Translator: RaidenTL

Chapter 133: The Master of the Mansion

What appeared before our eyes was a massive, pitch-black mass.

Perhaps it had once been human. What mattered now was that it was far too late to turn them back.

"Those... those were Leo’s companions, weren't they?"

"Exactly! They suddenly started laughing like maniacs and then just... merged together!"

As I thought—they were what remained of those people.

I had no idea why they had fused into such a gruesome form, but for now, they had to die.

"Graaaaaah!!"

The monster let out a roar and lunged toward us.

Windows shattered, and the floorboards ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠beneath its path began to splinter and cave in.

"Hey, hey, hey!! It’s wrecking the floor! Kill it!!!"

If I let it keep rampaging, there wouldn't be a house left.

This crazy bastard is destroying my home?

I stepped forward with my shield to block the monster's lashing tentacles, then swung my axe to sever one of its arms.

One of its dozens of arms fell away, but not a single drop of blood spilled. Instead, it grew even more frantic and swatted me away.

"Whoops! Are you okay!?"

"Yeah. I'm fine."

Marin caught me as I flew back. Thanks to her soft, squishy embrace, I barely felt the impact.

The shield I’d used to block the blow was half-shattered, but I had plenty of spares.

"Yuria! Physical attacks aren't working on this thing!"

"That’s a trait of amorphous monsters."

Yuria clicked her tongue as she watched the rampaging creature. She dashed forward and lashed out with her sword.

Her blade extended like a whip, coiling around the creature's body. Then, with a sharp twist of the hilt, she pulled. The wire tightened, and the embedded blades shredded the monster’s form into pieces.

Splaaat—!!!!

"It’s regenerating!"

"Of course it is."

As expected, this wasn't something that could be killed with mere physical force.

Its body began to knit back together like a slime that had poured all its stats into regenerative abilities.

To kill something like this, the most effective method was either to destroy its core or incinerate the entire mass in a single strike.

‘With our current party’s firepower, incinerating this thing is going to be tough. We have to break the core.’

I had to find it.

Mindless monsters of this type usually either housed a core within their bodies or had an object serving as a core hidden somewhere nearby.

‘The core isn't inside its body.’

I’d confirmed that just now when Yuria’s attack tore it to shreds. No core was visible anywhere within the mess.

That meant the core wasn't the internal type.

‘No internal core. If the core is external, it’s either a creature summoned by a caster, or a cursed object-type lifeform born from a grudge or a hex.’

Deep underground, accessible through the basement.

The core to kill this thing had to be down there. In other words, it was impossible to deal with right now.

The answer was clear. We had to run.

"Yuria! Can you run while carrying Marin?"

"I can, but is this monster something we can't handle?"

"Yeah. The core isn't here. We have to go down to the basement."

"Lady Yuria! I’ll just cling to you! You just focus on running!"

"Got it!"

Marin was a slime, so her movement speed was abysmal.

The reason her combat ability had plummeted despite having explored near the 6th floor in the past was simply because her speed had dropped too much.

I think she said her original class was a thief? I didn't remember clearly, but I recalled her being sold to the slave shop because her movement and attack speeds had fallen so drastically that she couldn't perform even a fraction of her former self.

In short, she was a party member who couldn't flee when fleeing was required. Someone had to carry her, and since I was the guide and had to lead from the front, I couldn't be the one to do it.

If the guide at the front slowed down, the entire team’s pace would drop.

That left either Leo or Yuria. Since Leo looked like he was struggling just to move his own body, Yuria had to be the one to carry her.

"Leo. You need to run. If you fall behind, you die."

"Dammit... to hell with this!"

"Alright, I’m going to fire a flashbang! This thing seems strangely sensitive to torches! On the count of three, close your eyes, and after that, just look at my back and run! If you’re late, you’re left behind!"

This was a really expensive firework I’d bought. I never thought I’d use it in a place like this. But I had no choice. If I threw oil bottles and set the mansion on fire to deal with that thing, I’d truly have nothing left.

