Volume 3 Chapter 118-2 The Decline Of Silverwooloo I
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Kian communicated to Sarah with sign language, telling her to be careful not to have anything stolen, and then started the camp breakdown process.
* * *
The second day of exploration began.
The ancient temple was found much more easily than expected.
No, under normal circumstances, it wouldn’t have been easy, but Kian and Rean were overwhelming the rapidly increasing numbers of Lower-rank Bloodsucking Kind, allowing the group to proceed smoothly.
As they walked along the mountain from the campsite, they encountered a daunting number of Shield Cain and Sword Cain. These creatures had large thorn-like spikes attached to their bodies and were behaving more aggressively than usual.
If they had engaged in a proper fight, they would have been forced to retreat temporarily due to the enemy’s numbers. However, this was the perfect opportunity for Kian’s charm magic and Rean’s ability to turn enemies into mummies with a single strike.
Serena, with her sharp eyesight, spotted a stone temple on the middle slope of the white mountain. The group, while cutting down the approaching Bloodsucking Kind, climbed the white slope and rushed into the ancient temple.
The moment they entered the flat and wide entrance from the white slope, the Bloodsucking Kind retreated smoothly toward the swamp, as if their previous offensive had been a lie.
Several warriors from the Branch Family of the ‘Storm Herd’ who were accompanying them collapsed onto the stone floor of the temple, exhausted.
Kian, glancing at Serena and Ninini giving water to the horses, looked around the entrance of the ancient temple again.
The ancient temple was entirely made of stone.
However, the stonework was superior to that of poorly developed modern civilizations.
The entrance’s width was easily fifty meters, and on both sides were thick stone columns so large that Kian would need to hold hands with three people to circle them. The ceiling was high, over ten meters. Despite the fact that a lot of time had passed since it was built, the temple showed no signs of collapsing.
It reminded them of a giant dungeon where some powerful monster was residing deep inside.
In fact, it might be acceptable to call it a dungeon.
”By the way, I forgot to mention, but the intermediary said that a Barghest guy disappeared from the campsite yesterday evening. We set off in a hurry after receiving that report.”
A Wolfman leader approached and spoke.
”If it was yesterday evening, then he’s probably not here anymore.”
”It’s already noon too.”
The young leader looked back at the white scenery outside the entrance.
”The guy should be busy with the usual duties of acting captain.”
Whether to consider it good luck or bad luck.
If Barghest were still here, they might have been able to get some information before being teleported. If he’s gone, it should be easy to break through to the temple’s center.
The party took a short break there and had an early lunch.
After that, several of Yelmar’s subordinates were left to wait at the entrance, and the rest of the members set off toward the deepest part of the ancient temple.
The wide corridor with a high ceiling continued for several tens of meters, and soon they descended a wide staircase of several stories to come before a massive double door.
The door was inlaid with various sizes of Black Onyx, and when viewed as a whole, it appeared as a beautifully complex magic pattern.
The door was sealed with powerful magic, but Sarah unsealed it, so there was no need to forcibly eliminate it with the Windsong Blade.
However, as soon as Sarah touched the door, three autonomous golems appeared. Kian and Rean each used their magic swords to instantly break the golems’ spiritual cores, settling the matter.
”……”
Kian, who had smashed the second golem, was fishing for a circuit that looked like it could be valuable when he suddenly felt Rean’s flickering gaze. Rean seemed interested in Kian’s equipment as well. A man who had been like a mere weed until a few months ago had not only killed Bloodsucking Kind but also instantly slaughtered powerful golems. His shameless gaze was something that couldn’t be helped.
When they opened the door, light was visible at the end of the corridor.
As they moved forward, they emerged into the courtyard of the ancient temple.
The ceiling was high and unusually dark, giving the illusion that they had dug through a cave to build a temple. In reality, the structure was built by carving into the mountainside, with a roofed grand temple standing atop it.
Surrounding the courtyard were several buildings, and the first thing that caught the eye was the massive entrance in front.
There, resembling the tombs of ancient royalty, were many statues of enormous monsters with wings.
