Paradigm Parasite

verywhere, but nothing happened until we reached the stairs.

 

　After descending the stairs, we found ourselves in an open area.

An open space.
In my experience, open spaces are dangerous.

　There are often large monsters and large-scale traps.

 

　I saw nothing…no, there was something in the center of the room.
It's a monster.
I've never seen anything like it.

　It looks like a caterpillar, but it is covered by an armored shell and looks very tough.

　But it's not that big, maybe half my size at best.

 

The two mages take up supporting positions with their staffs ready, and the warriors draw their weapons.

　I carefully pull out the sword at my waist.

The monster does not move.

 

　We close the distance, half encircling.

When we are almost at sword point, the monster opens its mouth.

　Is it coming!?

 

　My companions brace themselves.

 

“—-.
—-.
——?”

 

To my surprise, the monster spoke.

　I couldn't understand it, but I knew it was a string of words that meant something.

　I looked at my friends, but they all shook their heads.
They too seemed to be unable to understand what it was saying.

 

“…–? –?”

 

　I still have no idea what they are saying.

　Is this guy the gatekeeper here or something?

　Should I say something?

 

　But it's dangerous to reply when you don't understand what's being said…?

 

“Hey, what are we going to do? You want me to do it?”

　”Wait.
Let's see what happens.”

 

　I restrain my companion from getting too worked up, and think about what to do.

 

　”…………
–…
–…”

 

The monster said something at last and disappeared into the back passage.

 

　”What was that?”

　”No…I don't know what it was either…”

　”Hey, do you hear something?”

 

　I definitely hear something.

 

　It's the sound of something big moving.

　It's coming toward us.

　And it's not coming from the back passage.
It's coming from behind the wall.

 

　”Hey…this can't be good…”

 

　The two mages behind me are also looking around and becoming more vigilant.

 

“Everyone stay together!　Get to the center of the room!”

 

　I quickly give instructions to my companions and take up a position in the center of the room.

　My companions followed suit.

　We all formed a circle and prepared for anything.

 

　While we were doing this, the sound got louder and louder…
and then it stopped.

　We remained motionless for a while, but nothing happened.

 

“Did it…
go well?”

 

　Someone muttered unintentionally.

　I let out a heavy breath.

　I don't know what's going on, but it looks like we're saved.

 

　”Damn it!　I don't know what it was, but it scared the shit out of me.”

 

　Paul smiles a light smile of relief and moves away from us.

 

　”Hey!　Let's get the hell out of here.
The treasure…”

 

Before he could finish, Paul disappeared from the waist up.

 

　”What?”

　”……
Paul?”

 

　We couldn't understand what had happened in front of us.

　Paul's upper body suddenly disappeared.

　The remaining lower body spurted blood from the cross section as if it remembered…
and collapsed.

 

　Then our understanding caught up with us.

 

　”What the…!”

　”Stay alert!　Stay alert!　There's something out there!”

 

I also sent out instructions to my companions, trying to crush my unrest.

　Where are you?　What happened!　I felt the air move just as the Paul disappeared.

　Something is definitely out there.

　What do we do?　Do we go outside?

　No, it's dangerous to move without knowing where the attack came from.

 

　Hmm?

 

　Suddenly, I felt something on my cheek.

　When I touched the spot with my hand, I felt something slippery on my hand.

　I looked at my hand and saw a red liquid…apparently blood was staining my hand.

 

　…Is it up there!?

 

　I look up.

　I see a dim ceiling and…what is that?

　I see a black mass.
It's right above us.

 

　Did the blood come from there?

　I look at it, trying to figure out what it is, and call out to my friends…

 

　”Oh…”

 

　…before I can call out, my surroundings suddenly turn dark.

　I could not understand what had happened until the very end.

 

　The only thing I knew was that something had crushed my body.

 

　”So I'm going to investigate the ruins that Zubel has been hiding.”

　”Zubel…even that…”

 

　Heidi's face becomes a little complicated when she hears my explanation.

Well, as it turns out, Zubel was the cause of the bloodbath, and she's at a loss to react.

　If you ask me, the ruins were just a trigger, and sooner or later it would have happened.

 

　”Where would that place be?”

　”Out west.”

“West…
that heavily forested area?　Certainly, that area is almost untouched, so if anything is going to come out, it's going to be there…”

 

You're quick on the uptake.

 

　”Yes, it is.
We'll go through a couple of villages.”

　”I get it.　It's complicated…
but undiscovered ruins…
that's exciting!”

 

　Heidi's eyes lit up like a child's.
Perhaps she is curious about the ruins, too.

　But at this point, I can't speak for others.

　Because I am excited too.

 

Heidi, you understand what I'm talking about.

My opinion of Heidi has risen a little.

 

　…I guess it's only a couple of days to my destination.

 

　I quickened my pace a little toward my destination.