Their next course of action was to infiltrate through this door. However, Climb narrowed his eyes and stared at the secret entrance. He then breathed a sigh and again, took out the set of three handbells.
The one he chose this time had a different picture than the one before it. And like before, he shook it.
A sound that was similar yet different from the other rang out.
‘Bell of Remove Trap.’
Be cautious of your surroundings. As a warrior, Climb had neither the ability to detect traps nor a way to handle them should he fall into one. If they had a magic caster, then even if he were to get hit with a paralyzing poison, he could be treated. However, there were only two warriors here. Among martial arts, ones that nullified poisons did exist. However, Climb had not learned them and didn’t have an antidote with him either. He had to assume that he would be doomed if he fell into one.
That was why he had to use an item with a limited number of uses per day without hesitation.
A heavy click sounded from the secret door.
Climb stuck his sword between the edges of the door and forced it open.
The bent side of the wooden floor sprang up and fell to the other side. A crossbow had been set inside the secret entrance. Light reflected oddly off of the tip of its quarrel.
Climb changed his position and stared at the crossbow.
The tip was covered in some viscous liquid. The odds were ten to one that it was poison. If they had tried to open it carelessly, it would have fired the quarrel dipped in poison.
With a small breath of relief, he looked for a way to get rid of the crossbow. Unfortunately, it was set quite firm and it did not seem like he would be able to disarm it without tools.
Having given up, Climb peered into what was through the secret door.
A steep set of stairs led downwards and he could not see anything beyond it due to the angle. Both the stairs and areas around it were packed with stones, making it seem very sturdy.
“So, what’re you going to do? Are you going to wait here?”
“It’s a bit difficult for me to fight indoors. If possible, I would like to go and find a place that’s wide and easy to fight in and attack their position there.
“Considering a 1v1 situation, you’d have a higher chance of winning if you waited at the top of the stairs. But if there’s a battle, there’s a chance that I would be too far ahead to hear it… And since reinforcements might come running, we should definitely forget about that idea. Then let’s go together.”
“Yes. I leave myself in your care.”
“I’ll lead the way. Follow a bit further behind me.”
“Understood. And although the item that I used a moment ago to clear the trap can be used three times per day, it can’t be used consecutively and need a thirty minute interval between uses. We can’t rely on the item.”
“Got it. I’ll advance with the utmost caution. And if you detect something then give me a shout.”
After saying that, Brain moved to the front and walked down the stairs. Just in case, he advanced one step at a time while prodding the ground in front of him with his katana. Climb followed him from behind.
At the bottom of the stairway, the ground and even the walls were lined with hard rocks. A few meters ahead, they saw a wooden door with its edges reinforced with steel.
Although it was difficult to imagine that they would place a trap at the level of the crossbow in the passage with the emergency exit, it was common for heavily armed warriors to be incapacitated by a single floor trap. That had to be avoided at all costs.
Despite the short distance, Brain advanced carefully and took his time reaching the door. Climb was on standby at the bottom of the stairs. He did so to avoid being dragged into any accidents should they occur.
Brain first poked the door with his sword. After repeating this several times, he grabbed the doorknob— and twisted it. His movements then stopped.
As he worried over what might have happened, Brain turned to him and spoke with a plaintive voice.
“…It’s locked.”
Of course. A door would be locked.
“Ah, I have something. One moment.”
He rang the last of the three handbells at the door.
With the power of ‘Bell of Open Lock’, the faint sound of a key unlocking the door could be heard.
Brain turned the knob and opened the door slightly, searching for a presence from within.
“No one’s there. I’ll go in first.”
Climb followed behind Brain and broke in as well.
They were in a hall.
In one corner of the room, there was a cage that was large enough to fit a person. Countless number of wooden crates was stacked up against the wall. Was this where they stored the luggage? Even so, it still seemed a bit too spacious.
There was a door with no key on the opposite side. When Climb listened carefully, he heard a faint noise, as if there was a commotion in the distance.
Brain turned around and asked Climb.
“What about here? It’s certainly big enough, but… you’re probably going to end up having to fight several people at once.”
“If that becomes the case, I will open the door leading to the exit and fight at the stairs.”
“Alright. I’ll take a quick look around and be back soon. So don’t die, Climb.”
“Good luck. Brain-sama as well, be careful.”
“If you don’t mind… could you let me borrow that item from before?”
“Of course. I apologize for not having thought of that.”
Climb handed all three bells over to Brain who put them into his belt pouch. He then wore the determined face of a warrior.
“Then I’ll be going.”
Leaving only those words, Brain went through the keyless door and moved deeper into the brothel.
Now that he was alone, Climb looked around the quiet interior.
First, he checked to see if anyone was behind the crates and whether there were any other passages. Although it was the searching skills of a warrior at best, there did not appear to be any hidden doors. He then investigated the vast number of wooden crates.