Chapter 84

"Ha... It's so hot... This ruin is really huge, after all."

"Mmm, mmm, phew... It's like a maze, and there are mummies everywhere."

Continuing to explore the ruin, we have almost finished searching the quite large area we are currently in. Now, we are taking a break, drinking water from our canteens, and summarizing our findings.

Since this is a ruin in the desert, it's quite hot inside even without sunlight. We need to replenish our water regularly, or we might collapse from heatstroke. ...We also need to take in some salt.

"Are Ester and Luna okay? If you're feeling tired, let me know right away, okay?"

"Yeah... It's a bit hot, but I think I'm fine compared to you and Noll."

"I don't really change my body temperature. This level of heat isn't much of a problem."

While I'm concerned about Ester and the others, who are smaller, Noll and I are actually more worried. Maybe it's because we're wearing helmets and armor; it's indeed very hot. With my full-face helmet and ragged clothes, I might be the hottest.

Luna still seems to have plenty of energy and hasn't even broken a sweat.

Seeing this, I can't help but think, "She really is a vampire, isn't she?"

"They say this place is usually for C-rank adventurers, but can we really clear it with so many mummies?"

"Hmm, this abnormal number might be part of the anomaly."

I had heard that this place was good for earning C-rank money, but considering the number of mummies, I'm skeptical. We've already taken care of over 40 mummies since we entered. If they keep appearing like this, even without the Flare Mummy, it would be tough for a regular C-rank adventurer. This is probably another anomaly of the ruin. The number of strong monsters has increased... it's almost like a large-scale hunt.

---

"Huh? I don't remember coming to this place before?"

"Hmm, I don't think there was a room here."

After finishing our break, we started exploring the interior of the ruin again. We were about to go down the stairs leading down when I noticed something on the map app.

The map app shows a space that is isolated and not connected to any paths. Since the app displays areas as soon as you enter them, it can reveal hidden parts. This is a new discovery since we haven't explored the interior before.

"It's a wall... Maybe we can get to it from another place?"

"It might be a room that requires solving a puzzle to enter! It feels like a proper exploration!"

When we moved to that location and looked at the room, it was indeed not connected to any other rooms and was just a wall.

Is this the kind of thing where you have to do something to open a secret room? Noll is excitedly waving his arms up and down. It's true that such things are a bit thrilling.

...But we're in a hurry, so I'd rather not deal with it right now.

"Did you find anything? Any clues?"

"Mmm... I didn't find anything."

"I didn't find anything either."

While Luna kept watch, Noll and I searched the area and examined the walls, but found nothing. There wasn't a hidden button or a lever to pull to open the wall.

Maybe we should just break through the wall... but that could cause the ruin to collapse, so let's not do that.

"Ookura-san, I found a hole over here."

While we were wondering what to do, Sisha discovered a hole in a corner. When we went over, we saw a small hole that only a child could fit through.

Looking at the map app, I could see a narrow path leading to the hidden room, so we need to enter through this hole.

The path is narrow and in the corner, which is why it didn't show up on the map app... We need to be more thorough in our exploration from now on.

"It was hidden behind the stone statue."

"It wasn't a puzzle after all..."

Noll, who was disappointed by the simplicity, pouted a bit. The hole was hidden behind the stone statue, which Sisha moved to discover it. The statue is about 2 meters tall... I'm impressed she could move it.

"Does this mean we need to go through this hole to get to that room?"

"Probably. But... only Ester or Luna can fit through this small hole."

Among us, only Ester or Luna can fit through this hole.

But sending someone alone into an unknown part of the ruin is worrying. However, we won't know what's there unless someone goes.

If we have to send someone, it would probably be Luna, who is strong in close combat. Ester is weak against sudden attacks and has trouble moving quickly, so it would be dangerous.

"Luna, can you check it out for us? I'll set up a beacon, so if anything happens, press the transceiver to signal us."

"Sure, I can do that."

Since this isn't a dungeon and we're on the same level, the beacon should work.

I gave Luna the transceiver and set up the beacon near the hole. I tested the beacon to make sure it works properly.

If anything happens, she can contact us on her phone, and we can recall her immediately.

She immediately got on all fours and started crawling into the hole.

"Is Luna-san going to be okay...?"

"Don't worry so much. You know Luna's capabilities, right?"

"But... but..."

After Luna entered the hole, Sisha kept fidgeting and looking worried.

She must really like Luna, considering how often she faces her in battle and knows her strength.

I'm a bit worried too, but she should be fine unless she faces an extremely strong opponent.

A few minutes later, I received a call on my phone. Instead of answering, I selected the beacon to move Luna.

"Did everything go well?"

"Yup. There were no monsters. There was just this box."

Luna appeared in front of us, carrying a large box. It looked like an iron box, and when she placed it on the ground, it made a dull thud, indicating it was quite heavy.

