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#065. The Old Man and the Rock Deer (3)
The old man’s name is John Grid.
He was the representative of Kernel Water, a company that runs a drinking water business in the 40s sector.
“In the past, the price of clean water was much more expensive than it is now. Poor people didn’t even dare to buy it and drink it.”
Even now, the price of bottled water is expensive.
About 1,000 shillings for a 500ml PET bottle.
The amount of money equivalent to a decent meal.
This was because water sources containing water clear enough to be used as drinking water were extremely rare.
So the sector’s residents usually quenched their thirst with cheap processed drinks.
Except on special occasions, it was rare to quench one’s thirst with clean, cool water.
“Wasn’t the Elton River clean even back then?”
Ray asked.
In Sector 50, there was no one old enough or wise enough to tell the history of the landscape.
In Viola’s case, she was only interested in telling the tall tales she knew… no, mystical tales.
Because of that, I never had a chance to hear stories related to Elton Kang.
I’ve been just vaguely guessing.
But I wonder if the river was cleaner in the past than it is now.
‘But from what we’re talking about now, it doesn’t seem like that was the case at all.’
The answer came back soon.
“Wasn’t the Elton River unclean back then? Yes, it was. The water was murky and full of floating garbage, not much different from what it is now. It was in no way usable as a water source.”
John added.
“I heard that my grandfather’s grandfather was in the same situation.”
“… … ”
So how far back in time do we have to go to find an unpolluted Elton River?
John continued his story.
He was of nomadic origin, a people now lost and hard to find.
“I lived a nomadic life, wandering through the deserted wilderness. When the life of the oasis I secured ran out, I left to find the next oasis.”
It is impossible to settle in the sector due to the territorial sentiments of existing residents.
A fate where one is forced to wander the wilderness with nothing but livestock.
It would not be an exaggeration to say that the group’s survival depended on whether they could safely find the next oasis.
“The desire for property, especially land and water to live on, must have been stronger than that of ordinary people. I spent my entire life wandering around without anything of my own.”
One day I will throw off the shackles that have been placed on me by my tribe.
It was a time when I was enduring life in the wilderness with such thoughts.
“The oasis of settlement was drained. The group I was a part of had to set out again.”
It was a time when everything was drying up because there was no rain.
Everyone retrieved the tent that had been pushed into the ground with worried faces.
They loaded their loads on the backs of livestock and set off on an endless journey.
We moved and moved for weeks, but we could not find any trace of water.
Everyone was tired and worn out.
“It’s the end. Mohaile’s group also lost contact after they set out last time. They died without finding the oasis.”
The group John was in collapsed.
The hopes I had when I set out on my journey had long since disappeared, burnt black under the blazing sun.
“Not yet. Everyone, wait. I will definitely find the oasis and return.”
Only John did not give up hope.
It was both the responsibility of the person nominated as the next leader and an expression of his long-held desire for tribal revival.
But will and the resolution of the case were entirely separate realms.
As reality has always been.
“I have to find water… an oasis… I can’t give up here… .”
I wandered alone in the wilderness for several days, but I couldn’t find an oasis, not even a hint of moisture on the land.
A land divided endlessly.
Animal bones rolling around on top of it.
Sunlight that’s so blinding it’s almost blinding.
That’s all you can see.
Thud!
John fell to his knees.
My vision began to sink and tilt to the side.
I could feel the dry earth against my cheek.
I’m thirsty.
It felt like all the moisture had evaporated from my entire body, leaving only a shell behind.
I thought in a hazy state of mind.
“Is this where it ends?”
Was the fate of me and my tribe destined to end up like this?
It was unfair.
The sight of myself having to die without even being able to realize my dream of tribal revival.
I was sorry.
To the tribesmen who are just waiting for the oasis to be found.
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I raised my fist with difficulty.
He tried to vent his anger and strike the ground, but he fell limply without even being able to clench his fist.
Bam.
「… … .」
If only we had a land where we could settle down and live.
If only I had a huge amount of money to live without being ignored by anyone.
Winds that now have no meaning or effect.
John, who had given up everything, slowly closed his eyes.
It was then that a blue shape began to ripple in my narrowing field of vision.
The figure gradually came closer and stopped before my eyes.
and.
Swaaa …
Something cold poured down over my body.
Like a waterfall, ceaselessly, continuously.
John instinctively opened his mouth and drank the pouring liquid.
Gulp. Gulp.
It was water.
The most harmless and refreshing water you’ve ever tasted.
The mouth and throat moved without stopping.
Moisture began to be supplied to the whole body.
Dry skin regained its vitality, and organs that had stopped moving resumed beating.
“Phuha!”
He got up from his seat, breathing heavily.
I checked the situation with a clear mind and vision.
For a moment, the thought stopped.
Swaaa …
The empty space just above your head.
The water stream was pouring down continuously.
As if there was a small cloud there.
And then a rock deer appeared before my eyes.
Judging by his size, he was a young man, like himself in human years.
Gugugugugu──
Behind them, thousands of rock deer could be seen moving in a herd.
But even that great commotion did not divert John’s attention.
“you….”
The forehead of the rock deer right in front of you.
This was because the blue gem embedded there was emitting an incredible amount of light.
Also, the guy’s body was made of rippling water.
What on earth is this?
Is this really reality?
John reached out to the guy, his heart pounding.
At that moment the water flow stopped.
The guy took a step back.
