MEMORIES AND ABU HORMUZ

Volume 2 Chapter 4 - Legam Black Style

In any case, its name is “mine”. Of course, there would be labyrinth-like holes leading to the mountain, and of course the tunnel was pitch-black. At least that's what Haruhiro assumed, but it's all completely wrong.

The flower bloomed all the way through the tunnel, and it was no ordinary flower. It was a flower that emitted an emerald light. According to Lusi, it was called a "luminous flower", and as the name implies, the flower actually emits light. Upon closer inspection, it was more like a bed made of moss. Whatever it is, thanks to the flowers the atmosphere of the mine is not pitch black. Not too bright, but someone can still recognize where the road is going.

“Do you think, we can ..” Marco plucked some flowers, and with a mellow expression he placed them on the side of his lips, but soon spit them out loud. “Bleh! It feels like dregs! Bitter and dirty.”

“Stop messing around,” Haruhiro sighs.

“What?” Marco answered, wiping his mouth. “I just want to try to feel it.”

“Why did you do something stupid to yourself?”

“Don't know. My mood was a little bored, so I purposely did that to cheer you up. Thanks back.”

“You did not entertain me at all,” Haruhiro said desperately. “There's nothing wrong with Mood, and if anything, the one that's wrong must be you!”

“APA!!. Don't say such stupid shit. Where is my fault? Stop blaming others, whatever it is!”

“Haru, you better not pay attention to him,” said Vina, while tugging at Haruhiro's arm. “No words of yours can penetrate his thick skull, so you're just wasting your breath.”

Haruhiro nodded. “Yes. You're right.”

“Hei!” Shouted Marco. “Don't just-! OY!”

“The best thing is to try to calm down,” said Lusi gently, while glaring at Marco.

“We are in enemy territory now.”

Marco furrowed his brows and twisted his lips to show a grim expression. “The best thing is to be calm,” he mimicked Luci, while giggling. “But very. Quiescent. I don't want to hear a single word, understand?”

"My feelings are a little bad," Alice mumbled softly.

“What did you say?!” sue Marco by highlighting the blood vessels in his temple.

“Stop that, Marco,” Haruhiro said in a tone he deliberately made rude.

“We are not here to make a fuss. If something happens, one of us might get killed.”

Marco turned around, perhaps out of embarrassment, then he replied, “No need to tell me, I already know.”

“Really?” Haruhiro. “You sure?”

Haruhiro's angry. Does that not matter? He can only think. Is it really okay to keep Marco in this party?

For the sake of the team, shouldn't they kick Marco out any faster? Not that he could not fight or not contribute, but this fellow did have the talent to make his friends upset. He causes strife and stress in the team.

Hasn't he gone too far? Isn't that more of a loss than a benefit?

Now might be a good time to think about it. However, if he started to think about that in earnest, then he should have already been able to decide.

Since they managed to enter the tunnel, then they encountered three Kobolds that blocked the road. The Kobolds looked terrified, but they still put up a fight. After Barto and Marco defeated the two, the last Kobold escaped.

Kobolds usually walk upright on two legs, but when they run, they jump up and down, using their armed arms as third legs. Although it looks strange, but that way that makes them able to run so fast, so chasing the fleeing Kobold is not an easy job and makes them exhausted. They would be in deep trouble if the other Kobolds were to attack.

Fortunately, they were able to catch up to the last Kobold, then finish him off without difficulty. Haruhiro let out his thoughts that next time it was better for him not to chase the Kobold that had already escaped, it might take quite some time, though, but it seemed like his skill would increase if he could kill Kobolds as well as when he killed the Goblins. They just need more experience.

"The Siren Mine is more than 10 stories down." Luci's voice echoed through the wall of the mine, as well as Haruhiro's chest. “Here is the first layer, the ore supply here has long been exhausted, and all that remains is a flower of light. The lowest little kobolds live here. The mine ladder used to go to a lower level, but it was no longer accessible. The only way to get to the second level is to use the Sink Well.”

"Sink Well?" Ask Alice.

