Book 2: Chapter 15

Book 2: Chapter 15

Chapter 15 I Found An Ancient Labyrinth

I took the job of defeating the Elder Lich from Count Maillard, had a brief discussion about future plans, and left the Shadow Cow Pavilion. Iris, Lily, and Surara were with me.

It seems that Count Maillard is leaving town now, preparing for the worst.

Due to the effect of the Yggdrasil branch, the curse of the Black Death is in a dormant state for the time being.

However, within half a day, the curse will resume its activity, spreading to the surrounding areas and causing great loss of life.

To avoid this, he will move to a place where there are no people.

We avoid the busy streets and make a short run for the north gate.

This way, everyone!

The back streets arent that crowded.

Lets hurry!

Master-san, thank you for carrying me!

Dont mind it.

I run through the crowd with Surara under my right arm, weaving my way through the crowd.

It is thanks to my [Dexterity] that I am able to do this.

Soon we arrived at the city gate.

Many people were coming and going, but not so many that I could not pass through.

After quickly walking out of the town, I opened the [Item Box] at a little distance and summoned Dest and Grand Cabin.

Are you calling for me, Master?

Yeah. Im in a bit of a hurry.

I activated [Auto Mapping] and showed Dest the map of the area around Surier.

The destination is here. Its deep in the mountains, so well be on foot from the halfway point. Please go as close as you can.

Understood! Leave it to me!

I nodded at Dests reply and climbed into the coachmans platform.

If any monsters appeared on the way, I would immediately blow them away with my fire arrow.

Iris sat on my left and Lily and Surara on my right.

Well then, were off! Full speed ahead!

With Dests powerful declaration, the Grand Cabin began to move.

It reaches its top speed in just a dozen seconds, and the scenery flows by, buzzing from side to side.

Master-san, the carriage is moving faster than usual!

Its an urgent situation, after all.

I nod at Suraras words and check the [Auto Mapping] map.

The distance to our destination is still far, but at this speed, we should reach the foot of the mountain in about five minutes.

While I was thinking about this, Iris muttered something to me.

Hey, Kou. Isnt the current situation just like Lily-chans [Foresight]?

Indeed it is.

I nodded.

Last night, Lily saw three images through [Foresight].

The first was the scene of me receiving the trumpet.

Helper Slimes can freely change their body size, weight, and shape. Perhaps he could be useful in unexpected places.

However, since he is basically a non-combatant, I will ask him to become the smallest size during the battle and shelter him in the pocket of my Fenrir Coat.

After five minutes of walking, we arrived at the bottom of a sheer cliff.

A rugged rock face spread out before our eyes.

Looking at the map in [Auto Mapping], the red light spot was shining on the inside of the cliff.

Hey Kou, I kind of remember a situation like this before.

I nodded in agreement with Iris.

This looks just like when we found the underground city at Aunen.

As I said this, I knocked on the rock wall and found a rock that made a strange sound.

It was a vertical rectangle, about twice as big as my body.

I held up my right hand and reminded myself to put it in the [Item Box].

A magic circle appeared on the ground, and the rock disappeared as if sucked in.

Behind it, a metal door was revealed.

Amazing

Lily exclaimed in admiration.

How did you know the door was hidden?

We experienced something similar at Aunen.

I answer and then approach the metal door. On the surface of the door was engraved a symbol that looked like an hourglass.

I wondered what this could be, and Lily gasped behind me to my right.

The emblem of the calamity cult!

Do you know it?

Yes. I learned it when I was educated as a [God of Wars Shrine Maiden]. The calamity cult was a pagan religion that existed during the time of ancient civilization, and as the name suggests, they worshipped calamities as gods.

I know that, too.

Surara said in a more serious tone than usual and pulled a pair of glasses out of his mouth.

He put on the glasses and looked sharp and wise before speaking.

Four thousand years ago, the people of an ancient civilization were making various preparations to confront a calamity, but the calamity cult kept blocking their preparations. Perhaps this is one of their strongholds.

The Elder Lich had a very terrible taste to live in such a place.

Wait a minute.

Liches are often portrayed in fantasy anime and games as high-ranking sorcerers who have somehow become immortal.

Perhaps Elder Lich was originally a follower of the calamity cult or something like that.

Well, whatever the identity of the opponent, what we need to do remains the same.

All we have to do is defeat the Elder Lich and break the counts curse.

But the trouble is, the metal door has no knob or handle, and there seems to be no way to get inside.

I wondered if this could also be stored in the [Item Box] when Surara jumped up and stuck to the door.

Master-san, this door seems to use a system from an ancient civilization, so even I can open it. Just wait a moment while I unlock it.

Immediately afterward, an electronic beeping sound rings out from overhead, and the door opens to the inside.

Its open!

Okay, lets go.

We nodded to each other and stepped inside the door.