81. Yakiniku
「『I declare』! K-Kneel before us.」
I don’t think the reason I couldn’t hear Sodom’s words until the end was because I closed the door. The screams that followed could be clearly heard through the door.
「The third basement floor, huh. If it was a dungeon, this would just be the beginning, but for a basement, it’s really spacious.」
I went down the stairs twice and reached the third basement floor. Since it was a prison area leading to the mine, I expected it to be filthy, but it was, in fact, in good condition along with the second basement floor.
Further down the stairs, on the fourth basement floor, there was a smell that reminded me of the time when I was forced to hug the floor covered in blood and mud in a dungeon.
「I guess these are the only floors intended for “guests”. The rest is for emergencies.」
It probably functions as a secret passage when bigshots in the city want to escape during wars or other events. This post was located near the center of the city. Being able to escape underground into a complex mine is a huge advantage.
「And it will also act as a bulwark against people from the opposite faction.」
Even I was amazed at how logical and strategic this place was.
What would happen if the dwarves in the mine started a riot? The underground passage, which used to be a convenient transportation route, could transform into an invasion route that connects directly to the center of the city. The fourth floor and below is surely there to halt such an invasion.
Although, this wouldn’t have been possible if the demi-humans in the city were werewolves.
This underground space was made possible by the acquisition of the dwarves, who specialize in digging tunnels. The reason why Kirmiji is keeping the dwarves alive is probably because they are more useful than just his philosophy.
「……It’s here.」
Encountering a conspicuous door, I cut it into pieces.
Within, a girl with curly chestnut hair was lying alone on an iron bed, her hands and feet bound in shackles. Her limbs were white and thin, visible through her shabby clothing, indicating that she has not been out in the sun for a long time. Are the tight scar ropes the result of the interrogation by the White Phoenix Knights Order?
「……Who?」
The girl only glanced at me and didn’t say much. She must have been exhausted from the long confinement, and her physical strength must be weakened. More than anything, her mind might have reached its limit.
In that case, the first information I should convey is who I am representing.
「I am the king of the werewolves, Marge Siu. I’m a human myself though.」
「…!」
「Have you heard about this gem?」
I showed her the pendant that I hid under my clothes. At the very least, if she knows about the werewolves, then she might have heard about the pendant serving as the proof of their king.
「Any… real evidence?」
「There isn’t. If I had brought Shizuku along…no, it doesn’t matter either way.」
It’s difficult to gain someone’s trust just by showing them a single piece of jewelry. Even if I had brought a werewolf along, she wouldn’t be able to shake off the suspicion that they were being manipulated by Kirmiji’s suggestion skill. The fact that I hadn’t come across Kirmiji so far seems to have backfired.
Since I cut through the door to enter, I get the feeling that she is torn between me being an enemy or an ally…
「…?」
Suddenly, the girl’s gaze was fixed on my waist. Her jade-colored eyes widened slightly as her gaze shifted slightly to the left.
「The gem and… the sword!」
「…I see.」
I recalled the weight fastened around my waist. Why had I forgotten?
I unsheathed the sword and held the blade crest up to the slight light in the room.
「I heard that this sword was made by dwarves long ago.」
「The werewolf race is still alive and well…?」
「Yes. This is only borrowed though.」
Unlike the gem, the sword can be broken if it is about to be stolen. At least that’s what the werewolves would do. The very sword being here… is the best proof that the werewolf race still exists and that they have accepted me as their king.
Perhaps understanding this, the girl’s eyes filled with a little bit of strength.
「……Umm.」
「Ah, I’ll take off the shackles right now. I also have healing skills…」
「……ku.」
I couldn’t hear it well. Maybe it’s because of the fatigue, but her expression was so pale that it was hard to read.
「Yakiniku…」
「Yakiniku?」
Yakiniku, i.e. grilled meat, is a dish that is eaten by grilling the meat and internal organs of birds and animals with sauce, salt and such over an open flame.
Now that I think about it, she must have led quite a long prison life. It is not hard to imagine that the food was poor. The girl seemed to have read my thoughts about how hungry she was, and nodded sheepishly.
「Excuse my shame…」
「It’s a little different than I expected, but it’s good to have an appetite.」
「meat……」
She seemed to be doing better than I expected, so I quickly removed her shackles and teleported to aboveground.
Comment (0)