Chapter 241

The exploration strategy meeting ended late in the evening.

"Ugh~"

"That was a good meal."

"The lord's chef really knows how to cook, doesn't he?"

Kuilan and the members of the Penal Squad returned to their military barracks, patting their full bellies.

Every time there was a strategy meeting, Ash fed them. The food provided in the barracks was of a higher quality and tasted better than their regular meals, so the Penal Squad members ate until they were full.

They returned to their quarters, relishing their satisfied stomachs.

"Welcome back, guys!"

As they entered their quarters, they were greeted by a warm food aroma... and Kureha was waiting for them.

Startled, Kuilan and the Penal Squad members flinched.

"Uh, brother? What brings you here?"

"They said I no longer needed treatment at the temple, so I was discharged."

Apart from the 'curse', Kureha's condition had recovered enough that he didn't need to convalesce at the temple. Though they recommended he stay, Kureha insisted on leaving to look after his younger brother.

"Do you know how worried I was thinking you guys might be eating poorly, not cleaning, and not washing your clothes?"

"Uh... well, about that..."

"As I expected, look at this place! Haven't I always told you? Live like humans, behave like humans!"

Looking at Kureha's scolding, Kuilan and the Penal Squad members all thought the same thing.

'Is he our grandmother...?'

"Anyway, I've cleaned, done the laundry, and everything."

Indeed, the once-dirty quarters where five men lived was now sparkling clean, and the piles of laundry were washed and neatly hung up.

Impressed by Kureha's exceptional homemaking skills, all five members of the Penal Squad clapped in admiration.

Kureha smiled warmly and gestured them inside.

"You guys must be hungry after working late, right? I've prepared food."

...And on the dining table were meals for five.

Kuilan, pale, waved his hands frantically.

"Uh... brother, we've already eaten a lot..."

"What do you mean by 'a lot'? At your age, you should be starving after some activity. You can eat more."

"No, we really ate a lot..."

"Besides, you have another exploration mission tomorrow, right? You need to eat well and gather strength. Come on, sit down!"

Kureha forcefully grabbed the resisting Kuilan's arm.

"Look at this, look! You've lost weight from all the hard work! You're all skin and bones!"

Skin and bones? 

Looking up at Kuilan's massive physique, the rest of the Penal Squad members broke into cold sweats.

Where in the world is there such a huge skeleton?

Regardless, under Kureha's insistence, Kuilan and the Penal Squad members had no choice but to sit at the table.

"Eat, eat a lot! You need to eat more and grow, my adorable siblings!"

Kureha, with a kind grandmotherly smile, personally tore food into pieces and put it onto the plates of Kuilan and the Penal Squad members.

"Eat."

"..."

"I said, eat."

In the end, all five members of the Penal Squad had to force down a second dinner.

As they could eat no more and began to flee with screams, Kureha managed to forcibly sit them down and ensured every last bit of food was consumed.

***

"It's good to see you healthy, brother..."

Outside the military lodgings. The relaxation area.

Kuilan, panting heavily while holding onto his distended belly due to overeating, looked with concern at the figure standing next to him.

"Isn't this too much? Right after getting discharged, you're cleaning, doing laundry, and cooking."

"..."

"You don't need to feel burdened to take care of us. Look after yourself more."

"After I got like this, I've only been a burden to you all."

Kureha leaned on the staff he got from the temple. It was difficult for him to walk because of his mummified left leg.

Using the end of his staff, Kureha lightly tapped his left leg and muttered bitterly,

"When there's something to be done, I'll do it if I can."

"..."

Kuilan, who had been silently observing his brother, grinned.

"Once we reclaim our homeland, the curse on our bodies will be lifted. Just hold on a little longer, bro."

"...Yeah."

Kureha gazed far to the north.

"I want to go back soon... to our homeland."

After a brief silence, Kureha changed the topic.

"So, how is it, little bro? How does it feel to work and earn a salary?"

"It's not as bad as I thought."

Kuilan shrugged with a smile.

"It does feel awkward, like wearing ill-fitting clothes. But the feeling isn't too bad."

"We never had the chance to live this kind of life. I'm glad you got this opportunity."

Immediately after, Kureha let out a deep sigh.

"Except for the fact that your job is too dangerous... How about the exploration tomorrow? Isn't it dangerous?"

"Well, according to the prince, it seems like it's going to be a pretty tough battle... But you know I have incredible luck, right?"

Kuilan winked at his brother.

"I've inherited your awesome fortune. So, I'll be fine tomorrow as well."

"..."

"The name 'Kureha of Great Luck', the 'Miraculous Kureha'... I, Kuilan, have inherited it. So, just wait and don't worry, bro."

Slowly, Kureha raised his left fist and held it out.

"Here, take some more. My luck."

Kuilan, chuckling, raised his own fist in response.

"I won't refuse. Gladly."

The brothers' fists met in the air and then parted.

***

The next morning. At the lord's mansion.

As party members began to arrive, Kellibey came in person, carrying the silver nail shooter I ordered. "Is your back feeling better?"

Clank!

"Wow, it works."

While I was testing the silver nail shooter attached to my arm, Kellibey asked with a worried expression,

"You're going to assault the 'Inner Gate Checkpoint' today? It's pretty tough there."

"We have to get past there to enter the 6th Zone. We'll have to face it someday anyway. It's best to strike while the iron is hot, right?"

"Hmm, that's true... But be careful. I've seen a lot of guys fall there and not get up."

Kellibey, after advising, exclaimed, "Ah!" and pulled out a small pouch from his belongings to hand it to me.

"Also, could you give this to Nameless on your way?"

"What's this?"

