Chapter 67
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Your 【Assassination Arts】 level has increased.
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Ever since entering the sewer, I had carefully made my way to the hideout under Ruby's guidance. It might have been the first time since I went to the library to buy a magic textbook that I had proceeded through the sewer so cautiously. That was how utterly flooded the sewer was with players.
"We finally made it…"
"Yeah… I'm exhausted…"
I was unbelievably tired. Ruby was one thing, but my 【Assassination Arts】 level was still in the single digits, which meant I could not reliably hide from the detection abilities of top players. As a result, we had to take quite a detour before getting here. Damn! Had I become a burden?!
"Sorry about this. It's not exactly an apology, but go get some rest first. I'll retrieve the items while you're gone."
"Got it. See you later, then."
Ruby climbed onto the bed Iris had made and logged out on the spot. When someone logs out from a bed, a blue light hovers above it, and if another player tries to use it, an information message saying, 'Unavailable,' appears.
By the way, apparently it is impossible to destroy a bed while it is in use. According to the setting, the goddess protects them. Well, it would hardly be funny if someone who had been unable to play for several days suddenly found themselves dumped on the ground. It was a reasonable setting.
"Well then, time to start collecting!"
I began the task of putting every item in the room into my inventory. Naturally, I stuffed in the books I had collected and the reports that had been left behind, along with healing potions, poison, monster materials, and everything else I could find.
"Short Teleport."
As training for 【Spatial Magic】, I would use Short Teleport to move in front of each container filled with materials, transfer its contents, and then put the container itself into my inventory as well.
This was only possible because FSW had no restrictions on what we could carry. On the other hand, my item list was incredibly cluttered. That was why we had originally transferred everything into containers in the first place.
"Short Teleport… I'm not even a third of the way done yet…"
We had really stockpiled an astonishing number of items. With a touch of self-mockery, I immersed myself in the task.
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Your 【Spatial Magic】 level has increased.
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Ruby came back after that, so we took turns resting. Then I ate lunch in real life and logged in again. We continued working silently after that, and finally finished retrieving the items.
The hideout was now completely empty. All that remained was the furniture that had originally been there. In dramas, rooms that have been searched often have scraps of paper scattered carelessly around, but we had prioritized collecting precisely those sorts of things, so there really was nothing left. It was truly a hollow shell.
They would probably be able to tell that the place had been expanded later and that someone had been here until recently, but they should not be able to learn anything else. Even if someone broke in now, that meant we would suffer no losses.
"Next is the underground cemetery. I'll leave the lead to you."
"Got it. There are plenty of players I could probably beat, but I don't want to draw too much attention, either."
There were almost no players in the sewer who could be called members of the strategy group. Even with 【Appraisal】, it was unusual to find one above level twenty.
Apparently, the initial investigation had already been completed, and it had been discovered that the sewer offered worthwhile rewards only to low-level players as a hunting ground. I had not noticed because the reports had come out while we were traveling through the sky.
Oh, and when I used 【Appraisal】 on a player, I could only see their Name, Race, and Job level. It was inconvenient that I could not strip away all their Skill information, but perhaps being able to do that would cause too many problems.
More importantly, I was curious about how we appeared from their perspective. Were we hidden from them as well, or did we look just like ordinary monsters? I wanted to know!
But I digress. The high-level players who remained here must have been the sort who dreamed of striking it rich. So our earlier pursuit had apparently been nothing more than an unlucky accident.
Now that we knew that, there was no need to be afraid. We could simply proceed while staying hidden, and if we were discovered, we could defeat them.
However, another problem arose here.
"Yeah, because this very guy is here."
Do you remember the Chimera Skeleton I made by copying the method of the Undead Mage I met in that cave, before modifying myself? I had completely forgotten what to do with the thing!
I had considered leaving it here and turning it into something like a boss. But now that we knew the players in the area were not particularly strong, Ruby suggested that we could take it with us to the underground cemetery. In that case, we decided to bring it along as another token of thanks to the Gravekeeper.
"Well, shall we go?"
"Ohhh!"
"Clatter, clatter."
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Your 【Spatial Magic】 level has increased.
Your 【Archaeology】 level has increased.
Your 【Linguistics】 level has increased.
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Well, to begin with, there were hardly any people in the southern area. Apparently, the entrance from the surface city was quite far to the north, and everyone seemed to be mapping the area from there. I felt like all my tension had been for nothing.
