Chapter 44: Sewers
"Monsters have made their way into Solares' sewer system. Clear that out, and you'll be on your way to C-rank. Where did your companion go?" Camilla scanned the guild building.
*Another gross job that nobody else wants, probably.*
"That's perfect. Sprite has decided to join the research institute for the time being." Gerard looked at the entrance and sighed.
"Hmm... The researchers might be able to discover the possibilities of her class while she's there. Will you be okay on your own?"
"I'll manage."
"The reward is ten gold pieces. You already have the details of the quest, but make sure you do your best to clear out all of the monsters. It would be hard to confirm the completion of this quest, so if you falsify your report, you will receive hefty fines and punishments once your lies are discovered."
"You really like to dampen my adventures with threats of punishment or slavery, don't you?"
"Until I'm sure of your character, I need to ensure you'll do your best to complete your quests."
"Where's the best entrance to the sewers, then?"
"I've got just the person to guide you there. Quinne!"
An archer approached from the corner of the room. Quinne of the Red Lotus stood before him.
"Can you guide Gerard to the sewers? He's taken on the quest."
"Of course. Follow me."
Quinne paid him no attention until they left the guild.
"Gerard? The lich? Is this another illusion? It looks so real!" Quinne left her usual dry and distant attitude behind while she poked Gerard's face.
"No, no. I've finally cured myself of the curse. This is me. The real me. The human me."
"That's amazing! I'm so happy for you! I'll have to tell the others when I join back up with them!" Quinne hugged Gerard tightly.
"Please allow me to tell them in person. There's an even bigger surprise to reveal. About that, though, why aren't you with Jerrick and the others?" Gerard wormed his way out of her grip.
"If that's what you want. I grew up in the lower district of Solares before our current king took the throne. It was a decrepit area that not even the guards bothered with. Crime and sickness ran rampant, and I was lucky to find friends who could help me protect myself."
Quinne turned another corner, and they walked along one of Solares' central canals.
"And this answers my question, how?"
"Oh, right, sorry. Many of the sewer lines end up close to that section of the city, and even though it's in much better condition, many people I know still live there. I was the one who put up the quest. I've been waiting for someone to take it before I return to the others."
"And you can't take care of it yourself?"
"No. The sewer systems are narrow and have many intersections. An archer is at a disadvantage when enemies can appear from anywhere."
"Makes sense."
Quinne stopped by a ladder and climbed down to a platform just above the water. Gerard jumped down and landed gracefully.
"Show off."
"From what I know of your skills, you could have done it better."
"True."
In the wall before them, a large iron grate and locked door prevented their progress.
"Just a second." Quinne took out a metal key from a pouch on her waist and unlocked the door.
Gerard took the shovel from the strap attached to the back of his chestplate and held it firmly.
Quinne opened the door to the sewers.
"Why do you have a shovel?"
"Long story short, I want to use a mace I have back at my inn, but I have lost access to magic and most weapons for now."
"What class are you?"
"Upon removing my curse, I became a villager."
Quinne quickly shut the door to the sewers.
"I can't let you go in there then. You'll die!"
"You're welcome to follow me until you're satisfied. If you think I'm in trouble, I will give up on the quest. Is that good enough?"
"I suppose it is..." Quinne reluctantly opened the door and gestured for Gerard to go in first.
Quinne closed the gate behind them and whispered to herself.
"Vision of the night." She looked at Gerard.
"No need. One of my skills lets me see in the dark even better than I used to."
*World's Eye is pretty handy, but I haven't actively used it yet.*
The stench of human waste immediately assaulted their senses with their first steps into the bowels of the city. Gerard watched Quinne's eyes water from the fumes. The two of them walked for some time down the intricate sewer system.
"We should be under the commercial district now." Quinne tilted her head and cupped her ear with her hand.
The chatter of people softly reached the sewer chambers. The sound of something sliding across the ground in front of them brought their gaze to the end of the passage. Bobbing along the ground was a green blob of viscous liquid.
"No way. Is this what I think it is?"
"What, you haven't seen a slime before?"
"I heard my grand... grandfather talk about them a lot. Beginner-level creatures, that many adventurers first fight, right?"
