The number of dead Blood Moles on the ground now exceeded twenty.
It was clearly an unusual occurrence.
The fact that so many Blood Moles had swarmed like this meant…
“There might be… a nest nearby.”
“A nest?”
“Yes, where Blood Moles and their Queen live together.”
Blood Moles like bone crystals.
They haven’t figured out the reason yet.
Perhaps some kind of power contained in the bone crystals attracts these monsters.
Occasionally, Blood Moles build their nests where large amounts of bone crystals are gathered.
Usually, Blood Moles avoid dwarves appropriately, but if you approach their nest, they attack recklessly.
“Then…”
“I’m not certain. They might have just happened to be gathered nearby by chance.”
If there really is a Blood Mole nest nearby.
They will attack again.
“Then we should move the youngest even at the risk of danger.”
“It’s not over just because I stitched the wound. Even if the intestines didn’t rupture, there might be internal bleeding. It’s too risky to move him without a cart.”
Indeed, a trickle of blood was flowing from the corner of the youngest’s mouth.
Manjin was in agony.
If there’s a nest nearby, it would be right to drag the youngest out even at the risk of danger.
But what if that’s not the case?
Moving the youngest without a proper stretcher might cost him his life unnecessarily.
If the one who ran off brings back a proper doctor with a stretcher, they might be able to save him.
It’s a dilemma.
In this situation, making decisions and taking responsibility is the team leader’s role.
But with the youngest’s life at stake, Manjin couldn’t decide easily.
Tap tap.
It was then that the snake tapped his heel.
“Uh…”
Before he could ask why, a notebook appeared in mid-air.
And a pen moved by itself, writing:
‘I’ll go check if there’s a nest.’
“What?”
Manjin didn’t know the snake could communicate by writing.
The words that came out of the surprised Manjin’s mouth were:
“Why…?”
‘Because we’re friends.’
The snake raised its tail.
Somehow, he could tell it meant a thumbs-up.
The snake sprang up.
And it slipped into the hole where the Blood Moles had appeared.
It was a small hole that dwarves would struggle to put their forearms into, but the snake seemed to have no trouble.
Its white tail fluttered, and then the snake disappeared into the black hole.
“W-Wait!”
The dazed Manjin startled and tried to grab the snake.
But the snake that had vanished into the darkness didn’t return.
Dunkel looked at Manjin in surprise.
“What, what’s wrong?”
“No, there’s something I need to tell you.”
“What is it?”
“The Blood Moles’ nests are dangerous. Not because of the monsters, but…”
Manjin swallowed hard.
“Because they’re filled with dangerous toxic gas.”
==
I’ll help because we’re friends.
And, although I didn’t tell Manjin and Dunkel this,
Because the chimera snake wants it.
I first put the chimera snake into the subspace.
I forced it in despite its reluctance to enter.
It could be dangerous, couldn’t it?
“That nest you mentioned, it definitely exists.”
Pelerian was certain about the existence of the nest.
“Aren’t I more of an expert when it comes to monsters?”
Indeed, that’s true.
I kept crawling along the tunnel.
This wasn’t my first or second time crawling through tunnels.
Crawling through an already-made tunnel was easy.
I focused on the sound of my heartbeat.
Hmm, it’s calm.
My survival instinct gave no warning.
Even though I could clearly sense the presence of swarming monsters ahead.
Well then, shall we go punish those who put a hole in our youngest’s stomach?
The end of the tunnel approached.
Beyond it, a faint light could be seen.
You bastards!
“Saaark!”
I burst out of the tunnel with a mighty roar.
Bone crystals were exposed all around.
It was practically a cavern made of bone crystals.
The faint light was emitted by those bone crystals.
Perhaps the phosphorus in the bone crystals had created something like will-o’-the-wisps.
Beneath that light, numerous Blood Moles were gathered.
Tens, no, hundreds of Blood Moles.
They were looking at me, the intruder, with their bright red eyes.
And in the center was a giant Blood Mole.
Its belly was swollen, and its elongated snout had eight eyes, like a spider.
It also had eight legs.
──────────────
[Blood Mole Queen lv40]
[Traits]
[Queen], [Egg-laying]
──────────────
Ah, I came to the wrong place.
Goodbye.
Just as I was about to leave.
“Queeeeek!”
I could understand without needing a translation.
It probably meant ‘Catch that thing!’
I can smell its breath from here.
It stinks like a fart. Something’s off.
“Quiiiiik.”
“Keeek!”
Hundreds of Blood Moles rushed at me.
It’s a bit much to use Gigantification in this cramped space.
「Using Poison Scales lv2.」
Well, let’s have a close-quarters battle.
I jumped into the midst of the Blood Moles.
My sharp crystal scales inflicted wounds on their smooth skin.
The neurotoxin on those wounds alone made them stagger.
And when they bit me.
Clang!
Their teeth couldn’t pierce my scales.
Being small monsters of a low level, no matter how many there were, they couldn’t wound my body.
I’m Ouroboros among the Blood Moles.
I rampaged like a fish in water.
Ah, this feeling.
I hadn’t had a proper fight since the Shadow Forest.
It was a moment that stimulated my battle instinct after a long time.
But there are too many, even if there are many.
If I try to bite and kill them one by one, my teeth will break first.
“Use magic, use magic.”
Pelerian advised.
As a rule, magic is efficient in one-against-many battles.
‘Alright.’
Fire magic would be especially effective in a place like this.
「Using Basic Elemental Magic: Fire lv6.」
I intended to shoot a fireball.
From the flame I created in the air.
Tick.
There was such a sound, and then.
In an instant, the entire space caught fire.
Like a gas explosion.
No, it was a gas explosion.
Boom boom boom boom boom!
Light, explosive sound, and shockwaves swept through everywhere.
I was swept up by the impact and flew through the air.
The Blood Moles, they must have died en masse.
「You have killed Blood Mole lv18.」
「You have killed Blood Mole lv12.」
「You have killed Blood Mole lv21.」
「You have killed Blood Mole lv9.」
「You have killed Blood Mole lv18.」
「You have killed Blood Mole lv5.」
「You have killed Blood Mole lv10.」
…
「You have killed Blood Mole Queen lv40.」
And even that Queen.
「Your level has increased.」
「Your level has increased.」
「Your level has increased.」
My level went up too.
「Heat Resistance proficiency has rapidly increased.」
「You have gained Shock Resistance lv1.」
「Pain Resistance proficiency has rapidly increased.」
But, me.
Am I not about to die like this?
