Chapter 51 - 48: The Unseen Figure in the Cave
Chapter 51: Chapter 48: The Unseen Figure in the Cave
The mountain ahead wasn’t very high. You couldn’t even call it a mountain—it was more of a large mound of earth.
It wasn’t even as tall as the hill he’d seen in the school’s Gate World.
And on this mound was a cave, roughly two meters high.
Fang Xiu could tell at a glance that the cave was man-made.
The surface was smooth and even, clearly worked on purpose. Some of the stones had been worn down, their surfaces polished.
Unless it was an exceptionally intelligent Demon Beast.
Otherwise, no Demon Beast would have polished it so meticulously.
Of course, if a Demon Beast was two meters wide and covered in hard scales, the daily friction of it coming and going could also produce such an effect.
However, it was impossible for a Demon Beast of that size to exist without any Awakened discovering it eventually.
’No, if it’s a snake-type Demon Beast, it could definitely do this. Don’t tell me that person was swallowed whole?’
A sudden possibility occurred to Fang Xiu.
What if the Demon Beast was a giant snake?
The cave was the snake’s lair. As it came and went each day, its scales would rub against the cave walls, polishing them smooth.
Furthermore, the person inside hadn’t fought the Demon Beast. Based on that, it was possible the Demon Beast was a snake and had simply swallowed the person whole.
That would explain the lack of a struggle.
But that alone wasn’t enough.
He needed something more to support his theory.
Of course, this wasn’t a mystery film. Evidence proving his theory wrong would also be useful.
’There are no drag marks on the ground, so it probably isn’t a snake. But there are no Demon Beast footprints, either...’
Fang Xiu carefully observed the ground. In the dirt not far away, he found a faint trace. ’Footprints? Did that person go in on their own?’
The absence of drag marks on the ground proved that the Demon Beast hadn’t emerged in a very long time.
The stone face at the cave’s entrance didn’t look recently polished, either. Constant passage would leave fresh marks, but these looked ancient.
This also supported the idea that the Demon Beast hadn’t been active for a long time.
And the human footprints meant the person had walked in willingly.
"Kajimi, is that person still alive?"
Fang Xiu knew Kajimi had such an ability.
She could sense the presence of Demon Beasts and humans.
She could even sense other Demon Beasts.
This wasn’t even considered a Skill, but a natural racial Talent.
For example, humans can talk and Demon Beasts can’t. Could that be considered a Skill?
"They’re still alive."
Kajimi nodded.
"Then let’s go in."
Fang Xiu nodded slightly. Since the person was still alive, it meant either there was no danger inside, or the danger hadn’t struck yet.
Since he was here, Fang Xiu was determined to investigate. If he encountered a unique Demon Beast, he might even get a special reward.
Fang Xiu peered into the cave. It wasn’t very dark.
After all, the entrance was quite large.
After scanning the area carefully and finding no signs of danger, Fang Xiu stepped inside.
Kajimi followed closely behind him.
She guarded his back, while her speed was great enough to react to any danger that might appear ahead.
TAP! TAP! TAP!
There was nothing out of the ordinary along the path.
The cave had no traps, and more importantly, no Demon Beasts.
’What’s this?’
Just then, Fang Xiu noticed an iron shovel lying inside the cave.
He picked it up to inspect it and was surprised to see information appear.
[Iron Shovel: A relic left behind by a miner.]
’This is a mine?’
He looked around carefully.
It certainly looked like one.
A two-meter-high mine shaft.
’What kind of ore did they mine here?’
’A relic? Does that mean the miner is already dead?’
Fang Xiu looked at the word. It probably didn’t mean ’abandoned’.
’But mining inside a Gate World... What were they thinking?’
’Or could it be that humans once inhabited this Gate World, but because of the appearance of Demon Beasts, all traces of them were wiped out, leaving only Demon Beasts?’
That possibility was quite high.
If the first Awakened hadn’t appeared hundreds of years ago, if all the Awakened hadn’t risked their lives hunting Demon Beasts and sealing Gate Worlds...
...then this planet today might have become just like this Gate World.
Devoid of human life, a paradise for Demon Beasts.
Holding the shovel, Fang Xiu continued deeper into the mine.
’I wonder if there’s any ore left in this mine?’
Fang Xiu was curious.
This place was a long way from the Gate World’s entrance.
Very few people usually made it this far.
Even those who did wouldn’t necessarily have chosen the same route he had.
Not many people would end up here.
However, at least one person had already gone into the mine ahead... perhaps even more.
’I’m a little worried. If there’s anything good in here, have they already taken it?’
At this thought, Fang Xiu couldn’t help but quicken his pace.
But the mine was ridiculously long.
Fang Xiu walked onward... The tunnel was perfectly straight, with no incline whatsoever.
He began to suspect someone had just brought the shovel here and discarded it.
’What kind of mine is a perfectly straight, level tunnel?’
Fang Xiu walked for about twenty minutes.
Just when it felt like he had walked through the entire mountain, he finally saw a downward slope—
’Why is it a right angle?’
Fang Xiu was rendered speechless.
