"Even if God closes the door you want to pass through, He will always leave a window for you. ...... But how do you know what's behind that window......"

――――

When the small droplets of water continue to gather on the stone tip, a drop of clear water droplets falls from the tip of the stalactite, dripping from a high place to the ground covered with gravel.

In the depths of this place and in the underground cavern where dozens of stalactites grow all over the ground, on the ground that does not look dry or wet, a goblin wearing leather armor and carrying various weapons is resting with his back against the rock wall behind him. Judging from the look on his face that didn't have any energy, he must not have had much rest while staying here.

（...... The mouth is so thirsty...... I'm so hungry...... ）

Sitting on the ground, I stared lifelessly at the empty front, the dry food in my belt bag and the fresh water in the sheepskin water bag had all been exhausted two days earlier. Other words... Now I don't have any dry food or fresh water to quench my thirst, and I don't know how many days I can last in this dim underground without food and water......

(Why do I have to continue...) Stay in this place of the hell?!)

The thought of being trapped in this place made me agitated, and I stuck out my tongue and gently licked my lips, which were already dry and cracked. Every time I lick my tongue on my cracked lips, a slight tingling sensation would come to my mind, and it was a not-so-painful sensation that gave me a nice pick-me-up when I was still so tired.

I knew I couldn't afford to waste any more time here, but I couldn't get out of here......

After some battles with the Underground Guardians guarding the entrance, I knew that the damage I had done to them had no lethal effect at all. Neither the swordsmanship, sword energy, nor magic I wield, nor the crossbow arrows I wield, can actually damage them with their terrifying regenerative abilities, let alone kill them......

The reason why I'm alive without being torn apart by the Underground Guardians is because they don't dare to set foot in this underground cavern in this [Safe Zone]. That's the main reason why I'm still alive so far, otherwise why don't I continue to fight them?

Huh?

You ask me why I didn't use the low-level earth-based magic 'Reconstruction' to create a passage from the rock wall to the surface?

I'd have used it if the magic "Refactoring" had worked on the rock walls inside this underground cavern, and the rock walls around this underground cavern are magically neutralized, which means that the method of using "Reconstruction" to open up a new passage will not work at all.

Sitting on the floor, I thought back to my conversation with Fringard two days ago, and I was ...... Should I put it on? When I think about this, my mind is full of hesitation and confusion......

(It's so tangled...... But it's better to be an unaware of the dangers than to waste your time doing nothing...... ）

Thinking of this, I looked at Fringeld, who was already tired, and the tiredness in my tired eyes was now being replaced by a determined look. Indeed, as long as you wear it... I... You can get unprecedented power!

...... But there must be some kind of price to be paid for that I don't know......

As I looked at Fringeld with a determined gaze, two very different thoughts appeared in my mind and in my heart, and these two thoughts that popped up were as different as fire and water.

{What are you hesitating about?!!Quickly put on Fringeld, get the power, leave here immediately, find the Horn of Brute's Breath, and then return to the ancient city of Manya, and hand over the Horn of Brute Breath to the patriarch, and then my sins will be erased!}

[Add 'Fringard'...... Put it on?what's kidding!Wear that ominous thing that turns the entire mining city, Lesa Yaga, into a dead relic?yes...... I may be able to gain more power than I have ever been, but what is the price to pay?!]

Looking at the blood-red glow of Fringed floating in the distance in mid-air, my mind was filled with these two thoughts, even though I knew very well what I should do at this time when I had run out of food and fresh water... But there's always a subconscious mind in my ears in my mind......

（...... Maybe I won't be me anymore when I put Fringold on, right?)

It was as if I had a flash of inspiration and remembered the content of my conversation with "Fringard", but I thought that "Fringard" did not answer me when I asked me so suddenly...... At that time, he seemed to "acquiesce" to my rhetorical question, I wonder if I will really lose myself after getting the power of "Fringard", right?

Alas...... Who knows what I'm going to become? Losing the consciousness of dominating the body? Or ...... Worse than that?

What should I do?

Is it really going to break the jar, Tut?

*

............

"Let's make a deal, okay?"

Sitting on a wooden chair, she had just closed her book, and she held out the little thumb of her right hand to me and said to me with a gentle smile.

"Why do you want to pull the hook?" I asked confusedly after hearing Winya's request.

