I went down the stairs. Even with the torch and after activating the magic of the [Sphere of Light], there was no end to the darkness. It was like walking across an abyss.

— Let's speed up a little more.

By Brown's decision, we increased the speed of going down the stairs. How much time has passed?

"Hah...

"To think that there was such a wide space under the sewers.

"Hahaha!" People alone are not enough for such a structure. I don't know why it was made, but it must have been made by my ancestors," Hikurod laughed.

Finally, when we stepped on the last step, an open cavity appeared. The height of the ceiling alone was more than 6 meters, so an incredible feeling of openness was created for the dungeon.

"So far, there's only one way to go.

Brown looked around, then pointed to one place. Upon inspection, it turned out that there is a passage behind the unidentified stone statue, which has been damaged over the years.

"The smell of that woman also continues in this direction. If my predictions are correct, we'll probably meet her soon.

It's cool.

"From now on, I'll go in front.

Since it was a straight passage, I decided to change the formation. I walked in front, and Brown followed me, helping me navigate. I sent Hikuroda to the rear to prepare for any eventuality.

"Dvalki, stay close to me," Mike called.

"Good.

Misha's role was to protect the mage from the center and actively support both the rear and the front.

"Then let's go."

As soon as we walked through the tunnel, we came to a fork in the road. I didn't know the way, but that wasn't a problem: we had Brown's dog nose with us on our journey.

"She must have gone there.

We walked along the left path with its smell.

What now?

— ... This is another fork in the road.

This time we had as many as five options.

"Rothmiller?"

"Ah, that's a little unclear. She must have gotten lost, because every passage has her scent.

"Does that mean we can't follow her anymore?"

"That's not the point. Let's go in that direction. Her smell comes from there the strongest, so she must have passed by just recently.

- I see.

Finding a way and hunting people was not my field of activity, so I willingly followed the instructions of the expert.

What the hell is this place?

Soon a new fork in the road appeared. Gradually, I began to understand what kind of place it was. I didn't know what this place was for, but it was a labyrinth.

"Hikurod, do you know what the hell this place is for?" You're a dwarf.

"Hahaha!" To think that all dwarves are well versed in architecture is a narrow view. So... Dvalki, what do you think? You're a mage, after all.

"Do you think that all mages are enlightened, wise beings?" As for why people of the past deliberately created such a space underground, I have no idea.

Confusion spread among the crew. Before it became even more annoying, I interrupted them.

"Stop talking. Whatever this place is, all we have to do is catch that and go back.

"That's true, but...

– If you are really interested, you can ask at the administrative office. This will be more accurate than our guesses.

All three remained silent on my words. Why should I, a barbarian, play the role of commander? The only one I could rely on was Brown. He was the only one who always calmly did his job.

"Bjorn, stop," he said.

"What's wrong?"

The smell suddenly became stronger. It's not a trail, but—" Brown paused abruptly and sniffed the air once more. The look in his eyes changed. "I'm sure of it. It comes from the other side. Brown pointed to the second fork on the left.

To think that she herself had come to greet us.

It was a bit unexpected, but I checked the important things first.

"Time?"

"I'm not sure, because I can't determine its speed.

"At least approximately.

— ...... I would say about 2 minutes.

"Did she find us?"

"I don't think so. This is only a guess, but... I think she got lost for whatever reason.

Hmph, that was definitely a plausible assumption.

I made a plan on behalf of Hikuroda, who only widened his eyes throughout the conversation.

"Everyone, get ready for battle. We'll hide and attack when she appears.

At first, we hid at a crossroads nearby. Brown began to reel in his crossbow, and Dvalki prepared for a surprise attack with a spell. Just as this process was finished, we heard footsteps in the distance.

*Steps*

The sound was getting closer, but at some point it stopped.

*Step*

What happened?

Just as I patted Brown on the shoulder and asked this question with my eyes, the sound of footsteps echoed through the tunnel.

"Bjorn!" Mike shouted in a whisper, and I closed my eyes.

I was confused because the ringing was so loud, but when I concentrated on my hearing, I was able to understand. She did not run to us.

"She's running away.

"She looks like she's noticing we're hiding," Brown said urgently.

I also agreed. What else could be causing the sudden U-turn and jerk after she had been going normally so far?

"What are you going to do?"

"Do you feel anxious?"

"I'm not sure.

In that case...

"What are you doing?" Take the initiative.

In the Witchwood, we were in the position of being persecuted, but the situation had changed.

"We must catch her and kill her before she runs even further.

***

The Karui is a creature called the evil god or even the dark god. He was as sensible as he was capricious. Blind faith has always been rewarded.

"I offer blood, flesh, and soul. Please show me the way!

It was only because of these qualities of the god that Eliza was able to survive in the Witchwood. By sacrificing three researchers she had met by chance in the hut, she was advised that burning a corpse increases the rest time, and gained a new power called [The Corruptor]. If she used this power, she would not be attacked by any monsters, and she would even gain immunity from the effect of the Witchwood Field.

