Chapter 6: Quest 3: Defeat the Skeleton General [Part 1]
A zombie groaned as it approached.
It was carrying a backpack, but they would have to give up on recovering the supplies.
Becauseâ
“This smell is seriously awful.”
“It looks just as bad.”
Makoto nodded in agreement with Yuka, who looked like she might vomit at any moment.
The temperature and humidity inside the dungeon were kept comfortable.
That comfort helped them in many ways, but apparently it was also ideal for corpses to rot.
The zombie shambling toward them was grotesquely bloated.
Putrid fluid seeped from various parts of its body, making it hard to look at.
“At least itâs slow.”
“Iâd rather have fresh zombies.”
Yuka spat the words out.
“Thereâs no way that thing could evolve into a ghoul, right?”
“How would I know?”
Makoto suspected that zombies evolved into ghouls while still relatively fresh, but his makeshift mage companion had no answers.
“Yuka, please.”
“I know. Ryuno Kesta Agata. O infinite Periolis, burn like flames and incinerate my enemy. Fire Bullet.”
Flames shot from Yukaâs staff.
They struck the ground and exploded outward, engulfing the zombies.
The zombies groaned as they burned, but once one fell, the remaining two collapsed in a chain reaction.
“Donât make me fight all the time. You fight too.”
“My Fire Bullet takes time.”
“Then fight with your fists.”
“What if I catch some infection?”
Getting sick down here would mean the end.
“Tch. Useless.”
“I was your shield when we fought fresh zombies.”
Her words were sharp, but compared to the insults of his former boss, they were like a gentle breeze.
Being on equal footing probably helped.
Still, her classmates must have had it rough.
With that attitude, it was natural for resentment to build.
She claimed she got separated, but Makoto suspected she had been left behind.
He kept that thought to himself.
[The zombies have transformed into skeletons.]
The Divine Messengerâs voice echoed in their heads.
They looked toward the corpses.
The backs of the three zombies split open, and skeletons emerged from within.
The remaining flesh and organs turned to dust.
The skeletons clacked their teeth and advanced.
“Ignition. Fire Bullet.”
Black flames burst from Makotoâs right arm, swirling into a sphere.
He had not come up with a cool name yet, so he simply called it Fire Bullet.
Someday, he would give it something impressive.
He threw the flaming sphere overhand.
The moment it touched a skeletonâs ribcage, it exploded and reduced it to dust.
“Ryuno Kesta Agata! O infinite Periolis, pierce like a hail of stones! Manifest, Magic Bullet!”
Yukaâs magic shattered a skeletonâs skull.
It fell apart in a heap of bones.
Apparently, transformation did not make them stronger.
One skeleton remained, clacking its teeth as it approached.
“…Ignition.”
Makoto stepped into its reach and punched its face.
The skull flew off and shattered against the wall.
“At level 10, this is easy.”
“So thatâs why youâre punching them.”
Yukaâs tone was barbed.
She probably thought he was getting cocky.
When victory was uncertain, he was cautious.
When it seemed manageable, he acted accordingly.
That was all.
“Maybe we can push a little harder now.”
“I thought it was âvalue your life.â”
He had meant to mutter that to himself, but she caught it.
“Iâd rather stick to that, but foodâs the issue.”
“We still have some.”
“Four days if we ration.”
And his phone battery was dangerously low too.
“Weâll manage.”
“Thatâs why we should take risks while we still can.”
“Like what?”
She frowned at him.
“Extend our activity time.”
“That doesnât sound that risky.”
“Small risks pile up and cause disasters.”
“Experience talking?”
“Yeah. Ideally, work runs smoothly without pushing yourself.”
“Youâre a working adult. Shouldnât you work hard?”
“A workplace that runs on forced overtime isnât worth much.”
He said it with a sigh.
“Talking to you makes the future seem bleak.”
“Sorry.”
He admitted fault.
He did not want to crush a young personâs dreams, but working in a black company had changed him.
Maybe hardship had made him cynical.
“For now, letâs move.”
“Yeah.”
She sighed.
Normally, this would have been rest time.
Instead, they kept exploring.
Skeletons appeared instead of zombies.
Makoto punched another skeleton apart with his flame-wrapped fist.
Its skull flew off, and the remaining bones clattered to the ground.
He extinguished the flames.
[Level up. Level 11. HP 16. Strength 15. Agility 15. Magic 22. 1 bonus point granted.]
His level rose, but the fatigue remained.
Was it mental?
Or from using the black flames?
Not knowing only increased his unease.
He wished he could be more optimistic, but he knew he was not that kind of person.
“Yuka, you okay?”
“…Iâm fine.”
Her voice sounded low.
“Weâll rest soon.”
“Okay.”
He did not tell her to hang in there.
She was already trying her best.
Saying more would only hurt her.
Then a scream echoed from deeper in the dungeon.
“Letâs pick up the pace.”
“You mean hurry?”
“Iâm more afraid of skeletons jumping out from side passages.”
“Sure, sure.”
They moved quickly through the corridor and entered an open space.
A child was being chased by skeletons.
There were ten of themâenough to require courage to fight.
The boy darted around, causing the skeletons to form a line.
They were split into a nearer group and a farther group.
