"This dungeon is very different from my last visit", Shioko replied. "The last time I came here, in the Blackvault Mines, the boss was a simple Komoeru, slightly larger than the others. One thing is for sure, I've never heard that chilling cry."

In the archer's words, there was a veil of terror. That loud roar had weakened her confidence, and the unawareness of the hidden nature of the boss to defeat began to weaken her fighting spirit. ​​

"Anyway... we will solve one problem at a time. Quick, let's find the lost necklace. We must exploit this moment of peace," Yoichi affirmed, not being caught up in fear.

While Enatsu mumbled something incomprehensible, the young tamer and Shioko began searching for the quest item throughout the room. The straight walls were about twenty meters long each, and the mud-dirty and uneven terrain made the search more difficult than expected.

"How do you hope to find a necklace in such a huge place?" Enatsu asked, drawing the attention of his two guildmates.

"Eh?" Yoichi turned absent-mindedly towards him.

"Can I see the map, man?" the merchant repeated. His request was satisfied, and his companion handed over the dungeon map in his hands. "Mh... yes, that's definitely the case," Enatsu murmured, reasoning out loud.

"What are you blabbering about? Talk openly. There's no time to waste," Shioko growled, upset by his behaviour.

"When we were in Blackborough, an old gentleman explained to me what are the most common types of demons in this mine. Among them, one particularly caught my eye," the merchant explained, moving his finger on the map. "Dokumotsu. This name ring a bell?" he asked.

"Mmh... I have no idea what it is," Yoichi answered without overthinking about it.

"Dokumotsus are spider demons. They prefer cold and humid habitats, just like this cave. So? What's your point? I don't understand what it has to do with the necklace we're looking for," Shioko spoke, looking to the floor and continuing to search hastily. Nobu's light kept lighting up the area.

"How can you be the tamer of a guild and not know the main characteristics of Tentochu's demons?" Enatsu complained again, scolding his interlocutor.

"What did you say?" – taking a step towards the merchant, Shioko reacted with arrogance to that statement. A hand from Yoichi touched her shoulder, pausing her advance.

"Calm down, guys. There's no need to bicker in such a situation," he said, immediately leaving her partner's shoulder, knowing that she disliked physical contact.

Before Shioko could threaten Enastu again, he remarked, "your answer was very reductive and superficial. Dokumotsus are not only trivial 'spider demons', but much more. They are attracted to shining and precious objects, such as pieces of equipment... or..."

"Jewelry" Yoichi interrupted. His chin between his forefinger and thumb.

"Exactly. When I studied my father's bestiary, I remember reading a lot about them. Dokumotsu is the name of the basic form, Taramotsu, that of their only evolution. In addition to being accumulators of shiny objects, like any spider, they are skilled weavers, able to trap even large prey inside their cobwebs", Enatsu explained, continuing to look at the map.

"Shioko... remember meeting these demons the last time you visited the Blackvault Mines?" Yoichi investigated. Despite her hostile nature, the archer remained the most experienced tamer among them.

"They are very common demons. They are found in almost all caves. However, what your friend so strongly supports is not the truth. What is true is that the Dokumotsus are attracted to objects that reflect light but are often worthless pieces of junk. In addition, all demons tend to accumulate relics and various riches within dungeons. As a result, the necklace we are looking for could be anywhere."

Shioko's words lowered Yoichi's level of optimism. After driving out the Komoerus' herd, he believed that finding the necklace would only be a matter of time.

Enatsu, meanwhile, continued to look closely at the map. After a few minutes of silence, he closed it and handed it back into Yoichi's hands.

"What Shioko said doesn't change my thesis. I am sure that once we find the nest of the Dokumotsus, we will also find the quest item" the merchant snorted, crossing his arms.

"Well, we have two rooms left to check before we walk to the boss's, right? If we followed the Komoerus, we'd risk completing the dungeon without recovering the necklace. I will do as Enatsu says. I trust his guess. And it would help if you trusted him too," Yoichi replied, pointing his finger at Shioko.

The red-haired tamer snorted sulkily. She closed her eyes, trying to keep her composure. "Sada-sensei ordered me to protect you and your friend. I will do as you say. The important thing is not to waste any more time", she exclaimed, repeating what he had said just before. For Shioko, the time spent helping her two new guildmates was wasted time.

"Which way, Enatsu?" Yoichi asked, ready to follow his partner with Kenji.

"I can't tell you for sure. On the map, both rooms look the same. We're going to go right," Enatsu affirmed, walking at a deliberate pace.

Following the young merchant's guess, the three adventurers walked to the other side of the room. A natural door opened into the rocky wall: it was smaller than that of the boss's room, and a smaller amount of dark mud surrounded it.

Nobu continued to follow its protected and keep stable the white light beam, which followed their walk. Enatsu, who closed the line, as usual, focused on looking at the veins of black mud on the ceiling.

Tracing with his eyes the filaments of that dark and mysterious material, he noticed that they, too, like the material that had swallowed the Yoroishi, pulsated with their own energy.

Faintly reflecting Nobu's light, small bubbles popped on the walls. The fluid that branched out throughout the room seemed to focus mainly towards the boss's cavern. However, it penetrated a large boulder above the natural door of the right room.