novelThe Underground World (1)
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Chapter 130: The Underground World (1)
My body was heavy. My heart was so hot it felt like it was going to burst. Sweat flowed down my body and I could barely maintain consciousness.
"Alive."
"Oh... he is still alive? Is his heart really beating?"
"Listen. Can't you hear the sound?"
Something was moving around me. Cool skin made contact with me.
"Really! He is really alive! He is still living! Crazy!"
"What do we do? Shouldn't we notify the village?"
"No. Don't you know Elder-nim's personality? He has a safety first policy. Only we should know for now."
"But his condition might get worse. He is severely burning up."
"Wait a minute. What good will that do? Remember what happened last time... Torium, do you remember?"
"It will be okay if a cloth with cold water is put on his forehead."
"Ah, that's right. Indeed. It was so long ago that I had forgotten. Wait a moment. I will go and get it."
"Jeff, there is no time. He might be alive but he is weak."
"I know!"
Torium and Jeff.
Among them, the one called Jeff departed.
'It is frustrating. '
However, I didn't have time to worry about such things. My chest felt tight. It felt like something was strongly pressing down on it. Perhaps... the origin of this pain was my heart. My heart was beating like crazy. It felt so horrible that I wanted it to stop.
"Ha, a living person. He showed up in the Underground World of the Dead..."
Kung! Kung! Kung!
The sound of my heart beating echoed loudly in my ears.
How much time had passed?
My mind drifted to far away places.
I was trying to move my body when sounds were heard.
"Torium. Should we take turns? We need to create a story."
"We can come up with a story here as well. It's not like the lord will listen to my story anyway. He will probably only listen to pass the time."
"Perhaps. Torium, your stories are very interesting! I am envious that you have such a talent. Doesn't the lord in the castle find you interesting?"
"That would be nice but... he doesn't like looking at ugly things. He won't want to listen. In addition, a war is happening in the central area."
"Phew, aren't you also tired of it? This war should be finished. How many have already died?"
"The commander won't let this end easily. I heard rumours that he suddenly showed up with a sword after disappearing for a while. Maybe he might be able to conquer Central this time.
"No. There is an eternal curse on that area. The legitimacy doesn't matter. Everything will remain the same. They are only concerned about their self-interests... those with a lowly status like us are always suffering."
"But even so... the momentum is with the commander. There might end up being a conscription in our village."
"Eh~. Aren't we to the very south of Central?"
"Actually, there are rumours that the south will soon become a battlefield."
"Why?"
"They are rallying forces. They think the south is easy prey and are intending to grab it. There is already talk that an active army is heading here."
"I'm already tired of war and it is coming to the south... there is no safe place."
"Will the matchless warrior move?"
"Shut up. We can't talk about this here. By the way, don't you think he has been sleeping for a while?"
"The fever is gone. He is resilient and has a strangely fast recovery. In this state, he will soon... eh?"
"Finger! His fingers are moving! I saw it!"
"Jeff, don't make a fuss. He is still moving."
"Is he trying to write something on the ground?"
"That... are they letters?"
"Torium, do you know what he is doing?"
"Ahh, letters. It is really bad handwriting. Anyway..."
"Anyway?
"He is asking where this place is."
"This place is the Underground World. The world of the dead!"
"We are the undead. I am Torium. The noisy kid sitting next to me is Jeff."
"That's right, that's right."
"Who are you?"
"Write it!"
"Still got a bit of a look. Let's see, Randalph Brigsiel. '
"Randalph Brigsiel! Ask him. How did he manage to come here alive?"
"Did you hear? Please answer. We have been very curious about this."
"... Not moving?"
"Um, I guess he is unconscious again."
"How weak."
"His wounds were very large. It is great that he is already healed enough to move. Jeff, bring me some 'Jellim' from my room."
"Isn't that precious?"
"Hurry."
"Sheesh, don't yell at me. Wait a moment."
My body was gradually stabilizing. Even the wildly beating heart gradually slowed down.
My depleted magic power recovered and my colour returned.
Soon, I was able to open my eyes.
'They really are the undead. '
I was inside a cave.
Four eyes were watching me.
They were missing their hair, had violet skin and fungus all over their bodies. The undead.
I remembered asking a few questions with my fingers. I remembered that this was the Underground World and the presence of the undead.
'The problem is... I'm not sure where the Underground World is. '
The circulation of magic power was different. It was unfamiliar, but there was also familiar magic power hovering around me. At first, I felt a little bit panicked.
