Chapter 301 - 301. The Fort Battle and Castle Exploration
"I feel like we saw something we weren't supposed to see."
Myra sighed deeply. We had passed through the great hall and were in a corridor. Torches on the walls were lit, so there was no need to worry about light. Staircases led to the upper floors and underground on both sides, and several doors lined the corridor. Given its depth, the building felt as large as its exterior.
"So where should we start exploring?"
Misaki asked, her eyes widening.
"What's wrong? Your face is red again."
"N-nothing!"
I hurriedly covered my face with my arm. It wasn't related to what Myra said, but ever since Nefee kissed me, I haven't been able to look at her properly. My mind felt hot and dizzy.
"It's fine if you're okay, but tell me if you're feeling unwell…"
I nodded vaguely at her words. Then, to energize myself, I slapped my cheek.
"Alright, let's focus on exploring the first floor and basement. We need to find the exit and the shrine. It shouldn't be on the upper floors."
"The shrine?"
"Have you forgotten why we came to this fort? Something that can replace the Holy Oil Vial should be sealed within it. I don't know what's happened now that it's become a dungeon…"
"Oh, right. I almost forgot."
Misaki pressed her chin with her fingertip and nodded lightly. We all started walking in a group, stopping in front of the first door. Fam pressed her ear against it.
"Master, I hear a woman's scream coming from inside."
"Don't worry. I can hear it too."
I figured it was probably a banshee, but there was a slight chance it was someone from the Red Brigade who had been imprisoned. Sighing, I reached for the door.
After repeating battles several times, we finished exploring the first floor. Every time we approached a door, we heard screams or wails that were impossible to distinguish. Each time, Fam looked at me, as if seeking my judgment. At first, her expression was tense, but it gradually became a monotonous, mechanical task. Unable to just leave them alone, I pushed open each door and engaged the banshees and their minions. Each room was simply built with exposed stone blocks and wooden beams. The training room had a door leading outside, but it wouldn't budge. Even though the door looked substantial, when I touched it, I only felt a cold, fresco-like wall. Thanks to that, we were able to obtain several magic seeds, but the repeated battles drained our strength. And since the banshees were human-like – neither old women nor children – I felt uneasy when I had to strike them down.
Back in the corridor, we took a breather. I gripped the magic seeds we'd obtained and offered them to Marmie.
"...Is it okay if I use them?"
"It's up to you to decide."
As I nodded in response to her question, I noticed Nefee staring intently at me.
"W-what is it?"
I faltered involuntarily. Come to think of it, while she excels at bo fighting arts, she was also a mage.
"Nefee, can you also handle magic seeds?"
"No, I'll refrain."
She shook her head at my words. Come to think of it, Cecily couldn't use them either. Perhaps mastering magic isn't only about having the job title. Maybe you need to grow up in an environment like Marmie's, or learn from someone at a magic school. Nefee smiled. As usual, I wondered what she was thinking behind that smile, and my cheeks flushed.
"...Mash?"
Marmie waited, hand outstretched to receive the magic seeds. I snapped back to attention and placed the magic seeds in her palm.
"...Where are we going next?"
"The basement, then."
The hallway's stairs were also lit. While the first-floor corridor was dim and unsettling, it hadn't changed much. But with each step down, a cold, damp air rose from the floor. As we turned at the landing, a musty smell filled our noses, and we reached a dim, long corridor. On both sides stood stone statues of plate-armored knights, spaced at equal intervals, ten on each side. Their armor covered them from head to toe. It was a dull silver, but some parts were rusted, making it eerie. They held bastard swords diagonally from their abdomens to their heads, and large metal shields were also equipped. At the end of the corridor lined with statues, we could see something resembling a stone altar.
"Could that be the shrine?"
Misaki murmured. I gently put my hand on her waist and lightly pushed her toward the shrine.
"Hey! Why are you pushing me?"
"I think that's probably the shrine we're looking for, but it's too dark to tell. Go check."
"Wait! I have a bad feeling that the armor is going to react if we send someone alone. Why make me go by myself?"
"You have special skills, right, Misaki? I think you'll be fine."
"'I think'?"
I put more force into my push, but Misaki resisted and wouldn't move any further. I glanced at the other members to see if any of them dared to go, but no one volunteered. Reluctantly, I checked my weapon, preparing to go myself.
"Master, I will go."
Fam stepped forward.
"No, even Fam... I'll go instead."
