The Hidden Dungeon Only I Can Enter

On the way to the village, I was attacked by monsters several times and it took somewhat longer than expected.

Fortunately, I wasn’t injured, but when I understood that there is a lot of nocturnal monsters around here, I became even more concerned about my brother’s well being.

I avoided confirming his life and death with Great Sage. If I got a headache for rapid activation it would be hard to fight, and most of all, I was scared. I would be shocked if it announced that he is already dead…

From the outside, Tonell village seemed to be small and rural. The population must be around several hundred. There was a man on the lookout at the entrance, so I called out to him.

「Did a tall brown-haired man come to this village yesterday? A person dressed like a knight, around twenty years old.」

「Brown hair and dressed like a knight… No, no such person has come here.」

「Maybe he stayed for the night?」

「We had no one like that here. In the first place, you can’t stay at our village in this season. Anniversary of Gaien-sama’s birth is on this week, so for one week we cannot allow outsiders to stay.」

Strange. Great Sage certainly told me that he is in Tonell village. There are no other villages or towns near here.

Then I asked if they were attacked by monsters or bandits last night, but that also was negative. Since I kept repeatedly asking questions he grew suspicious of me, so I decided to tell a made-up story.

「I thought that my brother arrived here first. We were planning to visit the village of the hero together. May I come inside?」

「Leave before the evening.」

「Understood.」

The hostile tone of the villager bothered me, but for now, I enter the village.

「Are you a traveler? Hello.」

Among the people passing-by some were greeting me. However, their eyes seemed cold. I’m treated like a nuisance.

I walk around for a while, but brother is nowhere to be seen. This village had nothing but one-story wooden houses, small fields, farming tools, and wells. Just in case I checked wells, but my brother was not there.

Because the square had marks from a bonfire, I come closer.

「…Clothes?」

A cloth that looked like it remained from burning was lying on the ground. Although I don’t think that it’s brother’s clothes.

If I wanted to use Great Sage this was the time. I ask for the location.

【To the right, location is 30 meters ahead. 】

As I confirm that direction there is a warehouse-like building, so I approach it. It has an iron lock and is unlikely to open easily.

「HEY! What are you doing there!」

An aggressive middle-aged man rushed over with his all, and on the spur of the moment, I apologize.

「I am sorry. I was just wondering what might be there.」

「There is nothing besides the tools of this village. Don’t approach it as you please!」

He was abnormally outraged. There is a limit to how suspicious one can be, so I bite into it.

「Actually, for my school assignment, I wanted to study the hero’s village and write a report on it. Could you show me your farming tools?」

「No, absolutely no. What do I gain from doing that.」

「I can show my gratitude in gold if you don’t mind it being not much.」

「It’s not about money.」

I can’t get to him at all. If I use high-handed methods here it will turn into an uproar. As I was thinking of what to do, an old man with grey hair approaches.

「Why are you yelling?」

「This brat says that he wants to see farming tools and pestering me to open the storehouse.」

「We welcome you at Tonell Village. However, that, we cannot do. That place also contains the village’s treasures. I shall tell you about them so come with me.」

The mood wouldn’t allow me to refuse, so I follow him. I was worried about my brother’s safety, but I cannot get to him at the moment.

I’m guided to the village mayor’s house which looked slightly better than others in the area and was served tea. Without touching it I asked about my brother.

「I agreed with my friend to meet in this village. A blonde, tall person.」

「No such person has come. Even if he came during the day, at the moment travelers cannot stay in the village. Gaien-sama’s anniversary festival is conducted with the people of this village only.」

「The hero Gaien is from here, right?」

「I am his descendant.」

「That is… A great honor to meet you.」

I pretend to flatter him and confirm abilities. The name Oohora Gaien, level 38,【Alchemist C】appears to be his only skill.

Well, it seems there is no doubt that he has inherited Gaien’s blood. I was encouraged to have the tea, but I refuse, stating that I don’t want it.

Throughout the morning, I was told a lot about Gaien. His great achievements, still benefit the village for more than two hundred years.

