The Spearmaster and the Black Cat

Chapter 33

Thirty-Third Episode~ Vallaida Insect Shrine

Before going to Babon's shop I should look for an inn .

While I am at it I can look around the city .

I leave the popobumu behind at the stable and walk to a nearby place along main street on foot .

A large number of carriages come and go along the main street .

It is like a scene from a big city .

On the other side of the street I am walking on there are various stores lined up .

Oh, I discover a wooden building appropriate for a cheap inn .

The name carved on the wooden signboard is Saika .

The appearance of the inn is like a collective housing apartment .

Its position may as well be next door to the guild .

Since the adventurer's guild is nearby it is the candidate for the inn to stay at .

But, I have not decided yet . I still intend to look around the area more .

I am not looking for enemies or monsters, but I am walking while using <Pheromone Touch> and presence detection .

Through search with smell I am able to detect the smell of blood and the pheromones a person emits .

It is convenient since I could somewhat distinguish the type of a person .

With Rollo on my shoulder, I walk along main street will flaring my nostrils and sniffing *kun-kun*

And, before I cross main street, I see a church-like building made with white stones .

It might not be but since there is a cross shape and a small room with a bell hanging inside it is certainly a church .

While walking along main street in front of the church, I use <Pheromone Touch> and presence detection, unconcerned .

As I am comparing people's actual size with their magic essence I make eye contact with a woman .

She looks like a female adventurer human wearing black leather armor .

Her brown hair that looks like wind with its perm is swaying in the wind .

Her eyes are brown and she is glaring at me .

On her ears she is wearing earrings with pretty white jewels .

The bridge of her nose is high, and her lips are small and faintly red .

She is a beautiful young woman . She is tall for a woman .

The two handed sword on her back is almost the same height .

Her blood smells healthy too .

The blood streaming through the blood vessels in the nape of her neck is rhythmic .

-Looks delicious .

…A dangerous thought .

Recently…it is strange looking at a beautiful woman after embracing Yui .

However, for some reason- hatred is felt in those brown eyes .

She is glaring at me .

Why in such a place on the other side of main street?

People that look like believers of the church are there and block the gaze of the woman .

A group wearing dark blue canonical robes are led by a person wearing a green tunic type canonical robe into the church .

There is a circle and a yellow cross on their back .

Aah, they must be believers of the Sacred God .

I heard about them from Achilles-shisho .

The Sacred God religion believes in the god of light, Ilodis .

Since the glaring woman is praying at the church, should I go?

However, with all the busy pedestrian traffic why was she only glaring at me?

Normally that would be unlikely .

I have no memory of such a beautiful woman with a grudge…

Ma, it must be an accident .

Idiot, I might just be absentminded .

I do not know . I will leave it be .

I do not mind it and keep looking around .

As I advance down the street I find a side street with a pub and restaurant .

This alley has a good feeling and the place is crowded .

It is like the bar street downtown; the atmosphere is good too .

It is also near the apartment inn, this area is good for spending time drinking some liquor .

When I think of it, I immediately move to do so .

I stop my tour midway and retrace my steps back to where I came from .

To the small inn near the guild called Saika .

Deciding to stay in Saika I open the small door .

I talk with the inn owner and pay to borrow a room .

"Your room is the furthest back . "

The innkeeper says so with a wrinkled face like a shriveled persimmon and I leave for the back room .

There is no door, it is a small poor-looking room .

…This is a cheap inn; I cannot store much luggage here .

There is only a solid bed and a large tub .

When I eliminate the bed the pail takes up most of the space .

The innkeeper told me I can bath and wash with this tub .

I was told in a blunt manner that if one cannot use life magic, then water can be freely drawn from the well next to the big willow in the first floor courtyard .

MA, I can understand from the blunt manner of the inn oyaji that this inn is a worn-out cheap housing complex .

Naturally there is no meal . It is not so bad since I have a pail .

Appearing the like the worn-out room, Rollo is jumping up and down on the hard bed .

I hope there are no lice on the bed…

Since I have money, I can probably stay at a high-class inn if I look for one, but this is enough for now . Ma, I just started living in the city .

It is near the guild and an eating and drinking street, so I will enjoy myself .

Well then, I should take a bath .

I pour hot water into the tub using life magic .

I wash my body lightly with gyoza grass since I smell a little .

…Water is a good attribute . It would take time to draw the water .

This life magic…I wonder if I could use it to attack, I have tried it in various ways so far, but the only difference is if the force the water spouts out with .

When I had just learned it I remembered the image of a water cutter using the image of pressure, I had such a dream, but it is impossible with this life magic .

I hope that with the magic like the ancient crest one I learned the other day, the magic of the water attribute may be made according to an image as the source .

Ma, I have the spear .

Even if such an illusion exists as I hope for, I do not know whether such a "thing" really exists .