Since I’d noticed it was vulnerable to light, using a flashbang now would be the cheapest option.

I’d have to make sure Leo paid me back for this later. Now that I had a financier, I had to squeeze him for every penny.

"Alright. Here it goes! One! Two! Three!!!"

BANG—!!!

I pulled the string on the firework, and a massive roar erupted as light sprayed forward.

Yuria, who had been holding back the monster’s charge, immediately shielded her eyes with her arm and turned away. The brilliant light from the firework illuminated the surroundings, exploding toward the pitch-black monster.

"GRAAAAAAAH—!!!!"

"Now!!!"

"Don't look back! Run!"

As the monster’s screams echoed, we bolted toward the basement.

I couldn't check behind me. I had to keep my eyes forward. If the guide stopped, the whole team would come to a halt.

"Marin!!! Hold on tight!!"

"Yes, sir!!!!"

"Aaaah! Wait for me! Sion! Yuria! Aaaah, wait for me!!!"

Leo called out to us in a voice that sounded like he was dying.

That man couldn't be allowed to fall behind. He had to survive so I could recoup my losses.

"Leo!! You idiot!! Shut your mouth and run!!! Run if you want to live, damn it!"

"Uwaaaaah!!!"

Humans tend to snap to their senses when they’re being cursed at.

I hurled every insult I could think of at Leo, barking at him to keep running.

There was no room for kind words or consideration.

Not when an unkillable amorphous monster was chasing us like a maniac.

—Sion. There. Take the right corner.

"Huh!?"

—I feel magical power. It’s that way. It will be faster.

"Yes, ma'am!!!"

Helena, who had been watching the situation from inside the Bracelet of Growth, gave me directions.

To be honest, I wanted to pull her out and have her erase that monster, but that was impossible since Helena was still in a hatchling’s body.

She wasn't in a state where she could use magic powerful enough to kill a monster of that caliber yet. I’d have to take her down into the Labyrinth, feed her plenty of mana, and raise her until she became an adult dragon before I could truly utilize her.

"Here! We have to crawl through here!"

Finally, we reached the basement and were able to descend through a fairly large crack.

"Jump! Yuria, jump!!!!"

"Got it!"

"Aaaah!! Don't leave me behind!!!"

"Leo!!! You son of a bitch! You're so damn slow! I'm popping another flashbang! Close your eyes!"

BA-BANG!!!!!

These are seriously expensive. I had to use another one.

This is driving me crazy. Another one of my trump cards gone!

"Get in! You moron! Crawl in, fast!"

"Dammit!!!"

While the amorphous monster shrieked in pain from the light, scratching at its body and thrashing about, we descended further into the basement.

After following a tunnel that seemed to have been dug by someone for a long time, we finally tumbled into a space large enough to stand up in.

"Haa... haa...."

"Is everyone okay?"

"Yeah. No injuries, thanks to Marin."

"I'm okay too!"

"Phew. Thank goodness. The gap is narrow, so that monster won't be able to follow us immediately."

We were able to catch our breath for a moment.

"By the way, Marin’s defensive power is no joke."

"Seriously. That was a rough fall, but Marin acted as a perfect cushion."

"Hehehe. I’ve discovered another way to be useful!"

If I wore Marin like a suit of armor, would I become immune to impact?

I should try that out later.

"Excuse me... some water..."

"Ah, Leo. Here."

"Ugh... damn it. My ankle hurts."

"Is it sprained?"

"I don't think so, but..."

"Then keep walking. There’s no one here to carry you."

"Aren't you being... a bit cold?"

"If you can move, you move yourself."

"I suppose that’s true... But I feel like you were hurling insults at me earlier. Was I imagining it?"

"Maybe the monster was mocking you for being so slow? I don't recall insulting you."

"....I see."

Leo accepted it. He seemed to realize that pressing the issue wouldn't lead to anything good.