Lusi nodded. “That is the name given by the members of Red MooN. The well is just a vertical shaft between levels. From the three levels below, the shaft is installed using a gondola lift, but we use the well to enter at a lower level.”

Barto breathed air through his nose and said, "Is the elevator particularly vulnerable?"

“Yes. Kobolds are divided into three types, namely small Kobolds, normal Kobolds, and tip Kobolds. Only Kobolds tips are allowed to use the elevator freely. Normal Kobolds can only use the elevator when instructed or allowed by the tipster.”

"Vina felt that the tipster did not trust her subordinates so much," Vina commented.

Vina was Vina, Haruhiro guessed that he felt a little pity for normal Kobolds.

Lusi's expression softened a little as he explained. “Elders are the elite class, while ordinary Kobolds are the working class. Small Kobolds were not even considered to be members of their society. Low-level worker kobolds live in the second layer. That's where it all gets harder.”

"So they're out of here, yeah ..." Haruhiro licked because suddenly his lips felt dry.

They stop when they reach a large enough gap and are in the shape of an imperfect hole. So this is the Drowning Well spoken of by Lusi. It was a vertical hole with a diameter of about 10 feet, and there were also four rope knots attached to its sides. Haruhiro gulped, he wasn't sure if he wanted to go down or not.

But while Haruhiro was upset, Marco had already gone down the stairs.

"Marco, hold .." said Haruhiro.

"What?" Marco glared at him. “Why hesitate? We've come all the way here, then there's no point stopping now. You don't even have the right to ask, let's hurry! If you were still like a child, I'd leave you behind.”

“Or maybe we will leave you down there,” reply Haruhiro.

“I'll kill you twice if you do. I'm not kidding.”

Such is. Haruhiro and the others grabbed the rope of the stairs and started to descend. The second level common look was much more plain than the first. One can still understand that this place was once a mine, but there are many cracks in the walls. Haruhiro guessed that it was possible that those gaps were places

the Kobold.

His guess was immediately caught when they sneaked a peek into one of the gaps, and as Haruhiro feared that there were some Kobolds snoring there.

"Wouldn't everything go awry if we woke them up?" His whisper. "It looks like there are many Kobolds in this one hole ..."

Before no one could answer, the dog's growling sound echoed from a distance. Do the Kobolds fight each other? Looks like that's what happened. The howling sound soon subsided, but not long after that even more howling sounds were heard.

"Vina didn't think, that it turned out that they were quite noisy," Vina said, it seemed like she wasn't worried at all.

"Aren't we supposed to go back now?" Alice clung tightly to Vina's body, while her entire body trembled.

"It's okay," Lucia said calmly. “Here is always noisy, if nothing extraordinary happens, they will not wake up. Even if we make a little noise, they rarely catch up to us.”

Barto breathed a sigh of relief.

"However it only applies to the second tier," Lusi added with a slight smiling expression. “We should be wary of the tips, when we are in the third level later. And don't forget, there's a Deathspot there.”

It's not just Haruhiro. Even Marco's expression became stiff as they heard the name. A Kobold was dark black and white fur, its body size was larger, and he was more brutal than any of the tips. He explored the entire mine area with his entourage. The name comes from the color of his fur with spots, as well as the number of Red MooN members who died on his hands, including his former best friend Luci. And for Lusi himself, the name is so closely related to revenge.

Anyone who killed such a creature would be the talk of the town. Because there has been no news of someone who managed to finish him, then the creature must still be alive.

"There was news that he was seen at the first level" Lusi continued in a calm tone of voice, as usual. Haruhiro thought Luci's calmness was a little strange, as if he was forcing himself to remain calm. “But the report is doubtful, so I think that we don't have to worry at the moment. However, we must not be careless about the existence of Deathspot. If we don't get ready to run away when he shows up, then ..”

"You mean this?" Marco, smiling widely, made a gesture similar to beheading by swinging his hand.

"Stop that!" Vina punched Marco on the shoulder.

“Ow! What the hell...?!”

