Chapter 48
Whether this place should be called as labyrinth or archaeological site, it seemed to be more annoying than Soma thought.
Speaking of what was annoying, of course it was…
— The Rule of the Sword – Divine Protection of Dragon G.o.d – Battle Ready – Presence Detection Special Grade: Surprise Attack Void. (TLN: The name in raw is ―― 剣の理・龍神の加護・常在戦場・気配察知特級：奇襲無効)
"Goodness… I don't even have time to rest." (Soma)
— The Rule of the Sword – G.o.d Killer – Dragon Killer – Divine Protection of Dragon G.o.d – Absolute Slash – Ability of Discernment: Self-thought – Imitation – Demon Cutting Sword.
When Soma swung the arm to the side while grumbling, immediately after noticing a slight sensation, something that was approaching vanished.
It was a kind of monster that appeared through the wall, and it was called Ghost.
The appearance was closed to human bones wearing robes, but there was no lower body part, and it was totally translucent to begin with.
In regard of monsters, it was cla.s.sified as Evil Spirits. It could be considered as that since it was also floating.
They were attacked by that monsters as well in the beginning. It could ignore walls since it was a non-physical existence.
Although it was easy to defeat it because it wasn't strong, it was relatively troublesome since they appeared from anywhere.
In other words, the monsters were troublesome, but not annoying.
Speaking what was annoying, it was the ruin itself.
It had been about an hour since then, but they still didn't know where they were going.
He wasn't in hurry and he had a last resort to solve this issue when it was needed. However, the fact that the ruin was annoying still didn't change.
"By the way, how big is this place? Looking from the outside, I feel like it is not as this big…" (Aina)
"… Surely, when we were informed, it didn't make me think this ruin was big enough to keep walking for an hour. For argument sake, even if we moved in a circle, I am sure we will reach a dead end, but…" (Lina)
"Hmm? What? You guys didn't notice?" (Soma)
"Eh? Notice what?" (Aina)
"…The s.p.a.ce here is distorted." (Sheila)
"Distorted… Eh, by any chance, is the size larger that how it looks?" (Lina)
"It's not like that. In the first place, we haven't been able to walk straight." (Soma)
"…? What do you mean?" (Aina)
"…Perhaps, the pa.s.sage here occasionally moved to a pa.s.sageway in a different place." (Sheila)
"Yes…? By any chance…" (Aina)
"Is it like the time at the entrance?" (Lina)
"It is similar." (Soma)
If speaking exactly, it was two different things, but there was no big difference if only looking at the result.
Needless to say, whichever it was, the ruin's disposition was bad.
"What is that? I didn't notice it at all… by the way, will you tell me about it if you already know!?" (Aina)
"I can't reliably guess yet, and there is also a possibility to notice something unknown." (Soma)
"…I didn't understand at all. What did you notice, Nii-sama?" (Lina)
"I noticed the location of the sun. I occasionally looked to confirm the direction we were walking, but no matter how many times I thought of it, there were times when the sun changed place." (Soma)
The current position of the sun was almost directly above.
However, even though the position was also the same, there was a slight slope.
It seemed to be occasionally changing.
At the moment, they were always walking straight.
"You noticed that well, huh… If it was me, I might think that it was just my imagination." (Aina)
"At first, I also thought the same, but it was indeed strange when it happened many times… Well, I felt that we were extremely unlucky because it was easy to notice as soon as we came here." (Soma)
"Hmm… as expected, you noticed even that. Anyhow, how about you, Sheila-san?" (Lina)
"…I looked at Soma." (Sheila)
"Me?" (Soma)
Soma tilted the head because he didn't expect Sheila to be that blunt.
Well, if it was about being blunt, even Aina and Lina also noticed that.
"…Yes, Soma looked up many times just to confirm the surroundings." (Sheila)
"Hmm… I intended to be careful, but I guess I still have long way to go, isn't it…?" (Soma)
"Hmm? Be careful, why?" (Aina)
"That… of course, I don't want Lina and Aina to know about it." (Soma)
"Why!?" (Aina)
Soma shrugged at Aina.
