83 Episode 83: The One Lurking in the Groundwater

"Then please, you guys."

After sweeping the anthraptors nestled in the walls of the abandoned holes, we will descend slowly down the holes with the magic of flight to the lowest level.

Even so, it doesn't suddenly bring everyone down.

First of all, it's a priority for me, Mr. Liliera and Mr. Ramies, and actually four of Gunnye, who were able to use flying magic, to scout to find out if there are a lot of demons at the bottom.

'Cause it would be tough if there were a ton of demons and chimeras living in the basement.

I've had enough of this when I was dealing with an anthraptor.

So, when I get to the bottom level, I use exploratory magic to find out how many demons are in the bottom level.

So if you decide it's okay, the next step is to drape the return rope all over the wall so that we can get back to the ground even if something happens to our flying magic users.

However, it is quite deep to the lowest level and the length of the rope is not enough, so look for a place to scaffold along the way so that you can move gradually.

Since this rope seems to be to be used by a subsequent investigation team even after this request has ended, the place where the rope is to be draped was also deliberately determined by inquisiting the quality of the rocks and soil.

After all that work, we're finally ready to take the adventurers to the bottom.

By the way, this time Moffmoff is leaving a message.

I can't wait to get accidentally flushed into the groundwater.

"Look, it's demonic meat."

"Cuun!"

"Hey, you want some demon moss too?

"Cuuuuu!!"

Such a moffy looks delighted to receive pieces of excess demonic meat and moths from the adventurers in disintegration.

"No, it'll save you the trouble of digging a hole to fill a moth."

"Right. And she looks cute."

"But what a monster is that?

"Come on? Well, it's cute, isn't it?

"Right."

"Cuun!"

The adventurers are like mellow on a small, harmless moff-moff.

"They're all fooling me... I just want to have fun and eat meat"

"Oh, you're fooling me. And I'm not such a cute creature..."

But only Mr. Liliera and Mr. Roddy watched Moffmoff eat and fish meat with a sinister face.

We're talking meat, but didn't we both have enough breakfast?

◆

After completing the previous investigation, we use the magic of flight to bring the adventurers down to the bottom.

"Whoa!? Also, slower down -!

"Yu, shake! Shake Oooooo!!"

The vertical hole in the waste mouth is unexpectedly windy blowing from below, and the adventurers scream in the wind.

"No more rumbling!

"Idiot! If you get so violent, my arm's gonna hold you. Ooh!

Uh, I forgot to teach Mr. Lilliera the magic of wind pressure defense.

You have to remember wind pressure defense in windy places. It's tight, isn't it?

"I'm glad you brought us here."

"Oh, oh."

By the way, me and Mr. Gunnye can use the magic of wind pressure protection, so we never got rocked by the wind.

"But... I'm afraid this undead arm is going to lift..."

Oh, pray you don't give me that.

"Fall!

"So rambling!!"

By the way, why doesn't Mr. Ramies use the magic of wind pressure defense?

Do you want to preserve your magic powers?

◆

"All right, you're all down"

We had a lot of trouble, but we made it to the bottom.

"Ugh... I won't let you carry a human again"

Mr. Ramies is groaning as he rubs his arm because of carrying so many people though.

By the way, the female adventurers were Liliera, but I was carrying relatively heavy people.

And since this is the main purpose of the investigation, no one in metal armor has been chosen as an investigator.

"Hey, look at that. It's a demon bone."

Find the demonic bones that were scattered by one of your adventurers.

If you look closely, the demon bones were falling on the ground between the walls.

"It would be the bones of demons who have fallen on their feet from the road above, or demons who have lost to Chimera"

There are unnaturally shaped bones inside, so it looks like the demons are mixing the bones of the chimera.

"If it's a demon bone that lives in this cave, a new, well-kept guy could be gold."

If demonic material becomes money as much as it becomes, isn't it strange that bones become money?

Besides, this is more than A-rank, and now it's a place where only S-rank adventurers have come down from the ruins, so it's more than likely that the demon bones you get are from higher-rank demons, too.

"Bone pickup is behind us. We'll give priority to the investigation now."

"Heh."

Mr. Lissoe embarrasses me, and the adventurers unfortunately reply.

"But that's a great flow. Even with those chimeras we fought, if they had been dropped directly above this vein, they wouldn't have been able to do anything."

and whine as Mr. Liseau looks at the underground waters flowing right beside him.