"Why can't you act a little more sensitive?" Vina asked.

“What? How can? Can you find someone more sensitive than myself in this group!?”

"Stop that behavior!" snapped Vina.

"Vina, if you say so, then it means you can't stand the pain," Haruhiro the corrector cut in, but actually he wanted to let the two of them keep fighting because he didn't really care about it.

Haruhiro cleared his throat and looked at Luci. He looked like the usual one, but Haruhiro wondered if he was really okay. Haruhiro feels that Lusi is the type of girl who likes to harbor her emotions.

"After all," Haruhiro continued, “Marco, if you can't say anything positive, then you better just shut up.”

"Then, what if I give you guys some advice. Let's lure them in," Marco said, and use his chin to point at the Kobold worker who was asleep in the cracks on the wall. “They won't wake up unless we make a noise, right? So, let's kill them while we're asleep. It's gonna be easy…. We just need to prick-pick-pick-pick-puncture.. then grab their stuff, then run.”.

Haruhiro was at a loss for words for a moment. Finally, he replied, "Sometimes you don't have a sense of manners."

"This has nothing to do with manners. I am a Dark Knight, a follower of Skulheill. We believe that everything is the same before death. The Vices we collected were otherwise, Vice is the embodiment of logic, morals, and everything that you consider to be a good thing. Vice is the embodiment of it all. It's important, so I'll say once again, EMBODIMENT. Although all are equally bound by death, but people who have a higher Vice certainly have a higher caste as well. You can understand that, right? Some things that are attached to every human being are desires, basic instincts, wills, and other things like that. And that is what sets us apart in the presence of the angel of death. Do you understand?"

"Absolutely not," Haruhiro said. “And I don't even want to try to understand it.”

“Haruhiro ... You need to train yourself harder. I mean, you have to train your brain harder. With this level of understanding, there is no way you can become a competent leader. It was just a piece of advice from the bottom of my heart. I give you advice because I am a kind person.”

Waw. Whahuh? What the hell am I doing here? For some reason, I am now very very very very very very eager to menotos this man.

Has Marco been exposed to the Dark Knight teachings? No, that can't explain everything. Marco was supposed to join the Warrior guild, but he changed his mind, and he instead chose the profession as a Dark Knight. However, a Party desperately needed a Warrior, even without a Warrior, a Party would not be able to hunt. All this happened because he thought that the Dark Knight was a "cool" profession".

The only explanation is Marco was a selfish man from the start. Selfishness is part of his nature, his personality, and his disposition. There's no way to change it. Marco will always be like that.

Will this party continue under these circumstances? To be honest, Haruhiro did not fully believe that they could continue on this journey. If he is not sure that Marco can change for the better, then it is all over.

It's also in Marco's interest. This mine is not the right place to make such a decision, but ...

marco's exit here will only worsen Haruhiro's image as a leader.

"Saran was rejected," Haruhiro said so instead. “You don't even need to hold a vote, do you?”

The others nodded with great enthusiasm. Everyone except Marco.

"Whatever," Marco scoffed. “I also know you will say so.”

"Then, don't suggest anything in the first place" Haruhiro said.

“For you guys, I thought of something that couldn't possibly be on your mind. You're the only ones who don't understand my concern for others.”

"Why are you so considerate of us? Are you my mother?" Haruhiro countered Marco's defense.

The conversation with Marco will never end if he continues to retaliate. Really, even from the beginning Haruhiro should have never responded to that disheveled-haired boy.

They continue. There should be five Drowning Wells for the third level scattered here, and they explore every place to find them. Suddenly, they met a group of four low-ranked worker Kobolds, they carried shovels and a pacifier over his shoulder.

They must be on their way after returning from work.

“Four?! That's too much!” Haruhiro soon gets into a fight with one of them, but the Kobold deftly restrains Haruhiro's dagger using his spade.

He gave a reply by swinging his spade, once, twice. Haruhiro targeted his tools, and counterattacked using the Thief technique he had learned, [SWAT]. Surviving in this way would further cause his weapon to wear out, hence he as much as possible avoided the clash between weapons, but there was no other choice now.

