Chapter 84: Tunnel Infiltration (2)
Meanwhile, back on the surface, Elwin—
"Hm?"
[This body has arriiiived!]
[Elwin, we’ve arrived. Just as you instructed, we’ll split into two groups once we enter the tunnels!]
[We’re waiting at the tunnel entrance. Ready to carry out the next orders.]
Reading the Nexion messages, Elwin let out a slight smile. It amazed him—how a few lines could capture each person’s unique personality so clearly, and how easily he could tell them apart.
[Commence operation.]
A slightly delayed message popped up. Elwin instantly knew who it was from.
His eyes sparkled.
"Looks like Gale and the others made it into the tunnel safely."
"Oh-ho! The start seems promising-nyang."
"Right? Though it’s not like it’ll last…"
Elwin and Nero—still in his cat form—exchanged sly, knowing smirks.
Elwin cheerfully declared,
"They’ll get caught soon anyway!"
And just like that—
"You are surrounded! Drop your weapons and surrender, you vile intruders!"
Exactly 3 hours and 33 minutes after Gale’s group entered the tunnels.
"...This is bad. What do we do?"
"Shall we calmly kill them first?"
"Kill?! Are you nuts?!"
Gale instinctively held Sercia back, sweat dripping down his face. How did it come to this?
"Damn it. We’ve been made—!"
They were surrounded by tunnel guards, all pointing sharp spears their way.
***
Three hours earlier.
Gale, the Spero members, Jana, and Hake had successfully infiltrated the tunnels.
"Whoa~! So this is the tunnel?"
A massive hollow carved deep underground.
Mud and stone houses rose here and there atop the flattened ground. The ceiling above was encrusted with glowing fairystones that resembled stars in a night sky. Below them ran a mysterious railway wrapping around the whole tunnel.
Naturally, ore carts zoomed along the rails.
"I expected something like an ant hill, but this feels more like an underground city."
"Don’t act like a city bumpkin. A golemancer like Batan’s probably been through tunnels like this hundreds of times. Watch your head."
"Ah, okay."
As Gale looked around in awe, Sercia nudged him and spoke softly.
"You’re not wrong calling it an underground city. It actually is. The dwarves helped build tunnels like this back in the day."
"The dwarves, huh? That’s cool."
Gale blinked.
"Didn’t dwarves have bad relations with other non-humans? I guess they used to get along better?"
Unlike most other non-humans who fled underground, only two races remained openly on the surface:
—The elves and the dwarves.
They were the only two races that hadn’t sided with the Beastkin King’s rebellion and had instead aided humanity.
As a result, these two races retained their names, free of the ‘non-human’ label, but they had tense relations with other non-humans—often the worst.
"Why do you get treated differently when you’re just like us? Why aren't you lumped in as non-humans too?"
"You conveniently forget the sins your ancestors committed. Go clean up your own mess before coming for us."
That was the vibe.
Descendants of those who sinned resented the elves and dwarves, while the latter saw the others as pitiful for blaming everyone but their forebears.
Even so, the elves and dwarves weren’t exactly friendly with each other either.
"Anyway, we don’t need to worry about that. When will we ever get involved in their politics? Once this Depicio thing is over, we’re out of here."
"Hey, lady. Careful what you say. That’s a death flag!"
While whispering, Sercia shrugged casually.
Now comfortable in Natuia’s body, she brushed aside the long hair.
"Anyway, let’s split into two teams, as Elwin instructed."
They’d already decided who’d go with whom.
Each team had one member familiar with tunnels and non-human culture.
—Once inside, investigate the Gnaude tribe and the Curse of Sacrifice.
To find clues tied to Elwin’s mention.
"We’ll look into the Gnaude tribe."
"Then we’ll handle the Curse of Sacrifice."
Jana and Calix formed one team. Gale, Sercia, and Hake formed the other.
"Let’s regroup after a quick round of info gathering. How about that tavern over there in three hours?"
Calix pointed to a large, lively building. Even in the pitch-black underground, nightlife thrived here.
