Chapter 33

When Mugen, Misa, and Chrysanthemum first entered the cave, it was pitch dark inside, and they could only see each other. However, as the three of them ventured deeper, it gradually became brighter. Now, although it wasn't as bright as daylight, at least they could see things clearly without any effort.

Mugen looked around but saw nothing that could emit light. In such a bizarre situation, if this were not a mysterious world, everything would be attributed to 'ghosts.' Here, it was the same; everything could only be attributed to those demons and monsters.

The two girls, who were usually fearless, now walked timidly behind Mugen. Even Misaka, who was at Level 68, looked scared. Only when Mugen turned his head did she quickly put on a brave face, unaware that all her actions were already in Mugen's eyes.

So, even if they were powerful, little girls were still little girls...

Walking down the quiet passage, the three of them remained silent. The cave was filled with many demons and monsters. Even if it didn't serve any purpose, it was better to avoid alarming them.

When they entered the cave, Mugen had already taken out the Kusanagi sword. He had no confidence that he would have time to draw the sword if attacked by the demons. At this moment, Mugen activated the system's detection function. As long as something appeared in front of him, even if it was invisible, the detection function could find it.

"Hey, Mugen, do you think the monsters here might already be dead? After all, so much time has passed," Chrysanthemum said, perhaps unable to bear the tense atmosphere.

"That's impossible!" Mugen said firmly. "I don't know if these demons and monsters are immortal like the legends say, but their lifespans are definitely much longer than ours. Even if we die, they might still be alive. Moreover, Mrs. Sagara said there are many monsters here. If that's the case, there must be females, and they can reproduce."

"If that's true, why haven't we seen any demons or monsters yet?" Misaka asked. Although she had been summoned for less than a day, the system had already imparted some necessary knowledge to her. Compared to the incomprehensible system, demons and monsters were not hard to accept. However, as a 14-year-old girl, accepting them didn't mean she wasn't afraid...

Well, although she always acted fearless in front of Mugen, she wouldn't be called a tsundere if she weren't tsundere...

"I was thinking the same thing, until just now..." As he said this, Mugen stopped walking.

Misaka and Chrysanthemum were startled and looked around warily, their eyes filled with fear.

"Wh-What's wrong, Mugen?" Chrysanthemum swallowed hard and asked nervously.

Mugen turned his head, his face showing a hint of confusion.

"Wait a moment..." Mugen waved his hand, looked around, and then frowned, lowering his head.

"Whoosh..." As Mugen lowered his head, a gentle breeze blew in from somewhere, gently brushing past the three of them. It lifted Mugen's hair and also Chrysanthemum's and Misaka's... skirts...

Since Mugen and Chrysanthemum and Misaka were facing each other, and Mugen was looking down, when the wind lifted their skirts, his eyes were perfectly aligned with the scene. Two pairs of safety shorts, one white and one black, instantly appeared in Mugen's line of sight.

"..." Keeping his head down, Mugen's pupils dilated, and he looked at the two pairs of safety shorts with a look of shock.

"Ah!!!" Although they were usually boyish, they were still girls. No girl would be unembarrassed if her skirt was lifted. Both of them let out a startled cry, pressed down their skirts, and looked at Mugen with red faces.

"You didn't see anything, right, Mugen?" A long crystal sword appeared in Chrysanthemum's hand, and she glared at Mugen. If Mugen dared to say he saw something, she would dare to cut him down. After all, she had seen his shamelessness more than once, like the time she was exposed.

Feeling Chrysanthemum's gaze, Mugen shook his head vigorously.

"Buzz..." A sound of electric sparks crackled, and blue light flashed, making Mugen's head freeze in place, and he mechanically turned to look the other way.

"Did you stop just to... to see this?" Misaka lowered her head, her forehead flashing with electricity, her voice so cold it almost froze Mugen.

It's no wonder Misaka thought this. After all, the angle and timing of Mugen's head were too 'perfect.'

Mugen was at a loss, neither crying nor laughing. "This... this was just an accident, really an accident..."

Heaven help him, Mugen was telling the truth this time.

Looking at the two girls who were like powder kegs, Mugen felt tears welling up in his heart.

Misaka was one thing, but what about Chrysanthemum? In the original story, when she first met Saito, Chrysanthemum even lifted her skirt to show she was wearing safety shorts. Why was it that he couldn't even see her safety shorts? This wasn't scientific!...

You can't guess a girl's mind...

Seeing the increasingly unfriendly expressions of Misaka and Chrysanthemum, Mugen quickly raised his hands to stop their impending outburst and said mournfully, "Wait, please listen to my last words!"