What about the others? Barto, Marco, and Vina each face a Kobold,

and for a few seconds, they all had a hard time.

"Oom rel eckt vel dashboard!" The voash! Alice's [SHADOW ECHO] spell crashed into Barto's opponent. The worker's Kobold's body began to tremble and its defense opened slightly.

Barto did not miss the opportunity. “Still...!!” He shouted, while releasing the [RAGE CLEAVE] skill, the technique also meant: "thank you for letting me kill you".

Haruhiro never paid close attention to the personality development of any of his colleagues, but when he saw Barto, now he must say that [RAGE CLEAVE] was, without a doubt, more accurate and deadly than ever before. Barto cut down the Kobold with a single slash, and he immediately headed towards Vina.

When Haruhiro thought of “Good. We can do this,” something crashes on his back.

“What-! Haruhiro, you bastard!” Marco raged at him.

“Marco! Pay more attention to your surroundings!” Haruhiro.

"You're wrong yourself!"

"Good! Sorry!"

"Better that!"

Everything Marco talked about upset him. Haruhiro apologized first. Is it worth it that he expects an apology from Marco?

"THANK YOU!" Barto ended the resistance of other Kobolds.

Thus, Vina and Barto are now free to help, but Marco shouts, "I'm fine! I'll finish this one alone! Go help the fool Haruhiro!”

I can't stand it anymore, he's the worst, he's the worst of the worst! The blood in his veins boiled and nearly exploded, he was so angry.

But Barto and Vina came, and he had to focus on the opponent before him. The Kobold turned to face them, thus giving Haruhiro a chance to sneak behind it. Now!

"[BACKSTAB]!"

But it's not good. The tip of the dagger hit the bone. Haruhiro bit his lips in frustration, then he jumped backwards. Even if it was not fatal, Kobold could not ignore the wound, and the creature hesitated between facing Haruhiro or against Vina and Barto, then he decided to face them all. But of course the concentration is divided, because facing 3 enemies at once is not the right decision. Mogzo started moving shortly afterwards.

"THANK YOU!"

Three Kobolds, three explosions [RAGE CLEAVE] in a row.

Haruhiro saw Barto's sword tearing hard at Kobold's right shoulder.

"Barto, you're steady!" Vina shouted, and Haruhiro agreed with her. Barto is absolutely amazing.

Some people may see Barto as just a muscular man, and he has absolutely no other talent. Some might even say that he was lazy and slow, but Barto was completely trustworthy. Repelling his opponents by using his sword and armor, he was not only good at finding gaps, but he was also good at locking the movements of opponents with his sword [SPIRAL SLASH], then force the opponent to retreat until they lose their balance. Then he finished them off with [RAGE CLEAVE].

There were not many variations to the fighting style, but since he did not mind using the same techniques over and over again, he became more proficient at using those techniques. Of all the people on the team, this Barto has the best skills because many exercises directly on the battlefield.

"[LEAP PROPELLOR]!" Marco prepared himself before jumping back, then he lured the Kobold move to him like sucking him with a vacuum cleaner. Then, Marco pushed his long sword "[JUKE STAB]!"

The Kobold that twisted its body to the side, managed to dodge the attack. Marco jumped backwards once again "[PROPEL LEAP]!"

For a moment, it seemed like the Kobold would be lured again to move forward. But of course he doesn't want to be fooled twice. It's impossible for the same trick to work twice.

“Damn it! Then eat this!” Marco took a long step, then he jumped forward and swung his sword diagonally.

"[HATRED’S CUT]!"

The sound of metal clashing with metal echoed through the air as the Kobold fended off Marco's saber, using its momentum. Marco took two, three steps back. “Not bad for a skinny opponent like you,” his taunts. “Alright then. I already recognized you as my rival!”

The Kobold bared fangs at him, and growled in a low tone.

"Oh?" Whisper Alice in a flat voice. “Rival, yes ..”

