20 Episode 19: I discovered an ancient ruin.

"Ugh, ...... I want to erase the person I was yesterday: ......

In the morning, Irisnot Fafnir, as I call myself, was in bed at home with his head in his hands.

The cause was last night.

I spoke to Ko with the help of alcohol, but because I was drunk, well, what can I say, I messed up big time.

I mistook a mere compliment for a proposal.

I was so embarrassed by my misunderstanding that I drank the wine in one gulp to hide my embarrassment, and then I almost threw up.

If Ko hadn't shared the detoxification potion with me, I probably would have dragon breath (a euphemism) on the floor.

'I really, really want to die. ......

Nestle your face into the pillow and rummage around on the bed.

Huh. .......

This is a pattern that you'll never be treated as a girl again .......

No, it's okay.

I'm glad you said "eyes like Ruby," but I'm not going to be cholo enough ...... to fall in love with that alone.

I'm sure you'll remember the temperature of Ko's arm when he caught me in a drunken stupor and nearly collapsed.

Huh. ......

For some reason, a sigh escaped me.

Ko Kosaka.

The mysterious atmosphere of this man is a bit disturbing.

Although he is said to have come out from deep in the mountains, he seems to have come from a more distant place. ......

''Well, it's already that time!　Our meeting is at 10:00 a.m. We have to hurry up at ......!

I jumped out of bed.

It's not good to keep Ko waiting, and I was going to be at the gate 30 minutes before the meeting.

* *

When I headed to the castle gates, even though it was fifteen minutes before the meeting, Iris was there.

Her red hair glistening in the morning sun is a dazzling sight.

Some of the people on the road were admiring Iris' appearance.

''Sorry, I didn't want to keep you waiting,''

No, I'm here.

When I called out to her, Iris replied in a calm tone.

She seems to have detoxed from last night's drinking exactly, and she's looking good.

''Ko, your clothes don't look the same as they did last night.

New equipment. You got it all figured out.

That's because I'm trained in the art of looking at things.

Iris said proudly, turning her crimson eyes to my suit.

'I wonder what fabric they're using. I know it's a hell of a treasure. ......

It's Fenrir.

...... Yes?

'Well, there's a lot going on. I got some Fenrir material and I made some clothes.

............ I'm sorry. I think I'm still asleep. I heard something about Fenrir, but I think it was just a dream.

No, I'm not dreaming. ...... Fenrir is so rare.

'It's not a rare occurrence!　Mythical. Mythical!　How in the world did you get such material: ......

That's a trade secret.

I'm starting to get a sense of Iris' personality, but I need time to trust her fully.

You are too young to know each other well enough to reveal the seeds of your meal.

You know, Ko. Maybe those clothes are also very high performance: ......

It's got a physical blockade, a magical blockade, and a godspeed blessing.

I need an escort. ......?　I took it on yesterday in a drunken stupor, but like a child who doesn't need it: ......

No, you never know what's going to happen in this world. Besides, if you're an A-ranked person, you must have gone through a lot of shura, right?　I'm just a fledgling adventurer, and it's important to me to work with skilled people to learn their skills and experience.

You're a very humble man, aren't you?

I'm just being cautious.

Or rather, I try to be cautious.

I'm aware that I'm a bit of a goofball in some fundamental ways, so I want to be solid as far as my awareness goes.

...... That's not working for me, and that's why I'm in trouble.

Well, that's fine. Well, as a senior, I'll give you some useful information about the new guy.

What?

It's rumored that there are some super-ancient ruins near Ohnen. No one has found it yet, but if you do, it might just go down in history. If you want to find them, you should look for them.

Okay.

I activate 【Auto Mapping】 and look at the map around Onen in my brain.

Come to think of it, this isn't just a topographical map, it's got place names and such written down exactly.

I think it's quite a friendly map.

...... Huh?

Wait a minute.

I might have just found the d*mned thing.

"Iris, you got a minute?

I talk to Iris with a serious look on my face.

'What?　Ugh, you're suddenly looking so serious, you made me nervous ....... I almost forgot about yesterday, finally. ......

'Maybe the alcohol from yesterday is starting to come back. I'll give you the detoxification potion later. Better yet, listen to me.

'What, wait, you're being too salty!

I ignore Iris's tsking and continue.

'I think I know where the ancient ruins are.'

Because the name of the place is clearly written on the map.

The name of the place is clearly written on the map: "Underground Ruins of Rosé Forest".

By the way, the Rosé Forest is the place where I went to get the beehive yesterday.

'Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!　Hey, wait a minute, Ko!　The locations of ancient ruins have all sorts of songs and other things that give us clues, and the scholars in the King's Capital and others are having a really hard time thinking about it. ......

Even if you say that, it can't be helped if you've figured it out.

【Auto Mapping】 also gives me information on materials, but it seems that mineral-based materials can be obtained at the ancient ruins.

Since it's a good time, let's go there.

The Hikino wooden sword and wooden spear are strong, but I'd also like to make some iron weapons.

* * *

Me and Iris and Iris headed to the Rosé Forest.

'Come to think of it, this forest is almost devoid of demons.

Yes, they say it's because of the ruins.

Iris replies as we move deeper into the forest.

''I heard they're purifying the magic element and preventing demons from occurring.

'A demon outbreak?　Aren't demons supposed to be born from their parents?

Lonely wolves, for example, have a male and a female, and when they are in heat, they produce offspring.

Don't demons, like normal animals, use reproductive behavior to increase their numbers?

'Demons make babies, but they also occur spontaneously. To be specific--

According to Iris' explanation, demons spontaneously pop up in places where the magic element is dense.

The demons spontaneously emerge by themselves, and the animals increase by reproductive behavior alone.

As we talked about this, the forest ended and we arrived at the bottom of a cliff.

According to the map, there is an entrance to the ancient ruins here.

I wonder if there is a hidden door here somewhere.　I'll have to look around for a few things.

Iris thumps the rock wall with his right hand, conkking it out.

He's probably looking for a thin spot on the wall.

Isn't there an easier way?

For example, you can use the [Master's Divine Eye] to see through it, or ......, hmm?

For some reason, there was a part of the rock wall that could be collected as material.

It is shaped just like a door.

Let's see... ...... collect it?

Touch the door disguised as a rock wall and collect it in the item box.

Beyond that, there was a hidden passage leading to the back.

'Iris, this is the entrance to the ruins. ......

'Umm, yeah ....... Don't you find it too easily ......?　Ko, who the hell are you ......?

I'm just an F-rated adventurer.

If this were an F-rated average, the world would be ruled by adventurers: ......

I don't want to be told that.

Well, we have found the ancient ruins too easily, but what shall we do?