CH 62

Chapter 62 – Suspicious Underground Dungeon!?

As we went further into the depths, it grew colder, as if an icy air lingered in the surroundings. Skor, too, trembled gradually, causing her legs to become sluggish.

“You should warm your hands with the torch.”

“Y-Yes…”

We faced each other, and I warmed Skor’s hands. White breath was coming out. It appears that it will be as cold as winter ahead. There might be a need to wear warmer clothes.

We start walking again and finally head further inside.

It feels like we’ve been walking for a long time.

Further inside, it opened up into a wide space, taking the form of a dome. Ah, this must be the place where the Grimbrusti made its nest. But since I defeated it, it’s no longer here… Hmm. Even so, where is the dungeon?

I checked the surroundings with the torch.

There’s nothing.

Just rough rocks.

There are only rugged rocks.

“There are only rocks.”

“Yeah, Skor. But if you feel anything strange, let me know.”

“Yes…”

Naturally, Skor held onto my left hand. I never expected to hold hands… but right now, fear has taken over now, and that’s not the focus. It’s the same for me as well.

“I don’t sense any monster presence.”

“I don’t feel anything right now… Ah!”

While looking around, Skor seems to have noticed something.

“What’s wrong?”

“It’s that place with the groove. I have a feeling there’s a staircase leading down…”

“A staircase? Some kind of artificial structure?”

The dungeon is said to have been created by an ancient great sage as a pastime or so it’s written in the World Scriptures. I heard it from my father. If that’s true, there should be stairs.

When we went to check, there it was, the “underground staircase”. It was clearly an artificial structure. I could sense traces of magic.

“This… is a dungeon.”

“I’m surprised. So, the monsters were appearing from here.”

“Yeah, this is where the Gruen Goblins come from. Well, not just them… various monsters come out from here. But it’s not big enough for Grimbrusti to come out—well, it’s probably some kind of sudden mutation.”

“Mutation?”

“Yeah, monsters occasionally undergo mutations. It seems to result in them becoming boss monsters.”

“Oh, you know a lot, Rasty-san.”

“Because I love books. I’m a prince who was called a treasure trove of useless knowledge and treated as incompetent.”

“No, that’s not true at all. To me… Ah!”

Skor, who was about to say something, turned bright red. It happens sometimes.

“Huh?”

“I-It’s nothing!”

“I-Is that so…”

We decided to go down the stairs a little.

We were aware of the danger, but it’s scary because there are too many unknowns.

I left the torch to Skor and readied Gale Tulle. It wouldn’t be strange if an enemy appeared at any time from the other side.

As we descend little by little――

We saw some light.

Eh… a light inside the cave?

The path we came through has been dark all along. Is there light ahead? What’s going on? Curious, we continue forward, and what we see ahead is…!

“Rasty-san, this is…”

“W-What the heck is this!”

“A space like a temple spread out, and it seemed to continue further underground. Below, a large number of orcs wielding axes were dwelling. This is way too dangerous.

Retreat!

We immediately turned on our heel and went back.

We ran and ran, aiming for the exit of the cave.

“Huff, huff… I was surprised!”

“R-Rasty-san… I’m out of breath… haah…”

Both Skor and I were out of breath.

Seeing such a large group of orcs like that, it’s natural to be terrified. Wait, so it wasn’t just goblins in that cave! D*mn it, what’s going on? Maybe I should inquire with Havamar.

“We need to return immediately, Skor.”

“I-I understand…”

I guess this is about it for today’s results.

[Uninhabited Island][Lv.18]

[Development Status]

Swamp Lv.1

Hut Lv.1

House Lv.10

Lake Lv.1

Campfire Lv.1

Hot Springs Lv.2

Worktable Lv.1

Field Lv.1

[Defense equipment]

Thorn Barricade x30

[Special equipment]

None

[Inventory]

Wood x2721

Stone x1221

Soil x27

Torch x1

Iron Ore x67

Iron x55

Golden Fur x1

Sword (Unidentified) x2

Blunt Weapon (Unidentified) x1

[Weapons]

+5 Gale Tulle

[Food]

Conch x3

Wild Boar Meat x11

Raspberry x94

Coconut x66

Shaaf Meat x6

Bread x6

Apple x10

Banana x6

Red Wine x10

Salt x9

Pepper x9