Chapter 86 Birene Mine Tunnel
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Several days had passed since Sayumi Mineyama and the others departed from the Caesaran Empire’s Imperial Capital.
Though they were summoned as heroes, in truth they were still only students. Breathless and exhausted, complaints slipped free.
”Hah… hah… this is brutal,” one groaned.
”My legs are killing me. Let’s rest already,” another whined.
Sayumi, her own lungs burning, forced herself to call out encouragement.
”Hah… hah… everyone! Just a little further. The entrance to the Birene Mine Tunnel is right ahead—don’t give up!”
Of course, that was when Takuma Sada snapped.
”Damn it… tch! Why the hell do we have to waste time poking around about some dead guy? This is pointless!” he spat, his frustration spilling into the air.
The others, long used to his tantrums, kept their silence and trudged forward.
At last, five minutes later, Sayumi led the weary band of heroes to the yawning mouth of the Birene Mine Tunnel. After a brief rest, they gathered their courage and stepped inside.
* * *
The interior was shrouded in gloom. Without the magical lanterns clipped to the sides of the exploration packs supplied by Alyurein, the suffocating darkness threatened to swallow them whole. An uneasy chill pressed in from every shadow.
”This place gives me the creeps,” one muttered.
”We won’t see ghosts, right?” another asked nervously.
”If something like that shows up, we just chuck this ‘Soul Lacquer’ they gave us. Problem solved, right?”
The chatter tried—and failed—to smother their growing unease. At the front, Sayumi froze, raising her hand sharply.
”Quiet. Something’s here. Ready yourselves.”
Steel hissed from sheaths as weapons lifted. Peering into the dark, they saw grotesque fungi that had sprouted legs and wings—mushroom creatures and batlike fiends clustered ahead.
With Sayumi’s signal, the group charged into battle.
* * *
Hours later, when they finally staggered back together, the air around them was lighter.
”Yes! We did it!” one cheered.
”Not so tough after all.”
”At this rate, we’re gonna get really strong,” another boasted.
Relief and confidence rippled through the group; the difference could be felt in their very skin.
Sayumi wiped sweat from her brow and spoke with tired resolve.
”Whew… it’s getting late. Let’s head outside and make camp.”
But protests rang out immediately.
”Eh? Outside? That’ll be freezing!”
”There’s no need—we’ll be fine in here!”
”Exactly. You’re being too cautious, Ms. Mineyama. Besides, who says it’s safer outside?”
”Yeah, in here we can handle whatever comes at us.”
For once, Sayumi faltered.
”I… I know, but outside we’d at least have escape routes. With our strength, we’d fight better in open ground…”
Her words trailed off as doubt crept in. Surrounded by dissent, she found herself caught between her own instincts and the voices of the group.
Notes:
• Mineyama – Vice class rep, serious and disciplined.
• Sayumi – Vice class rep, serious and disciplined.
• Takuma – A bullied student with a dark and arrogant personality, who awakens as a Dark Knight.
• Sada – A bullied student with a dark and arrogant personality, who awakens as a Dark Knight.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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