Chapter 46 (2/2)

「We're up against Draugrs.」

「Oh, right. They have keen senses.」

Hikaru noticed they could detect light back when the Living Heads floated around them for a bit. They had to turn off the lamp so they could pa.s.s through the Draugrs and the Dead Knight.

「Don't let go of my hand, Lavia. Just stay behind me.」

They both started down the wide path that led to the castle.

Are we really going through the front? Lavia wanted to ask, but thought better of it. Hikaru said they'd go, so she just had to believe in him. She adjusted the brightness of the lamp to light up only their feet. The moment Hikaru squeezed her hand twice, she turned it off.

Darkness enveloped her. The faint silhouette of the castle seemed to melt into the dark.

Lavia saw green lights in the Draugrs' eyes. Tiny as a needle's eye, they were clear in the darkness. Hikaru's footsteps were slow, but sure. Lavia didn't know that it was because of his Mana Detection.

Then, she almost let out a shriek as she stepped on a stone, twisting her ankle. Taking a breath, she walked forward once more.

Metal clanged. Hikaru stopped. They should be less than ten meters away from the Dead Knight. What now? Are we turning back? Lavia wanted to ask, but she couldn't open her mouth. Not right now. The wind had stopped blowing, and she was sweating.

Once again, the sound of metal rang. Lavia felt Hikaru's grip on her hand loosen slightly. He walked forward, and she followed. How many meters are we from the Dead Knight? Five? Three?

Another sound.

Lavia flinched. The sound came from just beside her ear. She almost admired herself for not letting out a sound. Hikaru quickened his pace and she matched it.

Horrible stench a.s.saulted her senses. It must be the Draugrs, she thought. Hikaru stopped, turned left for a bit, then straight, then right. Lavia realized he was avoiding the Draugrs. Though she didn't know how he was able to know their exact locations.

Then Hikaru stood still and turned around to face Lavia. All of a sudden, Hikaru embraced her. In his arms, they moved slowly, half a step at a time. The stench was becoming unbearable. Feeling nauseous, tears welled up in Lavia's eyes.

Are the Draugrs really that close to each other? Maybe I should've just blasted them all to oblivion with my spells, she thought.

Hikaru's grip loosened. Pulling on Lavia's hand, he walked faster than ever before. She knew they had made it past the monsters. The stench was gone as well. Hikaru squeezed her hand twice.

I know. We made it, right? Lavia squeezed back. Once again, he squeezed her hand twice.

I'm fine. Just exhausted, she answered. He did it once more.

It was hard for you as well, huh? Are you worried about me? Grinning, Lavia squeezed twice. So you have that side of you… Ehehe…

Hikaru stopped.

「Uh, can you please turn on the lamp?」he whispered in her ear.

The royal castle's design was different from the current one. It would probably take an hour to go around the place.

「Let's check the inside.」Hikaru said.

「Lavia?」

「It's nothing. Let's go.」

Hikaru thought she refused to turn on the light earlier. When he finally asked her directly, she finally did. Lavia held his hand with one hand, while holding the lamp with the other. She turned her face away from him. For some reason, she was beet red.

Dead n.o.bles roamed about inside the castle, but there was no sight of a Dead Knight. Hikaru took the opportunity to kill them all and gained three levels. With this, his soul rank was now 27, while Lavia's was 24.

「Where do we go from here? The throne room?」Lavia asked.

They were having bread, dried meat, and dried fruits for lunch. Inside the palace grounds, Dead n.o.bles that Hikaru killed with one strike were sprawled about.

「Clearing a dungeon means getting the treasure.」Hikaru said.

「Yup, exactly.」

Lavia was suddenly eager.

「In that case, we have to find the storage first. I'm also curious as to how this city collapsed, so it would be great if we could find clues to that.」

「Clues? Are you planning to interview the undead or something?」

「That would be our last resort. They'd notice us if I did that. I think the royal capital sank underground and then everyone turned into undead monsters. I wonder if anyone left some records of the events.」

「It's possible. A king has a secretary. They probably have a record of what happened.」

「Where can I find it?」

「They're mostly top secret matters, so the records would either be in the king's office, or in the archives exclusively for the royal family.」

「So we have to check out the throne room.」

Tossing the last piece of dried fruit in his mouth, Hikaru stood up.

「All right. Let's look for the treasure first. This place isn't like the n.o.bles' mansions. I want to find something valuable.」

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