Once the dismantling of the Sandworms was complete and the materials had been harvested, Rei collected the leftovers and stowed them within his Misty Ring.
Pleiades had been stunned when Rei stashed the first three Sandworms they’d encountered, but seeing him fit eight in total—more than double that original count—left him gaping in disbelief. Otis and Sharl wore identical expressions of shock.
Rei paid their looks no mind, glancing instead at the sand stained dark with Sandworm blood before addressing the trio.
"Shouldn't we move? Other monsters might come sniffing around. You said earlier that creatures on this floor will turn on each other, right?"
"O-oh. Right. Good point," Pleiades agreed. "Let's get out of here while we figure out our next move."
The five of them set off toward a spot about twenty minutes away where a large rock about 5m tall stood, with Set maintaining a vigilant watch from the skies.
Not long after they departed, a host of monsters resembling scorpions, wolves, birds, spiders, and snakes arrived, lured by the scent of blood. Finding no corpses left to scavenge, they turned their aggression on one another instead.
"Whoa... this is incredible! It’s so cold... and so delicious!"
Upon reaching the rock, the group broke into cheers of joy. Rei had used his Dagger of Flowing Water to produce a stream so they could wash the grime and blood from their hands and faces. Otis, in particular, took a drink after washing up and couldn't help but shout. Her repeated exclamations of "delicious" were a testament to her honest delight.
"It really is good..." Pleiades muttered. "I never imagined I'd be drinking water like this in the middle of a desert."
"Seriously, what is with this water!?" Sharl added, her eyes wide.
"Hehe. Well, that taste is only possible because of Rei’s magic power," Elena said, a knowing smile playing on her lips beneath her mantle.
Rei shrugged, pulling cups from his Misty Ring and filling a deep dish for Set. "Set! We're taking a break, so come down!"
"Guruuuu!"
Responding with a purr, Set descended to the ground and dipped its beak into the dish, savoring the taste of the cold liquid. Rei filled enough cups for everyone and handed them out. Nestled in the shade of the rock, the group took a rest while enjoying the water, which tasted more like a cold nectar than mere hydration.
"Hey, Rei. That dagger... is it a magic item?" Sharl asked while taking a breather. Her gaze was fixed on the blade leaning against the rock; as a mage, she couldn't help her curiosity.
"That's right. It's a magic item called the Dagger of Flowing Water, and it has the ability to create water using magic power. Originally, it’s a combat-oriented magic item designed to let the user manipulate the water like a water whip, but unfortunately, I’m too specialized in the fire attribute. I can make it work, but only enough for drinking water and the like."
Sharl gulped, recognizing the caliber of the item from Rei’s explanation alone. She reached out toward the dagger. "Hey, mind if I try using it for a second?"
"Sure, I don't mind."
"...I know I'm the one who asked, but are you really okay with lending it so easily? Honestly, this dagger alone is valuable enough to let someone live in luxury for the rest of their life. Especially with water that tastes that good."
Rei gave a small smile and shrugged at Sharl's concern. Beside him, Elena was also smiling.
"You'll understand once you try it," she said.
Sharl tilted her head slightly at those words, but she reached for the dagger and channeled her magic power as Rei had instructed. In an instant, she felt the blade hunger for her energy, and a stream of water began to flow from the tip.
"Here's a cup, Sharl," Otis said.
"Thanks."
Sharl collected the water and took a cautious sip... and immediately furrowed her brows. It was certainly water; there was no doubt about that. However, compared to the nectar Rei had provided, the flavor was dismal. It was like comparing a master’s painting to a crude sketch by an amateur. Both were technically art, but the gap between them was undeniable.
"...Why?"
"It's simple," Rei explained. "The Dagger of Flowing Water determines what kind of water is produced based on the magic power quantity and magic power quality of the user."
"So you're saying... someone with average mana can't use it for drinking?"
"Pretty much."
Rei nodded casually, and Sharl let out a disappointed sigh. Normally, one might look on with envy, but Rei was impressed that she showed no sign of it.
