Chapter 63

    The twisting tunnels had many branching paths . We carved markings into the walls every time we detected kobolds nearby, and went further, further in .

    “By the way, Daniela . Do you think we’ll be able to return within the day?”

    “Hm…I do not see why not, as long as we do not get lost . ”

    Doesn’t she know that even wondering about getting lost was a flag?

    “That worries me…”

    “Well, we could always just camp out if we end up late . You do have the barrier tools and more food in the hollow bag, do you not?”

    “I do, but still…”

    This place was dark and tight . It was oppressive and made you feel trapped… I would much rather sleep in the forest . However, Daniela seemed quite enthusiastic, so I didn’t want to ruin the mood . I just had to bear it . Let’s keep going and hunt some kobolds then .

    We continued to use Presence Detection to find groups of kobolds and crush them . The number of encounters increased the further we went in . By now we had three bags full of left hands . Still, as it was now confirmed that we would have to camp out here, we continued to hunt without regard of the time .

    It wasn’t until we filled up a seventh bag that we finally decided to rest . Perhaps it was because I had been stuffing it with different things recently, but the hollow bag was starting to look full . Had I really put so much inside…

    “I have set up the magic barriers . ”

    “Ah, thanks . ”

    I had asked her to put two near both sides of the tunnel and on the cross section that was further on . Just in case . So that even if one was broken, we would still notice . It was barrier, barrier, us, barrier, barrier . Usually, you would need four for each corner, but this setup worked because it was a tunnel . It looked like I would be able to sleep easy tonight .

    I created some magical water over a nearby rock and washed it . Then I wiped it with a cloth and covered it to make a nice table . I liked to be fancy when out camping . Though we would just be eating some stall food .

    “Let’s eat then . ”

    Sitting side by side and eating like this brought back memories of our first encounter . We had just happened to b.u.mp into each other, but there was something that drew us together before we knew it . And now we were deep in the mines together . Life had a way of being unpredictable .

    “Asagi, your one looks better…”

    “Haha . This one’s a recent favorite of mine . ”

    It was sauteed chicken in a ginger sauce . The hollow bag had dimensional magic cast on it, which stopped the pa.s.sing of time for anything inside of it . So the food was still hot and juicy, even in this dusty old place . Regardless of the scenery, the taste was amazing . It was cooked just right and the smell of the ginger was refreshing . The food stalls in this world were of a very high caliber . It was its own culture even . Of course, there were great restaurants and diners as well, but the stalls held their own even in comparison .

    “Want some then?”

    “Mmm, give me a bite . ”

    Daniela said as she opened her mouth . I stabbed a piece of meat with my fork before dunking it into plenty of sauce and offering to her . She chews it slowly . A smile begins to spread on her face . d.a.m.n, she was cute .

    “It is good . ”

    “Right?”

    “Give me more . ”

    “I suppose I have no choice . ”

    We continued to flirt as we went through our dinner . I could really use some soup with this, but we would probably die of carbon monoxide poisoning if we started making bonfires . I regretted not buying soup at the stalls as I cleaned up my plate . Now we just needed to sleep .

    “Alright…I guess I’m on the night watch this time . You go and get some sleep . ”

    “Very well . We will trade places if you become tired . ”

    Daniela nodded and rolled over onto a cloth that had been spread out on the ground . I caressed her head as she closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep . She seemed happy as she dreamed .

    And so I began my watch .

    I amused myself by poking Daniela’s cheeks and watching her giggle in her sleep . Then I noticed that Presence Detection had caught something . It was on a course to run straight through our barrier . I moved away from Daniela’s cheek with much regret and went to see what it was .

    I could see the dim light of a lantern leaking from the corner ahead . It was still a good distance away .

    When I peered in the direction, I saw that it was several kobolds . They were loud and excited as if they were on some kind of field trip . This was something I could easily deal with alone . But just as I unsheath my sword, I remember the features of my equipment .

    “Maybe I’ll try some ice magic…”

    I saw the speed of the wind dragon . Now I wanted to test the effects of the ice dragon on ice magic . I quietly put both of my palms on the ground . Waves of magic run through the ground, and I imagine what I want to do .