Checking the box, it was a rectangular iron box with a rounded lid, and there was a keyhole on the front, which was locked.

"A treasure box in a hidden room! I'm curious about what's inside!"

"But it's locked. We need to find the key somewhere."

Noll was excited about the treasure box and was moving around it, while Ester calmly examined it and concluded that we needed the key.

Hmm, I'm curious about what's inside the box, but searching for the key would take too much time. This ruin is quite large, and if we spend time looking for hidden passages like before, we might run out of time. Is there a better way...?

While I was thinking, I noticed Excalibur, which I was carrying. Maybe I can use this...

"Noll, can you hold down this treasure box for me?"

"Sure, but what are you planning to do?"

I asked Noll to hold down the iron treasure box from above. Noll and the others looked at me curiously.

Hehehe... We don't need to search for the key. With my current strength, I should be able to do this.

"Alright, here we go. Wooh!"

"What are you doing, Ookura!?"

"When it comes to gacha, you do some crazy things..."

I stabbed Excalibur into the gap between the lid and the box and forcefully moved it up and down to pry open the lid.

Noll and the others were surprised and exclaimed at my actions.

Ignoring their voices, I kept moving it up and down. Finally, with a crack, the gap widened.

...Success. I'm glad it was just an iron box. I managed to break it open!

"Yay! This will save us a lot of time!"

"You're acting like a thief..."

"You're ruining the fun of exploration..."

Ester and Luna, who were watching from a distance, sighed and muttered these words. I understand that the fun of exploration is important, but sometimes, depending on the situation and the gacha, we can't prioritize it. I hope they understand.

"Hmm? There's another key inside the treasure box?"

"It looks a bit fancy and golden."

Checking the contents, I found a golden key.

Well, a key inside a treasure box. But this key looks important, so maybe we had to find other keys to get here?

That would mean I've broken the process... but we're in a hurry, so it's okay, right?

---

As we descended the stairs leading down, we came to an even larger square.

The ceiling was very high, and it didn't feel like we were inside a pyramid.

In the back, there were several green, glowing, pointed stones protruding from the wall, like they were growing.

Are those special magic stones?

"Is this the end? We got here pretty easily. No other changes besides the Flare Mummies?"

"There's no boss like in the Goblin Dungeon. Is this the end?"

"Maybe this isn't a dungeon?"

We only encountered mummies on our way here.

The only abnormal things were the Flare Mummies and the number of mummies, but there was no clear cause.

This place might be declared off-limits due to the unknown cause. However, just knowing that there are anomalies inside is enough to complete the B-rank promotion request.

But this still leaves the gacha as a problem. I don't think we can call it a "clear" just by collecting those magic stones and leaving the ruin.

Like in the Goblin Dungeon, we probably need to point our phones at a mysterious board to get the clear judgment.

If that's the case, this place was originally empty... damn, does that mean we have to give up on the gacha?

"Hei Hachi. That wall over there looks unnatural."

"Huh? Where?"

While we were collecting the magic stones and looking for anything else, Luna pointed out a part of the wall that looked strange.

When we got closer, we saw a slightly lighter rectangular area on the wall.

"The map app shows something beyond this point."

"Is there something beyond this wall?"

"Oh, there's a keyhole over here!"

The map app showed a large space beyond the newly added area.

There's definitely something beyond this wall.

Noll also noticed the keyhole and was gesturing for me to hurry.

I'm not sure if the key we found earlier will work, but let's try it. If it doesn't, we'll break it... but will that be okay?

"Hey, it opened."

"Using the key we just found is lucky."

"In a way, Hei Hachi's actions were correct."

I was considering whether to break through, but when I inserted the key, the wall moved down, revealing a path.

This key was indeed important... breaking the box to get it was the right decision.

When we entered, the atmosphere was different from the rest of the ruin. The walls were slightly glowing.

This feels like... a dungeon.

"This is like the board in the Goblin Dungeon, right?"

"Right. If we point our phones at this, the ruin will be cleared...?"

"But there's a door in front of us. There seems to be more beyond it."

In the center, there was a board supported by a pole, similar to the one in the Goblin Dungeon.

We need to point our phones at this, right? Does this mean the ruin is over?

But as Noll said, there's a large double door in the back.

...I have a bad feeling about this.

Let's try it anyway. We need to stick together to avoid being separated by a teleportation spell.

When I pointed my phone at the board, the black door in the back glowed green and slowly opened with a heavy creak.

Beyond the door was darkness, and we couldn't see what was there.

"...It opened."

"It's not the end, but the beginning."

"Mmm... I thought we were done, but it continues."

I thought the exploration of the ruin would end here, but the end led to the entrance of a dungeon.

This ruin was just the entrance to the dungeon. It's quite an elaborate entrance.

Luna seemed disappointed that it wasn't over.

We cautiously moved forward, ready to truly clear the dungeon, and entered through the newly opened door.