After leaving the Adventurers' Guild, we made our way toward Dean Great Bridge, the closest location where Ghouls had been reported.
"Still, it’s hard to believe monsters are actually lurking in this city..."
"Monsters can be surprisingly adept at hiding in urban areas," Sylpha replied. "Ren, since you were raised in the slums, surely you’ve seen small animal-type monsters like rats? Things like slimes or Giant Rats are quite common around here."
"I mean, sure, but... you mean Giant Rats were monsters?! No way... I used to eat those..."
Ren slumped her shoulders at Sylpha’s words.
Come to think of it, Ren had mentioned catching and eating rats when she was struggling for food. While monsters are typically born in a Dungeon and scatter as they grow, some of the weaker, animal-like ones supposedly migrate into cities to live. I seem to recall the Receptionist saying that rookie adventurers often start out by exterminating slimes and rats in the sewers.
"However, it is rare for monsters with the Undead Attribute, like Ghouls, to appear in the city," Sylpha continued. "Their combat prowess is significantly higher than that of lower-tier monsters. We must eliminate them swiftly."
"A lot of people live near Dean Great Bridge... Let's do our best for everyone's safety, Lloyd!"
"On!" Shiro barked energetically.
They were precious experimental materials, after all. I had no intention of letting even one escape, whether they told me to or not.
After walking for a while, we arrived at our destination: Dean Great Bridge. It was a massive structure spanning the great river that bisected the city, serving as a vital transportation hub for both people and goods. Carriages and crowds moved busily across its length.
"Hmm... I don't feel like anything is out of the ordinary. It looks like a normal, bustling street."
"And yet, compared to the usual traffic at this hour, it feels quite sparse," Sylpha noted. "Moreover, the air feels stagnant somehow..."
"Grrr..." Shiro growled in agreement.
I sensed something strange as well. When I used Magic Focus to peer at our surroundings, I spotted traces of something non-human having passed by. The trail led down toward the riverbank.
"Let's head down for now."
We descended the bank and followed the traces until we reached the area directly beneath the bridge.
"Master Lloyd, look at that."
"Yeah, the sewers."
A massive tunnel gaped open under the bridge. This was the final destination for the waterways stretching throughout the city—a giant drainage outlet. Sewage from all over the city flowed into it, and the interior was large enough for monsters to inhabit. Since the traces continued into the darkness, this was undoubtedly the Ghouls' nest.
"Looks like they're in there."
"Got it! I’ll change!" Ren said, shedding her maid uniform in an instant to reveal the form-fitting black garb of an assassin. It was the same outfit she had worn back in the Assassin's Guild, clearly designed for mobility. Shiro also looked ready for action, its tail wagging vigorously.
"Wait a second, Ren. If you go into the sewers like that, your clothes will get filthy."
"I wore something I wouldn't mind getting dirty, though."
"Even so, it's better to stay clean if we can. Sylpha, Shiro, come here."
With a thought, I enveloped Ren, Sylpha, and Shiro in a faint light. It was the Wind System Magic, Breeze Barrier. By coating the body and clothes in a thin layer of wind about one centimeter thick, one could work without a single speck of dirt touching their skin or attire. Going into a place this foul could lead to sickness, after all. Prevention was key.
"Whoa, what is this?! It’s like a film of air formed around me!"
"Multiple layers of sealed air are overlapping, so even muddy water won't get through. It also provides a steady grip, so you should be able to move without any issues."
"This is wonderful... I see," Sylpha said with a nod of admiration. "The reason your clothes are never soiled when you return from your outings, Master Lloyd, is because you employ magic such as this."
For the record, this was just one of several barriers I kept active at all times through automatic deployment.
"It’s not meant for actual defense, so be careful—it’ll pop if it takes a hard hit. I’ll be deploying a separate Magic Barrier as well, of course, but try not to bump into sharp objects unnecessarily."
"Got it!"
"Understood, Master Lloyd."
"Then let's go."
"On!"
Leading Ren, Sylpha, and Shiro, I stepped into the drainage outlet. I used magical light to illuminate the path as we walked along the side of the canal. Rats and insects scurried away to avoid us. Normally, the air inside a sewer would be thick with the stench of filth and rot, but thanks to the Breeze Barrier, we were breathing perfectly fresh air.
"Are you two doing okay?"
"Yes, thanks to you, Master Lloyd."
"Mm-hm, I'm totally fine!"
Sylpha and Ren both nodded. I had asked out of concern, but their complexions looked fine, so it seemed we could proceed without trouble. Shiro was even leading the way with a nonchalant expression. Hey, don't get too far ahead.
"So this is Master Lloyd's Breeze Barrier... what incredible comfort," Sylpha murmured. "The sewers feel as refreshing as a mountain highland. The mages I previously partied with had Breeze Barriers with poor purification and no stability; they would break constantly and required frequent reapplication. I suppose they neglected their training because it wasn't directly related to combat. Truly, God is in the details. Even a minor spell like this reveals the sheer height of Master Lloyd's mastery... Magnificent."
"To think he can use magic like this... Lloyd really is amazing. Alright, I'm going to show him my best side! Then Master Lloyd will praise me! ...Hehe."
The two of them followed behind me, muttering to themselves. They seemed a bit dazed, but I figured they were fine. Even if a monster appeared, Shiro would bark and let me know.
With that, I continued deeper and deeper into the sewers.