My Computer Leads to an Instance Dungeon-Chapter 48: The Kobold’s Candle

Fang Zhen stepped into the mine’s entrance.

The entrance was wide enough for three people to walk abreast, but the ceiling was a bit low. Fang Zhen had to stoop slightly to get inside.

After advancing a few meters, he found the ceiling grew higher, allowing him to stand up straight.

However, the passage remained somewhat narrow. He couldn’t hold his longspear upright without hitting the rock ceiling, so he had to carry it with the tip pointed forward.

Fang Zhen’s brow furrowed for a moment, but then it smoothed out.

’This narrow terrain isn’t necessarily a bad thing. While it might be hard to wield my longspear freely, looking at it another way, if enemies charge me head-on, I can just hold my ground with the spear and push them back, even if there are several of them. I can keep myself safe.’

’From a tactical standpoint, it has its pros and cons, but the pros outweigh the cons.’

Fang Zhen found it acceptable.

He didn’t immediately venture deeper into the cave. Instead, he walked six or seven meters until he reached a very dark section, then crouched down, staying perfectly still to conserve his energy.

After about a minute, his eyes gradually adjusted to the gloom. His surroundings no longer seemed pitch-black; though still dim, he could at least make out his immediate environment.

He had waited that minute specifically to let his eyes adapt to the darkness naturally.

He had a high-powered flashlight, but this mine was an unknown territory. Rashly turning it on would be like painting a target on his back.

Fang Zhen was wearing riot gear. From the information he had gathered and subsequent communications with the gear’s customer service, he knew that while the suit could resist stabs, it couldn’t stop arrows or Crossbow Arrows. At best, it would only reduce the damage.

He had no idea if there were crossbowmen among the Kobolds. Normally, it wouldn’t be easy to use a crossbow in a pitch-black environment like this, but what if these Kobolds didn’t play by the rules?

To be safe, Fang Zhen kept the flashlight off and continued to feel his way forward in the dark.

’The goal this time is to scout the terrain and get a feel for the situation, not a full-on assault.’

’I’ll know for next time. In terrain like this, an Anti-Riot Shield would probably be more beneficial. When I go back to change my gear, it’d be safer to bring one.’

He advanced slowly.

Fang Zhen’s senses were highly focused. He could perceive the small amount of water seeping through the rock walls and the marks left by pickaxes long ago. There were small puddles on the ground, and his steps made faint splashing sounds. With a few more steps, he could hear the scrape of his shoes against the rock and the sound of tiny pebbles trickling down from the ceiling.

The air in the cave was a bit stale. Breathing wasn’t a problem, but it felt like the oxygen level wasn’t particularly high.

A scent similar to ozone hung in the air, whether from minerals or something else, he couldn’t tell.

Fang Zhen could even feel fine dust settling on his face from the cave ceiling.

Fang Zhen slowed his breathing, synchronizing it with his movements and trying to muffle his steps as he advanced.

After about forty or fifty meters, the passage suddenly opened up before him.

He had passed through the entrance tunnel and entered a wide, open space.

Fang Zhen suddenly found it easier to breathe.

He narrowed his eyes, helping them to adjust more quickly.

This time, his eyes adjusted much faster, in just over ten seconds. Fang Zhen could see the situation ahead clearly.

Before him was a vast chamber, large enough to hold sixty or seventy people. It was irregularly shaped, roughly circular, with a natural shaft in the ceiling that let in a little light and air. The view wasn’t as gloomy here, and the oppressive feeling lessened.

Perhaps due to the cavern’s structure, the wind wasn’t strong—just an occasional puff. Fang Zhen could faintly feel a breeze on his face, but it would vanish in an instant.

’I’ve reached the main cavern.’

Fang Zhen immediately recognized the layout and matched it to the map he had memorized.

He could now see the faint glimmer of candlelight on both sides of the cavern.

To his left, over twenty meters away, was a tunnel entrance. Not too far from the ground, a stone tray had been chiseled out of the rock, and on it, a single candle flickered faintly.

The flame wavered, but it never went out.

To his right, also about twenty meters away, was another deep, dark tunnel. Similarly, about knee-high, a stone tray had been carved out to hold another burning candle.

The light wasn’t strong, but neither candle had gone out.

The swaying candlelight, while chasing away the darkness, also created an indescribable sense of mystery.

’Kobold candles?’

After getting a clear look at both sides, the dungeon intel he’d spent Merit Points on came to mind.

The intel stated that Kobolds feared the dark but could also use it. Candles were an important tool for them, dispelling that fear and providing a sense of security.

Based on the intel, Kobolds likely valued their candles more than their own lives.

Seeing the two distant tunnels, Fang Zhen matched them to his mental map.

The left tunnel led to Mine Cave A, while the right one led to the largest, Mine Cave B. Farther in were Mine Cave C and D.

He had been wondering how he would determine if there were any Kobolds in Mine Cave A.

Now there was no need to wonder. A single glance told him there were enemies in Mine Cave A. He’d still need to scout it out, though.

Kobolds valued their candles so highly; if there weren’t any Dogman Miners in Mine Cave A, they would never waste a candle like this.

Fang Zhen looked at the candles. ’Good,’ he thought. ’At least there’s some light.’

He’d just been thinking that if the entire mine were this dark, he would have had to retreat, return to the Light Gate, and buy night-vision goggles or a thermal imager.

Now it seemed he wouldn’t have to go to such trouble. The candlelight was faint, but at least he could see.

The flickering candlelight was unsettling, easily bringing to mind spooky tales of ghosts blowing out lamps, but at least it was a source of light.

Light could drive away the darkness and banish fear.

Plus, it served as a test for oxygen levels, so he wouldn’t have to worry about suffocating.

Now that he had confirmed the layout, had a light source, and knew that there were Kobolds in Mine Cave A, Fang Zhen felt more at ease.

He decided to proceed with his plan.

Carrying the Dragon Gallbladder Two-in-One Bow in his left hand and the longspear in his right, Fang Zhen walked toward the left-hand tunnel with cautious, steady steps.

Fang Zhen reached the left tunnel and entered it.

The tunnel stretched on, but another candle appeared every ten or so meters, casting just enough dim light to see by.

Fang Zhen kept his breathing steady.

He was getting closer and closer to the Kobolds.

The mines of Redstone Town were small, so the tunnels weren’t very long—a few dozen meters at most. He would likely encounter the Kobold miners soon.

He tightened his grip on the spear shaft in his right hand.

Fang Zhen adjusted his breathing, trying his best to calm his mind as he followed the tunnel.

After advancing another forty to fifty meters, passing two turns and three more candles, Fang Zhen suddenly stopped and held his breath.

He heard the continuous sound of pickaxes striking rock.

Fang Zhen narrowed his eyes and sank into a low crouch. Like a leopard, he moved forward slowly, trying not to make a single sound.

He crept forward another seven or eight meters in silence until he saw the tunnel ahead widen.

Ahead was a large chamber. The ceiling was about five meters high, and the space was even larger than the main cavern he had just passed through, capable of holding eighty or ninety people.

Fang Zhen held his breath.

’This is Mine Cave A!’

His position was at a sharp corner that concealed his body. The source of the mining sounds in Mine Cave A was still some distance away; if he was careful, the creatures over there wouldn’t spot him immediately.

Fang Zhen narrowed his eyes, focusing his vision.

He saw them. In Mine Cave A, more than forty meters away, over a dozen Kobolds were mining ore under the flickering candlelight.