Chapter 4 - Chapter 4

I then heard distant loud screeching noises accompanied by the roars of some beasts.

That made me regain my composure and calmly survey my surroundings.

First, we need a place to hide but where to? We are in a completely unfamiliar place. If we started wandering around aimlessly, then there is a larger chance of us getting caught and killed by those monsters.

Then do we go back inside?

But if we go back inside then there is no telling when we can ever leave again and we might get stuck there for a very long time. Plus, there is also the possibility that the monsters would explore this pathway and find the summoning room where we would all be waiting there like sitting ducks. Another possibility that could happen if we were to go back there is that the room would collapse since this place was clearly, still underseige by some strong attacks, enough to cause the ground to shake at least.

If so... then what's the correct choice?

"...We will go.. ...somewhere safe first." Anna-chan declared.

"But where?" Reika asked.

"Over there." Anna-chan pointed towards a large hallway towards the left.

Having no other ideas, we followed Anna-chan's suggestion and we ran across the field, not minding the gorey environment.

Eventually, we reached the said hallway. I'm pretty sure that I already mentioned it earlier but if that we're in some sort of medieval fantasy setting, then it would be safe to assume that we're currently inside a palace or a castle.

My thoughts were further supported by the tall walls made of finely polished grey-stones and large flags that hang downwards from the walls, with the crest of some kind of golden insignia.

"Kriee!!"

I suddenly heard a nearby screeching noise coming from the next turn of the hallway which immediately made me stuck close to the wall.

Since I was in the front, my abrupt actions alarmed Reika and the others but I gave them a look that said, 'Something's there!'

Realizing my thoughts, they too, stuck close to the wall.

"Huu..."

I took a deep breath before slowly inching close to the corner and peeking to the next turning corridor.

From the corner of my eyes, I saw... a monster two to three meters away from our corner.

It seemed to be a tall monster with a humanoid physique.

The monster was incredibly thin which made its green skin stick close to its bone and muscles. It had three fingers with sharp nails that made them look like claws.

It had a pointy portruding mouth, which had the same structure as a dog's but with no fur nor the rough skin that signified its nose.

Instead, its mouth and nose had green skin with some hair growing from its mouth. Its ears were large with a slightly pointy tip and long strands of hair disgustingly growing around it.

As for its eyes, it was twice as large as a normal human's, making it bulge from its face while being held by its eyelids.

It also didn't seem to have any irises since all I could see from its eyes were a clear yellowish white colour.

To be honest, it was quite hard to see its face since it was currently eating something. Blood squelched into the ground as it munched on some kind of bloody meat.

Chomp.. chomp.. chomp..

The smell of blood and viscera intensified and even I couldn't help but cringe slightly.

I turned back and whispered to Reika who was closest behind me.

"Monster, busy eating. Sneak past it."

Reika nodded and passed the message behind her.

After making sure that everyone knows what to do, I crouched down and slowly emerged from the corner of the wall.

Crap... this is quite scary, I'm not gonna lie.

Without even realizing it, I held my breath for as long as I could while sneaking towards the opposite wall and avoiding the monster.

"Krieee-!!!"

It continued eating from a bloodied corpse while making a dreadful screech as if it was laughing in delight.

Thankfully, the hallways were incredibly wide, sizing to about 10-15 meters in width. This was enough for me to get past it without getting noticed.

Looking at the current hallway where I was at, I noticed several doors that may or may not lead to a room.

I was thinking of continuing forward and scouting the area so I looked back towards Reika who was peeking from the corner of the previous hallway.

Her eyes were widened in surprise after seeing the monster but she eventually moved her gaze towards me.

I gestured my arms by making a waking figure with my two fingers and then pointing at my eyes before pointing to the direction towards the left, where the hallway continued.

This should be enough to tell her that I'm going to scout ahead, right?

'Please get the message.' I silently prayed to no one in particular.

Reika's brows furrowed for a while before nodding and retreating back from the hallway.

Thank God.

Alright, let's go me!

Close to the wall, I began walking forward.

I eventually reached the first door but before I could even think about peeking inside, I heard numerous familiar screeching noises.

My heart skipped several beats but I moved on from the wall.

Let's not even try opening that up.

Arriving at the next door, I listened and heard grunting voices from inside.

The voice still obviously came from the same monster but... it couldn't be doing what I think it is doing, right?

...or we really in a cliche world where this goblin-looking monsters actually rape women?

