Inario Dungeon (4): Nighttime Ambush
I had been watching until Ashu fell peacefully asleep, passing the lonely time alone.
Just as I was rummaging through my backpack, thinking maybe I should write a letter instead—something moved.
The moment I turned around, my eyes met the creature's. Four eyes.
"Enemy!! Wake up!!"
Instead of letter paper, I drew my sword from the backpack and sliced the throat of the monster dog charging at me.
The blade of this sword called Killgent's Oath, which I'd used to cut down the monster, was currently the pure white of any ordinary sword. That's because, a few days before we set out on this adventure, I'd asked Ashu to charge it with mana.
When I first bought it, the black color indicated it had no mana—a user-friendly feature, like UI or UX in a game. It lets you check the mana level at a glance.
This sword, brimming with mana, faithfully reflected my will to cleave, slicing the next charging beast from mouth to tail in a horizontal cut.
"What!? What's that!? Eek!!
Kyaaack!!!"
Hairil woke first and let out a high-pitched, threatening screech the moment they jumped up, startling everyone else awake.
Hairil's alarm effect is killer. Even my ears hurt.
Once everyone grabbed their weapons and responded, we quickly subdued the monster dog ambush. After killing about six, the rest scattered front and back and fled again. Another retreat?
After the fight, Ashu came to check on me, covered in blood from the attack. I told her it was the monsters' blood, not mine from any wounds, so it was fine.
Confirming the enemies had retreated, Inadia approached me.
"Hey, porter. What the hell happened here?"
"As you can see. We got ambushed by monsters on watch."
"Why would monsters suddenly attack us? Did you do something stupid to provoke them?"
I get that getting attacked in your sleep puts you on edge, but why blame the watchman who spotted them first?
"Speak the truth, quick!"
If he were a typical commoner noble, I'd just say, "My apologies," and bow. But even if this world didn't have military protocol, I do—from my service days. In cases like this, the watchman gets rewarded, not punished.
"I detected their attack, warned everyone, and cut down the enemies myself to protect you all. What more do you want me to say to satisfy you?"
"You filthy cur, how dare you wag your tongue at me…."
He reached for his scabbard to draw. So I placed my hand on mine.
Guess we're settling scores right here, unexpectedly.
Ashu had already stepped between us.
"This bastard…."
Before drawing, Inadia glanced around at me and the monster corpses nearby.
Then he scanned our companions' faces one by one, and suddenly…
"…No. I must've been on edge from the ambush. Keep up the vigilance."
With that, he flashed a cool grin and sauntered back to his bedroll.
"……Ha."
From raging to that? His sudden shift was painfully awkward—does he even realize?
Anyway, even as he turned away, not a single apology for his rudeness.
Ashu came over to my fuming self and whispered,
"He seems anxious that things aren't going his way. We need to be extra careful from now on. Nobles who turn and smile like that can be scheming something nasty behind your back."
Of course Ashu knows noble scheming better than I do.
"Hey, Kirgil. That look you're giving me right now is kinda unpleasant."
The noble lady who'd just smirked with dark intentions was right in front of me puffing her cheeks. Still, a pouting noble's kinda cute.
Anyway, this ambush must've been unexpected even for Inadia, who'd scouted the dungeon beforehand.
Damn, no sleep tonight.
The nighttime ambush sharpened everyone's nerves. The slightest sound had us bolting awake to scan around.
Even the ever-stoic Panash gave up sleep for meditation, and Hodo started whittling wood at dawn.
No need for a watch at this rate.
I tossed and turned, finally scraping together three or four hours.
To clear my head, I went to splash water from the pond—and Ashu, already there, startled.
"Ugh… don't look at my face right now. It's a mess."
"It's fine. Not as scary as when you smashed that inn door."
The priestess baptized my face with water—perfect for snapping me awake.
During our portable breakfast, Hodo sidled up and showed me a small-stocked crossbow.
"Ahem, Kirgil. What do you think? Er…."
"Whoa, is this my crossbow? You finished it already!?"
"Ahem… had some time on my hands. Just killing boredom."
I loaded it with one of Hodo's bolts and fired at a dead monster's head. Dead-on, right through the skull.
