Chapter 19
The instinctual impulse asa living thing
I went back to the place where I was first transferred .
That skull earlier is the only thing I found right after transferring .
I was then a.s.saulted by the minotaur when I was found by it .
I didn’t have the time to explore back then .
The property of the heroes and warriors who were disposed .
[It would be great if there’s anything useful…]
Of course I had never let down of my guard .
Now is the time to be the most cautious .
There may be surprise attacks that may come from out of my sight .
Now, I only have my guts and reflexes to rely on to .
If I were late on using the abnormal state skill,
There’s a chance that I’ll die from a single blow from a monster .
The monsters of the disposal ruins are probably super powerful to have as enemies . I don’t think I’d beat them even if I tried .
Heck, some of the others who got here may be A-Rank heroes .
It’s obvious I can’t oppose this monster with my status .
My only countermeasure against them is my personal skills .
Literally, “whoever strikes first wins” is the key strategy .
At any rate, don’t get hit even by a single blow from a monster .
That’s what I should definitely focus on for now .
Putting my thoughts together, I finally arrived at my destination .
I raised my glowing leather bag filled with magic energy .
It seems to me that it’s more dangerous to be hidden in the darkness now .
It’s also difficult to keep track of directions in the dark .
Well, there’s still danger if the enemy had projectile weapons on them .
[But it’s not like I can do much about it…]
There were some human bones partially melted with acid .
It was probably done by that minotaur .
There were also some weapons that were dropped .
However, almost everything were half-melted with acid .
Even if I have it, it seems it would only be useless baggage .
[The only ones I can use are these ones, huh…]
A black cloak once worn by a skeleton .
And an old dagger .
The cave have been getting a little colder .
Should I were this mantle?
Basa ~tsu
I wear the cloak around my body .
It’s getting a little warmer .
The dagger is now covered in a leather sheath .
At first, I thought it would be to dull to use .
However, it was still usable after checking its blade .
I put the dagger inside the leather bag .
My left hand has to have an easy access towards the leather bag .
My empty right hand is especially for my skills .
This hand is the one who turns towards the target .
It feels like I can’t lock on without doing that…
My priority is for using the skills over wielding weapons .
I don’t think this dagger can ever hurt the monsters in here .
I think it’s their defense status .
The hardness of the skin when I had chopped the birdhead with an axe is quite traumatic .
I look at the transfer location .
A magic circle is engraved in here .
[This magic circle… well, I can’t really use it . ]
Only that sh*tty G.o.ddess can use this .
Otherwise, there is no point in sending anyone here .
[……… . ]
Those fellows in 2-C, I wonder what they’re doing now .
No…
I shouldn’t think about them now .
I’m sure that I am the most at risk in losing my life .
First of all, my first priority is to find a clue on how to escape to above ground .
I resumed the exploration of this cave .
For a moment, I’ve returned to the place where I had fought hard .
Of course, the mountain of corpses there still remained unchanged .
[Now that I look at it again, It’s become quite a number huh…]
The feeling that I had done this myself is quite weak .
I looked at the way the birdheads had fled to .
[I guess I’ll go this way . ]
v
I kept walking until I came upon a wide, open s.p.a.ce .
It’s so wide that my leather bag’s light doesn’t reach it’s walls .
I look up .
The ceiling is really high .
There are those pointed rocks that are protruding from above like those you can find in a limestone cave .
Gyu ruru~
Gu ~u
Uh…
Just as I thought .
I’m feeling it earlier but its quite subtle .
Hunger .
I haven’t eaten anything even before I got on the bus .
As a matter of fact, I’m getting thirsty .
All I’ve been doing earlier is running away from these monsters with all my might .
I’ve also sweated a lot in that deadly battle with the monsters .
I’ve lost a lot of water of fluids within my body,
I’ve yet checked if I had any water with me before I’ve arrived here .
I haven’t been able to confirm it so far .
The problem that I’m facing now following the threats of the monsters .
Water and food .
The crisis with the monsters is solved, and now a simple yet serious problem arose .
[…For the meantime, should I move on further?]
There may be something that the monsters use as food and water .
I began to walk again through the dark s.p.a.ce .
v
I kept walking in a landscape that doesn’t look like it’s changing .
In the meantime, I found a place that will likely be going to the upper area .
When I went there, I was greeted by the same scenery again .
[………]
Time pa.s.sed without me noticing .
No– what actually happened?
I feel like I had been walking in this path for a very long time .
But it may not be a lot of time at all .
I can’t see the sun shine while inside this… cave .
It’s just simply- darkness .
I’m not wearing a watch .
My sense of time had been disrupted .
Gyururu ruru~
Ki ~yu ~u ~u ~u~~
[Haa… haa…]
I understand…
Even if my level goes up .
Even with the status correction .
