Chapter 2
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 2
Chapter Title: Dungeon Escape
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I ran mindlessly for what felt like ages.
Only when my lungs felt like they were about to burst and my legs were trembling did we finally spot a safe-looking crevice between some rocks.
It was narrow and damp, but at least it was enclosed on all sides, which put my mind at ease.
"Haa, haa..."
I collapsed onto the ground, gasping for breath.
The Horned Rat was exhausted too, squeaking and curling up at my feet.
Apostle! It's too early to let your guard down!
Rodentia's phantom image stood there with arms crossed, speaking sternly.
It looked like only I could see her now.
There was nothing reflected in the surrounding walls or the puddles on the floor.
Rats must always move swiftly and nimbly!
'Who doesn't know that.'
I wiped the sweat from my brow and dumped the loot I'd grabbed earlier onto the ground.
Kyle's composite bow, quiver, and worn leather belt.
And the miscellaneous junk from my own bag.
The composite bow was intact and in good condition.
Except for one problem.
"...I can't draw it."
A Ratkin girl's slender arms just couldn't handle the draw strength of this bow.
I strained with both hands to pull back the string, but it wouldn't even budge halfway.
At this rate, I couldn't even shoot, let alone fire an arrow properly.
Tsk tsk! Rats rely on wits, not brute strength. Don't pull it like a brute...
"Quiet. I'm figuring it out."
I furrowed my brow, glaring at the bow and the junk around it.
I had to make use of it somehow.
If I couldn't shoot the bow, I'd make something that could.
"If I brace it with both hands... no."
Knowledge from my past life's woodworking hobbies flashed through my mind.
'If I lack the strength to draw the bowstring, use the principle of leverage.'
'Then I need a structure to hook my foot into.'
I picked up my dagger.
And grabbed a sturdy oak club that the goblins must have discarded.
My fingertips tingled.
A sensation like I could read the wood's grain and instinctively know where to carve.
Was this a Ratkin racial trait?
Or memories from my past life, trimming wood as a weekend hobby?
Scrape, scrape.
The sound of the dagger shaving the wood was crisp and satisfying.
I flattened the top of the club to form the body.
Not just flat, though.
I meticulously carved a shallow groove down the center for the arrow to rest stably.
Then I hammered the metal buckle and rings from Kyle's belt into the front of the wooden body.
Next, I tightly bound the composite bow's limbs to it with tough leather straps.
The key was the latch.
I carved a wooden piece into a component and connected a simple trigger mechanism with rope.
The structure was simple but reliable.
The metal ring at the front served as a stirrup to hook my foot into.
Pulling the string would catch it in the crude trigger.
Oh? Not bad, Apostle! You've got some fine craftsmanship there!
Whipping up a crossbow on the spot!
"No choice. This is the only decent weapon around."
Instead of explaining, I decided to demonstrate.
I propped the finished crossbow on the ground and hooked my foot into the front ring.
Then, gripping the string with both hands, I used my waist and body weight to pull it back steadily.
"Ngh!"
Creak!
Click!
The taut string locked into the latch's groove.
The string's tension, impossible with arm strength alone.
Using my back, waist, and legs made it easy.
"Success."
I let out a sigh of relief.
Now I just load an arrow into the groove and pull the carved trigger.
Crude, but the power should be ample.
Ooh! Impressive! As expected of my apostle! Since ancient times, our Ratkin clan's dexterity has been renowned, rivaling those bearded shorties!
Rodentia bounced around excitedly.
Her praise made my ears twitch involuntarily atop my head.
But there was a problem.
"Still, the durability feels iffy..."
It was a rush job, after all.
A few shots and the wooden body or bindings might splinter or snap.
As I pondered reinforcements, my eyes met Rodentia's.
"Lord, can you bless items to make them sturdier?"
Of course! I am the great Lord of the Hamster Wheel! Blessing my children's tools is a trifling matter!
"Oh, then this one..."
But! Nothing's free!
Rodentia drew an X with her arms decisively.
Your faith is lacking! Apostle Reti! Bring out the totem at once!
"The totem?"
The Hamster Wheel! Take it out, offer it before me, and humbly place an offering inside!
Her gaze locked onto my pocket.
Jerky.
A goddess coveting mere jerky...?
"You want some of this?"
Ahem! It's necessary for the sacred ritual! Hurry!
I could hear her gulping.
I did as instructed, pulling the wooden Hamster Wheel from my bag.
Carefully, I slipped a piece of jerky inside.
"Enjoy your meal, Lord."
Whirr!
Amazingly, after a few rolls of the wheel, the jerky vanished completely.
Sucked into a black hole.
Ooh! The taste of civilization! This salty, chewy flavor!
Exclamations erupted from thin air.
At the same time, golden powder poured from the Hamster Wheel like snowflakes.
The powder settled over my crossbow.
Humm.
The wooden body vibrated faintly.
Its rough surface smoothed out, and the joints locked solidly.
It transformed like a premium piece lovingly varnished and dried over ages.
There! I have bestowed my blessing! It's temporary, but now it's plenty sturdy!
"It really is."
I lifted the crossbow.
Heavier and more solid than before.
This should hold up for dozens of shots.
I loaded an arrow right away.
