Chapter 104
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 104
Chapter Title: The Cultists in the Underground Sewers
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"So, what do we do with these corpses?"
Meria, who was squatting down, lifted the arm of the gargoyle that Kobson and I had killed and said. That black arm looked just like the devil's grasp that would grant any wish you desired, no matter how depraved.
I saw a gargoyle monster for the first time today. I had no idea what it was worth. Even if the hide was usable, two of them were turned into ground meat, and the other one was riddled with holes, completely fucked up.
The sharp talons, demonic wings, or beak might have some value, but I honestly doubted if the hide, damaged like that, was worth anything.
Fuck, I'd been so focused on the fight that I hadn't thought about what came after.
Shit, goddamn it.
"Do you guys know how much these go for?"
I decided to ask the others just in case. I didn't know the exact value. But I couldn't just leave the corpses here either. We had to take them with us at least.
"No idea."
"First time I've seen one too..."
Kobson and Meria shook their heads.
They didn't know either. If two people who'd lived in this world since birth didn't know about it, it had to be a pretty rare monster.
And rare things usually fetched a high price.
"First time? Then how'd you know it's a gargoyle?"
"You can tell just by looking. Look at it."
"To me, it looks like a Black Birdman."
"What's a Black Birdman?"
"A creature from nightmares."
Meria didn't seem to get what I was saying.
This might be the difference in values between a modern Earthling and a native of this world.
I decided to ask Merman. As the sewer expert, he should know about gargoyles. This was his turf, after all.
"Merman, do gargoyles normally live in the sewers?"
"...No, this is a first for me too. Never even heard of them... Shouldn't we head back soon? There's too much to report... And it's getting scary. Something's not right."
Merman, who usually slacked off napping every day, was scared.
He seemed pretty spooked by the sudden attack from these bizarre creatures.
"You don't know gargoyles either..."
He didn't know about them either.
So what the hell were they?
Did they come floating in with the undead?
Had they teamed up amicably or something...?
There were all sorts of suspicious circumstances.
If it wasn't just my imagination, these gargoyles and that giant who fled earlier might be connected somehow. Suspicious events always had shady culprits behind them, after all.
Kobson, watching the frightened Merman, asked,
"Should we head up from here, then?"
"No, we still need to finish the job. What if the guild gives us shit later? Merman, we have to patrol the entire third underground level before going up, right?"
"...You're right. Let's do that."
I cut off the least damaged parts from the gargoyle corpses and packed them neatly into my sack and Kobson's bag. Combined with the undead heads and other stuff, it was now stuffed full with no room left.
Heavy as hell.
Anyway, we resumed exploring the darkness of the sewers. From now on, we'd decapitate any undead we met and shove their heads into the sewer. The corpses? A few more floating in wouldn't matter; the laborers who came later would clean them up.
We'd gathered enough heads to prove we'd done our job.
As we walked, killing undead along the way, we spotted some stairs. They led downward.
"There's a fourth underground level here?"
"Yes. It's usually sealed off, so no need to check it normally."
"Sealed? It's open."
The gateway leading to the fourth underground level was half-open. Merman froze, his mouth agape at the sight.
"Wh-what the..."
Suspicious as hell. From Merman's shocked expression, he couldn't believe the gate was open.
Some kind of conspiracy was brewing in these sewers.
"Katt. That guy who ran earlier."
Claudi spoke up.
"He might've gone down here."
We all nodded. The giant who vanished suddenly, the attacking gargoyles, and now this gate to the fourth level that shouldn't be open... The puzzle pieces fit, and the situation turned truly ominous.
"W-we have to check this out. Let's go down to the fourth level."
Merman said, steeling himself. He was in charge here, so we'd follow his lead. I wanted to go down anyway. Unsettling, but kinda intriguing.
—Thud, thud.
—Thud, thud.
Our footsteps echoed as we descended the stairs. The flickering lantern flames cast five shadows on the walls.
—Fwoosh.
In the middle, Kobson's lantern went out. Merman poured oil from a flask into it by lantern light. The flame reignited. It should last a few more hours.
We reached the gate. The half-open door's lock was completely smashed. Unless time and wear had broken it naturally—which it hadn't—someone had deliberately destroyed it.
We flung the door wide open and propped it with nearby debris.
Inside was pitch black.
Meria hesitated, then thrust her shield in first and entered. She looked like she was being swallowed by sticky darkness. Kobson followed, then me. Claudi and Merman brought up the rear.
"It's been ages since anyone came down here... I don't remember the way... Let's scout a bit and get out quick."
Merman said, looking around. The fourth level seemed bigger than the first three combined. I had no clue about the layout, but it reminded me of that ossuary dungeon from before.
"Shh."
After walking some more,
Before turning a corner, Claudi signaled and whispered softly.
"Footsteps. Dim the lights. It's a corner; they might not spot us."
"..."
"..."
