Night turned into morning with chirps of birds interrupting my sleep. Despite being drowsy, I opened my eyes and yawned, struggling within the wrap of blanket made from the pelt of a Frost Hare, an enlarged monster rabbit known with its ultra resistance against cold wind and weather.
Snuggling, my heavy head leaned to the side and I felt warm breathe on my head. Once I looked up...
Ah. Looks like I slept leaning to Fei. I didn't notice.
"Unh... so both of us overslept huh." I muttered as I left the blanket stealthily albeit somewhat reluctant too.
Well, why wouldn't I? Don't you know how warming and pleasant it is to snuggle and sleep with a loved one?
Imagine when you opened your eyes, seeing a whimsical grin with a bonus of 'Good morning' while flashing a dashing smile? Emphasis being 'imagine'.
But to my unsung hope, the boy's eyebrows twitched and he was roused from his sleep. He craned his head and once he found me in sight...
"Good morning." He greeted.
Gah! I took a critical hit!! Damn straight I am going tosave this into my memory bank but as if I can freak out! It's improper!!
"...morni'n, sleepyhead. Looks like I woke up earlier than you, huh?" I greeted back with a forced grin.
Fei shook his head with a shrug, taking off the blanket and tidied the base in silence. I noticed the wry smile he had so I wasn't offended. It cooled down my tension right away.
Besides, I'm used to Fei's faint reaction. It was an antic and motto similar to 'beat them up first, talking later' like girls from a popular bullet hell game would do.
Though for Fei - it was more to 'act first, talk later'. He's very thorough when he had this phrase in mind.
Setting that aside... I don't have anything to do so why don't I whip up some breakfast? Preferably one that is easy to digest.
"Fei, lend me the cooking utensils."
"Sure do. Here."
Without waiting time, I took out the ingredients consisting of herbs and a skinned fowler sunk in a warm salted water over night. Also, fresh wild vegetables in the mix to balance it out.
Time passed, the cooking was finished and when I was about to split the food for both of us...
"How wonderful. To think that you have the loyalty to cleanse this wicked place and prepared a feast have brought me to utter joy." Eliza emerged from the tent with a shirts on, and nothing else.
For Vainticel's sake...! She's a bombshell and yet she never worshipped my Patron Goddess! How could the world be so unfair!? What happened to blessing for the follower, Vainticel-sama?!
Why can't you give me a hourglass figure, O Goddess of Temptation!
While I ranted in my head, Fei's mood dropped dead and he was about to lash out. I instantly chopped his head with a clean ladle, then I dragged him to a corner and whispered.
"There will be no end if a bout happens again. Please control yourself for now, Fei!" I suggested with hushed tone.
Fei reluctantly bit his lips, "Gh... as... as you wish..."
Good! You have a pure noble heart, beloved knight! Don't forget your top priority!!
Besides... The Great Buddha has limits of patience. I won't hold back when the time comes.
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After breakfast was done in a much peaceful (but tense) manner, I practiced my movement and swung Gram repeatedly. It's a habit I got as a kendo practitioner and it's quite effective for warm up. Then I proceeded with a little spar with Fei before readying myself for the mission.
"Is it fine to leave behind our belonging here?" I asked once again.
"The enemy here isn't half-baked. They'll do ANYTHING to ensure massacre so any extra weight is no shorter than baggage." Fei answered with a huff.
Well, if you said so. I turned to Eliza but she was quiet, oddly. I'll be honest here, she's simply smiling and staying at the back like random Villager A melding in with the scenery.
How... eerie. But since Fei doesn't say anything, let's just ignore her for now.
"Then Fei will be the vanguard, I will keep an eye on the surrounding and Miss Eliza as the support." I said then glanced at the noble woman. "Do you mind with this?"
The woman tilted her head with a sly smile but her eyes did not look that way. Somehow, I felt piercing gaze from her and I didn't know why. I nudged at Fei and he too didn't say anything.
...Uuh... I hope this works.
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At the beginning, we passed through the entrance, going deep into the ruin which had already melded with a small forest. All I saw was plants, wild herbs and occasional encounters with those rhinoceros monsters.
After a while, Fei led us to... a cave.
No, honestly, why's there a mound here and there was a cave entrance like a dungeon! But why is it here when the ruin is on the surface?
"Watch your steps." Fei said, taking out a wooden stick wrapped by oiled cloth.
I noticed his glance and I walked to him, hand raised on the clothed wood and chanted a fire spell. The wood became a torch and we entered the cave leading to underground.
There was nothing but pitch-black tunnel. Honestly, it was cold and there were nothing other than dirt and pebbles. Not even a trace of plant or moss around, much less crystals perking out from the wall.
"...what is this place?" I raised a question to nobody in particular but I heard a chuckle from behind me.
"How uninformed of you. Didn't you know that this place was once owned by your household?" Eliza said with a hint of disdain.
