Chapter 57
Chapter 57
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: Mysteries of the Underground Prison
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We decided to take a short break and explore the underground cavern. Since we expected conquering the dungeon to take several days anyway, we'd packed all sorts of gear, which made setting up camp a breeze. There were no monsters prowling around inside the dungeon, nor any spots where something unexpected might jump out, so our exploration felt leisurely to the extreme.
This lowest-floor cavern was shaped like a bear's paw. A massive central chamber held the holy sword, with four smaller rooms branching off from it. There was nothing special in those rooms. Just ancient beds so old it was impossible to guess who'd used them, and iron chains embedded in the walls, which gave a hint about their purpose.
The unusual part? Two beds in each.
Probably some kind of SM club...
"It's a prison."
Karin said. Yeah, this place was likely a prison. I shook off the lewd thoughts churning in my head and refocused on the search. While investigating the right-hand room with me, she rummaged through a shelf and pulled out a weathered document. I sneaked a peek from beside her, but I couldn't make heads or tails of the writing.
"What script is that?"
"Ancient human tongue. Priests like you wouldn't be able to read it easily. From what I can see..."
"You can read ancient script?"
"Grave robbers sometimes try to hide the value of their loot, so I picked up the basics."
A very pragmatic reason to learn it. From the way she talked, she probably had a few more tricks up her sleeve, but nothing showed up in her status window. Karin haltingly began deciphering the document.
"Looks like it says sinners... must guard... That's about all I can make out. The other words are too unfamiliar; we'll need to decode it properly upstairs."
Karin rolled up the document and tucked it into her bag. There was nothing else worth noting. Both rooms had identical documents, but they were just as illegible. She collected both sheets and we left the room.
Erina and Aei were already waiting outside. Erina had her arm linked with Aei's, but she quickly pulled away and cleared her throat as we approached.
"So, how'd it go in there?"
"We're done. What about you, Princess?"
Erina replied that it was a room with nothing but chains and beds—probably a prison cell—and that she'd found an ancient document. From what she could roughly read, it seemed the sinners had come down here to guard something.
"Guard something..."
"The holy sword, most likely."
Karin said. Logical conclusion. If they came all the way down here to protect something, what else could it be? Though whatever guards there'd been must have rotted away completely over time, leaving not even a trace. Karin frowned oddly and added,
"But it's strange."
"What's strange?"
I asked. She glanced around the rooms before answering.
"No bathrooms."
True enough. A lockup facility deep underground with no toilets? Even if they all used one spot in a room somewhere, there should've been traces. In a place this deep, they'd have handled their business anywhere, but the entire cavern was spotless—no signs at all.
On top of that, no food stores, no kitchens for cooking, not even space for watchmen. Did these prisoners come down voluntarily to guard the sword, commuting back and forth? Past the golems on the seventh floor underlayer? Seriously?
If it was a temporary setup before installing the golems, the chains bolted to the walls didn't make sense. The dungeon's structure itself was artificially carved layer by layer to house golems. Yet on the bottommost floor, they crammed people in to guard the sword? As if a handful of humans could hold off that mega golem?
"It's weird. Too weird."
It really was. The whole dungeon felt off. Too makeshift for a proper prison, no clear purpose. Too barren for someplace you'd station guards long-term.
"Creepy story."
Erina said, rubbing her arms. With nothing concrete known, it sure was eerie. The campfire we'd lit in the central room burned brightly, the only light. Erina scooted closer to Aei and said,
"Anyway... how about... some food...?"
"Sounds good."
Karin nodded at Erina's suggestion. Figuring we'd be exploring for days, we'd packed plenty of rations. We set a pot over the fire, dumped in our ingredients, and soon had a thick soup bubbling. Karin pulled bread from her bag and passed it around.
She ladled the soup into bowls, glanced around, then stood up.
"Uh... I need to... take care of something..."
Her face flushed bright red—I could guess what kind of business. As Karin headed to the far right room, Erina, who'd clearly been holding it in for a while, picked one of the rooms too. Aei followed soon after with an awkward look, heading to the far left. These guys were all hitting the bathrooms without me.
