Part 2

Kamijou’s party entered the underground waterways.

(This is like the sewers… but just replace the water with clean one.)

There was no light inside the waterway, except for the light provided by some kind of glowing stones found on the walls. They’re exuding dim bluish glow.

Kamijou and the rest proceeded on the waterway led by Kamijou himself. Sliven had not gotten here before so there was no meaning in letting him lead the way.

“Should we hasten our pace?”

Their pace wasn’t slow but it wasn’t fast either. Kamijou felt anxious about the safety of Sliven’s daughter and one look at his companions, one would also see how anxious they were.

Without uttering a single word, the four behind Kamijou just nodded their heads.

“Ok. Misaka Imouto, if we compare the distance from this place to the city walls, how long till we reach outside?”

“Around fifteen minutes at our current pace, reports Misaka.”

“We really should make haste.”

Following Kamijou’s lead, the whole party walked briskly through the dim waterway.

“Anyway, I think we’re lucky.”

Kamijou proclaimed and Index plus Misaka Imouto who knew of his disposition to misfortune widened their eyes.

“What do you mean?”

Alice asked Kamijou while they continued walking in a fast pace.

“Well so far we haven’t encountered a single trouble, right? No monsters, no traps or anything of the sort.”

As Kamijou finished talking, he felt his right foot sink a little deeper than the ground they were traversing in.

“Err…”

“I knew it Touma! You just jinxed it!”

Following Index’ shout, the waterway began shaking.

“What’s happening!?”

Everyone became filled with tension. Five seconds passed then they heard the sound of gushing water.

“Don’t tell me?!”

They all looked behind them. Faced with the trembling ground and the sound of gushing water slowly approaching them, one could easily discern what would happen next. And that showed on everyone’s face. Misaka still had her deadpan expression though.

“Fukou da!”

Kamijou began running followed by the others.

“That is why Touma should refrain on saying ominous or jinx like words like that!”

“Eh!? That was my fault!?”

Index bared her fangs while running.

“I get it! I get it! Kamijou-san was at fault here! I’m sorry!”

Kamijou wanted to prostrate himself on the ground but given the present situation, that would be suicidal. The group continued to run for their lives. Five minutes already passed and the exit still isn’t showing for them.

“One moment of slow down and the water will reach us, says Misaka while running and fearing for her life.”

“You. Don’t. Have. To. Tell. Us!”

Alice shouted while also running for her life. She was proud of her physical strength but she was getting unsure of that right now. Running with maximum speed for five minutes would surely put a toll on her body. Add to that the running she did earlier this day.

And someone who clearly didn’t have excessive physical strength was already at her limit.

“Sorry Touma… I can’t run anymore…”

“Ahhhhhh!!! This is no time to be kidding around Index!!!”

Kamijou hurriedly stopped running forward and went back for Index. He lifted Index body into a ‘princess hug’ and ran like crazy.

“Hey Misaka Imouto! We should have already passed by the city walls at the rate of our running, right?!”

“That is correct, answers Misaka as she is wearing a difficult expression and would also want to be carried.”

“Your face is the same as always and you don’t really need to be carried, don’t you!”

“Tch, says Misaka stealthily.”

“Nothing’s stealthy about it if I can hear it!”

Looking at everyone’s faces, they wouldn’t last long if this continues on for more. He had to think of some way to stop this.

“It’s coming! It’s almost right behind us!”

Alice, who was running behind them loudly exclaims.

(Not good!)

Kamijou pushed down his urge to look behind him and instead just concentrated his thoughts.

(This waterway just looks the same no matter where you look! It’s just been nothing but straight path for at least three minutes now!)

Looking at the path in front of him dimly lighted by blue, he could not see any signs of a forking path or any other path. Just straight path through and through.

(Then I should just focus on the ceiling or the walls!)

While running as fast as he could, holding Index in his arms, Kamijou concentrated on anything strange or out of place. Then he saw a part of the wall where the stones did not shine dimly. In fact, the stones weren't glowing or anything.

