Chapter 50: Ruins Exploration (3)

The ruins exploration party entered the forest of Lamidra.

Leading the way was Professor Ruiden, who had already visited this place once before at the request of Senior Dane.

“The entry route has already been secured. So everyone, just follow along without worry.”

Carl followed the group, but kept an eye on the presences deeper inside the forest from the rear.

‘Hmm.’

This was the largest woodland in the vicinity.

Although the Imperial Army periodically cleared it out, there were still occasional cases of monsters appearing.

Among the group, the only ones from the Faculty of Magic capable of combat were Carl, Laysis, and one other third-year senior — only three in total.

What’s more, that senior was a mage, so in case of an emergency, only the two freshmen could take the front line.

‘Professor Ruiden looks to be fairly seasoned, though.’

From the calluses on the back of his hands and the glimpses of his build beneath his clothes, it seemed he had undergone considerable training.

“We’ll need to walk a bit to reach the entrance of the ruins. It’s located on such flat ground that even I had a hard time finding it. But I, Ruiden, the man called Professor by all — after several nights of exploration, finally discovered the entrance leading to the ruins.”

Even as they passed the edge of the forest and made their way deeper inside, Professor Ruiden’s mouth didn’t stop moving.

It was not hard to see why he was called “Professor.”

A few times along the way, Carl sensed monsters, but they were on a different path and none strong enough to be worth worrying about.

Carl lightly rubbed his lips as he stared at the back of Professor Ruiden, who was walking ahead while chattering nonstop.

‘It would be nice if I could find a clue to 《Justice》.’

The ruins they were heading toward were said to be a temple built by 《Rest》.

If that were all, Carl wouldn’t have joined this expedition, but the records also contained stories of 《Justice》.

For that reason, he had come personally, to investigate even the faintest possibility.

“This way.”

After walking a bit deeper into the forest, they came upon a brook with water trickling along.

Professor Ruiden nodded as if satisfied with his navigation and began following the brook upstream.

Before long, they arrived at a small hill that lay just before the mountain slopes began.

“This is it.”

Professor Ruiden approached the hill and pointed to a narrow crack splitting its center.

“Oh-ho.”

“A crevice in a hill. A classic terrain.”

“It was so ordinary that it made it even harder to find. I was sure it was somewhere nearby, but it never showed itself. I finally found it by checking each wall one by one.”

Carl quietly peered inside.

It wasn’t just a crack — there was a passage leading somewhere deeper within.

“Alright, let’s start with marking the site.”

Senior Dane addressed the group with a look of excitement.

Marking — a kind of territorial signposting.

This was to indicate that the site was currently being excavated by Bayern Academy’s Ruins Exploration Club.

The senior cadets skillfully drove stakes into the ground and tied ropes around to encircle the area.

Carl and Laysis helped the seniors finish up, and soon they stood before the entrance to the ruins.

“This part needs an expert’s touch. The rest of you, please step back.”

“It’s been a while, so I’m a bit nervous.”

“Time to show our skills.”

Carrying tools, Professor Ruiden, Dane, and Ubel carefully approached the entrance.

“Let’s expand it first, so everyone can get inside.”

Carl watched the scene from behind with interest.

In the Central Plains, similar procedures were taken when excavating the tombs or chambers of martial masters.

One mistake could trigger a trap or cause a collapse, leading to a serious accident.

Thunk.

After considerable effort, they eventually succeeded in widening the entrance enough for two people to pass through side by side.

“The interior looks sturdy enough.”

“Still, just in case, we should support the entrance so it doesn’t collapse.”

“The height is a bit short. We might have to cut down some nearby trees for now.”

“I’ll bring them right away.”

Trees were plentiful in the area.

Carl chopped a few suitably thick branches, trimmed them neatly, and brought them to the seniors.

“Perfect fit.”

“Thanks, Carl.”

“It’s nothing.”

Carl gave a faint smile.

He had thought they were just eccentric types who liked history and ruins, but they seemed more useful than expected.

If he raised their favor toward him, there would be times later when he could use it.

“Alright, let’s head in. Tall folks, watch your heads!”

Carl followed behind the seniors and entered.

The passage connected to the entrance was a narrow gap, but once they emerged past it, a spacious chamber came into view.

“…Hooh.”

Using luminescent stones similar to night pearls, encased in long cases to serve as torches, Dane looked around the area.

“The air quality is fine. There shouldn’t be a problem for exploration.”

This place had been left untouched for at least several hundred years, perhaps close to a thousand.

In ordinary structures, poor ventilation could lead to deadly accidents from toxic gases or lack of oxygen.

Fortunately, it seemed that some blessing or magical system was still maintaining this place, as there were no major hazards.

“Then, let’s move on.”

“If the records are true, there should be a temple deeper inside. Reaching it comes first.”

Everyone seemed full of energy.

As Carl stepped past the entrance and deeper into the ruins, memories of the Central Plains resurfaced.

