Chapter 10

Chapter 10

Hidden Piece (1)

#10

“Watch your step. It’s dark.”

The stairs continued for a long time.

Since there were no lanterns they carefully went down the stairs while placing their hands on the wall.

The footsteps of the two were echoing in the darkness.

“Do you know what kind of building this is?”

“Just looking at the appearance it seems like a supply warehouse.”

“As expected smart. Precisely it’s a warehouse that stored military supplies. A place containing Lady Spera’s ambition.”

Cardo smiled.

Attaching honorifics even in a place without the person, as expected a born slave.

Anyway Bran knew this place.

That it was not a place used as a warehouse or anything now.

“The reason I brought you is because it seems you’ll become the team leader soon. It’s convenient to do the handover in advance.”

“I have no intention of becoming the team leader.”

“Your will doesn’t matter. Anyway the one who appoints the team leader is the higher-ups. Regardless of age or career if you just work well··· ah. We’ve arrived.”

Then Cardo stopped.

There was one more door.

This time too it was an iron door engraved with the crow pattern, but it looked much sturdier than the one above.

When Cardo pulled the door handle red light poured out.

“Hmm.”

Bran frowned.

It wasn’t that bright a light, but to Bran who had lived in darkness for fifteen days it was like a flash.

“This is···.”

Bran slowly looked around.

It was a fairly wide space.

The miscellaneous items scattered everywhere informed that this place had been used as a warehouse in the past.

The red light was leaking from beyond the corner on the opposite side.

‘Yes. I thought a smell like this would waft.’

However what Bran frowned at was not only the light.

A disgusting stench filled the room.

A sour yet fishy smell of death.

Cardo said.

“Hehe, the smell is foul, right?”

“I’m fine.”

“Sturdy. When I first came in I vomited and everything.”

He was already wearing a mask.

To Bran who had left the gas mask in the dorm it felt quite mean-spirited.

He didn’t want to smell it again.

The source of the smell was a pile of sacks in one corner of the warehouse.

Walking with heavy steps, Cardo picked up one sack.

“Here, take it.”

Bran received the sack.

Quite heavy. The lump sensation felt beyond the cloth was unpleasant.

The mouth of the sack was loosely untied.

Looking inside, Bran raised an eyebrow.

“A corpse?”

Inside the sack a pale corpse was crouching.

Skinny. A man of the age just entering from middle age to prime.

It was dry as if embalmed but the corpse smell still remained.

What was in the sacks were all corpses.

Seeing the dry reaction, Cardo let out a hollow laugh.

“Not surprised at this either? Is your heart about twice as big as others?”

“Because I’ve seen a lot of corpses in the past.”

“Really a wondrous guy. Anyway I’ll tell you the work now. Follow.”

Cardo picked up one sack.

The two walked toward the red light.

Turning the corner he had seen earlier, a new space appeared.

“Here. This is it.”

It was a red space like a film photo developing room.

A large hole pierced in the floor caught the gaze.

Diameter about 3m?

The red light was leaking from inside the hole.

Cardo stopped about ten steps away from the hole.

“Newbie. Where do you think that hole leads?”

“I don’t know well.”

“The core of Harmeno’s trunk. Quite a lot of people died to dig to a depth where the toxicity of the sap doesn’t rise. Since it was a large construction that happened before I came I think it was fortunate.”

Bran quietly listened to the story.

Most was content he knew, but if lucky there was room to obtain new information.

“And, below there lives a monster.”

“A monster you say?”

“Yes. A monster that gnaws on Harmeno’s inner flesh. It wanders the thick trunk like its own house and makes the tree sick. The reason our tree grows slowly is also because of that monster.”

It was as he said.

Surprisingly the Harmeno of the Bottom Farm is not very healthy.

The fact that it still hadn’t stuck its head out of the ground was the evidence.

If it had been a young tree in normal condition, peeling the bark would have become much harder.

“But do you know this? That monster was actually brought by Lady Spera.”

“Yes?”

“Really. She paid a very expensive price and bought it and put it inside.”

Bran’s eyes widened.

Information he didn’t know came out right away.

He had thought it just settled on its own.

But he seemed to know why she did such a thing.

“···To slow Harmeno’s growth.”

“What, how did you know?”

“Because if the tree is exposed outside the Crow Bandit Group will go bankrupt. In principle the Three Dragon Trees including Harmeno are assets managed by the state. The moment its existence is discovered the imperial knight order will swarm.”

If that happens everything ends.

Even if the entire Crow Bandit Group rushes in they cannot defeat one imperial knight.

On the day the fact that they were making money with Harmeno’s young tree is discovered, the Crow Bandit Group becomes not a mere bandit of the outskirts but a traitor who defied the heavens.

“Ridiculous. How do you know all that?”

“I just heard it here and there.”

“What is that··· no. It’s comfortable and good for me.”

Cardo sighed.

