Side Story 7: VS Accurate Crow; a sudden encounter
The story is from the viewpoint of Ann.
Fuh, I managed to get rid of them.
I calmed myself by taking a deep breath.
I’ve fought with the earthworm many times before, but this is my first time fighting against adventurers.
When I first received the signal from the antlings, I was a bit worried, but everything turned out well.
Honestly, the weak ones really helped me a lot.
The mechanism seemed to work well against them.
The pitfalls and mimicry as well.
But still, many of my antlings died.
Most of the dead ants are the ordinary killer ants that I have not yet evolved which aren’t strengthened.
Actually, in terms of damage as a colony, it’s nearly zero.
Still, they are my children.
They’ve been together with me since I first served Jiryuu-sama.
I’m sorry…
I apologized to the antlings who died in my heart.
I need to report to Jiryuu-sama but he seems to be sleeping, let’s wait for him to wake up.
I don’t want him to hate me for waking him up.
How will he react?
Will he praise me?
Or blame me for the death of antlings.
「You manage to safely dispose of them, I see.」
Una popped up from behind the pillar.
According to Jiryuu-sama, she is a blonde hair beauty dressed in a piece of clothing called áo dài.
Furthermore, she’s not a human but a golem homunculus made from Jiryuu-sama skin which technically made her his daughter.
Even from the perspective of me from a different species, she looks amazingly beautiful.
Above all, her smile is really dazzling.
As always, she looks cute.
『Yes, Una. You really saved me back there. The binding from before, it was you, no?』
When I said that, Una became pale.
Is there something wrong?
「It’s nothing. I’m aware you can handle it by yourself Ann. It’s just that I… I can’t resist myself. Please forgive me!」
Suddenly, Una bowed.
What? Hey, what are you doing?!
Strangely, this kid really respects me.
I don’t mind if you just talk casually with me.
『No, it’s fine! You saved me, for real! Please stop bowing!』
As soon as I said so, Una became bashful.
Hm, that’s better.
「It makes me happy when you say that.」
I nod.
『So it’s the end for these adventurers.』
I said so while staring at the lifeless adventurers.
There’s four of them.
「Their equipment is a bit dirty… but it still can be used.」
『You’re right. Let’s give the meat to the antlings, and keep the equipment in case something happens. Especially this sword …』
While saying so, I took the sword that the woman adventurer had.
「That sword! 」
Una seems to have noticed it, too.
Just as she guessed, it was made out of the earth dragon scales and bones.
Which is not from Jiryuu-sama.
But still, it makes me mad when I see her pull it out.
Even though I knew it wasn’t Jiryuu-sama, it makes me burst with anger.
I need to train more. There’s still a long way to go.
Hm, I wonder if I can use it.
But I need to ask Jiryuu-sama first. Let’s do so when he wakes up.
「Urgh…」
『Hmm? Was it you just now? 』
I look at the owner of the voice.
There’s another female adventurer down there.
It seems the magician is still alive.
Perhaps it’s because of the mysterious liquid the man poured on her earlier.
She managed to survive because of it.
「She’s still breathing. I’ll end her now.」
Una holds her right hand vertically.
『No, please wait. 』
I stopped Una from killing her.
「Eh? But why? 」
『Since we’re going to kill her anyway, let’s properly put her to use.』
Saying so, I call for Senju Kannon (the name Jiryuu-sama gave).
Somehow, the golem looks as if it was asking『What?』
That can’t be, golem has no expression.
『Senju, absorb her.』
「Eh?!」
Una was shocked by it.
『Eh, what’s wrong?』
「I’m shocked! What do you mean by ‘absorb her’?!」
『Just doing what needs to be done, I’m getting this adventurer inside Senju. Though only her magical power and soul. 』
「It can do that?!」
『You can also do so, right?』
Could it be that she doesn’t know?
The golem Jiryuu-sama told us to carry from the top floor to the middle floor for arrangement (inventory processing).
Some of them, especially the one with a lot of magic stones for decoration, possess their own artificial will.
This is only possible because it was Jiryuu-sama who made them.
And they are powered by magic stones.
Usually, Jiryuu-sama magical power inside the dungeon is enough for golems to move.
However, some of them, including Senju Kannon, hunt the earthworm by themselves, and actively absorb the magical power and soul of the monster.
Surely, it can do the same with the adventurer.
However, it can only absorb the soul from living beings.
Since she’s a small fry, it should add a bit.
Senju held her up using its countless hands and began to absorb them.
「Ugh.. Arghhhh….」
Somehow, the adventurer is groaning, I’m sure it would be fine.
It looks like Una was amazed by it.
「Amazing… I never knew I can do this….」
『This is just my guess but I don’t think you can do it. After all, you’re a part of Jiryuu-sama. You already have a soul. The reason why the golems can do so is because they don’t.』
As I was done explaining, Senju seems to have finished the meal.
Its skin looks somewhat glossy after that even though it was made out of a stone.
Oh, it burped.
A dessicated body lies near its feet.
It seems to be a success.
The fully fed Senju then returned to its original position.
Eeh, that’s quite an interesting pose.
It leans slightly forward while flexing its biceps.
What was it again? A pose that emphasizes muscles?
Even though there’s no one looking at it, it’s still doing its best….
The damaged and broken arms will be healed in a few days by the magical power flowing inside Jiryuu-sama dungeon.
Well, the rest is to clean up and… Ah, that’s right. We have to fix the collapsed floor.
It’s an effective trap, but it’s a lot of work to install again.
Let’s think of a better way to improvise it.
『Okay, let’s―――― 』
I was about to begin instructing the antling when it happened.
DUGUUUUNNN!
The sound of explosion echoed on the surface.
「Huh?」
Una was also surprised.
What’s happening?!
Could it be the adventurer’s reinforcements?
Right after I was thinking so, I received a telepathic call from my antlings.
What on earth happened?
I received signals from them.
『――――――――――――』
And I picked up the call.
「Ann, what’s happening? 」
Una looks panicked and asks me the question.
Wait a minute. I’m still confused.
What just really happened?
I checked with the antlings again.
However, the answer is still the same.
For real.
That’s impossible.
『We are under attack…』
「Eh? 」
『By an Accurate Crow.』
I repeat it to her.
『We’re being attacked by an Accurate Crow.』
「Eh? 」
I expect as much.
But I’d never thought it would come so soon.
『Una, guard the middle floor! I’m heading to the top!』
「Ann, wait! Ann! 」
I told Una to protect the middle floor as I ran toward the top.