I fell into a hole while chasing a firefly spirit
“Ugh, it hurts…”
My head, back, and shoulders hurt. Ah, it seems I’ve fallen into a hole. How foolish of me to lose my footing. I wonder if everyone is looking for me now.
Something touched my face. It felt like a cold, unpleasant hand. It reminded me of the skin of a frog or a newt. I sensed a living creature. They might be observing me after I fell.
What if I open my eyes and see a giant frog? Should I pretend to be dead until they leave? Can I escape in this condition with my whole body in pain? Besides, is there even an escape route inside this hole?
Making up my mind, I gently opened my eyes. In the dim light, I could see a vaguely moving shadow. It touched my face again. Two large eyeballs peered at me. As our eyes met, the shadow withdrew its hand and fled.
“Ugh, it hurts…”
I forced myself to get up, finding myself lying on the rocks of some cave. It was a bit chilly and damp. Where did the creature that touched my face go?
Looking around, all I saw were sharp rocks. Something seemed to pass between them for a moment. A long-bodied creature, perhaps from the Naga Tribe. And it was small. If there are small Harpies, small Nagas wouldn’t be out of the question.
“Uh, excuse me. Is anyone there? Did you save me?”
Ah, I should have brought a lantern or some light. I missed my chance when the boy suddenly started running. But there’s no point making excuses now.
For the time being, it seems I fell into a hole and was saved by this small Naga. I need to find out the way back to the surface quickly.
“I’m from the surface. Could you tell me the way back?”
My voice echoed in the cave. There was no reply, only the occasional sound of water dripping somewhere.
“Hello? You’re there, aren’t you?”
I stood up and looked behind the rocks. Ouch, I must have hit my back hard. I hope it’s not broken.
I can’t see well in the dark. Yet, I can sense their presence. Something just brushed past my feet! Was it my imagination? I felt a rustling, tickling sensation.
Turning around, I saw a different creature behind me, not a Naga. Its build was similar, with a human upper body and a long tail. But it wasn’t a snake; it looked more like an eel.
It had large eyes and what looked like antennae growing from its head. And if I looked closely, its eel-like tail also had limbs. The limbs looked like a lizard’s. So, it might be closer to the Centaur kin than the Naga. It resembled the Sand Lizard Tribe I met before.
However, it was longer than them, and its skin seemed moist and damp.
“Did you save me?”
“…”
Is this child still young? Or is it a small race from the start? It only twitched its antennae in response to my question.
“Do you know the way to the surface?”
Without answering, he? went deeper into the cave. I immediately followed. If I were left behind here, I would never be able to get out.
But I lost sight of him in a moment. He was right in front of me just now. Could they change their body color? I wouldn’t be surprised anymore if that were the case.
“Hey! Where did you go?”
Hey, hey… My voice echoed in the cave. No joke, I wasn’t about to wander around this cold underground forever.
A drop of water fell and landed on the back of my neck. The cold made me flinch.
“So cold! Whoa!!”
The moment I turned around, a person was hanging upside down behind me. Startled, I fell onto my backside.
“Ouch, ouch, w-what?!”
A large shadow fell from the ceiling with a thud. It resembled the small one I met earlier. So, it was a child after all. And the one in front of me now must be an adult.
It leaned forward, peering at me. Its long antennae brushed against the tips of my hair.
“Hello there. Um, Dark Elf?”
Huh, I spoke normally. Of course, its upper body is human-like, so it’s not strange that it can talk. However, its amphibian-like appearance gave it something otherworldly. By the way, its voice sounded like a woman’s.
“Hello, I am not a Dark Elf.”
“Oh, is that so?”
I held my aching back and pounding heart, pretending to be calm. I actually wanted to shout, “Where am I? Who are you?”
Incidentally, the amphibian person in front of me was not wearing any clothes. Judging by its long hair and high voice, it might be female, but it didn’t seem to have breasts. Its slender physique matched its tail. It was different from the muscular Sand Lizard Tribe.
The child I was chasing peeked out from over its shoulder.
