I Opened an Inn Next to a Dragon’s Lair - Chapter 171



Only Noblemtl

Episode 171

Eugene scratched his head.

‘Should I take this in?’

There are probably monsters hiding in this sewer, so we should go in.

But this is… … .

‘It’s so dirty.’

I pinched my nose. The smell was bad.

The sewers were already dirty, but it was even worse here.

It’s probably an abandoned facility that isn’t even managed.

The magical engineers who want to transform the world want to develop all the cities in the world, but the reality is that it cannot be done that way.

They ambitiously boasted about introducing the latest magical engineering water supply and sewerage system, but in reality, most places were abandoned without any management due to lack of funds, and this place seemed to be one of those places.

‘That’s why monsters hide in places like this.’

A place no one visits. A dark and damp place. Monsters love such places. In that sense, abandoned sewers are perfect for monsters to hide in.

They did the same thing on Earth. Thanks to them, the developing and underdeveloped countries suffered so much. They suffered so much that at some point, most countries began to meticulously manage and maintain their sewage systems.

But this world doesn’t know that. In the first place, these monsters themselves appeared for the first time.

“Kkuung-ah. We have to go in here now. Can you come in?”

“Kuung.”

“Really? It smells really bad. Can you stand it?”

“Kkuung!”

The guy nodded vigorously. He had an expression that said he didn’t care about the smell. Eugene snickered and wrapped the blanket around the guy tighter.

After that, he cast two spells in succession. One was a ‘Smell Blocking’ spell to block foul odors, and the other was a ‘Purification Aura’ spell to create an area that purified pollutants within a semicircle radius centered around the caster.

As the magic unfolded, a faint glow appeared around Eugene’s body. Only then did Eugene take a deep breath.

‘Whew. That’s a little better.’

* * *

Eugene cursed the magic engineer who designed this sewer system. Why, for such a small town, is the sewer system so wide and large?

I don’t know for sure, but the magic engineer must have been very ambitious. He probably wanted to develop this city into a large metropolis. Otherwise, how could he have installed such excessive facilities in a city that only had about 50,000 people?

Eugene walked through the dark sewers with his light magic. The surroundings were full of filth, but Eugene didn’t even blink. At first, he frowned a little, but he soon got used to it. Although he had been enjoying peace for over a year, the time he had spent as a hero had not disappeared.

Actually, this was all a memory. In the early days of my career as a hero, I would go into the sewers like this whenever I had the chance. Those damned monsters must really like places like this.

‘In the old days, I used to go to places like this and eat hamburgers and stuff.’

Originally, humans are creatures of adaptation. Although it is an environment that makes you vomit, you get used to it as you go. After some time, you start eating in places like this and things like that.

‘Oh, I want to eat a hamburger.’

Eugene imagined a hamburger. Two beef patties on a sesame seed bun, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, tomatoes, and other vegetables, and put them all together, and took a bite.

“nice.”

Oh, it looks so delicious. When I finish everything and go home, I think I’ll make a hamburger. Come to think of it, I’ve never fed my employees a hamburger. That delicious hamburger.

‘But the hamburger comes with French fries, you know.’

Those are really crispy French fries. I dip the freshly fried ones in ketchup and eat them. Then, when I put some cola in my dry mouth, the cola moistens my dry mouth… … .

Oh, that’s paradise.

I thought that I absolutely had to eat a hamburger when I got back. And wouldn’t a homemade hamburger be delicious? I’m sure the staff would like it too. If the response is good, I’ll add it to the regular menu. It’ll definitely be popular… … .

“Khuuuung?”

Suddenly, Kkuungi cried. The hamburger in Eugene’s imagination disappeared.

“What’s wrong? What’s wrong?”

“Kkuung!”

The guy nodded vigorously. Then he extended his hand and pointed forward.

It means there is something in front of me.

‘The discomfort is growing.’

A peculiar unpleasantness accompanied by a sticky and wet feeling is characteristic of the monster.

The fact that this discomfort has intensified means that we have gotten closer to its source.

As expected.

We ran into each other.

A single wriggling egg.

“Kuuung!”

Kkuungi was shaking wildly. He put his finger directly on the egg and started fussing about it.

“It really was.”

Eugene let out a wry laugh.

Until now, there was only suspicion, but now there is evidence.

A hideous appearance that looks like it could appear as the egg of an alien monster species in some famous real-time strategy simulation game.

The devil’s egg.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The sound of a heartbeat was transmitted. The egg was beating vigorously like a heart.

It feels like I’m going to jump out at any moment.

‘No, I don’t know.’

This is, to be precise, a fix.

And when a monster is in a fixed state, it usually means one.

That it’s growing.

“Kuuuung!”

Kkuungi was flailing around wildly. It meant that he wanted to get off. When Eugene unwrapped the blanket, the little guy landed safely and then walked forward unsteadily.

“Why? What do you think you know?”

“Kkuung!”

Eugene left the guy who was approaching Kochi alone, hoping that he might find out something.

With his help, we were able to find this monster. Maybe Kkuungi can do something for us too… … .

‘omg!’

Eugene was terrified. No, well. Wasn’t it that Kkuungyi picked up the gochi and chewed it up?

