It’s A Bit Nerve-wracking…

With waterskins, preserved food, and lamps purchased, the preparations were complete.

When they headed to the Hero Gate, a guard called out to them.

“Oh, heading far out at last?”

“Yes. Even at most, it’s about four days round trip…”

When Kikori answered, the guard nodded repeatedly.

“Be careful. Exploration over multiple days wears down the mind more than you expect.”

“Yes. I’ll be careful.”

“Right. Like I said before… have a good adventure. We have high hopes for you.”

Seeing them off with those words, Kikori and the others proceeded onward.

They walked straight along the Adventurers’ Route, passed the goblin fort ruins, and went farther.

Then they arrived once more at the tunnel through the mountain.

“Alright… let’s light the lamp.”

As Kuon said that, he lit the lamp and it began shining brightly.

“I’ll carry this, so Kikori, lead the way.”

“Yeah.”

Normally the one in front—Kikori—would carry it, but considering his combat style, they concluded Kuon holding it was better.

Entering the tunnel… they realized it had been dug far wider than they had imagined.

“It’s pretty wide.”

“Well, yeah. If it wasn’t wide, you couldn’t fight properly.”

“Ah, true.”

If something like this were dug, monsters would come through here too.

And if weapons couldn’t be swung properly then, the result would be obvious.

That was why it had been dug wide.

“Still… using Mjolnir here might collapse it.”

“That would actually be really bad.”

Kuon said their fighting power would be halved, and Kikori laughed.

“Don’t be stupid, not halved—eighty percent gone.”

“That’s almost everything!”

“Exactly. So we should get through quickly.”

If they ran into a Goblin General here, they’d easily be wiped out.

Well, the Goblin General’s size would probably make this place too narrow anyway…

“In fact, those goblins the other day didn’t come through here, right?”

“They probably crossed the mountain. Monsters usually don’t fight each other.”

There were exceptions, but basically the terrifying mountain route for humans might actually be safer for goblins.

At the same time, it also suggested few monsters used this tunnel route…

Indeed, they encountered no monsters at all until they exited the tunnel.

But by the time they came out, the sun had completely set and it was night.

“It’s pitch black…”

“Are we camping here tonight?”

“It’s a bit nerve-wracking… from here on shouldn’t be goblin territory anymore.”

At Eil’s words, Kikori swallowed nervously.