Tap... tap... tap...
The hurried footsteps echoed through the empty corridor of the underground dungeon.
In the darkness, a pair of faintly glowing eyes flashed past the corner.
Naliya cautiously peeked out, then turned to look at her tardy teammate and urged him in a hushed voice:
"Hurry up, Rick."
"Ha... ha... wait for me, Captain."
"You can't make... make a priest run like you..."
Rick panted, not daring to answer loudly as he staggered after the footsteps ahead.
"Hang in there a little longer. Once we shake off those damned things, we can rest."
After speaking softly, Naliya quickened her pace.
"Cap..."
Rick reached out as if trying to grab the person ahead.
The blurry figure in his vision quickly vanished around the corner.
"Ha... ha..."
I want to stop so badly!
Fatigue, hunger, fear, helplessness... They seemed to nourish the despair growing in the depths of his heart.
I'm so tired...
"#*%way!"
That was a goblin's voice.
Rick mechanically moved his feet, thinking this to himself.
'...No!'
He suddenly snapped awake and stared fearfully down the passage behind him.
"Cap... They... they've caught up!"
Rick spoke in a trembling voice.
He wanted to scream, but what little sanity remained forcibly held his voice down, making it hoarse like a duck with its throat squeezed shut.
Naliya, who was ahead, slowed for a moment and said hoarsely in a low voice:
"...I heard them."
She turned around, quickly walked past Rick, and slowly drew her slender longsword.
"Support me, Rick."
"Ah... yes!"
Rick came to his senses and hurriedly answered.
However, instead of taking the staff from his back, he reached for the pouch at his waist.
He took out a small sphere.
The two stood where they were, silently reducing their exertion.
Fighting under these circumstances would undoubtedly