Chapter 255: Descent from the Cliff
I’ll have to ask Shulm later about which country he was messing with while looking at a map. There’s not much benefit in annexing Nakahara, so the target must be a larger nation beyond that. Fortunately, Shulm is weak in naval battles, so the island should be safe for now.
It’s frustrating not being able to join in on the conversation. Dinoss is munching on something, but what is he eating?
Hmm? One of the unfamiliar party members is talking to Dean and the others. What’s going on? They’re shaking hands, so did they reach an agreement?
After the break, we set off again. I throw on my coat robe and pull up the hood.
At the fork leading down the cliff, our numbers are halved again. There have been reports of demon beasts causing trouble around here, but it seems we’re in no danger—at least, some of the remaining half don’t seem interested in descending the cliff. Dean and the others are busy collecting the demon beasts they defeated.
So that’s what the negotiations were about during the break!
It seems only five groups, including me, are descending to the Twelfth Layer, which is fewer than usual. The person who collected the fees when we entered the labyrinth mentioned that many had gone deeper right after the Hero dove in, but now the numbers have dwindled.
I haven’t heard if they made it back safely. They didn’t know about the Black Spirit, and if they went beyond the Twentieth Layer, it’s still too early for them to return, so there’s no way to confirm.
Several chains dangle down the dark cliff. Are we really supposed to descend using those…? Are they safe? They don’t look rusty, do they?
We’re going straight down to the Twelfth Layer, but I’ve heard there are several resting spots on rock ledges along the way. I’ll go last, then.
Some of the group, including Dean, switch to short swords for easier handling. I’ve heard there might be bat demon beasts appearing while we descend, but I’m equipped with a perfectly ordinary sword, so I’ll stick with that.
Um, what’s Karn going to do? Is he going to hit the weight limit? Ah, he must be getting help from Baylis.
I quietly send the Wind Spirit to accompany Dinoss, who descended first, to measure the depth to the rock ledge. I need to know the distance to feel a bit more secure.
The remaining adventurers lower their tied-up supplies down. Each party member must be waiting below to receive their gear. Has someone lit a fire down there? I can see an orange glow. It’s a faint light in the deep darkness of the cliff, but it serves as a good marker.
The light here is made by tightly bundling grass, coating it with pine resin and herbs, and wrapping it with tree bark. They’re about thirty centimeters long and fluffy, but they’re lightweight and easy to handle, making them popular. They don’t burn brightly, so they’re not the best light source, but they last long, which is quite handy.
Adventurers are descending the cliff one after another. It seems that only those with the stamina and strength to climb down can take shortcuts. The glasses-wearing one is using magic, though.
Huh? Is Retze having trouble?
“Hey, you’re the last one,” Retze says with a laugh.
“Yeah, I’m the last one.” I exchange harmless words within earshot of the adventurers descending the cliff. Caves tend to amplify sound.
It seems he’s deliberately taking his time?
“Want me to help you lower your gear?”
I gratefully accept the offer and descend alongside the chain.
Even though we’re within sight of each other, not being able to share our usual silly banter has been quite tough. I just realized that now.
The chain has loops connected at regular intervals, making it easy to place my feet. It’s easier to descend than I thought, but I get the feeling it might be faster to slide down like a ranger, using the rope. According to the Wind Spirit, the chains being lowered are all about the same length.
But I shouldn’t draw too much attention to myself.
When I safely reach the rock ledge, the other adventurers have already started descending to the next ledge.
This time, the last ones remaining are Dinoss and Ash. Dinoss silently pats my head lightly from above my hood before starting down the chain.
Ash hesitates, his hand hovering over my head, showing signs of indecision. I wouldn’t mind a pat, you know… I join my hands together as if to say, “Go ahead,” and with my other hand, I gently pat Ash’s head.
It’s been a while since I saw Ash’s scary face. Is he blushing? I hope he’s not angry.
We can’t just rush down all eight layers at once, so we take a longer break on the rock ledge. It seems Dean’s group received a water pouch from the party that was collecting demon beasts before descending the fourth layer. The ledge is narrow, so I overheard their conversation.
While eavesdropping, I munch on some dried meat. I brought it in thin strips to eat while walking, so it feels like I’m chewing on dried squid.
I almost thought about bringing out some dried squid, but then I remembered it has quite a strong smell, so I stopped myself.
After the break, as we descend the chain, we get a few greetings from the demon beasts. Most of us, including me, swing our swords with one hand or thrust our daggers. However, the majority of the bat demon beasts are taken down by the glasses-wearer’s magic.
I see, magic is convenient when you can’t free your hands or when you’re at a distance. Also, it’s useful when you don’t care about collecting materials. I recall having trouble retrieving the White Goose when I used magic to take it down. It really depends on the situation.
Descending the chain was a bit of a hassle, but I’ll take it as a win since something good happened.