Chapter 607 - From the Depths of the Earth
Ten seconds, twenty, thirty—with her power, which she herself called "nothing special," unleashed in both eyes, the pair of aquamarine jewels pierced through the shell walls, racing to find the treasures within.
"Nya-chan, how's it lookin'...?"
Lux, who had started fidgeting just five seconds into the search, couldn't wait any longer. She asked, her voice uncharacteristically subdued, and Nia calmly replied, "Just a sec."
"...I can see through it, but there's still a little magic left in the shed shells... it's a bit cloudy, so it'll take a moment to see deep inside."
"No need to rush. The boss is showing no reaction, sound asleep."
The substances the [Milmarinus]'s eyes could see through were limited to those with little to no magic. In this virtual world, all people and monsters possessed magic to some degree, so the shells, which were once part of a body, likely had some residue.
That's why Nia described her vision as cloudy. However, just as she didn't say it was impossible or hopeless—
"...Whoa, found something insane. There are three of them, sparkling like crazy."
Her eyes, which shone when she used her ability, were now... sparkling themselves as she delivered the news. Her words, which positively fanned the flames of expectation, were met with a synchronized "Ooh" from the three of us.
And then Nia-chan wore a triumphant, smug look.
Well, fine. For now, you can puff out your chest with pride. This was a special trick that, regardless of her being an artisan, only Nia could truly perform.
"Alright. Just a general idea of the location is fine, tell me where."
"Roger that. Mmm, come here."
I followed her beckoning hand and approached... only to have her grab my shoulders and pull me in front of her, my back to her chest, so we were facing the same way. A little close.
But I could guess what she wanted to do, and I understood it was necessary, so I kept my comments to myself.
"First one's around there. See that slightly larger crack at the bottom? Near that... hmm, a little to the right, behind the blue gem you can see on the surface."
"...Probably, yeah. To the right of the blue one, there's a slightly larger yellow one, right?"
"Ah, okay, perfect. Now, the next one is... —"
And so, I learned the 'whereabouts of the treasure' as Nia pointed over my shoulder.
At times like these, my 'memory' gift shines. Including her verbal notes, remembering all the necessary information was a piece of cake.
"—That's all three. You good?"
"Yeah, no problem. I'll ask you to double-check when I get there, just in case."
"Mmm, got it. ...Oh, by the way, the first one is the most insane, the big one. You should probably secure that one first, maybe?"
"Okay, understood. ...Alright, then—hey, let go of me."
Peeling Nia off my back, I turned to face the other two.
The amused, smiling gaze of the Traveler was uncomfortable, but Sora-san, standing next to her with a gentle smile, was also terrifying.
But, I'll avert my eyes from what comes later for now.
"I don't think the escape route will be blocked, but if by some chance I mess up and it notices me... I'll draw its attention for a while. Use that time to retreat with Nia."
"Mmm... sorry to be a bother."
"You just helped me out. We're even."
Better safe than sorry. The parent of the [Feidran Armoire], which can fire laser-like heat rays unbefitting a living creature, would likely unleash something even more outrageous.
If I thoughtlessly fled back to this passage and it launched a massive beam at me without a moment's delay, there would be nothing I could do. I needed to think about the timing and method of my escape.
And so,
"Understood!"
"Righty-o! Leave Nya-chan's protection to me—"
Their lack of objection could, I suppose, be conceitedly taken as a sign of their trust. I nodded back at the two who had readily agreed, then donned my [Hidden Rat's Cloak] and pulled up the hood.
"Here, you forgot this."
"Oops."
What was smoothly offered to me was the hairpin I had entrusted to her. Having returned its power to Nia, the ability of the 'Agaphanthus Amulet' was disabled, but the other two were still active.
It was no exaggeration to say it was the cornerstone of my build, a genuinely broken accessory. Forgetting to wear it would mean a power-down of a level that was no laughing matter. That was close.
"Want me to put it in for you?"
"Could you please stop this relentless assault?"
I snatched the [Aquamarine Rabbit Heart] from the hands of its grinning creator and quickly set it on the side of my head. My hair automatically arranged itself into its set style.
Super ticklish... but I'm used to it by now.
"Well then, let's begin the operation."
