Chapter 36 “One more thing”

*Splash…!*

Making a splashing sound as he repelled the mud, Klaus returned to the cart’s location.

“This mud is really awful…”

When his consciousness returned after using ‘Automatic Movement,’ Klaus found himself at the foothills of “Shinonome Deep Mountain.”

However, the scenery had completely changed from yesterday; the entire area was now covered in mud.

The snow that had been falling all night had melted in no time, leaving everything covered in muck.

(She must be having a tough time with this footing, especially in these conditions.)

Klaus glanced back at the mountain.

Thanks to his ‘Automatic Function Auto Mode,’ Klaus had descended the mountain without much trouble. 

He glanced around, but there was no sign of Merim anywhere.

Considering the situation, she probably got left behind in the mountains while I was using ‘Automatic Movement.’

I wonder how Klaus, moving automatically, appeared to Merim…

“…About 7 to 8 hours left. During that time, I need to gather or purchase the remaining items and… complete the set.”

The items left to collect are…

Let’s see──────

*Splosh, splat, splish!!*

“You… you jerk~! You’re so damn fast, Klaus!”

“…Y-you!?! Wow, you’re amazing.”

Merim, looking completely worn out, arrived before Klaus, who was surprised with widened eyes.

Klaus didn’t have the luxury to pay much attention, but he honestly marveled at Merim’s determination.

*Cough, cough… Ughhh…*

“Yeah, thanks. I appreciate your efforts. I’m sorry for being tired, but I’m in the middle of the exam too, so… Let’s make it up next time, if you don’t mind.”

There’s half a day left.

And the quest items I need to obtain are────.

“I’m sorry, but I have to prioritize the exam.”

“Puhii~… We’re comrades, aren’t we?! Don’t leave me behind~!”

I’m sorry, Melim!

‘Automatic Function Auto Mode’ doesn’t have a feature for consideration…!!

Ignoring the weary Melim crouched down,

Paralyzation…

Klaus went back to reviewing the exam paper.

○ Krumel Nuts × 5

× Ghoul’s Jaw × 5 ⇒ Failed due to interference

? Cave Slime’s Murky Liquid × 5

〇 Phantom Nuts × 5

? Unicorn Deer’s Horn × 1

? Wandering Leather Armor’s Chest Plate × 3

? Silk Spider’s Morning Thread × 3

? Salazar’s Hairpin × 1

Among the remaining five, just one more to go…

※ ※

The Cave Slime’s Murky Liquid is probably impossible.

Its collection locations are limited, so Gain likely got to it first. It’s better to assume they have already stabilized the dungeon and act accordingly.

And the same goes for the ‘Unicorn Deer’ and ‘Wandering Leather Armor.’

The Unicorn Deer can sometimes be encountered not only in hunting grounds but also in regular mountains or along roads, although very rarely.

However, Klaus has never encountered a ‘Unicorn Deer’ before, so it would be difficult to pursue it using ‘Automatic Battle.’

…In that case, there’s only the ‘Silk Spider,’ but it requires ‘Morning Thread.’

In other words, it’s impossible within the time constraints…

“Damn it! I’m cornered from all sides!!”

Should I take a gamble and search for the ‘Unicorn Deer’…?

──…No, it’s probably too tough.

“For now, let’s search with ‘Automatic Function Auto Mode’…”

If we consider that Gain and the others from the ‘Special Bond Special Force’ have normalized hunting grounds all over,

I can’t expect anything other than hunting monsters outside dungeons and fields right now.

──You bastard, Gain…!!

(All of this is because of the interference from ‘Special Bond’…!!)

The calm faces of Gain and his companions flashed in his mind, and Klaus seriously felt the urge to punch them right then and there.

“…But, there should still be a chance──”

There’s still some time left.

I can do this…

Open Status!!

‘Automatic Battle’

*Bwoom…*

※ ※

[Combat Target: Cave Slime × 5]

⇒ Estimated time for combat: 21:32:22

※ ※

“Damn…! If it were yesterday, I might have made it in time with this distance──. This is probably not a nearby low-level dungeon──it’s another hunting ground.”

Next, next!

※ ※

[Combat Target: Wandering Leather Armor × 5]

⇒ Estimated time for combat: 34:11:45

※ ※

Damn!

…Next!!

　※ ※

[Combat Target: Ghoul × 5]

⇒ Estimated time for combat: 18:27:30

　※ ※

“Damn it!! None of this is enough time…!”

After analyzing the automatic battle results, he realized that he knew the optimal way to defeat nearby monsters in the shortest distance.

Yet, it was saying it would take over 18 hours.

How would it be possible in less time than that?

