Chapter 41
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: Dungeon
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We cleared every room, taking down three more stray mimics along the way. Spotting anything chest-like, we'd smash it on sight—no mimic stood a chance, no matter how well disguised. Sadly, all they coughed up were some ancient copper coins, junk, and crumbs. Damn these ancient assholes.
"How the hell did the ancients even build places like this?"
"Must've thrown manpower at it."
From my experience, throw enough manpower at something, and nothing's impossible.
There was nothing left worth seeing around here. Having looted the valuables, we headed straight to the next sector. We came across several forks and even more entrances leading underground. We agreed to explore this level more thoroughly before descending another floor.
Flap flap flap!
"Giant bats, huh. Even in a place like this?"
"Ancient giant bats, maybe?"
"Not everything needs 'ancient' slapped on it, barbarian freak."
"Damn it."
The massive bats flew right over our heads. Elise watched them for a moment, then turned back and said,
"Mind if I go kill them real quick?"
She seemed itchy for some action. Giant bats could fly, and with our total lack of anti-air capabilities, we had no real way to take them down. Unless Elise used her holy spell, Light Bolt—but wasting it on mere bats would be a huge loss. So we decided to hold off.
"Wouldn't it be better to follow them first without killing? They're probably nesting here somewhere, so trailing them should lead to something. If not, we can always kill them later."
"Hm, sound reasoning. Very well."
As we trailed the bats endlessly, we spotted more forks, underground entrances, and doors whose purposes we couldn't fathom. It was a total maze—lose your way here, and you'd be done for.
We paused now and then to sketch maps, but one wrong turn, and we'd be lost forever, haunting this dungeon as ghosts. An ominous feeling crept in. Well, if things went south, Elise could probably handle it somehow. Radiant Cross Society nuns were reliable like that.
"The bats are heading that way."
The giant bats veered into a right-hand corner. As we approached, a strange breeze picked up. It was a room with a high ceiling—or maybe just a wide passage; it was too dark to make out the full shape.
The bats seemed to be gathering on the ceiling here. Was this their nest?
"Whoa, stuff's all over the place."
"...Slimes."
Slimes were scattered everywhere in the room. They appeared to live off the giant bats' droppings. Elise ignored them, staring up at the ceiling.
"Any way to get them? Hanging up that high, there's nothing we can do."
She still seemed eager for the kill. With slimes all around, I wished she'd settle for those, but they clearly weren't appealing trophies to her.
"Since there might be more than just giant bats and slimes, shouldn't we explore the room more? Looks like an ecosystem's formed here—could be something worth grabbing."
"Aye, I'm for it."
"I second the barbarian freak's opinion."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
"Understood. That sounds wise."
"Then let's go? Everyone behind me."
Not knowing what might pop out, Meria took point this time, shield raised as we advanced. Kobson lit the center with his lantern, Elise flanked one side, and I guarded the rear as we pressed into the darkness.
This wasn't a giant room after all—just a massive passage.
"Doesn't the scenery feel kinda familiar? Barbarian freak."
"Yeah... definitely seems like we've seen this setup somewhere..."
Kobson and Meria said. I felt it too. This high-ceilinged space rang a bell. Where had I seen this before?
"It looks just like a church at night."
"That's it."
"Yep."
"Bingo."
It was shaped exactly like a church nave. Elise murmured something ominous. Ossuary Orcota Catacombs—true to its name, this dungeon was likely a facility for storing remains. A church inside wouldn't be out of place.
Whoosh...
"Water sounds?"
The further we went, the more something like running water echoed. Groundwater, maybe? Then the bats swirled up again.
Flutter flap!
"Aaah! S-scared me!"
Kobson yelped in surprise, then glanced around sheepishly with an awkward grin, like he thought himself some cute little thing. It was annoying.
"Pansy ass."
"...Aw."
Were the bats heading to drink? Anyway, we should check the water source. We followed the sound.
"What's that now?"
As we neared, something squirming caught the edge of my vision. Monsters? I had Kobson shine the light on it. Whatever it was, anything that size moving was guaranteed a monster.
