It's night at Malsia, after training them to use scan magic as to search for any remaining portal stones (with Kanji's older sister, Naoto coming halfway through after being called out by her friend Mira), Kanji and I make our way to one of the doors leading to the city underground drainage. Again, I have to enter a place like this, not that can complaint much about it as it comes with the job. Last time in Estel, it's brimmed with monsters especially large rodents, giant Flies and Lou Carcolh. Well, I can rule out Lou Carcolh exist for a bit since there isn't a case of endemic disease that strike Estel, but there's still a possibility of it lurking around.

"Urghh..." [Kanji]

"Still annoyed by your sister nagging?" [Ash]

"At least she tone down a bit just now" [Kanji]

"Well, his little brother have finally grown up and do something serious for once, so she must be proud" [Ash]

"But is that nagging really necessary" [Kanji]

"If you ask me, that's how she show her love to you" [Ash]

"I know, I know, it just that I'm a grown man already" [Kanji]

"Not in her eyes apparently" [Ash]

Her older sister at first didn't believe what just happened, I mean who would? A troublemaker that you know suddenly say that he will be helping the princess on her secret mission that is so important that the operation is kept confidential, even among the castle worker. Yeah, even I would have a hard time believing it. Still, she quickly believes in Kanji when Haliza, Mira and I (after I introduce myself) tell her. She was then asked to join in as well, for which she agreed. Well, having an A rank adventure like her in our side is great. She's called as elemental archer as she will usually imbued a small magic stone into her arrow to be fired. Interesting, I wonder what would happen if she were to use a pistol (and for that, I should create it first and prioritize giving it to mage and archer siblings of mine)

"Here is the door that Mira told us" [Kanji]

"I see. One last time, are you prepared?" [Ash]

"Absolutely!" [Kanji]

"Good" [Ash]

I don't know how strong Kanji is, so I should take it slowly at first and see for myself. But, before that,

"What is this?" [Kanji]

"Cure magic. It's for our protection against disease" [Ash]

"So it's true that you can also use cure magic, and that you're one of the people that help prevent the endemic disease in Estel this year" [Kanji]

"Partly, I couldn't done it all by myself" [Ash]

And once we about to enter, Kanji take three steps back, and as for me, yup. Why do I feel nostalgia, I mean, this horrible stench should imbued fear or nauseated feeling in my mind, but no, my smart ass brain here say, hey, don't you remember this moment, when Alice and the trio followed you to help identify the source of endemic disease? If not, here are the smell that can invoke back those memories.

"Kanji, let just go. Here, I'll use another magic" [Ash]

"Thanks" [Kanji]

I actually forgot to use the scent magic, a branch of wood magic. Flinar is the one that uses it at that time, so it didn't really click to me to use it alongside cure magic. Guess that nostalgic feeling at least serve it purposes. Ohh, better use the light ball magic as well, and there, all right and clear

As we enter the underground drainage, I started to use my scan magic to search for the lingering of my mana that I used at the church. We also will try our best to head towards the church building direction, but I don't think we could rely on our sense of direction that much. Drainage like this will usually be a maze, plus, we don't have any marker or point to guide us, so our best bet is to just scan for my mana (or the mana of that mysterious person, alongside other)

"Haah!" [Kanji]

"Nice one" [Ash]

"I can still keep ongoing!" [Kanji]

"Easy there, we have a long day ahead of us, and who knew what is store for us, conserve your energy and avoid unnecessary fight, got it!" [Ash]

"Yes Boss!" [Kanji]

There's less number of large rodents as compared to sewer back in Estel, guess that mean that the country take good care of it. But, if they do maintain it, then, why can't they find the tunnel that the traveler king created long back? Well, if you think about it, there are stories back on earth about how the under tunnel construction worker who found an ancient pathway when they started to do their works, so I guess the same thing applied here as well.

As we keep on going around, wandering almost aimlessly (as Kanji convinced me that we are heading towards the church direction),

"!" [Ash]

"Something wrong?" [Kanji]

"I get a reading from my scan magi, someone is coming!" [Ash]

"What should we do?" [Kanji]

"I can't sense other beside that single person, so we can just ambush and capture him" [Ash]

"Leave it to me!" [Kanji]

"We will strike together" [Ash]

"Got it!" [Kanji]

The mana signature isn't that strong, so there should be no problems to just capture him. As we are getting closer

"Who's there!?" [?]

"Haah!" [Kanji]

"Heek!" [?]

~Metal clash~

The sound of Kanji sword and another weapon (a broad knife) clashes can be heard, not bad. Even after I concealed our presence and turn off the light ball magic, he can still detect Kanji's attack, and that should mean that

(The stinging sensation, it's strong! That means...) [?]

"Gotcha!" [Ash]

"Heek!" [?]

"Don't move, or this scythe here will slice your neck in an instant" [Ash]

"I won't! I won't! Please spare me!" [?]

"Way to go!" [Kanji]

"Haha, thanks" [Ash]

As I create another light ball magic, the guy react strangely

"You! You are during that time!" [?]

"What time?" [Ash]

"I mean..." [?]

He's trying to dodge my question here, but Kanji don't like this kind of thing, so...

"Ouch!" [?]

"What time. If not, say goodbye to your fingers!" [Kanji]

"No, please don't!" [?]

"Then talk!" [Kanji]

"Yes, yes I will! You see, I happen to see this man here riding a strange box, defeating a group of bandit travelers at the rock and sea dungeon!" [?]

"I sea" [Ash]

"Is this really the time..." [Kanji]

"Yeah, sorry..." [Ash]

So, Kanji didn't appreciate my sense of humour huh... such a let down. Still,

"If you know me from back then, tell me what you're doing here right now!" [Ash]

"Well..." [?]

"Talk!" [Kanji]

"Yes I will!" [?]