The twisting tunnels had many branching paths . We carved markings into the walls every time we detected kobolds nearby, and went further, further in .

“By the way, Daniela . Do you think we’ll be able to return within the day?”

“Hm…I do not see why not, as long as we do not get lost . ”

Doesn’t she know that even wondering about getting lost was a flag?

“That worries me…”

“Well, we could always just camp out if we end up late . You do have the barrier tools and more food in the hollow bag, do you not?”

“I do, but still…”

This place was dark and tight . It was oppressive and made you feel trapped… I would much rather sleep in the forest . However, Daniela seemed quite enthusiastic, so I didn’t want to ruin the mood . I just had to bear it . Let’s keep going and hunt some kobolds then .

We continued to use Presence Detection to find groups of kobolds and crush them . The number of encounters increased the further we went in . By now we had three bags full of left hands . Still, as it was now confirmed that we would have to camp out here, we continued to hunt without regard of the time .

It wasn’t until we filled up a seventh bag that we finally decided to rest . Perhaps it was because I had been stuffing it with different things recently, but the hollow bag was starting to look full . Had I really put so much inside…

“I have set up the magic barriers . ”

“Ah, thanks . ”

I had asked her to put two near both sides of the tunnel and on the cross section that was further on . Just in case . So that even if one was broken, we would still notice . It was barrier, barrier, us, barrier, barrier . Usually, you would need four for each corner, but this setup worked because it was a tunnel . It looked like I would be able to sleep easy tonight .

I created some magical water over a nearby rock and washed it . Then I wiped it with a cloth and covered it to make a nice table . I liked to be fancy when out camping . Though we would just be eating some stall food .

“Let’s eat then . ”

Sitting side by side and eating like this brought back memories of our first encounter . We had just happened to b.u.mp into each other, but there was something that drew us together before we knew it . And now we were deep in the mines together . Life had a way of being unpredictable .

“Asagi, your one looks better…”

“Haha . This one’s a recent favorite of mine . ”

It was sauteed chicken in a ginger sauce . The hollow bag had dimensional magic cast on it, which stopped the pa.s.sing of time for anything inside of it . So the food was still hot and juicy, even in this dusty old place . Regardless of the scenery, the taste was amazing . It was cooked just right and the smell of the ginger was refres.h.i.+ng . The food stalls in this world were of a very high caliber . It was its own culture even . Of course, there were great restaurants and diners as well, but the stalls held their own even in comparison .

“Want some then?”

“Mmm, give me a bite . ”

Daniela said as she opened her mouth . I stabbed a piece of meat with my fork before dunking it into plenty of sauce and offering to her . She chews it slowly . A smile begins to spread on her face . d.a.m.n, she was cute .

“It is good . ”

“Right?”

“Give me more . ”

“I suppose I have no choice . ”

We continued to flirt as we went through our dinner . I could really use some soup with this, but we would probably die of carbon monoxide poisoning if we started making bonfires . I regretted not buying soup at the stalls as I cleaned up my plate . Now we just needed to sleep .

“Alright…I guess I’m on the night watch this time . You go and get some sleep . ”

“Very well . We will trade places if you become tired . ”

Daniela nodded and rolled over onto a cloth that had been spread out on the ground . I caressed her head as she closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep . She seemed happy as she dreamed .

And so I began my watch .

I amused myself by poking Daniela’s cheeks and watching her giggle in her sleep . Then I noticed that Presence Detection had caught something . It was on a course to run straight through our barrier . I moved away from Daniela’s cheek with much regret and went to see what it was .

I could see the dim light of a lantern leaking from the corner ahead . It was still a good distance away .

When I peered in the direction, I saw that it was several kobolds . They were loud and excited as if they were on some kind of field trip . This was something I could easily deal with alone . But just as I unsheath my sword, I remember the features of my equipment .

“Maybe I’ll try some ice magic…”

I saw the speed of the wind dragon . Now I wanted to test the effects of the ice dragon on ice magic . I quietly put both of my palms on the ground . Waves of magic run through the ground, and I imagine what I want to do .

