Good day everyone!

I apologize for the slow update! Reality is really putting me into a predicament!

As always, thank you to everyone who has been reading until this far!

Once again, good day and enjoy!

=====

“Morning!”

“Oh! Morning Kinji! Morning Shiromi!”

After opening the door to Kinallen’s adventurer’s guild, Shiromi and I are greeted by the energetic receptionist, Ria.

It has been 8 days since Shiromi was attacked by Sayuri.

Immediately the day afterwards, we registered in the adventurer’s guild. Of course, that event did not go as well as I had hoped it to.

===

After I had finished writing all the necessary information about me and Shiromi on the registration forms,

“Hmm……everything looks okay. Here you are. Just concentrate on feeding the card your magic power and your identity card will be good to go.”

Telling me with a kind smile, a blank card is given to the both of us.

Following the instructions given to me, I imagine the magic power inside me flowing through my arm and entering the card.

It soon starts glowing a pale blue, then slowly gets brighter.

The light fades after some time, and now written on the card was,

“As you can see, the only information readily available is your name, race and adventurer’s rank. For now, if you’ll let me check your cards for any contradictions with your registration?”

“Eh?!”

“I-is there anything wrong……?”

I alternately look at Shiromi and her card before replying.

“Ah……n-no. Nothing’s wrong!”

“Oh, okay then. You surprised me, then if you don’t mind.”

“W-we’ll be in your care.”

Shiromi hands over her card instantly.

“Hmmmm……Shiromi……alright, there’s no contradictions whatsoever, thank you!”

“Yes……”

Not realizing my body stiffened from the suspense, it relaxed after finding out we had nothing to worry about.

Though Shiromi’s actions have been a bit off since we had arrived here......don’t tell me she’s mad at me?! Is she? She’s been glaring at me for a while now, so that must be it!

“Also, since the both of you just registered, regardless of your true abilities, your ranks will be set as the lowest at F-ranked. However, you may advance through the ranks after completing various requests and turning them in here.”

Ignoring the glaring Shiromi, the process of rising through the ranks is explained to us.

“Then, your card please Kinji.”

“Y-yes.”

Thinking nothing would come out of showing my card, I hand it over without hesitation.

Cheerfully receiving it,

“Let’s see! Kinji Shirokawa! Mm! Mm!”

Ummm……please don’t examine it so enthusiastically, the sharp gazes hurt……Shiromi, not you too……

“Mm…….eh? Eh?!”

Huh? The voice’s tone just changed! Did something happen to my card?

“E-errrrr…….Kinji……”

“Hmn? What’s wrong?”

Without a word, the card was raised just enough for only me to see what was displayed on it.

Like what was said earlier, only the name, race and rank was there.

Then I noticed it.

Shown clearly right next to my race,

Human (Hero)

===

Although it was difficult, I was able to persuade them to keep it a secret.

“Kinji-nii! Let’s take this request!!!”

Shiromi’s gotten cheerier huh. Well, I guess it’s because that person’s not here.

She shows me the request she removed from the guild’s bulletin board.

The request was for a subjugation team. B-ranked and higher only. Nearby Kinallen was a lush forest filled with miasmic creatures, it seems the meeting place was in front of a cave just a few minutes’ walk from the edge.

But something was off about the request.

One, there was no description on what we were supposed to be subjugating.

Second, for only B-ranked and above to be able to join, it means that it’s significantly dangerous.

Third, it’s located in a cave relatively nearby. Unless another miasmic creature had migrated there from another place, there would be no reason this one had stayed there undetected.

As the name implies, a miasmic creature is formed from the miasma in a place condensing and gaining form. Consequently, the air around them becomes corrupted by the same miasma that leaks out of their bodies. If a relatively dangerous one lived in a nearby cave for so long, everyone would have noticed it by now. But for it to only be discovered now and with next to no information is……

“Excuse me, Ria! We’ll be taking this request!”

Wha?!

While I was busy thinking, Shiromi went ahead and asked Ria to let us take the request.

“Oh my, this request has been tacked on there for a few days now.”

“Hmn? Why’s that?”

Seems Shiromi got curious so she asked further.

“Well, you see, the cave stated in the request had already been investigated two times, and in both occasions, we found nothing. But the adventurers who put up that request insisted on forming a subjugation team.”

So an investigation was already done huh. It’s not surprising, since it could just be a joke made by those adventurers. Even in reality, those kinds of people exist after all.

“And, the result is that no one has bothered taking on that request thinking that it’s a trap or something like it.”

“I see. I see. We’ll still be taking it!”

“Wai---Shiromi?!”

“I mean, Kinji-nii and I are strong after all! So there’ll be no problems even if it were a trap!”

She says all that with a big grin on her face.

