Chapter 5: Disposal Site

I start the exploration. While I am looking at the map I notice something, only the center of this floor is filled with a square. It feels like a big space for a pillar. I am interested in it so I decided to go to that place.

In about two hours, I arrived in the area then I tried to inspect the walls and surroundings, but I could not confirm anything. I examine it carefully like it’s a secret hideout, but it seemed to have been a misunderstanding. However, I am still concerned about it because of the little writing seen in the central part.

I start walking again, I reached the stairs in about three hours. Considering the time, it is quite wide, but since I’m only walking, the time can still be shortened. In addition, the detour may also be the cause.

The purpose is exploration so there is no need to hurry. The stairs continue down, and the end is pitch black. Just in case, I decided to pull out my sword before heading down the stairs.

“………”

When I went down the long stairs, I got surprised and fell silent. From the high ceiling, light is falling down. A wall can be seen in the distance. There were overgrown lush trees and waist high grass growing in the area. I could hear a bird-like cry, creating the illusion of coming to another world.

I immediately check the map to find out where the jungle in my field of view extends.

“So that’s it, this floor is like a miniature garden.”

This jungle spreading in front of me is one of the miniature gardens written in the map. For the time being, I decided to explore inside the jungle without removing the sword.

【Appraisal Result: Eve tree】

【Appraisal Result: Moyafu tree】

【Appraisal Result: Rubber tree】

I appraised the plants one after another, all of them are things I don’t know. I see some trees that are bearing fruits, but I can’t decide whether they are edible or not. I searched for something that insects were eating, but insect itself couldn’t be found. This is so unnatural, there are no insects here.

“There are no insects? Then what do the flying birds eat sometimes?”

I tilted my head. I hide and observe the birds on the tree, I think the birds that looked like red parrots are munching on some yellow-green fruit. I found the fruit as soon as I searched for it. I observe one piece of fruit. It looks completely peachy.

“The smell is sweet. It feels like peach to the touch, is it only the color that differ?”

When peeled thinly, a yellow-green pulp appears from below. I was a little lost, but I dared to bite.

“What is this sweet fruit!”

The aroma and sweetness penetrated in my mouth. It has a fresh and ripe peach taste. However, its sugary content is beyond imagination. The sweetness far exceeds that of high-class white peaches. It is so delicious that I had eaten everything before I knew it.

Another one, I tear off one more mysterious peach to be appraised.

【Appraisal Result: Momon fruit: very sweet and is called phantom fruit. Edible】

“It’s the fruit of a phantom tree huh, it should really be delicious….. Hn?”

I immediately noticed that the appraisal results had explanations. There should have been no commentary until now. I quickly opened my status.

【Status】 Name:  Shinichi Tanaka Age:  17 years old (56 years old) Race:  Homeless Occupation:  Homeless Magic attribute:  No Attribute Magic:  None Skills:  Appraisal (Intermediate) ↑, Pressure Point (Beginner)

I levelled up! The appraisal skill has become intermediate.

Dear me!, this appraisal skill is a convenient power. Not only the name but even the explanation is written, makes me feel really indebted to this skill.

Thanks! I’m grateful.

As I examined the fruits I saw previously, I found that most of them were edible. Moreover, many seemed to be varieties called phantom fruit, some of which may have been already lost. That was my intuition kicking in.

It’s edible because it may have been planted by the people who built the hideout. Humans cannot live on water alone. So maybe they were planting food on this floor. As evidence of this, many inscriptions were seen on the map.

When I move around the room relying on the map, I find something like vegetables this time. The grass were overgrown, but there are traces of farming underneath, such as embankments.

I don’t know how many years have passed, but the forgotten vegetables are still growing vigorously among the grass. When I pulled out something like a radish leaf, a thick white root appeared.

While I’m at it, I appraise it.