"Oh! This woman...!

"What are you all doing?!" Hurry up, run away!

That was why when she came across Hikuroda's group in the forest, she was able to chase them to the end. Without field effects, the Witchwood was just a forest. But, unfortunately, the pursuit ended in failure.

When her targets reached the 4th floor, she hurried after them, but in the next beat, the color of the portal changed and she was sent to another location.

For 10 days, she tolerated monsters in front of the portal using [Corruptor]. Then she returned to the city.

"Priestess Behenk, where are you going with all this baggage?"

She immediately grabbed all the necessary things and ran. Many times she had seen the fate of apostates. Now the city was a more dangerous place for her than a labyrinth. But even when the sky was falling down, there was always a way to survive.

There was the advice of a capricious, evil god, and a sewer full of filth and contemptible fugitives. The city beneath her would have received her.

"What the hell! This is my place! Get!

With the help of the evil god, it was not difficult to find the entrance hidden in the sewers. The tramp who settled there first was also not much of a problem.

"Make a sacrifice."

The capricious evil god didn't even tell her how to open the door.

Therefore, she wandered through the sewers, collecting and making dozens of sacrifices. Instead, she learned how to open the door and went downstairs.

What the hell is this?!

However, the paths were too difficult. She wandered in the dark for several hours. The temperamental, evil god was not going to show her the way until a sacrifice was made.

At the same time, the [Evil God's Call] was triggered, which she had established from the life force left over from the sacrifices just in case. From that moment on, she had a strange feeling of unease. It could be a ranger sent by the temple. She made her way through the labyrinth, carefully looking around.

"Kehehehehehe!"

Suddenly, the evil god began to laugh. With a sinister feeling, she stopped walking. In such cases, danger and difficulties usually lie in wait for her ahead.

Is it a persecutor?

She paused for a moment, concentrating on her hearing. In the silence there was a faint sound of breathing coming from the other side of the road towards which she was heading. As soon as she discovered this, she ran in the opposite direction. Perhaps it wasn't a mistake, because soon she heard a sound that someone was making.

"What are you doing?" Take the initiative. We must catch her and kill her before she runs even further.

The words stopped, the voice was somehow familiar.

"Bjorn!" Be careful! That vicious bitch could set up a trap!

She soon realized who these people were: Björn Yandel, a mindless barbarian who attacked her with a mace even after she revealed herself to be a priestess, and his teammates.

Isn't this a pathfinder from the temple?

Realizing that they belonged, she unconsciously slowed her pace. She didn't know how they knew and followed her so far.

But it will be better this way.

Soon she stopped walking. Last time she was defeated and forced to flee, but then she spent a lot of energy on her resurrection.

[Elise Behenk summoned the [Gate of the Dead]].

If both parties were in perfect condition, there was no way she would lose.

***

The moment the distance between us began to shrink, the sound of running echoing in the darkness stopped.

*Jerk!*

A strange sound echoed through the passage and was rapidly approaching.

"Kyaaa!"

" Stasis!

Sounds began to be heard, and soon dozens of four-legged monsters entered within the radius of the torch's light.

This is [the gate of the dead].

To be honest, I was amazed. It was definitely different from the time when she didn't use her powers after being resurrected.

[Elise Behenk summoned the [Shadow Guard]].

This could be called a difference in numbers. In addition to the [Gate of the Dead] from which monsters poured out for several minutes, it summoned a bunch of [Shadow Guardians], and the momentum was truly like a tsunami.

"What are you doing?" Go and destroy it.

There was no reason to be afraid.

It didn't change anything.

Eliza laughed.

"Hahaha!" Barbarian! It was a pity to leave you behind, but to think that you would crawl to me voluntarily! This time, I won't let you escape!

Right off the tongue.

"I'm going to break your head this time!"

The battle began with an exchange of determination. This was different from the previous time, when we had to fight for several hours.

*Colic!*

Her [Shadow Guardians] possessed a fairly high level of Physical Resistance. Every time Misha swung her double swords like a maniac, they slashed helplessly.

— ... Has it always been so easy?

That was because she now had the bonus of an ice attribute. Moreover, the curse that had annoyed her at that time was no longer in effect.

[Elise Behenk cast the curse [Low-Level Corruption]]

[Elise Behenk cast the curse [Diminishing Strength]].

[Riol Varb Dvalki casts a 7th tier spell, [Radiance], and all evil attribute effects on team members have been removed.]

Thanks to the fact that he got the jackpot last time, Dvalki went to learn the spell to remove the curse, and returned with the broad-spectrum cleansing magic [Radiance].

"Haha, what do you say?"

"That's great.

I threw a compliment in the direction of the cheerful Dvalka. For some reason, it seemed that he took my words personally.

Be that as it may, I gradually joined the battle. It would have been enough for one person to simply build a wall of shields and block the front, but this was ineffective.

'Behella

As I called upon the god of my ancestors, I felt the energy spread throughout my body.

[You used [Wild Surge]. Your threat level is temporarily increased by 3 times, and your physical stats increase in proportion to this value].