"Hey, why are you different with me than with Fam?!"
Misaki retorted, but I was concerned that Fam might get injured, and I thought Misaki would be fine. Unsheathing my sword, I prepared for battle. Fam stepped in front of me.
"Master. I told you, I'll go!"
With that, she dashed toward the altar before anyone could stop her. The sound of her footsteps echoed on the stone tiles. As she passed by, the rusted metal creaked and groaned, just as expected, as the armor activated.
"Damn it, they really activated!"
I might have been better off eliminating the activated armor one by one as we advanced. Thinking that, I raised my sword. At that moment, a tremendous roar shook the air, a bolt of lightning flashed, and my vision turned white.
The smell of burning metal stung my nose, and my vision returned. There stood Marmie, wand raised.
"Did you use a magic stone to cast lightning?"
Marmie nodded. It was several times stronger than usual. With the exception of a few, the plate-armored knights were gone. The remaining monsters still wielded swords, threatening to overwhelm Fam. Misaki, Myra, and Nefee rushed to Fam's aid. As Swiftly as lightning, another flash of light erupted. When the lightning struck one of the monsters, its armor was shattered, revealing the hollow inside. The monster then vanished. Fam and the others charged at the remaining two monsters. They had four people with them. And the monster's movements were slow and sluggish. With magical support, the annihilation would be over soon. I nudged Marmie's head.
"You and Fam were planning something, weren't you? Tell me next time."
"...Mash has been weird today!"
As I listened to her, one of the monsters vanished. It seemed Misaki's special skill had been activated.
"Do you really think so?"
"...I wish I could cast a spell on Mash like that, too."
"A spell?"
Marmie nodded.
"...Well, more like a magic power."
Marmie continued down the corridor, wand raised. One of the monsters was surrounded by four people. Fam slashed at it, but her blow was blocked by the thick armor with a dull metallic sound. Then, the monster swung its sword down. Fam twisted her body to avoid it and spun around, swinging her sword. A high, metallic sound rang out, and the monster's helmet burst apart. The inside of the plate armor was visible, but it was still empty. The knight staggered, as if following its head. Nefee thrust her staff into the hollow space. The monster's movements slowed, and it collapsed. As its body disappeared, sand poured out from within.
"She probably filled its insides with sand using earth magic..."
"Yeah. I just tried to stop its movements."
Nefee nodded as I approached her. I don't know how the armored knights were functioning, or even the concepts of magic, really. But for some reason, I found her attractive. I avoided her gaze and looked around. All the armor knights had been defeated, and there was no sign of any new monsters. I turned my attention to the altar.
Golden candlesticks were arranged in a circle on a stone pedestal. The candles weren't lit, making it feel dark. Come to think of it, the lighting had stopped partway down the corridor, and only a faint light reached the altar. On the altar was a raised platform in the center, and a golden vial was placed on it. It was an ordinary vial, with a thick body and a narrow opening. It was about 50 centimeters tall. It wasn't too large, but it was still inconvenient to carry.
"Could this be the Holy Oil Vial?"
Myra stood next to me and stared at it intently. The vial was covered in fine grooves with intricate patterns. It looked like writing, but I couldn't read it. Myra leaned closer and tried to read it, but eventually shook her head in defeat.
"It looks like letters, but it's too dark to tell."
"Using darkness as an excuse for not reading is the beginning of aging, you know?"
I meant it as a joke, but Myra puffed out her cheeks.
"H-how impudent! I'm young! Can you read it, Mash?"
"In the first place, I don't even think this is writing."
As we argued, Marmie held out a wand with a small flame. She lit the candles one by one. As all six candles were lit, the vial reflected the flames and transformed from a dull, tarnished gleam to a golden sparkle.
But nothing else happened.
"It doesn't have any letters like the one on Fam's village shrine or Lily's village shrine..."
Misaki walked around the altar, observing it carefully, but she didn't seem to have found anything. I wanted to pick up the vial, but I was afraid of traps. It was gold-plated, but it might be gilded. I wanted to avoid a situation where it broke if I poked it with a stick, and something strange from the myths spewed out. As I was thinking that, I noticed that my feet were being illuminated by a golden light. The golden vial was reflecting the candlelight, drawing a magic circle around the altar.
"Be careful! It's a trap!"
Before I could even finish shouting, the scenery around us warped. When I came to, I was in an unfamiliar place.
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