Krua briefly rolled her eyes at Osian's point, then hung her head and let out a sigh.
"Haah. Yeah, hiding things doesn't suit my personality anyway, and since you've already noticed, making excuses would only make things uglier. You're right. I saved you not only because you were a familiar face, but also because I needed help."
"When you say help, exactly what kind of help do you need?"
"It's related to that monster."
"Are you thinking of exterminating it?"
"Extermination? Ha, I don't even hope for that. I told you, didn't I? That thing is the type that can't be killed. Sure, if we're determined enough, there's nothing we can't kill, but that would require enduring tremendous sacrifice. What I'm talking about is something a bit different. It's about driving it away."
Osian's interest was piqued at the mention of driving it away.
"Drive it away, you say. What are you planning to do?"
"Right now, it's wandering around elsewhere because its residential area is flooded. And when it does that, it tries to kill everything in sight. Because of that, the residents are more than just a little anxious."
"Well, that's understandable."Osian recalled the monster's appearance.
While he would gladly fight it himself, seeing how it mercilessly killed dark mages, ordinary people wouldn't dare to even face it.
'Come to think of it, my mind must have become quite strange too.'
The self from when he first fell into this world wouldn't have done this, but at some point when he came to his senses, he realized that he had become the knight and the knight had become him.
It didn't feel wrong. Rather, it felt comfortable, as if something that had been misaligned until now had finally been properly fitted.
It was just something from back then, now nothing more than something to ruminate on over and over again.
"So how exactly do you plan to drive that monster away?"
"Well, saying 'drive away' is kind of funny, but it's rampaging around randomly right now, isn't it? So we need to send it back to its original base."
"Didn't you say that place was flooded?"
"Yeah. It's completely submerged because too much water filled up. So our goal is to drain that water, and then send that monster back to where it originally was."
While it sounded obvious just hearing about it, there were some flimsy parts to it.
"Is there any guarantee it will return once the water is drained?"
"There's probably a high chance it will. That's the reason why it lived underground for hundreds of years without causing major problems. It makes noise occasionally, but that much we can put up with, right?"
Well, considering the massive damage that would occur the moment it takes physical action, noise pollution would be bearable in comparison.
"That's why I wanted to ask for your help. At the very least, you're the strongest among the people I know."
"Even if you flatter me like that, I can't do it."
"Whaat?"
Krua and Atilla's eyes widened in surprise.
It was a reaction showing they hadn't even considered the possibility of being refused.
"Why do you think I came in here first?"
"That's..."
"I came here on a prior request. It's a direct request from the city of Tirna, to safely escort the underground waterway repairmen. Of course, while it's called escort, it's closer to punishing those who are hiding in the underground waterway dreaming of mischief."
"Ah. I kind of get it now. Well, there are many others besides us who run away and come in here."
"Do most of those guys join hands with the residents too?"
At those words, the sisters shook their heads.
"No way. We have our own rules that we need to follow and adapt to. But most of those guys are just idiots who do whatever they want, and they even try to reject those rules. They're scattered throughout the underground waterway, making their own nests. They've become what you'd call scavengers."
"I see. Anyway, I set out to deal with those guys, but suddenly the monster got involved and the situation has flowed to this point."
Since he already had a received request, he couldn't take on the sister's additional request.
"Was it really that important?"
"I always fulfill the missions I take on. That's one of my principles."
Krua roughly shook her head.
It wasn't that she didn't want to argue about whether such things needed to be strictly followed.
But hadn't she seen it too? Osian fought harder than anyone else to protect Orlea.
Moreover, she couldn't simply ridicule Osian's mindset. After all, she too would do anything when it came to matters related to Atilla, her younger sister who needed protection.
"Haah. Alright, we won't push any further."
"Thank you for understanding."
"So what are you planning to do for now? Just go back?"
"Well, since I completely destroyed one dark mage clan, I should rejoin my companions."
"If that's what you're going to do..."
Just as Krua was about to say something, Atilla flinched her shoulders and asked Osian.
"Um, excuse me... by companions, do you mean the people leading Tirna's guards and mercenary unit?"
"Yes, what about them?"
"Th-they seem to be in a bit of danger right now..."
Osian's expression slightly hardened at Atilla's words.
Perhaps misunderstanding it as anger directed at her, Atilla's complexion turned pale.
"Eek! Th-that..."
"I'm not angry at you. What exactly is this danger you just mentioned?"
"Th-the monster seems to have targeted your companions."
How could this be confirmed from this distance?
When Osian shot a slightly questioning look, Krua explained in her place.
"Did you forget? Our power is bizarre stuff that ordinary people can't handle. Especially in Atilla's case, she can easily observe distant places in secret."
Even now, Atilla was monitoring the situation by scattering small worm-like sea creatures throughout the underground waterway.
Considering the power of the outer god, it didn't seem entirely impossible, so Osian nodded.
"So what's happened to my companions now? Don't tell me they're all dead?"
"N-no, not that. Fortunately, they're all quick-witted, noticed the monster approaching and are quickly running away. But I think it's only a matter of time before they're caught up to."
"Can I confirm it too?"
"Well, there is a way, but I don't really recommend it."
"Why?"
Atilla hesitated for a moment before holding out her palm to Osian.
On her palm, there was something like a creepy larva wriggling.
Kieeeek!
"If-if you put this in your eye, it will sync with your optic nerve and you can see what I see. On-once it achieves its purpose, there aren't any side effects and it disappears on its own, but there might be some foreign body sensation when you put it in your eye."
