A Former Child Soldier Who Uses a Magic Sword Wants to Live with an Older Sister of a Former Enemy Executive - Chapter 95

• Chapter 95 : The unknown dungeon of the Silver City

No one knew how long the Silver City had existed.

According to dubious records, it had been around since a time when there were no monsters.

There were tall, square buildings that current construction techniques could never match, some that had oddly flat structures, and others that were excessively decorated.

They were made of an unknown material.

It looked like stone, but was in fact much harder than that, with a faint silver hue.

The entire city was covered by a thick, white fog, adding to its eerie atmosphere.

That fog hung over the city all year round, engulfing the entire landscape just a few meters ahead.

Satis attempted to use magic to survey the surrounding terrain, but her range was limited, perhaps because of that strange fog, or perhaps there was some other power at work.

[It’s no use. Magic is of no help with terrain mapping here.] (Satis)

[Well, if it could help, other adventurers would have used it too. And maybe that’s one of the reasons they never came back.] (Gravis)

[It’s strange. There’s nothing wrong with the flow of the earth’s energy. In fact, it’s much more stable and calm than in the royal capital or any other places I’ve been.] (Hydra)

[I don’t understand magic or energy, but combat in the fog is something I’ve experienced before. Still, this fog is abnormally thick.] (Seto)

Who were the people who lived in this Silver City, where did they come from, and where did they go?

Even now, many mysteries remained, and those who entered never returned, fostering a fear of the unknown.

Seto and the rest had left the royal capital early in the morning and arrived two hours later.

Despite the rising sun brightly illuminating the land, its light was blocked by the fog. Moreover, it was said that the temperature in it remained unchanged throughout the year, just like in a well.

Though it was not as cold as winter, they could feel the chill of the countless past years.

[I have to say, this place gives me the creeps. …Satis, aren’t you cold? And you, Gravis?] (Seto)

[Well, it’s not freezing, so I’m okay. But look at this. It’s not just the buildings, even the plants have a faint silver tint. They look like minerals.] (Satis)

[No doubt a lot of people lived here peacefully before the city turned into this. …What could’ve happened?] (Hydra)

[This place is very mysterious, and just perfect for a treasure trove to lie hidden. Maybe we’ll find something incredible besides the magic sword. Heh heh heh!] (Gravis)

Their four voices and footsteps echoed through the white fog and buildings.

This endlessly quiet city, still retaining vestiges of its past, had existed on this vast land for a long time.

[Still, the damage done is quite severe. Did monsters rampage here or something? I’m not sensing any evil life energy right now.] (Hydra)

Hydra was scanning their surroundings and looking in every direction.

Though they heard several stories of adventurers coming here before them, there were no traces of them to be found.

Seto would look up at the towering buildings, cast his gaze on the shadows, etc.

It was a habit from his time as a soldier, always being on the lookout for ambushes and snipers.

It was the desolate and eerie atmosphere of the Silver City that put him on edge.

[I wonder what people were doing, living in such huge buildings. Just climbing to the upper floors would be exhausting.] (Seto)

[Indeed. They’re too big to be called towers, and there’s no point in building so many of them. …Also, all the paths in this city are not paved with floor stones… but something entirely different…] (Satis)

[Hey~, can’t we stop with the complicated stuff? Let’s talk more about adventures and treasures instead!] (Gravis)

[You’re way too carefree.] (Satis)

[You must be the type to either die on the battlefield or flee first.] (Seto)

[Wai—?! Even you scold me, Seto?! …Okay, okay, I’ll be serious.] (Gravis)

Right after she responded, something was triggered under her feet, and suddenly, a magic circle appeared on the ground, enveloping everyone.

[You’re actually messing up from the get-go…?] (Satis)

[Eh?! You’re saying this is my fault?!] (Gravis)

[That’s a clever trap. A device camouflaged with the ground. …Is there somebody here?] (Hydra)

[Everyone, be careful! Something is??] (Seto)

Before he could finish, the magic circle activated.

Even Satis had never seen such a pattern, but it appeared to be a teleportation circle.

When they came to, Seto and Satis were together in a different location.

At first, Satis thought they were in front of a luxurious mansion, but realized it was not.

It looks like the academy that young magicians attend in the royal capital. Judging by the location, it seems we’re in the courtyard. (Satis)

Finding an academy like that in the Silver City was quite a discovery.

Based on their surroundings, it was clear no one had entered since it became deserted.

Thus, they had to be deep within the Silver City.