"A magic sharpening stone. While I'm not around, Nameless might need to maintain her sword. It's really old and needs frequent care."

It seemed like a small errand on my way, so I took it.

Upon viewing the vast expanse of the game world, Ash wondered aloud, "By the way, what exactly is that black weapon of Nameless? It's emitting light... How powerful a magical weapon is it to be able to do that?"

I was curious because, throughout the entirety of the game, I had never seen a weapon with such potency.

Even the average SSR-grade equipment would be easily surpassed by its power.

At this, Kellibey suppressed a giggle and chuckled, "Do you know the name of that old rusty sword?"

It was an odd question.

I blinked in surprise. Judging by its power, I'd assume it would have a legendary name, something out of a myth perhaps?

"What is it?"

"It's called 'Ordinary Iron Sword'."

"What...?"

"It's nothing more than a sturdy old blade without any particular abilities."

"But how does such an ordinary sword wield such power?"

Kellibey shrugged mischievously in front of my bewildered face, "Who knows? You might want to ask Nameless about that."

I furrowed my brows in dissatisfaction.

Why do people around here always avoid giving spoilers?

***

[Now Loading...]

[Tip - The difficulty sharply rises from the 6th zone of the Lake Kingdom Dungeon. Make sure you're well-prepared before entering!]

***

Flash-!

Lake Kingdom. Base Camp.

Upon landing in this now-familiar territory, reminiscent of the backyard of a mansion, I saw that a few people had gathered.

There was the teleporting NPC, Grandma Coco, Verdandi from our party, and...

"Nameless!"

The dungeon merchant NPC, Nameless.

I approached to greet her warmly, but something seemed off.

"Ah, Ash. You're here."

The once clean Nameless... was filthy.

Just a few days ago, she had been freshly washed(?), but now she was covered in dirt and blood. Her once silky white hair was disheveled, sticking out in every direction.

Her doll-like beautiful face was hidden by the strands of her messy hair.

I couldn't help but react with dismay.

"Why are you so dirty after I took the time to clean you up?"

"In this hell, cleanliness is a luxury."

Nameless replied calmly, scratching her head, "I had some intense battles these past days, and ended up like this again."

"Or maybe you're just messy?"

On Nameless's dirty white hair, the red ribbon that Aider had tied for her last time dangled pitifully.

At least she kept that on.

I handed Nameless the magic sharpening stone I got from Kellibey.

Gratefully, Nameless took it and immediately began sharpening her old sword.

"I was just thinking I needed to maintain my sword. It was troublesome without Kellibey... You came at the right time, Ash. Thank you."

"I just ran an errand, that's all..."

As Nameless worked the stone, producing magical sparks that flew from the blade, I remembered what Kellibey told me. I hesitated, wondering whether to ask about the true nature of that old sword.

Nameless glanced at me.

"Verdandi told me. You plan to attack the inner fortress checkpoint today?"

"Yeah. I thought it might be time to venture deeper into the dungeon."

"Hmm..."

Nameless sighed deeply.

"I'd like to stop you if I could... but then you'd never make it to the other side."

I blinked.

Want to block me? Why?

"Be careful, Ash. The deeper you go, the darker it becomes."

Nameless repeated the warning I've heard countless times.

"Never, ever, extinguish the flame."

"..."

"May luck be with you."

For some reason, that farewell sounded more ominous today.

Nameless began tending to her sword, and leaving her behind at the base camp, my party members and I set forth.

Deep into the dungeon.

Toward the checkpoint in Zone 6.

***

After leaving Zone 5 and entering the beginning of Zone 6.

"Huh?"

"What is..."

"What's this?"

The party members simultaneously gasped in surprise.

It was because they felt the surrounding darkness intensify all at once.

It felt as if the night sky was descending to the ground.

The high ceiling seemed to close in on us, making it hard to breathe...

Crawling, crawling.

Scratching, scratching...

The unique sound of this place's darkness, like bugs nibbling, had grown significantly louder.

"From here on, it's the Lake Kingdom's depths. Also known as the 'real' dungeon." 

Verdandi, who had been leading the way, turned to us with a grim expression.

"I've seen countless adventurers die here over the centuries. Most of them lost their lives in this place."

"..."

"Many skilled and talented individuals fell, unable to overcome the challenges of these depths."

Holding her lantern higher, Verdandi once again took the lead.

"I earnestly ask of you, brace yourselves... and I hope you remain intact."

Suppressing our unease, we pushed through the jungle-like darkness.

We delved deeper into the heart of the Lake Kingdom.

Pushing through the encroaching darkness, just as we finally made our way in...

"...Ah."

We had arrived.

At the long wall, encompassed by shadows as vast as a mountain range.

'So this is the inner sanctuary of the Lake Kingdom...'

Then,

"...?"

Something strange caught my eye.

The state of the wall, separating the city's inner and outer sanctums... it was bizarre.

The bricks that made up the wall weren't neatly stacked on the ground.

They were pulled from the ground, ignoring the laws of physics, floating in mid-air.

If it was just that, maybe I would have moved on. But,

"What..."

The problem was what was stacked between those bricks.

"What is this..."

People.

Dark, shadowy figures of people, thousands, no, tens of thousands...

Countless 'things' in the shape of humans, stacked like bricks, floated slowly in the air.

Almost like a wall reaching the sky.

Not only Kuilan, who lacked dungeon experience, and the Penal Squad members but also Lucas, Damien, and Evangeline, who had defeated various monsters, were stunned.

Even I was.

Frozen in place by this surreal and eerie sight.

Verdandi's bitter voice whispered in my stunned ears.

"This is the real hell beneath the lake..."

My head was spinning.

"It's the deep demon realm."