Chapter 71
Chapter 71
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 71
Chapter Title: First Step (2)
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Edn and Hepiriya had just arrived at the dungeon when the investigation was already in full swing deeper inside.
The team was digging up the ground or clearing out monsters in a different section from the one the two had entered, continuing their work.
Then, one of the investigators spotted a gem embedded in the wall.
"Captain! Come check this out!"
"What did you find?"
"Yes, sir. There's a gem here, but it's a bit suspicious."
The investigation captain approached the gem and brushed its surface.
It felt smooth yet rough at the same time, giving off an eerie sensation.
"Let's dig around it first. Then we'll examine it properly."
"Understood."
At the captain's order, they began excavating around the gem.
They first used pickaxes to remove the surrounding dirt and rocks.
Careful not to damage the gem itself, they cleared away the debris.
Once the chunk was exposed, they carefully chipped away at it with brushes and small tools.
It was delicate work that demanded caution, but with several people working together, the gem soon revealed itself.
It was still half-buried for stability, so they paused there.
"Oh, it's quite lustrous. Good work, everyone. Now let's investigate it properly."
"Yes, sir. It's a mana stone."
Led by the captain, who knew basic magic, they began examining the gem.
As a rare mage even in the Holy Kingdom, everyone prioritized his instructions.
They first brought a mana stone close to check for reactions.
They held it near for about ten seconds, but there was no response.
"Next, let's tap it lightly with a hammer."
"Got it."
One investigator picked up a small hammer and approached the gem.
Swallowing nervously, he began tapping it gently.
His strikes were even more careful than a blacksmith crafting fine jewelry.
He tapped it a few times, but again, no reaction.
"No response."
"Tch. Just an ordinary gem, then."
Though he said that, the captain didn't think it was ordinary.
Deciding to examine it more closely himself, he stepped forward.
"I'll infuse it with mana directly. If even the slightest change occurs, let me know and record it."
"Leave it to us."
The captain took a deep breath and approached the gem.
Touching its surface, it felt no different from before.
He began slowly channeling mana into it.
A moderate amount—not too much, not too little—flowed into the gem.
Surprisingly, it resisted strongly.
Even pushing with all his might, he couldn't reach the core.
Realizing this, the captain started forcing more mana in.
About two minutes in, something happened.
"C-Captain! I can feel a faint vibration!"
"What? Let me—"
He immediately cut off the mana and turned, but the vibration had grown strong enough for him to feel it too.
"Urgh, what is this?!"
"Whoa?!"
It shook violently, as if an earthquake had struck.
At the same time, the gem he'd infused with mana began glowing brightly.
In that instant, the captain knew it was the cause.
Considering it was a dungeon, he should have been more careful—but he hadn't.
Of course, such regrets vanished quickly.
Right now, survival was all that mattered.
"Everyone, gather around me!"
Dropping formal speech, he rallied the team.
As even the rookie barely made it, he gripped a parchment and poured in his mana.
Fine control was a luxury in this crisis.
Soon, a translucent barrier formed from the parchment, enveloping the group.
"Captain!"
"Don't worry! The Goddess will protect us!"
Dust and small rocks fell from the ceiling.
The ground hadn't cracked, but the vibrations continued relentlessly.
The quake lasted quite a while.
After about an hour of shaking, the dungeon finally began to stabilize.
Aftershocks lingered, but safety was somewhat secured.
Only then could he dispel the barrier and emerge.
"Phew, is it over?"
"Fortunately, it's stabilizing. But there's one problem."
Mentioning the saintess and Edn to the captain as he surveyed the area, he was shocked and immediately sent people to search.
"And you, go outside, report the situation inside, and check what's happening out there."
"Understood. I'll be right back."
After sending one investigator out, he finally had a moment to rest.
Exhausted from maintaining mana for an hour, he slumped against a rock.
Taking deep breaths to calm himself, he prayed for no bad news.
But the report from the returning investigator was grim.
"Captain! You need to come now!"
"Got it. Let's go."
Following him led to a massive hole in the floor.
The pit was pitch black, bottom invisible.
"This is where the large crystal was, right?"
"Yes. And it's the last place we saw the saintess and her companion."
