Chapter 121 - A Cave On Yo Tee Mountains 2_2

"Shree!"

A Purple Teeth Lizard - which was over three meters long and with a body as big as adult people - made a hiss as it ran up to me. It was fast because it have four strong legs. It opens its wide mouth which is filled with a row of sharp teeth.

For so many times in our fight, it tried to tear my legs off.

This hard, black-scaled monster is dreadful. But even so, the effort is made to bite my legs was in vain.

The opponents it faced were faster and stronger than it. 

The monster even cannot give a fight when its opponent, me, stabbed it in the head shortly after I jumped over it.

An Arte named Impale and my spear made good teamwork! The combination made a big hole in the monster's head and finally take its life.

"Scree!" The monster made a sound before finally stopping moving forever.

I left the monster's corpse behind. I ran to get close to the other big lizards that surrounded us. The fight continues and every time I use an Arte or Spell, a monster dies.

Yes, not only me, the kids together with Ruciel and Myu are also fighting against these big lizards.

Relying on good cooperation, Kimi, Alan, and Chloe take down three large lizards in front of them. 

Repel the monsters with a shield, tie the monsters in place with Mana Bind, and then cut the monster's neck with Arte. They use that effective fight pattern to kill them without receiving serious wounds.

Their improvement surprises me.

As for Ruciel and Myu, they killed a few Purple Teeth Lizards using arrows and bullets.

Ruciel's way of fighting was more direct. She was always aiming for the heads of the monsters. While Myu, she paralyzed the monsters by attacking their legs before finally killing them with a shoot in its chest.

This fight lasted for a dozen minutes until all the monsters in here were killed. We win the fight with light wounds.

Yes, we kept in contact with Teria and the other Party. We kept each other updated on what we're doing. But unfortunately, none of our Party managed to find the Earth Crystal.

"Okay... why should we take the hearts and livers of these monsters? And! Why didn't you help us to process these monsters!?" Myu asked. Her hands that holding a monster's heart and knife were covered in blood.

"Because I want to eat those," I began. "I'm not helping you because I can't do or know how to process those corpses."

"It's just an excuse," said Ruciel, who is wrapping a heart and liver using big leaves. "She just doesn't want her hands dirty with blood."

I raised one of my eyebrows.

Dirty with blood isn't the reason why I don't want to touch the monster corpse. I was honest when I said I couldn't process the monsters.

However, more than that, I didn't want to do the processing because I was afraid of getting out of control. 

Yes, although the Heart of Monsters was complete and its influence was reduced. Still, sometimes I felt I would get out of control if I got too close to fresh meat and inhaled the scent of blood.

Smell Blocker?

I didn't use that Magic Tool because I wanted to accustom myself to the influence of the Heart of Monsters.

I want to control it.

And yes, I'm making progress. I became more immune to the temptation of the scent of fresh blood. But I wasn't immune enough to restrain myself from being out of control.

"Well... If you do not believe me, so be it." My fox's ears twitched don't care. "As you say, I don't want to touch that monster's corpse."

"This is not fair!" Myu shouted in an annoyed tone.

Time passed and they were done with their work. After we were ready, we wandered through the cave, again.

Yes, the monsters ambushed us, again.

Armed with weapons, Arte, and Spells, we killed them, again.

The work of processing monsters repeated. 

And yes, Myu again uttered protests.

It's repeated. Exploring the cave, the monsters ambushed us, we fought, processed the monster carcasses, and finally returned to the beginning.

Our adventure can be said boring but hey!

< Level up! 13 to 14 >

< Level up! 14 to 15 >

My level is up! And then...

"Look! A brown crystal!" Kimi shouted. Her left hand pointed at someplace.

I looked in the direction she was pointed at and there, in the bottom nook of the cave wall was a large chunk of Earth Crystal.

"Is it just me or that Earth Crystal is indeed at the size of a human head?" Said Myu who approached the crystal at a quick pace.

We who were being left behind decided to follow the girl.

As I walk, I took the Telepathy Necklace and filled it with my Mana. Then I said, "Teria, can you hear me?"

We're not directly connected. For a while, I heard a static sound until I heard a voice of a woman.