“Hmm……oh! I see what you’re trying to do! Very well, both of you can take this request. But please don’t enjoy too much, okay?”

“Got it! Thank you very much Ria!!!”

These two……they get along too well……

===

“Oh Kinji! You and Shiromi heading out again?”

Greeting the two of us as we approached the gate was Jonn, the guard who we first met when first arriving in Kinallen.

“Ah, yes. Shiromi found a request for us, so we decided to finish it quickly.”

“Yep! Just leave it to us Jonn!”

He grins at our words and asks for our identity cards.

“But still, to become A-ranked adventurers in just a few days……the two of you really are impressive! Just in case, you guys should still be careful when wandering around town.”

“Thanks Jonn. We’ll keep that in mind.”

I thank him as he hands back our cards.

“By the way, I haven’t seen your butler around recently. Is he alright?”

“Eh? You mean Kuroga? He mostly walks around town buying ingredients or materials. He’s taken it upon himself to guard our room while we’re gone after all.”

Explaining it to him with a wry smile on my face,

“I see. Hahaha!!! Okay then, take care you two!”

“The same to you.”

“See you later~!!!”

He continues to send us off with a wave until we can no longer see him.

“Kinji-nii.”

“Yes Shiromi?”

Surprised by Shiromi, who suddenly spoke just as we arrived at the entrance to the forest,

“Just where is Kuro?”

Oh right, I still haven’t told her.

“Well, let’s just say he’s on an important errand I sent him to do, so don’t worry about him.”

“Alright, if you say so~!”

Satisfied with my vague answer, she leads the way to the cave stated in the request.

Actually, just this morning, Kuroga had sent me a message via Telepathy Magic.

This magic was really useful with the downside of it being that both users need to know how to use it to work. Since Shiromi unexpectedly did not know how to use it, only I could receive his messages.

‘The battlefield still remains in a stalemate.

Their opponents are proving far more complicated to handle than previously expected.

Luckily, the heroes’ side has not suffered too many casualties.

Will continue to observe the Demon Commanders and intervene if needed.’

Basically, I sent him to the frontlines of the war after he had mastered the magic he was practicing for a few days.

“Observation Magic.”

That’s what Kuroga called it.

Just like Telepathy Magic, it is also classified as a ‘Special Magic’. A different type of magic, which are separated from the usual magic spells that belong to the 8 elements.

Unlike most spells, those that belong to the ‘Special Magic’ type are not given rankings but still require a certain amount of effort to learn.

Most spells under this type are magic spells that have many practical uses outside of combat.

Before, this type of magic did not exist. Kuroga even said that it was only recently that he had learned of it which gave him the idea of trying to create one.

Of course, I became able to use it as soon as he told me how he created it but because it leaves me vulnerable, I decided it would be useless if ever I were in a combat situation.

“Kinji-nii, we’re here!”

Looks like I was deeper in thought than I was planning to.

Right in front of me was a normal cave. Nothing stood out except for the few scratch marks made by the miasmic creatures living here.

“Could it be Ria was right? Then that means there will be people ambushing us soon, right Kinji-nii?!”

Shiromi became alert after saying those words.

Wait, when did she intertwine her arms around mine?

Leaving it be for later, I look around the cave’s entrance.

After having practiced my perception of magic power for the past few days……

“There!”

A ripple of magic power just inside the cave. It was really faint. So faint, I’m sure even experienced mages would have a hard time detecting it.

Taking out a silver sword from my Extra Dimension, I imbue it with magic power and swing at the ripple.

Smash!!!

The façade of the normal cave breaks in front of us. It is then replaced by the same cave entrance, only now it is filled with an ominous presence.

“So that’s why those investigations resulted in nothing……”

I felt Shiromi’s grip tighten on my arm.

That’s surprising. I thought Shiromi, who was a Dragon, wouldn’t feel anything from a sight like this.

“Shiromi. If you don’t want to go inside, I won’t mind, you know?”

“N-no! If Kinji-nii’s going, then I’m going! E-even if it is dark……”

Oh, I see. So she’s scared of the dark huh. I guess you learn something new every day.

“Well, for us to navigate better…….”

Around us, orbs of light form one after another. Each one’s brightness was comparable to a candle, but with this we would be able to make our way through the cave somehow.

“Then, let’s go Shiromi.”

“Y-yes!”

With Shiromi beside me, we enter the cave.

===

Klak! Klak! Klak!

After hearing sounds of movement behind us, I reflexively swing my sword there.

Clang!

“What?!”

Blocking my sword was an armored skeleton holding a great sword.

“!”

Casting a Myth ranked spell that completely removes the miasma within an object or body, the skeleton collapses as a pile of bones.

