Chapter 80 - #79 Putolu Tombs 2 (1/2)

”Anyway, where are we? These halls are simply too large to even see the end. It's like one big labyrinth.” Poney asked while we were walking forward, looking for the entrance to a lower levels.

”...Didn't you fix that map into your head? How can you not remember?” I asked with a weird look.

”Well...the thing is that I remember the map but I can't really orient myself...” She replied with an awkward expression while scratching her cheek.

...Well, I don't really hold that against her.

I thought for a while trying to recall where we currently are.

”...We should be pretty close to the entrance to the lower levels but the thing is...” I said with closed eyes.

”What? What?” She immediately tensed up when I didn't finish my sentence.

”once we hit the lowest level, we will most likely come inside one of their barracks or whatever they are calling it.” I said with a small smile.

”?! Seriously?! Why are you even smiling?! There must be at least a hundred of them there!” Poney immediately exclaimed with a shocked expression.

”Well, we will see if there aren't any hidden passages we can use and if not, we will be forced to kill our way through.” I said with a wide smile.

”Kill our way through...? *sigh* I know tha- Eek! That's gross!” Poney muttered with a dumbfounded expression before she sighed and accepted it, however, she was interrupted by a few overgrown scorpions that blocked our way.

”Stand back, my sword is more suitable for this.” I said and glanced at her bȧrė feet.

”They are all yours!” Poney instantly nodded and then pointed at them.

I can't understand why she isn't wearing any boots or armored plating on her shin...

I thought while making a quick process of those overgrown animals. They literally had no abilities and only thanks to their size and potent poison they could be said to be slightly stronger than one of the weakest Danger Beasts.

”Ugh, disgusting...” Poney said while looking back at the bits on the ground of what used to be scorpions.

”Say...Why don't you use boots or armored plating on your legs? You can't seriously expect to contend with swordsman or people using other longer weapons than your legs. Plus your legs aren't tough enough to resist blades.” I asked a thing that was bugging me for a while, I had no idea why even Gozuki let her walk around and fight like that.

”Hm? Armored plating would slow me down and I focus on super high-speed kicks so my specialty would be weakened.” Poney answered with a carefree expression while looking around the halls made of stone and what looked like sandstone.

Then train with it and gain the same speed after some time...Is that so hard?

”Then why don't you have at least any armored platings on your arms to be able to at least block sharp weapons? I think that you are overly confident in your leg power.” I couldn't help but mutter aloud. It wasn't like I was trying to help her but it was seriously disturbing for someone like me. When I previously fought her, I had plenty of chances to kill her, her kicks were indeed very fast and strong but after blocking them I had plenty of time to kill her or at least injure her in case she would be able to dodge impossible.

”...Maybe you are right.” She replied with an unusual sad expression while looking down.

---

'That Katsura guy was able to fully withstand the power behind my kicks and keep up with their speed. He practically stripped me of all my advantages in a fight. I can't believe he was a swordsman and not someone similar to me...' Poney thought while looking down with a downcast expression.

---

”Well, as long as you know your weakness then it's alright...” I just blurted out whatever came into my mind since I was feeling a bit awkward for some reason.

...Why does it feel like there is much bigger difference between killing a woman and making her sad or cry? It feels like the latter is still much worse, this is seriously weird.

”You are right! I must complement my weaknesses by making my kicks even stronger and faster than ever!” She clenched her fist with a determined expression while performing a few kicks to the empty space.

...I give up.

I thought while holding my palm over the half of my face.

”Anyway, did you happen to see if everyone was able to keep close to their partner?” I asked since I was busy at that time with finding a suitable route to escape while Poney was just being dragged by me so she had time to look at others.

”...Well, I think that we are the only team that remained together, heh!” She said and released an awkward chuckle when she remembered the scene of everyone scattering around.

”...Why are you laughing at this?! I guess we need to pick up the pace.” I said and started moving faster.

Kurome...I know that she is strong but if numerous strong guys jump on her at the same time, she won't stand a chance for a long time. Not to mention that they can turn part of their bodies into animals and use their abilities so they can easily caught her off guard.

We kept walking around, evading traps and killing some overgrown animals and even a few Gravekeepers but none of them were strong enough to stop us for a long time. We somehow found stairs leading to the lower levels and once we descended we ended up in a little bit smaller hall than above but it was still enormous and hundreds of people could fit in.

”Eh, I guess we are in their lodgings? Ha-ha” Poney said in low voice right into my ear and released a forced laugh when the eyes of around a hundred of Gravekeepers landed on us. This hall was filled with tables and chair, most of the Gravekeepers were eating here before we interrupted them. There were even doors leading to other rooms instead of a fully open entrance which I found slightly weird. I doubt that their rooms are connected right to the main dining hall or whatever this hall is.

”Ah, who do we have here~ Did you two perhaps lost your way around?” The first one to call out to us was a girl with a petite body and of a similar height as Poney. She actually had 5 skulls attached to her loose clothes.

I ignored her and looked closely towards the doors just to find chains connected to the wall next to the door and I also noticed some clothes on the ground. Clothes belonging to the Empire's ȧssassination units...more specifically, girls' clothes.

Are they using their prisoners for pŀėȧsurė?

I thought with narrowed eyes.

”Oh? Don't be disturbed by that, you won't end up like that but I can't say the same about your companion. After all, we need to also procreate and we can't just involve people from outside. I guess guys must be really thanking you for invading our tombs, heh.” She noticed where I was looking and said with a smile.

So they are using them as breeding cattle?! I actually thought of having a word with their leader but now...I decided to kill everyone here.