“Everyone! Follow me!”

(It’s either try this and succeed, try this or fail and be swept away, or be swept away later on!)

Thinking that there could not be any other chance besides this, Kamijou took the chance to at least try.

He rammed his body on a part of the left wall.

“What?!”

Kamijou thought that the wall could be very sturdy so he rammed at it with all his might but as he made contact on the wall, they just passed through it without any resistance. That made Kamijou and Index, who he was carrying, to fall on the floor.

The three others saw what happened to Kamijou so they just ran towards the wall, also experiencing passing through the wall without any resistance.

Everyone sighed in relief as they just averted a major crisis.

“Wait guys! If we passed through it without resistance, it could also be said with the rushing water!”

All of their faces paled as Kamijou shouted.

As they let their bodies get relaxed, their bodies failed to respond in time.

And so, the rushing water filled the enter waterway, with not a single drop entering the place they were in.

“Huh?”

Everyone was dumbfounded at what happened and it took them a minute more before they release their tensed expressions.

And that allowed a certain nun to analyze her own situation.

“…Touma…Where do you think you are touching?”

“Eh?”

The tone Index used functioned as a sign that warned Kamijou about his impending doom. He knew too well what that tone meant as his body began sweating all over.

“This is… I can explain this!”

Kamijou immediately withdrew his right hand that was feeling something it shouldn’t be feeling earlier. Kamijou also raised his body from his previously lying down position.

Index, too, slowly rose her body. All the while baring her fangs.

“Fukou da!”

Alice and Sliven were shivering as they watched the scene of munching and crushing while Misaka Imouto watched indifferently.

With the echo of agony engraved deep within Alice's and Silven's hearts, they swore to never made the silver haired girl mad. Everyone should value their lives after all, right?

“Anyway, where is this?”

After Index calmed down, the party started to survey the area they were in. They were in a pathway right now and there were some doors on the left and right side of the wall.

“First of all, let’s look for a way up. We need to hurry up to Laran.”

Kamijou reminded everyone as they went their separate ways as they tried opening all the doors.

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(This place looks like it haven’t been used for a very long time.)

The place was full of spider webs and dust had already accumulated inside every room.

“Nothing of interest here, reports Misaka.”

“Same here.”

“Dust just accumulated everywhere.”

“Can’t find any food.”

Kamijou decided to ignore the last one as they finished investigating every door on the left and right.

“So that leaves that somehow ominous big door at the end of this path huh.”

They all looked at the same direction.

“Nothing ventured, nothing gained!”

With Kamijou leading the party, they all went towards the door and pushed it open.

‘Ting’

You were the first ones to discover the Underground Ruins of a Ruined Empire.

Rewards:

Fame increased by 200.

Upon discovering an ancient ruin, wisdom increased by 10

Upon discovering ruins of a certain empire, ancient empire knowledge increased by 30

New stat formed!

Ancient Empire Knowledge

Complete understanding of the history and culture of a certain ruined empire.

Great help for scholars pursuing the history of ancient times.

The party did not have the time to read the windows that appeared before them. They needed to hurry up but that wasn't the only reason. They were also mesmerized by what they found beyond the door.

“What’s with this room?”

Alice stepped inside to take a look around the place. This place should be underground but the room somehow looked very wide and large. Near the entrance, various weapons and items that looked majestic and legendary lie here and there.

“?!”

She felt something strange in her body. As if something is calling her deep within the ruins.

“I’ve found the stairs to get above the ground!”

Kamijou’s shout finally took Alice out of trance.

“Wait! What about the items here? Are we just going to leave them behind?”

As Index, Misaka Imouto, and Sliven had already went up, only Kamijou and Alice were left behind.

“We can just always come back here.”

‘You’re just planning on hogging it all to yourself, right?!’

Alice thought while looking at Kamijou. Her distrust already deeply rooted within her.

