Chapter 102
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 102
Chapter Title: Cultists in the Sewers
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"Hi hi."
I arrived at the guild right on time for my appointment with Kobson, and a familiar brown-haired woman waved both hands at me. It was Meria, the shield warrior-type adventurer.
"Meria was the last one?"
"She happened to be free. When I proposed partying up, she accepted right away."
Come to think of it, this was my first time working with Meria since the dungeon. Her main shield still looked sturdy on her back. She'd blocked curse magic with that thing before.
"Yeah, first time since the dungeon? How've you been?"
"I'm always doing great. But who's the one standing behind you?"
"Oh, introduce yourselves. This is my girlfriend, Claudia."
"Girlfriend!"
Meria's eyes went wide at the word, and she covered her mouth with both hands.
What a fresh reaction.
"Nice to meet you. Claudia."
"Uh, hi? I'm Meria. Katt's girlfriend?"
Suddenly, Claudia hugged me from behind and rested her chin on my shoulder.
"As you can see?"
"No way!"
Meria, looking oddly excited, started peppering Claudia with questions. When did you start dating? How'd it happen? Guess she had normal sensibilities as a girl and was super into that stuff.
Nothing's more boring than someone else's love life, though.
Anyway, they hit it off thanks to her sociable nature, and their conversation kept going.
I slipped away midway and stood next to Kobson, habitually munching on some rations.
"Hey, Kobson. How much longer we gotta walk?"
"About time to head out."
"Oh, right. Did you bring the lantern by any chance? The one we bought for the dungeon. I stocked up on oil just in case."
At my words, Kobson pulled a lantern from his backpack. It was the one he'd used so effectively in the dungeon—a handy item that stayed lit for hours once filled with oil.
"Kukuku, what do you take me for? Of course I brought it. I'd have chewed you out if you hadn't brought the oil."
The downside was it tied up one hand when worn, like a cursed item. Already, I felt this weird urge to polish my ring.
"Basic stuff, sheesh. Alright, let's roll out!"
And so we headed toward the city's sewer entrance. It wasn't far. Claudia seemed a bit annoyed by Meria clinging to her, but she answered diligently, so she didn't look too upset.
"So, so, what's so great about him?"
"Hmm... There are too many things; it's hard to pick."
"No way!"
Naturally, we ended up walking two guys and two girls.
Kobson, walking beside me, whispered,
"So lovey-dovey."
"Totally."
"What do I gotta do to get a girlfriend?"
"Be good-looking."
"Don't even joke about me being good-looking."
"That hurts my feelings."
"Hurts mine too."
Kobson was this pitiful guy who'd dumped all his charm stats into his hair, so honestly, getting a girlfriend seemed a bit rough for him. He was probably on the classic old bachelor track.
We chatted idly and soon reached the sewer entrance.
Someone was standing there—up close, it was Merman.
"You folks must be the adventurers here to clear out the undead... Hm?"
"Long time no see~ Merman."
"Hmmm, friends I've worked with before."
"You know him?" the party asked. I explained we'd worked together last time. Merman looked us over and briefly explained the job.
"The sewers are crawling with undead right now, so everything's stalled except the first underground level. Unknown corpses and trash are piling up. If we don't fix it soon, water'll back up into the city."
"That's bad news. How many undead specifically?"
"Couldn't gauge the exact numbers. Just that the workers on sub-level 2 freaked out and went on strike... More precisely, no more slacking off."
"What a disaster!"
I recalled my fond memories with Merman.
Beautiful times when we'd use patrol duty just for the two of us to hole up in a corner for a nap. During my intense sword training when I was exhausted, it was like a warm ray of salvation. Sleep all shift and still collect pay—couldn't beat that.
And now those undead bastards had wrecked Merman's turf.
Damn undead scum. I won't forgive them. Ever.
"I'll guide you, so protect me and take out the undead."
Basically, this quest was to escort Merman while clearing residual undead in the sewers. Like all escort quests, if Merman bit it, we'd be screwed, so extra care on protection.
No retries.
"Let's go in."
Merman lit the lantern and entered the underground sewer. We followed.
"Ugh... the stench."
"Pretty bad."
The party started grimacing at the intense smell. Claudia's sense of smell was better than humans', so it'd hit her harder. I handed her the cloth I'd bought yesterday.
"Here, Claudia, cover your nose with this. Should help a bit."
"Thanks."
Claudia took the cloth and immediately covered her mouth and nose. I did the same. Breathing through it, it was tolerable. Wonder how she was holding up.
Then Meria came over and said,
"Oho, is this how you win girls' hearts?"
"Yup. Take notes. Guys fall for this stuff too."
"Guys too? Isn't it the opposite?"
"Opposite my ass. Guys or girls, everyone's the same. If you wanna hook a guy, Meria, spoil him rotten or get him blackout drunk once. Claudia was like..."
"Stop right there."
