Chapter 68: Homeless Party Helps

To head to the next kingdom, Naji Republic, we silently rush down a steep mountain road. Perhaps there are many mines in this area, we often see many pits and rail car along the way.

“Whoa, they even dare to work in such a high place huh.”

“Maybe because dwarf race has a strong heart.”

We can see a dwarf working on wooden scaffolding installed on the rock surface of a steep cliff. He scraps the rock surface with a mallet and a chisel and the stones scraped were checked many times with a loupe. It seems to be quite an interesting work if you were just to look at it.

As we you go further along the road, we saw a pit that looks like a quarry again.

“Gyaaaaaaa! A lot of them came out!”

A large number of dwarves emerged from the quarry. Something might have happened so I immediately stopped the unicorn.

“Hey! Elder, what happened inside?”

I called out to an old dwarf who escaped from the quarry.

“For some reason, a lot of gargoyles appeared from behind the wall we were mining. On top of eating ores, their bodies are as hard as rocks. We can’t fight against them.”

“That’s serious then. Alright, let me get rid of it.”

I get off the unicorn and then I head inside the mine. Some say that compassion is not good for you. Still, it will not hurt to help people. Above all, I feel that my intuition is saying that I should help.

“Shinichi, wait!! Don’t leave me.”

Erna chased me from behind. One person is enough for a gargoyle opponent but it is reassuring to have Erna with me. I pulled out my sword and began to move forward.

“Guruaaa!”

As I go down the dim and damp passage, a few gargoyles suddenly appeared and they leap at me. I cut them without any hesitation. Then, starting with that, gargoyles come out from the inner part one after another.

“Shinichi-, close your eyes! Stun light!”

Erna used the light magic, Stun light. This magic gives off a strong light that temporarily robs the enemy of sight. A dazzling flash of light flooded the mine then the gargoyles held their eyes as they rolled to the ground.

“Let me do the finishing blow.”

I activated the skill, Life or Death technique, and then I casually pierced the gargoyles’ death points with my sword. As usual, it has such terrifying effect, the magical beasts that had their acupoints pierced dies in an instant. Only corpses lie around the passage that we passed.

“Shinichi, they are still coming out from the inner area!”

“I know.”

Going forward, Erna shoots stun light again at the gargoyles that appear. Then I used the Life or Death Technique for the finishing blow. As we went deeper and deeper in such setup, we arrived at a hole that seems to be the source of gargoyles. There seemed to be a large space on the other side of the collapsed wall and there was a passage leading further inside.

Just in case, I decided to go to the other side of the collapsed wall.

“Maybe the tunnel and the cave were connected by chance.”

Stalactites were growing on the other side of the wall and the atmosphere was different from the tunnel that we were in earlier. In addition to that, the already damp air has changed to a dense humidity that clings to the skin.

“I can hear something.”

Erna’s ears twitch. I become more vigilant and I tightened my hold on the sword. No matter what kind of enemy appears, one must constantly be one guard. After walking for a few minutes, we were able to reach an open space.

Then I and Erna can’t help but let out a surprised voice. Metal pillars grow on the walls of the space, which can be called a room. Erna’s magical light illuminates the area and the dazzling diffuse reflections burst into our eyes. This was apparently the vein that the gargoyles used as a feeding ground.

“Guruaaaaaaaaa!!”

A magical beast appears from the corner of the room with a roar. It’s somewhat similar to a gargoyle but different in size, color and look. It has a huge body with a height of about 4m and the surface of its body is glossy like that of a steel. When it opened its big mouth, I could see the steel-colored fangs growing sharply in its mouth. The devilish gargoyle appeared to have grown into an even more vicious creature.

【Analysis Result: Gargoyle (Variant): A mutated gargoyle. Its ferocity and power far surpasses ordinary gargoyles, and when hungry, it even eats gargoyles that should have been its comrade: Rarity S】

【Status】 Name: Gargoyle (Variant) Race: Gargoyle (Variant) Magic attribute: Earth Magic: Rock Bullet Skills: Fang strengthening (Special), Nail strengthening (advanced), Physical Strength Enhancement (Advanced), Sense of Touch Enhancement (Special), Eyesight Enhancement (Special), Hardening (Special), Separation (Special), Metal Manipulation (Intermediate), Intimidation (Special) Evolution: Does not meet the conditions <Requirements: Fang King (Beginner), Strengthening (Special Grade), Hardening (Special Grade), Metal Manipulation (Special Grade)>

A mutated gargoyle huh. Moreover, it can be judged that it is quite strong. Especially the metal manipulation skill, it smells trouble.

“Gurgaaaa!”

The mutant grabbed the metal pillar on the wall and pulled it out very easily. Then, the metal pillar changed its shape in the hands of the mutant gargoyle, it became a thick and large stake with a length of nearly 2m.

“Erna, avoid it! It’s going to throw that!”

“I know!”

The mutant throws the stake. We predicted the trajectory and avoided it. The walls on which the stakes landed were crushed and the metal pillars that were growing there were also crushed.

It’s like a cannon.

I immediately started running toward the mutant. If such an attack is made many times, this underground cavity will surely collapse.

“Guruaa!”

Right after the mutant squealed, a rock mass was created in front of it. This time it seems that it will hit me with an earth magic, the rock bullet.

“Rock wall!”

Erna’s earth magic made a number of rock walls from the ground. I quickly hid in the cover of the wall. When the rock bullet hits the wall, they both shatter at the same time. With Erna’s magic, which is strengthened by a skill, it seems that even beginner magic can prevent intermediate magic.

