Sigh... back to the tunnels again...

Sure it was fun after a few days, but it gets dull once you get used to seeing the tunnels. To be honest being in this dark, cold place for too long is making me kind of depressed.

The adventurers guild rarely offered any quests out on the mountainside and most of those were already taken... it is probably because the dwarfs are prioritizing the mines and tunnels.

"Hah... I want to go out on the snow..." [Angelica]

"Do you remember the time when we hunted some rabbits for the village Angelica?" [Blake]

"Yeah, your dad cooks the best rabbit stew, Blake," I say as I try to remember the time that we ate together at their home.

"Rabbit stew? Sis you're making me feel hungry." [Mooly]

"Heheh. Alright then! After this quest, we'll all eat at the fancy restaurant again, my treat of course!" [Angelica]

"Yay!" [Mooly]

"Angelica..." [Maria]

"Yeah?" [Angelica]

"Speaking of rabbits is it alright if I ordered that?" [Maria]

"The black rabbit's foot?" [Angelica]

"Yep, that one." [Maria]

"You do know that you can order anything that you want Maria." [Angelica]

"Thank you!" [Maria]

"Eh?" [Angelica]

All of a sudden Maria jumped into my arms and we nearly slipped and fell. She already had one of those when I got the pay for the commission from Russel, did it really taste good for her to want one again? It sure was pricey though, so I guess that's why she asked.

"Mmm? Maybe I should try it too." [Angelica]

"No! You absolutely mustn't get one!" [Maria]

I smiled wryly at her. What's the big deal with that particular food? I'm getting more curious as to why she doesn't want me to eat it. I'll try asking the server about it later...

"By the way Angelica, why are you bringing those magic crystals?" [Blake]

"The guild receptionist told me that the tunnel for storing the livestock is somewhat dark, so I've bought these in order for us to see better." [Angelica]

"But isn't that the place where the animals slept? Wouldn't it disrupt their sleep?" [Irvine]

Finally! Cane boy spoke. Hey! Talk more! We need some dialog for you in this chapter!!

"Similar to my other inventions. I can change the intensity of the lighting by adjusting the crystal's output." [Angelica]

"Oh, I see..." [Irvine]

Up till now, cane boy had little to no idea about my enchantments of magic crystals. Well, that's a given, he just recently joined so I understand. Maybe I should take some time to tell him all about it, despite being cocky sometimes, he's part of my party after all.

During our chatter, we managed to reach the farm area of the tunnel and have met with the owner. He seems like a nice guy and I don't feel anything sinister coming from him. Even though we have heard about the incident about the adventurers for a long time, I use that as a reference to not simply put my trust in anyone. We mostly bring some food during long trips and cook them ourselves just to be safe. As a backup, Maria imbued some magic crystals for each of us which housed the lowest cure spell •Detoxify•

Aside from •Heal• I was also told that there was another category for Curing. Curing spells are mostly new to this world and some forms of them are still in the experimental stage. I wish I could meet the person who discovered it and shake their hand, the future of curing spells is bright and very useful as it would be readily available than most potions which tend to be depleted or damaged without proper handling or in battle.

When we were just starting out as adventurers. The veterans told us that a few adventurers had perished when their antidote potions broke during a crucial time in battle and because of that, I almost always stuff some cotton into my waist bag with the potions and I cannot tell you how many times that single tip has saved our lives and also our pockets during our greenhorn days without Maria.

The farm tunnel was huge, much bigger than the nest of diggers. We set up camp at the tunnel with the animals to see if any anomaly would take place, as the reports say that most of the disappearances happen mostly at night...

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

How the heck can I know if it was nighttime in here... sometimes the guild only gives a vague description that I just shake my head. I want to write a complaint form lol...

"Moo!"

"Mmm." [Mooly]

"Moo, moo, moo."

"Ah, Eheh..." [Mooly]

Our group was at the campfire and Mooly was playing around with the nearby cattle. They seem to understand each other well that I can see Mooly laughing and nodding her head; truly a cowgirl...