This wasn't Earth, the Demon World or even the Spirit World. It was a place I wasn't familiar with.
'My physical condition is in the worst state. '
I frowned after checking the state of my body.
It couldn't be worst than this. In this state, I wouldn't even be able to handle a lower grade creature. My muscles were almost dead and my magic power was still mostly depleted. I couldn't even afford to call Lightning God.
"What are you looking at?"
I used the wall as support to stand up and spoke.
"He is speaking!"
"It really is amazing."
Was Jeff his name?
He seemed to be the one making a fuss.
Anyway... they had saved me but I was still skeptical. I couldn't trust anyone in this post-battle situation. I had occasionally heard their voices while drifting in and out of consciousness.
"Where did you come from?"
"You are Torium?"
"Correct."
"Torium. I'd like to ask something first. Is this place really the Underground World?"
"Yes."
"It isn't the Demon World or Middle World?"
"Technically speaking, it is a place that exists in the middle."
"I can't believe it."
I walked out while still leaning on the wall. Torium came to my other side in order to help.
Not long afterwards, I exited from the cave. I couldn't help snorting. The cave was at the bottom of a cliff and I was able to see a pretty wide area.
'It is worse than the Demon World. '
A place full of death.
No, it was a place for the dead!
Everything was different. It was a similar feeling to when I arrived on Earth from the Demon World or when I first entered the Spirit World.
'What happened in the confrontation with Contegonom?'
I frowned.
I remembered up to my confrontation with Contegonom.
But afterwards, there was just a gap in my memory.
'I can't communicate with Yihi or check the status window. '
It seemed like the system was still broken. I clicked my tongue.
"I can't exist here."
"Of course. This is a world that only contains the dead."
Torium said from next to me.
"Do you know how I can get back?"
"I don't know. In fact, it is still unbelievable. From what I understand, this is the first time something like this has happened in the Underground World."
"It is possible that others might know."
"Maybe... but shouldn't you become more stable first? You still don't look good."
It made a lot of sense.
It was important to understand the situation, but first my body needed to heal. I wouldn't be able to move around comfortably in this state.
'Even one orc will be troublesome right now. '
I was in the worst state. The reason why my body was like this?
The skill Corruption gave me wings and horns. My status... I made a fist. Bare bones and blue veins were visible.
"Do you want anything to eat and drink?"
Torium was an undead so he didn't worry about my emotional state.
"Very presumptuous."
"I don't intend to get things for free. I will answer some of your questions."
It seemed like Torium and Jeff had a lot of questions for me. Then I would use it to accomplish what I wanted.
"It might be hard for you to eat."
"It doesn't matter."
I shook my head.
I could eat anything.
'Jellim' was a tree and the branches could be used to make a porridge. It was the only food they had but... it was still better than nothing.
"I'm a storyteller. Every week, I would make up a story to tell the lord and I would receive a branch of Jellim in return. Jellim is very important in the Underground World. It is good for increasing the 'shelf life' of a rotting body."
Torium spoke in a condescending tone.
Indeed, I had never heard the name Jellim.
"It is like a preservative."
"Preservative?"
"There is such a thing?"
"Hmm, it seems to be something in the other world. By the by, who are you? I know that your name is Randalph Brigsiel but how did you come to the Underground World?"
I already received food and water.
I needed to cooperate to continue obtaining them in the future. I also needed to find out about this place.
"I was operating a dungeon."
"Dungeon? A dungeon filled with creatures?"
"That's correct."
"I heard that warlocks or lich normally operate a dungeon..."
"That's it for today."
"Wait! It can't end here!"
"I will tell you more tomorrow."
I sat down and shut my eyes.
First of all, it was necessary to examine the insides of my body. And I got an idea about how to recover my magic power.
"Hu! I understand. I will come back tomorrow."
"Come with something to eat and drink."
"The Jellim is precious!"
"It doesn't matter to me."
"......"
Torium abruptly left! He turned and exited the cave.
He was quickly followed by Jeff.
"Is this really okay?"
"Jeff, I am a storyteller. I can't stand wondering."
"Aren't you scared?"
"Those eyes... I'm not an opponent for him. He seems to have killed a lot."
"What?"
"Shit! Where did he fall from? What is a preservative? I really want to know!"
"I am also curious. You will be able to make a better story."
"So please lend me some Jellim. I don't have enough."
"Are you crazy?"
"It will be worth it. A person has shown up in this world. I think that it is very significant."
"Anyway Torium, I've known you for a long time but I still don't know you."
Jeff sighed.
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