Chapter 69 – Searching (Start)

“This is?” at this very moment, in front of Fafnir and Rumont, the engraving filled with various kinds of stone hues on the wall, the faint coloured Goddess engraving still with an old smile and gaze that was directed at everybody, it was watching Rumont.

Soft graceful lines, with the height of an average person, although the facial features were indistinct, but it still allowed people to feel that at this very moment, she was in the process of smiling.

This was an image that was engraved with exceptionally fine details. During the first glance, the observer would perhaps feel, that there was no other differences between it and the other surrounding engravings.

But supposed that the observer looked at it in detail upon this petite figured engraving in which the artisans had squandered all their efforts on, which pretty much had the height of an ordinary person, then they would discover that in actual fact, it was absolutely exceeding the other engravings by a far amount.

First there was no need to mention of the body contours of the image. The more carefully it was observed, the more graceful and natural it would seem to people.

It was the indistinct engraving of the facial features, that at the first sight it would perhaps invoke the feelings of a flaw, but supposed it was looked over in detail, then it would be sensed that the originally obscured beauty used here was fitting.

It was precisely because its visage appeared to be completely obscured, that it made it seemingly appear to observer to be of a flower amidst of fog in general; unable to be seen clearly. Allowing people to want to observe it all the more increasingly.

As for the sudden peculiar charm that appeared, it further made people when they looked at it, unable to take their eyes off.

Just then, during the moment that Rumont and Fafnir was talking, it was because Rumont had carelessly glanced at its face, that the peculiar type of feeling had suddenly interested him afterwards.

During the process that he and the image was facing each other, he had surprisingly seen that the engraving of the Goddess on the wall, had unexpectedly given him a wink.

And after he had been startled, when he again carefully looked, he could not find anything that had changed. The Goddess image was as before, smiling and watching over everyone within the stone chamber, without a change. Nothing had changed at all.

Rumont at that time had no choice but to force a smile as an explanation for himself. He who had always considered his eyesight to be great, also had times of looking wrongly.

However, when he turned his body away from facing the image, a type of power, seemingly made him think strongly of a certain notion, had once again reappeared. And this time, Rumont was sure that that particular feeling was absolutely not a misconception.

As a Druid, Rumont’s senses were basically sharper than the average person. He also had the Shennong Horn spatial region endlessly transforming his physique. Although it couldn’t be said that the current Rumont’s various physical qualities was already exceptionally sublime, but in comparison to other Druids of his standard, his various senses were even more sensitive and more miraculous.

As a result of discovering the peculiarity of this Goddess image, during the time when Commander Howard had announced that they were to begin conducting an inspection of the stone chamber floors, Rumont had waited a moment before running to the front of the Goddess figure.

Merely, the key that was once within its hand had, when Rumont used his finger to softly touch it, miraculously and shockingly disappeared.

What had appeared in its place on top of the hand, was a tiny lock that was already opened. The lock was naturally held within the palm, seeming to have existed there from the very beginning.

As for the disappeared key, it was sudden and weird. If it wasn’t for the fact that Rumont had always watched it attentively, he nearly would have assumed he had again seen things again. Only, even if had always watched it like so, he still had yet to discover how the exchanging of the key and lock had come about.

Such a weird kind phenomenon caused the pair of Rumont and Fafnir to be dumbfounded.

So much that Rumont even had a kind of misconception. It seemed as he again saw a transformation of the engraving of the Goddess, which had been always smiling and gazing over everyone. Merely, the change that appeared this time wasn’t the eyes of the Goddess figure, but instead was its smile.

The smile was more prominent. That was the kind of feeling Rumont got from gazing at it.

The mouth that was originally faint with a slight uplift, had seemingly widened and hooking all the more up; after the key had changed into a copper lock. It was obvious that the smile of this Goddess was especially joyful, so much that the smile was even a little bit strange.

And practically at the same time, by the side of Rumont and Fafnir, two large stone made tiles had suddenly opened towards the two sides. If it wasn’t at this moment that Fafnir and Rumont was standing by the side, they basically wouldn’t have been aware of the movement of the tiles.

Despite it was two seriously heavy stone tiles, but for some unknown reason, during the process of its continual movement, unexpectedly not a single sound was emitted.

After the two large stone tiles had quickly moved to the left and right, an enormous entrance had appeared just like that in front of Rumont and Fafnir.

Meanwhile, a gale of cold and damp air had blown from the inside of the entrance out. A dull and fishy scent had rapidly spread throughout the stone chamber.

Although they were here and had yet to have enough time to make a sound, there were those with good eyes that had discovered the situation from a short distance. Hastily calling out to everyone to hurry over.

“What is this?” Commander Howard at this time had also discovered the commotion over at this location, as he walked over from another corner.

Seeing the two large tiles that had unexpectedly moved to the two sides in revealing a deep entrance at the centre, when Commander Howard saw this, he couldn’t help but inhale a sharp breath of cold air.

