Chapter Forty-Three: With What Shall I Tempt You, Little Crocodile? (Part One)

After mending the foolish elf archer, Feyin lightly patted her hands, smiling as if nothing had happened, and walked over to us.

“Since this fellow can’t get into the water, it means only the two of us can go down and lure out the giant crocodile,” she said, standing before me, her expression seeking my opinion.

“Mm… Alright, I’ll follow your lead.” I must admit, when her smiling gaze swept over me, my heart sank with a sudden thud. The bloody lesson from Elegy was right before my eyes—unless I had succumbed to senility, I knew that obedience was the wisest choice.

“Please, you mustn’t harm the little croc…” Seeing us about to dive, the long-haired elf girl reverted to her old ways, gazing at the giant crocodile Astan in the water with pity and worry.

Her mournful eyes almost made me feel as if we were about to confront a gentle lamb, and we, instead, were the brutish butchers. Looking at the shadow of the beast in the water—its head alone larger than my entire body—I truly couldn’t fathom where her unfounded anxiety came from. From any perspective, it was our predicament that deserved concern.

After a brief preparation, Feyin and I dove into the water, one after the other. The light beneath the surface was much dimmer than on the shore; at first, I wasn’t quite used to it, feeling only a cold, muddled haze before my eyes.

But soon I adapted to the underwater environment, and my eyes could make out shapes. The whirlpool crocodile Astan seemed even larger beneath the water than in reality. Its eyes were half-open and half-shut, leisurely roaming the depths.

Its body was broad and stout, its limbs like thick tree trunks, and its long jaws were slightly parted, revealing two rows of sharp, sturdy teeth.

Most astonishing of all was its tail. The tail was as long as a person, covered in rough scales and backward-facing spikes, looking robust and powerful.

Though it seemed clumsy, when it swam, that tail moved smoothly without pause, appearing more agile than a human’s two legs.

I had no desire whatsoever to learn what it felt like to be struck on the head by that massive tail. Feyin and I swam closer, staying at the edge of a safe distance, then surfaced together for a breath.

Diving again, Feyin made a gesture to me, then launched an ice arrow at the giant monster below.

Before the arrow even struck, Feyin grabbed me and frantically swam back, fearing that a moment’s hesitation would leave us as dessert in the crocodile’s maw.

Facing a target so immense, Feyin had no worry her spell would miss. The ice arrow hit the crocodile’s back dead on; though its power was negligible against the creature’s thick, solid hide, it nonetheless succeeded in drawing its attention.

Astan immediately turned, charging toward us in rage. Its limbs and tail slapped the water, sending up splashes, and the tranquil underground river suddenly became wild, waves crashing and spray flying.

The fish below scattered instinctively, not knowing what had happened, making the already turbulent currents even more chaotic.

The crocodile moved faster than we’d imagined. Its tail lashed two or three times, and it was already rushing behind us.

Luckily, we were already near the shore. I thrust my arms, paddled strongly, and surged to the bank. Then, bracing with both hands, I rolled onto shore, turned, grabbed Feyin’s hand, and pulled her out of the water.

“Get ready, it’s coming!” I shouted hoarsely, and even now, I felt as if the crocodile’s jet of water was still pressing against my spine.

Wild Goose Formation had already taken out her whistle, her big curious eyes staring at the water’s surface, while Elegy stood beside her, bow drawn, ready for battle.

Astan’s back broke the surface, rapidly approaching the bank. Just as we thought it would stubbornly leap ashore and cause us trouble, it suddenly dove at the very last moment, two stout, stubby hind legs and its long tail comically sticking straight up, then slamming down onto the water with tremendous force.

With a loud splash, white foam flew everywhere. Then, before our eyes, the huge shadow beneath the water flicked its tail and swayed back to the center of the river.

Feyin and Elegy’s faces instantly grew long, and judging from the way they looked at me, my own expression must have been equally grim.

We had risked much to lure it to the shore, hoping to tame it as it came out of the water, but the cunning beast was so cautious it wouldn’t even set foot on land.

“What now?” I asked, frowning in distress.

“How about the two of you go down and try again?” Elegy shamelessly suggested.

“Why don’t you try yourself?” Feyin retorted furiously.

“I…” Elegy looked embarrassed. “I… can’t swim…”

“I have an idea: we could tie you to a rope and toss you into the water to lure the crocodile up. As bait, whether you live or die doesn’t matter—no need for swimming.” I replied nonchalantly, mocking her.

(Yesterday I failed to update on time—my apologies. During the day I truly couldn’t, as I was photographing a friend’s wedding. As for the evening… Little Elegy wonders if any readers have ever found themselves in an awkward situation, like me last night, when the power went out halfway through my shower… Only then did I realize I’d forgotten to write the chapter title…)