205 - - Formation, beetle rescue team

"What are you doing?"

Of course, there was no way the people around him would overlook such recklessness.

Riccar grabbed him by the collar from behind just before he fell into the hole, and Moe flailed his arms and legs in mid-air.

"Moo's, Moo's beetle!"

"Calm down. If you get upset, you'll get knocked down!"

The red-headed boy keeps a calm tone as he drags the child back to safety with an arm strength that belies his small stature.

Thor lets out a small breath at the sight of the uninjured child.

He tried to change the target of the retrograde to an insect cage, but it did not seem to meet the conditions for activation, perhaps because it had fallen naturally.

Moo, who was held tightly from behind, nodded his head in Riccar's arms.

His face is a mixture of sadness and impatience, much more emotional than when he witnessed the witch.

Thor, who let out an involuntary giggle, stroked her hair and the child looked up at him with moist eyes.

"Kuuuk, kurosuke ga ......, kurokuro ni ......."

"It's all right. Listen to me."

The shuffling Moe listened attentively to Riccar's words.

Thor listens as well.

A faint sound came from the bottom of the hole, as if something was shaking low.

Mu immediately realized what it was.

"Kurosuke!

"Hey, a little fall won't hurt."

"Is that a beetle beating its wings? I guess it's alive then."

The child exhales in relief, but then starts chittering and flapping again.

"Hey, what the hell? You're in danger!

"I'll save Kurosuke!"

"Moo, are there a lot of bad vibes down this hole?"

"That's what you've been saying all along, To-chan!"

Thor and Sisang nodded at each other as they looked into each other's eyes at Moe's words.

"It seems to be connected to the dog demon tunnels.

"Maybe the caveman dug it up by accident."

"Whatever it is, we need to check it out. Can you do me a favor while you're at ......?

Yes, I'll take care of it!

The pit is steeply angled but tilted at an angle, and it seems safe to climb down if one puts one's hand on the wall and sticks it out.

It is too narrow, however, and a large Thor would surely get stuck at the entrance.

The usual circular shield is too wide and will get caught, so Sisan, who has replaced it with a spare small shield, carefully inserts himself into it.

While everyone watches, the boy with the magic stone lamp hanging from his waistband carefully descends down the hole.

After a few minutes, he seemed to have reached the bottom, and a voice came out to let him know that he was safe.

Riccar then tries to enter the hole.

Moe jumped on his back and clung to him.

"What the hell? Don't get in my way!"

I'm coming, Moe!

"Oh, really?"

Riccar looked up at Thor with a troubled look on his face as the child made no move to leave him.

Thor nodded lightly at the look and spoke to the hard-faced Mu.

"Can you promise not to bother my brothers?"

"Yes!"

"If you break it, you're out of snacks."

"What?　Just for a day?"

No, three days.

"How awful ....... So I'll just have to put up with you for the time being."

That would be my punishment. Well, don't do too much.

"Oh, you're seriously going to follow me?"

Hinck bends down to listen to Riccar's surprised voice.

"You trust us, don't you? Besides, having Moe around will be a big help in spotting us.

"Moo is not easy!　But if you ask me, I can help you.

"You're a real smart guy, man."

Riccar reaches out and plays with his fingers on the child's broad forehead, but the weight on his shoulders still makes him look uneasy.

Then Yuril opened his mouth, smiling.

"Then, would you like me to accompany you?"

The offer of help could not have come at a better time, but this time Alethea rushed to interject.

"Well, I don't think you can help me, Mr. Yuril.

"Oh, you may look like this, but I've gained a lot of strength.

"No, it's not that, it's that ......"

"Hmm, don't worry about it. I don't want to cause you any trouble.

"No, I mean, uh, ....... Riccar, get out of here!

"What, me?"

And Hink, turn around!

"Me too?"

The orders were given in rapid succession, but the healing hand, which was their lifeline, could not be offended, so the two of them stood side by side and turned to face the wall.

After confirming the size of the hole, Alethea gave a small nod and spoke to Yuril.

"Go ahead, try it, I'm sure you'll understand right away".

"Is that so?　Now, if you'll excuse me."

With graceful movements, Yuril puts his foot in the hole.

He tries to slip into the hole, but his movements suddenly stop.

The reason, needless to say, is her ample bosom.

The silver-haired beauty, with a puzzled look on her face, shakes herself a few times.

However, the part caught on the edge of the hole only changes its shape softly and does not try to pass through.

After a few moments of contemplation, Ulille's ears trembled with disappointment.

"Can you give me a hand?　Mr. Thor."

"Yes, please."

When Yuril returned from the hole, he looked down silently at his bouncing chest.

Then he put his hand on his cheek and simply admitted the impossible.

"I'm sorry. I guess it's a little impossible.

"Then leave it to me!"

So Sola went with him instead.

Riccardo, Ecclesia, and Alethea, with Mu on their shoulders, entered the pit in that order.

Sora followed, and before Hinck entered for the last time, they had a brief meeting.

"We're going to stay here in case it's a fake.

"Yes, I'll be back once in about a couple of hours.

If you can get out through the wrong doorway, make a noise.

Yes, sir.

"Please be careful."

The boy waved his hand happily and lightly disappeared into the bottom of the hole.

Now they are alone, Thor and Yuril look at each other and smile.

"Well, let's clean up the mess.

"Yes, we can't take our time."

Thor picked up a fist-sized stone and carelessly threw it into the back of the pit.

The next moment, darkness fell.

Thor heard the sound of something hitting the ground, and turned on the magic stone lamp to see what was behind.

A dim glow reveals a shadow lying on the ground.

"...... this is..."

"Oh?"

The creature that had died out in the back was not, as expected, a blue-furred monster, but a huge worm with a brown outer skin.

The part near the head had been gouged out cleanly.

Its girth was about three times larger than usual, which may have been why it appeared on the ground.

Perhaps this unusual size was caused by the thick miasma from the labyrinth located directly below.

"Hmm, no cave bear here."

If so, what's in that hole ......?"

Then Thor remembered that there was a rare monster that rarely appeared in this hilly area.

It looked a little like a cave bear, but smaller.

But in terms of ferocity, it far surpassed the angry cave bear, and some say it could even bare its fangs at a dragon.

"I'm starting to get worried, after all."