A-Aciiiiid!!!

After spending a full day at the smithy and sightseeing, we said our goodbyes to Sati-tan.

Since we've said goodbye to Sati-tan, starting today we're placing a door in the inn room and resting at the base together with Aishia. Also, even if there are intruders, the door is concealed so they won't be able to find it. Hehehe, security is perfect too.

A letter had arrived for us. Well, I'd totally forgotten to check, and it was Dea-kun who noticed it.

"Karina-oneesaan, I just looked and there was a letter in the mailbox."

"Huh, really? Thanks, Dea-kun. Oh, it's from Granny Maria. Let's see…"

I flicked open the envelope and read the letter… Hmm hmm. Hmm. Yeah. I see.

"Read it! Dea-kun!"

"Eh, can't you read it, Onee-san?"

"I can read it, but I didn't really understand it! What is this, a cipher!?"

"Ahh, noble greetings and phrasing. Oh, there's a second page. This one seems to be written simply."

"Huh? Oh, you're right."

Apparently it was a two-page set. Let's see.

"Page one is written in noble phrasing, so Kari-chan probably won't be able to read it. So I'm attaching an easy-to-read version."

I see, you saw right through me, Granny Maria. That helps, but then just send this one, c'mooon. What, I should get used to it? Hmm. I'll leave that kind of thing to Dea-kun.

So, as for the contents… apparently she heard we came to Karkassa and looked into the Divine Artifacts in this area for us.

I see, I see. The Dungeon Core at the deepest part of the dungeon might be a Divine Artifact. Hmm? A Dungeon Core, huh. So there's that kind of thing too.

"That said, since the town's livelihood is built on this dungeon, this isn't one of the Divine Artifacts I need to collect. It's being put to peaceful, effective use."

"That's right. If the dungeon disappeared, it would cause problems for a lot of people."

The dwarves we met earlier today are a prime example.

"Well, I'll just take a look at it anyway. This Dungeon Core thing."

"Huh? So, you're going to clear the dungeon?"

"I won't collect it, though. Just looking, just looking! I'll be back in a bit."

"Eh, right now?"

"If it's just me, I can blitz through it without worrying about anyone else. The Great Mage Karina-chan, heading out!"

In case you forgot, I'm the strongest, you know. Me, Karina-chan.

"Well, I could do it tomorrow too, but if I don't do things when I think of them, I'll forget."

"I see. Then, um, take care, Onee-san."

"Yeah, I'm off!"

And I opened an exit from the storage space to the dungeon.

 

*

 

I exited into the passage beyond the boss room we'd cleared with Sati-tan. Looking back at the room, the boss had respawned, so while I was at it, I beat it quickly and collected it. Yummy, I could turn this into potions and sell them.

So, I proceeded deeper.

Heading down the stairs, I found three ants larger than a human walking around like they owned the place.

Armor Ants. Their bodies were black. Apparently their armor contains so much iron that if you heat and melt them, you can use them as ingots as-is. The mysteries of living creatures. Oh wait, they're monsters. I don't know the difference, though.

The Armor Ants made gichi-gichi-gichi sounds upon seeing me. Huh, big ants make sounds. Didn't know that.

Then, one of them deftly arched its back like a shrimp and pointed the tip of its abdomen at me.

This motion… I've seen this in a certain game about protecting Earth's peace!

"A-Aciiiiid!!!"

Okay, I just wanted to say that. Well, acid did actually come flying at me with a splat, though. I blocked it with Spatial Magic so it was negated. Whoa, they really do spray acid.

"Alright. I said what I wanted to say, so, seeya."

I used Spatial Magic to sever the Armor Ants' joints and stored them. Smithing practice materials get! I'll try it when I get back.