Chapter 41 – 10. The Mine Dungeon. (3)
Unlike mines, monster caves were damp everywhere. Water droplets formed from stalactites that grew like thorns on the ceiling sometimes dripped onto people’s heads. There were also puddles of water in some places in the aisles. But no one was big enough to drink it like drinking water.
On the damp floor, there were round excrement and sticky bodily fluids that smelled like musty. Traces of a monster that are obvious to anyone.
The dungeon got colder and colder. Even Viola, who had reached the level of an iron man, was not immune to the cold. So I took out a thin cloth from my luggage and put it on. Everyone wore one or two more of her clothes, just like her.
How much longer would it have taken?
In the chilly atmosphere, Viola sensed something stirring in the distant dim light.
Oh
It was almost certain to be a monster. This time, she glanced behind her and sent her eyes to tell her to prepare for her unexpected situation. The mercenaries were all ready to fight at any time.
Step by step cautiously, and the figure of the monster gradually revealed.
It was a large, tawny caterpillar-like monster. Viola was also a guy whose identity was unknown.
But whatever he is, if you hit him, he’ll die. It was a universal method of exterminating monsters, and Viola was one of the ten groups that did it best.
As soon as the monster saw the prey, of course, it went crazy and rushed at it. Unlike the caterpillars they know, it is quite fast. It crawled like a snake and in an instant moved among the mercenaries. Fortunately, everyone was in a state of tension, so his simple bite attack was blocked. Even so, the jaw-like force of the small sawtooth teeth was considerable, and the shield that was bitten into it was bent in an instant.
“Hit!”
At that moment, as if they thought it was an opportunity, the mercenaries beat the caterpillar monster’s torso with Viola’s shrieking command. The shell was harder than expected, but it was not harder than a lump of metal. Naturally, the skin burst and the loathsome entrails spilled out, and he died shortly thereafter.
He wasn’t a very strong guy. Viola wiped away what seemed to be her internal organs from her own sword. Then she opened her mouth and looked around her.
“Does anyone know what this guy is?”
If there was any information, he liked to know unconditionally. Especially when exploring unknown space.
However, the possibility that anyone else would know the identity of this guy that even Viola did not know was slim. Of course she knew that too, but she asked. Just in case
Then someone raised a hand. Everyone’s eyes went that way.
Viola’s gaze landed on a familiar number. 522. It was Allen.
“It’s a monster called Shalber.”
“… Shalber?”
He took a step forward and recited without hesitation.
“It is an ancient word for underground worm. He lives in a very deep place, so it’s hard to see him anywhere. … It means we’ve gone that deep. And these guys form colonies unconditionally, and even one salver means that this is their habitat.”
“Even one?”
“Yes. Instead, capture the queen, the center of the hive, and the rest will naturally fade over time. … It’s definitely an environment they’ll like.”
… Look at this guy
The viola barely managed to calm the corners of her mouth that were about to rise on their own.
“Any other peculiarities?”
“There is nothing specific. … Well, the other monsters will pretty much disappear as well if Shalber is gone. Of course not completely.”
There was no complete elimination in the dungeon anyway. Even if you clean it up as much as possible, the monster will reappear as time passes, and this will happen again. But they had no obligation to worry about that. When that time comes, the marquis family will take care of it and take on another large-scale commission.
That’s what dungeons were created for. As long as there was an entrance once, a disaster that would inevitably repeat itself—-. Unless the entire mine is sealed off, it will always remain a danger.
“So, we are that, Suu….”
“This is Shalber.”
“All I have to do is catch the queen of a bastard named Shalber?”
“Yes. That will make the dungeon a bit cleaner.”
A much clearer goal. It was much better than simply wandering around dungeons and killing monsters.
“Then do you know how to find the queen?”
“… Sorry. That’s fine.”
“Nope. Until I’m sorry I just got this important information. I’ll have to find the queen myself. … Isn’t it?”
When Viola asked the sophomores, they replied, “Yes,” And quickly agreed.
Also. I can’t judge the whole by looking at one, but I felt that there was still a ssaksusu.
… Yes, even knowing that much, this expedition was regarded as a success in its own way. To be honest, it would be impossible for a low-level mercenary to perform well in a dungeon.
Viola has already grasped the potential of the entire Allen-Mercenary Corps. At least, the best figure was 275 for wizards, and 251 for swordsmen. There were no other mercenaries to use. At least by her standards. Even if even the magician’s potential is fully bloomed, it’s a bit ambiguous to enter the first team of the Viola-Mercenary Corps….
“Let’s start again.”
Viola led the way again. As if to prove Allen’s words, the caterpillar monster called Ssalver appeared frequently. Of course, it was still worth dealing with, but the problem is that the number keeps increasing.
There was nothing particularly special about the passage of the monster’s den, which was large and round like a tunnel. It’s just that, except for the ceiling with stalactites dangling from it, most of the walls and floors are smooth with no curves.
