Chapter 198 (1/2)

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Chapter 198 – The Magic Circle's Seal

With the arbitration going on, the underground laboratory was locked, but guards were still stationed near the cave. The pa.s.sage would be unlocked whenever it was time for them to change s.h.i.+fts.

With his Stealth on, Hikaru tagged along with the other guards down to the cave. Just like before, the magic circle cast light on the surroundings. The guards kept watch warily. Clearly, there was something down there.

I really wanted to ask Selica about the magic circle first, though, Hikaru thought.

He still hadn't heard from the Four Stars of the East who were invited by the king of Einbeast to the palace. Perhaps they were on their way there.

Then again, even if I asked, there's a high chance she doesn't know anything. Drake's reaction might be more useful.

Drake wrapped himself around Hikaru's neck. The drakon had been complaining about the stench incessantly on their way underground. Hikaru didn't really smell anything off, only that the air was a bit damp and musty.

『I don't wanna go…』

「All you have to do is tell me what's in there and you're good.」

『I sense something awful. Is that enough?』

「We'll go check out whatever it is you're sensing.」

『That's not funny…』

They slipped past the magic circle and went down the stairs that led further underground. Hikaru didn't feel anything as they pa.s.sed through the circle, but as they went deeper, he felt the air seem to coil around his skin.

『Ugh… It stinks…』

「Suck it up, you freeloader.」

『I'm sticking with you because of the no overtime, three-meals-included package.』

「Where'd you even learn that? Anyway, this is well within legal labor standards.」

Hikaru was surprised that the drakon somehow learned a bit about of human culture. Eventually, the surroundings turned darker. The light from the magic circle still reached them, although it was weaker now, as they were already about fifty meters deeper. Realizing the guards would not notice this further down, Hikaru lit up his magic lamp.

「Hmm… I see the end of the cave.」

The bottom of the cave was a flat, open s.p.a.ce, just as wide as the upper section. The first thing Hikaru noticed was…

「What the h.e.l.l is this?」

『Yuck! It stinks so bad! I can't take it anymore!』

「Hey!」

Drake leaped away from Hikaru's neck and went up the stairs before turning around at a distance where he could still tolerate the stench. The drakon was out of Group Obfuscation's range, but the guards above didn't seem to notice anything.

Drake had been complaining nonstop all the way here. Hikaru understood how he felt. Even he could smell the stench now.

Up ahead, about five meters, was a black ma.s.s, like some sort of a puddle. Because the ground was ashen, Hikaru couldn't tell if it was pure black or some other color. He didn't dare consider touching it, either. It stunk, real bad. Like meat that was left out to rot for days.

A part of the gooey matter protruded about twenty centimeters high, and the rest simply looked like a water puddle about a meter wide.

「What is this even…」

Hikaru held up the lamp. Black puddles were all over the place.

「That thing's bad news. It looked like a creature with four limbs, but it was simply a black figure. Darkness. Like the product of something evil.」