Jack of all Trades, Master of None plays an image in my brain, and I follow it, sending the right amount of power . Once the power has flowed over to where the kobolds are walking, I add some blue energy and activate the ice magic .

“Gwargh…!?”

The first kobold realizes the change . His voice is raised, but it was already too late . The chill had gone past his feet and stretched towards those in the rear . And just like that, all of them were frozen up to the waist .

“Interesting…”

Freezing someone’s legs in an instant was a relatively simple thing to do . But it depended greatly on distance and the amount of magical energy used . It wasn’t likely that I would have been able to do this with normal equipment . So this was the effect of the ice dragon armor…amazing .

I moved my palm to face upwards and created an ice sword . It had intricate designs and was generated at a much faster speed than usual . It even used less magical energy as well . I could make a sword like this with about half as much effort now . It showed that the most important thing with magic was the ability to visualize . And with that, I walk over to the frozen kobolds and lop off their heads . They had no opportunity to let out a final scream .

I deactivate the ice magic after taking their left hands and move them into a single pile . That was it . Either the magic would return them into the soil, or they would become food for other kobolds . They were not very good for materials anyway . We just needed their hands . I began to feel like I was descending into a very apathetic person as I turned on my heels and returned to the camp where Daniela waited .

“Ahh, Asagi… Where were you?”

“Morning, Daniela . I had to take care of some kobolds that visited . Everything’s fine now . ”

“Ahhhhhmm…mmm…I see…”

I sat next to her as she rubbed at her tired eyes . My hand went around her waist .

“Hmm…What is it…?”

“Hmm…What is it…?”

“Just, I…”

And like that, I held her tight and buried my face into her . I felt like her warmth helped me return to feeling human again . I indulged myself in her gentleness as she caressed my head .

Eventually, I dozed off to sleep .

The next morning…well, I think it was morning . In any case, we were all rested up . And so we packed everything and prepared to leave .

“What do you think? Do we continue?”

“Indeed… We know the way back . I have it memorized and we also left markings . And in an emergency, we could always use earth magic to make a hole to the surface . ”

“Wouldn’t that cause the place to collapse?”

“We would to it slowly and at an angle . However, that should be a last resort . As it might affect other humans who might be exploring . ”

There was only one path out of here .

“I guess we’ll go then . ”

“Yes . It has been a while since I last explored a place like this . I do not want to leave . ”

“Ah, the truth is out!”

I chuckled at her ability to enjoy herself even now . And so we decided to go even deeper into the tunnels .

We traveled further for around two hours . Aside from the kobolds, a mole-like monster once emerged from the walls and attacked us . My heart nearly stopped, but I managed to kill it . Looking at the mole now, with its ridiculously long and thick nails, I was reminded of something .

“Hey, Daniela . ”

“Hey, Daniela . ”

“What?”

“Isn’t it strange?”

“Is what strange?”

Before coming out here, I had asked the guild worker about these mines .

“Wasn’t this place quickly abandoned due to a lack of resources?”

“Yes, they did say something like that…hmm, wait, do you mean…”

“You noticed?”

Yes, these mines should not be this deep . It took us a while to realize this, as we held the lantern and fumbled through corners, relying on Presence Detection . But we must be very, very deep inside by now .

And now we were encountering monsters of a different variety .

“Maybe this guy here was digging tunnels?”

“That is a possibility but… It could not have been this one alone . ”

So, a bunch of mole monsters turned what should have been a shallow mine into an elaborate dungeon?

“Daniela, I don’t think we can return just yet . ”

“Yes… We must do something about the number of monsters here . Or it may lead to a stampede later on . ”

There were not many adventurers who actively hunted kobolds . In fact, there were no signs of other humans coming in here . In other words, this place was overflowing with kobolds . There were quite a lot in the upper areas already . Who knew how many lurked in the deeper layers .

There could be a stampede of not just kobolds, but many other types of monsters . Even if they were on the weaker side, their numbers could easily make up for it when it came to violence . And so we decided to go deeper in and hunt as many monsters as possible .

Spiris would be in danger otherwise .