The Strongest Onmyoji and the Shikigami With AI are Unparalleled in Another World ~ A Second Life Properly Enjoyed Using Artificial Intelligence ~-Chapter 199 - Rat vs. Fox

As we teleported, the scent of the tide and the sound of waves filled the air.

It was dark, but I could tell we were on the sandy beach along the coastline.

“Yuuma-san, please.”

At Merell’s request, I took out a talisman, threw it, and Big Spider-chan appeared.

Since it was black and motionless, it didn’t stand out much. However, its eight eerie, glowing eyes darted around.

“S-Scary... Seeing it up close is seriously terrifying...”

Merell muttered while looking up.

“Big Spider-chan, go. Natalia will bake cookies for you later.”

At those words, the giant spider suddenly leaped into the air.

This chapt𝒆r is updated by frёewebηovel.cѳm.

“Huh?”

“What?”

“Whoa...”

“That spider... can fly?”

Tracing a parabolic arc, the giant spider soared through the air and landed hundreds of meters away near the port.

Even from a distance, I could see it using its legs to smash the ships.

“The soldiers will gather soon. Let’s proceed with the infiltration.”

“Yeah. Before that, let’s summon our reinforcements—Big Centipede-chan.”

I pulled out another talisman and tossed it onto the sand.

This time, a big centipede appeared.

“I-It’s here...”

Merell, eyes brimming with tears, quickly moved behind me.

“Big Centipede-chan, go provide support.”

Upon my command, the centipede wriggled its many legs and slowly made its way toward the port.

“Alright, let’s move.”

Leaving things in the hands of Big Spider-chan and Big Centipede-chan, we teleported.

Arriving at the abandoned apartment from earlier in the day, we descended the stairs.

“This way,” Merell said as he started walking.

We followed him until we reached a waterway, several meters wide.

“It’s down below.”

“Below?”

Looking down, I saw a hole covered by iron bars at the end of the waterway.

“It’s a sewer.”

Seriously?

“We’re going through there? If we get wet, it’s going to be freezing.”

Not to mention, it’s disgusting.

“There’s a proper maintenance walkway.”

Saying that, Merell started descending a nearby staircase, and we followed.

Sure enough, at the edge of the sewer, there was a stone path just wide enough for a person to walk on, extending further inside.

“So, this is it...”

“There are probably rats...”

Leanne and I both voiced our disgust.

“You nobles are such a hassle. Don’t worry. If you take a good look, rats can be pretty cute too.”

Mountain rats are cute, sure. But city rats? Not so much.

They’re filthy.

“Heave-ho, heave-ho...”

AI-chan climbed onto my back and wrapped her arms around my neck.

“Hey, little fox, you’re in the way.”

Leanne, whom I was carrying, complained about AI-chan on my back.

“Grandma, you should walk once in a while.”

“I’m keeping Yuuma-sama warm because he looks cold.”

She really was warm.

AI-chan on my back was warm too.

The demon girl in front of me, however, had ice-cold eyes.

“Quit arguing in my ear. Merell, how do we get inside?”

“You really live a messy life... Your room smells like nothing but women.”

...Listen to me.

“Enough of that...”

“Actually, this thing comes off.”

Saying that, Merell touched the iron bars.

Then, with a slight pop, one of the bars came loose.

“That’s pretty weak.”

“When there’s a lock, people instinctively try to get inside. But when there’s no lock, they assume it’s not an entry point.”

I kind of get it.

“Well, whatever. Let’s go.”

“We’ll use a light inside, but watch your step. If you fall, the two little ones automatically go into the sewer too.”

All for one, one for all.

A shared fate.

Traveling companions.

“Eek...”

“Master, don’t trip while reminiscing about your later years.”

The two of them tightened their grip on me.

“I’ll be fine.”

“Here we go.”

As we entered the waterway, Merell turned on a light, and we relied on its glow to move forward.

The light was bright, but the surroundings remained dim.

And on top of that, it was slightly smelly and cold.

“Ahh... a sewer rat...”

AI-chan shuddered as a rat scurried past my feet.

“A fox being scared of a rat? Come on.”

Leanne sighed at AI-chan’s reaction.

“Ah, it’s climbing up.”

“Eek... Yuuma-sama...”

Leanne let out a pathetic voice and clung to me.

“I’m just joking.”

“Should I turn you into a taxidermy?”

“Stop fighting.”

“Please don’t raise your voice too much. It echoes and it’s noisy.”

Merell gave a word of advice, so we quietly continued walking.

“Merell, how many people know about this place?”

“Only I know. I asked the previous captain.”

Was it the guy who was killed by Volker?

“Was he your ex?”

AI-chan teased.

“The previous captain was a man in his 50s, you know? No way. It was simply because I was a spy that I asked him.”

“Where does this path lead?”

“To the kitchen on the first floor of the headquarters. There shouldn’t be anyone there at this time, so it should be fine.”

We continued walking through the dark waterway, and the smell grew stronger and stronger.

“It’s over there.”

Merell pointed to a ladder.

We walked up to it, and when we got to the base of the ladder, we looked up.

“So it’s up there...”

“Yes.”

Hmm...

“Is this okay? It’s rusted.”

The ladder wasn’t made of wood but metal, and it looked quite old.

“It’s fine.”

Seriously...

“Well, I’ll give it a try. Leanne, I’m going to let go of your hand.”

“Go ahead.”

When I let go of one of the hands I was holding Leanne with, she hung on.

“It really looks like a dad playing with his daughters.”

“A dad doesn’t take his daughters into the sewers.”

I retorted and grabbed the ladder with both hands now free.

It was quite cold, but I started climbing, enduring it.

As Merell said, the ladder seemed sturdier than I expected, and I climbed up without much trouble.

Eventually, I reached the ceiling.

“AI-chan, is anyone up there?”

“No, there’s no one.”

Then it should be okay.

I lightly tapped the ceiling.

“Ugh...”

“Eek.”

“My eyes...”

When I tapped it, sand and dust fell, landing on our faces.

“It’s obvious, isn’t it? If you’re going to do it, do it properly.”

I was told that, so I closed my eyes and pushed hard.

It felt heavy, but something lifted, so I slid it sideways and climbed all the way up.