Although there were several magic spells that had the same effect as Purify, the amount of miasma I sensed within the armored skeleton was especially thick.

“Shiromi, you okay?”

“Y-yeah! Thanks Kinji-nii!”

Making sure that she didn’t suffer any harm, we continue deeper into the cave.

“Another one?!”

Not even after a few minutes had passed, we encountered another armored skeleton.

Klak! Klak! Klak! Klak! Klak! Klak! Klak!

Then we hear even more sounds from behind it.

“So there are more huh.”

Preparing to cast a magic spell with a wide range,

“Wait! Kinji-nii, let me handle this!”

Stopping me with a raised arm, Shiromi walks in front of me.

“Taste this! !!!”

From her hands, a large amount of fire bursts out. Taking the shape of a large dog with its mouth open, it mows through the advancing skeletons, incinerating them.

After she dispels her attack, not a single trace remained in our way.

“Well Kinji-nii! Was I amazing or what?!”

Puffing out her chest in pride,

“Yes, you were really amazing Shiromi!”

In response to my praise, she lowers her head and directs it at me.

So this is the legendary ‘Please pat me!’ scenario I’ve read about so many times! Who knew it would really happen to me?

Keeping my thoughts to myself, I place my hand on her head and pat her gently.

“Hehehe~!!!”

===

“How far does this cave go?”

Asking myself, I continue down the seemingly endless cave interior.

“Suuu……suu……”

Shiromi, on the other hand, was currently taking a nap while being carried on my back.

Earlier, I noticed how her movements had become sluggish. Thinking that she still hadn’t gotten used to pushing her Human body, I somehow persuaded in carrying her.

Right now, I was jogging along the cave’s path. After changing my gravitational weight to 2, I was able to move across the rough path with ease.

Any skeleton we encountered were also quickly taken care of.

“What……is this?”

Contrasting with the natural layout of the cave, the ground transitioned to a floor paved by intricately designed stones.

Lighting in the form of pillars with fire burning on them were lined along the wall. It was a straight path with a massive door located at the other end.

Everything looked well maintained, something you wouldn’t expect from inside a cave.

However, it looked like the miasma in the air thickened the further you advanced.

“Although we could probably reach that door, I’m not sure we would arrive there unscathed……no choice then.”

The swirling miasma in the air slows down to the point that it looked like they weren’t moving at all.

“Good, with this…….”

From my outstretched hand, a torrent of air creates a path through the frozen miasma large enough for me with Shiromi on my back to pass through.

Standing in front of the large plain door, I checked it for any type of lock or trap that it might contain.

“Nothing huh. What could possibly be hiding in here? Don’t tell me it’s another Kur---Lich King……”

While bracing myself, I awaken Shiromi from her deep sleep.

“Shiromi. Wake up. Shiromiiiii.”

“Haaaaaaaa……eh? Kinji-nii? Good morning~!”

I wait for her to fully regain consciousness before letting her down.

After explaining to her what happened while she was asleep, her eyes sharpened and magic power began flowing around her body.

“Okay. Shiromi, when I open the door, be ready to cast a protective spell on yourself.”

“Eh? How about you Kinji-nii?”

“Don’t worry about me. Now, are you ready?”

She nods in reply to me.

Putting strength into my hand that’s on the door, I slowly push it open.

“Gyahahahahahaha!!!”

Immediately, a bone-chilling voice reaches our ears.

“So there are still foolish mortals who dare disturb me!!!”

While the voice was speaking, I was looking at the room we had ended up in.

Frankly speaking, it was an ancient underground ruin. Everything was made out of stone, just like the path behind us. However there was no sign of collapse anywhere, they had the appearance of being a perfectly brand new construction.

“But I sense strength within you, far different from those before!!! Very well!!! As my showing of respect to you, I shall fight you at half of my power!!!”

Then, I finally bring my attention to the one speaking to us.

“Kinji-nii……I don’t think……that’s supposed to be here……”

At Shiromi’s words,

“I……perfectly agree.”

Floating in mid-air, being covered by a pure white barrier, was a being that looked just like a devil. It had the size of a single large house, black fur covered its entire body except for its face which bore a large similarity to the guard dogs back in my world. It stood, or was floated, upright. Instead of feet, it had the hooves which normally belonged to horses. Flames were continuously erupting out of its dark red eyes that were gazing at us. In its hands, which reminded me of a gorilla’s, were two large war axes emitting an intense amount of pressure.

But even when I’m standing against something like it, I realized that my body wasn’t shivering from fear. As I looked at Shiromi, she was also looking at me as if she had just realized the same thing.

Maybe, just maybe, this was a sign that we actually had a chance against this thing!

“Now mortals!!! Come at me!!! And die!!!”