The Underground City of the Abyss
"......"
Bound tightly with rope, I followed the woman through the narrow tunnel.
"Must thou go to such extremes? I was merely being pursued by wraiths."
She paused at my words.
"You ground-dwellers know of the wraiths?"
"A friend like thee told me."
"...So there's a traitor among us."
Her voice grew grave, so I added more.
"Not a traitor, but a pitiful soul fighting to survive in the Abyss."
"...Shut your mouth and follow."
As we traversed the tunnel, a vast space lit by countless lanterns soon appeared.
"Whoa..."
It looked less like a cave and more like an enormous plain.
"This is..."
"Welcome to the underground city of Iolde, little climber."
"...Dost one not usually say 'welcome'?"
"Quiet! Follow me!"
"Thou art a woman lacking in affability."
I grumbled as she dragged me along.
The ether concentration is so low it's unbelievable for the Abyss. While pretending to listen, I must gather ether.
Amazed by the astonishingly low ether density that belied the Abyss, I scanned the cave's nooks and crannies.
As I approached a glowing stone lantern shaped like a sphere, the woman's orange hair caught my eye.
"Thy hair color is quite unique."
"Is it? Here, orange and light green are the norm.... What am I doing, kindly explaining this to you!"
She led me into a building topped with a massive dome.
"Chief! I've brought the prey!"
The moment we entered, she bellowed at the top of her lungs.
"Chief!"
As I surveyed the circular interior space adorned with ornate patterns, she jabbed my head with her finger.
"Heh heh heh, you're my first catch."
"Prey, thou sayest? I am a proper climber."
"Hmph, a puny little brat like you, a climber?"
She wiggled all ten fingers menacingly at me.
"Heh heh~ I'll roast you alive today."
"......"
When I looked at her with a pathetic expression, she faltered.
"What...? Why aren't you scared? You've got guts, kid."
"Human flesh tastes gamey. No reason to eat it."
"......"
Her face hardened coldly.
"I've never tried abyssal flesh, but humans being the same, it shouldn't differ."
As I glanced at her, she teared up and scampered back.
"Eek! Goosebumps! What is with this kid!"
She rubbed her arms, shook her head, and yelled again.
"Chieeeef! I brought the prey, I said!"
From within came a grumbling voice: "Coming, you brat! Has Lea been stewing volcanoes or what—her voice keeps getting louder!"
Lea chuckled. "Once the chief arrives, you're done for. He'll really roast you."
I shrugged.
"Lea, dost thou enjoy burning children? How disappointing."
"No, that's not what I meant! And how do you know my name!"
"I curse thee, Lea. I shall haunt thy dreams nightly. If I die, 'tis thy fault, Lea. Thou hast slain me."
"......"
As Lea paled in panic, the chief emerged from the inner door—an elderly man with white hair, bushy eyebrows, and a small stature.
"Lea, letting a child's words sway you. You're still far from a true warrior of Iolde."
"Chief! Why were you so late!"
Lea darted behind him.
"Calling it prey, yet fleeing and leaving it?"
Lea flushed.
"I-I just kept my distance for a bit!"
"Thy words twist from fear. Pathetic."
Lea pointed at me. "Chief! This kid talks just like you! And he's a cannibal who eats people!"
The chief's staff thwacked Lea's head.
Thwack—
"Kyaa!"
"Lea, be calm. How many times must you be swayed by a child's words?"
Lea hopped about, clutching her head, then plopped down.
"Ugh... it hurts..."
I gave Lea a pitiful look and untied the ropes. I'd already loosened the knots earlier, so they fell away easily.
Lea panicked. "What?! H-how did you untie it!"
"Thou bound me and fled, didst thou not? Thus, it came undone easily."
Unlike the flustered Lea, the staff-wielding chief silently stared at me.
"Hoh, a crafty one. Not just wraiths, but fellow climbers slain by thy hand."
I smiled faintly and gripped my Stella dagger.
"Aye, dost it appear so in thine eyes?"
"...Aye, lately even kin."
