Alise and Solon stood there, their hands tightly interlaced.
The lingering sensation of the kiss was still warm upon their lips. Alise gave Solon's palm a gentle, meaningful squeeze. Solon gripped her back, feeling the warmth radiating from her fingertips, his heart stirred by a restless impulse. He found himself wanting to lean back in and continue where they had left off.
Alise, sensing his intent, feigned a businesslike demeanor to steer the conversation away from the mounting tension.
"Regardless, the priority is finding a way out of here," she said.
"Right. Give me a moment; I'll use a spell to determine our route," Solon replied.
He closed his eyes, mentally leafing through the Tome of the Infinite Abyss. He quickly located a rather interesting spell—the second-level Divination spell, [Locate Animals or Plants].
The spell was straightforward: the caster specifies or describes a particular type of animal or plant. If such a creature or plant exists within a five-mile radius, the caster instantly knows the direction and distance to the nearest one.
He chose the Jewel Tree, a species unique to the 24th floor, as his target.
Once the description was set, his perception provided immediate feedback. He was definitely not on the 24th floor; he was likely even deeper.
So, was the way out up or down?
It seemed they had been funneled further down.
Suddenly, Alise's nose wrinkled as she sniffed the air. "Solon, do you smell that?"
"Smell what?" Solon asked, surprised, but a second later he caught it too.
It was the scent of the sea—that salty, humid tang that only existed near large bodies of water. The two exchanged a look.
Could it be...
Had they reached the "Great Fall" of the 25th floor?
Alise fell into thought. The Great Fall was located beneath the 24th floor—a vast floor dominated by water. It was said that its currents were subtly connected to the water veins of the surface port of Meren. Theoretically, if they followed the flow, it might actually lead them there.
"In that case, let's follow the scent downward."
They moved forward, guided by the salty tang of the sea. They hadn't walked three hundred meters before a pool of crystal-clear water appeared before them, shimmering beautifully under the faint subterranean light. Beside the pool, a hidden tunnel entrance was barely visible.
They squeezed through the opening. After only a few steps, they spotted a Magic Stone lamp.
Solon's expression grew grave. The presence of an artificial light source in a place like this usually meant only one thing. This was likely a "Secret Village" of the Xenos—the gathering place for monsters who possessed human-like intelligence.
This was probably another result of his "Luck" ability, causing them to stumble blindly into this sanctuary.
Alise looked around with curiosity. She crouched down to touch the lamp, giving it a light tap.
"Huh? There's no dust," she noted, looking at the ground. "These footprints... they look like monster tracks, but they're arranged so neatly."
Solon nodded, lost in thought. They had clearly trespassed into Xenos territory, yet there wasn't a soul in sight.
They continued deeper into the cavern. Suddenly, a figure came into view. It wasn't purely a bird, but a semi-humanoid avian creature. She was dressed simply, like an Amazonian warrior, with only a few scraps of cloth covering her upper body. Wings sprouted from her arms, while her lower half consisted of feathered, bird-like legs and talons.
The harpy snapped her head around. Seeing Solon and Alise, her face filled with shock.
"Who are you? No... how did you get here?"
Alise's hand instantly flew to the hilt of her sword. A monster that can speak? And she actually seemed intelligent? The shock of it hit Alise hard.
Solon, however, took half a step forward, raising his hands to show he meant no harm. "Hello."
He recognized her—this was Fear, a member of the harpy tribe among the Xenos. In the original story, she was a curious soul who longed for the surface.
"How did people from the surface find this place?"
"We fell down here by accident due to a trap," Solon said candidly. "Since you didn't attack immediately, I assume you mean us no ill will. My companion and I wish to return to the 24th floor to regroup with our team. We need your help. We hope you can guide us back to the path."
Fear's call drew other figures from the shadows. The harpy girl blinked curiously. "Surface dwellers... what are your names?"
Alise and Solon exchanged a glance.
"Solon, the Thousand-Change, of the Astraea Familia."
"Alise, the Scarlet Flower of Justice."
At that moment, three more figures emerged from the darkness. One was a Siren with golden wings—Ray, one of the central figures of the Xenos. Solon recognized her immediately. Even by elven standards, her beauty was peerless.
"You two..." another deep voice rumbled.
The newcomer was a crimson-scaled Lizardman. He was heavily muscled and imposing—Lyd, one of the earliest members of the Xenos and their powerful leader.
"To think surface dwellers could find this secret sanctuary."
A rare glint appeared in Alise's eyes. "I never imagined I'd meet monsters that could talk. Everyone I've met before was either impossible to communicate with or filled with aggression. You all speak the common tongue, and your forms aren't as hideous as typical monsters."
"If you two wish to leave, I can lead the way, but—"
Lyd was interrupted by another Xenos who stepped forward to block the path.
"Wait," a massive, gargoyle-like figure spoke, his voice sounding like grinding stones. "Do you truly believe humans won't leak our secrets? Is that even possible?"
This was Gros, another veteran of the Xenos. "In my opinion, can we really trust the words of surface dwellers? Ha! We should deal with them right here."
Solon looked at the Xenos. He didn't fully trust them yet, nor was he surprised by their reaction. After all, the existence of the Xenos was intrinsically tied to the mysteries of the Dungeon itself.
Solon addressed the group.
"It's natural that you don't trust me. But the fact that you're willing to talk means you have needs, don't you? You Xenos require food, fresh water, and a safe place to live. In exchange for your guidance out of the labyrinth, I can help you improve the environment of this cavern and provide you with provisions. What do you say?"
Hearing Solon's proposal, Fear and Lyd exchanged looks. Even Gros, in the back, lowered his head to ponder for a moment.
Then, Lyd the Lizardman split his maw into a grin—a expression that looked rather terrifying on a reptilian face.
"Ha! The adventurers I usually meet either draw their blades immediately or try to capture us. A surface dweller as easy to talk to as you is a first. But... you have a deal."
Just then, a figure in a black robe appeared at the cave entrance, their entire appearance shrouded by the dark fabric. Lyd looked toward the entrance, his tone uncertain as he addressed the newcomer.
"Ghost, what do you think? How do the words of these surface dwellers sound to you?"
The robed figure pulled their hood lower. Beneath the black cloth, a gaze swept over Solon and Alise. Fels was surprised by their arrival; he hadn't expected the "Thousand-Change" Solon and the "Scarlet Flower" Alise to appear in a Xenos sanctuary.
"Solon the Thousand-Change, Alise the Scarlet Flower," a hollow, deep voice drifted from beneath the robe. "I did not expect to see you here in a sanctuary of the Heretics."
Solon looked at the robed figure. This was Fels—the "Ghost of the Guild" who had wandered for hundreds of years before being recruited by Ouranos as an operative. He was the one who had created the Philosopher's Stone.
"The Ghost of the Guild... or should I say, the Sage Fels," Solon said, exposing the other's identity in a single breath.
Seeing Fels here meant their hope of returning to the surface was finally secure. As for the Xenos, while they were indeed good "people" in the original story, the barrier between man and monster was still thick. With Fels present, the interaction would be much more reliable and the communication far easier.
Alise tilted her head. Hearing Solon mention "Sage Fels" and "Ghost of the Guild," she looked at the figure with curiosity.
"Fels? That name sounds familiar... Is that the legendary sage from the magical kingdom of Altena?"
Fels was visibly taken aback by how quickly Solon had seen through his identity. He had intended to use his mysterious persona to ensure they didn't leak any information. He hadn't expected to have his cover blown so instantly.
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Danmachi: My Magic Style is Different from Yours (Simulpub – Ongoing)
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