind and open the door. The room was not as wide as I thought.

Simple interior, and no particularly conspicuous furniture. The silver-haired boy who seemed to be the Boss was sitting on a leather chair across the desk. He also, following the example of other members I have seen so far, had the appearance of a child itself. However, his gaze is sharp like a hawk aiming at prey. From his dignified and calm manner, I felt an aura enough to make me illusion that he is a much bigger existence than an average adult. He greeted me with a polite demeanor.

"Nice to meet you. I am Kudin, who manages the 『Gathering of Ausser-Chilion』. I'm sorry for making you come all the way." Next to him, a girl with pink long hair and a spirited look was following. She also bows politely pekori.

"I am Remi. I am the one who sensed you moving around choro-choro up there and monitored you, excuse me." Yeah. This one gives a glimpse of her casual nature by saying "choro-choro" (scurrying). For the time being, I greet too.

"Nice to meet you. I am Yu. I came because you said you have something to talk about." Staring at Kudin, I name myself firmly. The discussion began.