How many times have I teleported by now?
Metastasis Event, to and from Begaritt Continent, and also Perugius's magic tool.
All in all, this is the fifth time.
Like waking up from a dream, I'm getting used to this sensation.
"Phew."
After the teleport, we arrived at a dark room.
The air is thick and moldy.
It has been abandoned for a long time.
No lights.
Not even a candlestick.
Basically a ruin.
Ah, I forgot to ask where we're going.
"Achoo!"
Cliff sneezes behind me.
I turn around to look. The other three have already stepped off the magic circle.
Elinalise is used to this. Zanoba pompously walking around.
Zanoba curiously studying the magic circle.
"Too dusty here, let's head out as soon as possible."
As Zanoba said that, I start looking for an exit.
"Eh?"
I see a wall.
Nothing like a door.
No ladder, not even a hole in the ceiling.
I carefully inspect the floor. Yep, no way out.
It's a secret room.
If Sylvaril's right, the room has been sealed.
"Em, well, where's the exit?"
"Um."
We split up to look.
Up, down, left, right, B, A.
"Found it."
After a while, Elinalise discovered space behind a wall.
Looks like she discerned it by knocking.
Maybe it's too thick, but I couldn't tell even when pressing an ear against it.
As expected of the Long Ear race.
"Okay. All yours, Zanoba."
"Um."
With a single punch, Zanoba punched a hole in the wall.
A huge hole on the wall some 50 CM thick.
As easy as tearing down a sand castle, he expanded the hole until it has room enough for one.
With Zanoba bracing, Elinalise passes through.
"I'll check ahead."
Complete darkness on the other side.
You can't even see your hand.
We know this is a stone structure, but that's pretty much it.
We don't even know if we're underground or not.
"Rudeus, lights please."
As instructed, I take out a Spirit of Light scroll and used it to illuminate the area.
We saw a room 10 meters ahead.
"Ugh."
Cliff screams when he saw the room.
Bones scattered everywhere on the floor.
As expected of the Magic Continent, bones of various shapes, almost like they're fabricated.
"Looks like this was a prison."
Elinalise said after inspecting the bones. On what's left of the arms and legs rusted cuffs can be seen.
Cliff looks pained, placing his hand in prayer.
"Oh... Milis-sama please save these lost souls."
I imitate Cliff in prayer.
Namusanbou, namusanbou.
Rest in peace.
Sorry to disturb you. We'll leave quickly.
"Let's go."
Speaking of which, there are bones everywhere.
How many were jailed here?
They probably never expected that there's a magic teleportation circle just a wall away.
Wait, no, I remember Perugius only recently reconnected this abandoned magic teleportation circle.
In other words, they were moved here before the magic circle was repaired.
If that's true, it leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
"There's a ladder, let's head up."
There's a ladder at the corner of the room.
Even though there's prisoners, they weren't fenced in.
Thinking that, I notice some rusted hinges fallen on the floor.
Maybe a wooden door once, but worn away by decay after a few thousand years.
Em, oh well.
In front of the ladder is a metal lid.
It's a door that opens upwards. Basically, a lid.
Elinalise checks for traps before attempting to push it open. It wouldn't open.
Something heavy is pressing against it.
"Okay. Go, Zanobarobo. Open it!"
"R-Robo? .... Got it."
Zanoba puts his hands against the door and pushes hard.
A heavy groan, but the door starts to open, dust and soil come flying down.
"Ugh."
"I'll handle the soil, keep going."
"G-got it, Shisho."
With all his might, Zanoba pushes the incredibly heavy door.
I use magic to get rid of all the fallen soil.
The door opens.
Sunlight shines from above.
Looks like the door leads outside.
When the door opens enough to fit through, Elinalise sneaks under it and exits.
"It's clear."
After waiting for her signal, we head out as well.