Moly Herb ④
I never expected I’d end up accompanying Liv-san. It was completely unexpected.
But it was fortunate that I wasn’t strangely suspected.
It’s probably largely thanks to her eccentric… or rather, her easygoing personality.
We advance inside the Cave.
I glanced at the sphere of light floating diagonally above us.
“That’s a convenient Legacy, isn’t it?”
“…Nn.”
That’s not a Legacy.
The Cave is dark. Unlike a Dungeon, there’s no light.
It’s truly pitch black, impossible to see anything.
That’s why I tried to light a torch right after we entered.
But then Liv-san took something out from her waist.
More accurately, from a storage space in her suit.
When she released it, it became this sphere of light.
If you searched the world, you’d probably find Legacies like this.
I think there might even be Legendary ones. But this light sphere is different.
Is it for planetary exploration?
Or maybe there’s something like an emergency survival kit.
There was something like that in a game I played in my past life.
I hadn’t thought about it much, but I wonder if this world is a planet.
It probably is, since there’s a moon and satellites.
Well, no point thinking about it. I’m not that interested anyway.
“There, something… two of them.”
“…Nn… Understood.”
Moving red points around the corner. She cuts down the hidden Goblins.
The Goblins fell apart as if slicing through tofu.
The cuts are too precise, almost inorganic.
It makes you think the pieces of flesh are some kind of blocks.
“Aren’t you going to collect the subjugation parts?”
“…Nn… That… only the boss is necessary.”
“I see.”
The Goblin boss residing deep within the nest.
If you subjugate it, the remaining Goblins will abandon the nest.
Without a boss, Goblins don’t form swarms.
“…Nn… If you want them… boy… I’ll give them to you.”
“No, I don’t need them either.”
“…I see.”
Even if I took them, I’m not a Seeker, so I can’t sell them.
I found myself looking at her Blade.
“That’s an amazing sword.”
“…Nn… This… Are you interested…”
“Y-Yes.”
Liv-san went out of her way to bring it down to my eye level to show me.
“…Nn… Pleiades Blade… Liv’s OOPArts…”
A black Blade forged as a single piece.
It has no guard, just several overlapping round rings.
Seven in total, huh.
There were patterns and what looked like characters drawn here and there on the blade and hilt.
As expected, I can’t read them. And this sword isn’t an OOPArts.
“Ah, so that’s why it’s Subaru (Pleiades).”
“…Nn…”
“That’s amazing.”
“…What’s amazing… is the boy’s Relic… I think.”
“I-Is that so?”
“…Nn… [ Danger Detection ]… A Relic suited for seeking… convenient.”
“Ah, thank you very much.”
My Relics, except for one, are suited for Seekers.
That’s why I left my hometown and decided to become a Seeker.
“…Boy, are you going to become a Seeker…?”
“Yes. I come of age next year, so I will.”
Yes, next year, I’ll become a Seeker.
But it’s not like becoming a Seeker is my dream or anything.
I’m just becoming one because I think I’m probably suited for it and can make a living.
“…Nn. If it’s you, boy… you can become one…”
“Thank you very much.”
“…Nn…”
We descend further down.
Immediately, four moving red points appear.
When I report it, Liv-san’s sword flash explodes.
In an instant, the four become minced meat.
Strong.
Even being this strong, she lost to that Chimera… not a Nue.
But that albino Chimera.
I used that as a shortcut, but it didn’t feel that strong.
Or perhaps that Chimera.
Did it have a Relic it didn’t use against me?
If so, why didn’t it use it against me?
No, wait. I feel like I erased something invisible with [ Vanish ].
That might have been the Chimera’s trump card.
Well, obviously I can’t just ask her about it.
“Liv-san, why are you subjugating Goblins solo?”
“…Field… training protocol…”
“Training?”
“…Nn… Discipline… special training… forging… doing…”
“To get stronger, right?”
Is it because she lost to the Chimera?
That’s understandable, I guess.
“…I have a purpose…”
“…May I ask what it is?”
“…Nn… That Forest… To challenge it…”
“That Forest,” she means that one, huh?
The one they say no one who enters ever returns from.
“Ah, up ahead. There are many.”
“…Understood.”
“Seven in total.”
“…Nn… Convenient…”
Liv-san dashed off. The sphere of light didn’t follow.
Her peach-white hair disappeared into the darkness.
“Liv-san!?”
“…Sky Form… Subaru… Keraino Blade.”
Along with multiple low screams, I saw yellow, distorted curved lines.
They were slashing lines, warped and curved to an extent almost impossible for a sword’s trajectory.
“Are you alright?”
“…Nn… No need to worry. Let’s move on.”
“Y-Yes.”
At this rate, even a swarm of Goblins wouldn’t stand a chance against her.
We proceeded smoothly with our exploration of the Cave.
The only monsters appearing were Goblins, and there were no traps.
Also, since it’s just a Simple Cave, there are no Treasure Chests either.
However, the Moly Herb we’re looking for isn’t here either.
Does it only grow deeper inside?