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The Paper User: Exiled for a ‘Trash Skill,’ Awakens True Power and Rises with Two Unique Skills ,Volume 2 - Chapter 24

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Chapter: The Cave, Part 9

After Melt defeated the last Armor Golem, the surrounding adventurers let out a collective sigh.

I wiped the sweat from my forehead and tried to calm my heavy breathing.

We managed to defeat them, but more than ten had fallen as casualties.

I bit my lip as I looked at the fallen adventurers.

「Yakumo」

Rank D Riza approached.

「You’re strong. You defeated so many Armor Golems by yourself, didn’t you?」

「I’ve fought them several times, so I learned their movements.」

「Their movements?」

「Yeah. Their arm attack range, the way they move before firing the light orb—it’s always the same. Even the group coordination patterns are the same. But…」

I watched Melt talking with Gregg.

「Ten Armor Golems all targeted Melt at once. They’ve never done that before.」

「Does that mean they recognized Melt as the leader?」

「Yeah. That seems likely.」

Riza frowned.

「Could there have been followers of the Dolls Religion nearby, giving the Golems orders?」

「That’s highly possible.」

I looked at the wall with the holes. There are over thirty, making it possible to give hidden commands.

I bit my lip, staring at the Golem corpses. They had targeted Melt, the leader, even though they usually attack nearby adventurers first… Huh?

「Something wrong? You look weird.」

「…No, just something that caught my attention.」

「Everyone, listen up!」

Melt’s voice rang out, gathering everyone.

「Twelve were lost in the Golem attack, leaving eighty of us. We cannot afford more casualties, so all must act together.」

「All of us will search for the exit?」

「Yes. It’s inefficient, but necessary.」

Melt looked at the bodies lined along the wall.

「We’ll take a two-hour rest now, then depart. Prepare yourselves.」

Once Melt moved away, the adventurers whispered among themselves.

“We’re on the back foot.”

“Yeah. They didn’t expect the Armor Golems to attack here.”

“But losses are minimal. Without S-Rank Melt, we’d be annihilated already.”

“Still, eventually we’d die without an exit.”

“True. No exit means starvation, though the underground lake provides water…”

The adventurers’ expressions darkened.

「Yakumo!」

Piln ran to me.

「Since it’s rest time, we’ll sleep together.」

「No, before that I need to ask you something, Piln.」

「Understood.」

Piln pursed her lips, leaning close.

「Yakumo, wanting a kiss at a time like this, you’re bold.」

「No, it’s not a kiss.」

I whispered into Piln’s ear, giving her a teasing remark.

Melt was conversing with Gregg.

「The exit seems to be where the underground lake is. I also saw a fissure above.」

「I see… Yes.」

Gregg studied the map.

「There are many unexplored passages here. I also found footprints…」

「Possibly followers of the Dolls Religion?」

「Yes. If they are there… the exit may be too.」

Melt touched his orange hair, thinking.

「Alright! We head for the underground lake first. Inform everyone.」

「Understood.」

After Gregg left, Kinako spoke to Melt.

「Melt, just so you know, Yakumo and Piln are on a separate mission.」

「Separate mission?」

「They wanted to investigate the Golems we previously defeated.」

Kinako scratched her head with her white nails.

「Those two are fine. Almine gave them long-distance communication tools, so they can reunite later.」

「…I see. Yakumo is strong. He’s about B-Rank.」

「B-Rank?」

Kinako chuckled.

「You don’t fully understand Yakumo. His strength is S-Rank… or maybe even Twelve Hero level.」

「…Hmm. For Kinako, the Demon-Slayer, to acknowledge him that much…」

Melt looked at Kinako, barely reaching his waist in height.

「If that’s the case, Yakumo surpasses even an A-Rank like you.」

「Maybe already. In simple melee, I’m stronger, but Yakumo can use paper.」

「True. He used paper to distract and defeat the Golems. That technique was remarkable.」

Melt scratched his head.

「Having a strong ally is a blessing. There may still be many Armor Golems.」

「…Right.」

Kinako scanned the resting adventurers.

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