Volume 5 Chapter 14 Goddess Holy Church Seven Heaven Apostles 'ugly' Balthazar ⑤ - Insect King
Elk and Soara were moving deeper into the dungeon.
However, they were unaware. They were just wandering around looking for a way back... but for some reason, they kept going deeper.
Along the way, many monsters appeared.
But──of course, they were no match for Elk. With telekinesis, he crushed, slammed, and twisted them... anyway, Elk defeated every monster that showed up.
And then, they kept coming... a huge amount of magic stones.
Elk held a dark green magic stone he collected from a giant mantis and said,
"Wow, we got a lot!"
"Yeah, yeah. So much treasure. And money too!"
Elk's item box was full of magic stones, and Soara's item box was packed with treasure. Since their capacity wasn't that great, it was so full that nothing else could fit.
Elk tried to put the magic stone into his item box, but it wouldn't go in.
"There's no more space. How about you, Soara?"
"...nope. Full."
"I see. Well, I'll just put it in my pocket."
Elk put the magic stone in his pocket.
By the way, the monster Elk just defeated was called 'Death Edge,' a super dangerous giant mantis. In the past, there had only been 2 successful hunts, and even then, it took 20 A-rank adventurers, with only 3 survivors after the battle. It was one of the worst insect-type monsters.
But Elk easily 'twisted' it... just like always, as if it were a routine task.
Soara, too, seemed to be getting numb to the situation, as she wasn't particularly scared even when a giant mantis appeared.
And then, the two of them reached the deepest part of the 'Nest of Insect Poison.'
"Wow..."
"Is this... the deepest part?"
Elk took off his hood and removed his mask.
It was a very large space.
The ground was dirt, with weeds growing. There were no trees, and on the opposite side of the entrance was a big building that looked like a temple. It felt like it was guarding something.
Then, Elk realized something.
"Wait, we were looking for the exit, and we ended up in the deepest part!?"
"Oh no... what should we do?"
"What should we do? Do we have to turn back?"
"Yeah, but since we're here, let's explore a bit. There might be a treasure."
"Treasure..."
Elk learned about it in class.
Treasures must be reported to the country.
Also, the name of the discoverer gets recorded in history. You can get a huge reward. And so on.
It's a hassle, but getting money isn't bad.
"If we find a treasure and get money, it would be nice to expand my item box."
"I want to eat a lot of snacks."
"Haha, that sounds good. So, let's check that place over there."
The two started walking toward the temple in the back───... then, Elk raised his right hand.
"Huh?"
Something flew toward them.
Elk's telekinesis formed a barrier, and whatever was coming stopped about a meter in front of Elk and fell to the ground.
It looked like a twisted dagger.
Soara was surprised.
"W-What is this?"
"...There's something here. Soara, wait here. I'll take care of it."
"A-Are you okay?"
"Yeah. Just leave it to me."
Elk wrapped Soara's whole body in a telekinesis shield.
Leaving Soara behind, Elk headed alone.
The large door opened automatically, as if inviting Elk in.
Once inside, he saw spider webs everywhere.
"What's this place──"
"Welcome, hee hee, hehe."
Then, the room suddenly got bright.
It had only one room. So, the ceiling was incredibly high, and it was even bigger than the training area at school.
The brightness came from a huge chandelier hanging from the ceiling.
Someone was standing on that chandelier.
"Hee hee hee, buhihihihi..."
"...Who are you? Do you need something?"
The 'man' who jumped down from the chandelier was extremely 'ugly.'
He had a twisted skull and a deformed face that looked like a 3-year-old had stuck clay on it. He had almost no hair, and his mouth was huge, like it was ripped open. His nose was big, and his face was covered in warts. And his eyes were extremely small.
He was short, and his hunched back made him look even smaller.
"I'm Balthazar... one of the 7 priests of the Goddess Holy Church."
"...!"
"Hey, hey, you... you're Elk, right? The 'Scarecrow' Elk. Hee hee, all black. Just like a crow."
"It's not my hobby, though..."
It seems that the Goddess Holy Church also had the nickname 'Scarecrow.'
Elk decided to give up.
"Hey, hey. I was told to check just once, so I'm checking."
"...What is it?"
"Won't you join us? Elk is the '8th' one. A chosen human, an apostle of the goddess, hee hee."
"No way. By the way, where did you take the people? Give them back."
"The people we took? Oh, the believers. It's too late. Piasola brainwashed them. The strong ones become my subordinates, and the weak ones become believers. Hehe... but I couldn't get any subordinates. Ugh..."
"......"
"Hey, Elk. Can I ask you something?"
"...What is it?"
Balthazar grinned and asked Elk.
"I'm really... 'ugly,' right?"
"...Huh?"
"My face is terrible. I wish it was smooth like a girl's. You know, there's a girl outside."
"...You."
"Elk, Elk. If you don't join us, they said I should get rid of you because you're a nuisance. Elk, with my 'cheat skill,' I'll take you down."
When Balthazar opened his mouth, a huge swarm of grasshoppers was spat out.
The skill 'Insect Refinement'... one of the skills Balthazar was given.
The grasshoppers were jumping around Balthazar.
Additionally, 8 tentacles sprouted from Balthazar's back, and spider-like legs grew from his waist to support his body.
His hands stretched out, and fangs grew from his mouth... he had completely stopped being human.
"W-Wait, seriously..."
Cheat skill, 'Insect King.'
The strongest insect-type skill. It allows him to turn his body into 'insects.'
Moreover, Balthazar was currently absorbing the dungeon's treasure, the 'Magic Insect Stone.' In the deepest part of the dungeon, insect-type monsters from all over the dungeon were gathering.
Balthazar's tentacles, now giant and insect-like, writhed around.
"Elk, Elk───... I'll digest you!"
"No way."
Elk, wearing an eye patch mask and a hood, spread his arms wide.
He looked like a twisted black scarecrow or a crow with its wings spread.
The enemy was Balthazar, a priest of the Goddess Holy Church.
Elk said to Balthazar.
"I'm not going to hold back if you say you're from the Goddess Holy Church."
"Hehe, hehehe... I'm going to take it all!!!"
Balthazar's tentacles lunged at Elk.
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