Chapter 381: Driving Away the Monster Whale

Creating the basement was a huge success. It was probably the least dangerous choice.

However, there was still a problem.

“……Boy. Where are you touching?”

“Ah, that’s not me.”

“Lord Van, on my bottom……”

“That’s not me either.”

“Waah, I’m sorry! My leg might be hitting you!”

The basement I made on the spur of the moment was incredibly narrow.

A man born in the wonderful country of Japan on the beautiful planet called Earth would know this. There is a term called “false accusation of groping.” When confined in a pitch-black, narrow, enclosed space with three women, that was the first term that popped into my head.

The genius boy Van getting arrested on false groping charges is an absurd story.

“I am absolutely not the culprit. Because I am sitting hugging my knees.”

When I announced that, I sensed the three of them tilting their heads in confusion.

“Hugging……?”

“Eh? What kind of sitting style is that?”

As Panamera and Till said that, four arms reached out from behind and beside me. Then, they began to grope around my waist and legs. Because I was sitting with my arms wrapped around my knees, their hands brushed against awkward places, making me embarrassed.

“G-Groper……! There’s a groper here!”

I involuntarily shouted, my voice mixing with a scream.

A man born in the wonderful country of Japan on the beautiful planet called Earth would also know this. There is a term called “reverse groping.” It is said that the majority of victims cannot speak up about the abuse they suffered and end up crying themselves to sleep in silence. What a terrifying story.

I felt like I heard rough breathing sounds for some reason, but this was no time for that.

“W-Wait! I’m not joking, we’re going to run out of oxygen! Everyone, don’t move!”

When I pleaded desperately, their movements stopped completely.

“What do you mean by oxygen?”

“……Somehow, I’m feeling a bit lightheaded.”

“That’s exactly the danger signal, you know!?”

Hearing Arte’s statement, the blood drained from my face. The noise above ground had decreased slightly, but there was still the presence of the monster whale crawling on the earth above us.

“……Alright, in that case.”

If above ground is impossible, then underground it is. There was no time, so I hurriedly and forcefully expanded the room. It felt like extending a passage in a single direction.

Because I was fumbling in the dark, effectively digging through the ground using only Wood Blocks without touching the soil, it was incredibly difficult. But right now, no matter how hard it was, our only choice was to evacuate using the underground.

“……? Lord Van?”

“Boy, where did you go?”

I sensed them searching for me in the dark.

“I am currently creating an evacuation passage. I’ll try making a ventilation shaft for a moment.”

Have I already moved five meters away? Since I was expanding the passage while walking, I didn’t remember how far I had gone.

I placed my hand on a Wood Block extended to the ceiling and tried making a ventilation shaft slanting outward from the passage. Then, a faint light from outside began to leak in.

“Thank goodness. It seems to have connected outside the rubble.”

Muttering that with relief, I tried breathing in the fresh air coming through the ventilation shaft. It felt like incredibly clear air.

“Everyone, over here.”

When I called out, everyone walked over as if drawn by the faint light.

“Ooh, the outside?”

“Is that magic beast moving toward the sea?”

Panamera brought her face close to look outside through the ventilation shaft, and Arte asked about the monster whale’s whereabouts, looking somewhat anxious.

“I made a ventilation shaft, so there’s no worry about oxygen deprivation now. That monster whale is probably an aquatic creature, so I think it will return to the sea.”

Because I answered while resuming the passage expansion work, words they didn’t understand got mixed in. Sure enough, I sensed the two of them tilting their heads.

“Oxygen deprivation?”

“Whale?”

While the two expressed their doubts, Till answered boastfully.

“Fufufu! Lord Van knows everything! After all, he is a genius acknowledged even by Lord Espada!”

At Till’s words, Arte innocently clapped her hands in applause, and Panamera nodded with a wry smile.

“That’s amazing.”

“I see.”

“Heheh.”

Till laughed, pleased by their reactions. Listening to that exchange, I thought about how they lacked any sense of tension while I expanded the passage another few meters.

Reaching the end of it, I noticed that the sounds of the monster whale had clearly gotten further away.

“……Is it safe to go out soon?”

Muttering that, I made an exit in the ceiling so we could get outside. I made the ceiling slide open so it could be closed instantly if something happened.

“Ooh, the outside?”

“Can we get out?”

When I slid the ceiling exit slightly to create a gap, Panamera and Arte came running.

“Wait a moment.”

Saying only that, I gently poked my head out from the open gap and searched for the monster whale’s figure.

“……Ah, it’s heading toward the sea.”

Spotting the back of the monster whale heading toward the coast, I said that. Then, Panamera came stomping up and poked her head out next to mine.

“Can I burn it this time?”

“……Thinking about it logically, that thing looks like it would be highly resistant to fire, though.”