Part 3[แก้ไข]
---Above [Underwood]. Ancient Vampire Citadel, outer walls.
There was almost nowhere left to go now. Kasukabe Yō leaned against the old and beaten outer walls of the Citadel that were badly weathered as she tried to take a few deep breaths to readjust her breathing. However, just as she was trying to catch her breath, there came a sound of something crawling across the rubble on the Outer walls that was gradually approaching in their direction.
“Uu…It’s that monster again……”
Yō immediately shied away as she felt the presence of the enemy approaching.
A black shadow that was producing a disgusting sound of slick wet matter traveling across the rubble was gradually approaching. The fellow that seemed to be patrolling the Out skirts of the Citadel was a deep red and black monster that seemed to be the amalgamation of clots of blood and moss.
This humanoid looking monster moved quickly but its body’s defense was very weak. The threat from a single monster was nothing to be fearful about.
However, if it were to be a few hundred together, the situation would be very much different.
Moreover, who she was protecting behind her back wasn’t only Kirino.
But there were a dozen or so wounded participants and children who had been caught by the Demonic Beasts and some of them were behind her now.[6]
“Where can we hide for a while?!”
“Here. Here will do!”
The people hurriedly rushed to hide behind the rubble that Kirino had pointed to, which was just beside the Outer walls. Pushing aside the debris that were scattered around, Yō led the children to hide in a crevice that led to a crater beneath the rubble before sitting at the opening to hide everyone behind her.
Yō finally found the time to catch her breath and she looked back at the residents of [Underwood] behind her.
“……Everyone alright back there?”
“Ah…Nn.”
“Yep. We are still alive all thanks to your efforts, lass.”
Kirino and an elder Beastman expressed their thanks.
Just like Kirino, all of them had been brought here when the huge dragon was retrieving its clones and they just happened to be in the grasp of the Demonic Beasts when it occurred. But they were dumped in the Out skirts of the Ancient Citadel. Originally, losing their lives in this kind of situation wouldn’t be too surprising but due to the Trial Jurisdiction in play, the Host would not be able to interfere with the participants. And hence, they were safely dropped off.
Besides Yō herself, the number of people who had successfully met up was a total of seven. And amongst them, six were children much younger than Yō.
But currently, they were now being pressured by the patrolling enemies outside of the Citadel walls and were cornered.
[……What a predicament. If only it were Kirino alone, I could still carry her and run. But with this many, it would surely exceed the weight limit I can carry. Even if I tried my best, three would still be my limit.]
She had guessed that there would be others brought here as well.
But she did not expect that there would be enemies lurking at the outskirts who would attack them.
[We are currently in the midst of Trial Jurisdiction and those reddish black monsters still dare to attack us. In other words, they are not in the influence of the Host……Could it be that these monsters are just inhabiting this area and are not monsters that are part of the game?]
Perspiration beaded her forehead and the sunlight reflected off them made them look like crystals that fell to the ground while Yō rapidly organized her thoughts.
[I should confirm the current situation first.] Yō peered from the slit in the structure where they were hiding to look at the surrounding structures.
[……Nope. That would seem strange as well. First off, this Citadel should originally be the Community grounds of the Vampires or something similar. There shouldn’t be monsters that look like the amalgamation of moss and plant litter that loiter around the Citadel right?]
In addition, this was a place that was almost a few thousand meters above ground in the skies. If it were living here originally, that would be a different matter but for them to propagate in such large numbers in a ruined castle keep, that just didn’t seem to be a plausible explanation.
Yō was sorting through all the various possibilities about the enemy’s origin.
Just then, she heard the Elder Beastman who had messy furred cat ears mutter behind her:
“That kind of plant……is probably a parasitic type.”
“……Nekomimi Oji chan, you know something about it?”
“Yep, it shouldn’t be wrong. It would seem that the moss like portion is the spores. They should be a kind of fungi that use other biological matter or carcasses as its seedbed to grow.”
“Oh? Just like tōchūkasō[7]?”
“Nn. You’re right. Because of how similar it is, it has been named as [tōjūkasō]. These strange plants had also appeared in [Underwood] in the past.”
“Is it...” Yō gave a short reply.
Since it’s a type of fungi, then its spores could have flown to this area. And since it could leech off a host as a parasite, it could also have been brought over by birds.
“Well, that line of thought would make the pieces fit…… Thank you, Ojichan.”
“It’s nothing. This small thing is nothing compared to the debt I owe you for saving my life. Anyways, don’t call me Ojichan. My name is Garol Gundark of [Six Scars].”
Garol Gundark gave a laugh and his messy furred cat ears also moved with his laugh.
Kirino who was listening from the side started to blink a few times upon hearing the name.
“[Six Scars]’s Garol…… Could… Could you be the leader of [Six Scars], Garol-dono!”
“……You know each other?”
“No, it’s not the matter of knowing each other or not. When talking about [Bakeneko Garol][8], it can only be the one who was part of the founding members of the [Draco Greif] Alliance! And he’s a famous character who had fought alongside Draco Greif to defend the peace in the South Side!”
“OiOi, how long ago was that? It’s all in the past already. I’m currently just an insignificant Sentry of the Alliance’s Gold safe box.” Garol-dono tried to be humble but he was still laughing heartily.
According to Sala, [Six Scars] were a Community within the Alliance that was focused on commerce. And that should be the reason behind him saying that he’s a sentry for the safe box as well.
Yō stared at Garol’s cheerful face and nekomimi for a while before blurting out softly:
“Bakeneko and sentry who guards the safe box……ManekiNeko?”
“Eh……?!”
“AhHahahaha! Lass, you sure are an interesting one! If an old cat like me can even reach that standard of being able to bring in an endless flow of customers, I would really be rich!”