The Unaware Harem Adventure Tale of the Strongest Enchanter ~~I Don’t Know My Companions’ Faces or Identities, but I’m Pretty Sure They’re All Guys~~ - 25. Certainly, I might eat rotten things.

25. 25. 25. 25. 25. 25. 25. 25. Certainly, I might eat rotten things.

You can enter the underground sewer from anywhere in town.

This town was built on top of ruins. It has paths leading into the waterworks if you peel up the cobblestones in various places.

“Are there really any undead? We haven’t encountered even one so far.”

“I want to purifyyy…”

In the underground sewer. A large amount of water was flowing right beside us.

Relying on the memo the requester left with the guild, Zain and I headed underground from the alley behind the guild. We proceeded toward our destination.

The memo says this:

‘A powerful Skeleton Wizard is wandering on the third basement floor. Unknown, we want you to take it down.’

There’s too little information to call it detailed.

Telling us to go defeat it with just this—are they underestimating adventurers?

I don’t know what kind of person this Avril is. But if I met them directly, I’d definitely complain at least once.

I come to a stop with a pat.

Looking back, at the corner we just turned, three faces quickly ducked out of sight.

I scratched my head and sighed.

Good grief. Don’t they know curiosity killed the cat?

I cast ‘Speed Up’ on myself and rushed straight back to the corner.

“Hey! Why are you following us without permission!?”

““Hyaaa!?””

“…We’ve been found.”

The swordsgirl-chan and mage-chan screamed at my sudden appearance.

In contrast, the thief-chan had a much calmer reaction compared to the other two. And her lips were slightly lifted—as if she was a little happy.

I thought I sent them back to the inn. Why are they here?

At least, I didn’t feel like we were being followed when we entered the guild.

They probably started tailing us after we left.

Well, it’s hard to believe these girls had some dark intentions in following us.

Most likely, swordsgirl-chan got curious about the S-rank request and suggested sneaking along to check it out.

“U-um, it’s a coincidence, really. We were just doing some preliminary scouting for Sime hunting. Like warming up, or like, wondering what the sewers are like.”

“Without even mapping?”

“Hau!? That’s—!”

Seems like she didn’t prepare an excuse for getting caught.

Taking her place, mage-chan stepped forward.

“We followed you without saying anything because we wanted to see what an S-rank job—something all adventurers dream of—is like. I’m sorry. Akane-chan isn’t to blame. I suggested it and dragged the other two along.”

“I’m not mad. But if you’re going to follow someone, don’t get caught. And more importantly, you need to remember this is a dungeon. Always map the area, no matter the situation. Always keep your weapon drawn and be ready for combat. Especially if you’re a rookie.”

“Knew it… he’s mad.”

I fell silent at thief-chan’s comment.

What am I getting all fired up for?

They’re adventurers too, even if just beginners. They should be able to take care of themselves.

Tch. These girls really throw me off my rhythm.

‘****-sama, I wonder if I managed to become your shield?’

A boy dying in my arms.

For some reason, that happy-looking face makes my vision tremble.

“Ugh.”

A flashback of that past scene.

The feeling of the grip I once held returns. And my right hand trembles.

“A-are you okay? You look pale.”

“Ah, yeah, I just felt a little sick.”

Mage-chan asked me with concern.

But thief-chan expressionlessly made a completely off-base guess.

“Did you eat something rotten?”

“…Huh?”

“Sensei doesn’t care about expiration dates.”

“Pfft… buhahaha. Yeah, I guess I don’t.”

I’m not even sure why I found it funny.

But somehow, her totally random comment made things feel like no big deal.

I patted her head in thanks. And with a soft “Nn,” thief-chan’s lips turned up just a little.

“This area’s still beginner-level. I’ll allow you to come with us for now. But once we reach intermediate-level floors, go back quietly. Got it?”

“Yay! That means Lux-san will be supporting us!”