"What else do you have to say?" the two girls said in unison.

"If I say it wasn't intentional, will you believe me?" Mugen gave a bitter smile and made his final plea.

"Then why did you stop?" Chrysanthemum blocked Misaka, who was about to electrocute Mugen, and said irritably.

Mugen looked at Chrysanthemum gratefully and received a cold snort. He cleared his throat and became serious. "I stopped because I realized we've been here before!"

The two girls were stunned, even Chrysanthemum, who hadn't expected Mugen to give a reasonable explanation. She thought he had stopped just to see their skirts, but now he said this.

It was clear how well Mugen was regarded by the president...

"This place?" Chrysanthemum looked around.

"We've been here?" Misaka also stopped using her powers, looked around, and exchanged a puzzled glance with Chrysanthemum.

Mugen shook his head. It was no wonder they couldn't tell. There was nothing but rock walls and stones, and there were very few reference points. The few that could attract attention were even fewer. If it weren't for Mugen's 'perfect memory,' he might not have noticed either.

"Have we really been here before? I didn't notice." Misaka pinched her cheek and looked at Mugen.

But Mugen didn't answer Misaka and instead asked Chrysanthemum, "Chrysanthemum, have you forgotten my memory? I never make mistakes!"

Seeing Misaka's puzzled expression, Chrysanthemum nodded. "Yes, Mugen never makes mistakes. His memory is incredibly good. He can remember anything he sees once. If he says we've been here, then we have."

"Remember anything he sees once?" Misaka looked at Mugen in surprise. "That's almost a power in itself..."

True to her name, Misaka, a Level 5, instantly recognized Mugen's 'perfect memory' ability.

"So, are we lost?" Chrysanthemum asked uncertainly.

"Not exactly lost," Mugen corrected, raising his hand. "We're in something like a maze."

"A maze?" The two girls looked at Mugen in surprise.

"Yes!" Mugen walked to the rock wall and patted the stone. "Don't you remember, since we entered the cave, we've been walking on a single path with no branches. How could we be lost?"

"So..." Chrysanthemum said solemnly.

"We've been going in circles!" Misaka realized the situation.

"Exactly!" Mugen pulled up his system menu. "I think this is a slightly twisted passage that forms a circle. Since we entered, we've been circling around it. Because the twist is slight and the passage is large, we didn't notice."

"Is that so?" Chrysanthemum lowered her head in thought.

"Of course!" Otherwise, do you think I stopped just to see two pairs of uninteresting safety shorts?

Of course, Mugen swallowed those words with all his might. Otherwise, he would have no chance to fight back and would be dead on the spot...

"What do we do now? Should we turn back?" Misaka asked, though she was smart, it was the man's job to make decisions at this moment.

"No!" Mugen shook his head. "Even if we turn back, we probably won't get out!"

Chrysanthemum and Misaka looked up at Mugen. "Why?"

Mugen smiled bitterly. "Do you remember, after we entered the cave, we circled around, but did you see the entrance we came in?"

Misaka and Chrysanthemum were stunned. Yes, after circling, they should have seen the exit...

"Could it be..." Chrysanthemum shrank back. "The legendary ghost wall?"

"Can't be..." Misaka, who had been frowning, was taken aback by Chrysanthemum's words and laughed nervously.

"..." Mugen rolled his eyes at the two girls who were scaring themselves. He deeply felt that if he relied on them, they might really be stuck here forever.

Seeing Mugen fiddling with something, Chrysanthemum asked, "Mugen, what are you doing? Did you think of a way?"

Compared to Chrysanthemum, Misaka was curious and leaned in to look at Mugen.

"Oh... is this the system?"

Mugen paused, looked at Misaka in surprise, and pointed to the system menu. "Can you see the system menu, Misaka?"

Misaka nodded. "Yes, it's right in front of you!"

"System? The system you mentioned? Why can't I see anything?" Chrysanthemum poked around but saw nothing.

Mugen tapped his chin. "It seems, as my summoned character, you can see the system. Misaka, can you use the system?"

"No!" Misaka answered without hesitation. "Although it seems powerful and interesting, I can't use it, I can only see it!"

"Why can you both see it, but I can't?" Chrysanthemum was upset. Mugen and Misaka's behavior made her feel like they had a 'secret' that excluded her, which annoyed her.

"What about it? Do you have a plan?" Misaka asked, seeing Mugen fiddling with the system.

Mugen smiled, flipped his hand, and a compass appeared in his hand...

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