Chapter 93: The Armored Omen
Orcs are fairly common monsters to encounter.
So, when the time comes to face a horde of orcs, it will prove to be quite helpful.
With that, everything that needed to be secured was secured.
All that was left was to return.
However, there was one more thing to say.
"The power structure of the 10th floor has completely changed now."
"That's true," Gwen responded with a contemplative look.
Originally, there were three factions.
But now, only two remained: humans and the undead.
In some ways, this was potentially more dangerous.
The delicate balance that had been maintained by watchful eyes was broken, and one battle could potentially lead to an all-out war of extinction.
Especially since the human residents, emboldened by this great victory, might become overly ambitious and aim to wipe out the undead as well.
But I had a card to play to calm them down.
"It might be best to avoid large fights for the time being and focus solely on defense."
My words caused the faces of the residents, who had been considering an attack, to twitch.
Gwen glanced at them and then asked me, "Is there a reason for that?"
"We've managed to secure a source of food with this victory, but your conditions don't look too good.
If you're planning to make a move, it would be best to wait until you've received my supplies and are in the best condition, right?"
"Huh, I certainly think so."
Gwen smirked and turned to the other residents.
"Did you all hear that clearly? Don't get any strange ideas and focus on defense. Receiving supplies safely is our top priority."
"Understood, Captain," the residents responded.
With that, my work here was done.
"I'll be leaving then. Stay safe, everyone."
"May you all be safe as well."
"Ha-ha. The surface isn't that much of a hell."
For now, anyway.
I smirked inwardly.
"Let's go then, juniors."
"Are you sure this is your first time here?" Kamian asked with a peculiar expression.
"Yes."
"But how can you act so boldly?"
He seemed utterly baffled.
"Instinct."
I sold the idea of having a good instinct once again.
"And desperation."
"What?" Kamian couldn't quite grasp the connection between my actions and desperation.
The behaviors I had shown underground were far from desperate.
I kindly explained.
"You got involved because of me. That's why I was more desperate than usual. If something went wrong with you, it would all be on me. Fortunately, that desperate action seems to have led to a good outcome."
"Se, Senior..." Annette seemed touched by my words.
But that was Annette being kind-hearted.
Kamian was different.
He looked at me incredulously, as if questioning whether I was always like this.
I chuckled.
Regardless of what they felt, they had to acknowledge my ability now.
That was enough.
Now, my presence in the protagonist's mind was indelible.
"Anyway, I'm thankful to you two. If it weren't for you, things wouldn't have turned out this well."
"No, if Senior hadn't seen through that strange woman's trick in the central square earlier, we would have been in big trouble."
We exchanged warm words.
That's the good thing about talking with nice folks.
Kamian just stared at me with a look that said, "What's gotten into him?"
Well, I'm unpredictable, kid.
Are we done?
Clang!
I opened the lift's door.
"Let's go up."
The elevator opened.
A forest lay before me.
Only I knew where it was.
A nameless forest located outside of the City of Saint Lepheria.
By the time we had walked from the underground to the central square, we had already covered enough distance to get outside the city.
And the location of this elevator was exactly in this forest.
Thinking about the distance, it would be tight to make it back before curfew.
But it doesn't really matter.
It's not like anything serious happens if you're late for curfew just once.
"It's getting dark," Annette said.
As she said, the sky was growing dim.
"Yes, it's about that time."
"Should I light it up?"
"Yeah."
"Light."
Whoosh.
Annette lit up the place with light magic.
And at that moment.
"Kyaaaak?"
Annette screamed in surprise as if she had discovered something.
"Kaugh?" Kamian also picked up his sword in surprise.
They had discovered an armored person.
Anyone would be startled if they saw a monster over 2m tall, completely covered in armor.
'I guess they didn't see it earlier.'
I thought to myself.
Although I urged them to come down immediately in case the situation changed, it was ultimately up to the armored person's discretion.
If they had decided to hide their presence, we would never be able to find them with our current abilities.
It was because they decided to reveal themselves that we saw them.
"Kugh. What the heck is that monster?" Kamian asked with a trembling voice out of tension.
He seemed to instinctively realize that this being was incredibly powerful.
Annette was also shivering with fear.
"I don't know. But it seems like it has something to say to us."
"Ha. It has something to say?"
Annette stepped back behind me as if hiding.
It seemed that even more than her favorite childhood friend, my back felt just a little safer.
It seems that people instinctively seek safety when faced with danger.
I chuckled at the absurdity of it.
"Yeah. Seems like it."
As if waiting for my cue, the armored person moved their hand.
Click-click, click, click-click.
The movements were mechanical and stiff.
It was doubtful whether a human body could really be inside.
Regardless, the meaning was somehow conveyed.
It was sign language.
"What, what is that supposed to mean?" Annette blinked her frightened eyes.
"It's sign language."
"What?"
"Sign language."
I kindly interpreted for them.
"If you disclose what you have seen and heard here, you will die."
A chilling message.
It must have felt more ominous because I said it in a nonchalant voice.
Annette shivered, and Kamian flinched.
"Is that message really correct?" Kamian asked for confirmation.
There was no need for me to answer.
The large face of the armored person nodded down.
Kamian and Annette's expressions hardened.
Click-click, click-click.
The armored person signed again.
I immediately interpreted.
"The individual clearly warned you. Remember this if you wish to live."
Thump!
As soon as I finished interpreting, the armored figure kicked off the ground and disappeared in an instant.
It seemed there was no further business with us.
Only then did Kamian and Annette's expressions relax a bit.