The Strongest Onmyoji and the Shikigami With AI are Unparalleled in Another World ~ A Second Life Properly Enjoyed Using Artificial Intelligence ~ - Chapter 68

We left the guild and made our way to the eastern district, reaching the eastern gate.

“Annie, how do we get to the eastern ruins?”

“On foot.”

Seriously…

“Didn’t you say it’s a two-hour walk?”

“Yeah, that sounds about right.”

“What about a carriage?”

“Carriages to places with lots of monsters are expensive.”

No way we’re paying regular fare.

“Well, can’t be helped. Let’s walk.”

We passed through the gate and walked along the paved road.

“The road is well-maintained.”

“The ruins used to be a town. I’m from Celia, so I know. The eastern ruins used to be Celia town until a few hundred years ago. But the mayor at the time wanted to improve access to the capital, so they built a new town, which eventually thrived and led to everyone moving there. Since then, the old Celia in the east, now the ruins, has been abandoned and taken over by monsters.”

“They just abandoned it so easily…”

Please take better care of your ancestral home.

“You say that, but there were complications back then. The new town was initially for merchants, but the convenience of having water sources and forests nearby made people move there more and more. This paving is a remnant of that time.”

“Wasn’t it full of bones and rotting corpses? Aren’t those the ghosts of the old Celia townsfolk?”

“No, it’s not like that. There were rumors, and kids used to go to the ruins for dares, but the monsters aren’t human.”

Like some kind of test of courage?

“Did you go there too?”

“No way. Honestly, I still don’t want to go. Skeletons are one thing, but zombies are just gross.”

Rotting corpses, after all…

I’m not keen on it either.

“Are you guys okay with zombies?”

I check with the three girls.

“I’m totally fine.”

“…I’ll just be shooting magic from afar.”

“I’ll just be shooting arrows from a distance, so I’m okay!”

Alice and Lily seem hesitant.

Natalia seems to have a high tolerance for gore.

She’s been dismantling orcs like it’s nothing.

We continued walking relentlessly toward the ruins.

Up above, Crow-chan was flying, and AI-chan was diligently mapping.

Lily seemed to be enjoying the walk, while Natalia and Alice were their usual selves.

Annie was riding on Koma-chan’s back, taking it easy.

“I’m so tired…”

“It can’t be helped.”

Kind-hearted Natalia said as she cast healing magic.

“…Just so you know, the return trip is going to be even tougher.”

There’s the return trip to consider…

“Is this why we’re going to the Southern Forest instead of the ruins? Because it seems like we could make more money at the ruins.”

“Yeah. Occasionally it’s fine, but I hate doing this every time.”

“…Absolutely not.”

“In reality, the ruins are unpopular. It’s tiring, the enemies are fairly strong, and they’re mostly undead.”

Is this why Clive and the others went to the capital without even considering it?

“Don’t you guys ever think about going to the capital?”

“It’s impossible for us girls.”

“…Yeah.”

“Huh? Why?”

“Is something wrong?”

“Well, the capital can certainly make you money, but the lodging costs are high. And of course, if you stay in a nice place, it’s even higher. The guys might be fine with cheap accommodations, but it’s tough for the girls. After all, areas with cheap lodgings often have poor security.”

Well, guys can rough it out camping if need be.

“What about the girls who went to the capital?”

“They’re probably pooling their money to rent one room together.”

That doesn’t sound appealing either…

“I don’t like that kind of arrangement. I prefer having my own room.”

That’s how Annie feels, I guess.

“Don’t you guys have homes to go back to?”

Natalia and Alice are from the capital.

“Even if we go back, there’s no room for us. Probably being used by younger siblings.”

“…They’ll welcome us for a day or two, but after the third day, they start asking when we’re leaving.”

Come to think of it, they did mention being poor.

If I’m not careful, I might end up in the red by supporting them.

“I see… When we go to the capital, maybe we should demand something from the district chief about that…”

The king wouldn’t allow his guests to stay in shabby inns.

“Master, I can see the start of the ruins.”

As AI-chan spoke, something resembling a town could be seen ahead.

And then, Crow-chan flew ahead toward the ruins, so I linked my sight to it.

“Ruins… or rather, it’s more like a ruin.”

Looking down from above, there were stone buildings lined up, indicating that it was once a town.

But, it looked decayed and broken, so it’s unlikely anyone lives there now.

In fact, there seemed to be a skeleton wielding a weapon…

“It’s got quite the atmosphere from up here…”

“Oh, there’s a zombie.”

AI-chan also spotted it; it seems there are quite a few monsters here.

“Yuuma, let me tell you about the precautions in the ruins.”

As I overlooked the town, Annie tapped my shoulder.

“What is it?”

“First, the humanoid monsters that come out here are a bit scary. But, even so, don’t panic and attack. There have been accidents where adventurers mistakenly attacked each other.”

Even though it’s a ruin, it’s still in the middle of town, and there are likely many blind spots.

That’s quite possible.

“Got it. I’ll keep that in mind.”

On the flip side, it means we might be attacked.

“Also, skeletons have weapons. Spears or swords are one thing, but bows are a threat.”

“That’s right. If they hit you guys, it could be fatal.”

“In that case, I’ll cast a magic to deflect arrows.”

Arrow deflection…

“Do you have something like that?”

“Yes. Without it, we magic users wouldn’t be able to come here.”

Certainly…

“Can you guys use it?”

I ask Natalia and Alice.

“I can’t.”

“… Arrow deflection is bought by the military, so it’s hard to get and expensive.”

What they want is the army to fight wars, after all.

“You managed to buy it, huh?”

“I got it as a celebration for becoming B-rank from Layla-san.”

She’s doing things like that?

She definitely didn’t do that when I ranked up.

“Hmm… What did you get?”

I ask Alice, who’s also B-rank.

“… I got this staff. It’s quite nice.”

Alice proudly raises her staff.

“Oh, really…”

I wonder if she’ll give me something too?

“That’s why I’ll cast Arrow Deflection. Just remember, it doesn’t protect against magic, so be careful. Young ones or inexperienced magic users might panic and shoot, you know.”

“Magic can be blocked, so it’s fine.”

“Alright then, I’ll leave it to you… There, done.”

Annie raises her staff, and the tip of it glows faintly.

It seems she’s cast the Arrow Deflection spell.

“Thanks. Well then, shall we go?”

Once we finish our preparations, we head towards the distant ruins.