Chapter 255

Chapter 254: Gathering (7)

In ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍this chaotic world, experience of any kind becomes the foundation of life.

Even ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍if that experience is being swept away by a sudden current of unknown cause, being seized by an orc’s hand, and nearly dying.

Because ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍even after being swept up by an unidentified darkness, then coming to her senses in the middle of a mess where one Werewolf and three humans were tangled together, Ria could maintain some degree of calm.

Though ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍when the Werewolf who rose first reached his hand toward her, she nearly charged at him without realizing it.

Fortunately, ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍her brain, reacting before her body, sent her the wise order to stop entering fights she had no chance of winning.

Ria ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍gladly obeyed that and, instead of attacking him, hurriedly opened her mouth.

“Wait. If you attack me right now......”

Ria, who had been about to deliver a line worthy of a third-rate villain in a third-rate novel, saying she would make him regret it, hurriedly drew her body back when she saw his hand was not heading toward her, but toward the woman in her arms.

Because she forced strength into herself while still lying down, she somehow ended up looking like a grub crawling across the floor, but in any case, Ria succeeded in putting distance between them.

But she could not feel relieved.

Because she could not know what kind of extreme reaction the opponent who had attacked her out of nowhere might show this time.

Yet to make all that tension feel meaningless, the Werewolf merely stood in the posture of having reached out his hand and looked at Ria.

When the puzzled Ria looked up at him, he slowly opened his mouth.

“I did not intend to attack. Had I known you protected that woman, I would not have acted so rashly.”

It was not exactly an apologetic tone, nor was it an admission of fault, but there was one thing Ria could understand.

Because she had helped the woman, he would no longer regard her as an enemy.

Ria slowly raised herself and loosened the strength in the arms that had been holding the woman somewhat tightly.

When a small gap formed between Ria and the woman, the Werewolf slowly reached his hand toward her.

With a little exaggeration, it was a touch that could even be described as quite gentle, and it settled over the woman’s neck.

Ria blankly watched the movement, from which not even the slightest aggression could be felt, and only belatedly realized that he had checked the woman’s pulse.

She also realized that the Werewolf before her was one of those called “traitors” aboveground.

Otherwise, there was no reason a monster would look at a person with such worried eyes.

“......She only fainted from shock. She’s breathing just fine. It’s only a light scratch, so she isn’t seriously hurt either.”

Speaking as if to reassure him, Ria slowly lifted the woman in her arms and handed her to the Werewolf.

He looked at Ria silently, then received the woman.

Despite having heard an explanation about the woman’s condition from Ria, he slowly examined her wound and the steadiness of her breathing, as if he would only be satisfied after confirming it himself.

Having at least confirmed that he was not an enemy, Ria swallowed a sigh of relief and looked around.

Judging from her previous experience, there was a high chance the darkness had dragged them somewhere near where Ran and the leader were.

But the only thing that immediately entered her eyes was the man rolling on the ground.

Aside from the man, there was no way to describe their location except to say that it was somewhere in the middle of a passage.

Neither Ran nor Archie could be seen.

Growing anxious, Ria even lifted the man to check beneath him, but of course Ran was not there.

“Where on earth is Ran?”

A flustered Ria asked while holding the man in her hands.

“We were searching for those two as well. Though for a slightly different reason than you.”

The Werewolf, who had at some point put the woman on his back, stared at Ria again with suspicious eyes.

“Why are you looking for that man? What is your purpose?”

As if the gentle atmosphere from moments ago had been a lie, his gaze toward Ria was cold.

“I didn’t come here to harm you. It’s the opposite, actually. To be more precise, it would be right to say that you will also benefit in the process of us achieving our objective.”

“Explain it so I can understand.”

At the rather high-handed demand, Ria obediently opened her mouth.

“We, meaning Ran and our other companions including me, came here to destroy the holy object. The holy object is something harmful to humans.”

“What benefit do I gain from destroying that?”

Before Ria even had time to feel uncomfortable at having spoken as though denying the holy object, the Werewolf continued asking.

“If the holy object disappears, monsters’ hostility toward humans will disappear too.”

At Ria’s answer, the Werewolf’s eyes flashed.

It was not a fierce emotion like hostility or killing intent.

But it was not a soft emotion like favor or goodwill either.

Rather, it resembled the look in a beast of prey’s eyes when it found its prey while out hunting, Ria thought.

In any case, it certainly seemed to be an enticing condition.

“It seems simply breaking it will not work?”

The Werewolf asked, unable to hide his impatience.

“Ran has to destroy it himself. The process isn’t simple either.”

“So we must find that damned bastard no matter what.”

“I’ll take that as you saying you’ll help. I’m in a hurry right now.”

The Werewolf expressed agreement by not refuting Ria’s words.

Ria gladly decided to use his labor.

“Good. Then while I search around here for Ran, please go to the end of this passage and see if Ran is there.”

After quickly organizing the situation, Ria pointed in the direction opposite from where they had been swept in.

“If they moved outside while we were coming in, they may have moved somewhere else in the village, not inside this underground.”

The Werewolf raised another possibility, but Ria shook her head.

“No, he will definitely be near here. Otherwise, we would not have been swept here in the first place.”

Ria could be certain there was a reason the holy object had called them to a place like this.

Though it felt extremely unsettling, in any case, as an object imbued with Sierra Abalan’s power, the holy object remained faithful to its function.

Since she did not want to waste any more time, Ria first picked up the unconscious man and headed toward the wall of the passage to move him aside.

There was a sense that she was moving him rather like luggage, but Ria was in a hurry.

“We have to hurry. Right before we came down, Lord Jing was attacked, so a fight may have broken out above. I hope everything is resolved before anyone gets hurt. Besides, we received help from Naria too. If Alec, among the humans outside, gets hurt, Naria will not be able to endure it.”

