So I'm a Snake, Who Cares

Not all of the vast sewers are habitable areas.

No, rather, there are more uninhabitable zones.

For example, areas where sewage flows endlessly.

Or passages so narrow you can’t pass through without ducking your head.

Places where rats as big as humans appear, and alligators jump out of the water.

There are many such places in the maze-like sewers.

If a god who could see through everything were to look at a cross-section of the imperial capital’s underground.

They would notice that the sewers form an interesting structure.

The center of the imperial capital is the Imperial Palace.

Below that, the residential areas of the sewers form something like a ring shape.

As you move towards the center of the sewers, that is, towards the underground of the Imperial Palace, the sewer paths become more complex, narrower, and more dangerous.

Thus, the area that gets closer to the center of the sewers, near the Imperial Palace, is called the ’deep part’ of the sewers.

Of course, the true deepest part is under the Imperial Palace. But humans cannot enter there.

That’s because even for superhumans, it’s impossible to swim upstream against the groundwater that gushes out through the waterways.

There are many dangerous things in the deep part.

Mudhouse and Two Rings’ secret headquarters were located in the deep part, and so is the Heaven Medicine Party.

Not just humans, but monsters too.

"Screech!"

"Kyaaak!"

Obern let out a frivolous scream at a rat trying to scratch his face.

I swallowed that rat in one bite.

’Blegh!’

And spat it out due to the disgusting taste.

The hairless rat was secreting something like mucus all over its body.

It jumped back into the sewage flowing beside us with a splash.

’I think we need to add this sewer to the magic realm.’

There weren’t any truly threatening monsters, but they were all dirty and annoying to deal with.

’How do those Heaven Medicine Party guys live in a place like this?’

I asked Oliver.

The fragile Obern and Oliver even had cloth wrapped around their faces, saying the air was toxic.

’Once we pass through here, there should be a place suitable for people to stay. Though it won’t be as decent as Nahagu. The Heaven Medicine Party’s medicine water manufacturing area is always built in the deep part.’

’Just what is that medicine water made of?’

Oliver hesitated for a moment before speaking.

’The Heaven Medicine Party keeps it strictly secret. It must be their trade secret... However, there are people who make guesses based on the fact that their manufacturing facilities are always built in the deep part of the sewers. I’m one of them. Probably... I think it’s made from the sewage water.’

’Urgh...’

The water flowing in the sewers is never clean.

It must be mixed with various filth, including household wastewater.

Making drugs from that and calling it ’medicine water’ - what terrible deception.

"I don’t know how they create the hallucinogenic and pain-killing effects... Wait!"

Oliver had several advantages over me.

One of them was his knowledge about booby traps.

Could there be invisible wires?

Oliver pointed to a skeleton lying on the ground.

’It’s just a skeleton.’

In these sewers, stumbling upon a skeleton or two is a common occurrence.

’Look at how its hand is raised.’

’The posture is strange.’

It was lying down with one hand raised, and the fingertip was pointing at the ceiling.

Looking up at the ceiling, there were lots of iron bars hanging.

"This way, carefully."

"Yes."

Oliver took the lead, walking stealthily, and Obern stepped exactly where Oliver had stepped.

"Still, this seems to be the right place."

The presence of traps means something is hidden.

Sure enough.

As we went on, the passage gradually widened. Continue your saga on

The water flowing in the channel beside us seemed to become clearer too.

’Over there.’

Oliver stopped everyone.

Some kind of structure could be seen in the distance.

A building that looked like a mill set up by a river.

It had a waterwheel installed, and a tall chimney that seemed like it would normally emit steam.

I hopped over to Obern.

’Obern, there.’

’Ah, there really is.’

What I pointed to was what appeared to be a ladder embedded in the wall by the Heaven Medicine Party people.

The ladder connected to a ventilation shaft above. It probably led to a manhole somewhere in the imperial capital.

’When we find Oban VanKloss, we can exit through there.’

Obern had been given a mission.

Once they find Oban VanKloss, he needs to fire the flare to call the Sword Saint.

’But what if there are traps in that ventilation shaft too?’

’You can do it, Obern.’

’...’

Meanwhile, we’ll prepare here.

Oliver looked at me and made hand signals.

Suggesting we check out the manufacturing facility.

’Would Oban VanKloss be in there?’

Obern asked, but how would I know?

But since it’s possible, we quietly approached the manufacturing facility.

Even as we got closer, we couldn’t sense any presence.

Only the quiet noise of machines operating could be heard.

Oliver approached the back door.

He checked if there were any traps set on the door.

’Nothing here. Let’s enter.’

When I nodded, he slowly opened the door.

Still no presence was felt.

We quietly entered inside.

Oh my.

Well well.

Someone was sitting in front.

As if they had been waiting for us.

And quite a few quiet breathing sounds could be heard.

Did they hide their presence under the machine operating noise?

Tap tap.

’Oliver.’

’...Yes.’

Oliver was tense, staring at someone sitting in the darkness.

But I had to tell him something more important.

’Look at the ceiling.’

"Heuk!"

On the ceiling, an adhesive bomb was attached and slowly blinking.

"So you’re the Emperor’s dogs."

And the old man sitting in front opened his mouth.

Oliver and Obern were tense, wondering if he was Oban VanKloss, but I could see in the darkness.

He wasn’t the special wanted criminal Oban. He was the old henchman who had participated in the auction.

"We can’t let you go any further inside."

And the Heaven Medicine Party’s henchmen who were hiding in the darkness walked out.

They growled like beasts, probably having drunk lots of medicine water.

"Die in an explosion here, all of you. Attack!"

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