Chapter 53

"Sorry for involving you in this."

"No, I was the one who was selfish the other day, and if there's anything I can do to help, please let me know."

When I asked Lean to accompany me on the 'ghost extermination' mission, she cheerfully agreed and, the next morning, Lean and I set off for the destination together.

The location specified in the 'ghost extermination' request we received from the Adventurer's Guild seemed to be the basement of an old warehouse near the entrance to the 'Maze of No Return.'

This place has been famous for being 'haunted' for a long time. Lean knew a lot about the area and told me various stories as we walked.

"The underground part of that warehouse used to be part of the 'Maze.' However, it's only connected by the same material; it doesn't lead anywhere. After adventurers who visited here hundreds of years ago drove out the monsters that nested there, it started being used as a food storage facility because it was spacious and sturdy. It's quite a historic warehouse."

"Does a 'ghost' come out even though it was used?"

"Yes. If a 'ghost' appears occasionally, it's not that dangerous. People with weak hearts should avoid it, but on the other hand, it can be appreciated for keeping rodents away from the storage. It has both harmful and beneficial aspects. That's what a 'ghost' is."

"Is that so?"

I didn't know, but it seems that 'ghosts' are quite common in this country. I never thought they were considered useful for keeping rodents away from warehouses...

However, it's unclear why 'ghosts' started appearing in such a place. The nature of 'ghosts' itself is also not well understood.

"There are various theories. Some say they are a type of bio-magic created in the ancient times when the mazes were born, while others suggest that the spirits of adventurers who died in their sleep wander around, envying the living and causing mischief."

"I see. You know a lot about this."

Lean has been happily talking about ghosts. Maybe she likes this kind of thing.

"I looked into it a bit in the family library when I heard we were coming here. Research is important, after all."

She even did some research... She's quite diligent. Maybe I should learn from her, though I don't have access to a library like that.

"By the way, I heard that 'skeletons' might also appear. Are they similar?"

"Skeletons? They often appear in regular mazes, but they have a physical form and are a type of monster, so their origin is a bit different. I don't think they'll appear where we're going. The reports only mention 'ghosts.'"

"Huh? Really?"

No skeletons. I feel a bit relieved and a bit disappointed.

There are several places in the capital where 'ghosts' appear, and perhaps my uncle chose a location to ensure my safety. I feel grateful, but also a bit complicated. I never told him I wanted to fight skeletons, so it must be out of consideration.

Well, it's fine to just encounter a 'ghost.'

"Here it is."

After walking for a while, we arrived at a place with a sign and a wooden fence.

"Is this it?"

I remember coming here during the debris removal work. It was already a restricted area at that time.

"Even though it says 'No Entry,' is it okay to go in?"

"Yes, we have permission to enter, so let's go."

We climbed over the fence and continued walking. Soon, we saw a large stone staircase leading underground.

"Our destination is at the bottom of these stairs. That's where the 'ghost' appears."

As we approached the entrance to the underground, a slight chill made me feel cold. The darkness beyond was pitch black, and I couldn't see anything even when I strained my eyes. It felt very fitting.

"Shall we go?"

"Yes."

I gripped the 'Black Sword' in my hand and took the first step into the basement.

I'm glad Lean came with me. It's not that I'm afraid to go into a dark, cave-like place alone, but I might have gotten lost on the way here by myself.

This kid is only 14, but she's really reliable. I'm quite different from when I was her age...

While thinking about this, we descended the wide staircase, and gradually, everything around us became invisible. After descending a certain distance, I couldn't even see the range of my hand, and Lean's face next to me disappeared from view.

"This is the entrance."

When Lean said this and opened the wooden door, we entered a large space.

──It's dark.

I can't see anything at all.

In the darkness, I used [Petit Fire] and decided to proceed by its light.

"Mr. Teacher, please be careful of the walls and floor. Although it's been hundreds of years since it was discovered, I don't think there are any traps that are still active, but your 'Black Sword' is quite heavy, so unexpected things might happen."

"Ah, I understand."

I remember when I was training at the [Thief] training ground, my instructor told me, "You always step on traps, so never go near places where traps might be."

This place used to be part of the 'Maze,' so there might be some dangerous mechanisms. I need to be careful.

I made up my mind and took the first step──

──Thud.

Suddenly, the stone tiles under my feet sank, and a sound like something being pulled out was heard.

──What?

At the same time, the ground under my feet disappeared.

Damn, this is a──trap.

I tried to jump back, but my body was stiff from tension, and I couldn't make it in time.

I fell with the collapsing stone floor, and as I felt Lean's voice fading away, I hit the ground, which shattered, and fell again. I repeated this several times, desperately trying to regain my balance in mid-air, and finally landed on a hard floor.

"I fell quite a distance."

While pushing away the debris from the collapsed floor, I looked around. It was dark, but I seemed to have survived somehow. I couldn't see anything, but the echo of the falling debris told me that the space was very large.

It was──a very dark and vast space.

I noticed that the light in my hand had gone out, so I lit it again with my fingertips. In the darkness, a huge altar-like structure appeared.

──An altar?

Why is there such a thing in a warehouse?

──I wondered for a moment.

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