Chapter 56: "The Deepest"

Chapter 56: "The Deepest"

It was utterly horrible.

I pulled out the arm that was eaten, but it was pretty much melted. I wondered if it would be possible to put it back together.

It was too good to waste, so I absorbed it with "Root" and healed the minor wounds on my body.

I finished repairing the body, but the clothes and armor...no good.CHeCk for new stories on no/v/el/bin(.)c0m

I liked this cloak.

The useless armor was discarded.

Clothes and cloak...well, let's just leave them as they are.

Still, it was a tough opponent.

To be honest, if it was just one of them, I would probably be able to take them out a little easier next time, but if there were more than one of them coming, it might be tough.

I looked at the back of the room. It looks like there is more to come.

I'm very curious to see the deepest part of this place.

In fact, I would have traveled a distance that would have taken more than a few days on foot.

However deep it is, the bottom should be visible by now.

The structure of this cave has a gentle downward slope.

There was a fork in the road, but it seemed to eventually join the path I had taken before.

As I was going along, I saw several holes that looked like that.

I was sure that no one else was going to catch up with me, though.

I regained my composure and continued on.

Using [Flight], I headed toward the back at a slightly slower speed.

On the way, giant plants still attacked me, but I adjusted my speed while dealing with them appropriately.

Within a few hours, the plant dragons appeared again. And there were two of them.

I couldn't take them anymore, so I kept my distance and invited them to attack with their breath, and when they spit out their breath, I surged forward and passed over the plant dragons.

There was a sign that they were chasing after me from behind, but I was faster. Ignore it.

After far enough away, I lightly exhale...and as I do so, I feel a jolt and my legs are yanked back.

"...what?"

I looked down and saw a humanoid clump of ivy extending its ivy from its arms, and it tangled around my leg.

Humanoid this time. I mean, when did it appear? I thought I was being cautious, but....

The answer came immediately.

The pit-like creature I had seen on the way here opened its mouth to allow other creatures crawling out of it.

What a mess. One after another, the strange ones keep coming out.

I cut the ivy with my [Wind Blade II] and forced my way through.

It's tough to deal with that many of them.

But considering how well defended they are, it looks like my destination is close.

The number of humanoids was growing, and the sound of their footsteps chasing me was causing a bit of an earth tremor.

The ones that came out in front of me stretched out their arm ivy to try to catch me, or sent some sort of seed thing flying.

Yeah, this was used by a guy named Dusty in the arena.

It seemed that their aim and accuracy were not very good, and although I was grazed, I was not seriously hit by them.

I increase the speed. The barrage of seeds becomes more intense, but they can't keep up with my speed and don't hit me.

I look ahead. I see a large space in the back.

Is that it?

I go full throttle and plunge into the space as I crash through the road.

Let's be honest.

I came here to kill time as well as out of curiosity.

I came here hoping to see something interesting, something I had never seen before.

So I have no regrets, and in a way I'm happy with the situation I'm in.

But this could be bad. Mainly my life.

The one in front of me is probably the owner of this place.

I thought the passageway was wide, but this place, which seems to be the innermost part of this place, is a different order of magnitude.

The others, perhaps sensing this, leaped and tried to seize me.

I increased my speed and forcefully swept through. The attack of those who had been chasing me was cut off.

I am not letting my guard down and fly toward the entrance, increasing my speed even more.

I keep flying for a while, and when I completely shake them off, I slow down and land.

I manage to get away.......

Once I had calmed down, I looked at the seed I was holding.

It is red in color and has a large number of vein-like streaks on its surface, which is somewhat similar to a dried plum seed.

Well, dried plum seeds are not this big.

Now, the immediate crisis is over.

All I have to do now is go back.

The way back was an easy one, as there were no plant dragons or plant people.

I occasionally ate the gourds and flycatchers that attacked me on the way back, and then headed back to the ground while nourishing my energy.

I knew most of the enemies that were coming out, so I moved at high speed and came back to the flower field where I first encountered them.

I had already seen this one once, so it was no longer a threat. Speeding up, I went through.

Will I soon return to the first fork in the road? I slowed down, gained altitude, and stopped.

I could see a light at a little distance. Adventurers.

I approached slowly, hoping to pass over the top of them without being noticed, and saw a group of people.

There were...15 of them...oh?

There was someone familiar among them. It was Heidi.

What the hell is she doing?

I mean, is this what the quest is all about? You've taken on a very risky request, haven't you?

Is she in trouble? They seem to be arguing about something...

"It's not safe to go any further. Let's turn back."

"What are you talking about? It's just the beginning. We haven't got enough loot, and we'll lose money if we go back! If that happens, will you take responsibility?"

Hmm.

It seems that the old man who seems to be the client is arguing with Heidi, who is saying that they should turn back.

Some adventurers, perhaps agreeing with Heidi, are also advising the client to retreat.

"I understand what you're saying, but the lady over there is right. I'm sorry, but I'm not sure I can protect you any longer."

"It's your job to take care of that!"

"Therefore, I'm not going to..."

"That's enough! Go home! You're fired! I'll be merciful and give you the money up front. I'll split the success fee with the rest of you. Those who are willing, come with me!"

It seemed that the matter had been settled.

Heidi and a few others returned, and those who were dazzled by the reward decided to go on.

As I recall, she said they were going to use one day for preparation and then leave....

I can't say for sure because my sense of time is paralyzed when I'm here, but I must have been here roughly three days.

I guess I've been here for about two days. Roughly two days to get back, too.

Well, good luck.

I passed over Heidi, who was inspecting her equipment, and headed for the exit.

I thought it was none of my business, but there were some plant zombies on the way, so I kicked them away.

I landed near the exit and walked out.

Phew. I've been underground, so it feels a bit liberating to be outside.

"Oh, you...you're safe?"

The knight waiting at the entrance rushed to me with an astonished expression on his face.

"Thanks to you."

I replied at random.

"Hey, what's that big rock-like thing?"

Without answering, I shrugged my shoulders and left the place.

Well, first of all, let's deal with this thing.