    Jack of all Trades, Master of None plays an image in my brain, and I follow it, sending the right amount of power . Once the power has flowed over to where the kobolds are walking, I add some blue energy and activate the ice magic .

    “Gwargh…!?”

    The first kobold realizes the change . His voice is raised, but it was already too late . The chill had gone past his feet and stretched towards those in the rear . And just like that, all of them were frozen up to the waist .

    “Interesting…”

    Freezing someone’s legs in an instant was a relatively simple thing to do . But it depended greatly on distance and the amount of magical energy used . It wasn’t likely that I would have been able to do this with normal equipment . So this was the effect of the ice dragon armor…amazing .

    I moved my palm to face upwards and created an ice sword . It had intricate designs and was generated at a much faster speed than usual . It even used less magical energy as well . I could make a sword like this with about half as much effort now . It showed that the most important thing with magic was the ability to visualize . And with that, I walk over to the frozen kobolds and lop off their heads . They had no opportunity to let out a final scream .

    I deactivate the ice magic after taking their left hands and move them into a single pile . That was it . Either the magic would return them into the soil, or they would become food for other kobolds . They were not very good for materials anyway . We just needed their hands . I began to feel like I was descending into a very apathetic person as I turned on my heels and returned to the camp where Daniela waited .

    “Ahh, Asagi… Where were you?”

    “Morning, Daniela . I had to take care of some kobolds that visited . Everything’s fine now . ”

    “Ahhhhhmm…mmm…I see…”

    I sat next to her as she rubbed at her tired eyes . My hand went around her waist .

    “Hmm…What is it…?”

    “Hmm…What is it…?”

    “Just, I…”

    And like that, I held her tight and buried my face into her . I felt like her warmth helped me return to feeling human again . I indulged myself in her gentleness as she caressed my head .

    Eventually, I dozed off to sleep .

    The next morning…well, I think it was morning . In any case, we were all rested up . And so we packed everything and prepared to leave .

    “What do you think? Do we continue?”

    “Indeed… We know the way back . I have it memorized and we also left markings . And in an emergency, we could always use earth magic to make a hole to the surface . ”

    “Wouldn’t that cause the place to collapse?”

    “We would to it slowly and at an angle . However, that should be a last resort . As it might affect other humans who might be exploring . ”

    There was only one path out of here .

    “I guess we’ll go then . ”

    “Yes . It has been a while since I last explored a place like this . I do not want to leave . ”

    “Ah, the truth is out!”

    I chuckled at her ability to enjoy herself even now . And so we decided to go even deeper into the tunnels .

    We traveled further for around two hours . Aside from the kobolds, a mole-like monster once emerged from the walls and attacked us . My heart nearly stopped, but I managed to kill it . Looking at the mole now, with its ridiculously long and thick nails, I was reminded of something .

    “Hey, Daniela . ”

    “Hey, Daniela . ”

    “What?”

    “Isn’t it strange?”

    “Is what strange?”

    Before coming out here, I had asked the guild worker about these mines .

    “Wasn’t this place quickly abandoned due to a lack of resources?”

    “Yes, they did say something like that…hmm, wait, do you mean…”

    “You noticed?”

    Yes, these mines should not be this deep . It took us a while to realize this, as we held the lantern and fumbled through corners, relying on Presence Detection . But we must be very, very deep inside by now .

    And now we were encountering monsters of a different variety .

    “Maybe this guy here was digging tunnels?”

    “That is a possibility but… It could not have been this one alone . ”

    So, a bunch of mole monsters turned what should have been a shallow mine into an elaborate dungeon?

    “Daniela, I don’t think we can return just yet . ”

    “Yes… We must do something about the number of monsters here . Or it may lead to a stampede later on . ”

    There were not many adventurers who actively hunted kobolds . In fact, there were no signs of other humans coming in here . In other words, this place was overflowing with kobolds . There were quite a lot in the upper areas already . Who knew how many lurked in the deeper layers .

    There could be a stampede of not just kobolds, but many other types of monsters . Even if they were on the weaker side, their numbers could easily make up for it when it came to violence . And so we decided to go deeper in and hunt as many monsters as possible .

    Spiris would be in danger otherwise .