{
  "description": "Sorry for the rough quality of the drawing. I’ve been quite busy lately, so I couldn’t come up with a very good story. Today’s entry may feel a bit empty, but I think the picture already conveys most of it. I hope you can understand.\n\n> story\nRed's Dungeon Diary\nDay 30: Anal Fish\n\nAlong the edges of the great lake on the sixth floor lies a network of caves, some shallow, others deep and winding. Within these cave systems, certain chambers harbor underground hot springs. The water flows into natural basins, forming marvelous hot spring pools, their humid steam dampening the rocky walls. The water itself retains a strange bluish glow, and together with the rising mist, creates a breathtaking spectacle.\n\nThe hot springs are rich in beneficial minerals, which is why some adventurers choose them as resting spots for recovery and relaxation. Yet, despite the soothing warmth, these full-sized pools are home to a wide variety of life forms. Many fish here possess smooth, insulated skin, protecting them from the high temperature of the waters.\n\nAmong these creatures is a peculiar species known as the Anal Fish. Resembling eels, they possess circular, sucker-like jaws lined with sharp teeth, allowing them to latch firmly onto any surface. They are not particularly large, and thus have many natural predators. To compensate, they have evolved a highly unusual method of hiding, which earned them their name among adventurers.\n\nTypically, they slip into narrow cracks along the cave walls to evade hunters. However, when a larger creature—or an unwary adventurer—is within the waters, these fish may take advantage of their slick bodies to swiftly burrow into the host’s rectum. Once inside, they anchor themselves using the suction of their mouths, clinging tightly to the inner lining. Because of this, removing them forcibly would risk serious harm. The safest course is to simply wait until the fish retreats on its own, usually once the threat of predators outside has passed.\n\nToday, Red rowed his boat to a cavern at the edge of the great lake. Explorers who discover the hidden hot springs of the sixth floor often keep their locations secret, yet Red had a good friend who shared one such secret with him.\n\nHe anchored his boat and stepped inside. Before him stretched a vast, shimmering hot spring, its surface glowing faintly as warm mist rose to fill the cavern. The humid heat clung to his skin, soaking through his shirt until it grew heavy with dampness. Red quickly stripped off his clothes, laying them upon the shore, and waded slowly into the water’s welcoming warmth.\n\nHe immersed himself, releasing a long breath of relief, eyes closing as his body loosened. At last, after a long day of endless rowing, he could surrender to rest. He thought he might drift into sleep for a while—hoping that, by fortune, nothing unusual would disturb his rare moment of peace."
}