"I don't know what kind of slimes your grandfather was talking about, but slimes are not simple creatures, nor harmless. They can dissolve a living creature within a couple of minutes. Be careful."
*I don't have any kind of corrosion resistance, either, so that's dangerous.*
Gerard adjusted his grip on the shovel more like a javelin and launched it through the tunnel. The shovel struck the slime, and it instantly fell apart. Gerard rushed over to his shovel and checked it for corrosion, but it was undamaged.
[You have gained 150 exp-]
*Please don't. Ten percent of my levels or more, remember?*
The system didn't respond.
*Without Sprite, the system feels empty.*
"What kind of shovel is that?"
"Gander said it is made from steel and mithril."
"Mithril is extremely resistant to corrosion and all sorts of damage, so that makes sense. Okay, it's obvious that I was wrong. I'll give the reward money to the guild. Here's the key to the sewers, so make sure you lock up when you're done and hand the key over to the guild. I'll see you around whenever we cross paths again. Just don't die, okay?" Quinne took the key from her pouch.
"I'll try not to." Gerard accepted the key and slid inside his coat pocket.
*Turns out this shovel is actually something incredible. It just looked the prettiest in that shack.*
Quinne nodded and walked back down the way they came in.
Being free of his overseer, Gerard rushed down the sewer system, swinging his shovel through slime after slime until he came to an intersection covered in a solid mass. Gerard stuck his shovel inside the mass, and it shifted.
Suddenly, the mass started to fill the tunnel, and Gerard realised his mistake. A giant slime monster targeted him for its next meal.
Gerard sprinted without hesitation. His heart raced as he heard the squelching sound of the monster
*System, what is this thing?*
[Answer: A Gelatinous Cube.]
*More information?*
[Extended Answer: Gelatinous Cubes are a higher evolution of the average slime. They tend to disguise themselves at entrances to rooms and are transparent.]
*And because this thing was consuming sewage, I could see it?*
[Answer: Yes.]
"Freaking A.I."
Gerard felt the back of his leg burn from the approaching enemy.
*I guess it's time to test it or die. Limiter Release!*
Gerard sped through the tunnel at three times his previous speed and skidded to a halt.
He turned to see a creature made of slime slithering towards him. Inside, he watched as monsters and human excretions dissolved before him. Without thinking, Gerard sprinted into the monster. He bore the pain as his skin and clothes began to dissolve.
*Please work. World's Eye!*
Gerard watched as the world around him became crystal clear. In the centre of the monster, a large blue crystal rested. Gerard waded through the Gelatinous Cube and thrust his shovel through the crystal. With a thud, Gerard hit the ground as the body of the monster slid into the centre of the sewer and flowed away.
[You have gained 13,200 experience. 1,985 experience until your Villager class reaches level 7. 10,760 experience until your Grave Keeper class reaches level 7.]
Gerard lay there as pain wracked his body for an hour, unable to move a muscle.
*So that's what the aftereffect of Limiter Release feels like.*
Gerard staggered to his feet, grabbed the crystal from the Gelatinous Slime, and hobbled through the sewer system until he became sure that the sewers were free from monsters.
He found his way to the entrance and locked it before climbing back to the surface. Using his shovel as a crutch, he hobbled towards the adventurer's guild. His blistered and corroded skin screamed for him to rest.
Gerard staggered into the adventurer's guild. Most of his body was bare, and half of his skin was absent, showing the flesh beneath. Camilla scribbled away in her book while other adventurers gasped and whispered amongst themselves.
"Camilla," Gerard croaked.
"Yes?"
"I might need some help."
Gerard collapsed on the ground and saw Camilla rush over after jumping over the counter.
---
"He's awake!" A man yelled.
"That's one strong little guy."
"I wonder how he ended up like that."
The voices of several people that Gerard didn't recognise greeted him as he opened his eyes. Over a dozen adventurers were leaning over him, including Camilla.
"Gerard?" Camilla tensed her face and stared into Gerard's eyes.
"Y-yes?"
"What in divinity did that to you?"
"Gelatinous Slime." Gerard pushed himself upright.
*I'm glad Sprite didn't see me like this.*
"Are you sure?"
"Completely. Here..." Gerard pulled the gem from a pouch and sat it on the ground.
Exhaustion set in, and he rested his eyes.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone