The Skeleton Soldier Failed to Defend the Dungeon-Chapter 43. Collaborator and the One Who Burns (3)

It felt as if everything had vanished. Yet, amid the emptiness, Rena gathered anything of value, from old boxes to wooden bowls.

"Diligent, aren't you?" I remarked.

"If I can grab it with just a stretch of my hand, it would be a waste to leave it, right?"

Jingle.

Rena handed me a pouch. Among the coins collected from the dungeon, there were many coppers but quite a few silvers. They were slightly rusted, but their worth remained intact.

A translucent window appeared as I accepted the coins.

[You've acquired 41 roti and 74 widgets!]

Not bad.

That amount was enough to buy a suit of armor like the current one I had.

I handed the pouch back to Rena. Then, while she focused on collecting the money, I tapped the dangling chains in the corridor with my sword.

Clank! Clank!

The sound of the chains echoed throughout the dungeon. Even though the chains were meant to signal intruders, nothing in the dungeon responded.

Bang! Bang!

I slammed my shield against the wall, making loud sounds that reverberated deep inside. Despite all the noise, not a single sound emerged from within. I took a few more steps and tried making more noise, but it was pointless.

A hollow sensation washed over me.

"Hold on a moment," Rena said as she double-checked the map.

We stood at the center of a domed open space, which was five times larger than the hall of the mausoleum. There were massive stone pillars supporting a ceiling that was three times as high.

Rena pointed. "Look up. It's completely empty."

"Hmm..."

Dozens of empty cages hung above rusted black iron, large enough to trap a human in a crouch.

I looked closer. Three shackles were positioned at different heights: one near the top, two in the middle, and two at the bottom.

"This is it," Rena said. She looked around and added, "Normally, dozens of skeletons and specters would be screaming and charging at us."

I struck the ground with my shield.

Thud!

"It seems like there's nothing to worry about." I still didn't sense any reaction. "Is this the end?"

Rena nodded. "Yes. We're at the deepest part. It's hard to believe this could happen in just ten days."

"Ten days?"

"This dungeon's information was updated recently. I made sure to get the latest information."

"Could adventurers have cleared it out?"

Rena shook her head. "You know this isn't a typical raid. It's more like..."

I waited for her to finish.

"As if the residents inside... moved somewhere else. It's too neatly emptied."

Moved, huh? fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓

There was a more fitting word: extraction. The skeletons of this E-rank dungeon, the Barren Underground Tomb, had all been extracted. Not even the dungeon's core or any skeletons remained.

"Would we have known if we'd arrived sooner?" I asked.

"We might have been caught in it ourselves. Let's head up."

Together, we walked slowly out of the dungeon. As we exited, Rena glanced around, and occasionally sighed.

She remarked, "Seeing it calmly, this place is really spacious. An empty dungeon isn't bad. The tiles are all in place, too."

The dungeon seemed more like an impressive piece of architecture with no residents.

"We could even live here. It's wide and pleasant. Can't we just claim it as ours?" Rena asked.

I chuckled, rattling slightly.

Previously filled with skeletons, the dungeon was now empty. Most likely, it would become a bandit's hideout. If it held strategic value, a formal army might take control. Otherwise, it probably would turn into a dangerous den for outlaws.

I suggested our next move. "Let's move on to the next dungeon."

After a brief pause, Rena asked, "The next one's a D-rank dungeon... Wouldn't that be a bit challenging?"

"What type of dungeon is it?"

"It's a dungeon with mid-sized spiders. It's called the Twisted Vault."

I wondered about the size of the dungeon.

Rena continued, "The spiders are about a meter tall. They can spit venom and are weak to fire."

Rena lifted her backpack and tapped on it.

Tap, tap.

"We'll need plenty of empty bottles for the journey. We should make firebombs at the dungeon entrance."

"Your backpack looks like it's already full of things."

"It is, but I don't carry oil cans or empty bottles around."

"Fair enough."

Though I thought stopping in the city would be a hassle, listening to Rena seemed wise.

"Thinking of hunting humans along the way?"

"Hmm...."

After a brief thought, I shook my head. I didn't want to cause trouble in this area.

The man in blue armor.

That man crossed my mind. He was due to appear in a month, though his current location was unknown. However, the thought of that cold, white blade severing my armor still sent chills down my spine.

"Let's go quietly."

"A path without humans? In that case, let's go this way."

Rena pointed to a spot where the contours on the map were stacked closely together. I recognized the location immediately.

'It's the same path from before.'

Rena led me to the mountain route I had taken on that first night of survival with Rubia on the route to Grassmere. That was where we encountered the troll. The snow troll had crushed five hunters in an instant and then shattered my skull with her hands.

Rattle!

After shaking my head briefly, I asked Rena, "Did you hear anything about troll appearances?"

"I didn't look that far. Trolls have a broad range, so it's hard to predict where they'll show up."

"Let's just go through the human-populated route."

"In that case, we should pass through this city."

Tap, tap.

Rena pointed to a spot on the map.

I ground my teeth unconsciously.

Rena glanced at me and said, "It's the city of Yublam."

