Chapter 46
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: Dungeon
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If I could find just three more Skeleton Mages and smash them to grab a staff each, I was confident I'd gladly do three full somersaults right there on the spot.
We moved as cautiously as possible. Magical projectiles might come flying out of the darkness again, just like before.
Merlia volunteered to take the lead again.
She seemed thrilled at the fact that she could block even magic with her shield. She might even be hoping for the same spell to come flying at her again.
Of course, if she could block it, that'd be ideal, but if not, I'd have to dive out of the way immediately.
"...Skeletons are climbing up from underground?"
As we advanced through the darkness, passages leading downward appeared on both sides of the straight path. Skeletons were climbing up the stairs from underground to the fourth floor, pouring out like Marines from a barracks. The sight felt oddly nostalgic.
"THIS IS SPARTA."
I kicked the chests of the ones coming up, sending them back to their homeland. The skeleton with shattered ribs tumbled into the dark abyss, taking its following comrades with it.
"Should we go down?"
"Hmm... Not sure I'd recommend it. If they're climbing up from below, the fifth floor underground might already be packed full of skeletons."
No matter how frail skeletons were, if they swarmed us packed tight like bean sprouts in a jar, we'd be the ones getting wrecked. I'd end up shedding bloody tears, recalling the old saying that no one stands before a group beating. Ah, those fucking bastards. It just hit me out of nowhere.
Of course, going deeper might yield some valuable ancient artifacts. But right now, caution was key. There might be a Necromancer around, and we'd already picked up some loot getting here.
No total bust, so no need to risk our lives. A true adventurer coldly weighs money against their own life. Mess that up, and you're the first to die.
"I'll sketch the map for a bit."
Elise stopped and pulled out the map she'd stashed away, quickly scribbling something on it.
I peeked over her shoulder to check if her drawing skills had improved. From what I saw, if she handed that thing over calling it a map, she'd get an earful.
"Is that mark a passage going underground?"
"No. That's where we encountered skeletons. I've marked them all for now."
"Ah, so that cat drawing is the underground passage, then."
"It's not a cat drawing, it's letters. A simple memo of the situation."
"..."
What the hell are you drawing?
Or writing, I guess.
Whatever, as long as she can read it herself.
We gave up on heading to the fifth underground floor and continued exploring the fourth.
Sure enough, nothing major happened. Skeletons appeared, we smashed them. Slimes and Giant Bats showed up occasionally too. After seeing nothing but skull bastards, running into these familiar faces was so welcoming that we killed them on impulse.
Elise was overjoyed at my impulsive serial-killer antics.
No need to say it, but with Elise smiling, the party's mood got even more harmonious. In that high spirit, we spotted what looked like a room.
"Someone's there."
There were prior guests in the room.
"...Isn't that bastard holding a staff?"
Clack.
I locked eyes with the skeleton in the room. It was holding something like a wooden stick. A rod? It was too dark to tell at first, but yeah, it was a staff. Thanks a lot, you fucker.
It was a Skeleton Mage.
"Yep. Skeleton Mage. I thought it was a Skeleton Stick Guy for a sec."
"Kekeke... Funny joke."
"For real?"
"Nah, just messing with you, you barbarian shit. Keep the bullshit in check."
"Crazy."
Kobson ribbed me.
The Skeleton Mage stood motionless in the center of the room, but something black seemed to writhe at its feet. Some evil aura? Mages could use those AoE spells called auras.
That could be trouble. Maybe it was just my imagination, but if nasty black thorns or something suddenly shot up from the ground, it'd be bad. Especially the part where it'd punch a few extra holes in my ass.
Sensing the same, Kobson tensed up and advanced slowly with the lantern out front. His hand trembled, as if he believed the lantern's light held holy power to repel evil.
Finally, their true nature was revealed in the light.
"Oh. Fuck."
"Eek."
Merlia twitched briefly.
Squirm, squirm.
Wriggle, wriggle.
What sprawled at the Skeleton Mage's feet were Tooth Maggots. Those monstrous larvae were worse than any evil aura. I stepped forward quietly.
Clack clack.
The Skeleton Mage began to move.
It swung its staff like a whip. A faint black mist trailed its arc, and the Tooth Maggots touched by it shuddered before all turning to stare at us in unison.
Fuck. Gross.
Drool-like slime dripped from one maggot's jaw.
"G-Gross!"
I leaped and cleaved the jumping maggot mid-air. Shwick! No bones, just flesh, so it split easily in two. The halves splattered on the ground.
Kieeeek!!
That set off the dozen-plus Tooth Maggots swarming toward us. Apparently lacking just muscle for bounce, they didn't crawl—they all jumped and charged. Quite the spectacle.
