With the ghouls and the zombies gone, we were able to freely go down the spiral staircase. We still did meet a few along the way, but there were mostly none.
When we finally got down to the execution grounds of starvation, we were greeted by a wide, empty area. The only things in there were the mossy surfaces, the glossless black grass growing directly in front above, and the Eternal Darkness that Remiri-san and I needed.
“There’s a lot of Eternal Darkness growing here, huh?” [Remiri]
“Well, there’s not a lot of people who would come here to gather them.” [Shiva]
“How’s the quality?” [Rheinbach]
I walked near the herbs, and checked the quality, and I found out that the quality was almost first-class.
“It’s pretty good. I can make use of this.” [Ryouma]
“Same, but I do want to pick out the ones that haven’t been stepped on by the undead.” [Remiri]
“There’re so many. I’m sure we’ll find something as look as we look.” [Sebasu]
Like that, we started looking for Eternal Darkness that hasn’t been stepped on. But as we were looking for and gathering the herbs, I suddenly felt a strange sensation.
“Mn?” [Ryouma]
“What’s wrong?” [Shiva]
“Ah, no… It’s nothing. Must’ve been my imagination.” [Ryouma]
I wasn’t sure what it was that I felt, and after a few moments, I started to doubt if I had even felt anything, so I didn’t bother to mention it anymore.
“If there’s really nothing, then it’s fine, but say something when something is wrong, alright? [Rheinbach]
“Alright.” [Ryouma]
After that, we continued gathering Eternal Darkness, but I didn’t feel that strange sensation again. But then just as we were about to fill all five of the bags we prepared beforehand with Eternal Darkness, I felt that sensation again. This time though, it was much clearer.
“Guys…” [Ryouma]
“What’s wrong?” [Shiva]
“Did something happen” [Remiri]
“Something the matter?” [Sebasu]
“Is something the matter? Wasn’t there something worrying you just a while ago too?” [Rheinbach]
Whispering, I said,
“I can’t say for certain what it is, but didn’t you guys feel something?” [Ryouma]
“Something? That’s a bit too vague, but no.” [Remiri]
“There’re no undead either…” [Rheinbach]
No one else felt anything, but since they believed me, we searched the area anyway.
In the end, although I still didn’t know what that something was, I did find where it was coming from.
“I think it’s somewhere around here. That weird sensation is coming from the ground here. [Ryouma]
“Here?” [Shiva]
Going over to a corner of the execution grounds, away from the spiral staircase, was a completely normal area. Absolutely nothing amiss. But it didn’t change the fact that that strange feeling I’ve been having since a while ago was coming from here.
I’m not sure either why I think so, but it feels really disgusting.
“I want to dig around here, is it ok?” [Ryouma]
“It’s not illegal.” [Sebasu]
I grabbed my iron slime sword, and ordered it to transform into a big shovel. Then cladding it in the ‘Break Rock’ spell, I dug the ground.