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99. [Messenger of the Mine]

「Shizuku-sama, have you ever cut someone’s body?」

「My Lady!? What are you planning to do!?」

「Quiet, Chunaru. We do not have much time.」

「I have cut a person before. Marge fixed him up.」

「That is excellent.」

「You two, things are looking quite dangerous. The mana on the other side of the wall is getting nasty. It is completely excessive.」

Angelina clicked her tongue, wondering if Kirmiji was going to blow up the entire Vita Tama, let alone the mine shaft.

Finishing the final exchange with little time left, Azula quietly closed her eyelids.

「Then, let’s go.」

「Shizuku-chan! Go at three!」

「If I fail, you can hate me as much as you want! Souls of my ancestors, please, just this once!」

The underground dungeon is an obstacle for the mana circulating in the earth’s crust.

That’s why mana can accumulate in the stones in the dungeon. When a large amount of mana accumulates over a long period of time, it becomes a “luminous stone” that glows vaguely even if it is just a normal stone. If it is a gemstone, it changes color and becomes a “precious stone”.

The pendant that is the proof of the werewolf tribe’s throne is their “precious stone”. Clutching the golden jewel that continued to absorb mana in the wolves’ land, Shizuku’s entire body was filled with power. Angelina shouted at the same time.

「One, two… three!」

「[Garou], activate!」

[Mana activity: 10]

Swinging her claws of light once, Shizuku jumped out from the gap created in the right corner of the wall. The knights remained in formation as if there was no need to pursue her. Shizuku, enveloped in golden light, ran in a straight line and instantly disappeared into the depths of the mine shaft.

Kirmiji called out to Angelina on the other side of the wall, laughing scornfully.

「Did you send that demi-human to call for help? It’s pointless.」

「Geli doesn’t think so, though. Why do you think it’s pointless?」

「That is the endemic skill [Garou] mentioned in the report, right? I don’t know what kind of trick was used to activate it, but it won’t last long anyway. She will be captured by knights on patrol as soon as she steps foot in the city. In the first place, there is no one you can ask for help, correct?」

「Thank you for the detailed explanation. Thanks to you, we were able to activate “another endemic skill” in time. Azula-chan!」

Angelina grasped Azula’s hand. As if responding to that, Azula took a deep breath.

「-Dedicating to fire and ore. Lend power to thine followers.」

「Hou……?」

「Endemic skill [Messenger of the Mine], activate.」

Something started swelling and slithering. As Azula’s voice echoed, the knights were surprised by the changes in their surroundings.

The walls were moving.

「Do you hear me, stone and gold? If anyone stands against us, swallow them altogether, devour them, and seal them up in your stomach.」

「The walls, no, the floor and ceiling have become soft!」

「Is this peristalsis? Is this dwarf trying to shut us in here?」

Peristalsis.

It refers to the slow movements of the stomach and intestines. This movement moves food that enters the mouth deeper into the body, where it is eventually digested.

The movement caused by the mine shaft, coupled with its elongated structure, was exactly like the peristalsis of the intestines.

「Hmm, a skill that can manipulate mine shafts? It is very dwarf-like indeed.」

Kirmiji was the only one among the Knights Order who sighed in boredom. 　

「No matter how much I asked about endemic skills, I couldn’t comprehend it, so I was still cautious of it. Now that I finally see it, it seems to be nonsense. She kept saying it can do this and that without making much sense.」

The disorganized Knights Order formation began to get back into order. Perhaps due to the leader being calm, or perhaps they were immune to the unexpected occurrences when conquering dungeons.

Kirmiji spoke to Azula, who was on the other side of the hemisphere wall, looking astonished.

「Azula, “Stop using that skill at once”.」

He commanded with suggestion. But the peristalsis did not stop.

「Hmm, it does not seem to be as effective when going through a golem wall. In that case, I shall break down that wall and speak to Azula directly. The preparations just finished.」

「Brace for impact, everyone!」

「Be fruitful in succession.

Cocytus.

Prometheus.

Aeolus.

Jupiter.

Hades.

Persephone.

Eridanus.

Activate, Septeos.」

It was not cold air, heat, or even thunderbolts. The storm of mana, which was combined with all kinds of elements, pierced straight into the hemispherical wall that Angelina had built.

The white porcelain golem shield collided head-on with the torrent of power.

「Guh, this is heavy…!」

「Oh, you seem to be in great difficulty. However, this is just the beginning.」

Twice, thrice, four times. Waves of storm hit the white porcelain wall.

The hemisphere into which Angelina poured her power quickly shattered. It turned into dust, as if it was being eaten away from the edges. Within seconds, half of the hemisphere was gone, revealing Angelina and the others behind it.

Recognizing Azula among them, Kirmiji focused on her.

「[Placebo Master’s Golden Spoon], activate. Azula the dwarf will use her skill to annihilate Angelina and her fellow dwarves!」

Face-to-face command.

However, Azula did not stop.

「What!? I-『I declare』! Azula the dwarf’s head snaps off and she dies!」

Azula does not stop.

Not only that, but the walls were moving even more violently. Even though their formation was in order, several knights in the back row were captured by the rock wall and started to become disorganized. Sweat rolled down Kirmiji’s face.

「Why! Why doesn’t she stop! And what’s also strange is that the few remaining golem walls still can’t be broken…!」

Five times, six times, seven times.

Even while Angelina’s shield had been shaved off by half, she continued to protect those behind her. Angelina called out to Kirmiji, who was flustered and wiping off his sweat.

「You could probably hear the reason, if you listen closer.」

「What?」

Kirmiji focused on the sounds as he was told. Even in the midst of the aftermath of his technique, Azula’s voice could still be faintly heard.

「Please don’t let it crumble. Please make it our fortress. Please, please protect thine followers. Please, please, please.」

「This is……?」

「Azula-chan’s endemic skill [Messenger of the Mine]. It is not some cheap skill that can just move a mine shaft. Speaking to the soil and ore and giving them life. That’s the power of this skill.」

If you speak to the rock wall, the wall will move as you say.

If you speak to the soil, it will swallow and bury.

If you talk to iron, it will change into any shape you want.

Since the golem is a doll made of rock and mud, there is definitely a synergistic effect there.

「Skill Lender-san also said that synergy is important when it comes to skills. Geli thinks that’s a wise saying.」

While supporting the shield strengthened by Azula’s skill, Angelina glared at Kirmiji. Kirmiji was momentarily overawed, but he did not retreat.

「Speaking with ore… That is why she confessed that she could do so many different things… H-However, that would not be able to stop suggestions! There is no way my skill can be broken!!」