We came down to the land near the rock wall beside the groundwater vein, which is so wide that the two of us seem to be able to get through, it's a form that we can't help but walk through. And right next to us, there was an underground water flow making noises with goose.

"It sure wouldn't help if they dropped me here...... hey you guys! Don't peek too hard, you're gonna fall!

"Oh, wow, I'm sorry."

Pay attention to the people Mr. Roddy was peering into the groundwater.

"We're going upstream first."

We're going upstream as directed by Mr. Liseau.

As we proceeded in that way, the path gradually became wider and the width of the groundwater vein narrowed instead.

"Cheng Cheng, apparently the place just now was the most dangerous place with the widest underground water range. Nevertheless, wouldn't it be dangerous if it fell?"

Although Mr. Liseau pointed the sword with the magic of the lights at the underground waters, he could not see the bottom of the dark underground waters even when illuminated by the lights, and could not measure its depth.

"What a sentimental thing to say, a demon came, my husband with two big fangs."

As Mr. Roddy warned, a strange form of demon, the figure of a chimera, appears from behind the road.

"Were you still surviving? We're intercepting!

"Wait, it's a demonic reaction from the groundwater side too!

A lizard-shaped demon crawls out of the underground waters stretching a large fin to respond to Mr. Ramies' words.

Apparently, this is a living demon living in an underground waterway.

"Fight careful not to fall into the groundwater! Your Highness is cleared for exit!

Everyone sets up a weapon on Mr. Liseau's instructions, looking at his enemies.

"Do you want to go?"

"Roddy, I support you! Protective Mail!"

"I'll cover you, too. Divine Weapon!"

In this survey, we are not only S-rank adventurers, we are also accompanied by their party members.

Members of Mr. Roddy's party, Cyclone, follow Mr. Roddy's movements without a meeting and move in unison.

The flow is the S rank party of boulders.

"We'll deal with our enemies over here!

"" "Ouch" "

Mr. Liseau also goes out with party members to intercept lizard-shaped demons again.

"We'll cover both parties."

Mr. Foca provides support and recovery for the adventurer, and his party members enter support for places where the walls of the front are thin.

"I'm not tired yet so I'll give you a break"

Mr. Ramies declared earlier that he was not weary of air transport and seems to be in a position not to take part in the fight.

"Do you want me to cover you or not? Area Protection"

Mr. Gunnye will cover all allies with wide-area defensive magic.

This guy's specialty is auxiliary magic.

"Well, let's move, too."

"But the battlefield is too small for me to participate any more."

And Mr. Liliera says as he looks around.

Certainly, the adventurers who are protecting our lord are unable to participate in the attack because of the presence of underground waters right next to them.

Even though it's gotten wider than it was earlier, this place is too small for multiple adventurers to fight while avoiding enemy attacks.

But, Mr. Liliera, we can fight without worrying about that.

"Mr. Liliera, flying magic takes you up into the air and covering you with attack magic from a position you can't hit on your side."

"Ah! Oh, my God."

Mr. Liliera reminds me that I can use attack magic and flight magic.

Well, I just practiced attack magic, 'cause I didn't get to use it much in action.

"I'll go, then."

"Yes!"

We magically cover ourselves so we don't jump into the air and hit our allies.

"Come on, this! It's hard to use attack magic while flying."

I'm having a hard time attacking Mr. Liliera, unfamiliar with activating the two magics at the same time, so he doesn't hit his side.

Well, it's gonna be a practice in action format, and I guess it's just fine.

If you're on my side, I'll support you. [M]

Nevertheless, all gathered here are S-ranked and A-ranked adventurers.

Though it was the narrowness of the battlefield, it couldn't have been stopped by normal demons or about chimeras.

"Okay, then we're moving on. It's a priority to investigate. Go home and collect the demonic material you defeated."

We'll reopen the investigation as directed by Mr. Liseau.

◆

There have been sporadic demonic and chimeric raids ever since, but most of the opponents were able to defeat them without any problems.

Ning Ro...

"Wow!?"

An unbalanced adventurer is about to fall into the groundwater by dodging a demonic attack.

"Danger!"

I grab that arm and take him back to the ground. [M]

Oh, thank God.

"You're welcome."

And well, in this way, the rescue of the adventurers, who were about to fall off the narrower path, became the main focus.

On the way, Mr. Ramies joined us for air support, which made it easier, though.

"No, but it's really convenient to be able to fly. I don't know how many times I've been helped."

"Clear storm, too alarmed"

Liseau embarrasses Roddy, who almost fell off a few times and was helped.