In order to ease her anxiety, Ria’s worries followed one after another.

When Ria’s worries even reached Alec, whose face she did not know, the Werewolf who had been moving away from Ria while letting it pass through one ear looked back at her with a strange expression.

Puzzled by his suddenly slowing steps, Ria looked back at him.

“What is it?”

“If it is Alec, there is no need to worry.”

“What? Are you saying you know where Alec is?”

At the welcome news, relief spread across Ria’s face.

“He is safe, right? Naria worried a lot about Alec. I hope he is hiding somewhere safe.”

The Werewolf quietly watched Ria, who was excitedly putting the man down a little more roughly than she had intended, then nodded.

“He is safe. Though he may have one or two bruises from that just now.”

What he meant was clear.

“Why are you only telling me that now?!”

Only then realizing the identity of the man she had put down like luggage, Ria hurriedly bent down to check the man’s condition.

Fortunately, the man did not have any noticeable external injuries.

Though, just as the Werewolf had said, he might have bruises.

This time, after setting him against the wall with a little more sincerity, Ria glanced around for a moment and carefully whispered.

“If you happen to meet Naria later, please tell her you were not hurt because of me. All right?”

She had not said it, particularly expecting an answer.

It was closer to talking to herself in order to ease her guilt a little.

“D-did you just say Naria?”

Because of that, when he, who had been asleep like a corpse, suddenly spoke to her, Ria nearly struck him once more and knocked him unconscious.

If Alec, who could not possibly know that, had not stretched out his hand and desperately clung to Ria’s arm, she really would have done it.

“Wait, calm down. You were unconscious until just now. Are you all right?”

“Is Naria all right? Is she hurt anywhere? Where is she right now?”

As if he had not heard her telling him to calm down, the face asking about Naria was mixed with worry and joy.

Faced with him worrying about Naria, who was twice as sturdy as himself, Ria eventually had no choice but to give up on checking his condition and first tell him that Naria was safe.

***

Alec, who heard that Naria was safe, became lively as if he had been given medicine.

He answered Ria’s question about the place where he had last seen Ran with a cheerful smile.

“I was deceived by that person and came down below, and at some point, that man suddenly placed his hand on the floor. A black shape rose from the ground and started chasing me. I ran out in a panic. Back then, I really thought I was going to die.”

The main content was that he had suffered terribly after being deceived by Ran, but Alec was smiling all over his face.

It was a cheerfulness hard to believe belonged to someone who had to rely on other people’s voices in darkness where he could not see even an inch ahead.

“If only I could see ahead, I could guide Ria.”

Alec added regretfully.

“By the way, this is fascinating. When I put the situation together, it seems humans’ vision is blocked inside here, but Ria can see.”

At Alec’s words, Ria, after a short thought, opened her mouth.

“I didn’t even know humans couldn’t see in here. It is a little dark, but I never felt like I couldn’t see ahead at all. And the reason I can see is probably because of this.”

Ria carefully took out the greave she had been holding inside her clothes and showed it.

At the appearance of the holy object, the Werewolf’s face crumpled at once.

“It does not look like an object that would open someone’s eyes.”

It was no different from saying it looked ominous, and Ria fully agreed with that as well.

“It is a hideous object. Because of this, people are following people they should not follow.”

Ria, unable to quite say it loudly, muttered as if talking to herself.

“So to get rid of that trash-like object, we need to find your companion.”

The Werewolf, who defined the holy object as trash at once, turned his gaze to Alec.

“Then the first priority is making it so you can see ahead.”

After summarizing the situation simply, he immediately lifted Alec’s hand and placed it on the holy object.

Alec, whose vision opened without even having time to prepare himself, let out a short scream.

“You startled me!”

Alec shouted, glaring precisely at the Werewolf.

“It seems you can see well. Now you can guide us to the location you mentioned, can you not?”

“I sense malice in your actions. Are you doing this on purpose because of the fight earlier?”

Alec narrowed his eyes and argued, but the Werewolf calmly met his gaze.

“I am only trying to achieve maximum efficiency. Did you not also want to do your best if it was something you could do?”

Since there was nothing wrong in his words, Alec had no choice but to set aside the strange feeling that he had lost and begin guiding them.

Looking around while touching the holy object together with Ria, Alec looked at Ria with a face that said he could not understand.

“This is strange. This is exactly the place I was talking about.”

“Could you have mistaken something?”

“No, it was definitely this place. That man said this place was connected to Archie’s tent.”

Alec pointed at the floor and ceiling in turn.

“He also said that if you were exactly in this position, the sound was connected to Archie’s tent. And this point was where I last saw that bastard...... no, that person, so of course I thought he would be here.”

Alec glanced at Ria and corrected the title.

Since “that bastard” was among the more decent ways to refer to Ran, Ria smiled awkwardly and moved to the place Alec had pointed out.

Following behind her as she moved while holding the holy object, Alec also stood in the problematic location.

But surprisingly, no change occurred at all.

At the somehow strength-draining result, Ria circled the surroundings once more, but the result did not change.

The moment anxiety tried to raise its head again, one assumption came to Ria’s mind.

The darkness had certainly stirred a moment ago when she was attacked by the Werewolf.

Perhaps what the holy object had reacted to was the fact that the target was a Werewolf.

After thinking this far, Ria turned toward the Werewolf who had been standing one step back.

Before he could even question Ria’s sudden gaze, Ria dragged the Werewolf and placed him in the location Alec had pointed out.

It was the moment the holy object wrapped around Ria’s hand brushed against the Werewolf’s body during that process.

Except for the unconscious woman, all three briefly felt the sensation of their vision blacking out.

And when they came to their senses again, they realized they had moved not underground, but into an unfamiliar tent.

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