"Alright. Time for a test."
I aimed at the glinting eyes in the darkness outside the crevice.
The unwanted guests prowling around us since earlier.
"Kikik!"
Three Goblin scouts.
They'd sensed us and were lurking nearby.
They hadn't pinpointed us yet—that sealed their fate.
"Farewell, Goblins."
I pulled the crude trigger without hesitation.
Thung!
Crack!
A dull explosion rang out.
The arrow sliced through the darkness.
Splurt!
It embedded in the lead Goblin's skull.
Way more powerful than expected.
As the other two hesitated in panic,
I quickly hooked my foot and drew the string again.
"One more!"
Click. Thung!
The second arrow pierced another Goblin's throat.
With two down in an instant, the last one screamed and charged me.
"Kreaaak!"
"Damn."
No time to reload.
I set the crossbow aside and reached for my dagger at my waist.
'Strike a vital spot in one go!'
As I tensed to counterattack,
The gray shadow at my feet launched forward.
Go! Horned Rat! Body slam!
"Squeak!"
The Horned Rat rocketed forward, latching onto the Goblin's face.
"Kreaaak!"
Its small horn gouged the Goblin's eye socket, sending it thrashing in agony.
I wouldn't miss that opening.
"Die!"
I gripped the dagger in reverse and plunged it toward its heart.
A squishy sensation, then it stilled.
"Hoo..."
Situation cleared.
I wiped sweat and grabbed my crossbow.
My hands were shaking.
See that? The power of my blessing!
"...Worth the jerky."
Of course! Offer more tribute from now on!
Rodentia's smug voice boomed in my ears.
One thing was clear, regardless.
If I played my cards right, I could make it out alive.
After dealing with the Goblins, we walked much farther.
The dungeon's layout twisted like a maze, but the Horned Rat's navigation was spot-on.
Whenever it sniffed and paused, a hidden trap lay ahead.
Its tail wagged, revealing shortcuts.
'Almost there?'
The air's texture against my nose changed.
The damp, rotten dungeon stench faded.
A faint, fresh outdoor breeze grew closer.
A dim light glimmered at the edge of the darkness ahead.
The exit.
"We're alive..."
As tension eased and my legs nearly buckled,
Thud!
Something dropped from the ceiling.
Sticky liquid rained down on my head.
I instinctively rolled aside.
"Squeak!"
Sizzle!
The transparent liquid that hit where I'd stood melted the stone floor, billowing white smoke.
Super-acidic venom.
L-Look up! Apostle!
Rodentia shrieked.
I looked up at the ceiling.
And swallowed hard.
It was enormous.
Hard to see in the shadows, but the oppressive presence!
A massive black mass covered the ceiling, writhing.
Eight red eyes gleaming like a chandelier.
"Kiririk!"
It descended slowly.
Body the size of a house.
Legs covered in steel-like hair.
And venom dripping endlessly from its maw.
The master of this Green Crucible Dungeon: the Crawler.
'Guarding right in front of the exit.'
It had no intention of letting us pass.
Its eight eyes gleamed with greed.
Its arrogant maw twitched like it awaited a delivered meal.
"Damn spider bastard!"
I spat a curse and raised my crossbow.
No place to run.
Back meant the goblin-infested, trap-filled labyrinth again.
Forward meant breaking through this thing.
Shiii!
The Crawler opened its mouth and spat white webbing.
I rolled along the floor to dodge.
The web splatted against the ground.
Getting caught in that was game over.
While rolling, I pulled the trigger.
Thung!
The arrow flew toward its body.
But its exoskeleton was tougher than expected.
The arrow bounced off.
Maybe just a scratch.
Apostle! Aim for the eyes! The Crawler's weak point is its eyes!
"Eyes! Got it!"
I reloaded swiftly.
Foot in, draw, load arrow.
This had to take three seconds or less.
As the Crawler reared to spit venom again, I fired at its face.
Specifically, one gleaming red eyeball.
Splat!
"Kieeeak!"
Direct hit.
The arrow sank deep into its left eye.
The Crawler writhed in pain, shrieking.
As it flailed its legs wildly, nearby rocks crumbled like tofu.
'Now.'
Strike while it's disoriented.
I pulled my ace from my waist: a homemade Molotov.
Oil flask with a rag wick stuffed in.
"Catch fire already!"
I struck flint for a spark.
As the wick ignited, I hurled it with all my might.
Crash!
The bottle shattered on the Crawler's face.
Whoosh! Red flames leaped to its fur and wounds.
Kieeeeeak!!!
It rampaged madly.
Webs and venom were useless now.
Fire is poison to beasts!
Its colossal thrashing shook the entire cave.
"Run!"
I bolted without looking back.
The flaming Crawler blocked the path, but pain left it no attention for us.
I slid between its legs.
"Urgh!"
Scorching heat grazed my back.
Light ahead.
Real light.
Sunlight pouring into the cave mouth!
Apostle! Hurry! Run! Faster, faster!
"Waaaah!"
I sprinted madly and threw myself into the light.
Soft earth underfoot, cool wind slapping my face.
"Squeak... We're alive!"
Relief brought rat-like squeaks from my mouth.
I'd escaped successfully.