Chapter 28

Chapter 28

Clunk- Creak- Creeeak-.

A rather large door opened with a creaking of metal.

It was the door located at the entrance to the Tomb of the Sacred Sword.

"It's a restricted area, but we have no choice. As the Vice President of the Student Council, I'll keep it open only until our investigation is over."

Rodelin, having tucked away a bunch of keys, spoke.

"Don't touch anything recklessly once you're in. This place is akin to a historical site."

It's convenient to have Rodelin as a teammate.

During gameplay, if she's not in the party, one has to crawl through a dog hole to get through this place.

'A penalty that reduces stamina by a whopping 20%.'

Slowly, I surveyed the Tomb of the Sacred Sword.

A round circular plaza, surrounded by pillars.

Four statues of goddesses, each facing the center from the north, south, east, and west.

In the center of the floor, there was a deep groove.

'This is where the Sacred Sword was placed.'

It looked similar to what I had seen in the game, but seeing it in person, its majesty was palpable.

'One of the places users like. To think I'd see it with my own eyes.'

My heart swelled with...

"Friend! Friend!"

"Yes, yes, we're friends."

The parrot flapped its wings on Raymon's shoulder.

Seems like they've decided to become friends.

Wondering if she couldn't be outdone by Raymon, Luna lifted her head slightly and said,

"Hmph! Can't be helped. I'll be your friend too."

"..."

The parrot turned its head sharply.

Even its incessant chatter stopped.

"Hey, why are you avoiding my gaze?"

"..."

"Didn't I say I'll be your friend!?"

"No!"

"Wha-what! Zero, fetch some water! We're having chicken for dinner!"

Luna grabbed the parrot and began to shake it.

"Don't do that!"

Raymon clung to Luna with his whole body to stop her.

The two of them scuffled, along with a single parrot.

They bumped slightly into the eastern statue of the goddess.

Thud!

Crash!

"..."

The jar the goddess statue was holding.

It fell to the ground and shattered.

Everyone's gaze slowly shifted from the jar to somewhere else. Right to.

Where Rodelin was standing.

"I told you. To be careful. Didn't. I?"

Rodelin's words were clipped.

Her expression fluctuated between demonic and normal.

"Sorry, so sorry."

"Apologies! Apologies!"

"Accidents always happen when you least expect them. Especially at times like this, you need to be..."

Two humans and a parrot, now in a state of reflection, knelt down.

And Rodelin, lecturing them.

It was a sight to see.

I took out a camera from the pocket dimension and captured their image.

Click-.

* * *

We were engrossed in the search for a while.

But we couldn't find even a trace of the demon, let alone the demon itself.

"Hmm, it seems our deduction was wrong, Zero."

"This place has a higher probability than others. Let's search a bit more."

"Alright. I'll request help from the Student Council. If we search one place each week, something will turn up. Well, not finding anything isn't bad. It means there's no demon."

Rodelin was more focused on the search than anyone.

"We also have to find the missing student... This is serious."

But Rodelin wouldn't need to ask the Student Council for help.

This place is the only path to the fragment of the demon.

'And the missing child can be found there too.'

I sent a signal to the parrot.

Then, the parrot flew up to one of the pillars and flapped its wings.

"Everyone, look over there. It seems our parrot friend has found something."

"Hm?"

Everyone's gaze turned in that direction.

Atop the pillar where the parrot was, there was a small lever protruding.

"A lever?"

"Why is there a lever there..."

Because that's how the game is set up.

"Is it some kind of mechanism?"

"It could just be decoration. We need to investigate. But in a place like that..."

Rodelin began devising a way to climb atop the pillar.

I subtly pushed her towards the center as she did this.

It was when we were gathered around the area where traces of the Sacred Sword remained.

"Is everyone okay?"

I think I can talk if you let me go first.

Currently, I'm in a princess carry, embraced in Rodelin's arms.

Breathing is difficult in several ways.

Realizing this, Rodelin gently put me down.

"Keke, thanks to you, we're alive."

"It's fortunate. But it seems we can't climb up from here."

We were in a place that seemed to be a cavern.

The walls emitted a faint light, so it wasn't dark.

"A magic circle based on illusion and object change magic. I can't believe I didn't notice. It must be the work of someone skilled in at least the 6th circle."

"Keke, how about using that artifact to ascend?"

"It won't work. Levitation is different from flying."

Rodelin looked up at the sky.

Its vast height seemed immeasurable.

Right. With what we had, escape was impossible.

"Demon! Demon!"

"You little! You almost got us killed! I'll really turn you into chicken!"

"Waaah! It's too scary!"

Luna started a ruckus.

Along with the parrot's shrieks and Raymon's cries.

A real disaster.

"There doesn't seem to be a lever or anything like that here. Nor anything that looks like a device."

Even in this situation, Rodelin remained calm.

She assessed our current predicament while surveying the surroundings.

"Given the specialized devices, someone must have used this. So..."

"Keke, there must be an exit somewhere."

The only sane ones here were Rodelin and me.

Well, I relied on the knowledge of the game.

"Sadly, it's unlikely we'll be rescued. We have no choice but to move forward and look for an exit."

"An excellent judgment."

"In such a situation, Zero remains calm. Impressive. If we return safely, I'll reward you with points."

I don't need points.

I plan to gain something much greater from this place.

Rodelin approached the children.

"Everyone, calm down. I understand being scared, but now's not the time to assign blame. Especially not a time for tears."

"Sniff... But..."

"We are students of the greatest academy in the empire, Annwood Academy. This is nothing compared to the trials we face."

Rodelin's ability to command the atmosphere was beyond imagination.

She instantly boosted morale.

Luna's eyes sparkled with determination, Raymon's with hope.

"I will protect you all. I swear on my name, Rodelin de Lucid!"

It almost seemed like a halo shone behind Rodelin.

Luna and Raymon looked at her, joining hands in admiration.

They were almost worshipping her as a deity.

"But! Don't touch anything recklessly. Parrot, that includes you!"

Rodelin's caution.

The parrot looked straight at me.

'What, this little guy. Did you pull the lever, or did I?'

The parrot flapped its wings, as if to say it was wrongly accused.

Of course, Rodelin couldn't understand its intention.

"Let's move forward. I'll lead the way."

Rodelin took the lead as we set off.

There was no risk of getting lost. It was a one-way path.

"Oh, light."

Soon, we arrived at a new location.

A rectangular space.

At the front was a door with a bizarre atmosphere, and on the right wall, there was a pattern of unknown meaning.

"Hmm, looks like a pattern with a rule... but it's damaged."

"There's a movable space."

"I see. A puzzle?"

Rodelin, confirming there were no traps on the door, pushed it with all her might.

But it didn't budge.

"A structure where the door opens only after solving the puzzle. This is serious. We don't even have food or water..."

Rodelin groaned, clutching her head.

Not flustered by the puzzle-like structure.

Rather, she seemed to take it as given.

'Well, that's the world of this game.'

Demons torment humans because they find joy in the process.

Puzzles are one of those torments.

Toys created by demons to watch humans suffer?

That's roughly the concept of this world.

So Rodelin's immersion in the puzzle was quite natural.

"Ugh... It's a structure I've never seen before. It might take at least three days."

Steam seemed to be coming out of Rodelin's head.

But she didn't back down. Instead, she focused even more, driven by the responsibility to protect her juniors.

'Cute.'

I gently pushed Rodelin aside and placed my hand on the puzzle.

--TL Notes--

Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to support me or give me feedback, you can do it at /MattReading