"That kind of husband was about to fall twice and you were helped"

"... Well, I appreciate it"

By the way, Mr. Roddy almost fell over and over, but I knew from the top that the only time he was about to fall was when he tried to help his people.

And that goes for Mr. Liseau, too.

But neither of us spoke of it.

That depths itchy sounds s-ranked and cool too!

"Damn, thank us, you guys!

Yeah, well, what Mr. Rummies, who helped, says is Ali...... is it?

"But surprisingly, you don't have many demons. There were so many anthraptors, I thought there were so many more chimeras left."

And Mr. Liliera squeaks wonderfully.

"If you say so, you are. I think it would be nice to have more cameras to feed the anthraptors."

Sure, it wasn't a lot of strength, but I guess it was a hassle to have a brawl at that number.

"Hey, did you guys notice that?

And that's where Mr. Liseau talks to us.

"I realize... what?

Liliera tilts her neck at Mr. Liseau's words.

"The number of demons is running low."

"Huh?"

"That's not all, the number of chimeras is decreasing."

Ms Liseau agrees with Mr Roddy, and Mr Ramies and Mr Foca nod with a serious face.

I do feel the number of demons is decreasing compared to when they first came down to the underground waters, if you ask me.

"This is the Lord."

Lord, I have heard that word several times in my previous life.

There are rarely powerful individuals in monstrous forests and caves that can be called bosses.

If your experience in this life, will the enchant plant in the Warcraft Forest be the main hit?

Although I wasn't a very strong individual.

"Everybody stay alert."

"What do we do about it?

Confirm Mr. Ramies' response when he encounters the Lord with Mr. Liseau.

"If you're a chimera, you crusade. If it's a demon, leave it alone unless it strikes."

"Huh? Aren't you going to crusade?

I am surprised at Mr. Liseau's unexpected answer.

Because adventurer work is a demon crusade, and I naturally thought that a demon as powerful as the Lord would crusade.

In fact, often in previous lives, kings and nobles had ordered the Knights to crusade the Lord to develop their land.

"To defeat the Lord is to say that there will be no one to take control. And if the Lord is gone, the other demons who were held back by the Lord will storm as they please, and in the worst case, the demons will risk leaving the territory."

That doesn't make any sense, does it?

Our job this time is to find out what caused the mass outbreak of demons and solve it.

It would be tough if we became a new cause.

But that's an S-rank adventurer.

When I saw the demon, I thought I should take it down for now.

Fight with due regard to the surrounding environment. Not only does that make the money in front of you, but you also think about the safety of the people on the land behind you.

"Okay, Mr. Liseau."

"All right, we're all moving forward with vigilance. Let the magic of the lights advance."

At the behest of Liseau, the wizards advance ahead of the magical lights, and we follow them.

"There's a demonic reaction to exploratory magic!

The wizard, who was in charge of exploratory magic, raises an urgent voice.

"What's the distance?

"Approximately 300 meters."

"Okay, I don't want to irritate you as much as possible. We'll narrow it down. The devil's guide and the Virgin wait in the rear. Make sure you can cover me whenever you want. Follow the team of sunstorms and big eaters."

"" "Ouch" "

We split the team, and we slowly move along the wall.

"Stay..."

Mr. Liseau, slight tension mixes with his voice.

And the magical lights that were moving forward gradually illuminate the demons that lie ahead.

Giant enough to have a head on the cave ceiling.

Scales as if they were metal reflecting on lights.

Huge wings grown to ravage the sky.

It's like...

"What?

I raise my voice unexpectedly to the appearance that we would never have met here. [M]

"Ba, bahamut......"

Liliera whines about the existence she once saw and the names of the two demons.

Yes, the name of this demon is Bahamut, similar to the demon we once met and fought on Sky Island.

"Ba, even Bahamut!? s rank demon!?"

"Grrrrrrrrrrrr......"

"Hih!?"

As Bahamut looks at us and roars, the A-rank adventurer who has accompanied us screams.

"Hey, I'm mad at you for vandalizing the territory...!?"

"Hey, why is such a demon here...?

Everyone is upset by the encounter with just Bahamut.

Yeah, I know you're upset, too.

Because inherently Bahamut is not a creature that lives in such a narrow place.

Because the wide land is the bed, and the sky is the freedom and arrogance of our ceiling.

Anyone would be surprised if such a Bahamut were in a place like this.

"Oh, well, I get it. A bunch of anthraptors we encountered in the cave... He and the others fled to the upper level to escape from this Bahamut..."

