Konbini Ossan Volume 3 Chapter 28 — The Old Man Protects

Once the children had fallen asleep, I quietly slipped away. I pulled my robe over them before leaving.

“Now then, Arisa-san. There’s something I’d like to ask of you.”

“What is it?”

“I need you to watch over the children.”

“You’re going somewhere, old man?”

“Yes. To deal with the enemy.”

At my words, Arisa’s face tensed.

“So it really is bad, huh?”

“Yes, it’s bad.”

I nodded at her question.

On the way here, we had fought off countless golems.

If this abnormal situation is the work of someone’s hand, then it’s best to assume our movements have already been noticed.

The enemy is surely searching the dungeon for us even now. Spending the night holed up inside is a risk.

Of course, trying to push through the dungeon without rest isn’t much better. Dragging exhausted children while running from an unknown enemy is not a wise plan.

“That’s why I’ll draw them away. If possible, I’ll defeat them.”

I would act as a decoy and face the enemy alone. If I defeated them, we’d be safe.

If not, the others would still be hidden far from me, and once they woke they could leave the dungeon under Arisa’s guidance.

The enemy would likely believe I was the sole intruder.

In other words, if the children are to escape safely, entrusting them to Arisa here is the best course.

The anomaly within the dungeon must also be reported to the guild without fail. Splitting into two groups works best for that as well.

Arisa seemed to sense my reasoning, giving a tense nod.

“I’ll protect them with my life. So you can go without worry, old man.”

“Yes, I’ll leave them to you.”

With that, I began to act.

First, I had to make a secure hiding spot for the children and Arisa. I used the large amount of mithril we had obtained from the mithril golem.

«Iron Blood» allows me to draw out metal in any form. Originally, it’s a monster skill — monsters could shape absorbed metal into blades to attack.

That explains this effect.

I shaped the mithril into rough, unevenly curved slabs. With them, I covered the rock hollow where the children slept.

Then I secreted adhesive fluid onto the mithril surface.

“Gross, old man.”

Arisa grimaced, but this step was necessary. I couldn’t stop. I gathered sand from the ground and pressed it onto the sticky surface.

Thanks to the adhesive, the sand clung to it, giving the slabs the texture of natural rock.

And so, a mithril shelter camouflaged as part of the rocks was complete.

Without a thorough search, no one would realize it wasn’t natural stone. And being made of mithril, it could withstand monster attacks.

If they stayed inside, at least until morning they would be safe.

“Well then, I leave the rest to you.”

“Yeah. Come back, old man. We’ll be waiting.”

“Yes.”

For Arisa, and for many others, I cannot afford to throw my life away here.

I must face this with resolve. And if it looks too dangerous — retreat at once.

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E/N:

That was… kinda cool. Although a death flag, we know Ossan can't be beaten! Stay tuned!

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