【Appraisal Result: Daikon: Has light taste but it has a lot of water. It is often used for pickles and has a wide variety of cooking methods. Edible】

I wanted to see radish, but it turned to be something similar. Rather, I should be glad that it is a vegetable I knew. In addition, many vegetables such as “Hasai” which is similar to Chinese cabbage and “Jagaimu” similar to potato were harvested.

This vegetables seems to be self-sufficient.

I took several hours to weed out and restore the former garden. I regretted it, I should have brought the hoe, but I decided to go ahead by packing the harvested vegetables in my backpack.

I reached the exit of the room by following a trackless path, the passage leading to the next room extends to the back.

There are many miniature gardens on the map, so I’d like to check if that is true. After walking in the dimly lit passage, I stepped into the next room. It’s a dense forest. The jungle was spreading likewise.

“The atmosphere has changed a little…”

The room I saw previously was an artificial miniature garden, but this feels like a real jungle for beasts. My instinct is telling me not to go any further.

“It might be better to turn back.”

When I looked back, a creature was blocking the entrance. It has a total length of 2 meters, and its entire body is intimidating with its blue and black stripes. The fangs sharply claim that it’s a natural predator.

The big tiger-like creature roars.

“Uh……”

I retreated from fear. No matter who, being stared by such tiger would not remain calm. That tiger is an object of fear. Still, I held my sword with my shaking hands. At the back of the place where I fled to is a jungle. It’s the tiger’s domain.

“Grrrrrrrr…”

The tiger lowered its posture while growling. It seems that it’s going to hunt me. I won’t let that happen, I activate the Pressure Point skill. Two red dots appeared on the tiger’s body. One is on the belly, the other is around the hips.

“Bring it on! Hey! What happened! Come on!”

I spread my hands and desperately provoke the tiger. Carnivorous animals have an instinct that makes them want to chase after their prey escapes. On the other hand, I’ll be wary if this creature that is larger than me, has a will to fight.

I believe in the knowledge I received somewhere, I continued the threat of provocation.

 “Grraaaawrrr!”

The tiger jumped in with a momentary opening. I used my sword as a shield and prevented its forefoot and fangs, but I was pushed down with its force and was taken as a mount.

“Graawr! Graawr!”

The tiger’s face biting the blade get’s closer. It’s forefoot presses me to the ground with tremendous force, escape from here is a difficult task.

“Kuh… I died once! I’m not scared!”

I managed to pull out the knife I had on my waist and pierced the red dot on the tiger’s abdomen.

“Gugaaaaa !?”

The tiger flies off and rolls in pain on the ground. It’s probably in agony. As soon as I stand up, I grasp the sword and approach the tiger.

“It’s my victory!”

I swing down my sword around the tiger’s neck. The head rolls gently and bright red blood spreads on the ground. My hips gave out and I sit down on the ground.

“Hahaha……… I won against a tiger.”

Strangely, I was more satisfied than frightened. It made me more confident to win against the tiger than to win against the orc. I got up and carried the body of the tiger. I decided to take the corpse and return to the previous garden.

　◆◇◆

“This doesn’t work well…”

I started dismantling the tiger in the miniature garden without monsters, but it is quite difficult. Five hours had passed by the time I managed to mobilize all the knowledge I had learned. While thinking it’s acceptable as this was my first time, still, I want to do better next time.

There’s one thing I noticed in this miniature garden, stream is flowing through. Water flowed through a small hole in the wall, creating a flow across the room. The final point is the opposite wall, where water again flows into the small hole. When I scooped up the water from the stream, I could see glitter and light particles.

There may be no monsters because of this stream. However, it is strange that birds live here. I wonder if the tiger is a monster and the bird in this room is not.

Doubtful points linger in my head.

I, who procured the meat, decided to return to the hideout for the time being. In today’s exploration, map confirmation is the first priority. Coincidentally, I also got vegetables and meat, so it’s better to end it here today. I also want to explore a little more on the 20th floor where I live.