"We still have plenty of potion time left, but the faster we finish, the better."
"Okay~ see you then."
Once separated, Gale’s team started questioning vendors in the bustling marketplace.
‘Where there are people, there is information.’
A mercenary’s rule of thumb.
Gale tried to act heavy and silent like Batan as he approached sellers. Sercia mimicked Natuia’s stoic tone.
"Excuse me. Do you know anything about the ‘Curse of Sacrifice’?"
"Curse, sacrifice, huh?"
Despite the ominous tone, tunnel residents—disguised as fellow non-humans—gladly chatted and offered what little they knew.
"Oh dear, never heard of it in my life… Sorry."
"You Hunters asking around personally? Must be serious this time. Even the word ‘curse’ gives me the chills!"
"Hahaha! Good to see you! Loved your broadcast! Didn’t think I’d meet you in person. You’re the pride of Frauqi! My kids look up to you! …Oh, wait, the Hunter thing’s a secret? Shhh!"
But no meaningful intel surfaced.
"Haaah… All we did was perform for old folks. Ugh, what a waste."
"Not quite. We learned one thing."
"What?"
Sercia’s sharp eyes gleamed.
"The information we’re looking for isn’t public. But Elwin said it exists in this tunnel."
"Meaning…"
Gale caught on, his gaze sharpening.
"It’s controlled by someone. Likely… the ruler of this tunnel."
"Hah! Knew this place would be a pain."
Gale went to scratch his head, only to brush against Batan’s smooth bald scalp. He quickly retracted his hand.
"So now what? Hake, got any ideas? You said this was your hometown. Nothing comes to mind?"
While Gale and Sercia asked around, Hake had been lounging on a rooftop.
"Well~ I said this was my hometown, but honestly, I don’t remember much from childhood."
"…You don’t remember?"
That made Gale pause. Sercia glanced at him and asked,
"Because of Depicio?"
"Yep~ All of us raised there are like that. The brutal training grinds away your earliest memories. All that’s left is life in Depicio."
Hake’s eyes darkened.
"So I always wondered… I didn’t fall from the sky or pop out of the ground, right? I must’ve been born from someone."
"…Right. Everyone inherits blood and flesh from someone."
"Then where are my roots? They must exist somewhere, right?"
"……"
This time, Sercia said nothing. Gale looked at her, then asked,
"Still, I thought Depicio erased emotions through torture from childhood. Why are you asking stuff like that?"
"Ah, that’s because my unique magic is… hide!"
Mid-sentence, Hake suddenly yanked them both into an alley.
"Shh."
They nodded silently. Sercia deployed a concealment barrier.
"Ugh… my head… damn hangover."
A wild-looking woman staggered past, her dark skin and spiky hair resembling both horns and armor.
"Did I go too hard last night? Ughhh…"
Despite the clear hangover, she looked rugged and primal. Around her eyes were bold red markings that curved like snake tails when she squinted.
"Still, the best cure for a hangover… is more booze!"
She grabbed a loose flask from her belt and chugged it.
Gulp gulp gulp.
"Ahh~ That hits the spot! Godadd vodka’s the best!"
Flushed and tipsy, she began wobbling.
"Huh? The world’s spinning. Or am I spinning? That’s it! I’ll spin for the world! Spin, world!"
She teetered left and right with drunken mutters.
And then… plop.
She collapsed, eyes dull and blinking, then promptly passed out.
Snore—
Out cold in seconds.
Watching this in disbelief, Sercia muttered:
"…What even is that."
A perfect four-word summary of their confusion.
They’d expected a powerful enemy when Hake warned them to hide—but out came a drunken mess.
A total public nuisance.
"Hake, who the hell is she?"
"Yeah, explain, please."
Hake awkwardly scratched his head.
"Heh… don’t freak out, okay? I warned you."
"Just say it already."
He pointed at the unconscious woman.
"That’s Horned Lizard—the ruler of the Batevil Tunnels and the contact we’re supposed to meet for intel."
"…Why?"
Once again, the perfect one-word summary of their feelings.