Read Novel Full Vol 17 Chapter 17
Vol 17 Chapter 17
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Chapter 17 – Inside The Palace
A magical water creature was found in the mythical royal capital. As a result of Ilma-san’s experiments, it turned out to be quite a dangerous creature. We considered eliminating the magical creature before exploring the royal palace, but it also turned out that the main body of the creature was probably in the royal palace. We decided to explore the royal palace because of the danger. It looks like we will not be able to retreat.
“It’s good that we safely made it to the royal palace, but it looks a little tough for the Pal.”
We arrived at the main gate of the royal palace without even seeing the shadow of a monster under the influence of the magic water creature, but we found out a little troublesome fact here.
The royal palace is also buried in the sand.
It is likely that the place of the fountain was enough of a feeding ground for the magical creature, and there was no need to clean up the rest of the place.
Besides, the royal palace is more battered than I expected.
It looked fine from a distance, but up close, you can clearly see the damaged parts that have deteriorated over time.
I don’t know how long ago it was, but it must have been amazing that it had kept its shape.
“Well, once inside the castle, the wide corridors should be fine, but the stairs will be tough.”
Yes, that’s true. The first floor is completely covered with sand, and even if we were to enter from the second floor, it would be difficult for the Pal to get in through the windows.
“What should we do?”
“If we want to go easily, we should go by ourselves or with Felicia’s barriers, or if we want to be safe, we should go with a rubber boat like in the Demon Forest.”
Going in alone is out of the question, but Alessia-san suggests two options that are very difficult to decide between.
A rubber boat would certainly be safer, but it would be quite cumbersome. It’s also hard to keep your hands up.
“Can Felicia’s barrier block the presence of life or magic? Or can the barrier withstand the water-magical creature?”
“The barriers that can move are the kind of barriers that activate when an attack is imminent, so they can’t block the presence of life or magic. As for durability… it can certainly withstand a single blow if it is the initial blow at the time of the experiment. But I don’t think it can withstand a large-scale attack that swallows the entire body.”
Ah, yes, that’s right. The massive attack had easily sliced through a group of giant monsters. You’d have to be a cheat to withstand something like that.
If it’s too difficult to block their presence and sneak away, maybe a rubber boat.
After some discussion, we decided on a rubber boat, as expected.
We decided to explore safely, even if it was a little uncomfortable, rather than have the water magic creature beat us to a pulp and melt us. It’s a safe choice, even though we are adventurers. Oh, we’re mercenaries now, so it’s okay, right?
I repatriate Pal No. 1 and No. 2 and summon two rubber boats.
“Let’s go!”
Alessia-san announces the departure with a sharp look on her face, but it is not so subtle and tight because of the rubber boats covering her.
We sacrifice our sense of style and enter the royal palace from the second-floor balcony. As expected of a royal palace, even though it is battered and wrecked, we are able to pass through normally, even with the rubber boat in our arms.
“Looks like there are no decent things left in the rooms.”
Alessia-san mumbled regretfully.
Indeed, there is nothing. It’s a large room with a large balcony, so it’s probably one of the highest-ranking rooms in the palace.
But all that’s left is… the sand that blew in and piled up.
The furniture and household items in the room are probably all weathered to dust.
Besides wood, cloth, and iron, it would not be surprising to find some jewelry or precious metals left behind, so it is possible to find something of value if we look for it.
If we dig up the sand that encroaches on the room, that is.
Although the expectation of treasure is the lowest so far, there is one thing that makes me happy when I enter the room.
It is a little cooler than outside. That’s the thing; it hurts that the rubber boats don’t have air conditioning.
“Of course, the water source is down there, right?”
Alessia-san doesn’t seem to have any intention of digging in the sand, and she plans to look for the magical creature’s core as soon as possible. It is hot, after all.
We left the room and walked along the corridor, looking for stairs.
Everything is weathered, and the passage, which is nothing but sand and walls, looks like a simple road. The doors and windows are weathered, so it is almost open, and the strong desert sun shines relentlessly, so it is bright even in the royal palace.
I felt more like I was on a tour of the ruins than an adventure. I looked into the rooms from the passageway, but everything was covered with sand as if too much time had passed.
I wonder if the sand erosion would be a little better if we were higher than this floor. Let’s hope the treasure is upstairs or in a place that’s not in contact with the outside. Well, let’s go down first.
Since it is not a dungeon, we soon found a staircase while walking and went straight down.
“Ah, the sand erosion is worse down there. It’s better, though, as long as we can walk.”
“Outside, the first floor was completely covered with sand. It can’t be helped.”
As Alessia-san and Dorothea-san said, the first floor was completely eroded by the sand, and the rooms were probably completely destroyed.
However, since it was a royal palace, the ceiling was high, and there was still some space between the sand and the ceiling.
However, we would certainly be forced to move while crouching.
“Stop.”
“Wow, this is obviously suspicious.”
As we walked down the aisle in a position that strained our backs, Marina-san told us to stop. And Ines was right; it was blatantly suspicious.
So far, everything facing the corridor had been covered with sand, but only one room in front of us had the sand completely removed.
It’s just not right if it’s clean, even if the window is broken and there’s sand outside.