So far, it's true that if you're an anthraptor and a bahamut, then a bahamut is better.

It is also understandable that an anthraptor who can climb the wall escapes.

I wonder if maybe one end of the reason for the mass appearance of demons can also be found in this Bahamut?

But you're in trouble, you're in a lot of trouble if you're going to fight Bahamut in such a small place.

Because Bahamut is a kind of dragon, and from its mouth you can throw up a powerful brace.

"Goddamn it, Virgin, and Undead's, can you put up a range of defensive magic that can protect all of you?

Seems to have thought the same thing, Mr. Lisaw lurks his voice so as not to irritate Bahamut and asks Mr. Foca and Mr. Ganye to take action.

"... even if you did everything in your power to tie the line, it's impossible to protect Bahamut's braces from the front and all of them, too. I didn't know I could stand it alone..."

"I don't know if I can stand it alone, but I can't protect all of you. No, if you can form a Buddha, you can defend yourself."

Mr. Foca and Mr. Gunnye told me that it was impossible to protect them all completely.

I know why. Because even if you protect everyone from the braces, you're afraid of the collapse that happens afterwards.

If Bahamut throws up his braces, the lowest tier of the shock risks this entire cave collapsing at its worst.

Um, this is gonna have to snap Bahamut's neck before he throws up his braces.

I slowly lower myself and focus on the spring of my body to quickly crusade Bahamut. [M]

Slowly so they don't notice and throw up their braces.

"No, it's nasty. Shouldn't you run away...?

"Idiot, if you move nauseously in this state, you'll kill me..."

and the adventurers beside him start rubbing with whether to run or fight.

Nice, you're going to alarm Bahamut with a frightening act!

"Cucumber"

and that's when I heard a young squeal at the feet of Bahamut.

"Oh, are those Bahamut kids?!?"

At the foot of Bahamut, if you look, was the figure of a small Bahamut the size of a human being.

I look like the Bahamut chick I saw on Sky Island.

Is it obvious because he's the same Bahamut kid?

"Well, was Bahamut using this cave as a nest to raise children!

Someone speaks out convinced that the reason Bahamut is here was to make a child.

Hmm? But Bahamut normally raised children under the sky.

Even Sky Island usually built nests inside Mori Island.

"Okay, we're going to slow down so we don't irritate the Bahamut. If we have kids, if we stay back, they might not come after us."

But that expectation is immediately denied.

Bahamut took a big step forward and glanced at us and opened his eyes wide and raised his ambition.

"Cayenne, cayenne!"

Apparently, he's mad at us for invading our territory in the middle of parenting.

Or did you just think you had a good prey on your kid's hunting practice bench?

But this strange roar, which I have never heard in my previous life or in previous generations, sounds like a scream.

I live underground like this, and possibly a subspecies or mutants of a special ecology.

This needs to be more vigilant.

Maybe he has unique special abilities.

It would be better to activate a combined Special Attack Resistance Enhancement Magic.

"You guys be on your guard... is that it?

It was me trying to alert everyone, but the next moment Bahamut raised his voice in surprise at the strange behavior he had taken.

Because the ambitious Bahamut ran away backwards at a glance when he could crush the child at his feet.

I know the cave was narrow and I couldn't change direction, but it's amazing how fast I can get that out in the back......

Damn, Bahamut has a wide field of view because his eyes are on the side of his face, just like Lizard demons.

... Isn't that what you're convinced of?

"Bahamut... ran away?

"Hey, what's going on?

Mr. Liliera and the others are also keotons wondering what happened.

There's no way, because it's not normal for Bahamut, who's invaded his territory, to escape without a fight.

"Did you avoid the fight because you had a child?

and Foca points out that Bahamut's escape was due to behavior by motherhood.

Um, if it's Bahamut's temper, I think he fights to show his kids an example of hunting without running away.

But, well, they're like mutants living underground, and maybe that's the kind of huge temper you have.

"As it were, well, a dangerous demon withdrew from the other side. Let's be good. We'll go back downstream and continue our remaining chimera crusade!

"" "" Oh, ooh "" "

We have renewed our minds and decided to resume the Chimera Crusade in accordance with Mr. Liseau's decree.

◆

Gah!!

Why is he here?

They said they found this bait-rich hole off the corner sky island!

Do I have to move again?

Even if I missed the prey for a little while, it would have been perfect for practicing my son's hunting because he's got other nerves!

There's no place for us to rest!?