Chapter 77

After leaving the Adventurers' Guild, we headed towards Dane Bridge, the closest place where the ghouls had appeared.

"Still, it's hard to believe that monsters could sneak into this town..."

"Monsters often hide in towns. Renge, if you were born in the slums, you must have seen small animal-type monsters like rats, right? Around here, there are slimes and giant rats, for example."

"Well, yeah... but giant rats are monsters!?! I can't believe it... I ate one of those..."

Renge was dejected at Shilfa's words.

Come to think of it, Renge had caught and eaten rats when he was short of food.

Monsters are born in dungeons and spread to various places as they grow, but weak, small animal-type monsters are known to infiltrate and live in towns.

I think the receptionist said that novice adventurers often start by exterminating rats and slimes in sewers.

"Still, it's rare for undead monsters like ghouls to appear in town. They are much more powerful in combat compared to lower-level monsters. We need to take them down quickly."

"There are many people living near Dane Bridge... Let's do our best to protect everyone, Lloyd!"

"Arf!"

Shiro barked energetically.

They are valuable experimental materials. Without being told, I have no intention of letting even one escape.

After walking for a while, we arrived at our destination, Dane Bridge.

The large river that runs through the town, with Dane Bridge spanning its center, is a vital traffic artery.

Carriages and people were bustling across the bridge.

"Hmm... I don't feel anything unusual. It looks like a normal crowd."

"But compared to this time of day, the number of people seems much lower. And the air feels stagnant..."

"Urrr..."

Shiro also growled in agreement.

Hmm, I sense something strange.

Focusing my magical power, I noticed traces of something that wasn't human.

The trail led towards the riverbank.

"Let's check it out."

We descended the embankment and followed the trail until we reached under the bridge.

"Master Lloyd, look at that."

"Ah, it's a sewer."

A large tunnel opened up under the bridge.

This is the endpoint of the town's waterways, a massive drainage ditch.

Water from the town's sewers flows in, and there is enough space for monsters to exist.

The trail continues deeper, so this must be where the ghouls are hiding.

"It seems they are in there."

"Got it, I'll change!"

Renge quickly shed her maid uniform and put on a thin, black outfit.

It's a comfortable outfit she used to wear when she was in the Assassin's Guild.

Shiro also looked eager, wagging her tail excitedly.

"Wait a moment, Renge. If you go into the sewers like that, your clothes will get dirty."

"I brought clothes that I don't mind getting dirty."

"Still, it's better to keep them as clean as possible. Shilfa and Shiro, come here."

As I chanted, a faint light enveloped Renge, Shilfa, and Shiro.

It's the wind magic 'Gentle Breeze Barrier'.

This spell creates a wind barrier around the body, about a centimeter thick, allowing us to work without getting our clothes or skin dirty.

We might get sick in such a dirty place, so prevention is important.

"Whoa, what's this!? There's a layer of air around my body!"

"It's multiple layers of sealed air that prevent mud and water from getting in. It also helps with balance, so you should be able to move without any problems."

"This is amazing... So, Master Lloyd, this is why your clothes never get dirty when you go out, right?"

Shilfa nodded in admiration.

By the way, this is one of the barriers I automatically maintain all the time.

"Just be careful, as it's not designed for defense and will burst if you take damage. Of course, I'll set up a separate magical barrier, but avoid touching sharp objects carelessly."

"Got it!"

"Understood."

"Let's go."

"Arf!"

I led Renge, Shilfa, and Shiro into the drainage ditch.

We walked along the side of the waterway, where sewage was flowing, and rats and insects scurried away from us.

The drainage ditch should be filled with foul odors and stagnant air, but thanks to the 'Gentle Breeze Barrier', we were breathing fresh air.

"Are you both okay?"

"Yes, thanks to Master Lloyd."

"Yep, I'm fine."

Renge and Shilfa nodded.

I asked out of consideration, but they look fine, so we should be able to proceed without any problems.

Shiro also walked at the front without any issues. Hey, don't go too far ahead.

"This is Master Lloyd's 'Gentle Breeze Barrier'... What comfort. The sewers feel like a refreshing highland. The 'Gentle Breeze Barrier' of the party members I used to team up with had poor air purification and would break easily, requiring frequent recasting. They must have neglected their training because it wasn't directly related to combat. The devil is in the details; even a small spell like this shows Master Lloyd's high level as a magician... Truly impressive, Master Lloyd."

"Being able to use such a spell, Lloyd is really amazing. Alright, I'll show you something good! And I'll get praised by Lloyd! ...Hehe."

The two of them mumbled as they followed.

They seem a bit dazed, but they should be fine.

If a monster appears, Shiro will bark to alert us.

I continued deeper into the sewers.