My Demons

The cool morning air greeted me as I set out on my walk.

South Harbor’s morning had a refreshing quality to it, unlike what one might expect from a bustling harbor city. Instead of the usual salty sea breeze, a gentle northern wind carried the scent of distant forests.

With a light bag slung over my shoulder, it felt as if I were embarking on a leisurely morning hike. Walking alongside the fortress, it briefly reminded me of the time I traversed the Seoul circuit trail back in my world.

Of course, the fortress in South Harbor was made of neatly stacked brick, with a bronze hue from baking, in stark contrast to the massive granite and gneiss blocks of Hanyang Fortress. The tense atmosphere of a city under siege was palpable, with red stains scattered about and soldiers maintaining a watchful gaze from the fortress walls.

Despite the tense ambiance, I took a deep breath, letting the refreshing air fill my lungs. It invigorated me, as if awakening my consciousness.

But, for some reason, I felt an unsettling gaze upon me.

The source of that gaze was the repaired wand holder, or rather, the porter.

Instead of retorting with my usual ‘What are you looking at?’ I greeted her with a smile.

“Hey, you should try taking deep breaths too. It’s quite refreshing, you know?”

“…One should find contentment in things as they are. Forcing oneself to thirst and seek more might disturb the delicate balance.”

In her serious tone, Ellen, burdened with a backpack larger than her own body, explained, her eyes still swollen.

“Whether it’s magic, martial arts, politics, or academics… maintaining balance is crucial.”

“Oh, is that so?”

“Yes. So, you should also practice regular meditation, self-observation, and learn how to maintain balance, ah.”

Unable to resist the urge, I reached out to pinch her cheek, although there wasn’t much flesh to grasp…

“Ah, hey!”

Ellen, her cheek pinched, scowled and yelped. Then, when I released my grip, she raised her slender legs and playfully kicked the air.

Ha, her reactions are truly remarkable.

“Ah!”

“Yes, that’s right. Even someone who maintains balance well ended up having a rough day?”

Ellen bit her lower lip, swatted my arm, and shouted with a flushed face.

“I told you not to do that!”

“Whoa, you’re full of energy. Are you feeling completely better now?”

“Ugh, annoying.”

Then, she abruptly turned her head away.

Well, I wonder if she’s actually grateful. At least the whining has subsided a bit. It makes me feel somewhat proud.

Just then, as if irritated by our bickering, cloaked travelers huddled in an alley across from the fortress began to stir and grumble.

“Hey, what’s all this noise at the crack of dawn?!”

“Keep your voices down as you pass by…”

Are these people out of their minds? Do they think this is their bedroom or something? I should report them to the guards the next time I come across one of them, these homeless rascals.

Speaking of which, the number of travelers who resemble homeless individuals has increased significantly in recent days.

With the prolonged blockade of the city, travelers who had been staying in South Harbor found themselves falling into destitution. Most prices, including the cost of food, have skyrocketed, and the residents are struggling to make ends meet. Without a stable base in this place, travelers, mercenaries, and peddlers can quickly exhaust their supplies.

The Bells & Whistles Inn was no exception. Despite halving their room rates as the cost of meals soared, they had no guests.

Even last night, I had a four-person room all to myself. The same went for Ellen.

One of the other 4-person rooms was completely closed off, and the remaining rooms only had two merchants left.

The situation seemed quite dire.

To make matters worse, the Grania gang had left the inn, claiming they had been commissioned by the lord. They planned to stay at the barracks near the Salt Castle.

I couldn’t help but wonder if my altercation with Gillius had played a role in their departure.

“Let’s hurry and go.”

With that thought in mind, I quickened my pace alongside Ellen. I didn’t want to waste any time and attract unnecessary attention.

Not only did I need to progress the scenario, but it seemed that we might soon find ourselves on the streets, just like those guys. The urgency of the situation compelled me to hasten.

All I had left were a few silver pieces and six pennies. If I didn’t want to end up homeless, I had to find a way to make money, no matter what!