"Hmm-"

After hearing my question, Winya, who was sitting in the chair, let out a "hmm" and pouted angrily at me standing in front of her.

Looking at Winya's mouth pursed out because of dissatisfaction, I couldn't help but hook the corners of my mouth, and I have to say that Winya (Mom) pouted and got angry with her expression quite cute.

"Okay, Mom. I smiled and agreed with her as if she couldn't resist the angry Winya who pouted.

After finishing speaking, I stretched out the little finger of my left hand and gently hooked the little finger of Winya's right hand in front of me, when the little fingers of the two of us were completely hooked, I saw that the expression on Winya's face, which was originally pouting like a ball, instantly turned into a gentle smile, and in the smile on her face, I could see that she was very happy at this time.

"We have an appointment~ You must come back from the orc clan, you must come back safely~"

Winya looked at her right little finger tightly hooked on mine, and then looked at me standing in front of her, only to see that in the next second, she smiled sweetly and said this to me in her voice that sounded quite gentle and cute.

"Well, I'll be back. I nodded to Winya in the affirmative.

"So ......"

Hearing what I said, Winya winked at me, as if she was expecting something.

"Hanging for a hundred years is not allowed to change~ A liar will swallow a thousand needles!"

Winya (Mom) and I were talking in unison about what we were going to say when we were done, and when we were both finished, I touched the thumb of Winya's right hand with the thumb of my left hand with little force, and after doing this series of agreed actions, Winya (Mom) and I let go of each other's hands at the same time.

Just as I was about to say goodbye to Winya (Mom) and turn to leave, Winya suddenly stood up and walked up to me and rested her head on my leather-armored chest.

"That's... Mom, the leather armor I'm wearing is dirty...... So... Don't lean on it and stain your face!" I said embarrassedly, looking at Winya who was leaning against my chest in front of me, scratching my face with the index finger of my right hand.

"You must come back. Please, this time too... Gotta come back safe and sound, I know... I can't do anything now. But I will pray for your peace...... So you have to take care of your own safety, I'll be here until you come back... Look at me. ”

As if she hadn't heard what I was saying, she leaned against my chest and spoke to me word by word in a voice of concern.

When I heard what Vinya (Mom) said, I gently put my left hand on her head, and looked at her with a worried expression on her face, and my expression became firm.

"Mom, I promise you, I'll be back!"

............

*

Can't stay here any longer, Tut!

Remembering the agreement I had made with Winya in the Underworld, I concentrated on my tired feet and looked at Fringeld not far away, although my body was tired, my determined gaze did not appear to be tired in the slightest.

As long as I get the power that Fringard has given me, I don't care what the price will be!

I walked step by step towards Fringeld, who was not far away, and I was not walking fast because I was mentally exhausted, and I walked past the corpse that had long since turned into a stone substance, and after a while I came to Fringeld, which was floating in mid-air.

I took a deep breath as I looked at Fringard, who was still emitting a strange blood-red glow, and when I was about to pick it up with both hands, it emitted blood-red light, and at this moment, it emitted its own light even brighter.

[Have you really decided?]

"Fringard" asked me solemnly in his penetrating voice.

"Yes, it's ready. I curled the corners of my mouth slightly, and with a seemingly self-deprecating sneer, I replied in the affirmative.

[That...... Good luck, Tut. ］

"Fringard" said this and stopped making any sound.

Looking at the metal mask floating in mid-air and emitting a blood-red glow, I carefully held the sides of the mask with both hands, and steadily picked it up, looking at the mask in my hand, I took a deep breath again.

(Come on, Tut.) Don't think about it so much, just put it on!)

I kept cheering myself on in my heart, and while I encouraged myself, I remembered them who were important in my mind's memory:

Mom (Winya) may be sleeping in bed at this point, right? Wino... You should be with Temo and Gavey about how to intercede for me......

Strange... Why do I care so much about her?...... Jieliya, what are you doing now?

I put the mask in my hand on my face without hesitation, and when I put on the "Fringard", the metal mask fit perfectly on my face.

(This feeling...... ）

I didn't pay much attention to the coldness of the mask on my face, but before I knew it, the blood-red light around Fringard had dimmed and vanished......

Instead, at the location of the crystal goggles in the eye sockets of the mask, two clusters of scarlet light wrapped in black light were bursting out dazzlingly at this moment!!

............