The tax seems to be light because it is the birthplace of the hero.

「By the way, do you have a fire in the village at night so you can conduct a festival?」

「Why do you ask?」

「There are remains from the bonfire. There also was something that looked like a burned clothes.」

At that moment, the village chief was noticeably disturbed. He tried to fix his expression right away, but his eyebrows were still twitching.

「Oh right, last evening we had a drunkard that nearly burned himself alive.」

What a load of bull. While making a smile, I was convinced. Those people have captured brother.

「How about eating with us at noon?」

「No, I’m fine.」

「Sorry, but can you leave in the afternoon?」

「Yes, I will follow the rules. If a man comes, please relay what Noir is looking for him.」

「Aye, sure.」

I bid farewell at the entrance and left. The mayor was staring at the tea I left behind with squinted eyes.

Most likely, the whole village is involved in keeping my brother in that warehouse.

Suppose, brother was burned yesterday. Would they put that burned corpse into the warehouse? In the first place, you don’t have to burn someone if you want to kill him. Furthermore, I think that piece of cloth didn’t belong to brother.

Despite being a poor noble, brother preferred high-class items, and for his innerwear, he also wouldn’t choose cheap clothes.

Then, brother was kidnapped on yesterday night? Or maybe he saw some else being burned and asked for help?

When I approached the storehouse, that middle-aged man was guarding it.

「You are annoying! You still haven’t given up?」

「No, it’s not like that. I caused you troubles so I came to apologize. I’ll be going already.」

Giving a quick bow with my head, I leave the village temporarily. Of course, I won’t really go home nonchalantly.

I ask little children playing near the village entrance about my brother.

「Don’t know.」

If seems even kids were told to keep their mouth shut. Leaving the village, for now, I move to the place outside, from which that warehouse will be visible. Because the density of buildings in the village is low I can check the warehouse, but in this case, villagers might discover me.

Therefore, I pick a stone large enough for me to cover behind it and store it in subdimension, I will put it at the place five or six hundred meters away from the village. In this case, they won’t be able to see where I’m hiding.

But, now I’m too far away and can’t see anything as well. Therefore I create【Eyesight Adjustment】for 400 LP and make it possible to see in the distance. Since it’s a human’s eye there are limits but at this distance, it’s more than enough to just make a confirmation.

Poking only the face from behind the boulder, I examine the state of the warehouse. The village chief came to the warehouse and talks about something with the man. Probably informed him that what I went back.

The man stopped acting as the guard. I continued to observe.

Then, people come to the village in the evening.

「It’s Emma and others.」

They probably followed after me after seeing my note. However, since it already was late and the sun was setting they were turned away at the entrance.

I thought about coming out and joining with them, but in that case, men at the entrance will be really suspicious. Didn’t he go back, why is he still here, and such.

It’s a pity, but I silently look how everyone head home

When the sun completely disappeared I shortened the distance with the village quite a lot. Although I have【Night Eye】it’s difficult to see from afar.

Villagers also shouldn’t be able to see me in the darkness. Even during the night, nothing happened in the village. However, men and women were having chat near the warehouse, so I cannot go inside yet.

At midnight they moved to the square. There, I sneaked into the village, went to the warehouse and tried to break the lock.

However, for some reason, villagers one after another emerge from houses and run through the village. All of them are heading for the square.

A fire was burning over there and villagers were cheering. Several men, such as the one who was standing on guard during the daytime, came to the warehouse, opened the lock and took out a person from there.

「Nn Nn, NnNnNnh.」

Brother! Looks like he is gagged and can’t talk properly! The wrists were tied up so he was unable to resist, on his face were marks from being hit. It… Wasn’t that bad, but it pissed me off anyway.

「Come on, come on, bring him faster.」

Villagers, all at once flock to the brother. Villagers are level 10 to 30, with several of around level 40. Most didn’t have skills and those who did had only shabby stuff. However, there are around two hundred of them, so forcing my way wouldn’t be easy.

