Chapter 17 - Interlude Part 2: The Chalk Temple
As we walked along the path leading deep into the forest, we saw the Chalk Temple, just as Ai, our guide, had said.
It was literally a building with white walls. It didn't look that big, but I heard that it was a dungeon. We must be on our guard.
"I heard that the temple used to be a popular place where the goddess of marriage was enshrined."
Ai tells me about the temple's blessings, but that's not really important.
"But even for the kidnappers that place must be dangerous. Why would they be in a dungeon ......"
That's what I'm wondering. If the monsters attack them, they won't be able to get the gems they're looking for.
"I guess they figured it would be harder to get caught than having the Knights move around town. They are so clever."
Isabelle replied, fluttering her vertical rolls gorgeously in her hands. She can't talk without picking at her hair every now and then, can she? ...... Well, let's not worry about it, shall we?
『You'd better be careful, Serina-san. There are dangerous people in the world who will suddenly lose their temper if you complain about their hairstyle or habits』
Heruko says something like that as a tease, but. ...... Well, Isabelle is also a noblewoman, and I don't want to get into any trouble here. Alec seems to be somewhat concerned about it.
"But that wealthy merchant, Vyal-san, was it? If he have the money to hire adventurers, it would probably be cheaper to give the money to the kidnappers."
The black-haired thief Ai blithely said such a solution, but as expected, Isabelle got angry.
"What are you talking about!? What are you going to do by giving money to the villains? We don't even know if we'll get the kidnapped child back as promised."
"Yeah, that's true, too."
Ai laughed and nodded, but she felt relaxed. Isabelle seemed to have been completely distracted by this and went on in silence without saying a word.
"I think it's time to alert the guards. I'll go check it out, you two wait here for a bit."
Ai said, turning off the road and going into the forest. It seemed that she was trying to get closer to the temple by taking a detour.
"I don't know what I've hired her for if she's running away."
Isabelle mumbled something to the effect that she didn't really trust her.
"Did you pay her money in advance?"
"No, I just met her, even though she was introduced to me by the guild. Unlike you, I don't trust her that much."
The way she put it, I'm a little embarrassed because it means that she does trust me.
"Besides, Serina. You don't need to use honorifics with me. This is also the way of adventurers, isn't it?"
"Ahh, yes. It might be easier to talk that way."
"Well, so be it. Ah, you're back. Ai, how it is?"
"I found one of the watchman, so I took him out. It's now or never. Hurry up, both of you. Hurry up, hurry up."
It seems that Ai is a more skilled adventurer than I thought. Isabelle and I nodded at each other and ran into the temple.
Inside the temple, several thick pillars stood in the hall, and sunlight streamed in through crumbling holes in the ceiling. Some of the pillars were broken, as if they had been there for a long time.
Even so, the dull white stone walls had a chilling eeriness to them.
I used [Enemy Counter] with caution.
There was a hint of an enemy.
"There's someone out there. Be careful. The number is three."
When I whispered, Isabelle and Ai spread out to the left and right, respectively, and ran in, looking for the enemy as they went around the pillar.
"Chu-chu!"
Behind the pillar was a monster that looked like an armadillo, and it also looked like a mouse wearing stone armor. It looks a little hard.
"Aah, it's a [Rock Rat]. It has a hard shell, so you two be careful."
Ai identified the monster's name. It looks like she've fought it before.
However, if we make a noise battle here, the kidnappers might notice us. I used my trump card to end the battle immediately.
[Starlight Attack!]
As rainbow-colored stardust scattered from my longsword, the rock rat turned black and soon turned into white smoke.
All right!
"As expected of you, Serina. That's why you're my rival!"
Isabelle praised me, but come to think of it, I've been recognized as a rival before. well, It's okay.
"But I don't want you to get carried away by that! The secret of the Vajra Sword, Gold Tear!"
Not that I was carried away, but Isabelle also seemed to have used some skill, and when the rock rat was enveloped in golden light, it stopped moving in its gilded state.
"Wow, that's going to sell for a lot!"
Oh no, Ai was distracted by the monster that Isabelle had defeated. There's still another one out there.
I ran towards it to cover Ai.
But Ai deftly kicked the charging rock rat and flipped it over on its back.
Without pausing, she followed up and swung her dagger down. The monster that had been killed turned to smoke ――the battle was over.
"Nice work, Ai!"
It looked like she let her guard down, but this girl seems to be rather high level.
"Thank you, Serina. But I'm sorry~, I made a little noise."
"What's done is done. Anyway, go to the back."
"Yeah! Okay."
We head deeper into the temple.
But there's no sign of anyone there, just a statue of a goddess with her upper body missing.
I tried to use the [Enemy Counter], but it came up as zero.
"...... What does that mean? Isn't this where the money is supposed to be delivered?"
"It's not good. ...... I thought they were here."
When Isabelle frowned, she bit her thumbnail haggardly. If this happens, I'm worried about the safety of the hostage child.
"Now, now, if they've designated this place as a delivery point, they should be near here. Wait here for a moment."
In a carefree tone, Ai walks around in front of the statue of the goddess and knocks on the floor with her dagger.
"What are you doing? We have to go find them outside right now!"
"Now, now."
Ai laughs and taps the floor.
Then only one tile, the sound echoed high.
"Here it is."
She inserted the blade into the gap and turned up a tile fifty centimeters square. A staircase appeared beneath it.
"I can't believe there was a basement. ...... Let's go. I'm sure that's where they'll be."
"Yeah, okay."
The three of us descended. It was pitch black at the bottom of the stairs, but there seemed to be a passage leading straight down.
We didn't want to be seen by the kidnappers if we carelessly turned on the lights, so we continued groping our way.
As we were walking slowly, I felt someone's hand on my chest from the side.
"Hyaah!?"
"Aahh, Sorry, sorry, Serina's breasts are so big, aren't they ......Fufufu."
Ai apologizes.
"Both of you should be quiet. You're too tense!"
Isabelle whispered angrily, but it was understandable.
"Look, the end of the passage over there is getting brighter. That's the light of a magic tool."
Ai spotted it quickly, but I wonder if this girl can see in the dark. ......?
I wondered a bit, but right now, rescuing the hostages was our top priority.
I turned and proceeded down the corridor, where I used my [Enemy Counter].
"There are three enemies."
"Now, let's each take them out one by one. I'll take the middle, Serita the right, and Ai the left, okay?"
""Understood""
Nodding, the three of us at once ran down the passage towards the light.
It was a hall of about twenty meters square, where three men were sitting on wooden boxes, carefree and drinking bottles of sake.
"Be prepared!"
"What the hell? You guys. Guehh!"
Even though they were kidnappers, they didn't seem to think that anyone other than the merchant's messenger would come here. Well, we couldn't have gotten here without finding the hidden door, and they had another guard outside, so they were caught off guard.
That led to our complete victory.
The three kidnappers were easily cut down and plopped down bleeding on the floor with nothing left to do. It was all over.
There was one more boy who had been chewed up and wrapped in a rope, but I was sure he was the son of a wealthy merchant.
"Come one, you're safe now."
Isabelle called out softly, and Ai untied the rope. Now we can bring him back home and the matter will be settled.
But the first thing the boy did was shout.
"H-Hurry up and run! She's ...... She's coming!"
"""What? """
We looked at each other, not understanding the meaning.
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