I still need to learn the sword, it cannot be helped even if I am impatient and learn it shallowly…

First of all, the spear, I should aim even higher .

Including the other ones with magic, I will learn it if I come across the opportunity .

Thinking about such a thing, I hear a *pachan-pachan* sound coming from the surface of the water, and am distracted .

I pay more attention to the sound .

The actual source of the sound is Rollo .

She is swiping her paw at the surface of the water from the edge of the tub .

She looks cute . Amusing, she is slapping down with her paws going *pachan-pachan* and playing .

"Rollo, you may be playing but I can tell you smell bad too . "

"Nya . "

I grab the scruff of the playing Rollo and put her in the hot water .

I am removing the dirt from her legs and also making her paw pads clean . Rollodinu seems to understand that I am washing her body and is extending her body out comfortably .

I soak Rollo in the hot water of the tub .

Rollo shakes her body with a *buru* in the hot water and begins the smoothly swim around the tub when she separates from my hand .

She is surprisingly good at swimming; she is swimming happily by rowing with her feelers across the surface of the water .

She is good at using the feelers underwater .

After a while Rollo gets tired of swimming and gets out of the tub .

Over by the bed she shakes her body *furufuru* and splashes the water around .

"Oi, oi, don't splash the water around here .

"Nya, Nyaa . "

Rollo sings lively and jumps outside on her own accord .

Where is she going…

I quickly get out of the bath too, get dressed and leave the inn .

I head to Babon's shop that receptionist-san told me about .

As I walk along the street .

"Nn, Nya . "

Rollo calls and jumps onto my shoulder from behind .

"Where did you go?"

"…"

Rollo only moves her tail .

Did you need to pee?

I walk with my eyes fixed on the street with Rollo placed on my shoulder .

I quickly arrive at Babon's shop on the other side of main street .

This shop…is a general store, just like receptionist-san said .

The impression of a lot of goods put out .

There are different types of potions to the front along with medicinal herbs . Dry meat, raisins, seasonings and a bunch of bottles with something like blueberry jam are also being sold .

Snack like foods are also set up in a line, when I look they are the kind you find in cheap candy shops .

When I enter the shop, there are bronze swords in places lengthwise and a pot like an umbrella . There is leather armor on display and bulky armor, hanging from the ceiling, knee-length leggings are on display .

For some reason, a barrel and an iron pan used for cooking are placed in the protective gear section . There is also a bag to place at the waist hanging from the ceiling .

There are kinds of small accessories like wooden brushes, oil lanterns, and clean clothes all being sold together .

Rollo seems interested in the smells of the new articles in the general store, she is going *kun-kun* with her nose while stretching out one leg .

"Rollo, no playing around…"

Rollo remains silent but seems to understand the tone of my voice and pulls her foot back .

At such a time, my eyes come to a stop on the backpack hanging from the ceiling on display .

I recall the durable magic bag I got from Shisho .

I might as well get the latest magic bag .

I see someone that looks like a shopkeeper in the back and try to talk to them .

"Excuse me, are there items here necessary for the labyrinth and magic bags?

"Aah, there are . It's this and this…"

The kind shopkeeper helps me choose things I need; I gather them together to purchase .

I have a light backpack for traveling and I bought a backpack for combat work .

Afterward, the simple lantern is attached to the belt at my waist . I buy field rations, a pan and a magic bag . I also buy a wooden brush for brushing my teeth and I bought a bag with a leather belt that covers my chest .

I buy several pieces of leather .

Since I have <Night Visions>, the lantern was not necessary but I want to go for an adventurer like appearance first so I bought the lantern .

Buying it, I immediately put the bag with the leather belt over my shoulder .

I load up the backpack and leave the shop with it on my back .

There are metal fittings on the new back pack so I fix the black spear to my back with them .

With this the preparations are complete .

Should I take care of a request quickly? I return to the guild .

I come back to the guild and walk over the side with the metastasis magic formation .

A small pedestal is placed in front of the magic formation .

There are large words engraved on the top of a wooden pedestal .

This, is it something like an advertisement?

A brief explanation about each labyrinth seems to be written on the piece of wood .

I got it . The wooden tag is thin so it seems to tear immediately .

I guess this is normal since it is free .

Aside from that, this metastasis formation is shining white .

Is it really all right? I feel a little uneasy .

Eeh, waa!

I set foot in the magic formation with Rollo on my shoulder .

At that moment- a *gua* sound in my ear, the scene in front of me is replaced in an instant .

This sensation, aah, it is that .

The sense of entering a tunnel by car .

Is it the pressure change? Or, probably because of metastasis?

After I am attacked with the lump of air in my ear, the transfer succeeds .

The magic formation at my feet is shining faintly .

And, properly, Rollo succeeded in warping with me on my shoulder .

Good . The horror film metastasis with combining does not happen…

I do not want to become a fly-person .

While thinking of such an old movie I exit the magic formation and its color changes from blue to white .

