I've just arrived at the Royal Capital's cavern.
After a month of gruelling cave delving training in the city, I'm finally ready to challenge this place!
There appears to be some sort of commotion up ahead though?
Dozens of veteran delvers are gathered around the guard at the entrance of the cavern.
I approach one of the rookies that I recognise from my training class.
"Hey, what's going on here?" (Rookie)
"Hmm? Ah it's you-… hello." (Other rookie)
That pause… he definitely forgot my name.
I forgot his as well though.
"Seems like that magic water replenishing tool our guild leader had installed got stolen." (Other rookie)
"Water replenishing tool?" (Rookie)
I've heard the guild leader bought something crazy from the capital's notoriously eccentric inventor. I guess that's what he's talking about.
"Yeah, the veterans are surprisingly riled up about it…" (Other rookie)
Just as he finished saying that, the veterans all started shouting in unison.
"UWOOOOH!!!" (Veteran crowd)
The earth is shaking.
"LET'S GET THAT BASTARD THIEF AND BRING BACK OUR MAGIC WATER SOURCE!!" (Veteran hype man speaking to the crowd)
"WROOOOOOH!!" (Veteran crowd)
"W- woah- they really are worked up about it… I've never seen any of the veterans this emotional before…" (Rookie)
I'm getting kind of riled up myself from just standing nearby all these shouting adults covered in muscles and scars.
Feels like we're going to war!
Huh? There's an out of character looking dainty man mixed in with the crowd.
Wait… Isn't that? It looks exactly like the description of that notorious inventor I was just thinking about…
"What are you doing? Let's follow them!" (Other rookie)
Oh, the other rookie grabbed my attention away, seems like they're all entering the cavern now.
"HEY! Are you two rookies?!" (Nearby veteran)
"Y- yes sir!" (Both rookies)
"Then stay close and watch where you put your feet greenhorns. There's plenty of dangers in a cave expedition. Don't make the mistake of getting comfortable just because you're in a large group." (Nearby veteran)
"Yes sir!" (Both rookies)
◇◆◇
"Odd…" (Veteran group leader)
"Yeah. There ought to at least be some neutral blobs wandering the first layer. Seems like something has been wiping them out." (Veteran 2)
*Gulp* (Rookie)
"Hmmm? Getting the nerves rookie? Don't worry hahaha!" (Veteran 2)
The veteran that spoke to us before, arranged for us to get put near the front of the group of veterans.
He said it'd be a good experience for us and all the other veterans seemed to agree.
"It'll probably be another pack of stray gust wolves from the second layer." (Veteran group leader)
"Another?" (Other rookie)
"Someone's been enticing lower layer demons lately by leaving the corpses of slaves behind on the first layer." (Veteran group leader)
Everyone's expressions went cold.
*Gulp* (Both rookies)
"It's one of those pompous nobles that have taken up delving to show off to their social circles." (Veteran 2)
The other veteran next to us told us who it was with a stern face and a hushed voice.
"You ought to have been warned about them before." (Veteran 2)
"Yes sir…" (Both rookies)
Slave magic… scary…
There's only a handful of people who still know how to use that taboo magic. I heard someone nearly wiped all the practitioners out years ago.
"Let's move." (Veteran group leader)
◇◆◇
"What the hell is this…" (Veteran group leader)
"Is that the elder cursed stump?!" (Veteran 2)
All the veterans behind us began murmuring among themselves.
"What's wrong sir?" (Other rookie)
"…this thing is one of the most powerful demons on the first layer." (Veteran group leader)
The leader noticed the other rookie and my increasingly frightened expression.
"Don't get me wrong, it's no match for any of us veterans or any of the demons on the second layer for that matter, but…" (Veteran group leader)
"It's suspicious that there's no traces left of other cursed stumps. Ordinarily they travel in groups of up to 5." (Veteran group leader)
"And most of all, look at its face rookie." (Veteran 2)
The other veteran interjected and pointed at the huge cursed stump's face.
"Hmmm?" (Rookie)
We both got up closer to the corpse that seemed to be nearly three times larger then us.
When I followed the direction the veteran was pointing, I noticed its face.
It looked exactly like the pictures I'd seen in textbooks, it's as if someone carved a scary jagged mouth and 2 eyes into a thick tree trunk.
Though there is one thing off about it.
If I recall right, the cursed stump was supposed to be a prideful demon that was well-known for its unceasing ominous grin.
"It looks terrified…" (Other rookie)
He took the words right out of my mouth.
"Exactly rookie. I doubt that nobleman has the gumption to give these demons such an expression." (Veteran 2)
"Something isn't right here. Either that nobleman has managed to get his hand on an extraordinary slave or…" (Veteran group leader)
*Gulp-*
I swallowed my saliva again. Feels like I've been doing that a lot since getting dragged along with this group.
"James! Get over here!" (Veteran group leader)
The leader shouted for someone in the crowd of delvers around us.
"I'm here!" (James)
"Get back to the guild and report that we might have a potential third layer cavern break." (Veteran group leader)
"Tell Ben we might need both of the leaders for this one. I've got a bad feeling about this." (Veteran group leader)
The delver names James swiftly ran off towards where we just came from.
"T- the third level?" (Rookie)
"It's just a hunch kid, don't shit yourself just yet." (Veteran group leader)
"But there's definitely no delvers nor demons from the first or second layer that I know of that could leave an expression like that on a cursed stump." (Veteran group leader)
"Let's continue! If things get dicey you folks know what to do!" (Veteran group leader)
Despite the fear welling up inside of me, I can't help but put one step in front of the other.
This is the disease all delvers have. A morbid curiosity for the unknown.
All of us foolish enough to indulge in this kind of profession have that same mindset in common.
Honestly, we're all doomed for an early grave.
But we can't help ourselves.
It's our calling.
what could have happened? It's left me stumped
My guess would be...
The blobs were missing in action largely due to the protagonist hunting them for magic stones.
And the stump is in its current condition after experiencing the protagonists 'Mental' ability.
@SpinyNerd Very funny
...Did you just-
Personally I would prefer another chapter over an animation but I like both.
Thanks for the chapter here is my potatoes????
Thank you for the new chapter!
I see he's finally making use of his scarecrow fear abilities.
Blob Neutral
My previous comments idea just has been strenghend and hoooo, boi, I'm hyped for this story. Tho don't worry author I have no expectations you need to fulfill, I just enjoy the vibes this story got
I sorta want to see the mc instead of legs at first it's like little root legs under his pole that will move him. Or the mc at some point being able to leave his scarecrow for a small amount of time into a new host or monster, why I said this is because he is technically poltergeist a ghost who possesses objects or people. If you read up on them or where I am a low level poltergeist can only move objects slightly, a mid level can possess objects and move objects more freely, a high level poltergeist can possess pretty much anything, the highest tier poltergeist can take a physical form without needing a host.
MC is right now technically the lowest level of a poltergeist were they can only slightly nudge things
@Businesssn How the names would go is lowest poltergeist, lesser poltergeist, low poltergeist, lesser medium poltergeist, middle medium poltergeists, high medium poltergeist, lesser high poltergeist, middle high poltergeist, highest high poltergeist, advance poltergeist.
Names can be swapped around with the ranks, but that usually what it looks like
Animate some f the battle scenes
I really want to see his battle against the crows
Hohohohohohoslave owner dude is dying