After going up the stairs and returning to the 20th floor, I was still concerned about the central part so I turned my feet around. I checked again but there was no place that would most likely be an entrance.

“I’m concerned about this… I can’t help but be concerned of it! If only I can read the letters, I’ll know what this filled part is! Damn!”

While grinding my teeth, I decided to return to the hideout. I can’t just spend all my time exploring. Sword training is also waiting today.

However I felt quite tired, probably because of the mental burden of fighting the tiger. I decided to take a break on the road not far from the hideout.

“Heigh-hoh ―Agyaaa!?”

As soon as I sit down on the floor and leaned my back against the wall, I fell back.

“O-Ouch!….. what the heck is this?”

I struck my butt strongly, so I checked the surroundings while rubbing it, a dark passage continued straight to somewhere. Looking at the wall that I have rolled in, there was a slope like a slide.

However, the place that seems to be the entrance is completely closed. Apparently, when I leaned on the wall, the door’s mechanism opened and I fall down here.

“The ceiling is low. Is it a feeling between the 20th and 21st floors?”

In order to get out of here, I have to go ahead. I decided to go through the frightening passage. However, the location of this place was not written on the map.

I wonder if I found a mechanism that the previous residents didn’t know about. I feel a little excited when I think so. If this hidden room turns to be a big discovery, I’ll live here. I won’t let anyone call me homeless anymore.

And then the passage ended and I arrived at a large room.

On each side of the square room, things like candle holders are installed, and on top of that, small crystals are placed. The crystals were shining and vaguely illuminating the room. Something is piled up at the center of the room that forms a mountain.

I approach the mountain and realized what it was. It’s a huge pile of corpses. Corpses of people and other creatures are piled forming a huge mountain.

I open the map quickly, the size and shape of the room coincide with the filled area. This is the center of the 20th floor and the mysterious place.

I’m lucky enough to find the entrance.

“But here is…”

I come closer to the mountain of corpses, none of them were rotted and dried. The upper one is still in its original form, but when it went to the lower one, it has weathered and became powdery. Furthermore, the powder seems to be sucked little by little into the holes in the floor of the room.

I realize that this is a disposal site. It’s a place to collect and destroy people and beasts killed from somewhere. I can only think so.

At this time, something is falling from the ceiling. I immediately shifted my eyes, I think there is a hole in the ceiling. At the top of the mountain, I saw a bloody, broken white man.

This is surely a dump site, like a garbage dump.

“Does this mean that the creatures that died in the dungeon will be brought here? Really, what’s with this place? I got more and more confused.”

I accidentally see a corpse carrying a backpack amidst the mountain of corpses. I don’t want to loot the corpses, but in order to live, I don’t have a choice.

I collect the backpack and confirm the things inside.

“Dried meat and bread. This is …”

I found a bottle filled with black powder and smelled it. Apparently it’s pepper. I got a good one. Then I found another small jewel, I tilted my head.

A red gem about the size of a marble. It feels like I’ve seen it somewhere…

Right, it’s the stove!

“Hmm, maybe this gem is a common tool. Seems like it’s worth it to retrieve it.”

After that, I loot few more corpses and collected food and tools.

Appraisal is a big success here as well. For those I don’t recognize, I used my Appraisal skill, I unexpectedly find some rare items.

【Appraisal Result: Necklace of the Medil family: A necklace made by processing a rare crystal called Saint Crystal. In the Medil family, it is passed down to the eldest son for generations. 】

I was relieved. I realized a fact and I couldn’t fool myself anymore. There is definitely a human town somewhere, where people live for a long time.

That rich living area I just secured…

Monsters I have never seen….

A dungeon that I don’t even know how far it goes…

Equipped with clothes that are impossible in modern time…

Presence of magic and skills….

All of them were asserting that this is another world.

I’m in another world… I am reincarnated in a different world.

---

Previous ⚜ Table of Contents ⚜ Next

---