The Strongest Onmyoji and the Shikigami With AI are Unparalleled in Another World ~ A Second Life Properly Enjoyed Using Artificial Intelligence ~ - Chapter 158

As I waited there for a while, the big centipede came back.

Just like when it attacked, the big centipede climbed along the wall and circled behind us.

The women all turned their heads at the same time to watch its movements.

And then, when the big centipede returned to the position it was in earlier, they all turned to look at me.

“Yuuma, it’s not like I hate Big Centipede-chan or anything, but can you stop?”

“It’s scary.”

“…I don’t think it’ll actually eat us or anything, but let’s not do this.”

The Big Centipede-chan is even less popular than Big Spider-chan.

“Leanne, get off Koma-chan.”

“Okay.”

At Annie’s instruction, Leanne obediently got off Koma-chan.

“Master, I think it would be better to leave this to Koma-chan.”

Alright then…

I dismissed Big Centipede-chan, while thinking about how all women seem to dislike bugs.

“Koma-chan, I’m counting on you.”

When I said that, Koma-chan wagged its tail.

“You’re just so cute, aren’t you?”

Annie cooed at Koma-chan.

Apparently, Big Centipede-chan isn’t considered cute.

Well, I’ve never thought it was cute either.

“Koma-chan and Tama-chan, they really seem to prefer that type, huh?”

Annie and Pamela are both totally smitten.

“Of course! I wouldn’t want to deal with anything bug-related either.”

Even Lily, who has some tolerance for bugs, dislikes them…

Alright, let’s stop.

“Maybe I should make a tanuki shikigami instead?”

“Absolutely not! That’s no good.”

What a demanding little fox…

“Well, I’ll think about it again later. Let’s go.”

We decided to move forward and began walking.

The cave, being artificially made, wasn’t particularly difficult to walk through, and we progressed smoothly.

“Master, lizards again ahead.”

Alright, alright.

As we continued walking, a lizard about two meters long appeared in front of us.

“That thing, huh…”

So, Big Centipede-chan ate all of those…

After all, when we passed through, there wasn’t a trace left.

No wonder it’s not popular.

As I was thinking that, the lizard turned towards me and flicked its tongue in and out.

Then, it started rushing straight at me.

“Wow, it’s fast.”

As expected of a lizard.

As it got close, the lizard opened its mouth wide and lunged at me.

I stepped in towards it and swung my sword down.

The lizard’s head split vertically and slammed into the ground.

Though its body twitched for a moment, it quickly stopped moving.

“Its skin—or rather, its scales—are tough…”

“Uh, it’s split clean in two, though,” Natalia said, pointing at the lizard’s corpse.

“Relatively speaking. It’s not that a normal sword couldn’t cut it, but it’d probably take some damage.”

Well, the talisman sword doesn’t have that problem since it’s basically paper.

“Aim for the lizard’s eyes, or strike inside its mouth when it opens. Well, it doesn’t seem like Yuuma needs to worry about that.”

Lily, who was familiar with the area, explained.

“It’s not really something I need to think too hard about.”

“Figured as much.”

“Lily, where’s the lizard’s magic stone?” Natalia asked, crouching in front of the lizard.

“Oh, I’ll help,” she said.

Natalia and Lily began dismantling the lizard.

After waiting for a while, Natalia finished her work, and we started walking again.

“Hmm? There’s a staircase.”

In front of us was a staircase that appeared to have been carved out of the bedrock.

“It’s for climbing up. You’ll find stairs and ladders like this all over.”

Makes sense if it’s to get higher up the mountain. They’d have things like this.

We continued progressing through the cave, defeating lizards along the way.

The stairs weren’t an issue, but some of the ladders were worn out.

At those times, we had Crow-chan carry Leanne, or we used teleportation to move forward, making our way deeper into the cave.

As we kept going, we came across a rather long staircase, and at the far end, sunlight was visible.

“Could that be the exit? I’ve never been this far in, so I’m not sure.”

“Well, let’s check it out.”

We climbed the stairs, heading upwards.

As it grew brighter, the four of us using light magic dispelled it.

When we reached the top of the stairs, we stepped outside into an area devoid of trees.

“Hmm? It’s surprisingly warm,” Annie remarked.

Indeed, despite being on the mountain, it was warm.

“Oh, now that you mention it, I remember my dad saying there’s a hot spring around here,” Lily said.

A hot spring, huh? That brings back memories.

“Oh, is it one that people can bathe in?”

“Yeah. Apparently, the people who used to work here would rest their bodies in the hot springs.”

“That sounds amazing.”

It really does. A hot spring in the cold is pure bliss.

“Let’s keep moving for now.”

“Yeah.”

Once outside, we followed the path that continued ahead.

Before long, steam started appearing around us.

“It really is a hot spring. Master, you liked these, didn’t you?”

“Yeah, I did.”

We used to go on family trips about once a year. Getting scolded for swimming in the hot spring with my younger brother is a fond memory.

“Hey, look over there.”

In the direction Natalia indicated, there was a wooden shelf-like structure.

As we approached it, we saw a hot spring about 10 meters square bubbling nearby.

Moreover, the scenery outside is spectacular from here.

“This is a good place. People in the past sure lived in luxury,” I said as I dipped my hand into the hot spring. The water was hot; just the right temperature.

“Hot springs are so nice,” Lily said as she also put her hand in the water.

“Leanne can teleport here, so you can come back later. I’ll do the same.”

“Leanne, is that okay?”

“Sure. I want to come too,” Leanne replied.

“Yay!”

“Hot springs are great and all, but how about we take a break for lunch?” Annie suggested.

“Good point… Leanne, let’s head back for now.”

“Yes, let’s do that… Paw,” Leanne said, crouching in front of Koma-chan. Koma-chan placed its paw in Leanne’s hand.

As usual the world around us turned black when we all touched Leanne.