kscans

Chapter 146 - As I Thought, Bright Is Better

As I descended the rather long ladder, the ground came into view. I’m so glad that’s over, I thought as I set my feet on the floor. When I looked up, I could see several light sources, indicating that the other four were coming down one by one.

I took the lantern attached to my bag in my hand and scanned the surroundings. To the right of the ladder was a passage, and I could see a faint light in the distance. It seemed this was a straight cave path leading to the underground ruins.

As I waited, the others began to arrive one after another. First, Yanagi-san came down, followed by Maede-san. After them came Nanapon, and finally, Yoshino-san.

"Ah, that was scary."

Nanapon sighed in relief, placing a hand on her chest. In her case, being able to see down probably made it even more frightening.

"That was quite the ordeal. I wish they’d install an elevator."

I said, patting Nanapon’s head as I looked at Yanagi-san.

"Don’t ask for the impossible. Anyway, this way."

Yanagi-san said, then started walking toward the faint light in the distance. We followed him deeper into the cave. As we walked, the light ahead grew stronger, and the end of the cave gradually came into view. When we emerged from the cave, everyone stopped in their tracks.

Beyond the cave was a large cavern, and what were likely large lights set up by the SDF illuminated a building. The structure was quite large, like a temple. Its depth was unclear, but it was about ten meters high and fifty meters wide.

"Wow…"

A gasp of admiration escaped my lips.

"I was surprised myself when I first saw this. First of all, look at the walls. They’re clearly different from the ruins on the surface."

At Yanagi-san’s suggestion, I looked at the building’s walls. Though grimy, the white walls were clearly different from the brickwork of the surface ruins.

"Is it concrete?"

"I don’t know. That kind of detailed investigation will come after we’ve made a map and explored the inside of the building."

So it’s always maps first, no matter what.

"Hmm, I’m pretty sure this place and the ruins on the surface are from different eras. Maybe the underground ruins were here first, and the town above was built later?"

"The experts’ view is the same. It’s likely that some civilization existed before the current Kunaar Ruins and was destroyed. These underground ruins are probably a legacy from that time. And after that civilization fell, the town above was built."

So one fell after the other. The fact that the reason is unknown is unsettling. Judging by the damage to the buildings on the surface, it probably wasn’t a volcano or an earthquake.

"Was the cause of ruin war? Or famine?"

"The town is still standing, so war is unlikely. It was probably famine, a plague, or they moved to another land for convenience."

A plague is scary. I wonder if a Healing Potion Lv3 could handle it?

"Either way, we can’t know… The fact that the Frontier people gave it to us probably means it’s not very valuable, right?"

Though there are gold bars. Hehe.

"Even if it has no value to the Frontier people, it might have value to us. That’s what this investigation is for."

"I see. Well then, let’s begin that investigation. That’s the entrance, right?"

I pointed to the gate in the center of the building.

"That’s right."

"Well, let’s go have a look…"

With me and Nanapon in the lead, we started walking towards the gate.

"The monsters that appear are skeletons, right?"

I confirmed with Yanagi-san as we walked.

"Yes. However, they only appear inside the building. We haven’t confirmed any monsters outside."

Isn’t it usually the other way around? Oh well, there’s no point in delving too deeply into the mysteries of the Frontier. I won’t figure it out anyway.

"I see."

"And we’ve only confirmed skeletons in the shallower areas. The deeper parts are unexplored, so we don’t know what’s there."

Eight-Armed Skeletons will appear.

"Understood. Well, I’ll leave the combat to you."

As we talked, we arrived in front of the gate. The gate was made of wood, and though it was dirty, it didn’t seem to be rotten.

"Does this open normally?"

"Yes."

"Is there a key?"

"No."

I feel like in an RPG, you’d need a key.

"Careless."

"It’s convenient for us. We don’t want to break it if we can help it."

I guess they’d hesitate to destroy it…

"Well then, let’s go in. Nanaka-san, are you alright?"

This might seem like I’m concerned for Nanapon, but it’s actually me checking if there are enemies inside.

"I’m fine."

Since Nanapon nodded, I pulled open the entrance gate. With a creaking sound, the gate opened.

"It’s so dark…"

It was pitch black inside, and I couldn’t see a thing.

"This is one of the reasons the surveying company refused the job."

If you can’t see anything, you can’t survey anything…

"Hmm… Well, shall we go in?"

I entered the building with Nanapon. Then, I scanned the surroundings with my lantern.

The inside of the building was a large hall with a high ceiling, and on the right side, I could see a staircase leading up. There were also passages on the left and right of the first floor.

Is this less of a temple and more of a medieval noble’s house? I can’t really tell… In any case, it’s dark…

"Is there a light switch around here?"

"As if," Yoshino-san retorted to my question.

"You never know. This is a different civilization from ours. Besides, they built something like this underground, but there aren’t even any candle sconces."

I don’t know what kind of facility this is, but you can’t do anything without light.

"Isn’t it magic?"

"There are people who can’t use magic, you know."

Though I wouldn’t know.

"If there is one, it would be near the entrance, right?"

Yoshino-san said, examining the wall near the gate.

"A switch would be nice, or anything that looks out of place."

I shone my lantern on the wall Yoshino-san was looking at.

"Hmm, there’s some kind of protrusion…"

At Yoshino-san’s words, I also looked at the wall and saw an unnatural rectangular protrusion right in front of her.

"That’s it, that’s it. Push it."

"Isn’t it scary? What if it’s a self-destruct switch?"

"What kind of idiot in what world would put a self-destruct switch at the entrance?"

"Well then, I guess I’ll push it…"

Yoshino-san said and touched the protrusion with her palm. The protrusion then began to glow faintly.

And then, the surroundings suddenly became bright.

"Huh?"

"Eh?"

Yanagi-san and Maede-san looked around in a daze.

"My brilliant deduction."

As expected of me. I’m no longer the giddy Eleanor-san of the early days.

"It really was a light switch. As expected of Eleanor-san."

Nanapon is so cute when she praises me so honestly. Though, that’s only when I’m Eleanor-san.

"Hmm, but there are no lights. Is this………… Are the walls glowing?"

Yoshino-san stared intently at the walls.

"Maybe it’s the material. Or some kind of fluorescent paint. We won’t know either way, and that kind of investigation is for the people who come after us, right?"

There’s no way I can understand such a mysterious phenomenon. The important thing is the gold bars.

"Well then, thanks to my fine play, the investigation has become much easier. Shall we go?"

I patted Nanapon’s head.

"Yes. Where should we investigate from?"

As Nanapon said this, she briefly glanced downward.

This was one of the signals we decided on yesterday. I told her that when I pat her head, she should look in the direction of the gold bars. So, from Nanapon’s gaze, it seems the gold bars are underground.

Hmm, they don’t put treasure in plain sight… Is there a hidden passage to the basement?

Now, what should I do… I have mixed feelings about getting the gold bars first, but I also think I should secure them quickly. Alright, let’s do that.

"From the first floor. Nanaka-san, do you prefer right or left?"

"There’s no like or dislike when it comes to right and left………… Well then, right."

So the stairs to the basement are on the right.

"Then, let’s go."

I said, and walked with Nanapon towards the passage on the right.