The holy sword's pressure must've given everyone some weird urge. I was fine, though. I considered peeking, but pulling that stunt here would've gotten me stabbed for sure. I wasn't about to tank my reputation over a piss break.
I stared at the steaming soup in front of me, rummaging in my pockets. That's when I remembered I still had one vial of aphrodisiac left—I hadn't used it yet. Jackpot. Fucking jackpot. Heaven-sent opportunity. I dumped the whole thing into Erina's bowl without hesitation. Bottom-tier stuff wouldn't send her into a frenzy, but for a crazy elf fantasizing about banging Aei in a dungeon, it'd be a miracle drug.
I poured it in and waited casually, like nothing happened. Karin returned first, still red-faced.
"Did you... hear anything?"
"Hear what?"
"...Never mind."
Karin didn't elaborate, and I didn't press. Time to eat. Erina and Aei came back next. Aei was muttering something like "Not used to this," while Erina sat down like nothing was wrong.
Dinner time. Karin, shedding her earlier cool demeanor, raised her voice to hide her embarrassment.
"Alright... let's eat...!"
Everyone was starving, it seemed. We gulped down the soup and tore into the bread. Erina paused mid-bite, frowning like it tasted off, but since no one else said anything, she kept eating. Was it that bad?
I finished my soup and cleaned the bowls with a quick Clean spell. We packed them away and settled in for a rest break. Plenty of time anyway. All that was left was digesting a bit, smashing that golem, and getting out.
So I lay back with my bag as a pillow, observing Erina. Her face was gradually flushing. Her breathing grew ragged, and she squirmed, rubbing her thighs together. Aei noticed her heavy breaths and asked,
"Erina? What's wrong?"
"Nnh... no, nothing... it's nothing."
Aphrodisiacs were apparently way more potent than I'd thought. Even on a high-level, sturdy elf, this bottom-tier junk was hitting her this hard. I suddenly got why they're banned. If low-grade did this, top-grade would turn people into vegetables.
I recalled the trading city—people collapsed in heat, rubbing their crotches all day without satisfaction even after jerking off nonstop. Did Eve and Selu use something like top-grade back then? Mermaid blood has aphrodisiac effects, right? Is that what turns you into that?
"Haa... haa..."
Erina's breaths came harsher. Was it the elf's sensitivity to drugs, or was low-grade stronger than expected? I couldn't tell. Karin, dozing with eyes half-closed, cracked them open to glance at Erina. Aei looked worried.
"Erina? You okay? You're burning up..."
"Ahhn...!"
As Aei touched her, she let out a lewd moan and writhed. Karin sat up. Aei stared in panic. Erina shot me a quick glare.
She clearly thought I'd pulled some stunt—no one else here would. But she didn't press it. Instead, she grabbed Aei's hand and yanked him up.
"E-Erina?"
"Follow me."
Erina dragged Aei into a room. She picked an unused bathroom one like a ghost—still had her wits, at least. And then.
"W-Wait, Erina... hold on...! Ahh... this is... too much...!"
"S-Stop... haa... wait... too intense... aaah... this...!"
"Ahhn... aaang...! Hnng... uungh...! Sorry... sorry, Erina... I can't... hold back...! Hnngh...!"
Lewd sounds echoed shamelessly. From the noises alone, I could picture it—fingering each other silly. But only Aei's moans carried, so Erina wasn't satisfied.
Karin turned away, face beet red. Aei's screams of ecstasy had me too riled up to hide it. I pressed down on my bulging crotch, waiting for them to emerge. Aei stumbled out dazed, dragged by Erina, who still looked unsatisfied.
"Uh... uungh..."
Aei collapsed onto her backpack, shuddering and panting. When he was a guy, he was a stud—now as a girl, extra sensitive?
Erina panted roughly, fiddling with her thighs. I subtly turned, letting my clothed erection show. Our eyes met, and she said,
"Lucius... I need... to talk to you... Elf Kingdom business... come... to the room... with me..."
Her gaze locked on my bulge. No reason to refuse. It was exactly what I wanted.