Impregnation Reincarnation Adventurer ep026.＊Oops＊

 

 

Despite our tension, we made it to the end of the dungeon without incident.

You can say that it’s a letdown, but on the other hand, it also created a problem.

「 It’s a dead end, but the sign wasn’t retrieved 」

「 Right 」

We followed the route, relying on the signs, and ended up at a dead end.

Basically, the string used for the signs is collected when you return, unless it’s an emergency. The only emergencies you can expect are when they’re attacked, or when they’re involved in some kind of accident or trap that they have to leave the scene.

I didn’t see any signs of that before we got here. In short.

「 Something happened to them. That’s for sure 」

I don’t know what happened to them. This is worrying.

It’s easier to determine the situation if there were cliffs, traps, dungeon objects, or battle scars, but nothing of the sort can be found in the surrounding area. It’s not a locked room, but a dead end, so it’s unimaginable. I checked Hagen’s map to be sure but it seems that this is the end of this dungeon.

A party of adventurers suddenly disappears.

It reminds me of the vintage quest I heard at the bar.

I see. So the rumors were true.

It’s no wonder the adventurers who experienced something similar are eager to see if the rumors are true. No, maybe some of them are looking for their fellow missing adventurers like us.

「 Let’s survey the room for now. We might’ve missed something 」

「 Let’s do that 」

Marie and I split up to search this not-so-big place.

I check the ground and look for footprints. I see multiple footprints. It seems that they were looking for something frequently.

「 What are they looking for? 」

The question has stuck with me for a long time.

Something’s not right. From the traces I’ve collected so far, there was a picture of adventurers moving with a clear purpose in mind.

「 Marie, don’t you think it’s weird? 」

There’s no point in agonizing on it alone.

So, I approached her to share my current thoughts, but she didn’t respond.

I turned around.

Not here.

I can’t see her anywhere.

「 Calm down. Don’t panic. 」

I take deep breaths to suppress my rising emotions.

Open your eyes wide and look.

There’s something different from what we saw earlier.

「 It’s this! 」

Found it.

I searched for Marie’s footprints while relying on her lingering scent and discovered her silver-rimmed glasses on the floor. The cause of this is nearby.

The architectural style of Mara culture found throughout the dungeon has a magic circle disguised as a decorative pattern.

How can I, with no magic knowledge, determine that it’s a magic circle?

It’s simple and clear, it’s because the floor is dust free, and it has a circular shape with a radius of about 30cm. The drawing on it looks like a magic circle. As proof, Marie’s footprints I followed have been cut off across the boundary of dust.

In other words, Marie stepped on it while investigating, without realizing that it was a magic circle.

「 Could this be a teleporter? 」

Teleporter traps are familiar in dungeon RPGs from my previous life.

It’s a heinous thing that sends people caught in it flying somewhere far away in the dungeon.

Depending on the medium and time, some patterns are so bad in luck that adventurers can get buried in stone and die like that. Even if they survive, they might be thrown into a monster den, split up and get stuck with not enough strength, or starve to death because they don’t know how to get home.

I look around cautiously, searching for other traces.

Then, I found it.

There’s a painting on a large circle with a radius of about three meters. At first glance, it seems to be a diagram of constellations, a world map, and gardens. New footprints of several people concentrated around there and broke off. Maybe it’s lucky or unlucky, the whole party got caught up in the teleporter at the same time.

「 This is bad. 」

I’m left alone, I could do nothing but stand in a daze.

I sit down on rubble and think of what’s ahead.

「 Normally, I’d just turn back home. Himmler told me to come back alive and bring back information. If the dungeons of the abandoned city of Mara are still alive, and if their advanced functions are still in operation…

Then the nobles would want that information.

The magical civilization of Mara is a source of national power that built an era. It’s mighty powerful.

「 The guild would use the Mara dungeon as bait to catch adventurers who dream of making a fortune. If they hear about the dungeon where the magical tools of the ancient kingdom sleep, then it would attract adventurers from other countries.

Did the higher-ups know about this?

No, if they did, then they would’ve been more serious with the investigation.

But, they surely have heard of the rumors surrounding the Mara dungeon.

If they were looking for some link with the adventurers who disappeared in the dungeons, then it’s likely that they turned in a request for someone who has nothing to lose. Then, they drew us in splendidly.

「 No, that doesn’t matter 」

I have two simple choices to consider.

「 Do I go, or do I turn back? That’s all I need to answer 」

I continue my thoughts, almost crushed by the silence and darkness.

I need to help Marie right away! I feel like I’m hearing voices. I didn’t move my legs because of such thoughts.

Teleporters are my trauma from my past life.

I can’t describe the feeling of losing a character I raised in an instant because of such an unreasonable trap.

But that’s just a game. That’s why it’s scary.

I never thought of a day that I’d witness it in reality.

Mara’s a civilization skilled in magic. So, they could spread out such movement devices in normal use. I have such optimism. But if it was a vicious trap, then I won’t be able to help the people I could’ve helped.

「 Do I abandon them? 」

It hurts my throat.

「 Do I abandon Marie? 」

My lips feel dry.

The sound of sizzling oil burns my ears.

I can’t even feel my own temperature or heartbeat.

The anxiety and loneliness hit me, as of I had lost heaven and earth.

「 Marie…Sorry, I have to… 」

I squeeze my words of repentance, feeling my gut twisting.

I put my luggage on my back and left the place, dragging my feet like lead.

My footsteps are the only thing I hear in the silent dungeon.

I don’t care if they call me stupid, perverted, or a lousy man.

If I could resume without incident, then they can curse me as much as they like.

So, forgive me.

「 I knew it, I want to be the hero in legends 」

I stand in front of the teleporter Marie stepped on.

The ordinary pattern looked awfully ominous.

I ready myself.

「 Here I go! Marie!! 」

I raise my spirit and stepped into the magic circle.

However, nothing happened.