Chapter 46. Collaborator and the One Who Burns (6)

The old man asked me to kill the guards who had gone to the spider's lair. Three years ago, the lord had brought that brutal group of guards in. However, I needed more confirmation.

"What about their leader? I mean... someone like the captain of the guards?"

The old man flinched.

Without giving him time to react properly, I asked directly, "What does he look like?"

"He's almost completely bald. Built like a rock," he answered. "You'll recognize him the moment you see his eyes. They scream of leadership."

Click.

I tensed up.

It must be them—the ones who murdered Rubia.

I could vividly picture those brutes dragging a cart through the city gates.

"Did that man go to the spider's lair as well?"

"Yes. He moves with his subordinates. When he's around, the others are especially obedient. If anyone doesn't perform, well... he nearly kills them on the spot."

I clenched my jaw as I was certain of it now. I remembered that bald man's disdainful gaze as he berated his underlings, looking around as if he would devour everything in sight.

I need to focus on this.

Even without the old man's request, I would've sought vengeance anyway. This just made it easier. Trapping and burning them would be simple and efficient if they were all gathered in the spider's lair.

That's the best option for now.

As I dug deeper, I would eventually reach the city's lord or perhaps even something greater. Currently, I lacked the overwhelming power to hunt down each guard, torture them alive, or march into the lord's fortress and turn everything upside down. Maybe I could someday, but not today.

***

The old man instructed us on how to use the fire. "This is how you use it."

The black iron sprayer felt heavy as I gripped it with both hands. It emitted a chilliness that spread through my bones.

It's cold.

There was a hand-cranked pump attached to it, and at the front was a long tube designed to spew the sticky fire.

"How do you put it out?" I asked.

The old man warned, "Be careful. You can't extinguish it."

"I can't extinguish it?"

"It's an eternal fire," the old man said with a hint of pride.

"Can't I douse it with water?"

"Water?" The old man chuckled. "Feel free to try, but make sure you're at least thirty steps away when you do."

"So, it really won't go out?"

"This fire can burn even in the depths of the sea. Mud or sand won't extinguish it either." The old man handed us a bag of powder. "Sprinkle this on yourself before you use it."

Rena interjected, "What is it?"

"It'll protect you from the fire. With this on, you won't feel the heat."

"That's amazing."

"Yes, it is. This will shield you from the flames," the old man said with a satisfied grin.

We practiced with water in the sprayer several times instead of Grassmere's Fire. I held down the button on the sprayer.

Psssh!

Water shot out in a long, powerful stream, reaching about ten meters ahead.

"The pump on this thing is quite strong," I commented.

Before we left, the old man handed us another black iron sprayer.

"This one's diluted to a twentieth of its strength. You're better off getting a feel for it first outside."

Then we departed from the old man's house.

***

"I'm surprised you accepted the request," Rena said after we left the city.

"Yes."

"It feels like you really wanted to do this."

"Isn't this beneficial for us? We have one more fun weapon, so there's nothing to dislike—"

I paused mid-sentence. Rena quietly studied me with wide eyes.

"Are you flustered?" she asked.

Maybe my words had come out too fast. I felt as if she had touched something deep within me. As I stayed silent, her face flushed slightly.

"I'm glad you accepted that old man's offer."

"What do you mean?"

I thought it was odd.

Doesn't she despise humans?

I recalled her killing men without hesitation, slicing throats with joy, a stark contrast to her current demeanor.

"I wanted to accept that request too. It moved something in me."

I still couldn't quite understand. In the end, I bluntly said, "You..."

"Yes?"

"Don't you hate humans?"

"

Haha...

"

Her laughter was a mystery to me. I assumed she followed me out of spite for humanity, but perhaps I had misunderstood.

Rena smiled. "Maybe. Most humans are clingy, always trying to exploit me blindly."

"..."

"I liked you because you're straightforward. You give and take clearly."

I didn't fully understand.

Would increasing my Wisdom stat help me understand someone like her better?

"You're a self-centered skeleton who still thinks about others while pretending not to. It's quite admirable."

Surprisingly, Rena blushed slightly, an expression I couldn't remember seeing before.

At that moment, a string of translucent messages popped up before my eyes.

Ding!

[Rena's Affection has increased by 6!]

[Affection has surpassed 30!]

[Perks unlocked.]

[Perks can now evolve.]

[Checking partner's information.]

Ding!

[Name: Rena

Class: Thief Lv. 5

Health: 13

Strength: 11

Agility: 17

Wisdom: 11]

[Affection: 35

— Rena has been deeply impressed by your actions. Her Affection has significantly increased.

— When maintaining the atmosphere, focus on actions that boost her Affection. Her level will rise more rapidly than usual.]

[Basic Skills:

— Dagger Throwing Lv. 3

— Trap Crafting Lv. 3

— Scheming Lv. 2

— Throat Slashing Lv. 2

— Tracking Lv. 1

— ??? (Affection level insufficient)]

[Perks:

— Talent (B): Sufficiently Exceptional Talent

The owner of this perk possesses far superior talent and growth potential compared to ordinary people. They gain +2 stats per level up.

※ In the locked state, only +1 stat per level up applies.

— Battle Sense (B): Heightened Senses

This perk owner exhibits superior combat power even with identical stats to others. Detailed effects: ??? (Affection insufficient)

— ??? (Affection insufficient)

※ In the locked state, this applies only to opponents below level 10.]