Yum yum yum, gurgling gurgling, Kkuungi is chewing so deliciously.

Eugene couldn’t even think about getting rid of the guy because of his appearance that was supposed to be ugly but strangely suited him.

“Remember.”

The guy who had finished eating let out a long burp. And then.

Boom!

Kkuungi just lies down in place.

I let out a comfortable breath, not even caring that the floor was covered in dirt.

“under.”

Eugene was so shocked that he just scratched the back of his head.

“Are you a panda?”

“Khuuung?”

Kkuung-i tilted his head as if asking what was going on.

Oh, right.

This isn’t a panda, it’s a spirit.

Eugene looked around.

The discomfort that had been so strong had disappeared as if washed away.

Instead, all that is felt is the sight of a dirty sewer.

‘There are no monsters here anymore.’

Eugene went outside and summoned Bangul and asked her to wash his body. Bangul, the water spirit, washed Eugene and Kkuungi’s bodies very cleanly.

After that, Eugene looked at Kkuungi.

“Are you sure you’re okay?”

“Kuung.”

“Does anything hurt? Is there anything strange about it?”

“Kkuung!”

The boy’s expression was always calm. It was a face that said there was nothing wrong. And the boy’s body was still that of a plump panda.

‘Well, I guess it’s okay.’

Eugene scratched his head and laughed. At any rate, it was fortunate. He found the growing monster and destroyed it.

If this guy had finished growing, he would have come out and caused damage to the city. But we defeated him before that, so it was a complete success.

* * *

“That’s it.”

“yes.”

Absalon stroked his chin. He had just heard from Eugene about the incident in the sewers.

“So, to summarize, not only did this panda find the location of the monster, but he also ate the monster’s eggs or cocoons or whatever. And yet, there was nothing wrong with his body.”

“That’s it.”

“hmm.”

Absalon sat Kkuungi down in front of him and stared at him blankly. Kkuungi just tilted his head with an innocent expression.

“Let me take a quick look.”

“yes.”

Absalon placed his hand on Kkuungi and quietly closed his eyes. Mana sprouted from his hand, enveloped Kkuungi, circled around, and was taken back.

And Absalon opened his eyes.

“I get the general idea.”

He took his hand off. Kkuungi stood up as if he had been waiting and hugged Eugene. Eugene patted the guy’s butt.

“Where did you get this guy? A spirit beast?”

“Yes. Carnius called Kkuungi the primordial spirit.”

“If that dragon said so, then it must be true. He is the spirit of the beginning.”

“Did you find out anything?”

“I think this spirit has some special power. From what I can see, I think that power is probably the power of purification.”

“The power of purification… … .”

“I’m not sure. That’s what I see.”

“Thank you. If that’s what you want, then so be it.”

Even though he seems to be just a loner eating at the inn, Absalon is still a Druid in name. As such, his insight is genuine. Eugene didn’t ask for nothing.

If that’s what he said, then it must be true.

‘So, what you’re saying is that our Kkuungi not only tracks monster locations, but also works as a monster vacuum cleaner.’

For some reason, the guy felt secure, so Eugene patted Kkuungi’s butt hard.

* * *

“Oh, I have news from your teacher.”

“Yes? Really?”

“Yeah. They said they’d be here soon.”

It was Absalon’s notice. Eugene’s face brightened. That gentleman, you’re really late. When did you say you were coming?

‘Are we finally going to meet?’

Eugene’s heart was filled with anticipation.

It’s always nice to meet someone you miss.

Among them, the teacher was the person I wanted to meet the most.

“But what did you do to be so late? Were you on the opposite side of the continent?”

“I heard there was a reason. Ask about it when you get here. I’ll go first.”

Absalon was packing his bags, looking ready to leave.

“Huh? Are you going?”

“okay.”

“Why? Why don’t you stay longer?”

“What more is there? It’s been long enough.”

Eugene nodded. That was true. He had been staying long-term for several months.

“I tried to hold out to see your master’s face, but I think I have to go. I’ve been away for too long. My subordinates are probably waiting for me, and above all, the situation is not good.”

“Huh? What’s the situation?”

“okay.”

Absalon looked up at the sky. Eugene looked up at the sky too.

The sky was clear without a single cloud.

A sunny summer day.

The kind of weather that makes cicadas cry.

It’s such a nice day, but the situation is so bad.

“One of my subordinates sent me news. He said that monsters have started to appear. My subordinates think that a wave of monsters is coming, but how can I, as the leader of the group, stay away from my post?”

“Well, then there’s nothing we can do.”

Eugene was convinced. It was a pity, but what could he do? Absalon also had his own work to do.

“Please come again when you have time.”

“Yeah. It was fun.”

As the master left, Edwin also came out to see him off, feeling sorry. Absalon waved his hand and turned around. In an instant, Absalon moved away, and soon disappeared without a trace.

“How is it? Your teacher is gone.”

“What can I do? It’s a shame.”

“And yet you’re smiling?”

“Ah, it’s just my imagination. It’s so sad. Sob, sob.”

Eugene glanced at Edwin.

Edwin pretending to cry on purpose.

This guy, no matter how I look at him, seems to like it. Does that mean he’s free now that he doesn’t have to take druid classes?