Chapter 176: Secret Tunnel

'Original Effect: If the user of this Spring is strongly disliked, those in the radius receive incredible healing'

Rein looked back at her curiously as he read the effect, though she had promptly fallen asleep in the short time that Rein looked away. With a despairing sigh, he looked forward to the forest lit with white moon glow, a mystical enchanting atmosphere as he rid through, his mind drifting off to several subjects, though never to unconsciousness.

Strangely, when dawn broke and they arrived at Kanirah, he didn't feel the slightest hint of tire or drowsiness. Rein stopped the carriage along the outskirts of the city, just far enough so that he wouldn't be spotted by the Orthlysian soldier guarding the entrance.

"We've finally arrived, huh?" Yusuke suddenly appeared beside Rein without notice, hoisted upon his knee as he gandered off at the town.

"It looks like the security's already been tightened here. We should skip this town and go for Tuw—" suddenly, Rein felt his chest tighten as he felt a warm feeling emanating from the city.

"Something wrong, Rein? You got a little pale there," Yusuke remarked in slight worry, seeing Rein shrug his head negatively.

"No, I'm fine," he assured. "I think someone I know might be in there. I don't know how, but I just have this feeling…" Rein revealed, to which Yusuke raised an eyebrow.

"And you expect me to trust this 'feeling' of yours then?"

"I don't expect you to do anything. I'm going in," Rein coldly retorted as he heard Yusuke laugh hardily.

"That's the kind of attitude I like from you kid! Don't worry, I'll come too. I know a good way in—" Yusuke stopped as he put his arm around Rein, interrupted by a soft yawn emerging from the back of the carriage.

As Yusuke looked back, Rein noticed a pleasantly surprised look in his eyes for a brief moment, which then disappeared as he looked back at Rein.

"Hey, you found a girl! Nice job," he congratulated Rein teasingly.

"You seriously didn't notice her? She was right in front of you when you woke up," Rein shrugged Yusuke's arm from around him.

"I'm a pretty sound sleeper, and I just woke up. Cut a man some slack," he defended himself as Chuzea sleepily awakened.

"Hey, wake up. We're lea—" as Rein took a step towards her, she suddenly whimpered, then fearfully retreated to the back of the carriage.

"No! Please, I'm sorry! I'm awake now, see?" She quivered in the corner, shielding her head with her slender arms.

Rein stopped and looked at her with pity in his eyes, then saw Yusuke pass him, approaching the frightened teenage girl. He put his hand softly on her head and patted it faintly, calming her trembling, making her look up at him, her eyes full of tears.

He didn't say a word to her. He only looked at her with a familiar sense of dread, though it emanate a warm, caring feeling to Chuzea.

Rein finally sighed and approached the girl, then knelt down in front of her, waving to get her attention.

"Look, I don't know what you've gone through, and I won't ask. But you said it yourself, your Spring isn't working on me," Rein observed, which made her twitch in realization. "That should prove that I don't hate you."

"Rein…" She finally composed herself as Yusuke removed his hand. "Thank you," she stood up and bowed down promptly as Rein also stood up and walked away.

"No need. Just hurry up and follow me," Rein went on ahead, leaving Yusuke and Chuzea in the carriage, looking at the white-haired boy tying the horse's leash ahead.

"You okay, kid?" Yusuke finally broke his silence, making Chuzea notice his presence at last.

"O-oh! Who are you, sir?" She posed, for some reason not feeling scared of him.

"The name's Yusuke. How'd a young Ranger like you get here? Stranded after the Hasbin Gulf incident?" Yusuke theorized, somehow instantly discerning that she was a Ranger, despite there being nothing indicating it.

"Yes. Rein found me and threw me into the carriage," she answered, not realizing Yusuke's deduction that she was a Ranger. "You were the one who calmed me down, right? Thank you," she turned to him and bowed down, to which he laughed.

"No problem! If a kid is in need, you can count on me," he happily boasted, then looked at Rein. "Especially him. I can only imagine what he saw down there," he whispered to himself as his smile faded away, making Chuzea tilt her head curiously as she didn't hear him.

"Hm?" She sounded as Rein popped back into the carriage after finishing tying the leash, telling them to hurry up.

As they left the carriage, Yusuke lead the way to a small ditch in the grassy, yet slightly mountainous region to the east of the city, a miniature hole in the ground between a barricade of small hills. A trap door, covered in piles of shredded grass was unearthed as Yusuke cracked open the hatch, motioning for the other two to quickly enter.

He followed, closing the door behind him, along with their only light source, leaving them in the dark, narrow tunnel that lead straight into the core of the city. As they carefully traversed through, Yusuke remained at the rear of the single-file tunnel while Rein was at the front, occasionally providing Rein with directions of turns, though he didn't need them as he could see perfectly fine in the environment.

"There's a ladder straight ahead. Make sure not to fall," Yusuke directed to Rein, who could see the ladder at the end of the tunnel, a strangely sturdy, yet lavish-looking one made of high-grade metal, seeming as though it was maintained frequently.

"Where does this lead up to?" Rein posed, curious about the out-of-place high-quality ladder.

"It's the duchess of Kanirah's mansion," Yusuke revealed, which made Rein's heart drop to his stomach as he heard the words exit his mouth.

"The duchess of Kanirah… That's…"