Instead, I tried out ambush tactics using 【Spatial Magic】 against Ratmen. It was quite convenient, and fun as well. I ended up doing it until my level increased. Well, it was not as though we had taken a detour all the way to the underground cemetery, so I hope you will forgive me.
"Oh. It has been a short interval to call this a reunion."
"Yeah, that's right."
Because we had established friendly relations with the Gravekeeper, we were able to descend to the lowest level of the underground cemetery without being attacked by its monsters. There, just as before, stood the large, articulate Zombie known as the Gravekeeper.
"So, what brings you here today?"
"Well, the map you gave me was truly excellent."
"Oh! Is that so!"
"I thought I would give you something in return."
"I gave you that as a gift, so no return offering is necessary… Still, I shall gratefully accept it."
It would have defeated the purpose of coming all this way if he had refused, so I was relieved that he was willing to accept it.
"Then what will you be giving me?"
"Your forces must have been greatly reduced in your battle with the Ratman King. I thought I would replenish them."
"…Could you mean the strange Undead behind you?"
"That is not all. I will present you with as many Undead as you require, of the kinds I can create."
The Gravekeeper rested a hand against his chin and thought for a while before nodding.
"I understand. I gratefully accept your offer."
"Understood. Now, what kinds and how many do you need?"
"Hmm. It is rare for anyone like you to come here in the first place, so I do not need very many."
"No, that way of thinking is mistaken."
The number of people exploring the sewer would certainly increase from now on. At present, they were concentrated in the northern section, but as the sewer came to be used as a hunting ground for the second wave of players, the underground cemetery would eventually be discovered as well.
When that happened, players would visit day after day. More importantly, we might be the discoverers, but we were not the ones who conquered it. We had fought alongside the boss, the Gravekeeper, and even formed a sort of friendship with him.
There would certainly be people seeking the honor of being the first to conquer it. If so, he would need subordinates who possessed both quality and quantity.
"Unlike you, will those people rob the graves?"
"Most likely. Few people would care about that."
When I told the Gravekeeper that, he grimaced in displeasure. If Genzou had not objected, there was a good chance we would have quietly robbed the graves ourselves. The thought that 'this is a game' was at the forefront of every player's mind.
"In that case, I shall accept your kindness."
"Yeah. I'll assemble as much fighting strength as possible."
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Your 【Necromancy】 level has increased.
Your 【Alchemy】 level has increased.
You have learned the Chimera Creation spell.
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"Phew, that should do it!"
"Oh, what powerful kin you have given me!"
Yes, the Gravekeeper's reaction was excellent. Every one of them was a masterpiece! I used the fusion and transformation functions of 【Alchemy】, consumed my surplus magic bones like water, and created Undead according to the whims of my creative impulse. Allow me to introduce them!
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Race: Chimera Skeleton Swordsman Lv20
Job: Swordsman Lv0
Skills: 【Swordsmanship】
【Shield】
【Physical Enhancement】
【Strength Enhancement】
【Defense Enhancement】
【Dual Wielding】
【Night Vision】
【Status Ailment Immunity】
【Light Attribute Vulnerability】
【Blunt Vulnerability】
Race: Chimera Skeleton Mage Archer Lv20
Job: Archer Lv0
Skills: 【Staff】
【Archery】
【Earth Magic】 or 【Water Magic】 or 【Fire Magic】 or 【Wind Magic】
【Dark Magic】
【Dexterity Enhancement】
【Intelligence Enhancement】
【Night Vision】
【Status Ailment Immunity】
【Light Attribute Vulnerability】
【Blunt Vulnerability】
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How about it? I made five of each! The Chimera Skeleton Swordsmen are front-line fighters with four arms, two swords, and two shields. The Chimera Skeleton Mage Archers are equipped with the staffs we took from players while rescuing Jigoro, while their remaining arms hold bows and arrows. They should be able to provide support from the rear with both magic and archery.
I am proud of both types. The Gravekeeper's reaction was excellent as well, so coming all this way to make them was worth it.
"Um, Izam? This is taking quite a while…"
"Whoa! Is it already this late?!"
Ruby's hesitant warning finally made me realize that I had spent far too long on this. I had become so absorbed in it that I had lost all sense of time!
"G-Gravekeeper! Will this be satisfactory?!"
"Yes! It is more than sufficient!"
The Gravekeeper answered immediately, in an extremely good mood. If he was that happy, then it was the greatest reward a creator could ask for.
"Oh, Gravekeeper-san, can I ask you something?"
"What is it?"