Squelch squelch.
Squelch squelch.
Meria stepped in front of Kobson, shield up. He hoisted the lantern high, and I stuck right behind her, eyes locked ahead. What we saw next was shocking.
"Fucking creepy."
"My god. What the hell are those?"
"Can I close my eyes? I can close my eyes, right?"
Wriggle.
They were maggots the size of small kids. Back home, low birth rates made seeing kids rare, but these were actual larvae that big. The sight sent chills down my neck like one had dropped on me—goosebumps everywhere. Everyone but Elise felt the same.
Squirm squirm.
Pulsing flesh, twitching wrinkles. Drooling horrific maws... and worst, six eyes. The grotesque things crawled in a cluster. They weren't fast, which made it even creepier.
"...Disgusting vermin. They're called [Tooth Maggots], cursed evil larvae. Best to exterminate them swiftly and cut them from the world."
Touch those? Doubt there's anything valuable in maggot guts. Better to bypass... But Elise's eyes already burned with battle lust.
"Dangerous monsters?"
"Individually, no big deal. But in a swarm, they could be tricky. Those jaws would leave nasty wounds."
"Not itching to mess with 'em..."
"To check the water, we have to pass them anyway."
True enough. No telling how deep this went—finding flowing water took priority.
"Guess we gotta wipe 'em out then? Water's important."
"But there's too many. How do we kill 'em all?"
As we plotted their demise, one gnawing at the floor gestured our way and looked up.
Queek?
...Eye contact? If bugs had that kind of awareness, yeah. Incongruously cute, it tilted its head☆. On that horrific, gross maggot body. Fresh goosebumps.
It stared a few seconds, then suddenly gaped its maw and screeched.
Kieee!
Kieee!
Dozens of tooth maggots charged at the signal. A rainbow dream of giant bugs swarming—we screamed in horror!
Crazy! Fuck!
"W-we're screwed! Where's the fuckin' pest control?!"
"Uwaa! Barbarian! Barbarian freak!"
"Kyaaaaaaaah!!"
Leading the charge was, of course, brave Elise!!!
"Back to where you belong, you evil larvae!!!"
Splat!
Squeak!
Petite as she was, she wasn't fazed—kicking tooth maggots like soccer balls. Those hit by her boots exploded like bursting fruits with gross squelches.
Damn, Elise couldn't fight alone. We rushed to join her.
"Die!"
Digging up old soccer memories, I unleashed a taekwondo-infused (black belt here) soccer kick. My toe pierced a maggot's forehead. Sticky fluids splashed. Pulling free, my boot was caked in gore and brains. Shit!
"Eek, eek!"
Meria, squeaking cutely for once, bashed jumping attackers with her shield, then stabbed them one by one. Precise, no wasted motion—block and thrust. Note to self: copy if I ever buy a shield.
"Hiep! Dodge! Parry!"
Kobson, bug-hater apparently, dodged with fancy footwork, weird yells accompanying backstabs. Who knew he had dancer talent?
"Disgusting... sticky... fluids splashing. This is why I hate bugs."
"I'm losing my mind here."
Elise booted maggots to pulp while morningstar-smashing leapers. Back-to-back with her, I sustained DPS with invincible taekwondo kicks and sword slashes.
After butchering about twenty, even their tiny brains got the memo—they fled into the dark, scampering away. Our victory. No loot. Covered in nasty goo, we didn't pursue.
"Ugh... so sticky..."
"Damn! All over my clothes! What the—b-bug legs?! Eek!"
Meria grimaced; Kobson freaked. Me? Both. Frothing, I freaked.
"Monsters drawn to the waterway, maybe... Let's push on. First, hold up."
Elise casually brushed maggot chunks off her shoulder. Good call—if water flowed nearby, time to wash. The party realized, crowding behind her.
Elise gathered scattered maggot jaws and claws first. Seemed puzzled which she'd killed herself.
While waiting, scanning around, we spotted something odd.
"This is..."
"A corpse."
It was a half-skeletonized human body. The maggots had probably gathered to eat it. Flesh still clung, so not long dead.