They were not gargoyles that would move if approached, so there was no need to fear, but if such monsters had actually flown through the skies in ancient times, it would be a terrifying thought.
Perhaps this temple was created as a building meant to worship, revere, and calm these demon-like creatures.
”…I can’t feel the heartbeat of Vest.”
While Sarah was deactivating the barrier at the entrance, Rean muttered to no one in particular.
Ninini’s face darkened.
”Isn’t Vest here-nya?”
”I don’t know. Anyway, we need to search every corner.”
”It seems there is someone inside this large building… One person? No, there are some strange responses, but a few seem human.”
Kian said this to Ninini.
”Probably members of the Silverwooloo clan.”
The leader of the Wolfmen, interjected.
”That Barghest bastard, he really did lock up the captains in the ancient temple.”
(Everything is blamed on Barghest… This must be proof that he is generally considered shady by others.)
Whether Serena’s family was trapped inside or not was unclear, as the young Wolfmen leader said.
With the amount of magic power, it was impossible for it to be Vestacia, and even the Wolfmen’s magic power was too small.
No, the strongest reaction came from something with a magic power level similar to Serena’s, but the other strange responses (could they be human?) were clearly emitting only weak waves of magic power.
”I feel a distortion in space-time.”
Sarah whispered as she returned to Kian after breaking the seal on the door.
She looked at Serena and asked,
”Ms. Serena, don’t you feel anything?”
”I kind of feel my hair standing on end. It’s like a sudden drop from a high place, the feeling occasionally comes through.”
”That’s a unique way of putting it. What do you guys think?”
”I get the same feeling, my hair’s standing on end too. I can’t calm down.”
”It feels like a huge amount of Cain seeds are spewing out from somewhere.”
”It’s like the wave emitted by a teleportation gate, but compared to a gate, it’s much bigger and gives off a bad feeling.”
To Kian’s question, the Wolfmen warriors each answered like that.
”I’ll go first. I’ll rely on you all for support.”
Rean materialized a black magic sword and, with his shining golden hair flowing, walked through the door with dignity.
It was a passage with a gaping darkness, but he did not show any sign of fear.
Despite his flaws, he was a hero befitting East End at moments like this.
Following the golden-haired young man, Kian stepped into the passage.
Sarah chanted a spell and spat out several insect-type golems from her mouth.
Oblivious to the Wolfmen warriors who were pulling a “Ugh…” face, Sarah brightly lit up the insect-type golems, illuminating the area around the group.
She might be serious, but it still looked very unseemly…
Soon, the passage came to an end, and they emerged into a wide, round space.
The size of the plaza was such that even if the Kian group secured their own personal space, there would still be plenty of room left over.
Several magic stone lamps, which served as light sources with glowing magic stones, were installed around, illuminating the plaza in a pale blue light.
In the center, there was an object resembling a large tree made of pure black stone, surrounded by a fence of roses made of Black Onyx.
Between the large tree and the black rose fence, several human shadows could be seen.
Sitting down──?
Bent over, wrapping something around their body.
As Kian’s group stepped into the plaza, on the right side just after entering, a female Wolfman lying on a sleeping bag stirred and sat up while rubbing her eyes.
”Hm…, is it Barghest?”
”Mother!”
Serena, who was walking beside Kian, saw the woman and immediately ran forward in respect.
Serena, not listening to Sarah’s stop, clung to the woman and started crying, “Mother, Mother” inside her chest.
”Se, Serena? Why… Barghest is? ──────! You all!”
The eyes of the woman holding Serena caught the poorly behaved Wolfmen warriors.
The woman leaned out to protect Serena, drew the knife she had at her waist, and took a stance.
She was dressed in typical Western travel attire, and considering the physical abilities of the Wolfmen, she seemed ready to leap at any moment.
Kian hurriedly stepped in front of everyone, put away the Windsong Blade, and raised both hands.
”We are not enemies. We came to find our companions who are trapped in this temple. The Wolfmen behind us are our allies.”
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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