And everyone all understood at this time how the group of bugbears could enter the stone chambers without a sound, and carry out an ambush against them.

As it turns out, the cause was here. This stony location was at the furthest of corners. Because it was sufficiently far away from everyone, thus, the originally noiseless movement of the mechanism, that after everyone had fallen asleep, was naturally unable to even attract anyone’s attention.

And so, during the time when everyone was waking from the midst of dreams, the bugbears had already come out from below the tunnel below, carrying an attack against them. Thinking that it was because of such a negligence, that 6 human lives was thrown away for nothing, everyone all sighed deeply within their minds.

“The dark passage was discovered by you guys?” Commander Howard squatted down, carefully inspecting the entrance, before puzzly asking Rumont. “Where’s the mechanism?”

Rumont’s gaze shortly turned towards the wall on the side, following his vision, everyone also looked towards the figure on the stone wall.

“The mechanism is this image?” Commander Howard couldn’t help but walk to the front of the figure, unconvincingly using his hands to feel it up. “Whereabouts?”

This imagery that when it was looked upon was no different in anyway to ther other engravings, was really quite unremarkable. If it wasn’t indicated by Rumont, Commander Howard basically wouldn’t have taken notice of it.

Because he wasn’t like Rumont in possessing keen senses, when Commander Howard looked at it earnestly at this moment, the strange power seemingly did not act nor beckon him. Hence, after looking for a while, he still did not discover how the image was different.

Consequently, Rumont pointed out the lock for everyone to look at. “It’s over here. Just then when I was inspecting it all over, I carelessly touched this place. Originally this should have been a key, only when I touched it, it had changed into this opened lock. Afterwards, the dark passage entrance had appeared.”

“Really?” because hearing it was rather incredible, Commander Howard couldn’t help but use his hands to touch the lock while stating his perplexity. “This kind of mechanism, is still quite rarely heard of……”

Just as he spoke, he then heard his squad member produce a cry in fear on the side. Turning his head for a look, the entrance that was wide open just then, at this moment, had suddenly disappeared without a trace.

Again turning his head to look at the figure, looking at what the hand was grasping at this moment, it was already no longer the open lock, but instead was the key that had again changed back.

“Looks like this is the contraption for for the dark passageway.” Howard again used his hand to press on the key. Consequently, the entrance appeared again.

At this time, everyone’s sight was all looking towards the entrance.

Because the entrance was enormous and thus, even though the inside circumstances couldn’t be seen quite clearly, yet within everyone’s eyes, they all probably had a rough impression.

Presumably below the entrance, there must be a passageway that linked to another area, or perhaps, there existed a similar room below the stone steps; it couldn’t be said for sure.

The steps were of masonry, from everyone’s current point of view, they couldn’t see where the steps lead to in the end. However, the area their line of sight reached was increasing more spacious.

Puffs of cold winds continuously blew upwards from within. It could be seen from this that it wasn’t an enclosed room. The inside definitely had a pathway to another area.

“We’ve already found the origin of how the bugbears came. Presently, what should we do?” Commander Howard turned around, soliciting opinions from everyone.

Following on, everyone then begun to discuss what kind of measures should be adopted. Some people believed that since they already found the entrance, then so long as they carried out a careful guarding, one safe night could be guaranteed. There was no need to curiously enter the entrance and find exactly what was hidden. After all, everyone had already gone through a hard battle, the current casualties were heavy, they already don’t have the physical strength or ability to go seeking for troubles.

However, there were also a group of people that believed that since they already discovered the passageway that the bugbears had came through, then, from this they should seek the bugbear lair to avenge their fallen comrades; which was an act they had to do. Furthermore, taking offense instead of defense was an even better guarantee to everyone’s safety.

All kinds of things were said. However, these two were the main general standpoints. The parties of each of the two kinds of points underwent a fierce arguing. In the end, Commander Lancas had stepped out, putting a stop to everyone’s arguing.

He first confirmed the feelings the former members had. Only, what followed, was that he then changed the topic, mentioning the corpses of 6 members that was yet to cool, and that the bugbears that couldn’t be completely eliminated. It was honestly a matter that caused regret for people.

Following on his influential speech, the people with the former point of view that were originally intending to hold on, had also gradually silenced. Finally, the second viewpoint had an overwhelming support, becoming the action plan they were about to carry out.

According to Lancas’ proposal, apart from the members that were above safeguarding the others that were injured and still undergoing recovery, the other members that weren’t injured, were to all enter the entrance below in finding exactly what the entrance below concealed.

If they’re able to find traces of the bugbears per se, they would also properly avenge the dead; allowing the 6 people to die with their eyes closed. And when his own proposal had obtained everyone’s approval, Lancas’ sight had shifted onto the direction where Rumont was, saying: “Rumont, you also join in.”

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