novelraw Chapter 115
Chapter 115
Chapter 115
We've arrived at the lowest level of the giant tower with Naked Man.
We're deploying Gii-san's underlings around us and scouting at the same time.
Scouting a wide area blindly is dangerous, but if we limit the range to about 10 meters, it seems we can stay synchronized with Gii-san in real time.
It's like having a mini radar.
"Those so-called divine war machines you mentioned aren't anywhere to be seen."
We've been careful on the way here, but we didn't find anything.
When I asked Naked Man, he said that in the original script, the divine war machines are supposed to be in sleep mode in the lowest level.
"However, the power of the followers of Darkness exceeds expectations. The plan has already deviated from the original script. It's possible the Apostles are already gone. Impossible. It must not be possible—but we must be prepared."
Naked Man's back is filled with sorrow.
"One of the aims of the 'Metal Shiba Inu Club' was to awaken all the silver apostles from their eternal slumber."
"How much progress have you made?"
"In terms of our progress, it's zero percent. Though it seems some of the Apostles managed to wake up on their own. Hm, here it is."
There was a stone gate more than twice as tall as a person.
It was wide open.
Looks like we've arrived.
This is the room where the divine war machines sleep.
There's a toasty aroma in the air.
Well then, let's charge in! Time to gain that next-door experience!
"This can't be......"
"Gii (Translation: It looks like... a one-sided massacre took place here.)"
The moment we entered the room, we came to a stop.
Inside the room were four large coffins lined up along the wall.
The stone coffins, boldly engraved with carvings, were open.
Inside were silver-armored warriors with their arms folded over their chests, completely motionless.
Though, each one had a massive black spear driven into their chest.
What the hell.
Unforgivable.
Who... who stole my experience points...?!
I moved closer to the corpses and examined the spears carefully.
The shaft was so thick, it was too big to grip properly.
Maybe it's a spear meant for giants. At the very least, it's not for someone of average human size like me.
The black spears melted and pierced through the silver plating, entering from the chest and exiting through the back. Get stabbed with something this thick while you're sleeping and, well, yeah—you're dead.
"Gii."
"Ah, Gii-san is doing something on his own again..."
Gii-san is poking around the corpse with his tentacles.
"Gii (Translation: The 'Thousand-Style Metal Kit' is missing. Looks like the culprit took it.)"
Damn it! Unforgivable!
They even stole my Metal Kit! Mine! (※Not yours.)
"Gii."
"Ah, Gii-san's at it again..."
Gii-san points to the floor.
It was too dark to notice before, but the floor of the ruins is wet with black liquid.
It looks like something covered in ink moved through here. The drag marks continue out of the room.
"Unbelievable... the situation was already in motion before I even liberated Central..."
"But Naked Man, you chanted a spell to open the gate, right? Wasn't it supposed to be sealed until then?"
"This tower has entrances on all four sides. There's not just one... However, only those with the correct key can open them."
"Then someone with a key must've let the Darkness folks in. A traitor, maybe?"
"No, that's impossible. The 'Metal Shiba Inu Club (Main Branch)' is a strict and devout agent of faith and justice."
Really now...? Doesn't seem like it to me.
I mean, it's a club that's metal and shiba inu.
"If there's a possibility..."
Naked Man started thinking deeply.
Hmm, I don't really get it, but the issue is how the enemy got into the tower, right?
"Maybe they were already inside from the start."
Just a guess.
"Tch... No way! Wait... it's possible. That man from the foundation said the followers of Darkness can use spatial teleportation. If they were active in the silver dungeon shortly after—or even before—our seal was broken... that would explain why we've been lagging behind."
Hm? He's staring at me pretty intensely now.
"(As expected of Finger Man. His perspective is truly different...)"
What the heck, he's staring way too hard. If Love so sweet started playing, this would turn into a romance arc. No thanks. I'm gonna leave him behind and follow the trail of the experience thief.
"H-Hey, wait! Don't leave me behind!"
Apparently there are multiple sealing rooms for the machine soldiers.
Seven rooms in total, big and small. Altogether, 24 machine soldiers.
That's the force this silver dungeon possesses.
"This one's wiped out too. Damn Darkness bastards, they're systematically weakening our forces."
We arrived at the final sealing room.
The trail on the floor also leads here.
It's the same path we've been following all along.
The final sealing room had six coffins.
They were all empty, and unlike before, there's no sign they were stabbed in their sleep.
"Gii."
According to Gii-san, the machine soldiers that were in this room might've already been active.
Come to think of it, we did fight a few machine soldiers before getting here.
The ones outside might've been the Metals from this last sealing room.
"There are black marks here too... they lead over there. What's ahead, Naked Man?"
"The ritual altar... the hall for the resurrection of the Silver Beast of Authority (Lusas Osas)."
Lusa... huh? Say what?
"Hmm, I see."
"The Silver Beast of Authority (Lusas Osas), the highest-ranking priest who served the silver. Our goal was to release it from slumber, along with the Apostles that served under it..."
Naked Man quietly closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
"...It's just ahead."
We reached the ritual altar in no time.
The corridor leading to it had a high ceiling and was quite wide.
On either side stood giant stone statues of armed machine soldiers, adding to the solemn atmosphere.
"Someone's there."
"What?"
I stopped in my tracks.
Naked Man stopped right after me.
Someone was walking toward us from the other side.
It was hard to see in the dark, but it was a foreign woman.
She might be around the same age as me.
Her boobs were slightly peeking out from the side of her sleeveless top, and I am deeply grateful.
"Doesn't look like the Baron."
The woman looked back and forth between me and Naked Man and muttered that.
"Is this girl a follower of Darkness?"
"Then she's the one who kidnapped Benvenuto-san?"
The woman said, "If you're not the Doctor, then I have no business with you," and summoned a black mist in her hand. From within it, she started pulling out a sinister black long gun. Looks like it was a four-dimensional pocket.
"A silver devotee and an explorer from JPN, huh? Odd combo, but since you clearly intend to interrupt the ritual... let's spill your guts right here and feed them to the dogs."
"Hahaha... little girl, do you really think someone like you could take me on?"
Naked Man swept his coat aside with one hand and dramatically opened his grimoire.
A silver light flashed, and silver claws materialized.
Naked Man equipped both weapons and lunged forward in a flash.
——Boom
A gunshot rang out.
The claws caught the bullet.
Naked man was blasted away, flying across my field of vision.
He tumbled violently across the floor of the ruins and crashed into the wall. He was slammed so hard that cracks formed in the wall, and he spat up blood and twitched convulsively.
Wait, he got taken out?
"I've already abandoned humanity. Knight of the God-Eater (Systeri Noteria). As her mimic, I am the vessel for the next high priest. Even facing a machine soldier is no challenge now."
The woman wore an expression of pure excitement.
She spun the black long gun effortlessly in one hand, then pointed the muzzle at me.
"At this point, talking to some run-of-the-mill explorer is pointless... but you, dance for me until your life burns out, and stir my excitement as much as you can."