Whoa, pure bowstring tension without wood flex—and that's the power. No wonder he can mount it on an axe head without spring.
"Dwarven ironwork's impressive, but this string's on another level."
"Kahahahat! Knew you'd appreciate it, Kirgil. It's called 'Dragon's Sinew'—a special bowstring. And your stance is so natural, instant hit. Makes the maker proud."
"…But. Reloading's a pain."
The short stock means pulling the string extra far for power—and it's tougher than my bowstring.
I pointed out a few issues and ideas; Hodo nodded, took it back for tweaks.
Guy's more into this than dungeon crawling.
Preparations done, we entered Zone 2. A stone-floored corridor wide enough for two or three abreast—about 2 meters wide, a bit over 3 high.
Stepping in, it hit me again: this is another world. They say dungeons form caves with will, but it looks man-made, carved and polished.
Even mine-veteran Hodo found it fascinating.
"No supports or pillars, yet this long passage doesn't collapse. And breathable like outside. What's the dungeon's structure?"
"……."
Bold question from the usually timid dwarf. No one answered. Guess dungeons are just like that to them.
I voiced my quiet thought:
"Maybe it's alive, like a creature's body or organs."
"Hm, alive, eh? Interesting. If the floor, ceiling, walls are like muscles… yeah, could be. Hm…."
As Hodo pondered, Inadia took point with shield raised.
"Now, now! I'll lead, so no one step ahead of me."
Hearing that, I was sure he had his own strategy for this dungeon.
Annoying, but for safety, we follow him.
Unlike Zone 1, Zone 2 was dark—no light. So Inadia held shield in one hand, torch in the other.
"Hairil, don't plays and hero shows have lighting and stuff?"
"Yes, there is. For dark rooms in plays. Follows the hero. Sparkles to make moves cool."
"Wouldn't it be nice if moonlight lit us like stage lights?"
"Yes. Hm?? Why say that?"
I removed Hairil's floppy hat, shook it lightly, and whispered in one ear.
Soon, Hairil's eyes sparkled as they repeated what I'd taught.
"Moonlight illuminates us like the stage of heroes."
⟨ Moonlight Stage ⟩
A soft, moonlight glow appeared two meters up, spotlighting the party like a searchlight.
Placed behind us, the magic light shone forward—no more torch needed.
"…Hoo."
The ever-silent Panash finally voiced admiration. The others gawked at the new magic.
Hairil beamed but restrained, per my prior "keep it quiet" warning.
Instead, sparkling eyes looked up at me… then those animal ears flattened.
Ahem, those tempting ears. Can't leave 'em be.
Maybe 'cause it's a young dungeon, Zone 2 was a straight path, no maze. After an hour, we hit a bend.
About 90 degrees left—looked like a dead end from afar.
Our 'leader' knows this place well.
Beyond the bend, our light didn't reach, so Hairil made a new one.
As we advanced into the turn—
"Something's there."
Panash, entering the bend, spotted something far off and raised his halberd.
Invisible to me. Panash has sharp eyes—something about a kilometer away.
"Monsters ahead. Fall back behind me and hold formation. Too close, and shock could hit."
Inadia calmly raised his shield and drew sword—like he'd been waiting. Whatever it was, he was prepared for distant monsters.
Formation set, we advanced. Soon, booming thuds echoed closer.
Definitely frontal monster charging. Sound and faint vibrations meant heavy weight.
Crashing into us with mass and speed to crush. Perfect for Zone 2's narrow straightaway.
"Come at me! Here stands Darania's hero, Inadia!"
Inadia showed no fear, gripping shield like a valiant hero bracing for impact. Looked ready to protect us from any threat.
What a showboat. Hero? Try actor.
"Sniff sniff…."
Hairil sniffed, removed their floppy hat—not for pets this time, but pressed ears to walls and floor, probing.
"What's up? Monster's coming from front."
"Strange. Something, something off."
"Ahem, you too? Feels like vibrations from all sides. Like…."
Hodo and Hairil eyed my rear, not front.
Wild instincts and miner senses screaming behind us.
No way!?
I dropped my pack and dashed back to the bend.
"Damn!!! That big one's coming from behind too!! This one's real close!!"