Ignoring her sarcasm, I frowned at the mention of 'household'. It can't be related right? Yet I couldn't shake off this odd feeling like a messy ball of threads tangling my hands.
"...is that so? I have been living outside the kingdom. I don't think I know this place." I answered in a flat tone. "Would you mind to enlighten me, Miss Eliza?"
Deciding to lure her in, the woman seemed not to notice my blatant attempt. She simply snorted and I could imagine her ever-wide grin growing wider in arrogance.
"Then I shall enlighten you, ignorant girl. This place was once a mining village within the domain of your household. It was a prosperous and wealthy village like no other where the best of Warriors and Mages are born to."
...haa... That surprisingly sounded grand. So mother was really a part of an amazing household, but I thought nobles in Raumia were prohibited from ruling lands beyond the central Fort Wall?
Without waiting for my response, the Royalty further explained.
"Unfortunately, the lack of the next Heiress caused the household to crumble, and so did their business, their trades, their status as well as their power." Eliza chuckled, "Now, don't you think this is ironic?"
Geh. She really didn't try to hold back in sending a jab. It's not my fault and besides... who would like a shotgun marriage? Much less a fake coupling event all in the name of 'future' yadayada...
Though I felt bad for the people, I have no interest in living like a noble. My freedom is mine only.
"Wait." Fei's voice snapped me back to reality, and I turned to him.
Why's he stopping? I looked ahead and... the tunnel expanded in length and width. I didn't know our current location but it must be pretty deep to have a 100 meters tall ceiling.
"Oh, a branched path. Now what will our choice be, foolish brother?" Eliza asked with her arms crossed under her bountiful chests.
Dammit, this one just won't stop showing off. I'm pretty sure she's no longer doing this out of whim, but to spite me instead. I won't get mad... yet.
However, I heard a gasp and Fei took a step back.
"So they've come out...!" He shouted and threw the torch to the side, stabbing it into the wall and brandished his black sword.
I was alerted by his sudden action so I took out Gram as well, my limbs tensing up as a bone-chilling cold air seemed to blow out of nowhere.
Even the sound of the flickering flame was dried and Fei shouted, almost roaring a death throe.
"Charlotte, don't let your guards down!!"
*ZUN!* The tunnel shook, setting off my balance for a moment.
But right in that moment that a roar came from the branched paths in front of us. And dozens of red Orb glimmered within the darkness.
Shadows of beasts emerged, all crawling like ants but from appearance, they had stretched and thin four limbs, scrawny body and a pair of red eyes - the main trait of full-blown monsters.
They had no heads and they looked like... gigantic Amazon wooden ants?
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They didn't say anything, only jumping and trying to crush us but considering we came from the smaller tunnel...
"Die!!" Fei howled, his mana threads slicing apart the army of monsters.
Once they were sliced, they exploded and shook the tunnel with hot air, powerful wind, shockwave and smokes. I didn't like the odd smell drifting in the air and I quickly dispatched the remaining missed by Fei's storm of attack.
"Haat!!" I shouted as I smashed a Golem, feeling the hardness of the artificial construct.
It took me a dozen strikes at the same spot to break through their defense and they were... resistant to pain. I stabbed through their body once I shattered the armor but they still writhed around like roaches.
And they explode should they died.
So I kicked them before they stopped twitching to rotate in midair and slashed several others latching at the opposite side of my area.
For my small stature, I could use this narrow place for my convenience. I maneuvered like a stunt actor, kicking off the wall, the ceiling and the floor for my advantage as the blade hummed every time I struck a clean finishing blow.
I wasn't scared against this ambush no matter how unexpected it is. I faced an army of dead men moved by serpentine necromancy magic before so my fear was suppressed quite a lot, especially seeing their brittle coordination.
Yet there was something. Something different when I saw them. And I felt something tugging my heart even after the battle ended.
"......so these are... golems?" I eyed the lump of mess which were unmoving golems.
"Wooden Cosms... Not a bad match for now." Fei commented.
Yeah... They came in dime-dozens and most of them were taken care at the spot by Fei. I didn't doubt him but he's just becoming more and more ridiculous.
Does this guy intend to grow so strong he can slay Gods?
"What is it?" Fei asked upon noticing my gaze.
"No... nothing." I looked away, dodging from becoming flustered at the last second. "So what's next? The left or the right?"
The branched paths seemed to come as a surprise for Fei. Could it be that there's nothing like this before?
This isn't a trap right?
Unfortunately... My assumption- or should I say - intuition, was one heck of a Danger Detector.
"Hm...?" It started with Eliza making a tune. "Now what do we have... here?"
She looked down and I too followed. I just knew she would do that because our attention was drawn completely once the carcasses of the monsters shook.
Not only them but pebbles, walls, ceiling decorated with stalagmites and the floor... Everything trembled.
What's going on? The tremor wasn't much and for someone who once lived in a nation always in risk from typhoons, tsunamis or earthquakes, I found it to be funny for I was feeling giddy. Somehow.