Back then, the target had been a formation master who analyzed traps and layouts in a tomb, much like Professor Ruiden was doing now.

At the time, Carl had still been a second-rate assassin, and a single misstep nearly got him buried along with them.

‘Barely made it out alive.’

If he had died then, would his current self even exist now?

“Mmm.”

At the quiet murmur from beside him, Carl ended his reminiscence and turned his head.

“What’s wrong?”

“…I’m not sure if it’s just my imagination, but I’ve been feeling a bit of goosebumps.”

“Goosebumps?”

“Yes. Ever since we came inside…”

Laysis frowned slightly, as if unable to explain it well, and looked ahead.

“Don’t you feel anything, Carl?”

“No. I feel quite comfortable.”

“Hm.”

She kept her brows furrowed as she rubbed her forearm.

She rolled up her sleeve slightly to show him, and her arm was covered in goosebumps.

“I don’t know why.”

“Shall I inform the seniors so you can head outside? I’ll accompany you.”

“…No. Since we’ve come this far, we should see it through. They said this place isn’t particularly dangerous, so it should be fine.”

“Understood.”

Carl nodded.

Even if he left with Laysis, there would be no problem.

He already knew the location, so he could come back alone later or simply send NOX’s subordinates.

“Oh-oh! It’s really a temple…!”

“Looks like we found it for real. Look at this emblem.”

“This is the emblem the Ganaon Cult used two generations ago. That means it’s at least 700 years old.”

Not long after heading deeper inside, they found the temple.

Three low steps.

And four pillars surrounding it.

It was the classic architectural style of the Ganaon Cult.

“《Rest》 was the pope of the Ganaon Cult. The records were correct. This place must still hold traces of a hero unknown to the world.”

At Dane’s words, Carl cautiously approached the temple.

Unfortunately, he found no signs of any hero other than 《Rest》.

‘It’s too soon to be optimistic.’

The records mentioned both 《Rest》 and 《Justice》.

If one was here, it meant the other might also be present.

If they went deeper inside, perhaps they could find something more.

“Let’s go up.”

“Carl, do you know why there are three steps at the entrance of the temple?”

At Ubel’s question, Carl gave a short nod.

“I understand each step signifies a devout posture of faith.”

“Correct. The steps of a temple are symbols of worship toward the deity it serves. The number changes depending on the temple’s meaning, and three represents a trial.”

“…So that means some sort of trial took place here?”

“Can’t say. The ‘trial’ in religion can mean many different things.”

It was useful knowledge.

Even setting aside 《Rest》, customs and culture related to history and ruins could help him grasp the overall atmosphere of this world.

“Wait, there’s an inscription here.”

“Professor Ruiden, can you translate it?”

“Just a moment. Ah, fortunately it’s a language I know.”

Professor Ruiden pulled a notebook from his coat, flipped through it, then slowly translated the text.

[All things are relative.]

“All things are relative…”

“What could it mean?”

“Is it referring to the measure of one’s faith?”

“Possible. That would be the most likely interpretation.”

“What do you think, Professor Ruiden?”

“I agree.”

There were few clues to be found at the entrance.

With no choice but to go in, they all climbed the steps and stepped into the temple.

“…”

Carl scanned the surroundings as he followed behind the group.

But the moment he set foot inside the temple along with the others, an abrupt change engulfed him.

Shhhhhh—!

The entire scene warped.

As though being sucked somewhere, the image of the temple shrank away until all that remained before him was an endless white world.

“…”

Carl stopped mid-step.

Whether he had fallen into a trap or triggered a spell or formation, the best option for now was to stay still.

That way, he could retrace his own mistakes and find his way back to the life gate.

‘I feel nothing at all.’

The problem was that his senses didn’t detect anything at all.

If it were a trap, there should be at least some sort of presence — but his surroundings were completely engulfed in pure void.

“Miss Laysis?”

His low voice disintegrated into the empty air.

Even when speaking softly, it echoed everywhere — the complete opposite of just moments ago.

“This has become troublesome.”

Carl narrowed his eyes.

It was certain no one else was nearby.

Whether everyone else had fallen into separate traps and been sent to different places, or whether he alone had been dropped here — he couldn’t tell.

Thud.

At that moment, a presence stirred behind him.

Carl quickly schooled his expression, exhaled a short breath, and turned his head.

“Oh, there’s someone here. Good. I thought I’d been separated alone—”

But he soon froze.

In this white-dyed world stood a lone figure, completely wrapped in layers of black cloth.

If that was all, Carl might have thought it was simply a monster or an enemy that appeared.

…If not for the emblem of the Killing Veil on its chest.

‘Was 《Justice》 also an assassin of the Killing Veil like me?’

For a moment, the shock was enough to make him think so.

But Carl quickly realized another fact.

“…No. You’re not 《Justice》.”

There was no doubt.

The figure before his eyes was—

The Greatest Assassin of the Central Plains.

The Unkillable Mu-ak.

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