Well. Apparently, I’m going to be murdered in the near future and the elfses are just going to allow that. Not that they have much choice, I gather. Empires be like that. This forces me into a choice. Staying neutral isn’t an option, that leaves me without protection and with people trying to kill me and frankly I rather doubt my ability to defend myself. Thus far I have no access to any animals that can threaten a human- well, perhaps. Wash categorically ignored anything under a certain size limit but I could get quite nasty with ants and wasps…

Still, taking Mr. Crow as a baseline, I really don’t think that’ll cut it, even if they could decimate a normal human. Poor miss scalerat was clawing and gnawing at his hands with as little effect to them as her friends had against his magic boots. The empowered, those with aura, have superhuman powers- and I haven’t even seen magic yet. Again: Direct defense is a non-option. Far too many unknowns. Hiding also seems to be a non-option. They have some method of finding dungeons, likely related to that essenceflow he mentioned.

Therefor I have two choices: Side with the elves, or side with the Empire. The elves are a group of tribes who regularly engage in raiding and seem to have, not to put too fine a point on it, terrorist inclinations. Not that there’s any other way for a weak force to fight against a strong one. The difference between guerilla warfare and terrorism is primarily what targets they pick. I sincerely hope these people stay away from civilians.

The Empire, however, is an empire, thus categorically evil. I can’t think of any empire historically that didn’t plunder its subsidiary territories for the profit of the core. Mr. Crow is, however, associated with the University, which is associated with and perhaps located within the Empire. At least they respect his University connection enough to avoid killing him despite him being an empowered elf among other elfs in a leadership position. Sounds like the Empire isn’t super racist, at least. Maybe some sort of Roman policy where they subsume the conquered populace and make them think of themselves as Roman.

I really need to learn their actual tribe name. Doubt they call themselves elves. Or race.

Siding with the tribes would involve me providing a necessary resource, thus causing them to unite and probably start a war. Assuming I can. Well, if other dungeons can do it, so can I. Unless it requires me to be a different stage of maturity. Hmm. Siding with the Empire would presumably involve me just uh, traveling there somehow. I hope I can reposition myself. Then I just have to submit myself to their rule and depend upon their mercy vis a vis whatever dungeon management policy they have.

The potential for great good and great evil vs just getting by and hoping for the best.

The second is undoubtedly the safer choice. It feels like a betrayal of the isekai contract. If you receive a second chance at life you’re supposed to make the most of it. Then those who try for peace get dragged into fighting the demon king anyways. Hope there’s no demon king.

So I’ve made my choice. Unless significant new information arrives I will produce a ton of water, get the protection of the tribes, start a war, ???, profit. First, water! My tentacles have ceased hiding from the scary mans so I bundle a few hundred together, stick them out like a wizard with a wand, and focus all my will on a single thing. WATER! It works! That was easy! It’s like, uh, a garden hose. About that amount. Hmm. I have to focus on this, the amount is unimpressive- how much surface area will I get before evaporation counters my flow?- and the little orifice that shoots out essence is positively blasting out essence. I suspect this does not ‘obscure the essenceflow’. I’m doing it wrong.

Hmm.

First off, can I just stop that? Or at least throttle it. The essence I’m shooting out doesn’t seem to be doing anything for me. It’s not some sort of waste, it appears to be no different than the essence I use myself. My entire body uses essence- my entire biology depends on it. Other than sucking up souls- I got a lil feast from all the minions they killed, by the by- my only nutritional requirements appear to be warp and mana to produce essence. Those weird nonphysical organs I have are doing something low-grade with essence constantly- I haven’t nearly enough information to confirm, but I suspect that they’re refreshing my oxygen levels and taking care of all the necessary calories and nutrients.

I think the reason I’m spouting it is to attract creatures and maintain my little cave ecosystem. The moss is positively thriving despite a complete lack of light and all my critters are either injured, dead, or vibrantly healthy. But I don’t need to be shooting out that MUCH, especially if they use it to find me. So what if I just seal over the pipe?

What the sam hill.