Chapter 164
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 164
Chapter Title: Kobolds and the Underground Labyrinth
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"Fuck!"
But it didn't take long for my shout of joy to twist into a curse of despair.
"You fucking trash heap!"
Kobolds have a habit of shoving all the byproducts from digging their burrows into one specific room. Most of it is tree roots, old bones, and rusted weapons buried underground—pure garbage. But sometimes, there are magic stones or valuable minerals mixed in.
That's exactly why adventurers raid kobold dungeons. Finding a 'high-purity magic stone' is the stuff of urban legends, but decent minerals turn up often enough to make it worthwhile.
"Hmm... Unfortunately, I don't see anything of much value."
Elise said as she pulled out some unidentifiable sackcloth rag with a rustle.
She was right.
There was hardly anything worth taking.
Come to think of it, this underground facility was already here from the start, and the labyrinth wasn't even made by the kobolds. Of course there wouldn't be anything useful. The kobolds hadn't dug the tunnels; they'd just nested in an existing space.
And the cultists had already swept through once. Anything good would've been looted by them.
"Haa. Just when I thought we'd struck gold. Who knew it'd end like this? Hey, darky, you still gotta grab whatever's worth grabbing, right? Dig through it hard. Imagine how sad it'd be to come all this way and leave empty-handed."
"Goddamn it!"
In the end, all we could salvage were a few weapons that looked like they'd belonged to the sacrificed adventurers. Axes, swords, maces... They looked about as good as their former owners' skill levels—nothing impressive.
Still, they'd fetch gum money at least.
Reluctantly, I rummaged violently through the trash piles. But I found nothing useful. It felt like I was about to cry.
We'd staked our lives, fought a heroic, valiant battle, and taken down that massive beast of doom, the Kobold Queen. We deserved a proper reward.
But fuck.
Nothing.
This was outrageous.
This was an outrage.
...The world is stained with injustice.
The bourgeois elite of developed nations shell out millions for a single meal, only to leave most of it untouched without a second thought... Even as kids in the Third World starve to death today!
Aaah! Injustice of the world!
While some live carefree lives in peaceful lands, boys and girls in the Middle East get kidnapped by terrorists, turned into child soldiers, and used up! What crime did they commit to have to risk their young lives in war? Who's to blame? What the hell is wrong?
The world!
This fucked-up world is what's wrong!
Discrimination against Black people! Human trafficking in Africa! The atrocities of the legendary criminal group KKK! The Civil War sparked by slavery! Humanity's sorrow, civilization's tragedy! All that injustice was crammed into this underground labyrinth's trash heap!
Why did the wolf girl have to die!
"Uwaaaaaah!"
I hate this unjust world!
Then I'll...!
I'll save everyone!
"Sis! Do something about the darky, please!"
"Hm... He's got his energy back, hasn't he? That seems fine to me? That's just Katt charm."
"You're talking nonsense!"
At that moment, Winia pointed at me and yelled at Claudy. What the? I'd just resolved to save humanity... Oh, right, not that.
"It's because you put up with the darky's bullshit every time that he's like this! Sis, you gotta correct that shit. I can happily do it for you."
"Don't go too hard on him, okay?"
"Darky, quit the fucking crap and get over here! Now!"
"Why the hell?!"
I was shocked!
What was going on!
We'd clearly been happily collecting treasure in the treasure room! Winia strode over and grabbed me by the scruff, shaking me.
"Uwaaaaaah!"
"Kyahahahaha!"
Halfway through, she started laughing maniacally. After a while, things settled down. Winia calmed, and I regained my composure. Sitting there rubbing my neck.
"Darky, if you pull that shit again, I'll punish you. Whew. Now I feel energized."
She declared, arms crossed, standing tall. Her chest, deflated from the ordeal earlier, bounced back with pride. The grip on my neck hadn't been gentle, so yeah, her energy was up.
"Fine... As long as you're feeling better... I think the stress just got to me too much. But people snap sometimes, right? No need to choke someone over—"
"Don't whine, darky. Makes me wanna punch you."
"Anyway, you're fucking violent, seriously."
"What?"
"Nah, I love you."
"You're such a little shit. You mutt."
Winia blushed at that, but no way I'd forgive her.
This pain would be paid back in bed.
Anyway, nothing more to grab, so we headed out of the treasure room. What a disappointing haul. All we'd gotten so far were kobold claws and teeth, the queen's restraints and crown, and these weapons.
We'd break even, but per day, it wasn't great.
"I think I've found the way up."
"Ooh."
At least we quickly found the upward passage nearby the treasure room. Claudy perked her ears, checked for presences above, confirmed no issues, and we climbed right up.
