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The next day, Finia and I changed into our swimsuits behind the thickets.

Mark and the rest of the guys were acting a bit fishy, but Michelle had even taken out her Third Eye as a precaution, so they didn’t dare approach the thickets.

They didn’t know how strong that bow was, but I doubt they would want to personally experience the power of a bow that was clearly a magic item.

Thanks to that, we were able to change in peace.

As expected, I couldn’t wear the academy swimsuit anymore, so I had a separate one prepared.

Finia wore the same one-piece she did during the training camp.

The monochromatic shading made her lovely body figure appear even more risque.

“Brr, it’s still chilly as expected.”
“It is. I want to finish this investigation fast and get to the fire.”

Spring was already near its end, but it was still too early to assume you could swim at leisure. Given that fact, I was getting some goosebumps on my skin.

As I shivered slightly, Finia approached me from behind and hugged me. Her body warmth gently wrapped around me.

“You’re so warm, Lady Nicole. I don’t want to let go.”
“You’re warm too, Finia. Let’s stay like this before we get into the water.”
“With pleasure.”

As we left the thickets, Mark and the rest who were trying to sidestep Michelle stiffened in place.

Seeing us in swimsuits apparently dealt a punch on them.

“W-What?”
“No, I mean… N-nothing?”
“Mgh.”

Seeing their behavior, Finia wrapped her hands around my chest and tried to hide me. But Finia, your hand movements are making things even lewder here.

“Hey, Finia. There’s no time for that now.”
“But…”
“Nevermind that. Just cast the spell first.”

Her Breathing spell was indispensable to go underwater.

She couldn’t use Water Walking yet, but she could use Breathing. As such, though we still had to swim down to the depth, we could just stay and walk on the bedrock with the Breathing spell active.

Moreover, while it was in effect you could even speak underwater, so it made casting spells possible.

Her spell was indispensable for us in every way.

“We will also put together a raft and follow you as fast as I can.”

Michelle couldn’t use magic, so she had to board a boat at the shore or she wouldn’t be able to support me.

As such, they would cut down the trees and tie them up with ropes into a raft and sail into the lake.

Fortunately, we had many guys here, so it would alleviate the physical work needed.

“Okay, we’ll go first then.”

While Finia was casting the spell, I went to get my katana. I couldn’t use a piano wire underwater, so I had to take on a vanguard’s role.

Now that I handed over the transforming dagger to Finia, it was more efficient for her to stay in the back.

She finally activated the spell. Particles of light wrapped me up momentarily and disappeared.

With this, I should be able to breathe and talk underwater.

“Well then, see you later.”
“Yeah, later!”

I went into the water along with Finia. Chills ran up my spine from the sheer cold of the water that surrounded my feet.

“Yikes…”
“It’s colder than I imagined.”

The two of us continued to submerge while making girly noises. This spell still came with the initial discomfort of inhaling water, and I couldn’t get used to the feeling despite understanding in my head that I could breathe.

I held my breath for a moment and then exhaled. It wasn’t painful since the spell was working, but inhaling water still felt scary.

But that only lasted for a few seconds. I had quite a bit of an experience with this spell, after all. Even if I wasn’t used to it, I could still adapt to it.

The waterside was still within the scope of sunlight, but as we went deeper it grew darker and darker.

Since the water was very clear, the sunlight reached quite far, but as the depths grew even that reached its limit.

Before long, it turned completely dark and we couldn’t see what was at our feet without a light source.

“Crimson One, Gold Five, Jade One, manifest and illuminate my path—Light.”

Finia was still not used to magic so she used an assisting phrase. That revealed that she still lacked the mastery to use them instantly during combat.

That said, it was still a godsend now. Because the interference system did not have any spells that produced light.

The sand grains at the bottom were very fine and they scattered and obstructed our vision at every step.

The water temperature fell even lower too, enough that it could potentially hinder our movements.

“Crimson One, Ultramarine Two, Gold Six—Warm.”

I touched Finia and cast the Warm spell. I felt my swimsuit warming up, making the movement easier.

“Thank you, Lady Nicole.”
“I can’t burden you any more than this, Finia.”

She was already using Breathing and Light at the same time. Neither of them were difficult spells, but it would be cruel to burden her even more.

Besides, the interference system was my special skill. I wouldn’t be able to keep face if I didn’t prove myself useful at least here.

“Whoops.”

I suddenly lost my dimly lit footing. It was hidden by the rising cloud of sand, but the ground had turned into a sharp slope.

Considering the faint flow of water that I felt, this must have been the spring point.

“This might be where the water is gushing out from. If so, there’s no knowing how deep it goes, so it’s dangerous.”
“Shall we go back for the time being?”
“No, let’s keep going for a bit longer. If we tie ourselves with a rope, we wouldn’t have to worry about sinking down. If the rope length isn’t enough, then we can return.”

I tied the rope to a nearby boulder and secured my body. But it was still a bit loose, so I got worried about both of us going down.

“Finia, you stay and watch the rope, okay?”
“How can I let you go alone, Lady Nicole. Let me—”
“It’s the other way around, Finia. Keeping watch over the rope here is more important.”
“Is it?”
“It is. If it comes untied, I wouldn’t be able to get back. I trust you so I’m leaving that to you.”
“I…see. Then leave it to me!”
“Okay, pull the rope twice periodically. I will also pull it twice in response to convey that everything is alright.”
“Alright.”

I left the anchored rope in Finia’s hands and went down the slope on my own.

The surroundings were pitch black already, so I couldn’t even trust what was at my feet.

I carefully advanced for about ten-odd meters, and just as I started worrying about the rope length, the slope had turned gentle.

I stopped my feet.

The reason was that there was a large number of green orbs scattered before my eyes.

“…Found it.”

I heard from Mark’s group. This peculiar shape was the characteristic of the Moria grass.