He didn't have any ill intention.
He did have proper reason for it.
And that was…
"Although I have noticed it this time, we were not able to focus on it because we were always be careful. For that reason, I wanted to tell that the importance of actual observation when you carefully watched the surroundings. That is for Aina in particular." (Soma)
"…I understand that well, but why me?" (Aina)
"Aah… I see." (Lina)
"Eh, Lina understood that?" (Aina)
"Yes, I do. Nii-sama is basically looking forward, so it is necessary for me to be alert at the rear." (Lina)
"Aah… I see. The only one who can observe the surrounding is me…" (Aina)
To put it simply, it was a problem with the formation.
Soma and Lina were basically vanguards, Aina was the middle guard and Lina was the rearguard.
In most cases, Soma had the confidence to prevent surprise attacks, but that wasn't absolute.
For that reason, other than Soma, Lina must also watched out for the surroundings.
Since Sheila was here, Sheila was entrusted to watch his rear together with the rear guard. But originally, that job was Aina's job
Therefore, the best person to watch the surroundings was Aina.
"After that, it is simply about having more people to pay attention to the surroundings and the possibility of finding something also will rise. However,
"So you're saying that I should properly take care the rear?" (Lina)
"Yes, I am." (Soma)
While nodding, he paid attention to the surroundings and progressed forward.
While doing so, Soma thought that this place was relatively good as teaching materials.
The monsters were not a big deal. However, even though the risk was low, the traps were simply atrocious.
Depending on the time when people came here…. if they didn't notice it, there was a possibility that they would be confined for a long time.
Still, because of such a place, there were many things that could be taught.
When thinking about what would happen later, this experience would help a lot in the future.
…Well, apart from that, he was a bit worried but it would gradually lessened.
"…Hmm, isn't it a bit enviable?" (Sheila)
"Hmmm? What do you mean?" (Soma)
"…They receive a lot of lessons from Soma, right?" (Sheila)
"By the way, rather than me, does Sheila knows these things?" (Soma)
Soma knew these kinds of things because he had been to labyrinths and the like when he trained swordsmans.h.i.+p in the previous life.
However, since the training of swordsmans.h.i.+p was the main content, he didn't know much about other things.
Since he only knew things he had heard and experienced, he didn't have a lot of opportunity to discuss.
Moreover, since the things here were different in many ways, it made him think that he could only talk about common knowledge.
Although Soma had traveled around some ruins with Aina and Lina before going to Yeasta, those places were places where no monsters appeared.
From their discussion, it seemed that Sheila had been going to this ruin for several times, so it was clear that Sheila had more knowledge.
"…Yes, then, shall I teach Soma?" (Sheila)
"Hmm… if you do so, it will help me a lot." (Soma)
"…Got it." (Sheila)
It seemed that Sheila was convinced somehow, so she nodded with a bitter smile.
After that, while looking sideways as if he wanted to say something to Aina and Lina, he observed the surroundings and…
"Hmmm it seemed that the location of the pa.s.sageway just changed right now, did you get that?" (Soma)
"Eh, really!?" (Aina)
"…Yes, I noticed it." (Sheila)
"…I didn't notice it at all." (Lina)
"Well, you should observe it a bit more carefully from now on. Although it is slight, it will cause a small discomfort." (Soma)
"…Understood. I will pay more attention." (Aina)
"Yes!" (Lina)
In this way, both of them looked at the surrounding but they seemed forget to pay attention on other things. Well, it was fine if they be careful about it later.
Now, they should experience in many ways, and when he looked at Sheila, she gave a small nod.
Apparently, Sheila seemed to agree.
