76 Episode 76: The Leader, The Spring Thing (1/2)
”All right, let's go!
The security of the camp that was raided early on in our arrival stabilized, so we finally decided to enter the mine.
”As originally planned, the A-rank team of adventurers have been ahead of time to crusade demons in the mine to ensure safety. We enter a cave connected from the back of the mine and set up a second camp in a relatively large cavity near the ruins. Keep your magic and strength warm without taking part in the battle.”
From here on out, it's more dangerous than outside, so the Alliance officials are supposed to instruct Mr. Liseau as their leader.
”” Roger!! ”
As we entered the mine, we saw several adventurers at the entrance to the branches we could see along the way.
They have a role to play in escorting the demons who have crusaded us in case they don't attack us.
Honestly, it's itchy to be in a position to be escorted.
”Still, it's surprisingly bright”
The walls in the mine are lit magic and lanterns by the way, so there is no difficulty in moving the dim things forward.
There are more lights available, maybe, but maybe it's to get rid of where demons hide.
Occasionally you will hear the sound of a sword trident or a magical burst, probably because the preceding adventurers are fighting the demons that live in the mine.
Because the previous adventurers had secured our way, we went to the back of the mine without encountering any demons.
And after a while, the state of the mine changes.
I feel the roads have become a little distorted, probably because around the caves and pits connected to the ruins.
”It's time to get inside the cave. There are many branches in the cave, and the full extent of it is unknown in past investigations. Be careful not to get out.”
”” ”Roger!
Take note of it from Mr. Lissoe, everyone pulls their minds together.
This is where it's supposed to be!
◆
Once in the cave, the lights that the previous adventurers had prepared are gone, and we attach the magic of the lights to the weapons and shields that we were equipped with.
You don't use pine lights to prevent air from running out when you encounter a sudden fall, and to prevent pine lights from blocking your hands.
I don't know what dangerous demons there are from here on out.
No one can afford to have anything to hinder the fight.
”The air's a lot colder. Maybe there's a water vein nearby.”
One of the preceding bandits speaks of that.
”You know what I mean?
”Oh, I feel colder on my skin than in the mine. Evidence that something is nearby that emits cold air. I've had similar experiences exploring large caves before, and that's when I came across large waters. Be careful not to fall into the groundwater by mistake. If you fall into a fast-flowing water vein, the cold, darkness and narrowness won't help you first.”
That's the adventurer of war, the temperature in the cave alone tells us that much.
Experience is his biggest weapon.
”All right, increase the lights and alert the perimeter. Watch out for holes and walls.”
”” ”Ouch!
Wizards cast the magic of the floating lights and illuminate their surroundings.
And as I went on guard for a while, a cold breeze stroked my cheeks.
”Look, this one's on a cliff. I can't get the magic light, so it's deep. And when I clear my ears, I hear goose and noise. There's probably a groundwater running under here.”
Like Mr. Bandit said, there really seemed to be a groundwater run at the bottom of the cave.
”Don't get too close, you're in danger of falling apart.”
”Okay.”
Once we've narrowed the line a little, we'll start moving again.
”And you have no demons.”
”Well, given the amount of demons that attacked the campsite, it doesn't come out as unnatural.”
”Weren't the demons that attacked the camp the majority of the demons that were in the cave?
and the other adventurers speak optimistically.
”That possibility cannot be denied. But there are no doubt that there are more dangerous demons in the mine than there were dangerous demons like Herbasilisk, and there are dangerous demons of the same level in the back of the cave. Don't get distracted until you finish Camp Two.”
”I know.”
With a light mouth, everyone is looking around without alarm, and I'm exploring demonic reactions with exploratory magic, too.
I feel a demonic reaction in the cave, but fortunately the reaction is lower than where we are.
Perhaps this cave stretches down as well as to the side.
You don't have to worry about getting attacked right now.
Then the cave spread a little bit, eventually reaching the open space.
”This is where the dossier was. All right, we're gonna set up camp around here.”
Following Mr. Liseau's decree, the wizards magically begin to erect walls.
”Focus on strength over habitability! Make the walls as thick as you can!
”” ”Roger!
The construction of walls to protect the camp begins, and the surroundings begin to be covered by walls one after another.
”For now, if the wall is finished, you can rest assured.”
”Oh, yeah”
Senior adventurers exhale a sigh of relief at the sight of the wall completing in an instant.
”Come on, it's not finished yet, so don't get distracted, okay? These are the most dangerous times.”
and Mr. Roddy, a senior in S-rank, tightens the slack air.
”Shh, excuse me”
That seems the S-rank word is convincing, and the senior adventurers rush to correct their posture.
And not to mention that Mr. Roddy's warning was correct, but exploratory magic comes to convey the existence of demons.
”It's a demonic reaction! They're climbing from the basement in the direction we came from!
”Even underground!?”
”I think you've probably come up the cliff earlier! Quite a few too!
Shit, we should have considered the possibility of coming through there because the space is connected.
”All men, prepare for battle! Installation units give top priority to installing walls! Everybody, watch out for skimmers who don't have walls!
”” ”Ouch!
On instructions, the adventurers begin to line up.
They were all instantly ready for battle, although not nearly as heavily trained knights, because they had advance coaching in formation and tactics.
