"I didn't expect there to be any ruins in a place like this! If we hadn't climbed so high, we wouldn't have seen anything at all," Hellank said to the other members of the Four Strategists Squad after returning from a reconnaissance with members of other squads.
"How were the ruins hidden in a place like this discovered? The vicinity is all plains and similar hills, and the nearest village is several days' walk away, and..." Imina looked around the current encampment with some worry.
"That's right! The client prepared quite well, designating such a hidden encampment. As long as we're careful with the fire, we basically won't be discovered. Besides, no one comes to a place like this anyway," Hellank agreed with Imina's statement.
Everything was too strange. Famous Black Workers were hired at a high price, Steel Rank Adventurers were hired for protection, and even the encampment was prepared in advance. This client was an Imperial noble, yet he was so familiar with the situation within the Kingdom's borders. This alone was suspicious.
"Didn't Arshe investigate this noble's identity? Didn't she say the client wasn't a bad person?" Roba also joined the conversation.
"Roba, even if this client is a heinous scoundrel, a commission is a commission, and payment is payment. At least until this commission is completed, isn't that right? Besides, even dirty money can keep people alive!" Arshe said, gripping the long staff in her hand. Iri, who had been silent by her side, also understood that the one who needed money the most in the Four Strategists Squad was the young lady.
"Sorry! I seem to have said too much," Arshe noticed her words. She also knew that the main reason the Four Strategists took this strange commission was that everyone was considering her.
"It's okay, everyone understands," Helanke said with a smile to ease the atmosphere.
"Then... Hellank, what was the result of this reconnaissance?" Imina immediately changed the subject.
"As for the result, everyone's opinions were surprisingly consistent: it's strange," Hellank said, then unrolled the map they had drawn temporarily after arriving, spreading it before everyone.
"First, it's called ruins, but it's actually more like a tomb. Although the tombstones at the entrance to the Mausoleum in the center of the tomb appear to be randomly placed, there's no moss or weeds on any of the stone structures, indicating that someone is clearly maintaining it regularly," Helanke explained.
Of course! That's the main entrance to Nazarick. Before you all came, a maid sister cleaned it almost every day, Iri thought.
"So, is there someone living inside this tomb?" Roba asked.
"Something is definitely living inside, but whether it's a person, I don't know," Helanke replied with a smile, then looked at Iri, who had been silent and had a solemn expression.
"Then, Iri-meimei, what are your thoughts?" Hellank understood that the key to this commission depended entirely on the "Saintess" before them. Moreover, since arriving, Iri had spoken very little, completely unlike her usual self, who always had a smile on her face.
"Actually, I really want to advise everyone to give up on this commission," Iri said seriously. Of course... it would be best if she could persuade them to give up.
Seeing Imina shake her head and Hellank shrug, indicating it was impossible, Iri could only sigh softly, stand up, and look at Nazarick, which wasn't far from outside the tent.
"I sense a bad aura. There must be something terrifying inside," Iri said faintly. This was not to scare them; it was the truth.
"Since Iri-meimei said so, then our strategy for this mission will be primarily self-preservation, supplemented by exploration. So, everyone, get some good rest! Prepare for tonight's official operation," Hellank said, and the others nodded in agreement.
Iri didn't know what to say. She really wanted to say, "If you want to live, don't go in," but due to her identity and position, Iri was helpless.
...
"This is too strange." Almost all the previous Black Worker squads were gathered at the entrance of Nazarick, and the Stag Beetle Uncle leading them said, looking bewildered.
"How are things over there, everyone?" The Stag Beetle Uncle seemed to have been chosen as the leader for this operation.
During the external infiltration process, he was almost always giving orders, making all sorts of preparations, such as checking for traps... and anti-transparency measures, everything was deployed.
Iri also understood that their caution was correct, but Iri, who had already read the script, just couldn't get excited. There were no traps outside at all! Looking at the excited expressions on the other squad members' faces, Iri kept thinking, 'You'll be crying soon.'
"No traps found... let alone traps, there isn't even a lock," the other squad members replied.
"Then..." The Stag Beetle Uncle gave a look to his subordinates, and two members, presumably Rogues, cautiously approached the main gate of Nazarick's entrance. They even dripped oil on the gate's hinges first. How cautious do you need to be?! My door isn't that delicate! Iri didn't know whether to laugh or cry at the sight.
Then, the armored vanguards went in first, including the Stag Beetle Uncle. After effortlessly pushing open Iri's front door, the leading vanguard member cautiously entered the Mausoleum's hall.
Afterward, it was just as Iri knew from Shizu and from her knowledge of the original story: a large amount of gold, silver, and jewels were found in the coffin in the Mausoleum hall.
Iri knew at a glance that these items were moved from her own treasury, and the gold coins were the in-game currency from Yggdrasil.
Iri actually felt that placing these gold, silver, and jewels here was basically giving these greedy fellows their last chance.
If they knew when to quit, they might even save their lives, but looking at these people, one by one, with shining eyes blinded by desire, Iri was too lazy to say anything more. These cannon fodder could just go die.
"There's the smell of Undead!" Hellank said, standing at the entrance of the long tunnel discovered behind the coffin.
"Indeed, it's the same smell as on the Katz Plains," the Stag Beetle Uncle also agreed.
Your house has the smell! Iri started to get annoyed. What was so smelly about those little skeletons??
"It's still not too late to turn back now!" Hellank said with a smile.
"Then, I have a suggestion. We'll stay here on guard and search the perimeter," the green-skinned old man spoke.
As soon as he said this, his teammates in the same squad all showed expressions of incomprehension. For them, this was practically handing over the treasure they had already acquired!
Everyone had no objections to the old man's suggestion. It was too late to leave now. Someone would deal with him later, Iri thought.
She turned her head and glared fiercely at the Heavenly Martial Squad, because the sharp-eyed Iri saw that the scoundrel from the Heavenly Martial Squad had actually pulled down the flag symbolizing Nazarick that was hanging inside the Mausoleum and had one of the female elf slaves carry it.
How greedy can you be?! Leaving aside that you're going down there and won't be coming back, but from the perspective of a normal explorer's professionalism, aren't such heavy items supposed to be taken out after the exploration is finished?
Forget it. Anyway, I'm going to step on Hamutaro's teleportation trap before this guy does. Let him go see Ainz Papa! Now, Iri felt no guilt at all about taking over this scumbag's original role.
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