“Sigh, what a mess.”

It was rare to feel so financially strained in a game where basic necessities like eating and sleeping were hardly a concern.

The level of realism was suffocating.

At that moment, Ellen and I stood before the entrance to the sewer.

The entrance was connected to the north wall, resembling a small brick-built bathroom.

Two soldiers, one adult and one young man, stood guard in front of the entrance, each wielding a spear.

‘Sigh, I should have come here as soon as Chapter 2 started, but I’ve only arrived now.’

I let out a light sigh and turned to Ellen.

“Are you ready?”

Ellen nodded resolutely and replied.

“Yes.”

“Alright, let’s go.”

With determination, we made our way forward.

As we approached the entrance, we were subjected to a barrage of instructions.

“Of course, if you sense it’s going to rain, exit immediately. The water level rises quickly here, and you could drown. And let me emphasize, exit from the same entrance you entered, okay? Don’t go causing a commotion and breaking through the floor slabs, or you’ll be fined. A few months ago, some plague-ridden fools emerged after digging up the slabs, alright? By the way, if you pull such a stunt, you’ll be heading straight to jail. Got it?”

We had to endure the lecture for a while.

“Oh, of course. Don’t worry.”

I smiled politely, but the chatty guard continued to talk.

“If you come across any valuable items, make sure to take them out. And if you kill a ratman, don’t forget to cut off its tail. They fetch a bounty of one penny each.”

A ratman’s tail. I made a mental note of that.

The guard was certainly talkative, but I didn’t dismiss his words as mere nagging or meddling. They were filled with important points to consider and useful information.

“And, let’s see… There haven’t been any recent escapees. Oh, and try not to venture beyond the 3rd floor. Don’t even glance downwards.”

“Downwards? Isn’t the 3rd floor the lowest level?”

I asked casually, and the guard shrugged before kindly responding.

“I’ve heard rumors of there being up to 4 floors. I can’t vouch for anything beyond that. Honestly, why would you want to go deeper? It’s not like there’s a mage’s hideout or a gold mine down there.”

“Well, you have a point.”

‘So there are at least 4 underground floors. Hmm.’

In the game, the sewer was a mini-dungeon that extended underground, ranging from a minimum of 5 floors to a maximum of 8 floors. The structure consisted of both the surface part and the deeper section.

The surface part was known as the ‘Ancient Empire Sewer,’ spanning a minimum of 2 floors and a maximum of 5 floors. It featured whitewashed walls, walkways for maintenance workers, and a central canal resembling a spider’s web—a typical sewer system layout.

The lower levels were appended sections below the surface, known as the ‘Rotting Burrow.’ Depending on the campaign, it could consist of one to three levels. The structure was always randomly generated, and since it was not a man-made construction, finding one’s way through could prove quite challenging.

In reality, this area has no direct relevance to the main scenario, so unless we’re specifically farming for experience or items, there’s no need to venture deeper.

If the guard’s information is accurate, it means that there are at least four floors in the Ancient Empire’s sewer… which isn’t exactly ideal.

In the game, the longer the sewer, the more challenging it becomes.

The darkness makes it difficult to see without adjusting the gamma, straining the eyes quickly. The limited visibility often leads to surprise enemy attacks.

And now, in reality, we have to contend with additional factors like hunger and fatigue, making the task even more daunting. Breaking through won’t be easy—we need to proceed with caution.

Guided by the guard, Ellen and I descended the stairs into the underground.

It had been ten days since our arrival in South Harbor.

Finally, we had reached the sewer, marking the true beginning of Chapter 2.

‘…So it begins. When will I be able to go back home?’

Deep within the darkness.

The beam of the bull’s eye lantern projected a cone of light about twenty meters ahead.

We moved slowly through the darkness, following that guiding light.

“Ugh. This smell is unbearable.”

Despite my complaining, Ellen pressed on, lips tightly sealed.

She carried a large backpack and held a crossbow loaded with iron bolts firmly in both hands.