”Yes boy, it's a good opportunity, so which one can defeat a lot of demons or not?
Mr. Roddy, who came beside me, suggested that. [M]
”Again?
This guy doesn't brace.
”Fight around the corner, you'd better enjoy it, wouldn't you? Yeah, let's invite the rest of the team. Hey, you guys! Who will crusade the demons the most? Participation can be team or individual. Ten gold coins a bite!
Ten gold coins is a huge battle.
”If it's a team, it's good for the number of crusades, but the prize money is divided into mountains, and vice versa, if it's an individual, it's tight, but the reward is solitary.”
”Fine, I'll join you personally.”
”We're in a team.”
Though I thought they would say it was careless, unexpectedly, there were many participants.
Maybe this spare time is what makes everyone an A-rank adventurer.
”Come on, boy, what do you do?
Um, what am I going to do?
”Mr. Rex, let's take it as a team too!
And Mr. Liliera is motivated.
Right, which way the demons attack, it doesn't change what we have to take down.
Is there any reason not to take it?
If you win, you'll make a whole lot of money.
”Okay. Let's take it.”
”All right, the bet is done!
”” ”” Ooh!
The adventurers raise their tense roar.
Unsurprisingly, Mr. Roddy's bets seem to have turned out to boost everyone's morale.
”You have no choice at all.”
And the blur was Mr. Liseau with two big fangs.
”Hey Clear Storm's! Don't be too shabby!
”I know. Let's start with the pre-production scenery!
As Mr. Lissoe sighs into Mr. Roddy's light mouth, he hears the demons approaching him from the darkness.
”” Coming! ”
Mr. Roddy and Mr. Liseau immediately switch consciousness and set up a weapon.
And the demons appeared out of the darkness.
◆
”This is!?”
It was a bunch of white demons that just filled the cave floor.
”Wow, that's a great number.”
The demon looks like a lizard walking on two legs, about 30 cm small.
But this tremendous number just makes me feel instinctively dangerous.
”Be careful! It's an anthraptor! It's a demon that strikes like an ant!
An earlier bandit calls everyone's attention by naming the demon.
Is this the anthraptor? I've never seen the real thing before. [M]
”Damn, I took it because I heard that S-Rank asked me to join him, and I thought I could let him screw me, but suddenly you're in danger for your life!
”We specialize in exploration, so there's no battle... should I have turned down this request?
”” It's late!
And the adventurers who were nearby are bogged down.
Apparently, you were recruited in this exploration request in anticipation of each specialized skill besides combat.
Like Foca, a healing magic user known as the Virgin, they specialize in exploration.
”Coming!
When everyone returns to me to Mr. Liseau's voice, a demon called Anthraptor strikes us like an avalanche.
”Fireball!”
”Windcutter!
”Freeze ball!
Immediately, the wizards begin intercepting with range-type attack magic.
Anthraptors were numerous anyway, and that was enough to hit one without having to aim.
But Anthraptor's reinforcements emerge from the darkness from the next to the next, while it increases rather than decreases.
”You lizard bastard!
Everyone shakes up their weapons and launches an attack on an approaching anthraptor.
Though those who are confident in speed and possess well-handled weapons like daggers stand around well, those who use the great sword or axe as weapons were unable to stab the stomach because of the lumpiness of the anthraptor's body.
And before he could defeat the wounded individual, a newbie attacked him, one after the other swarming him into his body.
”Guh!?”
”Fuck off, get away from me!
”Ouch! Don't bite me!
No, we have to cover!
I am in a hurry to tear apart the crowded anthraptors and rescue those who were attacked.
”Shh, sorry.”
”I'll recover, heel!
Fortunately, thanks to the small amount of damage itself, the treatment ends quickly.
But it's not good, I want to do something about this number all at once, but bad range magic will hurt my allies if we get to this point in the turmoil.
Should we let one sleep around here, by the magic of sleep, on the enemy's side?
It was when I thought so.
”Rockthorne!!”
The stone thorns growing from the ground pierce the feet of the anthraptors who were running around the perimeter.
The anthraptors fall to the ground screaming in pain.
The stone thorns grow on the ground one after the other, damaging the feet of the anthraptors who were running around.
”Be careful not to step on the stone thorn!
It was the magic of Mr. Chain, the wizard of the team cyclone led by Mr. Roddy.
”Everybody calm down!
Mr. Roddy raises his voice to a gap where the anthraptors are frightened by the stone thorns and move dull.
”Anthraptors are not the kind of people you fear one by one! Wizards use magic that inhibits the opponent's movement more than attack magic! That way!
That's what Mr. Roddy says. He cleaves an anthraptor with a stone thorn that injures his leg.
”It's also easier to stab a stop like this, and if the guys in front can't move, the guys in the back won't be able to come forward with their allies in the way either! The avant-garde has been slowed down with its feet sealed. Attack the enemy first!”
”Wow, okay! Earthbound!”
”Then this is it, Plant Rock!
”Don't protrude! Fight each other with your backs protected!
The adventurers who decided they were jilli poor even as they fought individually soon changed the way they fought according to Mr. Roddy's command.
Thanks to you, little by little, but surely the number of enemies started to decrease.
”Awesome, Mr. Roddy!
It's like I've been leading these men for years. It's a smooth way to direct them.