9. The Surface After A Long Absence
How long had she been walking? ――the sky was still covered with dark bedrock, and before she knew it, Lexia found herself on a narrow path.
Passing through the abyssal square, Lexia has defeated many of the monsters there.
“Ah…”
As she followed the path and turned a corner, there was a “light” that she hadn’t seen in a long time.
Lexia rushed out involuntarily. For quite a long time ――she has been living in a dark place.
Believing it was the light of the sun, Lexia ran.
What she saw was lush vegetation. She knew right away that this was in the woods. Looking up, though it was covered by trees, she could see the sun’s rays shining through.
“So, did we get out?”
『Looks like it.』
Lexia’s question was answered by Lochness in her sword form. During the ensuing battle, she found that she had remained in sword form the entire time.
Lexia was so relieved that she was able to get out, she slumped on the spot.
The realization that she was really saved grew on her.
“I-I’m glad… I thought I’d never get out —”
Having said that, Lexia noticed. Lexia finally understood that she wanted to live.
Lochness transformed from a sword to a girl.
“Congratulations, Lexia.”
“U, un, thank you, Lochness. I made it this far because of you.”
“I didn’t do anything, Lexia just wielded me. So, what are you going to do now?”
“Ah… I haven’t made a decision yet, but where are we anyway…?”
Lexia looks around.
Looking at the “green” grass, this might not be the《 Lamenting Corsesta》 anymore.
The Corcesta is far from being a green land, and the plants that grow there have evolved to withstand the Demonic Scar. Such plants are shriveled like dead leaves and require as little nourishment as possible.
But not here ――it seems that Lexia somehow ended up far outside the Corsesta after continuing to walk underground.
When she checked her clothes, she noticed that they looked like tattered rags, probably from the many attacks she had received from monsters.
In order for Lexia to launch a powerful attack, she would inevitably have to receive a blow from her opponent ―― in that respect, it was inevitable that her clothes would be ruined.
As she hastily covered what she could, she checked her surroundings once more.
“Perhaps, this is, the interior?”
“The interior?”
“Un, effects of the Demonic Scar are minimal, and it is still within the range that people can function normally. In the first place, the reason why Corcesta is an undeveloped land is because it is so strongly affected by the Demonic Scar that it is only poisonous to ordinary people.”
“What is this ‘Demonic Scar’?”
“Ah, the Demonic Scar is…”
“――”
“? Listen, did you hear the voice just now?”
As she was about to answer Lochness’ question, she thought she heard what sounded like a human voice in the distance.
When looking at her, she was looking in that direction, probably noticing it before Lexia.
“That way, yes. It sounded like a person.”
“If there are people here, I think this place is still the interior.”
“It’s as if they were running away from something.”
“…? Running away?”
“Yes, perhaps they’re being chased by monsters.”
“Eh, eeeh…!? Then we have to help…!”
When Lexia says that, Lochness nods.
“If that’s what you want to do, Lexia, fine.”
She changed from a girl to a sword again.
As she grabbed the sword and started running, Lexia realized something.
(‘I have to help’… if it was me before, I wouldn’t have been able to move like this.)
Knowing that she was powerless, even if she had known that someone had been attacked, she would not have been able to move.
However, Lexia had fought many monsters before she escaped from the abyss.
Normally, if she had not fought alongside other strong adventurers, including Meik, she would not have been able to defeat them.
The experience of surviving the abyss had given Lexia confidence.
If this is the interior, then the monsters there are no match for Lexia.
As she ran through the forest, she saw a girl being driven back against a large tree.
Standing in front of the girl is a red-skinned 《Orc》 standing on two legs.
It had thick limbs, and a muscular body. It has characteristically large fangs and in its hand is a thick club made from a large tree.
Lexia was familiar with this monster, and in the past, Lexia would not have been able to defeat it on her own.
But Lexia is different now.
“『Blood Needle』”
As Lexia thrust her sword into the ground, a large red needle flew out of the ground in response. It easily pierced through the body of the orc standing in front of the girl.
“Hi… uh!?”
The girl let out a frightened cry.
It was understandable as she saw an orc suddenly impaled in front of her.
Surely, that had happened to the previous Lexia as well.
“Oh, gu, ooh…”
It didn’t die with a single blow, so the orc groaned and raised up its club.
The orc probably thinks the girl attacked it.
Lexia jumps out, severs the orc’s arm with her sword, and stands in front of the girl.
The blow was decisive, and the orc roared helplessly to the spot.
“Wah… Huh!?”
“Are you okay?”
“! Wh, who are you…?”
“I’m ―― Lexia. Um, a healer and former adventurer, I guess?”
Remembering that she no longer uses her skills, Lexia replies tartly.
Lexia came to the surface and met a person for the first time in a long time.
Sads Translates 