Chapter 106
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 106
Chapter Title: The Cultists in the Underground Sewers
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Money is important.
It's best to earn it while you can.
Even if the job is a bit dangerous, if a big reward is promised, adventurers will dive in headfirst without looking back. That's what adventurers are.
They always risk their lives, staining their blades with monster blood to scrape together every last coin. That's why no ordinary level of danger can extinguish the fire of their greed.
I, who knew better than anyone the value of money, fully agreed with that sentiment.
To me, money was practically a lifeline that extended my survival time in this other world. Having lived this way for nearly three years, that mindset had long since become my most fundamental criterion for judgment.
Well, lately, thanks to Cloude, it was changing little by little. But under the supreme goals of "survival" and "return," the paranoid obsession with money embedded in my heart wasn't something I could easily shake off.
Opportunities must be seized.
Even if there were obstacles, I had to overcome them and grab the chance.
Money in "silver" units was a huge amount. Why else would I have spared that pickpocket bitch last time? She paid a hefty settlement of 5 silver, so I let her go. Of course, I tried to kill her for stealing 5 silver in the first place.
From my perspective, even setting aside the quest reward of 50 copper per day, just selling the wands would net at least 2 silver per person. Two wands alone held that much value—what if there were more? What if there were even more expensive items?
That wasn't the kind of opportunity one could pass up.
Of course, someone could say my eyes were blinded by greed, leading me straight to my grave.
But after assessing these two bastards' strength, they didn't seem that dangerous. They used magic, so they were probably mages, but they didn't seem to have mastered "Memorize," the basic spell that mages like Winia could cast.
Memorize is like a mental slot that stores spells for instant casting without chanting.
That's why high-level mages are so terrifying. If a spell is loaded in Memorize, they can fire off magical projectiles with just a thought—like a handgun or rifle.
People like me could never stand against that. We wouldn't even survive. No one can live against a gun.
Why else would I have put up with getting my ass kicked by Winia all that time? She was a powerful mage capable of Memorize. To beat her, my reaction speed would need to outpace her perception speed—something impossible for me. Probably for most people too.
But those cultists had raised their wands and chanted spells; they didn't unleash memorized magic right away. Low-level mages. They might have panicked from our sudden attack, but if so, they were just combat noobs. Either way, worth challenging.
Hey, I'm not a brainless idiot.
That's what I gleaned from those clues—there was a chance of victory.
"...That's the gist of it. Understand what I'm saying?"
I roughly bundled those thoughts and preached them to Kobson and Meria. Honestly, Merman's opinion didn't matter. Cloude would follow my lead anyway, and convincing Kobson and Meria would let us head back underground.
"Hm... You're right. Looks like we should go down."
"Just trust my shield. You saw last time, right? Curse magic doesn't faze me."
"Alright? If you guys say so, let's head down."
They agreed far more easily than expected.
We prepared to descend again. We stripped the corpses of their robes, severed their heads, and tossed them into the water. Since enemies were confirmed below, we hid the sack in a corner for now. We'd grab it on the way up.
"N-No! We're supposed to go up! The request is done! We cleared all the undead! Let's go back now!"
Of course, Merman protested.
I grabbed his excited shoulder.
"No, no. We're adventurers of trust and faith. We can't just abandon a job halfway. Frankly, don't we need to wipe out even the undead that might be further down to complete our mission?"
"I-I'm saying it's fine!"
His lazy work ethic was biting him now. I continued anyway. Bringing this up would make convincing him easy.
"I'll cut you in on a share too, Merman. Huh? Come with us? We'll take it from our cut. Isn't it only right, since you're guiding us? You should pocket some spending money too, right?"
At the mention of money, Merman hesitated. Yes! Money! We need to earn it! The promise of a cut softened him instantly. A few more sweet words, and his expression changed.
He's human too, after all.
"Hmmm... If it gets dangerous, we run immediately. Fine, I'll guide you down."
"Exactly! We're human too—we'll bolt if it looks bad. We earn money to live, not die. If death looms, we run without looking back. Don't worry! I value my life as much as you do!"
"...Got it."
Merman nodded, and we descended to the fourth underground level again. Bringing plenty of oil was a brilliant choice. Without it, we couldn't light the darkness and would've had to turn back.
"Katt, you talk really well."
"What's with the sudden flattery?"
As we went down the stairs, Cloude said to me.
"Remember when I said you had both intellect and savagery?"
"Yeah... That was a while ago. Hearing it again is embarrassing."
