Chapter 38: Buffalo Dungeon (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 38: Buffalo Dungeon (2)
After walking for about an hour, we hadn't sensed so much as an ant since those first five buffaloes.
As we drew closer to the center of the dungeon, the atmosphere grew increasingly dark and gloomy.
The torches, which had been clustered close together near the entrance, had drastically thinned out. The air had grown so cold that white mist puffed from our mouths with every breath.
"Is the population usually this sparse?"
Chloe, walking at the front, looked around with a puzzled expression.
"I know, right? No matter how popular a dungeon is, it shouldn't be this completely wiped out. Saki, what do you think?"
"Hmm."
Saki Ryozo crossed her arms, lost in thought. After a moment, she spoke.
"I've been thinking... didn't those buffaloes from earlier seem a bit strange?"
"Strange? How so?"
Speed Weapon asked, his eyes widening. Saki Ryozo popped a piece of candy I had given her earlier into her mouth.
"Well, I'm not entirely sure, but they charged at us as if they were running away from something. Considering the usual behavior of buffaloes, it felt out of character."
"That's true. Buffaloes are generally docile magical beasts. In Cheorwon, they're even used to plow fields. I guess you could say they're one of the more human-friendly magical beasts."
...They use those terrifying beasts to plow fields? What on earth is wrong with the people in this world...?
Weapon and Saki chatted about the magical beast buffaloes for quite a while.
According to them, the reason this dungeon had such a low difficulty rating was because the buffaloes wouldn't attack first unless heavily provoked.
Well, that part wasn't any different from when I played the game.
Even back then, the magical beast buffaloes—commonly called water buffaloes—were famous for how difficult they were to aggro.
I had assumed there would be a massive disconnect between the game and this world now that it was my reality, but apparently, some things remained the same.
"Well, there are definitely a few suspicious things. But still, what's the worst that could happen? The route here is completely standardized, and even if something goes wrong, this dungeon has cell service, so we'll be fine."
"Yeah, and the checkpoint employees are on standby, too," Saki agreed, nodding lazily at Weapon's words. Her mention of the checkpoint brought back the memory of the employee who had made eye contact with me earlier, and my brow furrowed. A persistent, unsettling feeling refused to go away.
I quietly called out to Chloe, who was leading the way. She beamed, instantly sticking to my side like a squirrel that had just spotted an acorn.
"About that employee from earlier..."
I whispered softly in her ear. Chloe nodded along. Soon, she clenched her fist with a determined look.
"Yes, I understand."
"What's the big secret? Let us in on it too," Weapon asked, sounding thoroughly uninterested.
I shook my head.
"I just asked her to do something only Chloe can do."
"...What, are you two dating? I knew it."
Speed Weapon narrowed his eyes playfully. At his words, Chloe's face flushed as red as a ripe persimmon. I raised a hand and flatly denied it.
"It's a prejudice to assume every male-female relationship is romantic."
"Oh, really? I just figured since you two are always glued to each other."
Saki, who had turned her head halfway to eavesdrop, let out a snicker.
"..."
Chloe stared at me in silence. Her pouting lips made it clear she was thoroughly sulking. I maintained my poker face and let out a quiet sigh.
I wondered if I was being a bit too cold right after asking her for a favor, but it couldn't be helped. Maintaining a healthy distance was one of the core rules for dealing with a yandere that I'd learned from Neotube before going to bed. Searching for a place to look, I naturally changed the subject.
"Come to think of it, Speed Weapon, how do you know Rachel and Saki? You're surprisingly well-connected."
"Ah, that."
When I thought about it, it was rather strange that I, as a former player, had never heard of Speed Weapon despite him knowing most of the main cast. His name had never even been mentioned during my playthrough.
Speed Weapon answered in a slightly sheepish tone, scratching the back of his head in frustration.
"My family is a branch of Rachel's—the Spear Saint family. I've known Rachel since we were kids. We didn't meet often, but we crossed paths occasionally. Apparently, we share the same blood, even if we're distant relatives."
He let out an annoyed sigh. It seemed the nobility, with their obsession with bloodlines, loved to endlessly bicker over who was a branch member and who was main-line.
Of course, there was still an insurmountable gap between his background and mine as a special admission student, but in a high-society world where contempt bred like rabbits, being from a branch family likely made him a target of ridicule.
Then again, it was pretty funny for a commoner like me to be worrying about him. At least this guy didn't have to worry about money, whereas I had to rip off the blacksmith... I'll spare you the details.
As I debated what to say, he gave a good-natured laugh.
"Don't look at me like that, man. I actually prefer my position right now."
Speed Weapon grinned, showing his teeth.
"I like being from a branch family. I barely have to deal with that filthy high society. I'm sick to death of those bastards. Oh, right. And as for Saki—"
Hearing his answer, Saki pulled the sweet red bean jelly from her mouth and cut him off.
"I ranked first in the written exam, and Weapon here ranked second. He threw an absolute fit when he found out."
"Hey! Why are you the one telling him that?"
"What? I'm just telling the truth."
Saki giggled, finding his reaction hilarious.
"For your information, I also ranked third in the class placement exam, so there."
