Chapter 180: Purple Light and Formidable Enemies

We advanced upstream along the underground waterway.

Purple light leaked from the destination we were advancing.

It is quite far but because it is shining even I can tell.

"What is that?"

I asked Ovnil advancing beside me.

"Humu. Other people in the same trade have come I suppose."

Ovnil answered while stroking his beard with his left hand.

"There were several other same requests after all."

From behind Heinz cut in.

I see.

But purple light is eerie.

Illumination is pale blue and flame color is red.

Is there something that emits purple with other magic.

Anyway while somehow defeating Giant Rats leaping from the waterway we advanced ahead.

These Giant Rats apparently escaped the explosion by diving into the waterway water.

They leap out from there so we who receive them are all covered in filthy water.

...What will Muriel and the others say when I return.

While thinking such a thing in a corner of my head I parried the attacking Giant Rats and advanced ahead.

Then we arrived in front of a side hole from which purple light spilled.

"It’s already time. Let’s greet the same trade and return."

From behind Beata answered looking fed up.

This waterway has a side path on the right toward the castle where two people can walk side by side but the right side of that side path is a wall and safe.

Therefore Beata switched with Rita who is not very good at combat and was defeating Giant Rats attacking from the waterway.

Of course same as me and Ovnil, Heinz protecting Fine and Il holding the dagger granted illumination in the center waterway side, she was covered in filthy water.

"That’s right, I want to hurry back and take a bath."

Heinz grumbled.

"Alright, if that’s decided let’s finish it quickly."

Saying that I still carefully peeked into the side hole to check if there was danger.

...No one is there.

The light is leaking from a further side hole in the depths.

Are they there?

When I looked at Ovnil peeking the same way from under me our eyes met.

Then we two nodded, gestured silently to follow behind with our hands, and advanced ahead.

Because we do not know what is there we should make as little sound as possible... is impossible.

Each time Ovnil, Heinz, Beata walk their metal armor rings gasha gasha.

I wryly smiled inwardly and further side hole...

"What is this..."

There I was speechless.

It was not a side hole but a carved window.

Windows continue ahead on this path too.

And spreading outside is a vast wasteland.

Above a red moon and blue moon can be seen.

It does not seem like underground at all.

"This... when did we come outside?"

Heinz who looked outside the window from beside me muttered tilting his head.

"Eh? Th-that can’t be..."

Beata who was looking at the map and guiding hurriedly looked outside the window.

Certainly that cannot be.

We descended a long staircase to come to this underground passage and while walking the underground passage there were of course no stairs, we did not even go up a slope.

Then where is this?

Above there are two moons so it is not underground...

Then Fine who was looking outside with her mouth hanging open beside Heinz muttered.

"This... Demon World..."

"「Demon World!?」"

Hearing that Heinz and Rita shouted in surprise.

"Be quiet!"

Ovnil yelled suppressing his voice.

The two hurriedly covered their mouths.

"But why do you know this is the Demon World?"

Beata asked Fine while looking outside the window.

"Because magic power is drifting in the air."

Fine turned around and answered Beata.

"Magic power... is drifting?"

Heinz lined question marks above his head.

"Yes, that’s right. Unlike the Human World in the Demon World magic power drifts in the air. So it is the Demon World."

Fine explained to Heinz.

That her face looks blue is probably not only because of the two moons.

"Is that so."

Heinz muttered looking outside again.

Certainly the atmosphere somewhat resembles Demon King Geizer’s castle.

The construction of the path itself for some reason resembles the underground passage.

But if this is truly the Demon World then the royal capital is...!

"Be careful!"

When I looked around I saw two shadows walking this way from ahead of the path opposite the direction we came without letting us sense their presence.

Those are the ones that were also at Geizer’s castle.

"Gargoyles..."

Fine muttered.

Aa, they are Gargoyles after all.

"Let’s run!"

When Fine said that she stepped back toward the way we came.

"It will be terrible if they come out to the royal capital. We have to defeat them here..."

Beata said while preparing her weapon.

That is correct.

I also prepared the broadsword toward the Gargoyles.

"That’s right. Hazard pay might be added too."

Heinz also prepared his weapon.

Ovnil also silently shouldered his battle axe and Il also without saying anything drew her bow taut.

"...Fuu, I don’t know what happens."

Then Fine also stopped her stepping back feet and started chanting magic.

"Water that is the source of life. Come forth from my fingertip and strike my enemy!"

In that time the Gargoyles walked toward us... no, they flew!

"Water Arrow!"

Fine hurriedly released magic.

It hit one Gargoyle but it only slowed a little and leaped at us as if nothing happened.

The first one attacked me.

I received the hook claw of the Gargoyle’s right hand with the broadsword.

I saw the Gargoyle raise its left hand so I pushed back the Gargoyle’s right hand.

The Gargoyle lost balance.

There I swung down from directly above to cut it in two.

It did not go like that time.

I could not cut the Gargoyle and only crushed its head.

"Guo!" "Uwa!"

Beside the other Gargoyle delayed an instant by Fine’s magic leaped over Ovnil’s head and attacked Heinz.

Heinz parried the hook claw attacks the Gargoyle delivered with both hands with his shield but it was somehow precarious and not a situation where he could attack with his sword at all.

Below Ovnil was barely receiving the hook claw attacks from both feet of the Gargoyle with his battle axe.

From behind Heinz Beata was trying to attack the Gargoyle with her spear but Heinz’s shield was in the way and she could not easily make a move.

Fine and Il too fearing friendly fire used neither magic nor bow and arrow and watched from a distance taking distance from the Gargoyle.

Rita was... watching the surroundings.

Because this place is narrow she is probably thinking even if she participates in attacking the Gargoyle she will get in the way.

And the attitude of not neglecting vigilance of the surroundings so as not to be ambushed at least... she seems more used to this kind of thing than Fine or Il.

"Uotto!"

After quickly confirming the surroundings I thought to support Heinz and Ovnil but the Gargoyle in front whose head I crushed stood and tried to slash from below with the hook claw of its right hand.

I hurriedly dodged and mowed from left to right with the broadsword.

The aim is two birds with one stone.

The headless Gargoyle as I intended hit the Gargoyle Heinz and the others were fighting and the two piled up crashing into the wall.

Immediately I chanted magic.

This time reservedly.

Then I applied the fingertip of my left hand to the Gargoyles.

"Water Arrow."

"Hi!" "Nuo!"

Together with me finishing the spell two screams were heard.

Apparently Heinz and Ovnil were surprised and avoided.

In an instant the two Gargoyles shattered.

It did not go as far as blasting apart like when I used it on a brick at home and surprised Yanica but they scattered somewhat.

Apparently crushing the head is not enough to break them so I smashed them to pieces.

As expected of moving stone statues I guess.

But earlier and this time Water Arrow is quite useful.

Though it is not the original way of using it.

I am glad I had Sophia teach me.

While I was absorbed in such impressions...

"If you use it say you are using it!"

"I thought I would be sent flying."

Heinz closed in on me and Ovnil also gave a bitter comment.

"Ah, aa, sorry."

Surprised by Heinz’s vigor I apologized without thinking.

Though fragments scattered they are not enough to injure Heinz and Ovnil firmly protected by armor but I certainly startled them.

Then a caution was issued from Rita who was watching the surroundings.

"Everyone, those guys are coming again."