I've read about them once at the royal library, on how the demi-humans came into existence. Let's just say that the humans from before had a pecul- unique taste... I was just thankful that because of their efforts I was able to go and see animal-eared demi-humans today... Although I wish that I shouldn't have read that... but I think the god of this world created them, yes that is the most logical explanation, humans have always tried to explain stuff in their own way and tried to take credit for some of them.

"Sis." [Mooly]

"Yes, Mooly?" [Angelica]

"The animals said that when the others were taken, they weren't able to sense any presence. So I ask that we all stay alert." [Mooly]

"That's good info Mooly thank you." [Angelica]

"Heheh..." [Mooly]

I pat Mooly on the head as a reward.

"So the problem is if they cannot detect the threat then how are we supposed to know if one went missing?" [Irvine]

"We just have to keep our eyes open I guess." [Blake]

"Maybe there is a trap door?" [Maria]

"I think that is the most likely reason for the sudden disappearance and the lack of detection." [Angelica]

According to Mooly we still have more time before night comes. So she can also tell the time huh...

We took the opportunity to investigate the walls which yielded nothing and also place the magic crystals around the tunnel, but due to the sheer size of the area and the small amount that I have brought, the crystals, even on max output seem like candlelight when observed from the distance. Also, the ceiling is too high that the light wasn't even able to reach it.

I then gave the remaining crystals to everyone and asked them to put it in their pockets. I said to everyone that they should immediately power them up when something happens.

My butt is aching... How long has it been? Four hours, or is it a five?

From waiting for so long we began to slack off, the reports did say that the disappearances happen on random occasions. Mooly is now sleeping, resting her head on my lap, Blake is throwing some tinder he picked up into the fire, Maria was reading what seemed like a magic book and Cane Boy is playing with some spells. I can see a fireball, waterball, and an airball, he's moving them around him.

"Hey, stop that, we wouldn't want to spook th-" [Angelica]

"It's not like we'll just suddenly disappear." [Irvine]

He interrupts me again... this is the XXth time... I'm gonna give him a good scolding, right here, right now.

"Listen here Irvine..." [Angelica]

When I opened my eyes again Irvine disappeared... famous last words lol...

The following second Blake and I drew our weapons and I woke Mooly when I stood up. Maria dropped the book and holds up her staff.

"Everyone! Close your eyes for a second I'm going to use flash!" [Angelica]

"Okay!" [Blake/Maria/Mooly]

(Snap!)

I snapped my fingers and it made a blinding flash over our heads. Above us, I saw Irvine getting covered with white sticky stuff, it was a spider rolling him into a cocoon with its thread. He was squirming really hard inside of it like a fly...

I pointed my finger at it to use •Explosion• but before I was able to do so there was a thing shuffling near me, I made a quick glance and saw a huge spider with its eyes closed. As the effects of the flash begin to wane the spider opened its eyes... There I could see my own reflection in its eight huge round eyes and I could see myself cringe...

~~~Mooly~~~

"Irvine!" [Maria]

"Angelica!" [Blake]

"Sister!" [Mooly]

When the flash weakened, we all saw sister and Irvine each getting rolled into a spider's web. The spiders after covering them quickly turned back and ran up the dark ceiling bringing sis and Irvine with them.

"Hyah!" [Mooly]

"Flame Chaser!!" [Maria]

I threw my pike at it but it misses. Sister Maria uses a homing spell and it roasts one spider that was waiting for the other two on the ceiling.

"Maria! Float, now!!" [Blake]

"A-alright! Float!!" [Maria]

Big brother Blake flew near them but stopped short, •Float• is only good for a few meters... He jumped near the wall as he begins to descend and powers the crystal in his weapon. When it lit up, he made multiple horizontal slices on the wall and uses them as a foothold, slashing each time as he moves up, it's like he's making a ladder on the wall with each slash of his sword. Big brother as he does that seems to defy gravity, his silhouette begins to fade as he moved up the ceiling with his weapon being the only light source.