Then, what should I do…?

“Grrrrrrrrr…!”

“Hey~ Klaus? Why not just use skeletons or something? If you say you washed them, who would even know, right?”

“You…!”

Merim expressed her exasperation at the reasoning.

Certainly, as she said, there might not be much difference in appearance between a decayed corpse’s jaw and a skeleton’s.

“That’s called ‘forgery,’ you know!”

“As if I care.”

Come on…

“Don’t underestimate the guild. They scrutinize everything carefully, you know?”

“──Ugh. Then what should we do?… How about just taking the jaw from a nearby decaying corpse?”

“Idiot! If you do that, you’ll get arrested for corpse desecration by the guards!… Besides, do you think corpses are conveniently available like that?!”

Seriously, that’s terrifying!!

This girl casually comes up with quite aggressive and offensive ideas, huh?!

Taking a jaw from a corpse, is that something a normal person would suggest?!

“Do you have a corpse?”

“Are you stupid?! You moron!! Corpses are usually found in church underground crypts──… Oh.”

…Oh, right.

“Huh? What’s wrong? You look like a student who went to the bathroom and forgot the paper──”

“I found it… That’s it──”

Seriously, what kind of expression is that…?

“Huh? Paper, you mean?”

“Idiot!!”

I wasn’t even talking about paper right now!!!

Girls shouldn’t talk about… bathroom stuff like that!!

Honestly, whether it’s Charlotte or Merim… huh?

… *sniff sniff*

“Am I smelling?”

“Huh? N-No, not really?”

R-Right…

“…That’s not the point I’m trying to make!”

“So, what’s the matter?? Are you emotionally unstable, Klaus?”

“It’s the church…”

“Huh? Just because you’re emotionally unstable, praying in the church now won’t change anything.”

“Idiot!! You’re such an idiot!!”

Shut up, you brat!

You’re my benefactor, but still a brat!!

A brat is a brat!!

…Who would go for prayers!

Why would someone, in the midst of exams, go for prayers out of sadness?! This makes no sense!!

“…The purpose of going to the church is underground.”

“U-Underground??”

Yes.

The church… underground crypt.

The jawbone… corpse desecration.

“What~~? W-Wait, don’t tell me, you’re planning to sneak into the church’s underground?!… Didn’t Klaus say it’s not allowed to take from a corpse?!”

“I’m not going to take it. Am I a psychopath?!… It’s not that. I came up with an idea for the Ghoul material.”

Right.

Even if regular dungeons were normalized,

There was only one place where the ‘Special Bond Special Force’ couldn’t easily meddle,

“I-It can’t be, Klaus…”

“Yeah, it’s exactly that ‘can’t be’… The underground crypt in the church in town isn’t a natural dungeon. So, it won’t be normalized ahead of time there.”

…I heard that there are numerous high-level Ghouls roaming in the underground.

In that case, for the final quest item,

To obtain the Ghoul’s jawbone──

“We will hunt the advanced species of Ghouls residing in the underground crypt of the town’s church!!”

※ ※

And so,

────’Automatic Return,’ activate!!

In the blink of an eye,

“Alright, we’re back!”

────With a whoosh, Klaus returned to the town using ‘Automatic Return.’ 

It felt like he had wasted quite a bit of time, but he managed to return to the town with a few hours still left on the clock.

And for some reason, Melim, who was drenched in sweat, is also following along.

“Pant, pant, pant… Come on, put me on the cart.”

Merim leaned against the cart, exhausted.

The fact that she’s keeping up with the ‘Automatic Function’ Klaus demonstrates some guts.

However, since there isn’t much time, Klaus quickly heads towards their destination.

“Hey, where are you going? I’m not familiar with the city yet–“

“I didn’t tell you to come along!”

“No way! I’m going! My ‘instinct’ is telling me to follow!”

“Hmm, suit yourself. But I won’t be responsible for any trouble.”

Melim hesitated for a moment, looking around nervously. 

But with determination, she followed behind Klaus.

And as the two entered the church grounds,

Ding-a-ling♪ 

Ding-a-ling♪

The bell tolled, announcing noon.

Gurgle, gurgle…

Merim’s stomach growled.

“Ugh…”

Merim blushed, an unusual sight.

…You can’t help it.

“Hm?”

“Thank you!”

Klaus cut Liz’s special sandwich in half and handed it over. 

It had become a bit hard, but it should still taste good.

“Mmm!”

“Delicious…”

Klaus, with his mouth full in a rather uncouth manner, passed through the solemn atmosphere of the church grounds.

…Quietly behind him, it was there.

“The church underground, the catacombs…”

“I’m an adventurer. Here’s my permit for visiting graves.”

