Kays Translations

Chapter 40: The Gonhillrim Pass

"We demons can communicate with monsters. Except for special ones, we can't communicate much, but we can sense slight emotions."

It's an intriguing story, but for now, we have to defeat the monsters.

After a while, three skeletons with rusty spears appeared from the front.

Seeing them up close, their movements were jerky and felt unnatural.

"Takumi, watch closely."

After saying that, Gale walked towards the skeleton without taking a stance.

As if nothing happened, he passes through the gaps between the skeletons.

"This is what it means for demons not to be attacked by monsters."

"Since I'm your companion, can I do the same?"

"Impossible. Please think of Lido as special."

Gale smashed the heads of three skeletons with bare-handed thrusts and kicks from behind them.

The skeletons disappeared in black smoke.

"I'll collect the magic stones. Hmm... about the size of an E-rank, I suppose?"

Mia stores the magic stones in her plushie's pocket.

"Wow, Demons are too overpowered against monsters.”

"Don't say that. This is like a scar of great sin for us. It's not something to be happy about."

"Ah, I'm sorry. I made a rash comment without even knowing."

"Don't worry about it. I'm at fault for not explaining. Let's talk about it on the night we arrive at 'Gonhillrim.'"

The atmosphere becomes slightly awkward.

My bad,  I should be more careful when it comes to discussing demons from now on.

"Karla, how long do you think it will take to reach 'Gonhillrim'?"

According to my father, he said they arrived on the same day they entered the dungeon."

It's surprisingly close. It would be nice if there's a bath. Even if there isn't, maybe they can make one..."

Mia lightens the mood in the room.

I wonder if she's being considerate. It really helps.

All the monsters that appeared afterward were skeletons.

Since we hadn't fought these monsters before, Mia and I took care of them.

After walking on the straight path for about an hour, we found a staircase leading down to the second underground floor.

◇

―― Shirakami Dungeon, 2nd Floor Underground

"This is also a straight path."

"Rather than a dungeon, it feels like an entrance approach."

"Mia, what's an entrance approach?"

"It's the path from the entrance to the front door. That's the feeling I get."

Indeed, Mia's description is accurate.

If that's the case, it's understandable that it has been a straight path all along.

After walking for a while, Gale pointed his finger towards the end of the corridor.

I threw an enhanced fluorite towards the end of the corridor.

The depths of the passage became brighter, and I could see two skeletons equipped with armor, shields, and swords.

"Those are Skeleton Warriors. They're D-rank."

"Can I try fighting them alone?"

Everyone nodded, so I decided to fight alone.

Even though their equipment should be heavier than skeletons, their movements are fast.

One attacked with its shield in front. I put out the ‘Heart Wall’ barrier and deliberately made it that the skeleton warrior's stepping foot would get caught.

As expected, it fell forward.

I ran forward and thrust my lightsaber into the back of the skeleton warrior's head at my feet.

Immediately after, the remaining one swung its sword and attacked.

I created a 'Heart Wall' barrier along the trajectory of its downward swing and dodged to the side.

The Skeleton Warrior's wrist, which swung down, was repelled by the barrier, causing it to drop its sword.

I swung the lightsaber vertically towards the opponent's shield.

The shield glowed red-hot at the cut surface and split into two.

I stabbed the lightsaber into the skull of the disarmed Skeleton Warrior.

After it turned into black smoke, a magic stone fell.

I picked up the two magic stones and handed them to Mia.

"Good job. Your fighting style seemed different this time...?"

"I imagined it as a fight against a person. I tried using the 'Wall of the Mind' barrier in my attacks. When facing experts in martial arts or opponents with rare equipment, there's a possibility that you won't be able to land hits using conventional methods."

"Good job, Takumi. That was quite an interesting way of fighting. If someone encounters that for the first time, it'll be difficult to defend against."

"How about trying it on Gale?"

"Well, I wonder. Let's have a match next time. Takumi, there are probably various things you want to try, right?"

I made a promise with Gale to receive training from him.

Gale's level is 91.

...I feel like I can become stronger.

◇

―― Shirakami Dungeon, 3rd Floor Underground

It took about an hour to get here from the second underground floor.

Unlike the previous floors, this floor has branching paths and has become more complex.

Finally, it feels like a proper dungeon.

I continue to follow the signal from the bracelet as before.

Gale is in charge of mapping.

Of course, he's using magical tools.

The path we walk is automatically recorded on the magical paper of the tool.

It's incredibly convenient!

If I go to the demon city "Zoff", I might end up buying a lot of magic tools.

Demons' magic tools cannot be used by humans, but if Mia turns them into artifacts, that would be resolved.

I’m looking forward to going to Zoff.

"Oh, it's a dead end from here. Does that mean the entrance to 'Gonhillrim' is hidden around here?"

"That's strange... According to my father, there should be a magic circle."

The vibrations continue unchanged, just like before... Hmm?

"Human and demon, what an unusual combination. To whom was the Gonhillrim pass granted?"

I looked around, but it was just Mia, Karla, Gale, and me.

"I'm speaking directly to your mind. Even if you search, there is no one here. Who does that pass belong to?”

I tried answering in my mind.

"I received it from Kukuto-san in the city of Barcely."

"What?! Kukuto-sama!"

Whoa, the loud voice made my head spin.

"Please calm down. Princess Karla of the Demon Tribe is also here. We have an urgent matter. Could you let us in?"

"Understood. We'll talk in detail later. The ground will glow, so enter there."

A magic circle with a diameter of one meter appeared on the ground in front of uhs.

"Everyone, we just need to enter this magic circle."

Since I have the 'Gonhillrim Pass,' I'll be the last to enter. If the 'Gonhillrim Pass' is required to activate the magic circle, it will disappear once I go in.

Gale, Mia, Karla, and I decided to enter the magic circle in that order.

As Gale stood in the center of the magic circle, his figure disappeared.

So, this is teleportation?

It was my turn.

As I stepped into the magic circle and stood in the center, the scenery changed.

Now, I found myself in an unfamiliar room.

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