Chapter 22

Something you can’t escape to

This hypothesis makes me convinced a little .

My abnormal skills are not as bad as what others think .

However, this theory does not explain why is it that I have a low correction value .

There is a very large difference compared to A-Ranks .

Well, A-Ranks may have a different growth rate from me...

The calculation for the correction value for every level-up doesn’t necessarily have to be the same multiplication system .

However, even after passing through 10o levels, the increase in Physical Strength in my status is still lesser than Oyamada’s initial value .

Even now, I still don’t think that E-Rank is not superior than A-Rank .

No, even just the unique skill itself have an abnormal performance .

I may not be able to think like that if my whole skill set is taken out .

[Well, there is no way I could verify that hypothesis, and there’s no way that will happen while I’m here . ]

I still have a way to fight back .

That’s enough for me now .

I waited for the death of the dragon zombie in silence for a while .

If it dies when it’s far away, would I still get the experience?

I’d like to be able to try that, but...

I want this monster’s experience .

I leave it at the time I first encounter another monster .

It’s not the time for me test my doubts .

A fairly long time passes .

[Guuuiioooohhh!! Eeeerrrhhh...!]

The dragon zombie had finally fell .

It certainly had quite a lot of HP .

It took quite a while for it to die .

I know that naturally isn’t an instant death skill .

It can’t be helped that it takes quite some time .

Most of all, the existence could be said to be my life line .

Without this skill, I would have been completely stuck .

It’s just... there’s a small thing I’m worried about .

Right now, another problem has occurred .

[...... . ]

There were problems I had already solved .

Countermeasures against monsters .

Hunger .

Thirst .

[This is indeed... quite a serious problem...]

My eyes were getting heavier .

Yes— I’m sleepy .

The excessive tension after being summoned .

The extreme tension after being transferred to this ruins .

Several full speed sprints, escapes from death, correspodence with the hierarchy in ranks, and the passage of time...

The immediate crisis is now gone .

I may not be fully satiated, but I was able to eat .

Because of that though, the tensed nerves within my body have temporarily relaxed .

My brain is now sending complaints about wanting rest .

A feeling of fatigue is now washing over my body, enveloping it with sleepiness .

It seems that I still can’t escape sleepiness even if my status goes up .

It also looks like the correction values are decreased due to the lack of sleep .

But what can I do about this?

If I had companions here, someone could have kept watch .

However, I’m in a situation where I couldn’t afford to make mistakes .

There’s a reason why this ruins had its reputation .

Is there any rooms in a ruin like this?

[It’s just that...]

I look upwards .

The gentle spiral slope that continues upwards .

I’m going to climb that, right?

Can I keep on climbing even if I’m this drowsy?

Won’t I fall down halfway up there?

Isn’t that dangerous?

Although the area boss, the zombie dragon was defeated...

From my experience, I don’t think it’s limited to just that one dragon .

What should I do?

Where could I sleep?

Is there a suitable place somewhere in this wide limestone cave-like area?

I decided to walk around this area to search first .

I’ll go into the hole where the dragon zombie has came out of .

[Umph...]

I could smell a peculiar strong pungent odor .

The further I walk, the narrower the hole is .

The back was completely filled with a green liquid .

It somehow looks like an underground waterway .

Though, it looks like the liquid flowing seems to be acid .

I pick up a stone and put halfway of it on the liquid .

Shuwawawaaa... .

It seems to be weaker than acid than the bodily fluids of a monster .

But the odor that it’s releasing is so bad .

I don’t think I can sleep with this pungent smell around .

I got out of the hole and went around the whole area again .

However, I couldn’t find any place where I can hide .

[This is bad...]

It’s very difficult to sleep with my body defenseless around possible harm...

[Hmm?]

The dragon zombie is collapsed near the wall .

The dragon zombie’s bones were cluttered .

It’s probably the effect of I’ve just used on it .

It’s body may have been bent or even broken because of the sudden weight that it’s incapable of supporting .

You’re almost completely weak when you’re asleep .

Suddenly, an idea came up on my mind .

But,

[ . . would this idea even work?]

I went closer and touched the dragon bone .

Next, I pulled away its arm and struck it with my fist .

Gaahhhh!

It’s hard .

[It’s strength is okay... I think . But...]

Is there an appropriate place that the same as what I’m thinking of?

[Ah...]

I climb up to the bones that are elevated .

[How about here...?]

A part where thick bones were folded over .

I look over into the area .

A hole was confirmed in the back of a crevice .

Is it possible for one person to enter?

And also, this crevice–

[Should I go?]

Oof .

I’m trying to squeeze my body into the gap between the bones .

Can I even squeeze in here . . ?

[Guh...]

Flop!

[ . . and there–]

I slipped through .

I illuminate my leather bag while looking around .

The gap is around the size of a person lying alone .

However, it seems impossible to stand up .

The length of the hole is limited as it only reaches up to my waist .

However, that’s enough .

[It’s a bit smelly, but this is my inn for the night . ]

The smell of rotten meat can’t be helped .

I’m fine with it in exchange for my personal safety .

It’s better than the pungent odor from the hole earlier .

It seems that the strong, acidic body fluids of the dragon zombie have not oozed out here .

I went out of the hole for a moment .

There are a lot of fine bones scattered about here .

They’re parts of a broken bone when the dragon zombie fell .

I choose some of the thinner bone fragments and picked them as many as possible .

I place one of them on the ground and stepped on it .

Pekkiii~

The sound of breaking bone .

Alright...

It’s quite soft with this level of thinness .

The sound it’s making is reasonably clear .

[Here, put some of them here... here also...]

The ground around the dragon zombie .

I’ve scattered bones in the area around the crevice I’m staying at without leaving a single gap .

If a monster like that birdhead tries to approach me while I’m sleeping,it’ll inevitably step on one .

This provides me a simple alarm system .

Well, time to go back...

When I returned to the inn made of bones, I sat down and leaned against the bony wall .

It’s dangerous if I sleep lying down .

It would be better if I sleep while I’m in a sitting position so that I could move immediately .

The drowsiness is slowly getting over me .

I close my eyes .

And as I expected .

I came to sleep at once .

v

—Pakkiii—

My awareness rapidly awakened me .

I slowly opened my eyes .

[...they really came, huh . ]

How long have I been asleep?

My mind was— quite clear .

If you were able to successfully sleep deeply, you would be able to recover sufficiently even if it’s just a short time .

Well, I saw that in the internet .

My body... still feels a bit heavy .

It’s probably because I’ve just woken up .

Well then, what kind of monsters—

—Pakkiii—

Hmm?

–Pakkii—Merriii—Pekkiii—Pekkiii—

It’s not just one...?

I peek outside through the gaps between the bones .

I can’t see clearly from where the angle I’m looking from . n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

However, I understood clearly .

[I see . ]

It seems a crowd has gathered .

[It’s a large group that had arrived . ]