"Tch. Wasting time in a place like this..."
I shifted my gaze to the person who making a clicking sound and grumbling. On top of a rock, there sat a male bandit with a crossbow in hand. He was chewing on dried food without any particular vigilance towards his surroundings.
(…)
I understood what he wanted to say without him saying it, so I stayed silent. However... I still needed to be cautious.
"Well, should we start moving soon?"
After taking a bitter pill for pain relief with some water after the meal, I murmured.
"Well then, let's make our final push. '(_ _)..zzZZ'..."
...Hey, didn't I tell you to sleep? Could you at least stop interrupting with snores during my dramatic moments?
'( ´ー`) Snore…♪'
Unfortunately, my plea didn't seem to reach the idiotic spider...
* * *
"The Room of General Frog" was literally a room where the Frog General resided, and it demanded a "price to return."
The "Three-Legged Toad (Sankyaku Gama)" was a legend passed down on the continent. It described a giant three-legged frog, and while it originally was a greedy youkai that collected money, it was defeated by a hermit and transformed into a sacred beast that served it.
It was connected to phrases like "money returns" or "return safely," and in the original context, it was said to govern fortune and travel. In Japan, there is a legend that a incense burner in the shape of a three-legged toad warned of the impending Honno-ji Incident with its cries...
Ironically, the Three-Legged Toad that resided in the Frog General's Room wasn't as gentle. However, it did possess characteristics that corresponded to the legend.
The room connected the few safe exits from Mayoiga and was overflowing with countless treasures. Gold, silver, treasures, pearls, crystal balls, magatama, gemstones... they were stacked like mountains. However, one must not touch them. Stealing was out of the question. It would undoubtedly anger the creature.
The giant, obese three-legged toad that served as the room's master and gatekeeper was arrogant, rude, and an avaricious tyrant. It demanded a fee from those seeking to escape, in the form of valuables.
Fortunately, the price it demanded when escaping from Mayoiga decreased by the number of rooms already passed, and it didn't matter how many people were escaping at once. The toad was greedy but honest when it came to agreements. Most likely, it would request either a magatama or a dagger made by Gorilla-sama. There was no help for it at this point. Desperate times called for desperate measures. It was much better than fighting and winning.
"Tools are just tools. Life is more important, and there are things that money can't buy, you know?"
"...?"
"Just a joke."
When Sakuama's servant captain tilted his head in response to my mutterings at the front of the door, I casually brushed it off. Unfortunately, this world didn't have credit card culture, let alone loan documents. It's important to cut your losses—'(・`ω・´) Don't use a credit card!!'—Yeah, I get it, but can you not wake up at this timing, you idiot?
"..."
I sighed and turned around. As I did, I noticed that all the members of the group who had passed through the mud using a rope were focused on me. They were waiting for me to make the move. Hahaha, I felt like a canary in a coal mine.
"Once I count to five, we'll charge in. Follow closely behind me... And watch out for traps or ambushes."
I spoke the same words I had used for the previous rooms. While there were no confirmed traps in the "Room of General Frog," I still warned everyone as a precaution, not wanting to sour the room's master's mood.
"Five..."
"It's always nerve-wracking at this moment."
"It's a gamble. But we have no choice, right?"
A whisper came from behind. It was likely from the Hidden Group members and Sakuama's servant.
"Four..."
"I beg of you, gods and buddhas. Please help us..."
"Namu Amida Butsu, Namu Amida Butsu..."
It was the laborers who literally relied on gods and buddhas. They prayed fervently, with desperate expressions, offering prayers to every deity and buddha they could think of and reciting hesitant sutras.
"Three..."
"Damn it, this is ridiculous... I'll definitely survive. No matter what."
"I hope so..."
The male bandit grumbled under his breath. He had likely faced numerous hardships before joining us. He didn't seem to open up to anyone, but he had resolved himself.
"Two..."
"I hope we'll be okay..."
"Heh, don't be scared. We've managed to do well so far, right? We'll succeed this time too."
"I hope so..."
The youngsters comforted each other and exchanged words to uplift one another. It wasn't good for one's mental state to dwell on things alone. It was fortunate to have reliable companions to encourage each other.
"One..."
"Please be careful. I'll join the support immediately."
'(＾ω＾) Exciting, exciting, exciting (Waku, waku, waku)!'
I nodded in response to the words of Sakuama's servant leader, who stood ready as the second spear at my side. We had exchanged words during joint training and lectures a few times, and he was truly a diligent person. Perhaps that's why he was chosen as the squad leader. And you, spider, are you planning to go hiking?
"Zero..."
"Huh?"
I suddenly pressed a small bag into the hands of Izayoi, who was also beside me. It was a pouch containing salt and a cursed tool. I couldn't clearly state the reason. But perhaps it was just a hunch. Izayoi, who received the bag, looked at me in astonishment. I gave a wicked smile and then immediately jumped into the other side of the door to fulfill my duty.
And...
"Huh...?"
'(´・ω・`)?'
As I stepped into the spacious and extravagant room, both the idiotic spider and the others were left dumbfounded. Of course, that was to be expected. Right in front of me lay the corpse of the three-legged frog I had expected to confront. The dead body of the giant frog collapsed on top of the mountain of treasure...
"What is this...?"
'Now, now, the challenger has arrived!'
A muffled voice echoed, and then it appeared. A frog emerged from the shadows of the mountain of treasures. It trampled on the corpse of the three-legged toad and leaped forward.
It was a frog, but it wasn't a three-legged toad. It stood on two legs and wasn't obese. It had a stout body covered in layers of fat, but at the same time, one could easily imagine the powerful muscles underneath. In its hands, it held what looked like a gigantic spear, but it was different. It was the Blue Dragon Sword.
Witnessing the frog, which stood as tall as two grown adults, I momentarily froze, and then my eyes widened as I realized what it was.
"Daigama (Giant Toad)...!!?"
It was a frog youkai, just like the three-legged toad. However, it was much more ferocious than the three-legged toad...!!
"Could it be...!?"
"Yun-shoku (允職)!! This is...!?"
An unpleasant possibility crossed my mind. At the same time, I turned around at the sound of shouting from behind. Sakuama's servant leader and the others were entering the room one after another. This is bad...!
"Go back! Get back behind the door right now!"
'The challengers this time are 12 in total! Very well, no shortage of opponents!!'
As the frog let out a croak, the door dissipated like mist. Some of the trailing group hurried towards the door, but they couldn't make it in time. In an instant, there was nothing left there. Dammit, was there no way to retreat!?
'This is an extraordinary... and excellent decay here!!'
"Don't mess with me, you damn game creator...!!"
With the jumping motion of the frog itself, I yelled while bracing my short spear against the giant frog leaping towards me with the Blue Dragon Blade in hand.
I screamed at the irresponsible writers...
