Aqua Golem

Rain enveloped the city.

The residents threw on waterproof clothing and set about using the rain to clean the city.

Originally a warm region with abundant rainfall, the city's drainage channels were well maintained.

Rain had been pouring for about half a day already, but the water flowed into the river without flooding.

We were on standby at the inn.

Azu hadn't been able to stand after that, and even Alexia couldn't hide her fatigue.

The rain would keep falling until tomorrow night, so it was better to rest while we could.

The rain had apparently bought some time with the Water Elemental, but I couldn't speak to the details.

I wasn't particularly tired myself, but the other three had finished a big job and were exhausted. They'd lain down without even eating.

I decided to spend the time watching the rain and thinking things over.

At some point, I must have fallen asleep.

The sound of rain hitting the roof woke me.

The rain was still falling, unrelenting.

Knowing a single person had accomplished this, it was no small feat.

Genuinely impressive.

That said, given how drained Azu and Alexia had been, it wasn't something I wanted to make a habit of.

The other three were still sleeping.

I thought they might be sleeping deeply from exhaustion, but it was still nighttime.

Turns out I was the one who'd slept lightly.

I was about to pull the blanket over myself and go back to sleep when I felt a tremor.

I thought it might be my imagination, but it wasn't.

Small, rhythmic shaking was occurring.

When I checked outside through the window, I saw the water moving.

It was hard to make out in the dark, but the vibrations seemed to be caused by the water itself pulsing.

"What the…?"

It was as if the water had a will of its own.

The tremors woke the other three, who had been sound asleep.

They checked their surroundings and headed toward me at the window.

"Did something shake just now?"

"Take a look outside."

I stepped aside and let Azu stand by the window.

The sun was just beginning to creep above the horizon.

"The water is… gathering?"

"Let me see."

Alexia rushed to the window.

Azu gave up her spot for Alexia.

"This is…"

After taking in the scene outside, Alexia grabbed her coat and headed for the door.

"Wait, what's going on?"

"The Water Elemental!"

She said that and ran outside. I chased after her.

"You two, get dressed and follow us."

"Understood."

"Okaaay."

After hearing their replies, I went after Alexia.

Outside the inn, the city's residents were also waking up and coming out to see what was happening.

I stopped next to Alexia, who had come to a halt, and looked at the same sight.

An astonishing scene lay before us.

The rain was still falling, but rather than hitting the ground, it was being gathered into a single point.

The water that had been flowing along the ground was also defying its natural course, converging on that same spot.

The sight was less strange and more divine.

The water gathered, growing larger and larger.

Gradually, though immense in scale, it took on the shape of a person.

A giant made of water.

It didn't feel real.

A scene like something out of a dream was unfolding right before us.

The city's residents felt the same. They simply stood there, gazing up at the water giant as if in a trance.

Once the water giant had grown to a certain size, the rain began falling normally again.

Azu had brought my coat, so I put it on to keep the rain off.

"What is that?"

I asked Alexia.

I'd never seen anything like it.

"A water golem, I suppose… I'd hoped the rain would have a good effect on the Water Elemental, but I never thought it would be this much."

"This is the Water Elemental's doing?"

"Without a doubt. No human could control this volume of water. Even a group of mages working together couldn't create something that size."

The water giant stood there motionless.

"It's quite angry… Considering what that baron is doing, it's only natural."

I couldn't personally read a Water Elemental's emotions, but if Alexia said so, I'd take her word for it.

Then Azu grabbed my sleeve.

"I-I can feel it too. It's frightening."

"Water disasters are described as the wrath of the gods, after all. If something like that moves with clear intent…"

The water giant slowly shifted its body.

Its destination was obvious: Baron Aarg's manor.

Each step the water giant took shook the ground.

Every stride cracked and shattered the brick-paved roads under its weight.

But no one could stop it, and no one would try.

Everyone could only watch.

We all trailed after the water giant in a crowd.

Even I couldn't bring myself to look away and just go back to the inn.

The rain had clearly caused this.

As the one who'd authorized it, I needed to see how things played out.

Honestly, there was also the fact that I was a little excited.

"Once this has started, it won't stop. Baron Aarg's manor probably has mages, but…"

"They'd run. Anyone would if a building-sized mass of water shaped like a person came walking toward them."

Alexia laughed at that.

"True enough. If possible, I'd like to take the chaos as a chance to free the Water Elemental as well."

"We'll need to be careful about that. We don't even know for sure if it's in there."

"Of course. But it is there. I'm sure of it."

Alexia said that and began walking.

The rest of us, myself included, followed.