Kays Translations

Chapter 105: Distorted Reasonator

As they descended to the fifth layer, the miasma grew denser. One could truly feel that it was an area where people should not enter. However, it was frustrating that they couldn't just apologize and leave.

The appearing monsters were even more ferocious than those on the upper floors, and the distortions had worsened.

There were werewolves with two heads, giant spiders with dog heads, and horse legs that resembled human arms and legs. These creatures had forgotten the very essence of life.

As he killed such creatures while progressing, Lutz wondered what he had become. Right after having that question in his mind, Lutz quickly shook his head. If he lost himself here, he would likely join their ranks.

...It's not a joke, one should choose their friends wisely.

Lutz decided to engage in conversation to maintain his sanity.

"Gerhardt-san, you managed to reach the tenth floor quite well."

"Forty years ago, it wasn't this vast, and the miasma was lighter. It's completely different from back then."

"So, the entrance to hell is expanding. It's not a laughing matter."

"Even if they ask for an investigation, I refuse. Absolutely not."

While holding his forehead to endure the headache, Ricardo also joined the conversation. If he stayed silent, his head felt like it would explode.

"But we can't leave it to the knights either, can we? Those guys are so incompetent that if you ask them to walk a dog, only the dog will return."

"That's a matter that doesn't concern us. It sounds nice to say that we use anyone who is useful, but in the end, it's just the consequence of not trying to nurture those who can be of use. I don't care anymore."

"Are you criticizing the Count with that?"

"If you have a problem, let the Count come here, and I'll listen."

Well, that's reckless, the three of them chuckled dryly. They just wanted to laugh about anything, no matter what.

As they proceeded further into the fifth layer, the front suddenly opened up. It was a temple. A mysterious space where sacredness and wickedness were mixed.

"It looks like we're working overtime."

Ricardo joked, expecting something to be here, but his joke wasn't received with laughter by his two companions. It was lonely.

With Gerhardt at the forefront, the three of them moved forward.

"It seems different from the god revered by the Allied Nations..."

In Gerhardt's memory, there was no temple forty years ago. Ricardo shook his head, indicating that he didn't know either. Did something like this suddenly appear one day? It would be better if the strange phenomena stayed within the realm of common sense.

There was no sound other than the footsteps of the three, but there was a sense that someone or something was lurking around.

They could see what appeared to be an altar ahead. A giant jar was enshrined there, and the surrounding area was filled with sparkling stones. They were all jewels.

Ah, when they were about to approach, a human figure emerged from behind the jar.

"Could you not touch that?"

A sluggish voice of a woman. A young woman with short red hair and worn-out leather armor. It perfectly matched the suspicious features of the woman Claudia had described.

"...What do you think?"

Gerhardt asked Ricardo in a low voice.

"I kinda like her."

"I see, I was a fool to ask you."

That woman, Rouge, looked at Gerhardt and the others with glass-like eyes while speaking in a somewhat absent-minded tone. Of course, it was a metaphorical expression and not actual glass marbles.

"Just in case, why did you come here?"

To Rouge's question, Lutz stepped forward and answered.

"It's an investigation regarding the mass disappearance of adventurers and the cursed gem circulating in the city, commissioned by the Count's family. I'm sorry, but you're being taken into custody as a significant witness. Regardless of your answer, we'll destroy that jar."

"I don't want it to be destroyed..."

Rouge said in a somewhat absent-minded manner and casually grabbed the gems at her feet, throwing them towards Lutz and the others. There were large gems that were difficult to determine their value, enough to make you wonder what could be bought with just one.

"But rather than that, how about teaming up with me? I don't know how much the Count is paying you, but I can earn much more for you. Ah, I wouldn't mind involving the Count's family either. Let's take over the country with our overwhelming wealth."

An unrealistic dream. She laughed gleefully while talking about it, and her appearance did not seem sane.

"Rejecting a beautiful woman's offer is difficult..."

"I'm sorry, but I can't console you, bastard."

Lutz rotated his battle axe, pointing its tip at Rouge.

"I won't betray a request I've accepted."

"Hmph, how boring..."

Rouge tapped the jar with her finger. From behind the jar, a figure appeared, reaching out from inside with its hands and grabbing the rim. Then, its glowing face with both eyes appeared.

It crawled out slowly, an adventurer with a tan complexion clad in light armor.

No doubt, this jar was the cursed artifact that turned adventurers into gem corpses, and Rouge was the culprit behind the disappearance incidents.

What a grotesque sight it was. It was a blasphemy against life, an insult to adventurers. Lutz and the others wielded their weapons with all their might.

"I'm sorry, but it's time for you to die."

"Good, I like straightforward conversations. But..."

As Rouge waved her hand, corpses began to appear from all directions of the temple. There must be around twenty of them. Lutz clicked his tongue at his own lack of observation for missing such a number, but they were undead. There was no way to sense their presence.

"I won't say goodbye. How about becoming gem corpses and living together?"

As her hand swung down, the undead simultaneously rushed toward them. Lutz and his companions formed a triangular formation, protecting each other's backs.

An undead wearing an iron breastplate swung its sword. Lutz had a vague recollection of the sword's trajectory. Wasn't he one of the returning soldiers?

Driven out of the battlefield, expelled from his homeland, and ending up as an adventurer and forced to fight in such a state.

Was there a reason that his life had to be degraded to this extent?

It's easy to say that life is like that. But he never wanted to accept it. It couldn't be right.

Lutz swung his great axe, "Shirayuri," with anger and sadness. The undead's sword was cut off, and it burst into flames.

Before they could indulge in sentiment, a fresh wave of undead attacked, and Lutz and his companions' formation gradually shrank.

Ricardo exclaimed, "You both have resistance armor?!"

While deflecting the undead's attacks, Gerhardt shouted. His movements were awkward, possibly due to an injury on his right arm.

"Just for three seconds!"

Gerhardt yelled while parrying the attacks from the undead. Despite being injured, he strained his body.

"Do it!"

Lutz agreed. If they could take down the leader, perhaps the movements of the undead would cease. He held the hope within himself.

Ricardo pulled out the sword he had been using and thrust it into the ground. Then he unsheathed the enchanted sword "Tsubaki" and aimed its tip at Rouge, focusing his mind.

This should make her self-destruct. That was the plan.

Nothing happened. Rouge looked at them curiously. What was she doing?

Idiot, such an idiot. Why? Ricardo's mind was filled with question marks.

He wanted to try again, but his companions' spirits were at their limit.

Lutz kicked away an undead that was about to strike at Ricardo. He couldn't inconvenience them any further. Ricardo sheathed Tsubaki, suppressing his frustration and irritation. The sound of the guard and the scabbard clashing represented his impatience and annoyance.

"Sorry, I don't understand what you're doing..."

Ricardo picked up the sword he had thrust into the ground and said while enduring the pain. At this point, they didn't know, but Rouge was already cursed by the demon of the jar, so other curses couldn't overwrite it.

"Targeting the source of the curse isn't a bad idea, I think!"

Shouting, Lutz swung his axe horizontally, creating distance between him and the undead. Ricardo also swung his sword, but his movements lacked vigor. Fatigue seemed to have suddenly overwhelmed him.

"I don't have time to console you!"

Lutz focused on something with a clear intention. Ricardo followed his gaze.

There it was, the cursed jar emitting an ominous miasma.

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