However, in the middle of the aisle wall, there was a hole in the middle of the passage, but upon examination, it felt like a large ditch with water flowing through it. Maybe it’s a passage through which monsters pass. It was a large hole anyway, so the mercenaries used to toilet there. Of course, Allen-Mercenary Corps also used that hole like a toilet.
Exploration, battle, and rest alternated several times. When that was about half a dozen, Viola announced that her first day of exploration was coming to an end.
“Ceeeee-.”
She slapped herself in her seat, uttering a long swear word composed of the muscular, oversized Cabrio Oldie. The expressions of the other crew members were also half stunned.
He was such a hard worker. Everyone knows that he has to move a little bit urgently because he can’t stay in the dungeon too long, but even taking that into account, the schedule is tight.
Of course, the 10-strong Viola-Mercenary Corps looked like it was nothing. Truly, 10 is 10.
The sophomores, who had prepared a place to sleep, gathered there after receiving a call from the sophomore of the viola.
“I believe that everyone will do well, but I want you to keep that in mind. Not anywhere else, this is a dungeon. A moment’s mistake can lead to a major accident. So, let the crew know well. Let’s not make each other blush for nothing. … Got it?”
“Yes, Danju.”
“Okay. Good job everyone today. Get some rest, and I’ll ask you again tomorrow.”
“Danju suffered too. Get some rest.”
The sophomores all returned to their seats. Allen also repeatedly warned the crew not to think about anything else while they were on watch.
It wasn’t until the last check of the luggage that Allen was able to lie down on his rug.
“Uhhh….”
No matter how much I tried to hold it in, I couldn’t help but scream. The sucker, who was lying in the seat right next to Danju, quietly whispered to him who had worked hard today.
“Today, you spent a lot of time….”
“If you’re a sober, it’s definitely something you have to do. You go to sleep too It will be very difficult tomorrow.”
“… Yes, lord good night.”
And as soon as Allen closed her eyes, he fell asleep as if passing out.
… Other than a couple of monsters wandering around all night, fortunately nothing happened.
The next day was also a series of forced marches. The caterpillar monsters appeared constantly, and their numbers increased noticeably. It was still manageable, but everyone was at their limit. Both physically and mentally.
Exploring in a dungeon with no sunlight, without even a sense of time, was much harder than expected. One day was like two days, and two days were like four days. Looking back, it hasn’t been long, but it feels like a huge amount of time has passed.
The entire mercenary corps suffered from extreme fatigue and cold. At least the top 10 Viola-Mercenary Team showed a good performance, but they were also a group composed of the 2nd and 3rd divisions, so they were not overwhelmingly active. Still, if it weren’t for them, I would have retreated long ago.
Allen’s struggles reached the tip of his chin, but he did not show it and forced his legs to move. If Danju shows weakness here, it will definitely have a bad influence on the crew. Even if I fall, I’d rather fall outside the mine.
“… Hey, are you okay?”
“Yes… , Not yet… , Yes….”
The weak believer, Demetris, was also on the verge of death, but he persevered. You’ll probably notice it to complain that it’s hard.
… Cheesy, good.
The second exploration, where the underworld comes and goes in front of you, has finally come to an end. Even Viola stuck her tongue out in this endless passageway. The dungeons she experienced in the past were at the level of children’s play. … It looks like a plate with the mine clearly dug deep.
“I will stay here!”
The mercenaries quickly spread out the rug and sat down to fill their hungry stomachs. Of course, salty beef jerky is everything, but the market is said to have an appetite, so it was also delicious.
Allen wanted to lie down and sleep right away, but she did, but she didn’t forget to check until the end. No matter how hard it is, she has to do what she has to do.
“Dan-lord, please get some rest. Really, I will hook up.”
“… Okay.”
Danju lay flat on his rug. He let out a painful sound. She would have been fine if it had been a little less cold, but she couldn’t get used to the chill that pierced her spine.
… I think cursed canyon is better….
This terrible dungeon exploration reminds me of the cold weather march. It felt like it was doubly harder now than then.
He laughed self-deprecatingly and fell asleep at this fucking mercenary going through one after another. This time, the priest who was lying next to me said, “You worked hard,” But he fell asleep without answering.
Extreme fatigue made me forget even the cold.
The watchmen let out several sleepy yawns. It was hard and hard, and it was cold and filthy cold, so even after waking up, the fatigue did not go away.
… I closed and opened my eyes for a very short time, and I caught a glimpse of something through the dim light. It came all the way really quickly.
Even at a glance, there are an enormous number of caterpillar monsters. They came in droves from both sides of the aisle at the same time.
ㅡㅡㅡㅡ!!!
“Knight aaaaa!!”
As soon as they appeared, the two watchmen on both sides shouted to wake up almost simultaneously, but their progress was much faster than expected.
The monsters attacked the group before they could get their bearings right,
The scene quickly turned into an abyss.
