Chapter 72

Today's update is here ('ω')

"What was that...? Rain, Silk, what did you make of it?"

Rain, with her magical and theological expertise, and Silk, with her knowledge of the nature of spirits, should have been able to see this monster clearly.

"I don't know."

Rain furrowed her brow and tilted her head.

"You don't know?"

"If I had to say, it's close to a magical creature... but I also sense corruption. It's like if you threw a very evil person headfirst into a mire of mana... it might turn out like this. Something like that."

"I agree. It was more like a reversal of the spirits rather than a disturbance. A living undead, or something like that..."

It seems even they couldn't fully grasp its nature.

Still, I felt a similar sense of unease from the way magic flowed around it.

Normally, the spells I use are adjusted to work properly on living beings.

I tried a few weakening spells this time, but all of them met with some resistance.

It's possible for the opponent to resist magic through magical ability or mental strength.

However, the chained man we just encountered seemed to have a resistance to magic in his very existence.

That said, it wasn't like the spells didn't work at all, like with the undead... rather, it felt more like a magical creature or a demon.

"Was it a demon?"

"Among the disturbances of the spirits, that's the closest. But it felt different from the hundred-eyed slime I saw before."

In the end, its true identity remains unknown.

"What about the chains?"

Marina pointed to the chains scattered on the floor and asked me.

If these are remnants of a demon, they might be cursed. We need to be careful.

"Magic Perception, Curse Perception"

Rain waved her wand slightly and cast the spells.

This is an unknown enemy we encountered in the first dungeon... such caution is necessary.

"Well, the chains are fine. But there's something strange... in the chains."

"Let's see..."

While putting various sizes of chains into a magical bag, I searched for the 'strange thing.' It was quickly found.

"A ring?"

I carefully picked it up with tweezers to avoid direct contact and examined it.

It was a gold ring, a bit small for the bulky chained man.

"...No good. Even with 'Appraisal,' I can't determine the details. All I can tell is that some kind of magic is attached to it."

"It doesn't have a good vibe."

"You're right. Let's take it back and examine it further."

Even if it's just a ring obtained from the remains of a demon, I don't feel like wearing something so mysterious. The appraisal results are unclear, but it definitely gives off a strange vibe.

It's so small, yet it has an overwhelming presence.

"What do you think? We can track the trail of the dragged chains."

"…We don't have a specific lead. First, let's confirm where it came from."

There might be a summoning trace somewhere, or a summoner. Given the nature of the dungeon, it's possible it was summoned, and finding the source is important for the investigation.

...After all, it was quite strong.

It's definitely a C-rank or higher monster. If it's wandering around the first floor, the rank of this dungeon will rise significantly.

"I'll go ahead and track the trail of the dragged chains. Everyone, please wait here."

"Alright, thanks."

I cast 'Continuous Magic Recovery' on Marina and Rain, put the ring in a small bag, and stored it in my magical bag. I want to avoid touching it with bare hands by accident.

"Hey, Yuke. Can I say something?"

"What is it, Marina?"

"Um, it's hard to explain... but I think the thing inside was human."

"Did you see it?"

It was completely covered in chains, so I couldn't see the inside, but Marina, who got close, might have seen it?

"No. The feel of the cut was... human. I think it's a 'Samurai' ability. When I cut something, I can usually tell what it is... It's hard to explain. I'm not good at it."

I gently patted Marina's head, which had drooped.

"No, it's helpful."

Not fully understanding the abilities of the 'Samurai' class is my fault as the leader.

There have been too few of them, so I haven't had many opportunities to interact with them...

However, I've heard that 'Samurai' can have a strong attachment to what they cut. 'Samurai' specialize in 'cutting life' and have a resistance to using their skills on trivial things—things that are not alive.

Therefore, they have a sense that allows them to feel what they have cut. If Marina says it was human, the chained man was likely some kind of human-like being.

"Also, there was no magic stone."

Now that she mentions it, that's true.

If it was a pure monster, it should have had a magic stone, but none were found in the chains.

"Maybe it was a demon-possessed person. In that case, the ring might be the cause..."

"Let's think about it when we get back, Mr. Yuke. Nene has returned."

Silk, with her night vision, pointed down the corridor.

Nene, illuminated by the light, was running towards us.

"I'm back. Two reports... First, I found some stairs."

This is good news.

We've achieved our first goal.

"However, they're stairs going up..."

"Up? But it's an underground waterway, shouldn't it go down?"

Marina exclaimed in surprise.

I agree. I thought it would be a type that goes down underground following the flow of water, but stairs going up? ...Wouldn't that lead us back to the surface?

"I haven't checked the upper floor yet. Second, I found the chained man's den."

"How was it?"

"It was empty. I think it's better if you check it out."

"Got it. Let's all head to the chained man's den first."

I nodded at Nene and looked into the darkness.

A disappearing corpse, a gold ring, and possibly a human inside. The eerie feeling I get from this situation... is it because I lack courage?

"Let's be careful. The situation seems suspicious."

I told myself this and, with Marina and the others nodding, I cautiously proceeded into the darkness of the underground waterway.

How was it ('ω')?

If you found it "interesting" and are "curious about its true identity," please give it a ★★★★★. Thank you very much.