It seemed he had become too lazy to even ask now.

“Anyway our work is to feed the monster. The corpses we’re holding now. Meat is ultimately a side dish so you only need to give it once every five days.”

“Are the corpses the slaves who died while working in the Bottom Farm?”

“Something like that. Occasionally there are exceptions.”

“Exceptions···.”

“Let’s stop the small talk here. Try first. Just dump the corpse in the sack into the hole.”

Cardo pointed to the hole while grinning.

It was a smile that looked good-natured on the surface, but ample malice was hidden.

The play seemed enough at this point.

Bran said.

“I refuse.”

“What?”

“Team Leader do it first. Until just now you showed examples one by one so why is only this an exception?”

“···Are you acting up to me right now?”

“Something like that. Shall I guess the reason for making me go first? You’re scared I might push you hard from behind.”

Bran put down the sack.

“Scared you can’t endure that I’ll do the same thing you’re trying to do to me.”

“You···!”

“You brought me to kill me. Let’s stop the pretense Cardo.”

At the sudden informal speech Cardo’s face contorted.

Bran stood facing him.

“A bastard with a body the size of a mountain yet insides narrower than a mouse’s asshole.”

“···This fuck!”

Cardo quickly stepped back.

Anyway a cowardly guy. He managed to lure him well.

“I had noticed from quite a while ago. From the first time I came you disliked me. Because a green young kid was holding the gas mask that is the symbol of favor.”

“What. You knew?”

“Wouldn’t it be strange not to know? The only one who still calls me newbie is you.”

Bran clenched and opened his fist.

Every time a cracking sound was made Cardo’s shoulders twitched.

“I could have beaten you up as soon as I entered the warehouse but I didn’t. Because I thought even a pathetic guy like you would have a shred of humanity left. I thought would he try to kill a kid much younger than himself.”

Bran growled.

“But Cardo. You betrayed even my last expectation.”

“Haha··· cut the dog shit newbie. Shut up and do as I say.”

Cardo put his hand in his pocket.

A crude piece of metal was grasped.

Judging from one side being blunt and the other sharp it seemed a knife he made himself.

“No matter how strong you are one knife bread ends it. If you don’t want to become a beehive jump down the hole right now.”

“Ha··· you’re really pitiful. To the point of being pathetic.”

“What?”

“There’s no meaning in living. No gas mask, no single dagger. What the hell did you gain by offering your rear to Delgato?”

Bran let out a hollow laugh.

Cardo’s eyes widened as if they would pop out.

“You···!”

“Huh? What did you gain. Except for the team leader position worse than a school class president. Even a crushed apple that fell will sell more expensively than your ass.”

Bran slapped his own butt.

With his face turned bright red and trembling, Cardo shouted and charged.

“This! I’ll tear you to death you kid!”

“Fuck. He really offered it.”

Bran was horrified.

It was just a probe but he had learned information he didn’t want to know.

Quickly narrowing the distance, Cardo thrust the blade.

“Die!”

Bran calmly responded.

The posture is quite awkward.

Only the body is good, as a fighter he was worse than Mog.

Thwack!

Twisting his shoulder to dodge the stab, Bran planted a straight punch into the abdomen.

“Kuek!”

Cardo staggered.

Nausea welled up. The dull impact pierced the thick abs and shook the organs.

A strike with the speed he had been charging added!

Still whether the weight class is form or not Cardo immediately steadied his posture.

“Impudent bastard!”

He thought he would swing a fist but it wasn’t.

Quickly putting his hand in his pocket he took out a bottle and threw it at Bran’s feet.

Crash!

Glass scattered and white gas burst out.

Cardo quickly retreated.

Just as Bran was about to chase immediately he flinched.

“This is···.”

It was not ordinary smoke.

The inside of his throat and nose became sharply cold.

The inhaled air felt like it was freezing his lungs. His heart was beating at a fast speed.

It was a symptom he had experienced before.

In the mist Cardo’s laughter rang out.

“Haa··· did you, cough! think I would come without any countermeasures against a monster like you?!”

There was coughing mixed in but he seemed relatively fine.

Thanks to wearing a mask unlike Bran.

The fluttering white powder was the spores of the Frost Mushroom.

A narcotic crop grown in the Bottom Farm.

The main symptoms were increased heart rate and improved concentration, pain as if rubbing ice.

Suddenly, the mist on the side split and Cardo popped out.

“Die!”

The guy was firmly gripping the blade.

A mean smile was hanging at the corner of his mouth as if confident of victory.

Natural. The pain from the Frost Mushroom was intense enough to be used even when suppressing protesters.

The moment he thrust the knife aiming at the neck, Bran turned to him.

“You’re really no good.”

“What···”

“Act a bit like a man. What kind of act is this?”

Cardo froze.

Bran was intact.

Although snot was streaming, both eyes were glaring at him without wavering.

