Chapter 28
Chapter 28
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: Underground Ruins
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“What, what is it…! This guy just died on his own?”
“Don’t let your guard down. Suddenly…?”
The voices coming from above cut off. It was as if both of them had lost their words, faint gasps leaking only from between their slightly parted lips.
“Is everyone all right? No injuries?”
Climbing atop the crumbling pile of ice, I looked up and asked. My voice rang out loud and clear, and my limbs moved without hindrance. It seemed neither of them was hurt.
“Master? Master!”
“Lumia…! Did you… did you take that thing down?”
Who else could have defeated it? I was the only one here, so it was an obvious question.
Hmm.
Instead of answering, I crouched down and pulled a large orb from between the chunks of ice. The power source that had absorbed mana to move its massive body.
The golem’s core.
It looked like there was plenty of room for improvement. And yet, even with those shortcomings, it had produced incredible performance. Especially its rock-solid defense.
Maybe I should make a golem myself. As I sorted through the various improvements popping into my head, I sensed some commotion from above.
“The way down…! Wait! Just wait a moment! We’ll come down right away!”
“Hold on. This place is complicated. Better to climb down this ice wall…”
There was no need for them to come down. I turned my head and surveyed the wrecked surroundings. After all the small caves that had dotted the ice walls collapsed. Even if they came through another tunnel, clearing those fallen debris would be pointless without effort.
I’d learned firsthand just how dangerous it was to blindly clear collapsed rubble. Before the two could start something foolish, I kicked off the ground and leaped upward.
Whoosh—!
I rode a wind called Gentle Wind. Flight was impossible, but the push from behind made my body feel incredibly light. As long as I had footing, it was no different from flat ground.
Tap-tap—!
Defying gravity, I bounded across the jagged ice pillars, closing the distance in an instant.
Swoosh—!
Landing in the corridor alongside the wind, I came face-to-face with their stunned expressions.
“Master? You were definitely… down there…”
“I rode the wind up.”
“No, how is that… Never mind. Yes. Of course…”
Durel’s expressions shifted in a dizzying array. It was like a demonstration of how to change faces multiple times in a split second.
“Bahar Lumia. Knew you would be safe.”
“Good to see Shumok’s unharmed too. No injuries?”
“Small scratches. Can move. Can hunt.”
Shumok answered while lightly rolling his shoulders. Turning to Durel, he nodded as if to say he was fine too.
I exchanged brief words with the two. About what happened after we separated, and where this place was.
The conclusion: no one knew. Like me, their memories of the separation were hazy, and they’d woken up inside an ice cave just like I had.
They’d met by chance too. After wandering through the tangled caves for a while, they’d run into each other, exchanged a few words, then heard a massive roar and rushed here.
“But… what the hell was that thing down there?”
“A massive doll powered by mana…? Ring any bells?”
“You mean a golem. Who’d have thought one would be here… I’ve seen a few at the academy buildings. Of course, they were smaller than that one…”
Since Durel wasn’t surprised, golems must not be that rare in this world. Shumok, who’d been freaked out, calmed down once he realized it wasn’t a real living creature.
“Shumok. Do you know where we are?”
“Don’t know. Lived on this land all my life. First time seeing this place. But that, I know. Fake Karsheus.”
“What’s a Karsheus?”
“Giant thing that brings winter to the world. We call it Karsheus.”
I turned to Durel at Shumok’s words, hoping the knowledgeable one might know something. But he just shook his head, clueless.
After a short rest, I stood up. Reuniting with my separated companions was a relief, but a major problem remained.
How to get out of here. From what they described, the ice caves riddled everywhere formed a complex maze. Wandering blindly could mean getting lost for good.
That was when it happened.
A faint breeze blew from one side of the large corridor, brushing past my cheek.
“Wind?”
“What is it?”
“Shh. Stay still.”
Wind doesn’t arise naturally in a sealed space. And this wasn’t from Gentle Wind either. It was wind born of nature itself, not a mage’s alien laws.
That meant there was a passage somewhere connected to the outside. The moment I realized it, my ever-active Arcana detected the sluggish flow of mana.
I wouldn’t have noticed without close scrutiny. I told the two.
“I think I’ve found the way out.”
“Pardon? Really? No, Master. You’re just standing there doing nothing… Never mind. I see.”
“Is that true?”
“Not certain. But I’ve found somewhere close to the outside.”
Frowning, I gazed across the corridor. Ten gaping cave entrances. Faint wind flowed from the one in the center.
The mana flow leads upward…
Arcana. The eye that sees mysteries. It visualized natural mana, letting me track its movement. That’s how I knew—the passage led upward.
“Let’s go.”
“Ah. Wait, we’re coming too!”
Minor scratches were no issue for moving. Mana spent fighting the golem had recovered. Whatever lay ahead, I felt ready.
My condition was perfect.
No—better than perfect. Every sense in my body was razor-sharp. Facing a threatening foe had triggered my body’s defenses. If a spell requiring hot-blooded focus was needed, I could conjure it on the spot.
What I need right now…
Improvements for the golem. I pondered them the whole way. Trim the useless bulk, strip unnecessary ornamentation.
“Bahar Lumia. This really the way?”
“Don’t doubt Master. Master’s actions are always right.”
“Durel, was it? Your faith is like religion.”
Ignoring their chatter, I stopped. A fork. But the answer was clear. Wind blew from only one direction.
“Here.”
“No hesitation… This really the…”
Shumok, who’d endlessly questioned, finally shut up. The end of the long ice tunnel approached. Beyond the wide-open exit, blinding white snow swirled.
Even in Eilsnor, where dawns outlast day and night, morning inevitably arrives. With the sun rising beyond the horizon, we set foot back in the tribal village.
“Oh, Lumia. Where’ve you been? Couldn’t find you anywhere.”
“Looks like you’ve gotten friendly with the tribesfolk. Was there someone who speaks our language?”
The expedition members seemed oblivious to our night-long absence. No surprise there—we’d slipped out late at night and returned at dawn.
It had been a dreamlike midnight adventure. Only now did the tension ease from my body. I let out a long sigh and sank into my seat.
“Leaving already…? It doesn’t feel like time yet.”
“What are you saying? Days here are brutally short. We need to move before sunset. Get up.”
Lionel, unaware of last night’s events, urged me on. From his perspective, it was the obvious call.
But glancing sideways, Durel looked worn out too. No sleep, naturally exhausted. We needed a break. Plus, I had to test the upgraded golem core.
“What Lionel’s looking for. The underground ruins?”
“What…? Underground ruins…? Did you find them?”
“Yes.”
“Wha…! Where! Where are they!”
I nodded and briefly recounted last night’s events. Lionel, hearing the tale, spoke in an excited voice.
“No way…! That happened…! Where! Where! We have to go now!”
It wasn’t far from here. And we’d come straight without detours. Pointing it out was easy. Once I gave directions, Lionel and the other two bolted from the village in a flash.
“They just took off.”
“Treasure was their goal from the start.”
“They’ll be back soon, then.”
“Doubt it…”
Chatting with Durel, I turned my head. Shumok, standing right beside me, lowered his gaze as if sensing it.
“Shumok. Isn’t it time you told me about the western winds?”
I’d kept my promise. Sure, an unfortunate incident occurred along the way. Now it was Shumok’s turn.
“Of course. That’s the plan. Wait a bit. I’ll ask Granny first.”
With that, Shumok turned and headed toward a large tent covered in strange patterns.