Saki Ryozo stuck her tongue out playfully. She looked like a refined lady from a prestigious family, but she acted like a total tomboy.
Speed Weapon licked his dry lips. He looked like he wanted to argue, but ultimately gave up, his jaw twitching.
To think Weapon was second in the written exam—this guy shattered every single one of my preconceptions.
I stroked my chin and nodded. Speed Weapon gave my shoulder a playful pat.
"But seriously, Geomma, you're pretty amazing too. Don't go pretending you don't know me when you get famous later."
I let out a faint smile.
"Don't worry, that won't happen."
Chloe, who had been pouting, nodded in agreement and chimed in.
"Who knows? Maybe you'll become one of the Seven Stars in the future."
"Exactly. If anyone can do it, it's Geomma-kun."
At those words, Saki froze in her tracks.
She slowly turned around, her face cold and rigid, and swept her gaze over us.
"I hate the Seven Stars."
Having said her piece, she whipped her head back around with a sullen pout. She tried her best to hide her agitation, but I could have sworn Saki's eyes looked slightly watery.
"What's up with her?"
Speed Weapon muttered, squinting at Saki's retreating back. I wondered the same. She turned her upper body slightly and waved her hand, urging us to hurry up.
"Let's just go. We need to clear this dungeon quickly and head back."
"Right," Weapon agreed, nodding.
"...Um, Geomma-kun."
"Yeah?"
Chloe, who was bringing up the rear, tugged on my sleeve. She hesitated for a moment, biting her lip.
"...Well, something feels a bit off. I can sense magical beasts approaching from behind."
"Oh, really? We must have missed them on our way in. That's perfect. How many are there?"
"Uh, well..."
"It doesn't have to be exact. Just give me a rough estimate."
Still sounding unsure, she hesitated before finally speaking.
"According to my Blessing... there are about fifty of them..."
"What?!"
My eyes widened. I thought I had misheard, but in that exact instant, a deafening roar slammed into our eardrums.
Thud-thud-thud-thud-thud—!
The entire dungeon shook. Our heads whipped around in unison.
An uncountable herd of buffaloes was stampeding toward us, their eyes glowing with a crimson light. Thick, dark blood dripped from their ringed nostrils.
"What the hell are those things?! Why are there so many of them?! Are those even buffaloes?!"
Weapon cried, his voice trembling.
They looked no different from the buffaloes we had slain near the entrance, but their aura was incomparably savage.
"Moooooooo!"
The water buffalo leading the charge at the very front let out a guttural bellow. Immediately, the stampeding herd behind him echoed the fierce cry.
"""Moooooooo—!"""
It sounded like a battle cry fueled by a burning desire to trample us into paste. The ground shook so violently under their thundering hooves that my brain rattled inside my skull.
'Docile magical beasts, my foot!'
Even if they were monsters with a glaring weakness to ranged attacks, facing dozens of them at once was a different story.
But running away blindly wasn't an option either. If we turned our backs, they would run us down in seconds and impale us on those wicked, jagged horns.
I focused my mind, searching for a way to break through.
Surprisingly, with just a moment of concentration, a vivid image of how to swing my blades projected itself in my mind.
The moment my objective was set, my panic vanished, replaced by a cold, calculating focus. My eyes had fully adjusted to the dark, allowing me to accurately gauge the size of the herd even in the dim light.
My breathing quickened slightly, and the tense, heavy air pressed against my skin. Yet, the cold touch of the Murasame resting against my chest kept me grounded.
I recalled the words of my first master.
'Every blade has its purpose. Just as you can't slaughter a cow with a chicken knife, a sashimi knife is meant for fish. Got it?'
A short, self-deprecating chuckle escaped my lips.
'Well, looks like I'm about to slaughter a herd of cows with a fish knife.'
I immediately turned to Chloe, my voice remarkably calm despite the impending danger.
"Chloe, distract the herd. Don't engage them head-on. Move quickly from side to side, and their formation will fall apart."
"Right!"
"You don't have to attack. Just draw their attention."
Chloe nodded, her expression resolute and filled with absolute trust. She drew the katana strapped to her back.
As the blade let out a sharp hum, a satisfied smile played on her lips. It seemed she really hadn't taken a liking to that crossbow.
Next, I looked straight into Weapon's eyes. As I did, the fear and panic vanished from his face.
"You know what to do, right?"
"Man, of course I do!"
Weapon grinned, shaking the recorder hanging around his neck. His eyes shone with unwavering trust.
"Saki, you intercept any that get too close."
"U-Uh, okay."
Saki nodded, looking utterly bewildered. I turned my back on her and stepped forward.
"...What is up with him? How is he so calm?"
Saki muttered, staring at me before turning to Weapon. Weapon shrugged.
"Just watch and be amazed."
"...What?"
Saki's eyes widened. Weapon simply grinned in response. Ignoring their chatter, I slipped the knives between my fingers like claws.
Squeeze.
With a slight flex of my grip, the eight blades fanned out.
Then, crossing my arms over my chest, I snapped them outward, shedding every single sheath in an instant.
—Sring!
The cold steel sang with a clear, resonant ring.
[The Blessing of the Sword God has been activated.]