Ch.3636. Sewers (1)

The capital of the Frankish Kingdom, the city of Frank, is an enormous metropolis with a population exceeding 200,000.

In this era where most technologies, including magic, have declined miserably compared to the ancient empire period, one might wonder how a city could possibly sustain such an immense population…

Naturally, since it could never have been built using only the technology remaining in this age, they utilized the legacy of the ancient world.

The capital Frank was designed based on the underground water and sewage facilities that remained after the destruction of an ancient imperial city. Through these facilities, whose principles are barely understood, the water consumed and waste produced by 200,000 humans can be processed.

And the true nature of these water and sewage facilities… is essentially an artificially created dungeon, or a magical realm not unlike an artificial otherworld.

Its width exceeds even that of the capital Frank where 200,000 people reside, and its depth ranges from at least 3 underground levels to as many as 25—truly a natural maze created by human hands.

Additionally, as parts of the sewers collapsed over the long years, unable to withstand the passage of time, the maze-like nature of these facilities has only grown more complex.

Of course, the water supply section that brings drinking water is meticulously maintained, but the sewage section where wastewater flows is genuinely dangerous.

There are all kinds of dangerous slimes that evolved from once-safe slimes that had been modified for sewage treatment but were left unattended for long periods. Magical beasts that somehow found their way inside and adapted to the sewer ecosystem now thrive there.

Sometimes even other races or cultists secretly slip into the sewers and lurk about, making this place impossible to consider safe by any measure…

“[Water, Repel!] …Is that good enough now?”

“The Seer expresses gratitude and agrees with her companion’s opinion.”

Sofia and I, two druids who came to the sewers on a request from the guild with the promise of substantial compensation in addition to our original purpose, began moving forward along the pedestrian paths on either side of the flowing sewage.

The rapidly flowing sewage is blocked by a protective barrier of water-repelling nature magic, and Sofia cast a nature spell that emits a floral scent to prevent the terrible smell from bothering us.

Thanks to magic, we could overcome the disgust in these sewers, and the two official druids… gradually purified the blocked sections of the sewage system according to our request.

[[Pollution, Retreat!]]

The effect of the collaborative spell cast by the two druids sharing their incantation was remarkable.

The magical aura emanating from our bodies washed away the sticky filth on the floor, and the murky, dark-colored wastewater… became relatively clear, except for the waste inside.

However… what made us both frown wasn’t just the dirty environment.

First, the most noticeable were slimes—an independent race with fluid, amorphous bodies like liquid monsters.

Ordinary sewer slimes are left alone since they feed on waste and drink and purify dirty water, but the story changes when it comes to Sludge Slimes that have mutated from these slimes.

Not only have they regained their aggression toward living beings, but they also contain massive amounts of lethal toxins and bacteria. They can even attack distant enemies by spraying concentrated wastewater or filth from their bodies.

Whether due to their inherent limitations, no specimens above intermediate level appear… but sometimes there are opponents that are simply too disgusting to face, regardless of combat power.

In addition, magical beasts that have adapted to the sewer environment are among the troublesome enemies.

The ‘Sewer Alligator’—a magical beast with physical capabilities that are ambiguous to classify as intermediate but too strong for low-level.

The Plague Rat, with its bloodshot eyes and claws coated in deadly bacteria, is an annoying magical beast that appears in groups.

“”””(Die-die!)””””

“(Stupid-fool!)”

“””(Die!)”””

“”(Die-die!)””

These creatures in particular have become sick not only physically but mentally after living in the polluted sewers for extended periods.

For monsters so diseased that even a druid’s abilities cannot communicate with them, only death would be salvation.

“…The Seer is regretting this now.”

“That’s interesting. Actually, so am I.”

Thus, separate from our shared grimacing and grumbling about the terrible environment inside the sewers, we worked together in our own way to purify and break through this disgusting space.

The power of the lightning I unleashed, enhanced by Corin’s power, along with Sofia’s specialization in celestial magic, was extraordinary in this damp, humid sewer space. Even when various magical beasts or monsters occasionally swarmed us, the result was always the same.