We held our breath, covered the lanterns with our cloaks to dim them, and set down our sacks and bags. Pressed flat against the wall, we waited silently. The footsteps grew closer. Leisurely steps, like someone strolling. Then, a muttering voice.
"SabasSabasArlgulTarban."
"DodancroBeRitanainaRA."
It was a language I couldn't understand.
Was it just me? Kobson looked baffled too. What the hell was around that corner? Felt like some apocalyptic beast standing on two legs. Terrifying.
Merman was desperately clamping his mouth to stifle his breathing.
I felt the same. Just gripped my sword tight and calmed myself.
The light from around the corner approached. Voices closer. Footsteps right in front of us, crystal clear.
"SyaSya... DuryubyiNya?"
"So-Dat. KuntaDaruga."
We were ready for combat. They hadn't noticed us yet. Tension skyrocketed. Whoever turned the corner, it'd be clash time—life or death.
"Too... Dat?"
Finally, the sources of the sounds rounded the corner.
They wore pitch-black robes. Each held a wooden wand embedded with a black crystal orb; one carried a lantern.
Chatting casually as they walked, they spotted us waiting around the corner, swords drawn.
—!
—!
They jolted like cats spotting a cucumber and dropped the lantern.
—Thunk!
The fallen lantern lit their faces clearly with its flames.
—Fwoosh!
"Evil markings!"
Both had familiar tattoos on their faces!
Just like the sorcerers who controlled those flesh golems we'd seen before. And that pattern—we'd seen it enough to be sick of it. Worst, their wide eyes had no whites... Just pure black darkness!
These fuckers couldn't be innocent!
One hundred percent evil cult bastards!
"Du, DurT...!"
One fumbled his wand upward and started muttering.
—Shoooo...
Instantly, black energy gathered before the wand. Casting a spell? Fuck this!
—Flash!
Claudi darted out and decapitated him. In less than 0.1 seconds. The head spun three times in the air before hitting the ground, and we seasoned adventurers knew: violence was the only solution.
"Fuck it!"
Me, Kobson, and Meria charged like wrathful demons at the remaining one.
"Gu... Guaaa! DuoSha! DuoSha!!!!"
I shoulder-tackled him. Braced for impact, but he was ridiculously light.
He flew back, slammed into the wall, and started screaming something.
"Shut up!"
I roughly snatched the pricey-looking wand and broke his arm. A beastly scream erupted. No mercy needed. He'd tried to blast us with magic on sight—not normal at all.
"Hup!"
Kobson arrived and started stomping his head. Meria hefted her shield with both hands and bashed him relentlessly.
—Thump! Thump!
—Bang! Bang!
"...! ...!"
I clamped his jaw shut with my gauntleted hand and pummeled his temple with my other fist.
—Pound! Thud thud!
—Pum pum pum pum!
To maintain stealth, we all bit down hard, silent as we focused on beating him. Pure covert op. Had to mush him up for smooth "conversation" later.
It was savagery like what cultists inflict on sacrifices.
In the frenzy of violence, we just kept pounding endlessly.
"...Hah, hah!"
About two minutes of unleashing hell later,
Our breaths exploded from the exertion.
"Hoo... So what the hell is this guy?"
"What... hah... is he...?"
Kobson panted, and Meria wiped sweat, voicing the question. But how would we know? We'd jumped him without hellos. No time to learn anything.
"Beats me. Who is he? We beat his ass, though."
"..."
The barely-alive guy slowly lifted his head. Black tears streamed from his black eyes. He looked wronged by his ragdoll state.
"Heh, heh...!"
Claudi, watching, burst into stifled laughter. Holding it back, she said softly,
"Heh heh... Beat him to a pulp and now you ask?"
Her words cracked me up too.
My laugh set off Kobson.
"Kuh, ku ku ku..."
"Heh heh heh..."
"What's so funny? Everyone laughing?"
The black-eyed monster clenched his fists at our mirth.
Trembling in rage?
"So, what do we do with this fucker?"
I picked up the two dropped wands. Obviously expensive. Meria and Kobson's eyes gleamed greedily—adventurer avarice.
"Heh heh, jackpot. Clean up the bodies, grab heads and loot, drag this guy back to the third level. This seems like their evil lair."
Kobson's plan made sense. I packed the head and wands, slung both bag and sack. Meria and Claudi dragged the dead bodies by the ankles. Kobson supported the survivor.
"Merman, let's head up quick."
"...You guys are really violent."
"That's adventurers for ya."
We retraced our steps to the third level. Kobson, panting hard, dumped his charge on the floor.
—Splatter!
The guy hit headfirst and clutched his skull.
"Time for interrogation... Looks exactly like some evil cultist worshiping a dark god or demon. Right?"
"Yep. Guys like that go straight to the church. Bet they'll pay well."
"Pay, huh..."
We reached out toward the fallen bastard.