...maybe it is, maybe it isn't. To be honest, I don't even know what's possible and what's not. We're in a fantasy world after all.

But... what I do know is that I'm curious about what the monster is doing inside.

Which is why...

I slowly peeked through the crack of the door and made sure that I didn't touch nor move the door in the slightest. I've seen enough cliche moments where the door turned very slightly, but it was enough to make the loudest squeekiest noise.

Fortunately, the door was already left ajar, enough for my head to be able to peek inside the room.

...

"Kriee!! Kriee!!!"

...Alright.

This isn't what I was expecting but... damn.

The green-skinned monster was currently... thrusting its thing inside a person.

I got that part correct but... I'm quite sure that.... the person was a man.

That's right. The monster is currently doing a male human.

I could tell this by the large, broad and slightly hairy chest of the man. His arms had been cut off but I'm sure he was still alive and breathing.

His eyes looked dead, as if he wanted nothing more than to die.

Lastly, he was wearing no clothes which is why i was able to confirm that he was a man. His shriveled up genitalia was being played with by the green-skinned monster while it kept thrusting its own genitalia on the man's anal.

...damn.

Condolences to you mate.

I pulled back from the door and proceeded to continue scouting the other rooms, putting the disturbing rape scene on the back of my mind.

After going through four to five doors that had a similar if not- even worse situation inside, I arrived in a door that remained silent.

I hesitatingly opened the door and fortunately, two torches lit up the room.

Scanning the room, I realized that the room seemed to be like a small library with wide wooden shelves placed around the walls. Maybe it was also a storage room?

The shelves were filled with books and scrolls while wooden tables were placed in the middle, with chairs properly placed underneath them.

There were also several unlit lamps placed on the table but other than, the room was clear.

No monsters, no bloodstains, just books and the smell of paper.

That's good enough.

I hurriedly went back towards the end of the hallway where I started from.

"Chomp.. chomp... gulp.. Kriee!"

Hmm... I can't tell if this monster was a slow eater or did I just move that fast.

Ignoring the monster, Reika spotted me and her face asked whether it was alright to proceed or not.

I nodded and motioned them to follow me.

Reika nodded in understanding and retreated back from the corner, probably going to tell the others what to do.

A few seconds later, Reika emerged from the corner of the hallway while crouching.

She passed by the monster with no problem and safely arrived next to me.

Reika then gestured Anna-chan to follow us.

But just as Anna-chan was about to move from the corner of the wall, the monster raised its head.

"!!!!"

I instinctively held my breath as Anna-chan hastily retreated and hid behind the wall.

The monster then looked towards its right before looking to its left.

"...."

"...."

"....Kriee..."

I swear my heart would jump out of my throat out of nervousness.

A few seconds later, the monster resumed eating the mangled corpse.

"..."

I wanted to breathe a sigh of relief but I didn't for the fear that the monster might hear me.

After some time, We recomposed ourselves and Anna-chan seemed ready to proceed.

Maintaining eye contact with us, Anna-chan slowly and carefully snuck past the monster.

Thankfully, she managed to safely arrive next to us without alarming the monster.

Alright, let's go.

Just as I was about to walk forward, Reika suddenly grabbed the back of my collar.

"!!!"

I almost gasped in surprise but thankfully managed to keep it to myself.

I frowned while making a questioning face while turning to Reika.

Reika didn't speak but pointed towards the corner of the wall where we were before.

From there, I saw a plump body slowly peak out. He was a student with a round obesse body while wearing square-framed glasses.

I turned back to Reika and tilted my head with an expression that asked, 'So?'

Reika rolled her eyes before looking meaningfully at me.

I think what she's trying to say is that we should wait for him.

My forehead creased as I silently mouthed, 'No. Troublesome. Put us. in danger.'

Reika sighed and made a face that said, 'Well, I tried.'

Seeing that she wasn't opposing anymore, My gaze switched between Reika and Anna-chan.

I silently mouthed the words, 'Don't. Get. Left. Behind.'

The two of them silently nodded in response before following behind my back.

The plump boy seemed to have noticed that we were advancing by ourselves and started to panic.

While we were walking, I kept glancing at the corner of my eye, thinking what the plump boy would do.

And just as we walked ten steps away, I notice the plump boy making a face of anguish. His face contorted in anger while hatefully looking at us.

I was going to ignore him but then I saw him pick up a nearby rock and made a throwing motion towards us.

"!!!"