Chapter 226 - 225: Underground Tomb
"How much longer do we have to keep killing in here?"
Maki flicked the pus from his Heavy Sword, a disgusted look on his face.
"Why don’t we just cast a wide-range Lighting Skill, draw all the Undead Demons over, and finish them off in one go?"
"Great idea. While you’re at it, you can dance under the light. That should attract even more Demons," Gray shot Maki a sideways glance.
"We should be about done clearing them out," Marcus said.
The squad was currently on the first floor of Rose Castle.
According to the floor plan provided by Sangmik the butler.
As long as they followed the corridor before them to the end, they should be able to find a study.
The secret entrance to the Underground Tomb was within that study.
"That’s the place."
Valles glanced up at the closed double wooden doors at the end of the corridor, confirming the direction.
Marcus also scanned the surroundings.
Aside from the worn-out red carpet underfoot and the portraits hanging on both sides, there was nothing else.
After confirming that everything seemed normal, Marcus took the lead.
"Let’s go."
The others collected themselves and followed in order.
BANG...!
Reaching the entrance, Marcus kicked the wooden study door open, sending splinters flying.
The scene inside was dim and dark.
A thick smell, a mixture of decaying scrolls and mildew, washed over them.
Previously, while moving through the Ancient Castle, they could see clearly because the dilapidated stone structure of the ceiling let in a good deal of moonlight.
But in this room, they would definitely need the Lighting Skill.
Zelir raised a hand and cast the Lighting Skill. An orb of light floated up, illuminating the study’s interior.
This must have once been a very luxurious place.
Several headless Knight statues stood against the walls, and the floor-to-ceiling windows were completely obscured by heavy curtains.
There was even a huge fireplace built into one wall.
But now, everything was covered in dust, filled with an air of decay and deathly silence.
"The entrance to the Underground Tomb, according to Sangmik the butler, is behind the bookshelf..."
Maki sidled up to the only bookshelf in the study.
The massive bookshelf was nearly as tall as the ceiling, and most of the books on its shelves had already rotted away.
Maki glanced back, and after getting a nod of confirmation from Marcus, he gripped a protruding section with both hands and began to strain.
CREAK... CREAK...
The bottom of the heavy bookshelf scraped against the floor, making a grating noise that set their teeth on edge.
Under Maki’s terrifying Power, the bookshelf was gradually moved aside, revealing the scene hidden behind it.
There really was a secret passage.
The entrance to the passage was blocked by a wooden board.
"How strange... In other nobles’ studies, they either hide safes full of gold and jewels, or a secret passage to a lover’s bedroom."
Gray narrowed his eyes slightly.
"To think the Wenmier Clan would hide the entrance to an Underground Tomb here. Weren’t they afraid of ghosts while reading at night?"
"A unique family tradition, I suppose."
Valles stepped forward and knocked on the wooden board, which produced a hollow "TOK TOK" sound.
Obviously, it was empty behind it.
Working together, they carefully moved the board aside.
A passage extending downward appeared before them, built from smooth, black marble.
Every few meters along the walls on both sides, a Fluorite stone was embedded, emitting a soft glow.
"As long as we confirm there’s nothing unusual in the Underground Tomb, this mission should be considered done, right?"
"Probably," Valles shrugged.
The squad members exchanged glances, then entered in their previous formation.
After winding downward for about a hundred meters, the passage finally came to an end.
What came into view was a circular hall, far more magnificent and spectacular than they had imagined, with a diameter of at least a hundred meters.
The manpower and resources required to excavate such a large Underground Tomb must have been terrifying.
The high, vaulted ceiling was even inlaid with Moonstone, as if a real night sky had been sealed underground.
The entire hall was bathed in this faint, ethereal blue light.
Marcus stepped into the circular, arched hall, maintaining a vigilant posture.
As far as his eyes could see, the area was flat and unobstructed.
Aside from the massive stone pillars supporting the dome, there was nothing to block their line of sight.
’It looks... really peaceful, doesn’t it?’
Even Valles, the one with the sharpest Perception, didn’t notice anything unusual.
Seeing this, Gray, who had been on edge the whole time, finally relaxed.
He let out a loud whistle.
"Looks like we can clock out early."
The squad began to look around the place.
Around the circular hall, many heavy stone doors were evenly distributed at fixed intervals.
Gray sauntered over to one of the stone doors.
On the empty wall space beside it were carved the name of the Patriarch buried within, along with their dates of birth and death.
"White Wenmir... seventh-generation Patriarch of the Wenmier Clan..."
Gray read aloud the words carved there.
"I was just thinking..."
Maki, who was standing to the side, said thoughtfully, "I wonder if there are any valuable burial goods inside that stone door?"
"What, are you planning to switch from being an Adventurer to a Tomb Raider?"
"I was just talking..."
Despite his words, however, Maki’s gaze lingered on the stone door for a long time.
The other members of the squad also began to explore separately.
Zelir tilted his head back to observe.
Countless Moonstones twinkled dozens of meters up, forming a magnificent star chart.
Massive stone pillars supported the entire space, their surfaces carved with the epics and achievements of the Wenmier Clan’s past ancestors.
’Tsk, tsk... It seems the Wenmier Clan of the past, in its heyday, truly had a deep and rich heritage,’
Zelir thought to himself.
’Even an Underground Tomb to house their ancestors was built to be so grand and splendid.’
’A Royal Mausoleum could hardly be more impressive, could it?’
Suddenly,
KLAK...
A crisp clinking sound rang out.
Zelir paused, frowning slightly as he looked at the ground.
It seemed he had just kicked something while walking, and judging from the sound and the feeling under his foot... it was made of metal.
Zelir bent down, picked it up, and examined it carefully under the light from above.
It was actually a piece of metal.
And looking at the familiar style, it seemed to be a fragment of Scale Armor.
’Why would something like this be here?’
"Marcus."
Zelir waved to Marcus, who wasn’t far away. "Take a look at this."
"Oh...?"
Marcus took it and rubbed it in his hand.
"It’s a fragment of Scale Armor... Looking at the polished craftsmanship and thickness, the quality is quite good. And it’s very new."
As he spoke, Marcus’s own brow furrowed.
’Wait... very new?’
Marcus brought the fragment closer to his eyes.
This piece of Scale Armor, aside from the broken marks on the edges caused by being forcefully torn, was still as smooth as new on its main body.
Under the light of the Moonstone, it even reflected the cold metallic luster unique to Fine Steel.