After proceeding forward for some time, following what remained of the map and using wild magic to provide night vision…

“””(H-humans)?!”””

“…And who might you be?”

While passing through a wide space lined with tall pillars, I encountered a being I never imagined meeting in these sewers.

※ ※ ※

What I saw was a group of black rats.

They looked much like ordinary rats except for their black fur that rippled with a shadow-like aura, but their true identity was a unique intermediate magical beast called a Shadow Rat Swarm.

Extremely rare among magical beasts for possessing swarm intelligence, with anywhere from 100 to several thousand bodies sharing a single soul, this magical beast might make one wonder why it’s classified as intermediate level based on appearance alone.

Anyone seeing these rats might think that thousands of rats grouped together are still just rats… but in this fantasy world, judging enemies by their appearance is something only fools do.

The Shadow Rat Swarm undeniably possesses combat power worthy of an intermediate magical beast.

First, they have speed befitting their rat-like appearance—a speed that, combined with their small size, makes one wonder how to defeat them as they rush at enemies in an instant.

Additionally, the Shadow Rat Swarm possesses an aggressive ability that normal swarm-type magical beasts lack—their tiny front teeth, barely 10cm long.

The Shadow Rat Swarm’s front teeth have a simple yet powerful ability to completely ignore enemy defenses.

When attacking, they momentarily transform their teeth into an incorporeal state, bypassing hard parts to target only flesh.

No matter how tough the enemy, even an adult dragon or legendary armor, they can ignore that defense and sink their teeth in.

With this considerable offensive power combined with their swarm nature, tremendous speed, and small size, the Shadow Rat Swarm demonstrates why they’re classified as intermediate magical beasts.

But the reason for my surprise wasn’t their combat power.

“Excuse me, why are you all here?”

“””(Speech)? (The human speaks our language)!”””

Shadow Rat Swarms were supposedly hunted to near extinction in ancient times for their teeth, which retain their properties even after death, and according to old texts, almost no specimens should remain today.

“Hmm? Tell me. Why are you here?”

So when I addressed them in the gentlest manner possible, after some hesitation, they began to speak to me.

“””(We, trapped. Here too complex, can’t get out.)”””

“You? But you’re a swarm. Isn’t exploration easy for you?”

“””(This place strange. Can’t see way out. Fall easily die.)”””

In short, they somehow entered the sewer and have been trapped for at least several years, unable to leave freely due to the underground environment.

No matter how I scan with my life-detection ability, there are only about 14 rats here whose lives are connected to each other.

They must have been isolated in an environment with little food, their numbers dwindling one by one until reaching this state.

And then…

“The Seer says that a fated underground connection stands before us.”

“…Is that so?”

The moment Sofia said that in a voice without language translation magic, I began to find these rare rats before me both incredibly cute and admirable.

To miss such an opportunity would truly be the act of a fool.

“I have a proposal for you.”

“””……..?”””

“First, have this.”

The moment I created about a handful of blackberries with simple nature magic that didn’t even require an incantation, their attention focused on this fresh food they likely hadn’t seen in ages.

I placed the blackberries before them, allowing them to finish their meal. Once all the blackberries were gone, I made my proposal to the Shadow Rat Swarm.

“If you form an animal companion contract with me, I’ll get you out of this sewer, protect you, and give you plenty of food. …The price would be obedience, of course.”

“””(Animal companion contract… we do! We will!)”””

The deliberation was brief. My “offer they couldn’t refuse” was quite readily accepted.

So as I was about to begin forming the contract with this rare species, smiling broadly at this unexpected opportunity…

“””(Human, must tell something.)”””

“Hmm? What is it?”

“””(Here, other humans besides you! Strange humans!)”””

“…Strange?”

They had seen other humans, strange people, in this perilous sewer. Unable to ignore such a statement, I paid close attention as the rats began to describe what they had seen…

“””(Among them horn-human! Small horn-human with tail and wings!)”””

‘…What?’

The rat’s words, clearly indicating “a certain being,” were enough to bewilder our entire party, including myself.