The passage was narrow, and it was impossible to walk through it with [Gigantization], but the effect was still sufficient.

— Grrr.

The summoned beasts sensed a threat and began to recklessly charge at me.

As if playing some kind of hacker game.

As if to shake off my regrets about the past, I swung my enlarged mace madly.

*Шмяк! Удар! Удар!*

The [Shadow Guards] exploded with every swing despite their Physical Resistance. There was a strange feeling of pleasure when I suddenly remembered the good old days when I fought several Goblins. Yes, it was for this feeling that I played role-playing games.

*Blow!*

"Ahhh!"

As I pulled in and dispersed the guards, Brown fired an arrow from his crossbow, and Hikurod forged a temporary path using the [Lightning Release] combo. I rushed through them.

"Bjorn, it's dangerous to go alone..."

'Behellaaa

Whether the summoned animals blocked the passage or not, the distance quickly decreased. Finally, I was able to get a good look at the face of that Eliza.

"That can't be...

She looked as if she was watching something unbelievable.

What happened? Have you never imagined such a unilateral defeat?

I shouted in advance:

"Dvalki, now!"

"Now?" Dvalki asked, confused.

You see, I was a barbarian who did not repeat the mistakes of the past.

"Hurry!"

"Good!"

While Misha and Hikurod came up to support me, I continued to drill forward.

30 meters, 20 meters, 10 meters, the distance was rapidly shrinking.

I jumped forward on Eliza's bitch as I slid, but the moment I reached out to grab her, Eliza's body became translucent and began to float in the air.

[Eliza Behenk cast the spell [Spiritualize]].

It was an advanced mobility spell that gave physical immunity as a bonus.

"You bastards!" I will never forget this shame!

What exactly will you not forget? If you think that we are the same as when we could only watch your escape helplessly, then you are mistaken.

"Dvalki!"

As soon as I called from behind, I heard:

"Done!"

The prepared magic was completed and fired, a spell for which Dvalki paid 1.3 million stones to learn him in the magic tower.

[Riol Varb Dvalki has cast a Tier 8 curse - [Materialize]].

If hit correctly, [Materialize] nullifies the enemy's physical immunity. In other words, thanks to her, even an unarmed warrior could beat a spirit type monster. Of course, if he missed, he was useless.

[Riol Varb Dvalki cast an 8th tier spell - [Support Precision]].

But our Dvalki was gradually coming out of the stage of inadequacy.

"Oh, ah!" Kyaa!

At the same time, when [Spiritualization] was dispelled, the sensation was transmitted to the tips of my outstretched fingers. It was like the first time I fought a Goblin. It didn't matter if it was a wrist, ankle, or neck; I just grabbed what I could hold tightly and slammed the ground hard.

*Bam!*

I immediately climbed on top of her. The blow seemed to put her into a state of convulsion, she was shaking and staring at me with her eyes.

"Ugh! Ugh, ah, ugh, mm...!

She seemed to be shouting some swearing, but I guessed that she still hadn't corrected her speech. Of course, I wasn't going to let my guard down just because my opponent was now a cretin. This was the same person who had risen from the ground like a zombie, even when her skull had been cracked.

I immediately picked up my mace, but just as I was about to hit it with all my might, Dvalki hurriedly stopped me.

"Wait!" If you want to get more rewards, wouldn't it be better to take it alive?

Hmm, the wanted posters definitely said that, but I didn't think this guy would bother with something like that. Is this the result of the fact that he tasted money? He was truly an explorer now.

"Of course, it would be a waste to kill her.

I stood on top of Eliza.

I then forced Dvalki to cast the spell [Paralyzing Poison] and, without any personal feelings, struck Eliza's arms and legs with the mace.

*Удар! Удар! Удар!*

I carefully shattered her bones and flesh.

— ... Is it necessary? Hikurod frowned.

"She can run away.

In this area, my general theory was that it was better to be on the safe side than not to be on the safe side. In this sense, tying the crippled Eliza with a rope, I carried her on my shoulders like luggage.

Having taken care of the remaining few summoned animals, Mike muttered in a raised voice:

"Now we are really strong. I didn't think we would defeat her so easily...

I also agreed. Less than 3 minutes passed from the beginning of the battle to its end. Fighting this enemy in the relatively recent past, we felt our growth better. However, it wasn't too late to praise and thank each other later in the bar.

"Rothmiller, lead us," I patted Brown on the shoulder.

I achieved all my goals. It was time to leave this terrible underground room.

Hmm? And what is this? Why doesn't he move?

I called Brown again.

—. .. Rotmiller?

Again, there was no answer. Only then did I realize what was going on and hurried to check on the rest of the team.

"Misha?" Two-wheelers? Hikurod?

None of them answered. I wanted them to say, "Surprise!" that it was just a game, but I was sure it wouldn't.

Suddenly, a suffocating silence surrounded me.

I muttered quietly:

"We don't give a fuck.

No wonder things have been going so smoothly so far.