Translator: “Kell” Editor: ”Weasalopes”

We were ways away from the main road now and walking through what seemed like an animal trail; a path in which no humans would clearly take . Pixies can fly so they had it easy, but not for us . It was difficult to maintain our positions with the slopes and narrow path .

「We’d be in trouble if we were attacked now . 」

I couldn’t help but be anxious about my surroundings . The Pixie was enjoying a conversation with Yolt and the others . They’ve really taken a liking to the thing .

「There it is! We just go through this cave here . 」

A hole gaped on the surface of a gentle slope . It was awfully eerie .

「There’s an unexplored area past this cave . 」

It wasn’t that wide; just barely enough for two people to walk side by side . Plus it was dark . It would be a disaster if enemies were lying in wait inside for an ambush . I tried to stop them, but Elnsensei’s sharp voice rang out .

「Wait . You have to consider the time as well . Even if you did make it to the unexplored area, what next? Do you want to go up the mountain at night?」

She was trying to help us . I knew it . Elnsensei didn’t trust the Pixie so she had no choice but to speak up now . But there were only a few who figured out her intentions . Yolt and the girls insisted .

「It’ll be all right if we just leave right away . Hey Pixie, it’s not too far from here, right?」

「You’ll find the hidden hot springs after a five-minute walk through the cave . 」

「See? No problem at all, Sensei . I can sense traps too . 」

Yolt seemed to trust his skill too much . I checked and his【Trap Detection】was only rank C so it wasn’t really all-powerful . In fact, upon further examination of the skill’s details, there were actually a lot of traps he couldn’t detect . Plus walking in that darkness without【Night Eyes】was a bad idea so I suggested something .

「Can I check the place out first? If I find the unexplored area, I’ll come get you guys . 」

「I’ll come with you . 」

「No, the path’s too narrow so I’ll go alone . I appreciate the concern, though . 」

「…Be careful . 」

I managed to convince everyone so I had the Pixie lead me through . The skill【Night Eyes】wasn’t all-powerful; it only made seeing in the dark easier . Vision wasn’t as good as daytime so I had to be cautious .

「You’re so brave for going alone, Noir . 」

「I’m actually quite the scaredy-cat . But this time I had to carry the ball . 」

「Why is that?」

「Good question . 」

Because I don’t trust you . I’m not telling it that . For now, I needed a weapon . The ceiling was high but the path was narrow so a sword would not be suitable . So I took out my Piercing Spear that I got from the dungeon . The sharp-eyed Pixie noticed and asked, wondering about the weapon .

「Why are you carrying a spear? There are no monsters here . It’s safe . 」

「Just in case . I told you, I’m a scaredy-cat . 」

「But you’re scaring me . Can you put it away?」

「Sorry, but I can’t . You’re not gonna take responsibility if anything happens to me, right?」

「Hmm fine . I don’t like you, Noir-kun . 」

「Hahaha, you hate me now, huh?」

Still I’m not putting the spear away . And I was right in doing so . There were two strange holes on both sides of the wall a few meters ahead, big enough for a person to pa.s.s through . From the angle, I couldn’t see what was inside, but I wouldn’t be surprised if there was something lurking in there .

「Oh, yeah . I have an interesting story for you, Noir~」

The Pixie started talking rapidly as if trying to distract me .

「We Pixies actually have three ears . …Are you listening? Why’d you stop?」

「I almost didn’t notice . 」

「Notice what?」

「The holes on the walls up ahead . You can see from where you are, right? Is there someone inside?」

The Pixie looked both sides and cheerfully answered .

「Come on~ . There’s nothing in there . 」

「Can’t say I believe you . 」

「If there were monsters in there, why aren’t they attacking me? Isn’t that strange?」

「I never said anything about monsters . Why’d you think I was talking about monsters? Why not bandits?」

「What? Your face looks scary… It’s just what came to mind based on the situation . 」

「I asked if there was someone in there . I’m quite sure you don’t call monsters “someone” . You’re an intelligent creature so you should know that . Yet you mentioned monsters because… you knew there were monsters in there . Am I right?」

The Pixie’s expression darkened . Still it didn’t reveal its true colors . It didn’t want to give in just yet .

「Come on . I just thought you meant monsters, that’s all . I see you have a distrustful character~ . Girls don’t like those kinda guys, you know . 」

「Fine, then let me give it to you straight . The monsters you’re controlling with your skill【Monster Control】are hiding in there . 」

「Get him, Spear Lizards!」

A complete 180 . Lizardmen with spears came out of the holes and rushed at me . They came at me side by side so first, I fired a【Stone Bullet 50】at the other one . It would only be a hindrance if I used the max size of 100 so I went with a perfect balance of speed and power .

I hit the first one and it rolled over before collapsing . I dealt with the other one calmly . First I read his movements to see through his attack, and landed a counterblow . My spear went clean from the forehead to the back of its head . Nothing less from a weapon with a piercing skill I suppose .

It wasn’t over, unfortunately . More enemies started coming out of the hole . The Pixie’s controlling all of them… Which means its skill is quite powerful . I could turn back but the Lizardmen weren’t exactly skilled so I kept on fighting .

I took another two down using the same method as before . Still, there was more . Pesky monsters .

Then I felt a sudden wind pressure from behind me . Oh, s.h.i.+t! There’s more from behind…?

No . The wind blew past me and struck the Lizardmen’s heads . I recognized the wind magic . It was no doubt【Wind Strike】 .

「Sorry to make you wait!」

「I told you not to come, Emma . 」

「I couldn’t just stay back there knowing something might happen to you . 」

「I guess I can’t be mad at you for that, then . 」

「Ehehe~ Let’s take them down together!」

With the two of us, we can deal with them using magic . Emma used【Wind Strike】while I used emitter type skills to defeat them . Things settled down and we counted the bodies . There were eight of them .

「It would’ve been really bad if we got ambushed . 」

「Where’d that Pixie go?」

「It fled deeper inside the cave just as we took down the last two . 」

「Should we go after it?」

「It would be safer to go back and tell them what happened here… But let’s go after it . We might be able to catch up to it if we go now . 」

「All right . Let’s go!」

We advanced deeper while being careful of any trap that may have been set . We could see light coming from the exit and made it out . The area was spa.r.s.ely lined up with trees and there was a stream flowing nearby .

「The Pixie is… over there! On that branch!」

「Leave it to me!」

Emma fired a【Wind Slice】at the Pixie flying near the branch of a small tree . It was basically a sharp shockwave of sorts that could cut down a tree of that size . In fact, it cut down the branch quite easily . Though the Pixie escaped .

「Idiots! You humans are so ugly! Can’t hit me!」

The Pixie flew away, sticking its tongue out while mocking us . You’re running away? That is so not cool .

She could fly which was rather annoying and troublesome . I had no choice but to run so I could close the distance and get in range for my【Grant】skill .

「Emma, can you cast【Windrun】on me?」

「Roger that!」

It was a skill to make your body lighter . With a snap of her fingers, I felt the spell’s effect and I quickly went after the Pixie .

「Ugh… how can you be so fast?」

「Well I have to return the favor . 」

「I’ll just fly higher, then . 」

「I’d like to see you try . 」

The Pixie tried to climb higher but I granted it【Weight + 10 kilograms】 . Its delicate wings couldn’t support the sudden increase in weight as it dropped . I caught the Pixie with a hand .

「You’re not going anywhere . 」

「…I’m sorry . Please let me go . 」

「Yeah, that’s not gonna work on me . 」

「You monster! Demon!」

Say what you want . You’re a pixie— a fairy lacking any sense of morality . Your bad-mouthing doesn’t bother me one bit .