As an experiment I turn back and place my foot in the magic formation again .

The moment my senses are clogged up with air again, I return to the guild .

The metastasis formation of the guild is blue .

When I exit the magic formation it returns to its white color .

When I use the metastasis formation it is like a bunch of small LEDs shining with a blue light .

While I am observing the magic formation with fascination, I am pushed to the side by another adventurer . I am in the way and they enter the magic formation forcibly and disappear .

I belatedly enter the magic formation as well .

When I appear in the Insect Shrine again, the adventurer who pushed me aside joins other adventurers and walks into the labyrinth .

I intended to complain, but I do not .

Let us look at this labyrinth .

The area around the metastasis formation opens into a round space .

However, rather than where the adventurers are gathering, my eyes go to the ceiling .

The impression I get here is completely different from the name Insect Shrine that suggests insects gather .

It is fantastic and magical .

Such romantic words are imagined .

The gray ceiling has numerous holes that the ants can go in and out of, a light similar so sunlight is filtering through the holes .

The light illuminates the dust, and I see a fantasy illusion of silver flowers floating in the light .

The natural source of light illuminates the upper levels of the insect shrine . A truly beautiful labyrinth .

When even dust creates a fantastic natural painting, I will think about it some other time .

Black walls with silver beams of light above constitutes this labyrinth, black fibers are shown in detail .

I approach a wall of the black fiber and see how it feels .

Hard . Instead of black fiber, it is more like it is made of entangled branches .

Innumerable long branches and twigs are gathered together and entwined making it look like fibers .

When I pull on the them forcibly, chi, a splinter is stuck in my finger .

Ite, is this a thorn?

A stinging black thorn .

This black thorn seems to form Vallaida Insect Shrine .

Around the circumference of the transfer formation I came out of it becomes a circular open space surrounded by the black thorn walls .

There are several tents in the middle of the open space .

This seems to be the gathering spot of adventurers and merchants .

Without going there, I walk around along the thorn wall .

Then, thorns entwined in the form of big statues stand in a row between the thorny wall .

The labyrinth wall is not only made of thorn .

The image looks like it is hewn from bedrock, and the big statue looks like it is made of a mineral like copper .

There are a lot of people praying to the statue .

If I pray to this god will I receive benefits?

I walk away from the believers with such a trivial doubt in my heart and go to the center of the open space

"-I am selling a map from the mid to lower levels, does someone want to buy it?"

To the adventurers standing in the area, such words are being thrown .

In addition, there are also merchants selling items, those offering to invite people into their party, and other noisy sounds .

In this place outside of the guild, such an invitation is directed to me .

Passing through the open space I go ahead through the passage where adventurers are going inside .

I see stairs from the right side of the passage .

These big stairs seem to be doorways of the labyrinth .

I guess I will try looking along these stairs .

Since there was no feeling of movement in the metastasis formation I go outside to actually check .

I run up the stairs and easily arrive outside the labyrinth .

Outside, the forest spreads outward and the base of Mt . Burdock is nearer .

The earth around the labyrinth seems to swell up and the place I am standing is on a slope .

When I look up I can see the shape of a domed roof like a huge ant hill, there are a lot of holes .

The holes are a source of light and where the monsters go in and out of .

Now then, what should I see .

While I feel the dazzling sunlight…

I begin to read the wooden tag about the labyrinth .

□■□■

The Vallaida Insect Shrine labyrinth is separated into an upper level, middle level and lower level .

Many ant and insect type monster live there, and threaten the forested area nearby .

Occasionally, with the dragons coming from Mt . Burdock, the place is famous for territorial disputes when they visit . Furthermore, an S rank monster called the Vallaida Great Queen Ant dominates the lower level . A Queen ant protection squad called the Imperial Guard ants exists to protect the queen .

The Imperial Guard ant is an A++ rank of considerable strength .

Without exception the unit defending the queen is strong .

It is famous for existing as the unit that protects the Queen by all means in a labyrinth of other similar ants . There are few adventurers who have broken through this defense and looked directly upon the queen .

Incidentally, the imperial guard ants of this labyrinth will always join together as a three-man platoon, and even now have not been subdued .

□■□■

There is more information but after reading properly, with that timing, I turn away from the wooden tag and shift my focus to the labyrinth .

Shisho talked a lot before about rank A +

It is slightly different from an adventurer's rank when it is dividing the strength of the monster .

Well then, I will go-

I toss away the wooden tag I was looking at and take the stairs back into the labyrinth .

There are a great many adventurers in a variety of armor under the stairs going to the upper level .

Adventurers are still appearing one after another from the metastasis formation .

That metastasis formation is convenient .

I was told Kuna-san established the metastasis formations…

They must be an amazing magic user .

They are probably in great demand from the guild .

…Even if I can create one I may stay quiet .

While thinking such a thing, I line up with the adventurers to challenge a level of the insect labyrinth .