"Yes ma'am."
Claudia cut me off.
She had a history of getting me wasted and messing me up on the day we met.
I'd heard her excuse once: a lifelong virgin with no guy experience sees her ideal man and acts on impulse... Ah, too embarrassing; skip it.
"Is that true, barbarian?"
"What?"
"That guys and girls are the same..."
"You're the exception."
"Damn."
Anyway, Kobson and Merman's lanterns lit the darkness.
The sewer echoed with flowing water. Whoosh... the sound actually made it feel quieter. Occasional sewer rat scurries and dripping from the ceiling were all that broke the silence.
"Now down to level 2. Was a bit worried, but as expected, nothing on level 1."
We reached the stairs to sub-level 2.
This time, Meria led with shield raised. Kobson stuck close behind, holding up the lantern. Slowly, super slowly, since anything could jump out. Thinking ghouls might be down there tensed me up automatically.
No ambushes on the stairs.
Fully into level 2, we pushed through the silent darkness.
Meria shielded ahead, guarding Merman's rear. Kobson and I on front line. Claudia brought up the rear.
This was where undead would start showing up for real.
Zombies and such didn't scare me, but ghouls were vividly etched in my mind. Spotting one of those freaks in dark sewers would hurt my soul.
Playing Death's Universe, I'd jump-scared myself into dropping my liver more than once. Turns out human livers are removable; I'd reattach 'em often.
—Oro ro rong.
—Oro ro ro rong.
"Here they come."
Staggering zombies approached from ahead.
I scanned for others, but lantern light didn't reach far; nothing else visible.
"Take their heads."
"Got it."
I drew my sword and crept forward like a deadly cat.
Miss the swing, and heads or bodies splash into the flowing sewer beside us. Needed to collect as many heads as possible; couldn't waste 'em.
—Oro ro rong.
Cautiously swung at a reaching zombie arm. Controlled power for a light slice—might decapitate too easily otherwise.
—Thud!
Surprisingly, the blade only half-embedded in its neck.
Overcontrolled the strength.
"Fuck."
This sluggish crap wasn't my style.
I roundhouse-kicked the half-necked zombie right away. My kicking power had skyrocketed thanks to the Brass Celestial Society's greaves. The impact smashed it into the wall.
"Kobson, finish off that bastard's head."
"On it."
Left the downed one to Kobson and targeted another.
This time, one-shot decapitation.
"Ugh, you slowpokes."
Then Meria strode forward and casually shield-bashed. The protruding center crushed the zombie's chest ribs; it spewed bones tumbling back. Meria stepped on it, slamming her shield down on the neck.
—Bang!
Zombie head detached.
Incredible power.
"Quick, bag it."
"Yeah... Got some talent at least?"
"Festival was a blast."
After that, no real dangers. Smooth sailing. We dispatched zombies as they appeared, bagging their heads neatly.
"Merman, how many more zombies?"
"Hmm, it's a commission, so thorough is best. We'll search till evening. Show the heads then; they'll stamp approval. Gotta show we did something."
"Solid thinking."
We refilled lantern oil midway and kept scouting level 2 under Merman's lead.
Notable bits: killed some giant bats and sewer slimes for fun. True to our overflowing humanity, we greeted living monsters with enthusiastic violence.
After endless undead, live ones felt downright cozy.
Popped slimes; cleaved flying giant bats in half.
"Don't wreck the ecosystem too much. They break down filth, you know."
Merman complained, but slaughtering live monsters spiced up the boring sewer crawl.
—Gro ro rok.
"Whoa, check that guy."
More zombies floated in the water, neither swimming nor sinking. Merman's face said no need to fish 'em out. Good.
If he'd asked, I might've done something to him.
"Level 2's good enough... Scout a bit of 3, then wrap up."
Merman led to sub-level 3.
"...Not a pleasant place."
Rare for Claudia to complain. Damn. No more sewer jobs after this. The smell soured her mood. I'd stick close and comfort her.
Level 3 was uneventful. Just zombies and skeletons wandering. No ghouls. Easy peasy.
Search time nearly up. Bags full enough.
That's when it happened.
"Katt, stop."
Claudia halted me.
"I sense a presence."
"...Presence?"
I signaled the group to freeze and asked Merman,
"Merman, anyone else entered lately?"
"...Not that I know. Controlled access since the commission."
Unease hit; we held our breath.
If someone's there, they'd see our lantern light already. But despite Claudia's words, nothing but our light visible.
Moving without light?
Or undead?
She wouldn't mention undead.
Then?
—Tap tap tap tap!
Sudden running sounds.
"Who's there?!"
"Everyone, behind me!"
Kobson yelped; shield-raised Meria stepped forward.
—Tap tap tap tap!
Unlike the panicking crew, I noticed the oddity and focused on the sound.
Something running, but not approaching.
Receding.
...That's a fleeing sound.
Someone spotted us and bolted.