Crimson Servant

Chapter 16 Trap Monster
  After reuniting, the Sun Team continued to move towards the center of the underground city. The closer they got to the center, the more complete the building specifications became. Twenty minutes after walking along the straight corridor, the moss and green plants on the wall disappeared without a trace. The limestone roof above blocked the sun, and a dark wind blew from the depths, mixed with the smell of decaying mushrooms. The wall five feet above the ground has a hexagonal groove arranged every twenty steps. It is initially judged that the magic stones that once contained lighting have been hollowed out.

Jürgen stretched out his stubby fingers and ran them along the wall, judging by the thickness of the dust that this path had not been traveled in three months. The paths leading to Optitedan Underground City extend in all directions and will eventually converge at one place. The fewer adventurers' footprints, the more treasures that have not been looted, and the more hidden dangers.

The team moved forward slowly maintaining the original order of exploration, and the width of the passage allowed two people to walk parallel. Karl held a torch, but he declined Jurgen's offer to light it for him, saying it felt like a fire biting him in the butt. The old dwarf muttered a few druid curses until John lit up his long staff.

"Can you light up this kid's butt, Warlock? That will definitely increase his taunt value and help him better fulfill his responsibilities in the front row."

"Theoretically yes." John nodded respectfully, "As long as we can get the butt owner's consent, or not let him hear."

"I don't agree, I heard you. If you dare to do that, I will definitely give you a sword, Warlock."

Jurgen and John didn't lower their voices when they joked, they just said it to someone on purpose, and the arakkoa's hoarse laughter made this joke about the Holy Light's butt even more interesting.

Their laughter would tacitly decrease as they approached the corner, until the Druid turned it on again when he sensed it was safe. Team Sun explored the three rooms along the way, searching the bottles and jars inside to get some small money.

After passing the sixth corner, the Druid discovered something unusual.

He raised his long stick to stop the paladin's footsteps. He took a step forward and sniffed gently into the darkness on the left. He took Karl's torch and shined it deeper. The dwarf retracted into the wall and faced His companion said: "It smells of blood, the smell of blood that is about to dissipate."

Karl said: "We should go and take a look. Maybe there are wounded people there, maybe adventurers in distress."

John said: "Maybe it's the injured monster and the thing they're guarding."

Lightning continued, "And their dog tags."

None of the adventurers were timid, and the decision to explore the passage on the left was quickly implemented. Karl walked in front, his hand firmly holding the shield across his chest.

Within a minute, they saw the source of the bloody smell.

A halfling leaning against the wall. The round head has sparse hair, and the skin is a forest-brown color. He is wearing a long gray coat, his feet are bare, and there is a blood mark on the bandage on his side.

Karl squatted down and put the torch close to the halfling's face. The halfling's eyes were closed tightly. There were several moles under his eyes and on the side of his nose. He showed no reaction to the flames that were an inch away from his big nose.

Jurgen moved closer, touched the halfling's body, and began to check his breathing and pulse.

"He can still be saved. He is almost dead, but not close."

This was exciting news, and Carl and Lightning showed a certain degree of excitement. They guarded the surroundings one after another, leaving Jurgen space for treatment. John looked at Jurgen who was rescuing him. His eyes were focused on the unconscious halfling, thinking about the reason why he was left here alone.

It is foolish to explore dungeons alone. His companions abandoned him, but they all met with misfortune. This place is not far from the periphery, so there is no possibility of abandonment. If the entire team was attacked, then the danger was nearby, and he was seriously injured and couldn't run very far.

As the halo of the healing technique subsided, everyone heard the halfling's high-pitched moans. He woke up and looked around with a pair of black eyes. The halfling began to cough. Jurgen handed him the water bag and he felt better after swallowing a few mouthfuls.

The halfling stood up with difficulty while holding on to the wall, without any gesture of gratitude. He limped toward the depths of darkness, stammering out a few words.

"...companion...my...companion..."

Lightning couldn't bear to look at that brave figure. He poked John, his voice sounding like a cry of empathy.

"What a poor man, we can't watch him go back alone..."

"A minute ago you were thinking about his dog tags."

"He definitely didn't, he didn't even have shoes on."

The Paladin also offered to lend a helping hand, and actually followed suit despite the rest of his opinions.

"Provide help and give treatment, but I will not turn back to escort them." John said.

"Of course, we just do what we have to do." Jurgen followed.

The group of five people advanced slowly. John couldn't bear the strange feeling in his heart, so he took a few steps forward and patted the paladin on the shoulder. Carl turned back and glared at him, as if he was afraid of disturbing the silent halfling in front, and did not say any sharp words to rebuke the warlock.

"Is your sense of evil still functioning?"

"It's always in effect." John was stunned for a moment, "Have you sensed the approach of evil?"

"He was always close to me."

Carl's special pronoun made John understand what he meant. Resisting the urge to drain the paladin's blood, John put on a cold face that was not offensive.

"Do you feel anything besides me?"

Carl closed his eyes and maximized his perception.

"No. Your evil covers everything, and my inspiration is almost suffocated."

“I sincerely hope it’s not just you that inspires you.”

Feeling that he was asking for trouble, John returned to Jurgen's back. As expected, he still couldn't get along with the Paladin. Now that he thought about it, the estrangement he felt might also come from the confrontation with the Paladin. Suddenly, I understood Karl's hostility towards me, because my hostility towards him has not diminished.

I am not the same as them, the sorcerer thought.

"Little John." The familiar title drew his attention. He turned his head suddenly and saw that the person calling him was not Nora, but the short and capable old dwarf. Although his eyes looked familiar.

"Don't call me that."

"Are you... feeling uncomfortable somewhere?" His concerned voice even softened his rough throat.

"No, it's nothing. It's just my illusion..."

"believe in yourself."

"what?"

"Trust your instincts. The world is full of confusion. Keep your wildness and instinct. This is the only thing worth relying on."

The halfling led the Sun Team to a dark room at the corner. As soon as he saw the place, he rushed in excitedly and cheered happily.

"They're there!"

Behind the door that only allowed one person to pass, through the dim light of the torch, several people saw a blurry figure lying in the middle of the room. The halfling knelt on the ground and tried to lift them up. His face turned toward John in a silent plea for help.

Karl walked in, and just as Jurgen was about to follow, a hand was placed on his shoulder.

"John?"

"Let me do it."

"You coming? You don't understand treatment."

John stepped into the room, the mechanism rang, and the stone door suddenly rose to separate the Sun Team. Amid Jurgen and Lightning's exclamations, the Warlock's eyes glowed red.

"No treatment required."

John discovered the reason for his discomfort not long ago.

When John examined the halfling for the first time, he saw the mole on his face moving.

The chanting of the spells that had been prepared gradually became louder, and the burning fireball illuminated the room.

There were human-like bones wrapped in rags, spider eggs wrapped in webs in the corner, and three white-haired spiders emerged, each about the size of a hunting dog. There was also the shape-shifting spider that brought them in. It gave up its disguise, made a sharp sound from its mouthparts, and oozed acid.

"Fire Ball!"

(End of this chapter)