Chapter 118: Danger Zone (1/2)
Annoyed by the dampness of the cave and that stinking spread within it, Enatsu pulled a long, narrow drape out of his coat and wrapped it around his neck. As if it were a scarf, he covered his nose and mouth, increasing his resistance to that stinky environment.
The sound of their footsteps echoed in the first area of the dungeon, bouncing off the narrow solid walls. The only additional noise was generated by the mud dripping drop by drop on the floor and by the wings of the butterfly demon.
Enatsu snorted, trying unsuccessfully to stop shaking. Meanwhile, Yoichi walked next to him, and Shioko opened the line. Nobu followed the three adventurers behind them, projecting their shadows forward.
Preparing for any looming danger, Yoichi pulled out the dungeon map and used the light to study it in detail. The cave had an inverted T-shape: after the tunnel they were walking, the road would widen, opening into one room to the right and another to the left.
At the bottom, after another corridor, wider than the tunnel, a bigger room. Right on its drawing, the inscription 'boss' was written in capital letters not to escape attention.
”Hyobe told us that the Komoerus had chased him and his friend to the entrance, specifying that the bat demons had stolen the necklace shortly before they left the mine,” Yoichi reported, breaking the silence. ”The map clearly shows a crossroads at the end of this narrow tunnel. Shioko, do you have any idea where those demons might have hidden a necklace?” he asked.
”You're kidding, aren't you? How do I know?” she replied, puffing. ”I haven't come to this place in years, and I don't remember very well what the rooms you're talking about hide. Also, even if I remember, dungeons change very often. It is impossible to establish the precise position of demons and relics”, Shioko explained. She was the only one to have practical experience in that field.
”The relics found in dungeons are worth a lot of money...” Enatsu commented. He continued to rub his hands on his arms, trying to retain the heat under his coat.
Shioko and Yoichi gawked at him with a questioning air. ”What is it? What's wrong with thinking about profit?” the tamer merchant asked, shrugging his shoulders. ”I remind you that the real reason that pushed us to this place is precisely the reward we've been granted!” he added, justifying his sentence.
”Relics can be valuable items to sell, but also pieces of weapons or equipment. Wild demons are vile and greedy beasts... they tend to hide all kinds of objects in dungeons, generating a real loot for us humans”, Shioko remarked. ”Put simply, only a fool would sell a relic before becoming aware of its intrinsic power.”
”If they have intrinsic power, it means that relics are magical objects, right? We tamers could use them to upgrade our equipment,” Yoichi underlined, reasoning on his own.
Shioko's hand moved towards her quiver, slamming twice on it. ”I recovered this relic in a dungeon much further north of here, on the other side of Tentochu. Combined with Nobu's power, it can create light arrows.”
”Wow... it's awesome,” Yoichi answered, stunned, trying to stay focused on the goal. By using Kenji's enhancement skill, I always end up fighting with my bare hands... I'm sure there's a relic that suits me. The real problem is knowing where, he thought.
”Usually, low-level dungeons do not provide particularly gluttonous relics or loot. But the Blackvault Mines are not basic level...” Enatsu commented, confirming his thesis.