Once they had cooled off in the shade and rehydrated, Pleiades spoke up, his voice tight with nerves. He knew their group was exhausted; his honest wish was to have these two men and one beast—he wasn't counting Iero, who was tucked into Rei’s robe, for now—act as their escorts. Otis and Sharl seemed to feel the same, their eyes fixed on Rei and Elena.
A heavy silence followed for a few seconds before Elena broke it.
"I see. Given your current state, you might be fine against a few enemies, but it would be dangerous if you were attacked by nearly ten monsters at once like this time."
"Hey, even at full strength, any normal party would run from ten Sandworms!" Otis reflexively retorted. Her outburst eased the tension, making the atmosphere somewhat more relaxed. Rei figured she wasn't being tactical; it was just her natural personality.
Rei glanced at Elena, who returned a look that said the decision was his. Set was still busy purring over its water. After a few moments of thought, he spoke.
"Alright. Basically, you want us to escort you until you're out of the dungeon? I’d feel bad leaving you here, and you did give us a fair share of the Sandworm materials, so I'll do it. However, we're heading for the stairs to B12F. Even if we use a magic circle to teleport, it will likely be to the small room on B12F. Is that still okay?"
"Yes! That’s perfect. It's exactly what we were hoping for," Pleiades said, letting out a massive sigh of relief.
"Right. As an aside, I'll have you do me one favor in exchange for the escort."
Pleiades tensed again. He wondered what would be demanded—all their gold, or perhaps something even worse. But Rei's request was far from the worst-case scenario.
"Walking through the desert is boring. We’ve only just arrived on this floor, so it would be a huge help if you could teach us the ropes—what to watch out for in this B11F and the desert floors that follow."
"...Is that all?"
"It's enough for me. Unless there's something else you'd rather give up?"
"I have no objections to Rei’s opinion either," Elena added.
"...I see. It's a huge help that you'd say that," Pleiades said, finally relaxing.
After ten more minutes of rest, the five of them stood up to resume their trek toward B12F.
"Guru?"
"Ah, sorry, Set, but keep watch from above like before. Let me know immediately if anything happens."
"Guruuuu!"
Energized by the nectar Rei had provided, Set launched into the sky with a powerful beat of its wings.
"Whoa, it's so energetic," Otis muttered, while Sharl nodded in agreement. However, Sharl's gaze was fixed not on Set, but on the Dagger of Flowing Water that Rei had just stashed back in his Misty Ring.
"If you can drink water that delicious, of course your spirit would recover. You couldn't find water of that level in a high-end shop even if you paid a gold coin."
"Perhaps so. We are quite fortunate," Elena said. "Now then, shall we get moving?"
Everyone nodded and stepped out from the shadow of the rock. The moment they left the shade, the intense sunlight began to pour down once more.
"Sheesh, doesn't it ever get cloudy?" Pleiades grumbled.
"Don't ask for the impossible in a dungeon," Sharl retorted.
They began walking, following the desert ridge where the sand was packed tighter and easier to traverse.
"It really is easier to walk here," Rei noted.
"Right? However, the fact that it's easy for us means it's easy for monsters too. Stay sharp," Pleiades warned. He stopped suddenly, staring ahead.
"See something?" Otis asked.
"Why can't we see it if you can?" Sharl added.
Rei narrowed his eyes. "A snake...?"
"Bingo. Good eyes," Pleiades said. "Predators know where the easy paths are. They wait here because it's the most efficient way to catch prey." He turned to Rei and Elena, wondering how they wanted to proceed.
Rei took a step forward, Death Scythe in hand. He decided it was best for them to handle these threats themselves. Concentrating his magic power, he began the incantation.
"Flame, burn my enemies according to my will."
A 30cm lump of flame manifested near the Death Scythe's blade. The chant was relatively short, but fueled by Rei’s magic construction ability and his immense magic power, it possessed terrifying potency.
"Fireball."
The magic streaked toward a patch of sand that looked empty to everyone but Sharl and Rei.
BOOM!
The fireball erupted with a violence that defied its short chant, raining hellfire down on the ridge. The snake with a body length of about 2m that had been lying in wait never had a chance; it was incinerated in an instant.