Lea's expression hardened. "Ah... Alexandr. That guy..."
Suddenly, I blocked Lea's sword with my dagger.
"?!"
Clang—sparks flew, and my Stella dagger trembled.
"......"
Even with substantial ether gathered and casting hold applied, I was pushed back in strength. Lea exuded a different intensity now.
"Shasha was a good soul. He tried so hard to protect his kin. That poor guy..."
"I know. That's why I took him in..."
As Lea's strength slackened, I swiftly retreated. My entire right arm throbbed in agony.
My wrist is injured again.
This frail body was always like this. I rotated my aching wrist and furrowed my brow.
"Not just Shasha, but his kin, and just days ago, even Peter the Wanderer's descendants."
"......?"
The chief's eyes widened for the first time.
I thought his eyes were small, but he just squints.
"Child, 'tis not squinted eyes, but heavy lids conserving strength."
"......"
As if reading my mind, the chief approached.
"Aye, I heard Peter's descendants were in peril, but to serve under a climber..."
"No mere climber. And..." I glanced around and shrugged. "Hiding underground like this, art thou not in no position to judge others?"
"......"
Even prodded gently, the chief didn't blink.
"That deliberate provocation will be a hindrance ahead, climber girl. Come in first."
"Mm, apologies, but I cannot."
Unable to discern if the inner space was trapped, I couldn't enter rashly.
And Lea here might prove more threatening than expected...
The ether was faint already, and none emanated from within. Without ether, I was little more than a seven-year-old girl, so I dared not approach.
"Aye, my rudeness. Ether is a climber's lifeline."
With a gesture from the chief, ether began filling the room.
"...Chantless magic?"
"Aye, climbers call it that. Wilt thou enter now?"
Seeing me still tense, he spoke softly.
"I possess only the ability to wield ether, so no need for such wariness."
"......"
"Thou fled the wraiths above, after all—we are no different. I shan't be so stingy as to slay thee."
"Chief! My prey..."
"Now, now, Lea—go fetch tea."
"But that's not..."
After some deliberation, I nodded and cautiously entered, kneeling demurely before the central cushion.
Though inside, I eyed the chief warily.
He sat in a chair, massaging his stiff legs—skinny limbs like bones wrapped in hide.
"So, thou took in Alexandr's kin and Peter's descendants..."
"It just happened that way."
"Sigh, how did Arkrans' descendants come to this."
The chief tapped his staff, gazing at me.
"What did Ella say?"
I pondered briefly before replying.
"She asked me to become the Guide of Ether."
"Asis' descendant, a Guide of Ether? The world turns as it pleases."
"Asis? Humans?"
"Aye, thy race, bereft of ether's blessing."
He smiled bitterly, so I shrugged.
"I know not Asis, Arkrans, or Guides of Ether. I merely wish to aid the weak and show mages the righteous path."
The chief chuckled heartily, stroking his beard.
"That is the Guide of Ether. Ella's eyes were true."
He rose, beckoning me. "Something to show thee, Guide of Ether."
As he leaned on his staff and eyed Lea lingeringly, she tilted her head. I spoke.
"What art thou waiting for? Carry him swiftly."
"What? Who art thou to speak for our chief! And why casual speech to me!"
Thwack—the staff struck Lea's head.
"The climber speaks true. Catch on quicker—wit is a warrior's virtue."
"Verily. In battle, wit saves lives aplenty."
Lea grimaced at our words.
"Waaah! I thought my first prey, but a chief candidate? Now two chiefs!"
"Insolent toward the chief."
He nodded at my rebuke. "Truly the Guide of Ether."
"Lacking compared to thee."
"Keh heh heh."
Lea, carrying the chief, grumbled: 'Shouldn't have saved him.' 'Just added baggage.'
In the quiet rear garden per the chief's direction stood a moss-covered statue.
"This one was the previous Guide of Ether."
"......"
The quite large statue bore a very familiar face.
"This person was the previous Guide of Ether..."
My mind reeled in an instant.
The statue, introduced as the prior Guide of Ether, unmistakably resembled Lee Han.