“Not someone you know, right?”
“I donât recognize him.”
If Yuka did not know him, he was likely exploring separately from the knights.
“We should help.”
“You hit the second group with Fire Bullet.”
“Second? Oh, I see.”
She began chanting as Makoto leapt forward.
“Ignition. Fire Bullet.”
Black flames formed a sphere in his palm.
He hurled it at the first group, engulfing one skeleton in flames.
“Ignition!”
He plunged into the first group and smashed a skeleton with his fist.
It would look cooler if he stood and fought them head-on, he thought as he ran through.
The skeletons hesitated, unsure whether to pursue him or the child.
“Fire Bullet!”
Yukaâs magic rained down.
The flames expanded upon impact, swallowing the second group.
“Fire Bullet!”
She followed up, and the skeletons crumbled in the intensified flames.
Three remained.
Makoto punched one apart, then another, and finished the last charging skeleton.
He moved almost beautifully.
If he had been able to do this in high school, maybe his life would have turned out differently.
He dismissed the thought and looked at the child.
The boy was clearly not Japanese.
Short and thin, with natural brown hair and large eyes.
He sheathed a slender dagger when he saw Makotoâs gaze.
No hostility.
Makoto opened his mouth, then closed it.
Would Japanese work?
“…Hello, my name is Makoto.”
“You two are strong. Oh, itâs rude not to introduce myself. Iâm Feâuh, Tom.”
Makoto blinked.
He had spoken English, but the boy replied in Japanese.
“You can communicate normally.”
“You couldâve said that earlier.”
“There wasnât time.”
Yuka replied sharply.
“Please donât fight.”
“…Weâre not fighting.”
“Maybe not here.”
The boyâTomâdrew his thin dagger and stuck it into the ground in a square pattern.
“Thisâll hide us from undead. Come inside.”
They stepped into the square.
“Man, I thought I was dead back there. Truly saved.”
“We had our own motives.”
“Figured.”
Tom sat down, and Makoto followed.
Yuka joined a moment later.
“Do you know how to get out of this dungeon?”
“Of course. I support my little brother by exploring.”
“I heard dungeon runs split into combat and support teams. Is there also an exploration team?”
“Before sending the main force, they send people like me to scout. Some of us make maps and sell them. You didnât know? Then⌔
Tom looked at them with pity.
“You two were tricked.”
“What do you mean?”
“Itâs common to send adventurers in without telling the full truth.”
“Even if itâs knight work?”
“If it doesnât go through the church, donât take it.”
“Thatâs messed up.”
“The ones who get tricked are at fault.”
“No. The ones who deceive are.”
Tom widened his eyes.
“…Youâre right.”
Yuka clenched her lips in anger.
Being called expendable pieces would sting.
“Any other reasons to send adventurers in?”
“Sometimes for knight entrance exams.”
“…No one told us that.”
“Donât look at me.”
Possibilities included being deceived by the king, lied to by Koki, or simple miscommunication.
But without proof, it was pointless.
“Anyway, we want to get out. If you have a map and food, can you share?”
“Thatâs bold.”
“You could guide us too.”
Tom hummed thoughtfully.
Killing him and taking everything was an optionâbut a last resort.
“You saved me. Iâll give you a copy and some food.”
“Thanksâ”
“But!”
He cut Makoto off.
“Burn the map after you escape.”
“I promise.”
Tom studied him, then sighed.
He took out food and maps.
Makoto stuffed the food into his bag.
“Youâre not checking?”
“I trust you wonât trick your savior.”
“And a knife?”
“Seriously?”
Tom handed one over with an exasperated look.
“Yours?”
“Found it.”
Makoto drew it.
Plain and unremarkable.
“Found in the dungeon, huh.”
“Donât think too hard.”
They exchanged knowing smiles.
They both knew it came from a corpse.
“Think itâs safe for cutting jerky?”
“Bladeâs clean. Use at your own risk.”
Makoto inspected it.
No chips.
Possibly new.
He sheathed it and looked at the maps.
Ten sheets, numbered in the corner.
The structure seemed to connect narrow corridors to larger halls.
“Where are we?”
“Here.”
Tom pointed to a corner marked 10.
“Which way is the vertical shaft up?”
“Here.”
“Closer than I thought.”
“Iâll mark it.”
Tom circled it.
“And be careful when going to the ninth floor.”
“Why?”
“Thereâs a huge pit. No idea how deep.”
Yuka frowned.
“We didnât see any.”
“There are multiple shafts.”
Tom stood.
“Thanks for the map and food.”
“And the knife.”
He pouted.
Makoto shook his hand.
His grip was soft for someone in this line of work.
“If you explore again, hire me.”
“I promise.”
Tom retrieved his thin dagger and disappeared down the corridor.
“What do you think?”
“I think we can trust him. He was a thief class, but his status was blue.”
“Blue?”
“Murderers show red unless itâs wartime.”
“Howâs that determined?”
“They perform rituals at the church before war. Kill without one, and youâre a murderer.”
“Why not settle it with sports?”
“Itâs strange to us, but normal here.”
“âŚMaybe.”
Different times, different rules.
This was another world.
“So?”
“Itâs close. We move.”
Makoto silently wondered if it was really that simple.