"Why did the civilization that left behind those ruins perish?"
"What?!"
Why ask that now?! It was like building someone's spirits up only to drop them straight back down! If it were me, my mood would plummet!
"Hmm. Do you wish to know?"
"Yeah!"
Oh? Had I not offended him very much?
"I do not know the details myself, but it is certain that humanity was responsible."
"Humanity?"
"Yes. In those days, humanity was waging a massive war. Infantry clad in the latest magical weapons slaughtered one another, while large-scale magic flew through the air and burned battlefields to ash… It was a great war that engulfed every continent."
"A great war…"
It felt like I was listening to the story of another game. This was not a medieval fantasy setting at all. It was exactly the sort of world-ending scenario caused by a war in a near-future science-fiction setting.
"And then there was the biological weapon created by a small country to win the war. That was the root cause of the collapse. I never saw the thing myself, so I do not know what it looked like."
"I see… So it wasn't a dragon."
Because of the precedent set by that moon-obsessed idiot, I had wondered if it might be one, but apparently I was wrong. Thank goodness! I felt incredibly relieved!
"The Dragonkin actually subdued the biological weapons and sealed them in various places. They have been cleaning up humanity's mess for us. As one who lived in that same era, it is a shameful thing to admit."
"I see… Hmm? Various places?"
The way he put that…
"Yes. There are multiple biological weapons. I do not know the exact number, though."
So they were dangerous treasures left behind by the ancients. And the Dragonkin were sealing them away. I had far too many ideas about what he could be referring to, but bringing up the subject might destroy his friendship with the dragon. I had to avoid thinking about it as much as possible.
"Thank you for the valuable information."
"Think nothing of it. Then, next time we meet, tell me about your adventures."
"Hahaha! I would be delighted to do that! Until then, stay well!"
"Indeed! Have a good adventure!"
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We took our leave of the underground cemetery where the Gravekeeper resided, proceeded through the sewer while keeping an eye out for other players, and somehow made it out into the western forest.
"It's almost sunrise because I took so long. Hurry!"
"Understood! Leave the detection to me!"
Just as we had the previous night, I flew through the sky with Ruby perched on my head. Even at this hour, and even though the western forest was gradually seeing fewer and fewer players, the possibility that someone was there was not zero.
We had chosen the shortest route by traveling through the sky, but that also made us conspicuous. In addition to Ruby's detection, I would proceed while using Magic Echo as well.
"Hmm? Izam, there's someone ahead and to the left!"
"Hm… I have confirmed them as well."
Magic Echo detected four responses. According to Ruby, they were all players. However, three of them seemed to be chasing one person. Could this be…?
"They're PKs—Player Killers."
I had heard that PKs, or Player Killers, enjoyed killing other players. There was a part of that enjoyment I could relate to, so I would never condemn them outright.
"That's just bullying the weak."
Exactly. What was happening before us was hunting for entertainment. The problem was that the prey was not a monster, but a player.
The player being chased was low level. They had probably been unable to log in very often and had not been able to raise their level.
The pursuers were at fairly decent levels. They should have been able to defeat their target in an instant, yet they were deliberately taking their time. Apparently, they were enjoying tormenting them.
"What should we do?"
"Hmph! Isn't it obvious?!"
I shifted our flight path to the left and positioned myself above the fools giving chase. Then…
"Activate the Tomoe Magic Circle. Spell adjustment… Die. Death!"
"!?"
I cast Death, an instant-death spell from 【Evil Arts】 whose effect had been amplified to its maximum through spell adjustment, on the three of them. The three idiots died instantly without even being able to resist.
Their levels were lower than mine, and my equipment was top-class while also possessing the power to amplify the effects of 【Evil Arts】. That was the only reason I had been able to kill all three instantly. Once again, I was reminded how vicious the magic of 【Evil Arts】 could be.
"A villain needs style, you scum."
I threw a parting insult at the small fry who were no longer alive. There was nothing wrong with making defeating players your objective. But hunting those weaker than oneself was simply too vulgar. If you were going to pick a target, shouldn't you aim for the top players?
Anyone without that much mettle could only ever be a small fry. Let us forget those fools. It was time to resume flying toward our destination.
"Izam, the person being chased is still alive, and they saw us. Is that okay?"
"Of course. Who would believe, 'I was saved by a flying skeleton'?"
"Oh, yeah!"
And so, we headed toward our companions.
However, we had no way of knowing that this encounter would cause trouble for us later.