[Seto, I’m worried about Hydra. …And Gravis too, I suppose. Let’s explore the area a bit.] (Satis)

[Got it. For now, there are no enemies in sight. And no snipers either, apparently.] (Seto)

[Y-Your soldier mode sure comes in handy at times like this.] (Satis)

[My job is to protect you with all I’ve got. This Silver City is stranger than any other place I know. We need to be on full alert.] (Seto)

[…You’re right, let’s stay sharp.] (Satis)

[You’ve got a smirk on your face. Are you sure you’re focused? Your face is flushed too.] (Seto)

[Wha—?! Don’t stare at me like that!] (Satis)

Despite being in a courtyard, the white fog made it hard for them to see much.

Seto and Satis walked close together, trying not to stray from each other, and keeping an eye on their surroundings.

Then they saw what seemed to be human figures ahead.

They called out to them, but got no response.

On closer inspection, they realized the figures were two large statues.

The material used was unknown.

One was the bust of a long-haired girl with angel wings on her back.

The other was the statue of a weeping boy seemingly lying in wait for the girl.

The boy’s damage was far more severe than that of the girl, with his mouth split all the way up to his ear, and his left leg missing below the knee.

[Oh, they’re just statues. That startled me.] (Seto)

[They’re in terrible shape. Let’s leave them alone.] (Satis)

Hmm… The statue of that angel girl is so pretty. She’s got a chest comparable to Gravis’. (Seto)

As Satis continued to scan the area, Seto observed the statue for a while.

He was hoping to find a clue, but the boy did not seem to have a very good discerning eye.

Just as he was about to give up and return to Satis, he suddenly glanced back at the statue, when…

??The angel statue moved like a real person, and was looking at Seto.

Seto kept his eyes fixed on it, then cautiously moved a few steps to the side.

The statue followed him with its head, as if it were truly alive.

[Hey, Satis… Hey.] (Seto)

[What’s wrong? I also noticed something…] (Satis)

The truth was, Satis also saw something strange.

She just spotted a human boy in front of her.

He looked like a ghost, and was standing and staring at a building with his back to her.

Just as she was about to call out to him, the boy swiftly crawled up the wall on all fours and disappeared into the fog.

Realizing they both noticed something odd, Seto approached her back to back.

[Satis, there’s definitely something strange about this place. Let’s find an escape route.] (Seto)

[Yes, we’re probably in a courtyard… So there should be an entrance to the building or something. It’s hard to see because of the fog, but let’s look for it.] (Satis)

[Alright. …I’ve been feeling uneasy for the past while. Not from any actual killing intent or hostility, but from a slight sense of danger based on past experiences.] (Seto)

[I understand what you mean. Let’s move quietly and calmly, and keep our breathing steady.] (Satis)

Their goal was to escape the building and reunite with Gravis and Hydra, who were most likely somewhere else.

On their journey up to this point, they had faced monsters, bandits, and even the four wraiths in Seto’s case, but this place made Seto more tense than any of those encounters.

If this turns into a battle, I might need to use the gauntlets I got from the trial. …Even that slightly creepy silver gauntlet “Typhon” if necessary… We’re in an unknown territory. I can’t be picky about my methods. (Seto)

With Satis behind him, Seto clenched his teeth and kept his eyes sharp and focused.

The two of them would work together to escape this place.

Meanwhile, Gravis and Hydra were also on the move.

It seemed they had also been teleported together, and were cautiously exploring their new location.

Said location was a place that would now be called a small tavern.

Though covered in dust, the tavern was relatively undamaged inside and out compared to the rest.

As soon as she realized it was a tavern, Gravis excitedly rummaged through the old liquor bottles.

Examining labels with unknown letters and pictures, and lining them up on a table.

[What are you planning to do with these?] (Hydra)

[Isn’t it obvious? I’m taking some back to drink.] (Gravis)

[I don’t think that’s a good idea…] (Hydra)

[What? We’re treasure hunting, aren’t we? These are treasures too.] (Gravis)

[Riiight…] (Hydra)

While Gravis was nonchalantly looking around and humming, Hydra inspected the tavern’s interior without straying too far from her.

There were classically designed tables and chairs, and dusty bottles and glasses on top of them.

Cold air filled her lungs through her nose.

A thin layer of fog even hung over the inside of the bar, making the room seem larger and more eerie.

As if something might crawl out of that white mist at any moment.

Feeling spooked by the idea, Hydra turned to head back to Gravis when…

—THUD!

The sound made both of their expressions freeze as they instantly readied themselves for combat.

The noise came from the door behind the bar counter.

Someone was there, right behind that door. 

Gravis readied her crossbow, while Hydra held up her new weapons, two iron fans, in both hands.

However, there was no sign of movement from the person on the other side of the door.

As if they were waiting for their move.

There was a moment of tense silence, but Gravis, losing patience, fired at the door, ignoring Hydra’s warnings to stop.

The sound of the thorns piercing the door and the sound of gunfire echoed in vain.

But there was no sound of anything falling or any death cries.

The hole in the door showed only darkness beyond.

With a faint sound of air blowing through.

But the presence of that someone had not vanished at all.