I do not have much to do while waiting.
The excitement of the novelty quickly faded, replaced by the usual boredom. For all I know, thinking about it now, they could have been trapped, or dead.
When one in astral form dies, I remember that one awakens in the original body.
The tree of the cosmos is strange. Its function as a corridor of masses and forces is full of secret mechanisms.
But it matters little. Once we go back or get lost in the dungeon, in the end, the fact remains that Gron and I will be left waiting for them for nothing.
Sigh. How boring.
Ci-cin.
“Something wrong?” Gron curled up in a ball on my lap.
I thought it was asleep, but being deceased, it undoubtedly does not need it.
“No, everything is fine. I just didn't think we'd wait this long.”
“Prr, aren't you used to waiting?”
“True, but in this case, boredom is the price of my self-delusion.”
Gron gets up and jumps onto the ground.
“Let's take a walk around the field. They left backpacks and other interesting stuff.”
“Hmm, in some societies, people who go through other people's things aren't welcome.”
“Meow, come on! They are the ones who left these things unattended in a dungeon. Through my numerous explorations, I have come across abandoned equipment several times.”
I look at the backpacks. There is also a chest, and the tent is open.
“Ah, I can't blame you. But we don't know whether they'll return or not.”
“Let's give it a time.”
“And how do we measure it? The only ways I know of involve some level fifty entity or—”
“Stop! I have an idea. Pr-prr-prrr.”
I stand up and straighten my skirt. My hips feel sore from sitting for a long time.
“I listen to you.”
“We can bet. If I win, we'll open up and come up with something when they return. If you win, let's forget about it and wait a little longer. This way, we also spend some time, don't you think it's a good idea?”
“Hm, not bad. If we wanted, however, we could also go back up. With Dungeon path, we can return at any time.”
“At the risk of losing them again?”
I perk up my ears to try to hear any approaching footsteps. Nothing. Not even echoes or suspicious noises.
“Okay, let's bet.”
“Perfect! Hehe. Do I choose the terrain of contention, or do you have a preference?”
I shake my head. “I trust in your loyalty. Just choose what you like best.”
“Then I choose hide and seek.”
“Uh, and what would that be?”
“Simple, I hide, and you catch me. If you can't find me before I reach—hmm, the inside of the tent or backpack, then you lose. Conversely, if you capture me, you win.”
I scratch my forehead. What would the difficulty consist of?
As we start, I will grab Gron with [Dungeon path]. Even hiding in the grass, with [Shadow wall] I can find it within a radius of miles…
…if I wanted to rage, I could use the [Necrohounds].
No.
Something tells me that would be a poor choice. Well, apart from them. It still is not a difficult challenge.
“Prr. Well, if you don't close your eyes we can't start.”
“Huh?”
The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
“You have to close your eyes and count to five, otherwise you see the direction I'm going, and… you can guess, right?”
I nod. Right, here's how it works! It has a little edge!
But five seconds is too little.
Hmm…
«Fsss!»
“All right. Challenge accepted! If I turn around to check that you don't enter the tent in these five seconds, that's fine, right?”
“Sure.”
“So…” I turn and keep an eye on the camp. “One two three four five! I arrive!”
I don't think Gron made it far. I even counted quickly!
Ci-cin.
Turning around…
…There is nobody!
♦
[Shadow wall]
Once the moment of surprise has passed, I decide to play immediately my ace in the hole.
If Gron is within a mile of me, contact with the shadowed surface will make it an easy target.
I immersed my ankles in the ground, and I did not feel anything strange.
Hmm, has it evaporated?
In those seconds, I was listening—it did not make any noises. Its soft step must be formidable.
I bite my index finger. If only it still had a smell…
I move around the perimeter of the camp.
There is nothing.
Fr-frr. Fr-frr.
A rustle behind me.
Turning around, I do not see anyone. The rucksacks, crates, tent, and lanterns.
I remain still and listen.
Fr-frr. Fr-frr.
HA! Is it possible that Gron has already entered the camp?
No. I'm sure it didn't walk in front of me. Plus, I would see it.
I approach the tent to check better, but there is nobody inside.
Fr-frr. Fr-frr.
Again!
I'm waiting.
Hmm… is it using some magic trick to distract me?
Well, I can use a reverse strategy. Gron has to reach the tent or the rucksacks, but if I stand in front of the tent and check the backpacks, it shouldn't…
Fr-frr. Fr-frr.
Find! It's the backpack that moves! Is there something alive inside!?
