Chapter 25

Chapter 25 \nVol 3: Chapter 25\n

We were told that Polina-san was not really a steady member of the Golden Brigade. Not to mention the fact that it hasn’t been long since she joined the party, she is also from a race that is rarely seen outside the Elven Forest, and her beauty was also quite exceptional.

She knew well that she shouldn’t expose her own appearance – she had many experiences of almost being kidnapped – so she always hides her face with a hood, it seems.

「…Her Highness Anastasia.」

In front of Muge-san’s company, she called out “Anastasia-sama” and knelt. And Her Highness had a sad look when she saw Polina-san, so there is no doubt that they knew each other in advance.

I was occupied with how to save Lulusha-san and didn’t care to look more into it.

「Highness? Who is that?」

「Her Highness Anastasia. An Elf royalty who is staying in this country.」

Leon stared in wonder at Dante-san’s response.

「So, what? Golden Brigade was just a stepping stone for Polina to meet this Highness Ana? That’s a flimsy reason to betray someone.」

「I don’t know the details, but maybe she thought it wouldn’t be possible to meet Her Highness Anastasia otherwise?」Dante-san said.

「Hmm…」

「Knowing Leon, I bet he made a pass at Polina-san. That’s why she betrayed him.」Mimino-san said.

「Dumb, shorty halfling! It wasn’t me! It was the shield-bearer who… Nevermind, it doesn’t matter. Anyway, does that mean Polina made it back to the city safely?」

「Not safely, she didn’t. She was on the verge of death.」

「Are you serious?!」

Leon was surprised at Mimino-san’s words again. This man seems to overreact to every single thing.

「I wonder if Muge-san is all right?」Non-san said, softly.\n

「If Polina-san’s purpose is Her Highness Anastasia, then Muge-san should be okay. I mean, Muge-san shouldn’t need anything from Polina-san, and there is no reason for her to harm Muge-san at all. However, we should still aim to return early.」

「You’re right.」Dante-san nodded in agreement to my words.

「We have two choices: go forward or go back. If we choose to go forward, there is the question of which face to choose, front or right.」

「Worldly Goods, of course!」

「The treasure room!」

Zerry-san and Leon raised their hands almost at the same time. Umm, excuse me, Mr. Leon? Aren’t you too excited to follow along with us?

「Hoho, Dante. So you do have a reasonable guy in your party.」

While hitting Zerry-san’s shoulder, Leon slowly froze in place.

「Ahhhhhhh! You! The cat-beastman who cheated and stole my money in gambling!」

「Huh〜? I never cheat in gambling〜 That’s just the barking of a loser.」

「You bastard!」

「Nyahahaha!」

Oh right, something like that happened right before we entered the Empire, didn’t it?

When Leon reached out to catch Zerry-san, she nimbly leapt away from him. Leon, who is still staggering, obviously won’t be able to catch Zerry-san.

「That’s enough, Leon. And you too, Zerry. Stop poking fun. Your opinions will not be taken into consideration this time.」

「Hey, Dante!」

「No〜!」\n「How about the option to go back?」

Dante-san ignored the two and asked towards us.

「I don’t know what Polina is thinking, but it’s unlikely that Muge-san is in danger, so I’d like to continue on.」I said.

「I am fine with that.」

「Yes, me too.」

Mimino-san and Non-san agreed.

「Then, the next path to open is…」

We decided to challenge the “Truth” path on the right.

**

Leaving behind Leon wouldn’t sit right with our conscience, so we decided to take him with us. He would cooperate in battles, but was told that we wouldn’t share any loot foundーto which he responded loudly with repeated “Boo!”. Dante-san said, “Then you can go back on your own,” but Leon persisted, saying “Then pay me money accordingly for my work! And also help me find my party members!”

Even if the negotiations were prolonged, it would just be a waste of time, so the conditions were: “cooperate in battle”, “if you find your party, join them”, and “reward if you do your best”.

If he complains later that the rewards aren’t enough, I won’t be so forgiving, okay? I’ll instigate Zerry-san to pluck all his hair, even his butt hair.

「I will touch it now.」

I stood in front of the face on the right, which had『Those Who Seek Truth With Fear』engraved on the upper lip.

Dante-san and Zerry-san were on guard as before, but Leon just stood with his arms folded.

He carried a longsword; a thin blade that was as tall as I was. It seems that he didn’t let go of his weapon even when he fell into the pitfall.

I reached out and touched the lower lip, and jumped back.\n\nA large space. You can’t see under or beyond the cliff. Just a silent cavern.

(Come to think of it… Wasn’t there a place like this in the Sixth Mine, too?)

At that time, when I looked under the cliff, I saw adventurers fighting. They were using flashy magic. And I thought it had nothing to do with me back then.

「Someone has come to welcome us, it seems.」

I didn’t notice until Leon called out. They were sticking to the wall on the plateau side as if camouflaging themselves.

Black skin with a body length of about 2 meters. Reminiscent of a Japanese giant salamander.

「What’s with that face…?」Mimino-san asked.

There was no face on the face. Only feelers of about 3 cm were moving.

Its movement seemed sluggish, but the problem is their number.

I’m guessing about 100?

「Bocchan. They’re also on the cliff.」

「Eh?」

The feeler geckos crawled up from under the cliff.

We looked at each other and–

「Run to the other side!」

At Dante-san’s command, we started running toward the entrance of the passage on the other side.

At the same time, the feeler geckos jumped in all at once.