Chapter 82: To Doubt is to Win

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 Elna-sensei’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. Elna-sensei 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 pass 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, shit! 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 sparsely 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.