Chapter 98. Grindylow
"Oh?"
Duncan's gaze shifted to the Giant Squid.
"May I ask whether you've seen anything at the bottom of the lake that's more valuable than this?"
"More valuable than this?"
The Giant Squid thought for a long time, then slowly shook its head.
"Not in my recollection.
But there are many things on the lake bed I haven't turned over.
You can dive down yourself and have a look.
You might find what you want."
"All right."
Duncan nodded.
Although he didn't want to plunge into the water in this bitter cold, he had no other way for now.
"Are you coming with me?"
Duncan asked Pro.
"Mm-mm!"
Pro's head was bobbing up and down so fast it left afterimages, as if afraid that the slightest hesitation would make Duncan leave him behind.
While the boy and the Niffler were talking, one of the Giant Squid's tentacles pointed at the sculpture on the ground and said, "Do you still need this?
If not, I'll just…"
Although Pro didn't understand the Giant Squid's words, he read the meaning hidden in its movements.
He slid off Duncan at once and flung himself at the sculpture, stuffing it into his pocket in a panic.
"Sorry, he's a bit of a miser…"
Duncan looked slightly embarrassed and nudged Pro's rear with the tip of his shoe, making him sprawl forward onto the ground.
Pro didn't mind in the least.
Compared with the treasure now in his pocket, he would gladly accept two more kicks from Duncan.
"It's fine.
That was for you anyway," the Giant Squid replied gently.
When Pro had scrambled back, Duncan swished his wand.
A transparent bubble enclosed his head and Pro's at the same time.
The air inside would be enough for them to move freely underwater for an hour.
It was only a pity that his proficiency in Transfiguration wasn't high enough.
Otherwise, would he still need to wear this ugly bubble?
If he could simply transform into a ferocious, giant shark, he could not only move in the water but also ensure his own safety.
Pro, however, found it fascinating.
He poked here and there with his claws, kneading the bubble into all sorts of shapes.
"Once we're in the lake, don't poke about, or if the bubble bursts, I'd like to see what you do then!"
Duncan warned.
A scene of himself drowning in the lake and floating slowly upwards popped into Pro's little head, and he was instantly frightened.
He curled up his limbs as tightly as he could and retracted his sharp claws, lest they scratch that bubble which looked very fragile.
Seeing Pro's ridiculous posture, Duncan couldn't help but laugh.
His earlier words had only been to bluff Pro.
Unless the time ran out, even if Pro poked the bubble for ten thousand years, it might not break.
Still, making Pro behave was no bad thing, lest he dash about after entering the Black Lake.
After casting a Warming Charm on himself and Pro, Duncan stepped forward, wading over the slick ground and into the lake.
The icy water gradually rose past his knees, and his soaked robes dragged straight down as if someone were tugging at them.
Even with magical protection, Duncan still sensed a bite of cold and shivered slightly beyond his control.
"Climb onto me," said the Giant Squid.
"I can swim faster than you.
Tell me where you want to go, and I'll take you there."
"Then I'll trouble you."
Duncan drew a breath, submerged completely, and swam forward to perch atop the Giant Squid's head.
The Giant Squid's skin was springy and coated in a slimy, slippery film.
Even with the creature's full cooperation, Duncan had to work for quite a while, using a bit of magic, before he could settle himself in a suitable spot.
"Off we go!"
The Giant Squid sounded positively delighted to have someone to accompany it.
It frisked through the water, startling the fish along the way, which fled in a panic to the distance.
After frolicking for a moment, the Giant Squid remembered their business.
"Which way now?" it called loudly.
Sitting cross-legged, Duncan lifted Pro from his arms and held him out in front.
"Point the way, before the Giant Squid starts acting up again."
"Straight ahead of us!"
After getting the answer from Pro, Duncan shouted to the Giant Squid, "Straight ahead!"
"No problem.
Hold on tight—now I'll show you what speed really is!"
As soon as it finished speaking, the Giant Squid shot forward in a sudden lunge.
Duncan saw ripples drawing long streaks across the surface of his bubble.
As the Giant Squid sped on, the scenery beneath them changed rapidly.
The silt and glittering little stones on the lake bed gradually disappeared.
Boundless black water weeds covered everything in sight.
They rippled and tangled in the water, like Medusa's hair of snakes from myth, a little creepy to behold.
"Do we keep going?"
The Giant Squid stopped abruptly and called to Duncan.
At the same time, shadows flashed out from the weeds to their side.
Several horned water demons appeared—pale green skin, green teeth, and very long fingers.
They gaped as wide as they could, baring teeth and clawing the water in threat as they tried to approach Duncan.
"Grindylows?"
Duncan said.
These little creatures usually fed on small fish, but they would attack humans as well.
They loved to seize a human's limbs and drag them down until the person drowned.
However, their spindly fingers were brittle and easily broken, so they were not hard to deal with.
If you struggled hard before they locked on, you could usually get away.
Seeing them still closing in, Duncan had no desire to grapple with them at close quarters, and decisively swished his wand.
The lake weeds, under his control, bunched together into several great hands.
They grabbed the Grindylows by both feet, whirled them around twice, and hurled them hard into the distance until each one became a tiny black speck and vanished.
"Brilliantly done!"
The Giant Squid said excitedly.
"Those little pests are infuriating.
Every time I run into them, they torment me for ages before I can drive them off!"
"They do deserve a thrashing," Duncan said with a smile.
"By the way, earlier you asked me…"
"Oh, up ahead is the merpeople's territory," said the Giant Squid.
"If we keep going, we'll likely run into them.
They're not very friendly either.
Those Grindylows are their pets—just as irritable and annoying as they are."
"Still ahead?"
Duncan lowered his head and tapped Pro's bubble with a finger.
"Hey, don't tap it—careful!" Pro blurted.
"It's just up ahead, not far.
I can feel it."
Duncan smiled and said to the Giant Squid, "You can drop me off here.
I'll go the rest of the way on my own."
"Out of the question," the Giant Squid refused.
"If you go alone, the merpeople will definitely give you trouble.
They may not dare to harm a young wizard without cause, but if you present yourself at their door, who knows."
"All right.
Thank you very much," Duncan said sincerely.
"It's nothing.
They're no match for me anyway."
The Giant Squid spoke with a touch of pride, paused, and then went on,
"But since your destination is there, I may know what it is you're looking for."
Enjoyed the story? Support me and get access to early chapters by joining my Patreon!
Find me at: Patr*eon*.com/Resium
Free members can read 10+ Chapters Ahead of Release
Paid member can read 150+ Chapters Ahead of Release
Stories Available
Honkai? No, This Is Daily Life
Hogwarts Pet Master
Pokémon: Who Let Him Leave Pallet Town!
Scrolling Yu-Gi-Oh! Shorts