However, apart from that…
"Hmm… I am starting to understand the rule of movement to some extent, but it is unavoidable in regard of location, and in regard of the exit, it can't be help by having a guess, right? While taking that into account, we can also use that preference for the last resort." (Soma)
"…Somehow I have a bad feeling, but I will ask you later. Anyway, what do you mean by last resort?" (Sheila)
"Hmm? Of course, I'm just going to slice the entire ruin." (Soma)
"Haa!? That's a joke… right?" (Aina)
"Of course, it is a joke." (Lina)
At present, Soma was careful not to have a single wound and he didn't give even a single scratch on the walls of the ruin.
Sheila also had no injuries, and it might be because she was having similar thinking.
Moreover, since this ruin was interfering the s.p.a.ce, they didn't know what would happen if they recklessly damaged a part of it.
In the worst case scenario, if the distortion of s.p.a.ce became unusual, they could be blown away to an unexpected location.
Once they got blown into the midair, it would be difficult to help everyone even for Soma.
Besides, if they scrupulously damaged the walls, it would be troublesome if they damaged something they aimed for in this place.
That was why, although he did his best to pay attention… he couldn't even say such a thing if it really happened.
"…At that time, although it is bad, it can't be helped." (Sheila)
"As expected of Nii-sama, you're amazing!" (Lina)
"That is certainly amazing, but we still don't know what would happen after that, right!?" (Aina)
"Well, don't worry about it because I will properly protect you at that time. As long as we ready… it will happen somehow." (Soma)
"Eh, ahh, uhh…!? Yes, it's true that I feel relieved… not that! That is not the problem!" (Aina)
"Then, what is the problem? The client, Sheila, has already said that it can't be helped." (Soma)
"…Everyone's life is more important." (Sheila)
"Uh.. Th-then… how about Soma?" (Soma)
"Me?" (Soma)
"That is… if something is really here that it can make magic usable and if it breaks down, won't Soma feel trouble?" (Aina)
"Hmm… it certainly may be troublesome." (Soma)
No, it was definitely troublesome.
Furthermore, if he broke it with my own hands, he would regret it for sure.
However…
"Well, it still can't replace Aina's life. To begin with, I will also die if I don't do that at that time… Besides, if there is such a thing, then, we will find it in another place. I am not in hurry, so I have no problem with that." (Soma)
While answering in that way, Soma suddenly remembered that he had changed a lot compared to the previous life.
He thought a bit earlier… but if it was in the previous life, he thought that he wouldn't say the same thing.
Plus, he might have said that it was better to die if he didn't get it.
But now, he didn't think such a thing.
None at all.
In a sense, Soma might said that because he became weakened, but he thought that it didn't matter anymore.
"Anyhow, that's the reason… Aina?" (Soma)
Suddenly, when he noticed, Aina was looking the other way for some reason.
If it wasn't an imagination, her ears were dyed red…
"It-it's nothing… But, I understand. If you have said this much, I will not object anymore." (Aina)
"Nii-sama, Nii-sama, please also protect me at that time, alright!?" (Lina)
"Hmm!? Of course…" (Soma)
"If that's the case, I also agree!" (Lina)
"…How about me?" (Sheila)
"I have a feeling that Sheila had agreed with me earlier, isn't it?" (Soma)
"…I don't want to be left out." (Sheila)
"Hmm… well, whether it is necessary or not, I will also protect Sheila, that's for sure." (Soma)
"…Yes. Then, it is fine." (Sheila)
"To summarize, when it is necessary, I will proceed with the last resort." (Soma)
Of course, in the worst case scenario, although it might possible that he couldn't slice the place or damage it in any way, Soma convinced that they would be fine.
Well, if that really happened, it was a matter of being prepared to suffer muscle pain for several days.
Compared to the strongest dragon, it was possible to do it with the degree of this ruin.
"…Well, I hope that I don't have to do it." (Soma)
"…Yes." (Sheila)
While Sheila and the other nodded, Soma would avoid doing it for the time being, and then, the group progressed even further.
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TLN:
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