Perhaps because she'd gotten to tease me repeatedly, Nia was in a good mood.
Sora wore a serene smile, probably thinking about the payback she'd demand later.
And Lux was practically urging me on with a gaze that was one hundred percent curiosity, a silent demand to go get the treasure and show her.
Taking a step that could also be called a strategic retreat from the three distinct women, I exposed myself from the shadow of the passage into the vast chamber—and in that instant, I felt the air shift.
It wasn't that the still-sleeping [Feidran Tyrantinus] had noticed me. It was just that this place, filled with the extraordinary presence of that abnormal being, had transformed into an abnormal domain, cut off from the ordinary world.
"..."
Holding my breath, erasing my presence, I moved step by step along the wall. Come to think of it, this might be the first time I've done a genuine stealth mission against an enemy since starting Arcadia.
It reminds me of an analog game Ashe mentioned—that one was against humans, not monsters, but I remember it didn't last long because it didn't suit my style.
I just couldn't enjoy the tension, or get into it, somehow. I felt annoyance before I felt tension... and compared to that, now.
Hey, what is this?
The tension, the presence, the pressure, it's all way, way too much. This is just plain scary.
◇◆◇◆◇
"...J-Just watching is making me nervous."
"Ahaha. I do similar things by myself all the time, and it's pretty fun, you know?"
"Even if you say that with the excitement of an amusement park ride..."
As they whispered to each other, they watched. From the back moving forward, silent and steady with each step, yet with a fluid grace, no tension could be read.
She couldn't imagine what he was actually thinking right now... but his decisiveness, his courage, it was so... boyish.
Just like during the two events, it seemed she was a simple person after all.
Every time she saw him take the lead and push forward like this, her chest would tighten, and she couldn't look away—and then,
"Ah, and... th... th..."
As she was dazedly watching, he (Haru) quickly reached the first point and looked back at Nia from a distance, asking for a 'double-check'. She hastily nodded vigorously in response, her clairvoyant eyes still active... and for some reason, he returned an amused smile.
One part embarrassment at being seen acting strangely, one part happiness at being smiled at. And one part joy stemming from the pride of being useful.
And perhaps a part of it was this—the hand that housed the skill connected to the [Mako] that Nia had bestowed upon him. Watching the familiar sight of him cutting open the shell wall with a blue light also made her a little happy.
He often grumbled about "not having any talent," but being able to make simple accessories in just a couple of months was more than enough progress.
She couldn't praise him as a genius on the same level as his combat skills, but... from a teacher's perspective, someone who was a little clumsy was cuter and better.
His future growth—and above all, the 'lessons' they would have together, just the two of them, she looked forward to them infinitely.
As Nia was busy getting flustered by his back, grinning at the future, and hastily shaking her head when he looked back... he smoothly proceeded to the second, then the third point.
He safely dug out the gems from behind the cut-open shells, promptly securing them in his inventory three times—mission complete, the fruits of their labor were now guaranteed.
"...Phew..."
His partner let out a premature sigh of relief as the operation neared its successful conclusion.
"Being able to do this kind of thing is just cheating, isn't it, Nya-chan's Anima? If it wasn't a body-integrated type, I would have loved to make full use of it myself..."
Her client and friend lamented something she had heard several times in the past.
"Hehe, you flatter me..."
Feeling warm at the former's reaction, while her cheeks relaxed at the latter's praise,
she momentarily looked away from him as he quietly and quickly made his way back, the same way he came—and shifted her gaze to the monster (boss) sleeping coiled in the center of the area.
It was just a whim.
A curiosity about what kind of treasures might be hidden in the giant 'shell' on its back, even though she was certain she couldn't see it properly since it was connected to its body.
Unable to suppress such curiosity, Nia turned her twin aquamarine stars towards the bizarre and terrifying giant body she had intentionally been avoiding... ———————————
"—————...Huh?"
Suddenly, she felt a gaze touch her consciousness, and wondered.
Below the still-sleeping mole.
Her gaze, drawn by some feeling, pierced through the rock floor and reached its destination.
Deep, deep, in the depths of the earth.
"————Hrk—!?"
She made eye contact, and the moment she couldn't suppress a scream, her knees buckled.
In the great cavern, not metaphorically—a tremor ran through it.