「… … .」
There was silence for a moment.
Rockdeer, who had come forward again, gently placed his forehead on John’s hand.
Then he turned around, ran through the air, and disappeared into the midst of a herd of rock deer.
Gugugugugu──
It was a long time after the Rockdeers disappeared that John’s mind returned to reality.
I got up from my seat blankly.
I walked aimlessly in the direction the rock deers had run.
“This is….”
John’s eyes widened.
Around the vast oasis, wasteland animals gathered to drink water.
There were more than one oasis, and they all boasted lush greenery.
“I couldn’t believe my eyes. It was a sight that could only be described as a miracle.”
The rest of the story was brief.
There are numerous oases of such width and depth that the tribe will not dry out even if they use them for a lifetime.
It was natural that John’s long-pending wish came to mind.
He started a drinking water business based on abundant water resources, and the ‘Kernel Water’ he founded grew into a drinking water company that dominated the 40s area over several decades.
“I have tried to supply water at a relatively low price. I know better than anyone the pain of not being able to drink clean water.”
Donations, charity events, etc.
John went on to list all the things he had done to benefit the world.
When John said those words, the young bodyguard’s bowl was filled with a thick concentration of respect and pride.
But Kernel Water’s run did not last forever.
The oasis that seemed endless eventually dried up over time.
Also, unlike before, many companies have entered the drinking water business.
“Nothing is like it used to be.”
John’s eyes became hazy.
He said that it was an inevitable consequence of the passage of time.
No matter how vast the water source is and how much fresh water it holds, it will eventually dry up.
Just as we grow older, our bodies and minds naturally deteriorate.
Therefore, they said that they could not continue the business unless they secured a new water source.
“But all the places that could be developed have already been developed. Many companies have flocked to the water supply business. It’s not like there used to be so many undeveloped areas.”
John’s gaze turned to a small plastic bottle on the corner of the table.
The label surrounding the bottle had writing along with a design symbolizing Rock Deer.
“Kernel Water”
“… … .”
Why did I only realize this now?
It was a brand of bottled water that had not been seen in stores since I was a child.
“As production decreased, the number of stores that could stock the products also had to decrease.”
He said that in addition to the management difficulties, there were many internal problems within the company.
The company was not running properly because there were frequent internal strife and power struggles among the people in charge of running the company.
“That’s what money is like. It’s like watching blood-related family members wielding knives at each other and their eyes turning.”
Sensing that it was time to leave the industry, John closed down the company.
And back to sector 48.
To meet the blue jewel rock deer that changed his life once again.
“I don’t think the moment I met him was a dream. It was a solid reality. I still vividly remember the feeling of the cold water touching my body at that time.”
John’s face still trembled when he thought about that time.
“I’ve invested a lot of money and time into finding that rock deer, but to no avail. Maybe I actually knew it deep down.”
John took a deep breath.
“It’s impossible to find him in this vast wilderness. It’s just a waste of time and money to comfort my vain hopes.”
Still, I couldn’t give up.
To meet the guy again and thank him for saving my life that time.
That was John’s last wish before he left this world.
“I really want to see you again.”
As John was telling his long story, a certain emotion was stirring in his stomach.
A color so vivid and intense that it can’t be hidden.
That was also the emotion of color that Ray had been witnessing a lot recently.
In addition, thanks to the various emotions moving around in a noisy manner, it was possible to discern the truth of the story without much difficulty.
‘It’s not a made-up story.’
John really did see a rock deer with a blue gem.
The harvest was beyond expectations.
In fact, even up until the moment I was climbing the hotel stairs, I thought that the possibility that the ‘client’s story’ was a lie was much higher than the truth.
But really.
So it turns out that the story about the blue jewel and the rock deer was really true.
Of course, we cannot completely rule out the possibility that John was hallucinating.
However, given the feeling of confidence that he harbors, there is a very high chance that it is not a lie.
The corners of Ray’s mouth trembled.
It was a clear sign of joy.
It’s so fine that it’s hard to even identify.
“What do you think? I think this story is enough to interest the young gentlemen and ladies up front. Now, if it’s okay, would you mind telling me your real identity?”
Ray paused for a moment to answer.
The story about the blue gem and the rock deer is close to the truth.
But objectively speaking, the probability that the Rock Deer from that time still remains in the wasteland of Sector 48 is…
‘Very low.’
The typical lifespan of a rock deer is 15 years.
According to Veronica, it was so.
In that case, wouldn’t the Rock Deer we met back then have died after its lifespan ended?
Even if he still lives with some mysterious power, isn’t it highly likely that he has moved to another region?
But it’s too strong a clue to just pass by.
Ray, who had been thinking hard, came to a conclusion.
‘We need to split up the workforce.’
People looking for the blue light rock deer.
Personnel conducting exploration within a sector.
If we split the team, we can compensate for some of the time loss when we don’t get any results from the former.
The exploration is with Veronica and Philip.
Rock Deer Exploration is your own.
That will do it.
There’s also the safety advantage of keeping two people in the sector, as you never know what other dangers might arise in the wasteland.
but.
‘I need someone who knows a lot about rock deer.’
There were limits to tracking a herd of rock deer alone.
I needed a guide.
An experienced guide who has gained knowledge through direct field experience.
‘A person worthy of that… .’
It happened almost simultaneously.
One person easily came to Ray’s mind.
dripping.
A knock was heard at the front door.