"You're getting excited, aren't you?!" Marco shouted at the Kobold.

What is happy? Haruhiro was tempted to ask, but he refrained from opening his mouth. Thinking about it is stupid.

“But! I'll finish you off on the next step!” Marco jumps.

"[HATRED'S CUT]!"

Kobolds dodged it, then counterattacked. Marco responded by using [PROPEL LEAP] to avoid, then [JUKE STAB]. But he cut nothing but air.

[HATRED’S CUT], [LEAP PROPELLOR], [ANGER THRUST], [PROPEL LEAP], [ANGER THRUST], then [PROPEL LEAP] again. After [ANGER THRUST] again, [PROPEL LEAP], then [ANGER THRUST] and [PROPEL LEAP] again.

[HATRED’S CUT], [LEAP PROPELLOR]. [HATRED’S CUT], [LEAP PROPELLOR]. [LEAP PROPELLANT], [LEAP PROPELLANT], [LEAP PROPELLER], [LEAP PROPELLANT], [LEAP PROPELLANT], [LEAP PROPELLANT].

Of course Marco's breath became monday-thursday. Repeatedly using a skill that made you move so much would make anyone exhausted.

"Maybe it's better if we help him ..." Luci said, looking at Haruhiro.

Marco glared at him with red eyes. “Not bother! He is my rival! He is my prey! Mine! I said, I will kill him, so I will definitely kill him! You guys just go for a tea break or something!”

Why is Marco so incapable of taking anything seriously? Haruhiro did not understand it in the slightest, and Haruhiro had a feeling that he would still not understand it even after pondering over it for five hundred years.

"really?" Haruhiro. “Here no one brings tea!”

"It's just a figure of speech!" Said Marco. “[HATRED’S CUT]!”

The attack eventually scratched the Kobold, thus forcing it to retreat. Marco darted after seeing his opponent cornered, while shouting ferociously and raising his sword high. He slashed the Kobold wildly and recklessly. He swung his sword like he was using a hammer, but the worker Kobold was already at his threshold, and he could no longer withstand all the attacks that were inflicted on him. Marco completed his savage attack with a stab in the head.

"DEAD!" Marco shouted, thrusting his long sword at the chest of the ill-fated Kobold, then he turned his sword, before finally pulling it out.

He wiped off the sweat and let out a long sigh, a look full of satisfaction visible on Marco's face, as if he had just finished the day's hard work. But Haruhiro was disgusted. Very, very disgusted. What's he supposed to do? What's he gonna do? But right now, he doesn't need to do anything.

"Let's loot the goods, then leave" Haruhiro said.

“That's it? What the hell?!” Marco protest. “How about you say: 'Good work, Marco or 'Great cool, Marco or 'You amazing and fantastic, Marco'?!”

"Pulse. No."

"God"

Haruhiro leaves Marco and lets him remain a fool, then Haruhiro gathers amulets from the worker Kobolds. The worker Kobold has rings on its nose and ears, and there are precious stones embedded in it, this is unlike the little Kobolds. It seems much higher in price in the market.

While ignoring Marco who continued to boast, Haruhiro was more motivated then he finished four

Another low-level Kobold, and it was not a difficult job for him. Haruhiro and the others continued to advance, and they searched for a sinking well to get into the level below.

They spent half an hour finding the well, and when they found it, they

immediately met the three Kobolds workers who were rising to the top level. After the Party defeated him, they were faced with the question of what to do next.

“What will we do next?”

“What are you talking about? Of course we'll keep heading down.” When Marco finished expressing his opinion, the five of them finished making their decision.

“Let's finish the hunt today, then go home,” Haruhiro said, to other colleagues. “This place is new to us, and I don't think it's a good idea if we assume that all the opponents who come to us can be defeated easily. What's more, we still have to try to get back to the surface. Let's go home, sort out what we've learned about this place, and come back tomorrow.”

Marco is the only person who strongly opposes the decision to return home to Atalante, but Haruhiro does not care.

Because the biggest problem now is figuring out what we can do to you.