When they arrived to the square, brother was seated in front of the fire and his gag removed.

「Please, spare me, even if you eat me I’m not delicious.」

「Aah? Caan’t hear you.」

「I beg you, I’m really not tasty… Since I was training my meat should be hard, you will get sick…」

「Though you were so weak we wouldn’t even suspect that you were training. Ghahahahaha!」

My brother desperately begging with villagers laughing at that sight. Children also were among them, which surprised me a little. And from the contents of the conversation, do they eat people?

「Today is the last day of the anniversary festival. You were chosen for the finale, act happier.」

「As if anyone would be happy about getting eaten…」

「The man from yesterday was roaring with laughter when he was burning.」

「That’s called screaming…」

「No difference. But rest assured, we won’t burn you! This fire is for the light.」

「… That is…」

「You will be eaten alive!」

Just how crazy can they get. The village chief clasped his hands and gathered everyone’s attention.

「Today is the last day of the birthday festival. Today, eat plenty of meat and blood! By doing so, we will live another year strong and vigorous.」

*Uhoooa* From the villagers comes the earthshaking battlecry, and the village chief pointing at my brother gives a signal.

「First come, first served!」

Everyone starts running simultaneously and try to take the first serving of brother.

「Hee, god, or even devil, I don’t care, but please save me.」

Here! I stop hiding and jump out, attacking the villagers with【Stone Bullet】. When several people fall down, those behind them get stuck on them and also tumble down.

I completely killed their momentum. After that, there was a man from the daytime near my brother so I slash at him.

「Get away from my brother!」

「Tch.」

The men retreated quite far with a backstep. I knew he would do it since he had【Enhanced Backstep】in his skills.

「Noir?! Why, this, is not a dream, right, ekkuh…」

「Brother, if you will cry so much you won’t see in front of you.」

While intimidating the villagers with a sword, I pull out a knife with the left hand and cut the rope that is holding the brother.

Seeing how he immediately stands up, I feel somewhat relieved.

「Can you move?」

「I can also run. Well, that is if these guys will stop clinging to me…」

「Brother, please use this.」

I hand him over the double-edged sword. Brother is not too good with anything except swords, so I will use a different weapon. The weapons that I still have stored away, that would be either penetrating spear or nameless huge mallet, I wonder which would be better.

「You idiots, don’t waver.」

「But elder, this kid is pretty strong.」

「Fine, then I will do it myself, step aside.」

Red stone is held by the village chief. I use【Item Appraisal】and focus on it… That is『Explosive Stone』?!

Since the village chief threw it, I pulled out Champion’s Shield by reflex and stood with it in front of brother.

*BOOOOOOM*

The explosion was loud and powerful, but the shield wasn’t affected at all.

「What is that shield?!」

The village chief shouts. He probably created that thing with his favorite alchemy. I probably can make the same thing.

Anyway, our first priority at the moment is to escape from here. Changing my weapon to the great mallet I swing it around to open the path. I let my brother ran first and follow after him.

「Don’t let them escape, you mustn’t let them get away!」

It’s annoying how villagers keep attacking from behind on desperate orders from the village chief. I throw stones into their faces.

「Guh.」

「Ugah?!」

Since a lot of villagers had a low level, they were easily getting hit by them and the number of pursuers gradually dwindled.

There are two, no, three persistent people I shorten distance on purpose and take them out with【Purple Lightning】. The last one was that mean old man that stood on guard, as he threw his scythe at me, I repelled it with a sword and hit his legs with【Freezing Sphere】.

「What is this?! My legs won’t move!」

Well, they are frozen, so of course they won’t move. Well, we could escape just like this, but I stop my feet.

「This is for the person who was eaten yesterday!」

With the full force right straight punch I hit the old man in the face. I succeeded in breaking several of his front teeth, causing bleeding from the nose and making him pass out.

Recently I often think, that it is also important to punch people who don’t understand words.

「Let’s hurry up, brother.」

We escaped from the village and then kept going through the darkness all night long.