I check to make sure Gron isn't around. The suspicion that it is a trap is strong, but so is the curiosity.
Having made noise, we may have woken up someone—but who would lock someone in a backpack?
Fr-frr. Fr-frr. Fr-frr. Fr-frr.
Using [Shadow wall] to move silently, I reach for the backpack.
A large one. I noticed that a creature like me could easily be locked inside.
A shiver runs down my spine.
In the [Sanctuary], there is a creature my size… what if that lookalike was in here and woke up now!?
No, no, that's ridiculous.
With a hand wave, I chase away those thoughts and bend over my backpack to open it.
It is made of rough leather and is held closed by numerous straps with iron buckles. Digging and climbing tools are hung on hooks and side pockets. It is an elaborate item, and it takes me a couple of tries to find the correct buckles.
When I untie the backpack, it suddenly opens and—
“AH!”
Ci-cin, Ci-cin!
“MEOW!”
Out of fright, I lose my balance and fall to the ground.
“OUCH! Gron what!?”
Emerging from the backpack, Gron lands on the ground, cloaked in a dark aura.
“Hehe, I think I won the bet, prr!”
Crossing my legs, I lean towards the cat. I am surprised it has such an aura.
“Did you use Shadow Wall? Um, that's why I didn't hear you. And I didn't pick you up with the same ability.”
Having merged with the surfaces as a shadow, Gron slipped in at first while I kept my eyes closed. Smart, I cannot say anything else.
“Right, leveling as your Priest, I learned a few tricks. Of course, as with Necromancy, I'm not worth much in comparison. But the great Gron can do this and more.”
“Hmm, I don't know, but I sense you tricked me. I mean, when you told me the rules—”
“You didn't hesitate to use your skills, did you?”
I shake my head. Gron is right. I resorted to [Shadow wall]. I can't dispute it.
“Okay, you win. So, what's in the backpack?”
I stand up to check. Gron gets ahead of me and jumps onto the backpack, hanging on the edge with its front paws.
Due to the darkness and the depth of the backpack, I can't see anything, and I start rummaging with my hand.
I feel smooth, cubic shapes, large enough. But not so big to hold. If I tap on my nail, I hear a slight ticking sound.
I take one out and approach a lantern. I bend down and carry it over to the fire to study it.
It has no porosity, relief, or other imperfections. An ordinary cube of whitish stone.
“Hmm, it looks like a block of stone.”
“N, while I was in my backpack, I scanned a couple…”
“So?”
“They are explosive.”
♦
[Holy explosives]
[endurance: 98/100]
Sacred marble cube. When the endurance of this cube drops below 50%, its energy is released, and…
I stop reading after yet another check.
I used [Scan] on four different pieces, and they are the same. In the bag, there are fifty-three cubes. And there could be at least another thirty.
Gron is at my feet, playing idly with some pebbles.
“What do you think they should do with explosives?”
“Prr, I don't know. The group was large… perhaps they think this place is a mine.”
“A mine?”
“That's right, in my world, explosives are used to dig tunnels. The metal veins go deep, and controlling explosive devices or spells is convenient.”
I nod. I turn the cube over in my hands.
It is anonymous to the touch, but the fact that it is sacred leaves me doubtful about Gron's explanation.
In short, as little as I understand about these things—a [Cursed priestess] and a bag of dangerous sacred artifacts…
Who would dig in these conditions?
And then, who would dig in front of a chasm?
Even accepting that they want to dig in the Underwasteland—will they have realized that it is a structure capable of regenerating itself?
The explosive is useless.
The very choice to camp here makes little sense. If [Astral journey] does not allow direct access to the [Sanctuary] to them, there is no explanation as to why they did not move the camp beyond the abyss.
Hmm… this explosive is a reserve, or in any case not immediately essential.
I stand up and gently sidestep Gron. It stares at me and yawns.
I collect the four cubes and put them in my backpack. In the end, there is nothing else interesting.
“Maybe it's time we started looking for them.”
“Prr… I don't think we would find them; you know how vast the search area is.”
“Yes but…”
I shut up.
I prick up my ears. Gron doesn't seem to understand and tilts its head at me.
I hear noises. Distant shouting, carried by a faint echo.
“Gron, someone's coming,” I whisper so as not to reveal my position.
I doubt they can hear me. They are still far away, but it's best to be careful. Us [Bakenekro] hear well, but we are not the best at this art.
The cat nods and jumps up. Finally, the adventurers are about to return.