Where there should have been a gradual slope, he found that the path simply ended in a right angle.
It dropped straight down into a large pit.
It was a perfectly smooth, square shaft, about a meter wide.
"Kajimi, go see what’s down there."
Fang Xiu said to the Succubus beside him.
Plunging down a vertical drop like this could be dangerous.
Fang Xiu needed Kajimi to check it out first.
After all, she could fly.
"Yes, Master!"
Kajimi spread her wings and flew down into the opening.
Fang Xiu, meanwhile, waited where he was.
He wasn’t particularly worried about danger now that Kajimi was gone.
After all, he wasn’t weak himself.
His Power rivaled that of the Power System, and he had the formidable Netherworld Thunder Fall Skill.
These were all tools for a Sacrificial Master like himself to use for self-defense.
TAP! TAP! TAP!
Just then, the sound of footsteps reached him.
In the surrounding darkness, his hearing had become more sensitive.
Though the footsteps were light, Fang Xiu heard them with perfect clarity.
’Someone’s here?’
Fang Xiu gripped his Life Staff.
If the person got any closer, he would strike without hesitation.
TAP! TAP! TAP!
The footsteps continued.
This time, they seemed to be drawing closer to him.
TAP! TAP!! TAP!!!
The footsteps grew nearer, and Fang Xiu scanned his surroundings warily.
He couldn’t pinpoint where the sound was coming from.
It sounded like it was right next to him, yet also far away.
Just as the footsteps seemed about to reach him, they abruptly stopped.
’Hm?’
Fang Xiu looked around. The source of the footsteps should have been right beside him.
But he saw nothing.
He took out his phone, switched on the flashlight, and swept the beam across his surroundings.
Still, he saw no one.
’Could it be an Awakened with an Invisibility Talent?’
’While many Awakened have similar Talents, there are some unique ones out there.’ he thought. ’A Talent for Invisibility could very well exist.’
He had never heard of one, though.
But if he had an Invisibility Talent, he certainly wouldn’t let anyone know about it.
’Otherwise, how could you do bad things... I mean, do good deeds without leaving a name!’
’Right now, though... I’m not a fan of this Talent.’
"Master!"
A short while after the footsteps vanished, Kajimi’s voice echoed up from below.
"Kajimi, is there anyone near me?"
Fang Xiu asked immediately.
Kajimi could sense the presence of Demon Beasts and humans from a great distance.
If someone was nearby, even if they were invisible, she should be able to sense them.
If the person were to panic and flee, she could even pinpoint their location.
"No, there isn’t."
Kajimi replied from below.
"None?"
Fang Xiu was taken aback. ’Then what were those footsteps all about?’
Previously, Fang Xiu had assumed his Nether King’s True Eye just couldn’t pierce an Invisibility Talent.
But even Kajimi couldn’t sense anyone?
"Yes, there’s no one here."
Kajimi confirmed, sounding very certain.
Fang Xiu’s brow furrowed. "Never mind. What’s down there?"
"There’s another tunnel below. I only went partway before turning back. Do you want to go down and take a look, Master?"
Kajimi told Fang Xiu what she had seen.
"Another long tunnel?"
Fang Xiu was puzzled, but said nonetheless, "Let’s go. We’ll go down and see."
"Yes, Master!"
Kajimi wrapped her arms around Fang Xiu, spread her wings, and flew downward.
They landed a moment later, and sure enough, there was another tunnel.
TAP! TAP! TAP!
Just as Fang Xiu and Kajimi entered the new tunnel, the sound of footsteps echoed once more from the spot where Fang Xiu had just been standing.
"This tunnel... did you go all the way to the end?"
Fang Xiu asked.
Kajimi shook her head. "No!"
"Then let’s just fly."
They had already walked for over twenty minutes; Fang Xiu didn’t want to waste any more time.
"Yes, Master!"
Kajimi nodded and beat her wings.
They flew quickly toward the end of the tunnel.
Soon, they neared the end.
Fang Xiu signaled for Kajimi to stop. Based on the distance they’d traveled... they had returned to their original position.
Only this time, they were on a lower level.
’What kind of stupid design is this? Wouldn’t it be a huge pain to haul ore out of here? You have to do a whole lap.’
Though frustrated, Fang Xiu still walked forward.
He moved at a measured pace. Ahead, a faint light appeared.
’There’s light?’
Fang Xiu was baffled. They were deep underground, yet there was light.
’If that’s the surface... then what was the point of this whole tunnel system?’
TAP! TAP! TAP!
Just as Fang Xiu headed toward the light at the exit...
...that same sound of footsteps echoed out again.
"Kajimi, did you hear that?"
Fang Xiu asked, turning his head.
"Yes!"
Kajimi nodded.
Then she added, "But there’s no one nearby!"
’No one?’
A sense of unease grew in Fang Xiu’s heart.
’No one here, but there are footsteps? Or is this person’s ability so powerful that even Kajimi can’t sense them?’
’But whoever it is, they’re just lingering nearby and don’t seem to have any intention of attacking.’
’Or have I just not stepped into the area that would trigger them to make a move?’