“Wait a second—don’t tell me *that* was your actual goal?”

“W-what are you talking about? We just followed our admired senpai this far, that’s all.”

“……You’re more of a strategist than I thought. Fine, I’ll support you—so go hunt some Slimes while you’re at it.”

The three of them jumped for joy.

Using your senior like that—you’re some promising rookies.

As payback later, I’ll make sure you eat so much dinner you can’t move. You better remember.

“La, la-la, Lux! Why didn’t you cooome?”

“Sorry.”

Zain had been left waiting. They brought their face so close they could almost touch me. They looked very angry.

◇

Swordsgirl-chan’s sword sliced through the Slime along with its core stone.

But Slimes kept appearing one after another in the sewer—there was no end.

“Step back, Akane-chan.”

“Okay.”

“Drifting air, gathering wind, answer my wish and cut through the enemy with blades—Wind Fang!”

A fierce wind blew through the sewer. It swallowed and shredded the Slimes.

It’s a mid-tier wind-type offensive spell.

She’s really talented.

At that age, being able to use mid-tier spells from different types…

Just as we cleared out the Slimes, a slow-moving beast poked its heavy body from the water’s edge and slowly climbed onto land.

It was about four meters long. It opened its wide mouth filled with sharp fangs to threaten us.

A Death Alligator.

Its tough skin repels swords. Its jaws can crush steel.

And that’s just a juvenile—it hasn’t even fully matured yet.

An aged Death Alligator is strong enough to fight Dragons over territory.

“I’ll cast. Akane, can you handle it?”

“Of course! Leave it to me!”

Thief-chan drew magical characters with her fingers.

You can use enchantment arts even without a short staff.

The reason I use one is because it’s easier for shorthand casting and can act as a tool to block sudden attacks.

It’s also a kind of ON/OFF switch for me—just like how swordsmen draw their swords.

With ‘Physical Guard’ enchantment cast on her, swordsgirl-chan dodged the waterball from the Death Alligator and calmly took its swinging tail with a defensive stance.

Withstood, she struck her sword into the Death Alligator’s eye during the opening.

She probably knew it wouldn’t pierce the hide. So she aimed to blind it.

If it worked, she could destroy the brain and kill it.

Whether planned or improvised, that was smart.

“Take this! Just settle down already!!”

The Death Alligator thrashed violently.

Swordsgirl-chan drove the sword even deeper.

Looks like the blade reached the brain.

The monster stopped moving and collapsed limply.

“You did it, Akane-chan!”

“Nice fight.”

“It was thanks to Rinoa’s enchantment. Also, if we hadn’t cleared the Slimes before that, it would’ve been bad—Bell helped too.”

The three of them celebrated.

Zain watched them closely.

Maybe they’re jealous.

We don’t really have that kind of vibe in Unknown.

Now that I think about it, in Unknown, we don’t really praise each other much.

We generally know what everyone can do. And there’s this unspoken rule that doing your job is expected.

But boosting morale is part of a leader’s role, too.

Let’s try it.

“Did you know? Zain’s arms can stretch.”

“No way! Is that true, Zain-san!?”

“I-it’s true… Wanna seeee?”

“““We wanna see!!”””

Oh, Zain looks happy.

I was super surprised the first time I saw it, too.

Zain shot out both arms. They wrapped them around their own body over and over.

The three of them clapped excitedly with big smiles, going “Oooooh!!”

But I still wonder—how exactly do they stretch like that?

More than their face, *that* is what I’m curious about.

“La, la-la, Lux…”

“I know.”

Someone ahead is watching us.

They’re wearing a hood pulled deep and covering their body with a cloak.

I can faintly see inside the hood.

Eyes glowing red with a faint eerie light.

Could that be the undead from the request?

It fled.

Almost as if it’s luring us.

“You three stay here and gather materials. We’re going after it.”

“Okay. Sensei, be careful.”

Zain and I headed deeper into the underground sewer.