Chapter 13
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: Trap
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"......"
Waking up in the sleeping bag I'd bought from the [Shop] last night, I sighed while running a hand through my messy hair.
'I was hoping I'd wake up back on Earth...'
"Zzz... Zzz..."
Rio's gentle snoring right beside me was a harsh reminder of reality.
Sighing, I stowed the sleeping bag in my inventory and looked around. Before I knew it, Erzsebet had crept up close and spoken to me.
"Did you sleep well, Master?"
"I told you to stand watch at the entrance. What are you doing here?"
"...Hmph! What a master who doesn't appreciate his servant's hard work...! I faithfully guarded the entrance all last night, just as you commanded...!"
I'd only grumbled at her on a whim, but now Erzsebet was throwing a fit, hopping mad. Her reaction suggested she hadn't slacked off last night, at least. No incidents, then. I'd been worried those hunters from yesterday might come back.
"Anything else come to mind overnight?"
"As if it would be that easy... How about a little of your blood, Master?"
"No thanks."
Vampires in my knowledge were a bit different from Erzsebet's Blood Demon Tribe, but I didn't want to risk feeding her blood and accidentally changing her race or something. Even aside from that, the idea just felt off.
"Aren't you frustrated? You lost your memories, but you're awfully nonchalant about it."
"Even if I feel frustrated, wearing it on my sleeve is another matter entirely. Besides, my memories will return in time, so there's no need to worry. Everything will flow as it should..."
What kind of old-man wisdom is that...? Oh, right.
"How old are you?"
"I can't remember."
"...No, like, a rough feeling...?"
"Master. I just told you I can't remember."
"...R-Right."
Master, huh? Felt like she'd sock me if I said one more word.
A little later, after Rio woke up, we finished breakfast with food from the [Shop].
"I only need blood, so I don't require meals."
"Good. If I had to cover your food costs too, I'd feel no shame employing you."
"...?"
I'd nearly blown my points trying to hire her, so if she drained my food budget on top, I'd really lose it. At least the [Blood Contract] talent meant no ongoing point costs for her salary.
Anyway, over breakfast, we decided what to do today.
"Lead the way."
"Master. Isn't this treatment a bit much?"
"If you didn't like it, you should've won."
"Ugh..."
It hadn't been visible yesterday, but with all the bloodstains absorbed, a new passage had appeared. Since I hadn't noticed it before, I asked Erzsebet about it, but our amnesiac elder drew a blank on where it led.
"Master?"
What choice did we have? We weren't stuck here forever, so a new path meant we had to scout it. Of course, without knowing what lay ahead, Erzsebet went first.
"Sigh... To think my master makes a delicate woman scout ahead..."
"Delicate my ass."
Logically speaking, wasn't it obvious to send the woman who could regenerate from holes in her body first?
"Just go."
"I don't even know what you're so worried about. It's not like we're staying here forever..."
Ignoring her protests, I pushed Erzsebet ahead. Grumbling, she entered the new passage. Then, as if questioning my paranoia, she glanced back.
-Click.
"Huh."
"Ah."
The tile under Erzsebet's foot shifted, and something activated with a sound.
-Thwack!
"Kyaaak!?"
"...Urk!"
An arrow shot from the passage wall at blinding speed, instantly shattering Erzsebet's head. I'd barely shielded Rio's eyes in time. Seeing what used to be Erzsebet splatter everywhere made me dry-heave.
-Splatter!!
The scattered blood surged back to her headless body like time rewinding, clumping together until her head reformed.
"...What was that? I didn't even put up a barrier, but for a trap to pierce my flesh so easily...? And right near the entrance...?"
Her newly regrown head wore a bewildered expression.
Holy shit. Good thing I'd sent Erzsebet in first, just in case. My head could've ended up like that.
"...Rio? Why don't you go play out there."
"B-But I wanna..."
"No. There's a bunch of branches and leaves piled up in the outer corridor—toss them in the incinerator, okay?"
I sent Rio away before she could follow us into the passage. Not a sight for a kid.
"...So. What is this trap? Did you set it up before you fell asleep?"
"I doubt it. I'm no expert in traps."
"You were sleeping here to recover, and there are traps you didn't set?"