Grabbing the wrist holding the dagger, Bran kicked Cardo’s knee as is.

Crunch!!

With a terrible bursting sound Cardo’s right leg bent backward.

“Kyaaaaaak!”

A desperate scream burst out.

Cardo rolled on the floor.

White bone had torn the pants and protruded.

The guy who had been wailing like a newborn raised his head and faced Bran.

“Huk, h-how!”

“Now I can endure this much.”

Bran said calmly.

There was pain but not to the point he couldn’t endure.

Compared to Harmeno’s sap, Frost Mushrooms were no different from a light allergy.

The dwarf’s initiation also played a part.

『You are continuously overcoming a dangerous environment. Weed’s Tenacity activates!』

『Resistance to plant toxins increases slightly.』

Even in that the resistance was growing.

The white mist was slowly settling.

Ptui. Spitting out the saliva mixed with spores, Bran looked down at Cardo.

“So. Done?”

“A-aaaah···!”

Cardo’s complexion turned pale.

The guy reached out his hand but Bran ignored it and kicked his face.

Thwack-!

Teeth that popped out like popcorn flew into the sky.

“Uup!”

Cardo fell backward.

The blade fell from his hand and a clear sound rang out.

Barely raising his upper body, the guy covered his face and sobbed.

“M-my face··· my face···!”

The nose that was touched was turned in a grotesque direction.

At least more than seven teeth were sparkling on the floor.

Bran approached with large steps.

“Come here. You need to get hit more.”

“Hiiik!”

Cardo stepped back while sitting on his butt.

The guy who retreated like a mouse soon had his back to the hole.

“W-wait Bran! Wait!”

“No.”

“I-I was wrong! I did something I shouldn’t have done! Okay?!”

Cardo who clasped both hands like a fly began begging earnestly.

In the appearance of streaming tears and snot the dignity of the team leader could not be found.

Bran shook his head.

“If you thought of killing others you should have been prepared to die too.”

“If you kill me everyone won’t stay still! You’ll be torn to death too!”

“Using the excuse you were going to use. While trying to feed it I fell, what can I do?”

“A-no! Please! I’ll live quietly so just once··· gack.”

It was then.

Cardo who had been appealing for mercy froze in place.

“Huh···?”

Cardo slowly lowered his gaze.

A milk-white tentacle had pierced his belly and come out.

Bran spat out a curse.

“Ah, damn it.”

“Ugeuk. Ugh.”

Blood water leaked from Cardo’s mouth.

The opposite side of the tentacle was connected to the hole.

A following tentacle stem was slowly wrapping his face.

“······Bran..guk! Me a bit”

Just as Cardo was about to say something.

Crunch!

A form that suddenly protruded from inside the hole swallowed him.

“······!”

Not even a dying scream remained.

Bran’s brow furrowed.

It looked similar to the previous tentacles but the size was dozens of times larger.

The appearance with Harmeno’s sap smeared all over the body was reminiscent of a parasite just pulled out from the intestines.

【Kirurururu···.】

It slowly detached its mouth from the floor.

The maw split into four was full of sharp teeth.

In the place where Cardo had been, only a blood puddle, mucus, and three or four severed fingers were rolling.

“···Attracted by the Frost Mushroom spores it seems.”

Bran clenched his teeth.

It was a face he knew. Although he had never faced it when it was this weak.

The thin tentacles connected to the body were wriggling like snakes searching for prey.

The seven eyeballs scattered all over the body were rolling and surveying the surroundings.

The moment it that had finished the meal looked down at Bran.

『The presence of an otherworldly being presses down on you!』

『You have been seized by the status abnormality “Fear”.』

『Physical abilities decrease.』

Messages rose one after another.

Unlike usual the background was red.

That much it meant the current situation was dangerous.

The sound of the pounding heart became even louder.

“Huu··· huuu···.”

The sound of quickened breathing was echoing.

Harmeno’s monster.

The real name is the Serpent of Dementia.

In some aspects a more difficult opponent than Spera or Delgato.

“Unlucky as expected···.”

Bran muttered.

Originally it was not a guy to face now.

He had intended to catch it at the end of the escape, but the plan had gone thoroughly awry.

Insufficient specs.

A body exhausted from overwork and lack of sleep.

The worst situation where he couldn’t call for support or run away.

『Strong Mental Power resists Fear!』

That was why Bran did not retreat.

『The status abnormality “Fear” is released.』

『Part of the decreased physical abilities is restored!』

Because there is nothing more foolish than a guy with no way back being scared.

Bran smiled.

“Nice to meet you. Hidden Piece.”

【Kirururururu!】

The Serpent of Dementia roared. Bran kicked the ground and ran out.

The serpent charged with its maw open but Bran succeeded in dodging by a paper-thin difference.

Puhak!

Grabbing a small tentacle and climbing onto the serpent, Bran stabbed Cardo’s blade in.