The captain smacked his forehead with a sigh.
"Damn it! Start search operations immediately! Investigation suspended!"
"Yes, sir! I'll gather the team!"
The investigation team halted their work and prepared for the search.
Then, the one who'd gone outside to report returned and informed the captain.
"No one outside knew a thing."
"Damn. It was a dungeon mechanism. Understood. Finding the saintess comes first."
"Yes, sir. I'll relay that."
Thus, the saintess rescue operation began to take shape.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Ugh, my head.
Grabbing my throbbing—not splitting, but still aching—head, I stood up.
"What the hell?"
I remembered the ground suddenly collapsing beneath us.
I'd fallen with Hepiriya, and must have blacked out after that.
What on earth happened?
I sat on the floor first to steady myself.
After some deep breaths, I calmed down and looked around.
"Where are we?"
We'd landed in a completely unfamiliar place.
I tried to assess the situation, but there was nothing to see.
As expected of a dungeon, the front was visible but empty.
No crystals, no monsters... Hepiriya was there, though.
"Ah, Hepiriya."
She's so conspicuous—why hadn't I noticed her right away?
Maybe I'm in worse shape than I thought.
With her snow-white hair and clothes, she was impossible to miss.
Anyway, I approached and shook her shoulder.
"Hepiriya? Wake up."
She groaned softly at the gentle shake, then slowly opened her eyes.
Her unfocused gaze fixed on me.
"Edn?"
"Yes, Hepiriya. Are you okay?"
"Ah... Yes, I'm fine."
She rose slowly, seeming unharmed.
Except for the confused look in her eyes as she scanned the area.
She actually looks better off than me.
As expected of the saintess, the Goddess's proxy.
I offered my hand to help her up.
She glanced at it, then took it, and I pulled her to her feet.
"Thank you."
"No problem. So, where are we? I remember falling, at least."
"No idea. It wasn't in the investigation reports. Probably a hidden or unexplored part of the dungeon."
No reason for her to lie, so she really doesn't know.
Makes sense—if she'd known about a place like this, she'd at least have warned us.
So, that damn crystal must be the culprit?
Honestly, that's the only explanation.
Anyway, details later.
Right now, escaping this place comes first.
I suggested to Hepiriya that we check out the room.
There might be a trigger to get out.
"Got it. Let's look together."
"Yeah. Let's start over here."
Ignoring the passage on one side for now, we began inspecting every corner.
Checking walls, floor, even the hole we'd fallen through.
After about thirty minutes, nothing.
I scratched the back of my head and sighed.
"Looks like we've ended up somewhere completely separate."
"Then the only option left is that passage."
I looked at the one Hepiriya pointed to.
Still dark, end unknown, just as before.
No one would want to go in, but it was our only choice.
"...No helping it. Let's go. Hepiriya, stay right behind me."
"Pardon? Oh, got it. Be careful, Edn."
What was with that lukewarm response?
Her subtle nod felt a bit off.
Hepiriya might not be entirely fine either.
With her at my back, I slowly advanced into the passage.
It was dark, but strangely, I could see ahead clearly.
Not like daylight, but enough like moonlight.
As we walked, something pinged.
I'd spread my mana wide for detection, and it caught a lifeform.
"There's a monster ahead."
"I saw it too— ahem. Really? Be careful. Dungeon monsters here need watching."
What?
Something felt wrong.
Hepiriya had almost said something odd.
I turned to look, and she urgently tapped my shoulder, pointing ahead.
"Edn! It's coming!"
"Got it. That's..."
A spider-type monster.
Didn't know the exact name, but common in cave dungeons.
Weaknesses clear, then.
I gathered mana, deciding on a spell.
Hepiriya seemed suspicious.
But first, deal with this thing—escape the dungeon.
Guiding the surging mana, I activated the spell I'd chosen.
"Fire Arrow!"
My strongest spell shot toward the spider monster.
Boom!
Flames erupted fiercely.
It worked incredibly well, but I panicked anyway.
I hadn't expected it to hit that hard.
Ah, and it's a sealed space here.
No practice fighting with magic lately—I messed up.
I could only smack my forehead.
We're screwed.