"An earthquake...? No, it can't be...!" Fei shouted and turned around.
But that was it. The moment he moved, the trembling ground rocked even further, and it felt as if it was approaching us. The ground cracks below Fei and they suddenly crawled to me.
Then - the entire tunnel behind him crumbled into a giant maw of black abyss.
"Ah-" was all I could say as I glimpsed my knight's horrified face.
At the same time, behind him appeared a storm of dirt and stones, a glaring black menace also came to view as it struck Fei.
A roar was heard, shaking my heart and the whole tunnel. But the sound soon faded and I drowned into the depth of abyss.
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*Drip...*
Groaning, I felt as if I was thrown in the middle of loud instruments played with the strongest pitch. My vision swayed as I got up and I wobbled until I fell to the side.
"Ow." I grunted, both the pain and headache killing me.
It freaking hurts... My body was sore all over and I could only growled as I tried to move my limbs. Fortunately, I could feel my toes and fingers so... I guess I'm still in one piece.
I stood up and noticed I was... somewhere in the darkness. Also with crystals shining neon blue light.
Ooh... no wonder this place was once a mining village. Looks like the crystals here have centuries worth condensed amount of mana. With my constitution, I could tell how strong they are as I will, without a doubt, grow sick if I was drained or overloaded with mana.
I checked myself and since there was nothing missing, I scrutinized everything.
A hallway with the shining crystals in regular intervals lighting the path. The floor was stone pavement, incessant sound of dripping waters hitting the surface of a pond could be heard and yet the air was...
Dry? How? I don't understand this place.
I looked up and far away in the distance, like the furthest star in the galaxy was a tiny orb of light. That's... just how deep did I fall?
"And... Fei. I wonder if he's okay...?" I muttered as I recalled the last thing I saw before I fainted.
That black monster. That thing broke through the walls with ease, letting loose thundering footsteps like a chain of lightning. It attacked Fei when his attention was stolen and...
...darkness. Damn it! Why the hell is this happening!?
"But... as if I can do anything if the whole tunnel collapsed. Heck, even Fei was flabbergasted." I exhaled upon contemplating about the situation.
It was... unavoidable. Yes. The branched paths, the ant golems, the tunnel collapse and that monster...
I put a hand on my chin and pondered.
"...can a bunch of golems do something like scheming?" I asked myself.
But before I could think more than necessary, I heard a chiming bell sound.
[There she is!] A spirited, boyish voice rang out.
[Great job, Zwei! I didn't know you can be so useful for once!] Another was a whimsical voice of a young girl.
[Quiet, you two. We've got a job to do.] The last was a deep voice of a man which seemed to never hold the punch in saying things.
...Despite one being completely different, the two other voices were familiar to me. I looked ahead at the dimly lit stone pavement and from there appeared three orbs of light.
"Ah, you three..?" I mumbled in surprise at the trio of glowing orbs...
Or rather, Spirits.
[Yep! Nice to see you again!] The cheerful spirit exclaimed, letting out red glow.
[Heeh, so this human is the one... Sis Neun was saying the truth then!] The one next to her nodded down with calm green glow.
[Right. Though it's a surprise that you came here by your own accord, human.] The same pitch-black spirit muttered with low-spirits.
I wanted to correct on something here. I putting a finger on my temple, I glared at the Black One.
"Stop saying things I don't understand. Also, how come the three of you are here?" I said.
They (except one) chuckled. The spirited spirit hovered in front of me as if locking at my eyes.
[Well, this is our hideout! Congratulations, sis!]
"S-sis...?"
The Black One exhaled, [Ein, she's not officially acknowledged by the Ancestor. Don't stick to her too much.]
[Then, Zwei, why don't ya? This charismatic Vier and the obnoxious Ein will report to the Ancestor first so guide her, will ya?]
[Hey!]
Ah, so your name is Zwei. And the cheerful one is Ein. And from the way this… Vier said it... the spirit from before was Neun? Germanic numbers?
[I don't care if she strayed off, though.] Zwei said and drifted to the pavement while the other two quickly vanished with giggles.
Left behind, all I could do was to process things until something clicked inside me.
"Ah, w-wait up! Hey! Ooooooy!!" I shouted for help but the spirit lazily drifted away, forcing me to step up my speed.
[Then get going! Time is precious here!] Zwei somewhat yelled from the end of the tunnel.
Oh, shut it! Of all things, I will never! Ever! Going to be stuck in this godforsaken rabbit hole when Fei is out there battling some unknown menace!!
"...wait a second." I paused and slowed down my sprint a notch.
Now that I think about it, I felt like I'm in some play as a distressed girl in Wonderland.
As if... right?
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A/N: Oh, how I want to say how wrong the little princess is~ Also, this is the Third Time you fell and fainted, so the saying 'Third time's the charm' might works here. Sorry for the late update.
Also, her denying of any thought of any fellow victim is not because of forgetfulness.