< Yes, what's wrong? >

"We found the Earth Crystal, what about you guys?"

< Sadly, we haven't found anything yet. So, does this mean our exploration of this cave is over? >

"If you agree, then we can come back."

< Hmm… Please wait a minute. There are some problems here. >

"Okay.."

After that, Teria no longer said anything.

"Hey! Anyone brings a pickaxe or a shovel?" Myu asked and the four of us exchanged looks.

"I'm no longer a Carrier, I don't carry it," Ruciel said.

As for me and the kids, "we don't have it either."

"Great! What should we do now?"

"You can use this spear," I said as I gave her my spear.

"You have no desire to do menial work, am I right?"

"Yes, you are right."

Myu froze after she heard my reply. She blinked a few times before saying, "You're too honest and I don't know why, it hurt me."

With a fallen shoulder, Myu begins her work to retrieve the Earth Crystal.

Ruciel who saw our exchange made giggles. 

A moment later...

< Eclaite, can you hear me? > Teria's voice appeared inside my head suddenly.

"Yes."

< We're going to continue exploring this cave. One of my crews found another Earth Crystal. I have a little inkling, we'll find the mine you said. So, although this is a little inappropriate, I hope you can accept my request. >

"Sure, after we're done with the Earth Crystal here, we'll go to your place."

< thanks, I'll wait for you>

Teria's voice was gone and replaced by Myu's voice. "I want a proper reward!"

To the girl who looked so upset, I made a nod. "I'll give you a fancy dinner or a big bonus."

"I didn't want any of those. I want a kiss on the forehead," she replied as she handed the Earth Crystal to me.

"That's too far, Myu," I told her.

Once again, the girl dropped her shoulder. "Then I want a fancy dinner with the spice of love."

"... I'll make sure you get it," I said then I look at the Earth Crystal in my hand. "[Appraisal]"

—————+

[Earth Crystal] [Tier 3]

[+ One kind of minerals imbued with Earth Element. Can be used to make weapons, armor, or Magic Tools. ]

—————+

"We got some good stuff," I said. Then I put the Earth Crystal into my Magic Bag. "Now, let's go see Teria and the others."

They agreed and we left the place. We walked, time passed, and...

"Are you aware that we walked deeper into this cave?" Ruciel asked.

I stopped and I realized my mistake I look around. I walked without thinking, I made a mistake. 

I moved my head to look at Ruciel.

"Well?" She asked me.

"... Let's trace our steps back!"

"I can't believe it!" Myu said. "I'm starting to feel that something is wrong with you."

"Use the Telepathy Necklace and ask for directions from Teria. I don't want us to get lost because of the stupidity or whatever you have." Ruciel looked at me sharply. "But... If I think of it again. Let me use that Telepathy Necklace, I will guide you."

"You don't have faith in me?"

"No, and give me the necklace."

"Haa... All right." I gave Ruciel the necklace.

Then, accidentally, I saw an object similar to the Earth Crystal between the rocks. So, I approached that thing.

On the other hand, Ruciel started using the necklace to contact Teria.

I crouched down as I got in front of the object and yes, "I found another Earth Crystal!"

The kids who heard it approached me.

"It's smaller than the previous one," Kimi commented.

"Is Sis Myu going to use a spear to dig it out?" Chloe was curious.

"No," Myu began. "It's not me who's going to dig it but her, Eclaite will do it."

"What, me?"

"Yes, you can use this spear." Myu gave me a spear.

And it seems, I did have to dig this Earth Crystal with the spear. So, I started digging. Sometime later.

"Mm... I think you guys want to see this," Alan said.

We looked up to see the boy.

"I found such an enormous Earth Crystal! Come with me!" He added and gave a call.

We were curious so we leave whatever we did to follow the boy. Minutes passed and in a large part of the cave, we saw a truck-sized Earth Crystal stuck to the cave wall.

Then I froze.

Not that huge Earth Crystal was the cause. Instead, it was a faintly large heat in the bottom of the Earth Crystal.

"Get ready! There's a monster in front of us!"

As soon as I said the warning, the large heat moved.

"Shaaa!"

Crystal Cobra is ready to fight.