"Honestly, lately it seemed like only savagery was left, but seeing this... Yeah, the intelligent side shines through. I'm really happy. If only you'd show this side and stop the dumb stuff."
Embarrassed, I covered my face with both hands. Cloude grabbed my arms and pulled them toward her. Her soft laugh in my ear tickled my heart.
"Whew, you two are close, huh? Having a lover must be nice. Kinda envious. The way you support each other is admirable."
"I agree, Miss Meria."
Meria whistled as she spoke, and Kobson rasped in agreement.
"Kobson, your voice is hoarse again."
"No, damn it! You barbarian! Not that again!"
"Then don't rasp, you prick."
Outraged, Kobson asked Meria directly.
"Miss Meria. Is my voice hoarse?"
"Yeah, it is. Still is."
"...Ridiculous."
We reached the fourth underground level. Time to get serious. This was basically going to pick a fight, so tension naturally built. We were entering the enemy's lair.
I steeled my mind like a raider. No compromises—for the money, I'd hunt these hidden cultists, seize their wands. Strike without hesitation. Kobson and Meria's eyes hardened similarly.
Thud thud.
Thud, thud.
"Quiet our footsteps a bit."
"This is quiet."
Even trying to muffle them, they still sounded loud. We dimmed the lanterns, suppressing the light, and crept through the darkness. No point getting spotted first. As slowly and carefully as possible.
Round the corner, turn the bend. We delved deeper like that. I asked Merman, who'd been here before, to note the path.
Whoosh.
"What the hell kind of structure is this?"
"No idea."
A massive underground cavern poured water like a waterfall. Was this really the city's sewer system? I wasn't an expert, but it seemed oddly grand.
We passed that somewhat majestic area.
A maze-like space? No undead or giant bats, but the ossuary from before kept coming to mind. Orcota Catacombs. It felt similar.
"...Footsteps. Stop."
Human radar—no, half-elf radar—Cloude whispered lowly. We halted instantly, fully covering the lantern with our cloaks.
More cultists, as expected. Not much time had passed since killing those two, so they might not know we were here yet.
Of course, we'd disposed of the bodies, but bloodstains remained—they might've noticed if they'd passed. Or the ones who fled after spotting us first... I stopped speculating. Not enough info.
Focus on what's in front.
"...SuGar? YaieDat."
"DoDo... Hunst. Ua, Hunstes...Yaie..."
Plastered against the wall, holding our breath like before, we heard incomprehensible mutterings again. No point trying to translate. Ignore it. Another pair? On patrol? Useless guesses.
All we knew was:
Kill those two, get two wands, reduce enemy strength by -4.
We exchanged glances and nodded simultaneously. Signal for ambush and slaughter when they neared.
"...Dat."
After tense moments, they appeared. Chatting leisurely, they rounded the corner and spotted us in the dark, eyes widening. Pitch-black eyes, as expected.
"Meow!"
"!!!!!!!!!!"
I meowed like a cat and lunged, thrusting my sword. The bastard sword's long blade tore into the cultist's gut. Before he could react in shock, my knee smashed his balls.
"Gyaaaaaack!!!"
It was the death cry itself.
Like a lament of life's despair, his scream erupted.
Even cultists cry when their nuts shatter.
He dropped the wand and collapsed. I snatched it midair and rolled away.
"Gus-Tar Ya!!!"
The other couldn't resist either. Futile screams.
"YiYaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!"
Completely unprepared for combat, the pair fell helplessly to our ambush. Surprise + first strike was invincible. Unready non-combatants have no choice but to die.
"Too easy. But two more wands secured."
"Heh heh, good call coming back down. Very good."
Kobson and Meria slit the fallen cultists' throats for confirmation. We'd snagged two more wands easily. Felt like serial killers, but no guilt left.
Damn Indian triangle curse turned us into monsters.
"From their attitude, they haven't noticed our intrusion yet."
"Yeah, exactly. Heh heh, if they knew we were here, they wouldn't stroll so casually."
Kobson, disposing of the bodies, astutely pointed it out.
If they knew, they'd be on combat alert. Communication might be poor down here, so these two didn't know while others might... Still, four dead was a big blow to their forces.
"Yeah... Makes sense. Things should get easier ahead."
Meria said. If the enemy was clueless about us, nothing could go smoother. Even the terrified Merman relaxed a bit at how easily it went.
"So, which way now..."
As I pondered direction, Cloude grabbed my hand.
"Follow where these guys came from, right?"
"Perfect. Let's go that way, everyone!"
We headed deeper in.