"...Still?"
But what greeted us was, predictably, the cold stone floor.
"We fell from pretty high up, after all."
Claudy said. She'd caught us when we were surely goners. Still dizzying to think about. That brush with death might've let us fight the queen like that.
Those who've faced death grow bolder.
"I fucking love you so much, Claudy."
I said, grabbing her shoulders.
She smiled at my sudden move.
"Hehe, out of nowhere?"
"Out of nowhere? I've always loved you... Yeah. We butchered the Kobold Queen thanks to this power of love."
"Maybe skip the last part... Nah, that's charm too. Love you."
Giggling as we walked the labyrinth, a fork appeared soon: left, right. Right it is, obviously. Already eaten and slept, so exploration pace was fast.
Didn't take long to find another upward path.
"About time to bust out of this labyrinth."
Judging by height, we were near the end. As expected, upward led to an earthen underground facility. Halfway there. Just find rough upward paths from here to reach the surface.
Short break, then off again.
Spotted a few wandering kobolds on the way up. No match for us after flattening the queen. Killed them like a morning stroll.
Then we ran into another adventurer party.
"Hmm? Who the fuck are those guys?"
From the other end of the passage, lit by torches, came a group of six adventurers.
I tensed up a bit. Kim Katt here doesn't trust adventurers much. Especially not in a witness-less underground dungeon.
They could turn murderous bandits any second—psychos. Paper-thin line between adventurer and highway robber.
"Other adventurers."
Elise said casually. Claudy looked unfazed, Winia uninterested. Guess it's a life experience thing.
Finally close enough to see their faces.
—Silence.
We faced off with the halted group.
Six of them total.
All looked like straight-up thugs.
No mage in sight, just typical thug adventurers with swords and axes. E-rankers maybe? Muscles and gear didn't scream high level.
One glared and spoke.
"What the hell are you punks? Hey, weren't we in the lead?"
"Probably? What? Why're you guys here?"
From their tone, these were the deepest penetrators. Probably spooked by our sudden appearance. Why spooked?
"You guys come up from below, right?"
Obviously worried we'd beaten them to the treasure.
Not that there was any.
I stepped forward with a grin.
"Huh? Nah. Got lost. Haha. Know the way up? Damn, came in and got turned around."
"What? Lost?"
"Yeah. Place is a maze, y'know. Blinked and here we were. Kobolds everywhere... Anyway, suffered like hell for nothing. See ya."
Somehow.
"You little shit, stop. This smells fishy. We were definitely first, no other paths? What're you?"
Didn't look like it'd end peacefully.
Seeing the sudden aggression felt like a fresh hammer to the head... Kids, can't you just be decent for once?
"Fishy how? You missed some path, fuckers. You goddamn bitch."
"Wha, what bitch? C-captain! These guys are sus!"
The cursed one freaked out yelling.
To me, they looked more sus, but people are blind to their own shit. I glanced at Claudy. She said, amused.
"Think we can settle nice?"
"Dunno. But their mouth makes me not wanna."
"Good attitude. Hehe... Judgment's yours, Katt?"
They started whispering over there too.
"Calm down."
Stepping forward was a middle-aged adventurer. Tight leather armor, sword at hip. Light gear, beer gut prominent—uncle type.
"You said you got lost?"
"Ain't my bedroom, first time here—'course I did, fuck. More importantly, bring back that punk who just sassed us."
"Wasn't trying to pick a fight. Sorry, bear with it."
He bowed apologetically.
"Yeah... No biggie, just clear the way? Lost stress is killing me—wanna get out fast."
"..."
But no sign of moving.
Eying me, he spoke again.
"...Did you use some secret passage to drop down first?"
"Keep prying and I'm annoyed. Secret path my ass—told you, lost."
"Nah. That's a lie. We've mapped here a week, no other ways."
"..."
Fuck.
No comeback then.
"Figured. So, used a secret path to go down first? That's why I asked."
"Sure, whatever. So what?"
"What I'm saying is... your bags look heavy. Be honest, we'll forgive. Didn't raid the treasure room, did ya?"
The uncle grinned sleazily, teeth bared. Greed dripping like slime.
I caught his intent.
He figured we snuck in via secret path, looted the treasure, stole their hard-earned 'prize' after a week.
Incomprehensible logic, but seemed like it.
That's adventurers for ya.
"What? Forgive? Who the fuck are you to forgive? Your grandma couldn't forgive me, you fucking pig."
"Words won't cut it. Boys!"
At his shout, the six entered combat stance.
Words failed them, not me, you fucks...
Anger boiled, head about to explode.
"You fucking bullshit bastards, for real."