29 Chapter 21 (1/2)
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”Is that not heavy?” asked Tenko, pointing out to Chika's backpack which is filled with numerous amounts of items. She responded, ”This time, Tenko. No, my strength is as big as skyscrapers now!”
”As high you mean,” said Anko.
”Thank you very much for correcting it, miss Anko.”
”You are very welcome, miss Chicken.”
”Nuh?!”
Leaving their jokes aside, the group has gotten some new equipment, including the much-needed helmets and hood. Anko got herself a Steel Helmet while Tokaya got a hooded fur.
Speaking of which, they also got a new weapon as well. A large two-handed iron mace for Anko, Steel daggers for Chika— which is still highly doubtful that she will use it—, and Silver Sword with an iron shield for Tenko.
Tokaya also got herself a new type of arrow too, but very much limited to a few shots. A Silver armament is very much useful against undead type enemies.
They also found themselves a detailed map about the entirety of the cave when they were on the second floor, it's usefulness is uncanny. And with their empty stomach, they went to explore the 4 other pathways looking for food and such.
They still couldn't find any food and their FP keeps decreasing rapidly with each second passed by, and they found nothing but more ores and ingots alongside a few gems and coins on all four of the pathways. Tenko said that it might already have been night time, and they don't want to spend another night inside such a dangerous mine.
*Croak*
”God, that thing is so annoying” Anko complained.
Chika yelled, ”Haaah? Don't talk like that to Bubblegum!”
”Bubblegum?”
”It's her name, humph!”
”Right…”
Anko sighed.
They are on their way back to the main area where the three-pathway existed.
”I wonder what that thing was,” said Anko, ”It was so disgusting.”
”That mouth monster?” Chika asked.
”Yeah.”
”Hmm…”
Tokaya then responded, ”So you didn't have the time to appraise it, huh. The Notification said that we got an Infant Chaos Eater core, so that means that thing's name is that, Chaos Eater.”
”Hmm… an infant, huh. So, there is a kid and a more mature version of that thing?”
Anko shivers, ”I don't want to know, please.”
Chika suddenly got a wild idea and just continue to whisper in her ears, all the thing she has in mind about the monster. Tenko laughed seeing them so cheerful while Tokaya has a smile on her face. They walked all the way back to the main area, and saw that…
There are several people coming down. They're equipped in tattered armor, 8 of them. They're wielding many varieties of weapons and looks very strong just from a single glance. 5 of them are men, while the rest are women.
Tokaya's eyes widened. She knows what they are, mumbling to herself, ”Bandits…”
They quickly noticed the group's whereabouts, one of them shouted, ”Heyyy, would you look at that. We got some chickens here, boys.”
The woman laughs, ”Hahahaa, lucky day, huh.”
Tokaya's face hardened, she mumbled to Chika to appraised them, and it turns out, all of them are in the upper level of the 60s. There is no way for the group to be able to defeat them.
”Run!”
They turned around and all of a sudden, three more people came out from the shadows. ”Bwahaha, look at them. Bet you haven't seen this skill before, huh?”
Sweats dripping from the group's cheeks. All this time, they have fought monsters, but now… they are faced with one of their own.
Aside from that, their level disparity, the gap between them… is enormous.
Tenko and the others raised their weapon, but Tokaya told them to lowered it. She turned to the front and tried to negotiate with the bandits, ”Wait! Please, we don't want to fight.”