“The items here looks really nice and expensive.”

‘You’ll now come here and loot these items for yourself, am I right?’

Alice decided to start taunting Kamijou so he would reveal his true self. She firmly believed that Kamijou’s personality was just a facade of his, just like everyone else.

“Ah.”

‘Now you’re looking sharply at me! So you’ll finally reveal your true colors!’

Alice continued to have those thoughts in her mind.

“I don’t mind if you take them all for yourself.”

‘Eh?’

“I’m sure you have your own reasons and I won’t stop you if you want to stay here to take all of those.”

Alice was still staring at Kamijou with widened eyes.

“I’ll be going ahead then. For me, there’s something I must do outside of here.”

“Is a child’s life more important than these treasures here?!”

Alice was shocked of the words that came from her mouth. Words she would surely find detestable came out from her own mouth. Alice felt disgusted at herself for saying that.

‘Now I’ll be hated… There’s no way I can take back all those words… I’m so stupid.’

Alice gathered all her strength to take a look at Kamijou’s expression. She wanted to see Kamijou’s disgusted expression so that it would serve as punishment for her and so that she would feel sick for herself.

But instead, she found Kamijou smiling.

“If you’re going to have that expression after saying those words, no one would believe you, you know? I don’t believe that you, who have that hurt look on your face, would seriously consider your previous words.”

Kamijou continued looking at her.

“And, I also don’t want to feel hurt as I look into that pained expression of yours. I’m sure they would think so too.”

Kamijou unhesitatingly walked towards Alice.

“If you have any worries, feel free to tell me. No, please tell me about it. I’d be very happy to help you about it. Is it something that could only be solve right now, no matter what? If that is so, then I’ll inform the others to go ahead.”

“I…”

Kamijou Touma was now in front of Alice.

“I don’t know about anything right now, so tell me. Tell me which decision would lead you to a happy face.”

“I… I’m very sorry. I didn't really…mean those words I…spoke of earlier.”

‘Why? Why do I feel like this after hearing his words? Isn't he just saying this to… I can’t understand!’

“What do you want to do?”

Kamijou’s voice entered her mind.

‘What I want to do? Of course I--!’

“Of course I want to save that child! What else could be more important?!”

“Let’s hurry up and go then!”

“Un!”

Alice strongly nodded. Kamijou then turned around and started to make his way towards the stairs.

“Eh?”

Her feet won’t move. She failed to notice earlier, but her feet were still trembling.

“Ah… This is…”

Noticing Alice’s situation, Kamijou turned back towards her.

“Can’t be helped. Here, grab my hand.”

Without saying anything and just lowering her head, she took Kamijou’s hand. Then they made their way up the stairs.

“I still don’t understand.”

As they ascended the stairs, Alice let out her true thoughts.

“If you can’t understand now, then use more time to understand it. If that doesn’t work, then just think of the thing that would make you the happiest. Everything would be easier with that, right?”

“Un.”

Alice nodded to his words. Though, even after hearing his words, she still did not understand. But she decided to remember those words in hope that someday she would understand them.

“What took you long, Touma?!”

Hearing Index’ voice, Alice immediately let go of the hand she was holding. She did not understand why she did that too.

‘Why are there lots of things I don’t understand? No, there’s something I should focus on first, right?’

Alice shook up the confusion in her heart as she steeled her resolve.

“I had just something I wanted to do inside.”

“I see… Then can you explain to me why Alice’s eyes are red?”

“Eh?”

Suddenly hearing her name and being told that her eyes were red came as a surprise to Alice. She immediately lowered her head again.

“Wait! I am not at fault…or maybe I am but!”

“How low... to make a girl cry, says Misaka as she looks at you with cold eyes.”

“…Touma…!”

“Fukou da!”

And so, four people began to walk to travel to Sliven’s village while one was hanging from a certain spiky-haired boy’s head, producing sounds of munching and crunching.

While deep inside the underground ruins, something trembled greatly.