Struggling to Survive in Hell Difficulty

Chapter 107.

The building that stood in front of me was still obscured by the darkness even with Shimm's lantern. I had to focus my eyes and channel my MP like before, allowing me to see in the dark and reveal the full appearance of the building itself.

The building was at least three stories high and had the signboard 'Meat Shop' hanging near the entrance, the same one I had seen when I arrived. The pinkish red paint coating had mostly peeled off, revealing the wooden planks that seemed to have endured harsh, dry weather in Dune. I could make out a faint shape of chimney at the top, which was a bit out of place if this place were just to buy and sell meat.

"Alright, we're here!"

I thought Shimm had brought me to the wrong place, but his statement told me this was indeed his destination. This place was still within the territory of Dune, which was still quite a fair distance away from the nearest question mark.

At this point, I had no idea why he brought me to this place. Was it because of what I said about wanting to sell my materials and the Sandtusk? Or did he bring me here to do something else...

"...Millet! Millet, open up!!"

...whether he noticed my confusion or not, Shimm wasted no time announcing our presence here. As I watched him knock on the door with several heavy, deliberate knocks on the wooden entrance, I could only hope that nobody else was disturbed this late aside from whoever he was trying to call.

"...it's late at night. I'm not open!"

From behind the sturdy door, a somewhat raspy and obviously irritated voice reached my ear, obviously chastising Shimm for the disruption.

"Please open up, Millet! I am Bullet's friend, Shimm!!"

Shimm was no longer knocking on the door, but I could hear the sound of things getting knocked around... or rather, falling to the ground from behind the door. The anticipation was palpable as we waited for the person behind the door to open it from the other side.

As the noise continued to grow louder, the door was suddenly opened inwards, revealing not the towering figure I expected to live in this place, but an elderly man who looked less than half my height. But unlike any half-size, decrepit old man that I expected, this man still looked spry and had muscles larger than my own.

I started to think that this man might not be a normal Human, but a Dwarf or some kind of small-sized Giant.

"...Shimm...?"

"Yes, I am Shimm."

"...look how thin you are now... you and Bullet used to look similar to-"

"I am sorry, Millet, but let's reminiscence again later!" All of a sudden, Shimm turned his attention to me. "...this is an emergency, so we need to get going immediately. If my hunch is correct... your son might be one of the survivors who are currently in danger."

Hearing what Shimm said, the small old man immediately turned his eyes at me as well. "...and you are..."

"...ah. I am... Regias. Regias Vitoru. I am-"

All of a sudden, I found myself unable to say anything. The world around me also seemed to freeze as a system message appeared in front of me, along with several selectable options.

[1. I am an Adventurer who found traces of your son]

[2. I am an Adventurer who found traces of missing engineer party]

[3. I am an Adventurer tasked to find and rescue the missing people]

[4. I am an Adventurer]