Her blue eyes nervously scanned the surroundings, occasionally covering her nose with her left hand. When her right arm grew numb, she raised the crossbow again.

…That crossbow seems to weigh less than 2 kilos. Is she struggling with it?

“…Sigh.”

Never mind. It’s my fault for neglecting her stats.

But what about this stench? I should have brought something like a mask.

Why didn’t I, as an idiot, think to prepare for the foul odor before entering the sewer?

…The answer lies within the question. I am indeed an idiot.

As an idiot, I held a round shield and the lantern, leaving no hand free to cover my nose. Thus, the smell of the dirty water flowing freely invaded my nostrils without restraint.

Sewage from the city, unidentifiable animal carcasses, mysterious stains on the walls—various forms of filth emitted a putrid odor.

On the first basement floor, there were quite a few patrolling guards and scattered torches. Heavy doors were even installed at the stairs leading to the lower levels to prevent animals from entering.

But here, on the second basement floor, it was different.

No traces of human presence could be found.

The trickling of water and the sound of droplets hitting the ground, the scuttling of multi-legged creatures, the squeaks of mice, and the occasional eerie groan resembling a distant scream…

Amidst these sounds, the space felt unnervingly quiet.

At least there were two sets of footsteps. If it had been just mine… it would have been quite unnerving.

“Hey, but…”

Just as I was about to say something, the bull’s-eye lantern illuminated a murky figure.

The blocked light revealed a human-shaped shadow. A person lying on their side, back turned to us.

“Ellen.”

“…Stay alert.”

Her voice was barely audible, making it hard to discern whether Ellen was calm or frightened.

However, a quick glance confirmed that she had her crossbow aimed and ready.

That provided some reassurance. After all, she had been practicing diligently.

“I’ll go and check it out. Keep watch.”

“O…kay.”

I carefully set down my backpack and placed the lantern on top of it. Making sure to keep the area illuminated, I prepared myself.

Shring.

The sound of a weapon being unsheathed echoed ominously.

Moving with stealth, I maintained a firm posture. My intention was to approach quietly and get a closer look at the figure.

The spot where the unidentified person lay was a junction in the sewer—a hub where multiple sewer lines converged, resembling the center of a wheel. It marked the first branching point after descending to the second floor, following a long and solitary path.

After assessing the surroundings and scrutinizing the area, I noticed a long, damp, leather-like sack next to the person.

‘…What could that be?’

Closing in to within 4-5 meters of the figure…

Splash.

Damn, I must have stepped into a puddle in a slightly shadowed area. As I prepared to take another step, a creaking sound filled the air, and the person—or rather, the corpse—suddenly turned over.

“Ugh, holy shit!”

Startled, I instinctively jumped back.

The lantern’s light illuminated the corpse. Its abdomen had been torn open, with all its organs devoured. The creature responsible for the gruesome feast now stared at me, emitting grotesque barks.

The object I initially mistook for a wet leather sack turned out to be a ‘dung beetle’!

With countless legs, a dark brown shell, and a circular mouth filled with sharp teeth, the creature stood on its elongated body.

“Holy, it’s huge…”

Indeed, it was enormous. The height of its upright head reached my waist.

And like most arthropods, its size made it revoltingly repulsive.

“Ew.”

A shiver ran through my body as it lunged towards me, the tapping sound of its many pairs of legs resounding in the air.

I wasn’t necessarily afraid, but the sheer disgust made me want to flee.

However, the power coursing through my hand, the adrenaline surging through my veins, and the combat experience I had gained on the battlefield prevented me from retreating.

From the depths of instinct, a voice erupted, reminding me that there was no reason to fear a mere bug.

Yes, it was just a slightly, no, significantly larger bug! Just a minor enemy in the game!

With my retreat halted, I stood my ground.

Thud!

A sharp noise reverberated from behind, accompanied by the sound of a taut cord being released. Then…

Thwack!

“Ugh.”

Damn it, Ellen’s shot landed right in my butt!

(TO BE CONTINUED)