What? Was she not sleeping but sealed? No, if so, there'd be traps at the entrance. Their positions suggested they were meant to block outsiders from going deeper...
'What's inside here?'
Why the instant-kill traps?
"You okay?"
"As I said yesterday, physical attacks like this mean nothing to me, Master."
Still, she looked displeased enough.
Tsk... What now? No other paths visible. Can't go outside, only one way forward... But we couldn't linger forever—my points had limits, and we might starve...
'Let's try what came to mind.'
I held Erzsebet back from rage-destroying the passage in a spray of blood and pulled out the [High-Pressure Cleaner] instead.
"Wait, Master. A mere trap—I can smash the whole passage...!"
"We don't know what's inside. Can't just smash blindly."
It might even collapse our space. Above all...
'Destroying a [Cleaning Zone] could cause problems.'
I didn't want to wreck the passage and lose our exit, trapping us forever. If this didn't work, shove Erzsebet in.
-Whoosh...
"That magic?"
I sprayed water toward the passage. I'd toned down the power, but it still packed serious pressure.
"You gonna smash it, Master?"
"Not smashing."
Couldn't, really. It pierced skin easily, but blasting the ruin's walls only cleaned dust—they stayed pristine.
'Like in the game...'
In the game, cleaning tools never damaged maps unless special terrain...
'Did they recreate that game logic perfectly?'
"Hmm... Adjustable power? Doesn't look much different from when you blasted me..."
Ignoring Erzsebet watching curiously, I checked system messages.
'Wonder if it's the same as the game... There!'
-Corridor Tile
-Corridor Ornament A
-...
Sweeping the water stream around, semi-transparent system windows popped up naming objects in view.
'In the game, spraying showed the part being cleaned.'
Like vehicle body, windows, hood, turn signals. System confirmed working...
-Pssshhh...
I twisted the stream toward the trap Erzsebet had triggered. It washed away corridor dust, revealing clean stone as labels updated.
-Pressure Arrow Trap Type A
'...It works?'
"Master? What exactly are you doing...?"
I hurriedly adjusted the stream again. Tweaking range, spraying farther...
-Pressure Blade Trap Type B
'Found it!'
Untriggered trap labeled. A-type, B-type—who knew? But "Pressure Blade Trap" gave the gist. Pressure-activated, so why not trigger on water?
Like walls resisting damage... Hmm...
"Yawn... Master. Still far? Why waste mana like..."
"Trap there too."
"...Huh? What do you..."
Bored of watching, Erzsebet eyed me suspiciously as I pointed. To verify, she conjured yesterday's barrier and strode confidently, stepping where I'd cleaned.
-Shing!!
Blades shot from the floor to skewer her, but stopped at her shield.
"...Real. Master, was that detection magic? Water-based detection... Impressive."
"........."
I considered arguing but stayed quiet—didn't know the system's mechanics myself. Maybe it was magic.
Anyway, relief. This method let us bypass traps. So...
-Splashhhh...
"...Gotta keep going?"
Why not? Needed to clean anyway.
After that came a tedious stretch. Unsure of hidden traps and driven by the [Main Quest] window in view, I meticulously cleaned the passage with the [High-Pressure Cleaner], mapping traps.
[+10p]
'Earning points on the side.'
No other food sources, so points were essential... Wait, couldn't Erzsebet go outside? She was strong enough to protect herself.
Maybe have her fetch food later. But could she? Lived on blood only.
"Ugh... So boring..."
Relaxed by safe cleaning, my wandering thoughts bored Erzsebet, who'd watched curiously at first.
"Then guard the entrance."
"Already set a barrier last night. I'd know if intruders came."
Handy. Made the contract feel worthwhile...
"Master. Do we really need this caution? Traps are stronger than expected but can't pierce my blood shield. And with your skill, you could use barriers too?"
I don't know spells like that...
"Watch, Master. Like this..."
Bored stiff, she entered an uncleared section, wrapping herself in a barrier, and advanced slowly.
"Just walk forward—no need to hunt traps... Gahk?!"
-Stab!!
Strutting fearlessly, she suddenly plummeted through a gaping hole in the floor.
Oh... Arrows, blades, and now pit traps. Gotta watch for those.
"M-Master... Pull me out..."
"........."
Did I regret the contract?