Chapter 22
Something you can’t escape to
This hypothesis makes me convinced a little .
My abnormal skills are not as bad as what others think .
However, this theory does not explain why is it that I have a low correction value .
There is a very large difference compared to A-Ranks .
Well, A-Ranks may have a different growth rate from me…
The calculation for the correction value for every level-up doesn’t necessarily have to be the same multiplication system .
However, even after pa.s.sing through 10o levels, the increase in Physical Strength in my status is still lesser than Oyamada’s initial value .
Even now, I still don’t think that E-Rank is not superior than A-Rank .
No, even just the unique skill itself have an abnormal performance .
I may not be able to think like that if my whole skill set is taken out .
[Well, there is no way I could verify that hypothesis, and there’s no way that will happen while I’m here . ]
I still have a way to fight back .
That’s enough for me now .
I waited for the death of the dragon zombie in silence for a while .
If it dies when it’s far away, would I still get the experience?
I’d like to be able to try that, but…
I want this monster’s experience .
I leave it at the time I first encounter another monster .
It’s not the time for me test my doubts .
A fairly long time pa.s.ses .
[Guuuiioooohhh!! Eeeerrrhhh…!]
The dragon zombie had finally fell .
It certainly had quite a lot of HP .
It took quite a while for it to die .
I know that naturally isn’t an instant death skill .
It can’t be helped that it takes quite some time .
Most of all, the existence could be said to be my life line .
Without this skill, I would have been completely stuck .
It’s just… there’s a small thing I’m worried about .
Right now, another problem has occurred .
[…… . ]
There were problems I had already solved .
Countermeasures against monsters .
Hunger .
Thirst .
[This is indeed… quite a serious problem…]
My eyes were getting heavier .
Yes— I’m sleepy .
The excessive tension after being summoned .
The extreme tension after being transferred to this ruins .
Several full speed sprints, escapes from death, correspodence with the hierarchy in ranks, and the pa.s.sage of time…
The immediate crisis is now gone .
I may not be fully satiated, but I was able to eat .
Because of that though, the tensed nerves within my body have temporarily relaxed .
My brain is now sending complaints about wanting rest .
A feeling of fatigue is now washing over my body, enveloping it with sleepiness .
It seems that I still can’t escape sleepiness even if my status goes up .
It also looks like the correction values are decreased due to the lack of sleep .
But what can I do about this?
If I had companions here, someone could have kept watch .
However, I’m in a situation where I couldn’t afford to make mistakes .
There’s a reason why this ruins had its reputation .
Is there any rooms in a ruin like this?
[It’s just that…]
I look upwards .
The gentle spiral slope that continues upwards .
I’m going to climb that, right?
Can I keep on climbing even if I’m this drowsy?
Won’t I fall down halfway up there?
Isn’t that dangerous?
Although the area boss, the zombie dragon was defeated…
From my experience, I don’t think it’s limited to just that one dragon .
What should I do?
Where could I sleep?
Is there a suitable place somewhere in this wide limestone cave-like area?
I decided to walk around this area to search first .
I’ll go into the hole where the dragon zombie has came out of .
[Umph…]
I could smell a peculiar strong pungent odor .
The further I walk, the narrower the hole is .
The back was completely filled with a green liquid .
It somehow looks like an underground waterway .
Though, it looks like the liquid flowing seems to be acid .
I pick up a stone and put halfway of it on the liquid .
Shuwawawaaa… .
It seems to be weaker than acid than the bodily fluids of a monster .
But the odor that it’s releasing is so bad .
I don’t think I can sleep with this pungent smell around .
I got out of the hole and went around the whole area again .
However, I couldn’t find any place where I can hide .
[This is bad…]
It’s very difficult to sleep with my body defenseless around possible harm…
[Hmm?]
The dragon zombie is collapsed near the wall .
The dragon zombie’s bones were cluttered .
It’s probably the effect of I’ve just used on it .
It’s body may have been bent or even broken because of the sudden weight that it’s incapable of supporting .
You’re almost completely weak when you’re asleep .
Suddenly, an idea came up on my mind .
But,
[ . . would this idea even work?]
I went closer and touched the dragon bone .
Next, I pulled away its arm and struck it with my fist .
Gaahhhh!
It’s hard .
[It’s strength is okay… I think . But…]
Is there an appropriate place that the same as what I’m thinking of?
[Ah…]
I climb up to the bones that are elevated .
[How about here…?]
A part where thick bones were folded over .
I look over into the area .
A hole was confirmed in the back of a crevice .
Is it possible for one person to enter?
And also, this crevice–
[Should I go?]
Oof .
I’m trying to squeeze my body into the gap between the bones .
Can I even squeeze in here . . ?
[Guh…]
Flop!
[ . . and there–]
I slipped through .
I illuminate my leather bag while looking around .
The gap is around the size of a person lying alone .
However, it seems impossible to stand up .
The length of the hole is limited as it only reaches up to my waist .
However, that’s enough .
[It’s a bit smelly, but this is my inn for the night . ]
The smell of rotten meat can’t be helped .
I’m fine with it in exchange for my personal safety .
It’s better than the pungent odor from the hole earlier .
It seems that the strong, acidic body fluids of the dragon zombie have not oozed out here .
I went out of the hole for a moment .
There are a lot of fine bones scattered about here .
They’re parts of a broken bone when the dragon zombie fell .
I choose some of the thinner bone fragments and picked them as many as possible .
I place one of them on the ground and stepped on it .
Pekkiii~
The sound of breaking bone .
Alright…
It’s quite soft with this level of thinness .
The sound it’s making is reasonably clear .
[Here, put some of them here… here also…]
The ground around the dragon zombie .
I’ve scattered bones in the area around the crevice I’m staying at without leaving a single gap .
If a monster like that birdhead tries to approach me while I’m sleeping,it’ll inevitably step on one .
This provides me a simple alarm system .
Well, time to go back…
When I returned to the inn made of bones, I sat down and leaned against the bony wall .
It’s dangerous if I sleep lying down .
It would be better if I sleep while I’m in a sitting position so that I could move immediately .
The drowsiness is slowly getting over me .
I close my eyes .
And as I expected .
I came to sleep at once .
v
—Pakkiii—
My awareness rapidly awakened me .
I slowly opened my eyes .
[…they really came, huh . ]
How long have I been asleep?
My mind was— quite clear .
If you were able to successfully sleep deeply, you would be able to recover sufficiently even if it’s just a short time .
Well, I saw that in the internet .
My body… still feels a bit heavy .
It’s probably because I’ve just woken up .
Well then, what kind of monsters—
—Pakkiii—
Hmm?
–Pakkii—Merriii—Pekkiii—Pekkiii—
It’s not just one…?
I peek outside through the gaps between the bones .
I can’t see clearly from where the angle I’m looking from .
However, I understood clearly .
[I see . ]
It seems a crowd has gathered .
[It’s a large group that had arrived . ]