I moved to the cover of the next wall and prepared for its attack.

“Guruaaa!”

The next rock bullet is fired. I jumped out of the wall at the right time. Behind me, I heard the sound of the ejected rock colliding with the wall. When the mutant notices that I am coming very close it, it stretches its big arm and its stretched claws swiped at me.

But it was a bad move.

When I jumped down, I quickly amputated its arm from the elbow. The mutant spurts fresh blood and screams in pain. It seems that the strike was a big blow to it.

“Shadow bind!”

Erna’s magic binds the mutant. With it bound like this, it can’t do anything about it. When it can no longer move, I used the life and death technique to kill it.

“Gu… ga…?”

I struck its eyebrows with my sword. The mutant made a loud noise and collapsed. Its heart stopped and both eyes had its pupil wide open.

I immediately used Skill Picking to gain Sense of Touch Enhancement, Separation, Metal manipulation and Intimidation.

【Status】 Name: Shinichi Tanaka Age: 17 years old (56 years old) Race: Homeless (King) <High Dragoneut | Vampire> Occupation: Adventurer Magical Attribute: No Attribute Magic: Restoration Space, Isolation Space Skills: Familiar Creation, Familiar Summoning, Dragon Transformation, Skill Picking, Race Picking, King’s Vessel ▹Special: Stealth, Danger Detection, Sense of Touch Enhancement(New), Taste Enhancement, Eyesight Enhancement, Hearing Enhancement, Smell Enhancement, Super Sensation, Shock Absorption, Hardening, Plant manipulation, Leadership, Indomitable Spirit, Small Dragon Breath, Separation(↑), Intimidation(New) ▹Advanced: Enemy Search, Theft, Digestion Enhancement, Flight, Paralyzing Eye ▹Intermediate: Analysis(↑), Life or Death Technique(↑), Master of War, Limit Breakthrough, Underwater Adaptation, Dragon Beheading Slash, Fist King Technique, Metal Manipulation(New) ▹Beginner: Universal Thread, Division, Self-recovery, Familiar Strengthening

Looking at the status, analysis, separation and life and death technique ranked up.

It’s a decent harvest.

【The conditions have been met. Evolve after integrating skills.】

【Integrated Evolution: Sense of Touch Enhancement + Taste Enhancement + Eyesight Enhancement + Hearing enhancement + Smell enhancement = Nerves Enhancement】

I believed that those sensory skills would evolve in an integrated manner someday and apparently, it really happened.

However, I got stuck with Super Sensation, which is somewhat a similar skill. Perhaps Nerves Enhancement and Super Sensation may eventually evolve in an integrated manner. Thinking so, I’m looking forward to it.

After I put the mutant gargoyle in the bangle, I pick up the metal in the cave. I won’t be punished if I get some metal as a reward.

“Shinichi what are you doing?”

“No, well, I’m thinking of getting some as a reward.”

“Hmm… then, isn’t this good?”

Erna brought a green metal pillar from somewhere.

“This is?”

“Aeronium. It’s a metal with the attribute of wind. Well, other than this, there are also Freinium and Aquanium. However, it seems that there is only Aeronium here.”

Freinium is certainly the metal used for the back hand armor that Pero is equipped with. Does that mean that if you applied magical power on the metal called aeronium, wind will also come out?

Well, I will never get bored of this world after all.

Looking at the other things, I saw green and blue magic stones here and there. The big ones are as big as fists and the magic stones of the national treasure class are all over the place. However, there seems to be no magic jewel here so I immediately give up searching for magic stones.

“Shinichi! Look at this!”

Erna ran with something about the size of a kagami mochi (鏡餅). It has a holographic pattern on its surface and reflects light dazzlingly.

“Is it a metal?”

“This is Adamantite! It’s a phantom metal! It’s harder than Mithril, has a higher magical rate and has a super-rare value! The five great treasures are weapons made with Adamantite!”

I’m not sure but I analyzed the mass on Erna’s hand.

【Analysis Result: Adamantite: A metal that boasts the highest level of hardness. Due to its rarity, it is often processed as an ornament rather than a weapon: Rarity S】

It certainly is an Adamantite, as she says.

However, it looks like something that we can’t afford to have. Erna suddenly hugged it as if to protect the Adamantite, perhaps because she had guessed something.

“I found it so this is mine! I’ll sell this and buy a lot of clothes!”

“It’s not like I will confiscate it you know. Erna found it, so you can do as you like.”

That said, it’s unknown whether there is a decent place willing to buy Adamantite. I can guess that a rare metal can be priced exorbitantly. In that case, if it is in a mediocre place, there is a possibility that they will refuse purchasing it. It would be wise to go back to the kingdom and sell it to the Duke.

I put the metal she wanted in the bangle and we decided to go back the way we came and head outside. When we exited the mine, we were greeted by a large number of dwarves.

“Human brother, how is it inside!? Are the gargoyles still there!?”

A male dwarf calls out and then I reply,

“Most of the gargoyles have been dealt with. We also cleaned up the gargoyle boss so you can feel relieved.”

The dwarves were delighted hearing my words. They immediately thanked us and they even tried to give us gold coins as a reward.

“I can’t take that. We got a decent one from Gargoyle’s residence. More than that would be undue. We are in a hurry, so we will go ahead.”

We jump on the back of the unicorn and they start running dashingly. From behind, I heard the dwarves expressing their gratitude.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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