Chapter 81: A Path to the Underground [2]
"Is that so?"
Annette tilted her head. To the naked eye, it was just a dull gray wall like any other. So it was natural for her to react with confusion. But then,
"Scratch… someone has carved a scratch here."
Kamian spoke as if he had discovered something. Oh… what's this, Kamian? Showing a protagonist-like appearance. Is the effect of my care starting to show?
"Indeed, that's right."
Kamian's observation was correct. There was a small scratch, like graffiti, carved at the bottom of the wall. Of course, it wasn't graffiti. It was a mark. His keen eye for detail was impressive.
"The sense of discord I felt was this."
"You felt this from that distance?"
Kamian looked incredulous.
"Wow, that's amazing."
Annette's eyes shone with admiration.
The feeling of an extra receiving admiration from the protagonist and main cast. Not bad.
I gestured for silence and cut him off. Then, I slowly reached out towards the scratch on the wall.
"Maybe…"
I pushed over the scratch with my hand. At that moment.
*Thud!*
The floor we were standing on sank deeply.
"Kyaa! Kyaaa?!"
"Uh, ugh?!"
The two shouted in surprise. But it was meaningless. Their bodies were already falling below. Of course, mine too.
But I was actually smiling.
[You have discovered the secret entrance to the hidden side of the holy city.]
"Done." I checked the message and leisurely prepared to land.
"Ouch…"
"Ugh."
The two hit the ground hard due to the sudden fall. But since the material they fell on was as soft as a sponge, it seemed they weren't seriously hurt. It was a passage used by the residents of the underground space, so thick bedding-like materials were laid on the floor.
"Are you both okay?"
I approached and pretended to be concerned.
"I think… I'm okay."
"What on earth happened?"
Kamian asked with a puzzled face.
"I don't know either. The floor just suddenly gave way."
"Tch, was it a trap?"
Kamian muttered bitterly. He slowly got up, warily looking around. Annette also stood up, rubbing her bruised hip.
"It's dark."
I said. We could barely make out our surroundings, nothing more.
"Shall… shall we light a fire?"
Annette asked.
"Wait. We might become targets for an attack."
Kamian stopped her. It was a very rational decision. Suddenly producing light in an unknown space could be dangerous. It was better to first assess the situation with other senses before using light.
But today, of all days, he was showing a protagonist-like appearance.
However,
"It's okay. Just turn on the light. I don't feel any hostile energy around here, at least."
I said confidently. It was a place I knew well enough to navigate with my eyes closed.
"Is it really okay?"
Annette looked at Kamian for confirmation, then asked me again. He might be her best friend, but it seemed she was willing to follow my judgment since I had taken the leader role in the dungeon.
"It's fine. Turn it on."
"Light."
Annette activated the light magic. Soon, a halo of light formed around Annette. A moment of dazzle. And then our field of vision began to expand rapidly.
"?"
Annette's expression turned to shock.
"Such a thing… underground…"
Kamian also groaned in surprise.
The ceiling was so high that even an adult raising their head couldn't see the end.
Thick and sturdy pillars supported that ceiling. These weren't just any pillars haphazardly placed. Pillars engraved with intricate and artistic patterns.
Just by looking at them, one could tell how much labor and effort had gone into creating this space. This was the hidden side of the holy city.
The 10th floor of the underground space.
And the 10th floor wasn't the end. It meant there was an even larger space below. I knew the scale was beyond imagination.
"Amazing."
I pretended to see it for the first time and commented. But honestly, seeing it in the world of the game for real, I couldn't help but be amazed.
*Surely it was made by that race.*
Yes. This place was made by the dwarves, a race that, along with elves, epitomizes fantasy. And they did it more than a thousand years ago.
However, they only built it; no dwarves existed here. Only uninvited guests were scattered about. Of course, it wasn't just uninvited guests.
Hidden secrets.
Secrets were buried here as well.
"There's a door over there."
My words snapped the two out of their daze.
"It might be good to go and see."
I knew it. The uninvited guests of the 10th floor of the underground space were beyond there. We had to meet them. Use those who could be used, and kill those who needed to be killed. I didn't wait for an answer and started walking first.
"I never imagined such a space existed."
Annette said, still with a look of disbelief as she looked around.
"I've never heard of it."
Kamian agreed.
The underground known to the people of the holy city is just a subway with sewage treatment facilities.
It's never as deep as this place. The people of the holy city would never have even thought that such a vast underground space could exist at this depth.
"We may have discovered a secret we shouldn't have."
I uttered a seemingly profound statement.
"What do we do then?"
Annette's face turned fearful.
"Calm down. We haven't really found out anything yet."
Kamian said. The protagonist seems to be in good shape today.
Maybe it's because I fed him well and filled his stomach? I had such a silly thought, but in fact, I know.
Although users treat him as a 'hopeless protagonist,' this guy certainly has the temperament of a well-balanced protagonist.
It's just that the environment he has to navigate is too messed up, and it's a small hexagon, so it doesn't stand out properly.
"That's right. There's no need to worry prematurely."
I also calmed Annette down. My words continued.
"But it's not that we haven't found out anything."
"What is it?"
Kamian asked.
"The place we fell is only used as an entrance."
"That's… that makes sense."
Kamian agreed after looking back at the entrance. The considerable height we felt when we fell.
However, there were no tools like ladders around the entrance that could take us back up to that height.
Unless we had wings, it meant it was impossible to climb back up.