This Skeleton Mage seemed to control the Tooth Maggots with its magic.
"Urgh! I hate bugs!"
"Evil creations!"
Impressive monster-taming, but siccing these pathetic larvae on us wouldn't cut it.
I butchered the Tooth Maggots in seconds and stabbed the Skeleton Mage. It collapsed pathetically.
"One more staff acquired."
I was covered in nasty fluids, but feeling great. Already snagged two staffs with black crystals embedded.
Merlia had the shield, Kobson the lantern. Elise held one of the staffs we'd grabbed earlier, so I took this one. Staff in one hand, sword in the other—total magic swordsman vibe.
Damn, I should learn magic too.
"Going smoothly."
Elise tied the skull to her belt. Now with two skulls dangling at her waist, she looked like some cannibal savage warrior decked in trophies. This skull had engravings too.
"Yeah~. How much for two mage staffs?"
"I'd say at least 3 silver each."
"3 silver? More expensive than my shield."
One staff for 3 silver sounded optimistic, but definitely silver-level value. We kept smashing monsters and moving.
Grrr...
A low growl came from ahead. Some beast-type monster wandered in here?
Gurk, gurk...
Then a creepy cry too. A growl? More like malicious snickering—chilling sound. Elise leaned her staff against the wall and said,
"I sense evil energy."
"May the Radiance illuminate the darkness."
⟨ Holy Light ⟩
A brilliant light bloomed around her as she cast the spell. Holy Light, the divine skill that pierces darkness like an LED. The beam revealed monsters lurking in the shadows.
"Evil Hounds and Imps. Their foul stench is utterly revolting."
Woof woof!
Gurk, gurk!
The culprits were pitch-black puppies and pitch-black runts.
Evil Hounds were vicious hounds said to hail from the demon realm. Sleek black hides without fur, red eyes, sharp fangs—a somewhat dangerous monster.
Imps were pint-sized demons with barely any ego. Grotesque things like inflating a newborn's body three times over and stretching limbs long. Their horns made good magic ingredients, apparently.
"Hey, barbarian. Your pals. What'd you call 'em, darkies? Darkies over there. Kekeke..."
"Sigh."
What can you do? They're here, so kill 'em.
I took a deep breath.
Woof!
Whoosh! One Evil Hound charged like a bullet. True to beast-type, blisteringly fast. But we had our trusty tank, Merlia. She lowered her stance and raised her shield.
Thud!
"Ngh! It's pushing me back!"
They collided. Merlia blocked the lunge with her shield, but the impact sent her staggering. A proper foe after so long. I darted to her side.
"Hold it steady!"
I thrust hard into the Evil Hound's empty flank. Puuk! Blade tearing flesh. I leaned in with my weight, and the tip burst out the other side.
No way a puny monster could handle a shield warrior and sword fighter. I twisted the blade, then spun it like a waterwheel. The beast howled in agony every which way.
Grrooowl!
I coiled its guts like blood sausage, and it spewed blood before slumping. Pulled the sword free—black blood coated it. Stomped its head for good measure. No reaction.
"Imp?"
One more left, so I scanned around. No Imp in sight.
"Already handled."
"Oh."
The Imp lay there with its head pulped. Like [Quiet down!] vibes. Elise was harvesting its hand and horn. Horns for sale and settlement, hand for herself.
"No turn for me."
Kobson said. Life-or-death duels can end in seconds sometimes. Especially against riffraff like this.
"Kinda feel bad. It was cute."
"What? What's cute? The Imp?"
I doubted my ears for a sec. Merlia spouting psychopath shit. What was cute about that abomination? Made sense? Mind pollution curse maybe?
"Yeah. Round and kinda cute..."
"Cute, you say? Merlia. That's wrong. No, evil thinking."
"Huh?"
"Merlia... We need to talk."
As Elise grabbed Merlia's hand to drag her off, another Skeleton Mage emerged from the dark. The third one.
"Talk later."
Elise crouched into starting blocks position. Full intent to sprint and smash its skull.
Clack clack!
Familiar jaw creak as it fired a purple magic orb. Merlia proudly moved to shield it. I grabbed her shoulder and yanked her aside just in case.
"What?"
"Better safe. What if it phases through the shield? Dodge if we can."
Didn't wanna ruin her hobby, but if it happened, we'd all be fucked. Merlia nodded.
"Done. More Evil Hounds behind, but they bolted the second the Mage died. Seems they share a monster-summoning spell."
People leave names, tigers leave hides. The smashed Skeleton Mage left us a staff. I strapped it to Kobson's back.
One more to go.