I will still get hungry .
I will still get thirsty .
I’m starving .
No, more than that…
I have to quench my thirst first .
[Haa… Ha~a…]
The soles of my shoes are getting worn out .
My nerves are getting worn out .
Still, I have to make sure that I am able to activate my skills immediately .
I don’t know when the monsters will suddenly pop out .
I must always have even an ounce of awareness for my surrounding .
I walk .
Is there something else to do?
I walk,
and I walk .
Nothing .
I continue walking,
walking,
and keep walking .
There’s really nothing .
rock .
rock, rock .
rock, rock, rock .
rock, rock, rock, rock .
rock, rock, rock, rock, rock .
My everything collapsed .
What’s a rock?
Is it the rocks from mountains and stones?
Huh?
Mountain?
What’s that again?
It’s underground here…
This is not a mountain .
[………… . ]
I have to do something .
I’m extremely hungry .
I’m extremely thirsty .
Does it have to be this harsh?
I don’t even see any monster anymore .
When I encounter them…
Kill .
Food .
Meat .
Anything is fine .
Someone, please give me food .
[Ah, right…]
A sudden thought came in my mind .
Those monster corpses I killed in the bottom layer .
[They may be edible…]
Is it because of thirst?
I spoke my thoughts with my hoa.r.s.e voice .
I turned back there .
That’s because I have a bad feeling about that plain, deserted area .
There may be nothing but a deserted land further .
On the other hand, here’s a place where there’s certainly some food .
The corpse of the monsters .
Now that I know, I should go .
The minotaur is– beef .
The birdhead is– chicken meat .
I should go .
It should be possible .
After some time, I finally returned to that place .
To the place where there are filled with a great deal of monster corpses .
I feel like I can no longer sweat .
Water… .
Blood?
Should I drink blood??
I take out my dagger .
I held it in a reverse grip .
But my hand stops .
[Speaking of which, didn’t these guys…]
Didn’t they die from poison?
Are they even edible?
No .
The poison skill may have been gone already .
The corpses are not purple .
It’s not that I’m excited .
But I should eat if I can do it .
I ought to eat it…
Eat it, me…
I reached out in my leather bag .
My left hand is now for using skills .
I can exert more power with my right hand .
Minotaur meat…
I mustered my strength to the handle in my grasp .
The skin is too had for the blade to pa.s.s .
Even after dying, the feeling of hardness still remains .
If so, there’s a part in the head that can be drilled to .
From there, I attack!
Guri ~tsu
I gouged out its eyes .
Alright .
I can do this .
[…… . . ]
I peeked into the eye socket .
Will it flow smoothly from here?
Can I do this?
Getting it’s insides from here…
It’s uncomfortable– but it’s not the time to be uncomfortable .
I would die .
I have to eat something .
I have to drink something .
Okay .
First, push the blade deep within the socket of the eye–
Ju~u ~tsu!
[Uuwaahh!!!?]
I hurriedly let go of the corpse .
Acid .
It’s no good!
It’s insides is full of acid!
[———-]
The cow’s eyeball is lying on the ground .
Could I eat it?
This thing?
……… . .
I’m dying .
I have to eat .
I slowly bit out of it’s outer cover .
Gabu ~tsu!
Ju ~uuuu!
[Buwaahhh! Pweehhh!! Ahhaahhh!]
There’s acid even it’s eyeball!
[Pweehh! Pweehh! Geho~! Geho!] (T/N: sound of coughing,)
Are these like the acids in their body fluids?
It’s harmless to them .
But harmful to other organisms .
I wiped my mouth with the sleeves of my uniform .
Even inside my mouth…
The cloth melts somewhat, but it can’t be helped .
[… . . fuuu…]
I’m glad I didn’t immediately swallow it .
Vomiting it immediately was correct .
My tongue is still tingling .
But fortunately, the damage to my mouth is quite minimal .
Surprisingly, my may have been at work .
I look at the bird head .
[………]
I also tried eating the birdhead .
The result was the same .
It’s not something edible .
Well, if you think about it .
This is a place where those who are wanted dead are sent .
When the monsters in the transfer destination can be used as food, it will be like easy mode .
There is no way to eat the meat of the monsters in this ruins .
There is no way to drink the blood of the monsters in this ruins .
There’s no way to do it .
If you are really intent to kill,
There is no reason to send him to a place where there are edible monsters .
There is no reason to send him to a place where there is a source of water .
Those who are sent here will, obviously, not be teleported with water or food .
It’s indeed the simplest problem, but the problem of survival is essential for a living thing .
[A disposal ruins with zero survival rate…]
Even if the heroes sent in here were stronger than the minotaurs and the birdheads–
[d.a.m.n it… this ruins are thorough enough to kill the heroes…]
You’d still die .
Because of starvation .