Chapter 48 (1/2)
We advanced through the ruins with the members of [The Flame Axe Gang].
Lord Scotchell positioned himself in the center, and we, the Manyu Brigade, took charge of the rearguard.
We were walking through a dimly lit passage that felt like it went on forever.
Orlos, who is in the lead, continues to light the way with his lantern.
”It is a miracle to have met you. I was about to lose my beloved granddaughter.”
”Is the poison she's afflicted with really that deadly?”
”Does the poison of a gargoyle sound familiar?”
I understood immediately and nodded.
Gargoyle: a humanoid monster that looks like a demon. Its epidermis is hard as stone and its claws are equipped with a deadly poison that turns a person stiff as stone before eventually killing them.
There are three forms of detoxification.
The first is to use an ability that can eliminate the poison.
The second is to use a scroll that can counteract the poison.
The third is to use a high-grade antidote.
On rare occasions, some survive the poison, but if they are exposed, they will almost certainly die.
”My family has no money. We couldn't afford medicine or scrolls. Besides, the skill of detoxification is so rare that it doesn't exist in this country nowadays.”
”So, with your last bit of hope, you decided to come to the ruins...”
”Yes, and look how well things turned out.”
The old man smiles.
His kind nature and good heart were reflected in him.
There was an atmosphere about him that made me think, ”I want to be this kind of old man when I get old”.
”By the way, Manyu Brigade, how well do you all fair in combat?”
Orlos' question comes like daggers aiming at key points in my body.
”Pretty much okay, I think.”
”Don't lie to me. There's no way anyone who doesn't have great strength or have a special ability would be given the title of hero. What's your real story, have you ever slayed a dragon?”
”Only a Red Dragon.”
”Really!?”
The members of the Orlos party were surprised.
This is an understandable reaction.
Red dragons are ridiculously strong, but they also have something that defines them.
It is usually the red dragons that attack cities and towns.
It is a symbol of fear, so to speak.
At the same time, it is the number one monster that adventurers want to defeat.
Kaede leaned close to me and whispered.
”Was that when you gave me that medicine?”
”Yes, you had a hamburger that day too.”
”Ah, that's right, it was delicious.”
I almost drooled remembering the taste of dragon steak.
I should have saved more meat.
”Wow, I've never seen a fairy before, nya!”
”Fufu, Frau is more than just cute, she's also soft.”
”What's that white stuff, nya?”
”This is Panda. He's Frau's servant.”
”Kyui?!”
Lynn and Frau seemed to be enjoying a lively conversation.
Panda, on the other hand, seemed to be angry.
”Why do you add a [Nya] at the end of every word?
”Because the boys like it, nya.”
”What?!”
”It's not a problem for me, nya～, men drool over me every time I talk, nya～.”
”Kuuuuh, what is this feeling of defeat?”
Frau winces.
But Lynn is right.
For some reason, men like cat girls, and even more so if you add that characteristic word to the end of their sentences.
I wonder why... It's a mystery.
After spending a full day underground, we breathed in the fresh air and soaked up the warmth of the morning sun.
”What a nice feeling, I feel like a new man.”
”There was a lot of dust in the ruins.”
”I really want to take a quick bath. My body is sticky.”
”Kyui.”
The entrance to the ruins was deep in the forest.
The leaning stone statues were adorned with ivy and some of them were covered with lush moss.
The ground, where the cobblestones would have been, is grassy, with rotting stone pillars lined up in two parallel rows.
”Let's take a break here, Lord Scotchell.”
”No, I have to hurry home. I don't have time to rest.”
”But we're reaching the limits of our strength.”
”Panda.”
Panta appears in front of Lord Scotchel.
His oval shape further expands until it becomes sufficient to carry one person.
”Panda is a beast that can carry people and items. I'll send him to your home, so feel free to use him.”