With Merim licking breadcrumbs off her hands, Klaus received the key from the gravedigger, who had locked the entrance, and unlocked it.

The poorly constructed lattice door creaked open with an unpleasant noise.

“Hey…”

“…Merim. I won’t tell you not to follow, but don’t get in the way. I owe you a debt, but I don’t intend to take responsibility for your life.”

“I-I understand… But, are you really in your right mind going into such a creepy place?”

The two descended the dimly lit stairs into the underground tomb. 

A musty smell wafted up from within.

“It’s the only option we have. I don’t have any other leads… It’s proof of defeating Ghoul-type creatures.”

“Proof of defeating… But in such shallow depths, undead creatures shouldn’t be able to manifest due to the church’s sacred power, right?” Melim questioned.

Merim, who was frightened in the darkness of the underground tomb, clung tightly to Klaus.

Ugh. Is there something on my back…?

“Yeah, that’s why we need to aim deeper underground. We might be running out of time.”

Saying so, I lit the lantern made of magic light stones and showed Merim the map displayed at the entrance to the underground.

It was a map of an underground tomb that spiraled downward.

“A total of 15 underground levels…”

“Eek!”

Merim shuddered at Klaus’s sly smile.

“Welcome to the underground tomb of the frontier town… for many years. Because the residents of this town have been buried here. It’s a vast housing complex built over the years, with several thousand bodies resting in the deeper sections.”

The residents either rest in eternal slumber or rise to feast on the dead, making it a cozy home where they do just that.

“Hey, don’t say such tasteless things…”

It seems Merim is not comfortable with the idea of underground spaces.

By the way, in this entire region, there is a custom of not burying or cremating the dead but instead treating the bodies with preservatives and placing them in underground tombs.

The tomb consists of 15 underground levels. 

Due to the increasing number of bodies each year, currently, levels 1 to 8 are “in use.”

“Ugh… it smells awful. I really can’t stand places like this.”

“Then don’t come along.”

Merim nervously watched their silhouettes flickering in the lantern light, swaying back and forth.

It seemed like they were unnaturally close—or rather, Merim had been holding onto the edge of their clothes the entire time.

“Hey, back off. There are no bodies here yet.”

“B-but!! Eek!!! There’s something here!!”

Merim was being quite noisy.

As for what she meant by “something”…

Countless side tunnels and passages, meant for storing bodies, had been dug, and from there, suspicious glances were closely following Klaus and the others.

“…Just some vagabonds. They’ve taken up residence inside on their own through ventilation holes scattered throughout the town. Well, they won’t attack armed adventurers, so don’t worry… probably.”

While feeling sharp and clingy gazes, Klaus and Merim continued to descend the gloomy space, step by step.

…Had it been several tens of minutes since then?

It seemed like they had been going around in circles through similar scenery.

“Oops, we’ve arrived.”

“Huh?”

Finally, they arrived at the eighth level of the “in use” section. 

There, a sturdy door was installed, sealed shut from the inside.

In other words,

“Welcome… to the realm of the dead.”

“S-Stop that!”

※ ※

The door was adorned with a sacred seal to comfort the deceased.

And it had small peepholes, much like those in a prison cell.

It seems one can peek through to the other side of the eight layers from there.

“Hmm…? Why is the latch open?”

There was periodic movement of church personnel in that area, perhaps explaining the small light near the entrance, swaying faintly.

However,

Not only was there a light, but for some reason, the latch was lowered, and the door, supposed to be sealed, was left in an open state.

“Did… someone enter?”

“I don’t know. Did the old caretaker say anything specific?”

Sniff, sniff.

Suddenly, Melim sniffed the air.

“Huh? What’s this? The smell of perfume??”

“Huh? Yours?”

“Do I look like I use perfume?”

“I don’t see that.”

Sulk.

“What do you mean!”

“You’re the one who asked!!”

Nevertheless, it certainly smelled like perfume.

As if a woman had been here recently—could it be true?

“Could it be someone who took on the Ghoul extermination quest in the underground tomb?”

“Isn’t that a quest for high-level adventurers?—I hear it doesn’t pay well, so most people avoid it, you know?”

That’s true, but…

I have a bad feeling about this…

But…

*Clank… Screeeeeech…*

“Ar-are we going in?”

“After coming this far, can we really turn back?”

Beyond that point lay an eerily silent space filled with incredibly stagnant air.

There were no squatters, and apart from Klaus and the others, there was not a living soul in sight…

This is the Catacombs of the underground tomb, where no visitors from the old town ever come…

A labyrinth beneath the ground, created by people.

This might be where we find the last quest item—a maze of underground passages…

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