***

The season had changed, and so had my companion. Instead of the crunch of snow, the dry rustle of fallen leaves echoed underfoot. Rena took the lead, and soon, familiar gray walls emerged through the autumn foliage.

"We're almost there."

We had arrived at Yublam, the city Rubia had never walked out of. She'd been discarded like garbage and thrown off a cart.

Rattle.

Rena looked back at me, her brow furrowing slightly. "What's wrong?"

Despite my efforts to conceal it, my reaction was obvious. Rena had been attentive to me throughout our two-day journey.

"Are you going to tell me what memory has you so on edge?" she pressed.

"..."

I found the idea of explaining it absurd. She was trustworthy and showed me great affection, but my memories with Rubia belonged to her. I didn't want to share it with another person.

"Let's go."

We walked down the mountain path, leaves crunching underfoot. The sprawling wheat fields below had ripened fully. Farmers wielding large scythes moved through the golden waves.

"Looks like the harvest is in full swing. After another week, it should be done."

We walked through the wheat fields, taking in the sight ahead. The gray walls rose tall, complete with towers and watchtowers. I'd left Rubia in this city alone. My regret came too late, but I would enter with Rena this time.

Jingle.

Rena took a few silver coins from her pocket, clinking them in her hand. Two guards stood by the drawbridge inside.

"Hey, stop right there!" the guard shouted from the front of the drawbridge.

Their demeanor was lax, but when they saw us approaching, a slight tension appeared in their posture.

Is it because of me?

Clad in full plate armor and carrying a massive greatsword, it was no wonder they straightened up as I approached.

They might not let us in.

I clenched the hilt of my sword, careful not to draw it by accident. I had no intention of starting a fight, but it would be pointless, and I wasn't reckless enough to take unnecessary risks. Death carried unknown consequences.

The guard gestured toward us. "Alright, lady, you come over first."

Rena crossed the drawbridge.

The guard asked, "And who might you folks be? And what's with the armored guy?"

"He's my husband."

"..."

Listening to their conversation from a distance, I remained silent. Rena discreetly slipped something into both of the guards' pockets, and then a faint clinking sound followed. The guards cleared their throats.

"Hmm, you seem like ordinary travelers. Just don't cause any trouble inside."

The guard who had been dozing beside him added, "Be careful. You could lose your head if you mess around. The city guard here is strict—nothing like what you might be used to elsewhere."

After a bit of idle chatter, the massive gates opened.

Creak...

We stepped through the gates.

"Who's your husband?"

"Who else? You, of course."

"...What?"

I shook my head, baffled. My shoulders rose with my silent laugh.

"A husband is just a title. Just play along.”

Clank.

I shook my helmet and said, "I refuse."

Rena ignored me, taking my hand as we walked forward.

"Now that I'm holding your hand, you're my husband. Isn't that right?"

She didn't let go. For some reason, I didn't have the strength to pull away. I simply allowed it and walked beside her. It felt like a void somewhere deep within was filling with water, slowly and steadily.

"Autumn's chilly."

Rena leaned closer to me. I tried to pull away, thinking she was teasing me, but she held me tightly and whispered close to my helmet. "I can smell opium in the air."

My sense of smell wasn't as keen as a human's, so I could only nod in response. "Is that so?"

"The sweet scent is everywhere. I'm sensitive to smells, you know. Even the guards' eyes looked dull. We'll need to stay alert."

"They're addicted to opium? The whole city?"

Her voice dropped to a whisper. "Shh. Someone's probably watching. We're outsiders, so let's be careful."

I remembered the innkeeper who'd been addicted to opium. He'd been completely ruined, unable to make coherent decisions, his moods swinging wildly.

I thought the opium served as an escape from pain caused by torture. But perhaps the innkeeper had been addicted from the start.

I said quietly, "The two at the gate seemed fairly alert."

"That depends on the dose. If they only consume a small, controlled amount, they can function... if they ignore the addiction. But did you see how hazy they looked?"

"They did seem that way."

"That's an early symptom."

"..."

I looked around at the people on the street. Though no one appeared conspicuous, Rena's words made everyone seem like an addict.

Clang! Clang! Clang! Thud! Thud! Thud!

The sound of hammering echoed. There was a blacksmith's shop by the gate. I glanced at the armor displayed out front. Some pieces resembled the armor I wore.

"Looking at armor?"

"Don't mind it. I'm not buying."

I already had one crafted by the same blacksmith. A frail old man emerged from an alley, giving us a once-over. Then he stroked his white beard and retreated into the alley.

"Is he an addict?"

Rena tilted her head. "Looks like it. The opium scent is strong, but his eyes were quite clear. It's hard to say."

"Why was he watching us?"

"Who knows?”

We continued along the cobbled street. Brown wooden buildings lined both sides, some roofs were painted white while some were painted black. Some were blue, and others were red.

Rena stopped in front of a three-story white building.

"This is it."

"The only inn here, right?"

"Yes."

It was the inn where Rubia had stayed. I felt a chill in my chest. This was the inn I'd first entered after purchasing my armor. The route matched perfectly, the city where she had died, and the inn where she had stayed. It felt like I was stepping into enemy territory.

Creak.

Rena opened the door, leading the way inside.