“I wondered if that was the source of the problem. Was it originally the kitchen?”
Ilma-san’s eyes look at a stone enclosure filled with clean water. The water seems to be gushing out of it, and it is probably a system similar to a fountain.
And what fills the water is probably the water magic creature.
“As was the case in the plaza, it seems that the water magic creature has a habit of maintaining its own territory. Interesting. Hey, Alessia, can I try a little experiment?”
“Is there a core here?”
“No, there isn’t.”
“Can you guide the core when you experiment?”
“Probably not.”
“Can you determine the exact location of the core?”
“Is it possible if you don’t mind flooding the room with water because you have to follow the flow of magic?”
“No. Let’s move on.”
Alessia-san, you are so wonderful to reject Ilma-san’s request so clearly.
I would appreciate it if we could find the core, but I don’t want to be attacked for it. I don’t care if it’s outside, but I’m afraid of irregularities in a small enclosed space.
I pushed Ilma, who was puffing out her cheeks in dissatisfaction, onto her back and continued our exploration.
We go deeper and deeper into the royal palace and find several water sources that are in a clean state. The less sand we find in the non-exposed areas, the easier it is to check our surroundings.
Still, the sand must have been carried inside over a long period of time because it has eroded into the end of the intricate corridor.
“This area is suspicious.”
Marina-san said as she scanned the area. I don’t see anything particularly suspicious, but on what basis did she make her decision?
“What’s suspicious about this area?”
“The passage is twisted, a single road with no rooms on either side. There are also traces of several doors in the middle of the passageway that prevented entry. It was obviously designed to make this end easier to defend.”
Marina-san explained in response to my question. I see… an easy-to-defend arrangement.
The things that should be protected in a royal palace would include the king, the treasury, and, in this country, the water source.
I have a feeling that the king is on the upper floor, so it is more likely to be the treasury or the water source.
We all looked at each other and moved slowly and cautiously forward.
“It’s a staircase, isn’t it?”
As we walked on, a staircase leading to the basement appeared. Even I could see the signs of a large door, so I assumed there was something to be protected up ahead.
Underground, huh? It could be a treasure room or a water source, but in games, the basement of a castle has the image of a prison cell.
Hoping not to be haunted, we cautiously descend the stairs.
Surprisingly, there are only a few steps, and the staircase soon ends. Perhaps I should describe it as semi-underground rather than underground.
In this case, the possibility of a dungeon has diminished. And it is pitch black.
“Everyone, raise your light balls.”
As Alessia-san instructed, I raised the light ball, and the light reflected off the surface of the water and shone brightly.
As expected, there was a water source inside the royal palace, and I could feel the depth of power and the greed of the powerful.
“Ah!”
The water hit the light ball and extinguished all the light.
“It seems to have reacted to light or magic. The fountain in the plaza had daylight, so it most likely reacted to magic, right?”
Ilma-san mumbled something, but at this point, the ecology of the water magic creature was not important.
Let’s find the core quickly and destroy it.
I summoned a rubber boat filled with various goods, and wow, the water even reacted to the magic circle and attacked it.
Fortunately, it seemed unable to absorb the magic power of the magic circle, and the rubber boat was summoned safely. As expected from a unique skill approved by Creator God-sama. It’s a cheat.
“Wataru, please say a word before you summon the boat because it might surprise it.”
“I’m sorry, Alessia.”
I was scolded. It’s my fault; I didn’t think that water would react to magic.
“So what’s with the sudden summoning of the rubber boat?”
“I just remembered I had something good, so I thought I’d take it out… oh, there it is.”
I took the flashlight I had secured on the ferry from the rubber boat and turned on the light, but there was no sign of the water attacking us. As Ilma-san said, it seems to be responding to the magic power.
“Oh, nice, Wataru.”
Alessia-san praised me. I am usually happy, so I shine my flashlight on the surface of the water with a smile on my face.
The room illuminated by the light was wide, with a rather large stone pool and several stone pillars supporting the ceiling.
The water seems to be quite deep, but the ceiling is not that high. It seems impossible for the Lutto or the Hideaway to reach it.
“It’s hard to tell where the core is from here. Can you tell, Ilma?”
I don’t know if it’s hidden in an inconspicuous place or in the shadow of a pillar, but the core can’t be seen from here.
“We won’t know unless we get the magical creature to move in a certain way. But now and then, people think the same way. It’s safe to assume that it’s hidden somewhere in the center or in the back. And no one but the most cynical person would hide it near the stairs.”
Hmm… the stairwell area is a blind spot in terms of misleading people, but as Ilma-san said, if it’s something important, you’d hide it in a place that’s as difficult to get to as possible.
In this case, it would be cruising on the water magic creature… that would be beyond terrible taste.
“I think a Japanese boat or a rubber boat could go further in, but what would you do? Oh, the Pal, the Galette, or the Add will do just fine.”
I was surprised to find myself with more small boats before I knew it. I must have bought the right boat for the right place, so the number of boats increased without me realizing it.
Everyone looks at each other and falls silent at my question. There are so many choices that they seem to have gotten lost. I think it is time for a meeting.
A ship that crosses the water magic creature, huh? It’s a difficult problem.