"...I'd better not look."
Putting some worm-like bug in your eye like eye drops? That's definitely not something to do in your right mind.
"The-they're going deeper and deeper underground. It seems they're just blindly running away because they're being chased, but if they're not careful, they might get isolated and caught by the monster."
Osian asked Krua, who was in charge of this place.
"Can we rescue those people too?"
Krua immediately caught on to what Osian was asking.
"Probably possible. As long as Atilla pays a bit of attention so we don't get caught by the monster's senses."
"Then I'll ask that of you."
*
Some time after Krua accepted Osian's proposal.
Adela and Hammond's group, who were being chased by the underground monster, were barely able to join up with where Osian was.
The method wasn't difficult.
Along the path they needed to take, the anglerfish summoned by Krua guided the way with light.
"Huff. Huff. Are-are we finally safe?"
The people drenched in sweat immediately collapsed in their spots, realizing they had finally escaped from the monster.
Among them, the only one who showed a rational response was Adela.
"Mr. Osian. You're safe."
"Yes. Somehow it turned out like this."
"Are these two behind you the ones who saved us? Let me thank them on behalf of our group."
The fact that she could say this despite being exhausted herself showed extraordinary mental fortitude.
At that moment, one of the mercenaries who recognized the Krua and Atilla sisters widened his eyes.
"Wa-wait. Those two are the Smoldering Sisters who escaped from Uluaz Prison!"
At the words "Smoldering Sisters," everyone jumped in surprise and pointed their weapons.
Krua and Atilla showed no particular change in expression as this was already a familiar reaction. If anything, they seemed closer to having expected this.
Rather, it was Adela who stepped forward in this situation.
"Stop! What are you all doing? These two are our lifesavers who saved our lives."
"Bu-but Ms. Adela. Those two are vicious criminals! They're wanted fugitives!"
"Is that important right now? What if the monster suddenly barges in while we're fighting among ourselves here? You need to think carefully about what takes priority."
Adela stared at the guard who was objecting with her eyes wide.
The guard shrunk his shoulders, intimidated by that gaze.
"Woah woah, let's not be too harsh. This guard friend isn't saying anything wrong, is he?"
It was Hammond who stepped up to defend the guard at that moment. Adela glared at Hammond with daggers in her eyes.
She wondered if he would try to pick on her even in this situation.
"It's natural for people to feel uncomfortable. Let's not make too much of a fuss about that. Of course, if I had to choose sides, I think following these sisters is the right choice."
If there was any consolation, Hammond wasn't someone so thoughtless about weighing priorities.
When even Hammond, who usually picked at Adela's words, agreed, the others couldn't voice any opposition either.
"Alright. For now, follow us."
Although Krua had only intended to take Osian, she wasn't particularly uncomfortable with the increased numbers, as it wasn't necessarily bad.
And so Krua and Atilla sisters took the lead, with Osian and Adela behind them, and the rest following behind in formation.
"So where exactly are we going?"
Osian asked Krua. While he was curious, it was also a question intended to give reassurance to the people behind by clearly stating where they were going.
"For now, we're going to the entrance of where we stay."
"When you say where you stay, could you possibly mean Zero Ground where the residents live?"
When Adela asked as if she had heard something about it, Krua nodded.
"Yes. Of course, you who haven't received permission can't enter Zero Ground as you please. We'll wait at the checkpoint while making contact with those inside."
The sound of murmuring behind Osian reached his ears at the mention of Zero Ground.
"Zero Ground? Was there such a place?"
"I think I've vaguely heard about it. I heard it's an incredibly huge city that exists deep, deep below Tirna's underground."
"A city underground. More than that, is it really okay? There's no way normal people would live there."
While it was prejudice born from fear, it wasn't entirely wrong either.
Whatever the case, there must be some reason they're staying underground where light barely reaches.
"Don't worry. If you're with us, they won't be able to say anything. It's funny to say this, but we sisters are treated as important military assets of sorts."
The Smoldering Sisters handle the power of outer gods.
Though it wasn't a power they chose to handle, thanks to their innate talent, the two were among the extremely powerful.
If anything could be considered the most dangerous, it would be the younger sister Atilla's rampage, but her usually unstable mind had improved greatly since the fight with Osian.
Especially effective was how the avatar had retreated in fear after seeing Osian.
Even though she occasionally heard the outer god's voice afterward, now facing Osian like this, she couldn't hear even a single such voice.
Though Osian himself wasn't aware, he had already been of great help to the two sisters.
"Hey. Stop right there. Who are you people?"
At some point, as the stinging stench began to decrease, two people keeping watch with gas lamps lit appeared from beyond.
"It's me."
"Oh? Sister Krua? You've returned safely. But who are those people behind you?"
A skinny man with black tattoos reaching down to his neck frowned.
He was looking disapprovingly at Osian and the guards and mercenaries behind Krua and Atilla sisters.
"I've brought people who will help with this matter. Contact the Underground Keeper for me."
"Are you sure those people behind you are really okay? I don't know about their abilities...well, understood."
Osian's ears perked up at the mention of the Underground Keeper.
He recalled the man wearing the plague doctor mask whom he had encountered when fleeing with Orlea.
'Could I possibly meet him again here?'
If so, he had one thing to ask.
After all, the Underground Keeper seemed to vaguely know about his identity.
"He says he's nearby so he'll be here soon."
Osian's expectations grew at the checkpoint guard resident's words.
As if proving his words weren't false, before even a minute passed, a group of people could be seen approaching from beyond the passage.
'Finally, they're here.'