[Title:

— Increase Affection to unlock.]

I closed my mouth, momentarily speechless.

What on earth is this?

Aside from the sudden, unexpected surge in Affection, Rena's status screen was overwhelming. I couldn't even begin to compare myself to her. Humans gained two stat points per level, twice the amount I could gain. Considering the default stat difference, even a Lv. 20 Skeleton Soldier was weaker than a Lv. 10 human.

However, her growth potential was twice that of a normal human's, with four points for each level. She was growing four times faster than me. Then, there was her Battle Sense perk.

She has the same stats, yet better combat skills?

She had a terrifying growth rate and the ability to use it efficiently. This woman was a monster—a rare, exceptional talent even among humans. She was weak now, but if she developed properly...

I didn't have to think hard to reach a conclusion.

It's a bit frightening.

If she reached level twenty, she could easily knock me down at my current level. I might even prefer her in her current state, which was weak and manageable.

Rena's voice drifted in from right beside me. "What are you thinking about?"

I turned, seeing her pretty face up close. The idea of protecting her seemed more absurd at the moment.

"Nothing," I replied.

***

Rena led me to a secluded riverside.

"Let's try spewing Grassmere's fire out here! How about it?"

"Where?"

She pointed to the river where water flowed, producing a clear, calming sound between the rocks.

"Over the water."

I held the sprayer containing the diluted liquid, aimed it forward, and activated the pump.

Whoosh!

A strange sound echoed as flames burst forth in a fiery display. The fire shot straight like a liquid, reaching ten paces ahead, then swelled and danced in the air. When it touched a rock rising above the river, the stone blackened, and black smoke swirled above the flames.

"

Wow...

I'd only heard about it, but seeing it is something else. So, that's what it's like."

"It would be hard to survive a hit from that."

"And it's not regular air inside either. The spraying power is incredible."

"I'm impressed, too."

If the one-twentieth dilution proved this potent, the undiluted liquid must be unimaginably powerful.

Clack.

"

Ah!

" Rena gasped.

I grabbed the black sprayer from Rena. "I'll hold it."

Talent aside, she was still fragile. Even with a one-twentieth dilution, the power of the fire was shocking. I didn't want her handling it.

***

"This way!" Rena said, alternating her gaze between the map and the trail ahead as she led the way.

"You're good at this."

"There are traces of dozens of people walking through. With a fixed destination, it'd be harder to miss."

The tracks were clear.

"So, the old man's words were accurate."

"Fifteen guards. He said ten people were marked for execution, right? That looks about right."

We kept walking. I wore my armor with a crimson robe draped over my back.

"That looks better every time I see it. I'm glad we bought it," Rena said, looking proud.

She seemed genuinely pleased with how I looked. The cloak wasn't particularly cumbersome, and its weight was hardly noticeable. If it made her this happy, then there was no reason to deny wearing it.

As I followed Rena, almost lost in thought, the scenery began to change little by little.

"The trees are dead."

𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

The number of withered trees increased. Upon closer inspection, there weren't any leaves clinging to the branches.

Rena drew her blade and peeled back a bit of the tree's bark.

Screech.

After examining it briefly, she stated, "The sap has been completely drained."

We walked a little further.

Rena pointed ahead. "There."

Is that a dungeon?

A massive, dark opening appeared at the end of a winding staircase. All the surrounding trees were black and lifeless.

"Why are all the trees like this?"

"It's because the spiders dig tunnels underground and drain the sap from the tree roots."

"Spiders drain sap?"

"Of course, normal spiders don't. But these are chimeras, creations of a sorcerer. With them, anything is possible."

"Is that so?"

"Yes. This is my first artificial dungeon."

Unlike natural formations like The Ossuary of the Wraiths, created by clusters of undead, some dungeons were man-made, like the ones guarded by golems. The D-rank dungeon, Vault of the Fallen Spider, was filled with discarded chimeras left behind by a sorcerer.

Rena scanned the area carefully, taking items out of her pack as she approached the dungeon's entrance. "That group that the old man mentioned definitely went inside."

"Should we follow them in?"

"Hold on..."

Rena slowly unwound a coil of wire wrapped around a long stick. She tied the wire around several thick trees and began digging small holes in the ground. She set traps in various spots, smearing poison on the blades and creating snares.

"Setting up traps?"

"Yes. If we can't kill them all inside, we'll need to handle them out here as well."

She worked quickly even as she spoke, her hands moving with practiced efficiency. After a while, she stepped back with satisfaction.

"All set!"

"Is it done?"

Rena nodded proudly. "This is our territory now!"

I checked the traps she'd set, noting how thoroughly she'd prepared them. There was a spark of satisfaction in her eyes, a glint that showed her enjoyment of this dangerous work.

"You really enjoy this, don't you?" I said.

She smirked, looking at me.

"Maybe. I like feeling in control of a situation. It's... satisfying."

"Then let's make this count."

Together, we approached the dungeon entrance. The opening loomed above us, dark and foreboding, with the sound of scurrying creatures echoing faintly from within. I tightened my grip on the handle of the black sprayer. The anticipation thrummed through my bones, sharpening my senses with a familiar, cold focus.

"Ready?" I asked, glancing at Rena.

She gave a firm nod, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "Ready as I'll ever be."

We stepped inside, our steps echoing down the stone passage as the shadows swallowed us whole.