Right, in a desperate situation, honorifics and manners mean nothing. If shouting and cursing is what it takes to survive, I’m willing to insult someone’s entire lineage.

"Alright, let’s move again. A little further and we’ll meet the culprit behind all this."

"Good. Let’s go! I’m looking forward to seeing what kind of treasure ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠is hidden ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠here."

"Ooh-hoo!"

"I'm exhausted..."

"Leo. Wipe that look off your face. I told you, a reward is waiting for us."

"That reward isn't mine, though. I even have to pay you for my life!"

"Hahaha! But you survived, didn't you?"

Leo’s expression grew even gloomier. I felt like saying anything more to comfort him would be awkward since I was the one shaking him down for money, so I figured staying quiet was best.

"Look, there’s a door."

"You're right. Good eyes, Yuria."

After walking along the winding path for about thirty minutes, we found a dilapidated door.

I had no idea when this door had been made. It was so old the wood was practically rotting away. It looked hundreds of years old.

"Uh... the door..."

"It crumbled."

"Crazy. Just how old is this place?"

"Maybe this tunnel was built at the same time the mansion was?"

"Good grief."

Soon, we entered a room built by someone in the distant past.

"The dust is incredible. Cough, cough."

"Everyone, wrap these around your faces."

I pulled silk scarves out of my inventory and handed them out. Labyrinths are full of dust, and breathing it in continuously ruins your bronchial tubes and lungs quickly.

It’s better to cover your nose and mouth early to minimize inhalation.

"A versatile subspace pocket. Just how much do you carry in there? It feels like unexpected items just keep ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠coming out."

"That’s the strength of a subspace pocket. Not knowing what will come out next. Isn't it terrifying?"

"It is."

Leo bluntly agreed that I was terrifying.

It felt a bit strange to be called scary by a brother-in-law who was older than me.

"Was this a study?"

"Maybe. There are quite a lot of books piled up."

"Is there anything that could be the monster's core? Leo. See anything over there?"

"Nothing particularly suspicious."

We searched the room for a long time.

However, all we found were old, out-of-print books and a journal likely left behind by the room's owner.

"What does it even say?"

"Looks like an ancient language. Can anyone decode this?"

"I think I can read it. Give it here."

"Here."

Fortunately, Leo could read the journal left by the owner.

Perhaps because it was a script used so long ago, Leo, with his high level of education, was the only one in the party who could make sense of it.

"Hmm. The owner of this room... seems to have been researching eternal life. It’s not a research log, though. It’s literally a journal, so it’s just filled with his personal thoughts in a diary format."

"Anything that could be a clue?"

"Let’s see... It mentions gathering souls through an idol... and gaining power through the resentment of the gathered souls."

Yuria, who had been listening to Leo, bit her lower lip and spoke up.

"I have a bad feeling about this."

"What kind of feeling?"

"Something... well."

Yuria frowned and crossed her arms, lost in thought.

Then she opened her eyes and shared the ominous feeling she had.

"The owner of this journal. I think they’re still alive."

"...."

The hand Leo used to hold the journal trembled. Terrified, he spoke to Yuria as if telling her to stop talking nonsense.

"That’s impossible. This person would be over a hundred years old. Alive? Are you saying they’re a long-lived species? No, that can't be it. There’s no way an elf would seek eternal life. This is insane."

Long-lived species already have long lifespans, so they aren't particularly obsessed with eternal life.

It’s only short-lived species like humans who obsess over immortality or eternal youth.

"Sion. Do you feel anything?"

"I feel like I’m being watched. If it were a spirit, I would have found it already... so it must be someone living. They were here. The culprit behind this whole mess."

I immediately reached for the bookshelf where I felt the gaze coming from.

Crash—!!!

When I pulled the bookshelf down, a small space was revealed.

A hidden area behind the wall.

There stood an altar.

And a ragged-looking dwarf was staring at us with a terrified expression.