Oran Knight is out (2/3 chapters for today)

 

 

Fifth of Seven Mysteries (7): Revisiting Fifth of Seven Mysteries

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*Today’s Diary*

Although it’s only been a few days, it’s the long-awaited holiday.

Today, we’ve decided to tackle the fifth of the Seven Wonders once again.

We are fully prepared. Now, what will the result be…?

 

—

 

The rain that fell during the previous night seemed like a lie, and we had a perfectly clear autumn day for our holiday.

We were standing in the middle of a damp thicket.

“Ugh, are we really in the right place?” (Ratt)

Ratt-kun complained, already discouraged by the spider webs clinging to him.

Indeed, it’s a place we don’t usually enter, and with the ground still muddy from yesterday’s rain, it’s not the best place to explore.

“I’m not sure if it’s the right place.” (Frank)

Frank replied calmly as he looked at the ground, kicking at a pebble.

“Maybe we should narrow down the exact location of the old sandbox a bit more.” (Rick)

Rick-san added.

“No, this should be the place. I confirmed it with Burke-sensei.”

(Heinz)

Heinz responded, and I, also added.

“I heard from a different source that it’s around this area, so I’m pretty sure this is the right spot.” (Lux)

“By the way, what happened to Lev and Lite when we were searching late at night before?” (Sonia)

While pushing aside the thicket, Sonia asked. She asked because the academy restricts entry and exit during nighttime.

There is technically a curfew, and once the time passes, all the gates are locked and guarded. Well, it’s not that hard to stay in the academy after hours. For example, you could spend time in the library until just before curfew, and if you hide somewhere where no one is around, you can easily stay past the allowed time. In fact, even if you leave the dorm late at night, the security is lax as long as it’s not an unreasonable hour. However, the research building is an exception. I’ve heard you could be captured just by approaching it at night.

I’ve never tried going there, so I wouldn’t know. Anyway, while staying inside the academy is easy, leaving is difficult. After all, there are guards at all the exits. Of course, it’s not like you can’t leave at all. There’s a small door at the south gate, and if you’re on the town’s security patrol or a student who was left behind after falling asleep while studying, they’ll let you out if you explain the situation. But in the case of Lite and Lev, they, along with Heinz, frequently wandered the academy late at night. You can’t keep using the excuse of being left behind so many times.

“Oh, we just napped in the old school building and went home at dawn when the gates opened.” (Lite)

Lite casually said.

“What? In the old school building?” (Sonia)

“Yeah. The security there is lax, and the locks are outdated, so it was easy to sneak in. We just found a suitable spot and napped. As long as we were sheltered from the rain and wind, anywhere was fine.” (Lite)

Apparently, this was news to Heinz, as he apologized, looking slightly guilty, “…I’m sorry about that.” (Heinz)

“No worries, compared to when I didn’t have a home, the old school building is like heaven,” Lite said, showing his resilience. (Lite)

“But Heinz, Lite is one thing, but Lev is a girl, so you shouldn’t be dragging her around late at night anymore!” (Sonia)

Sonia scolded Heinz.

After being scolded by Sonia, Heinz reflected.

“Yeah, I’ll be careful. Now that there’s no need to hide it from you all, I don’t think we’ll be sneaking around at night anymore.” (Heinz)

Lev was flustered, not knowing what to say.

As we continued our conversation, we thoroughly searched the ground where we thought the old sandbox had been, but unfortunately, we didn’t find anything that could be a clue.

“No luck, degozaru…”

Hana, who had been crouching the whole time, stood up and stretched.

Just then, she lost her balance.

“Oops…” (Hana)

She stumbled backward, and instinctively grabbed the vines growing thickly on the towering wall behind her. Even so, the momentum caused her to rip the vines as she fell on her backside.

“Ouch… Mmm, my butt got wet, degozaru…” (Hana)

While placing her hand on her uncomfortable, wet butt, Hana took Lev’s hand and stood up as Lev rushed over.

“Are you okay?” (Lev)

Maria, who had been watching, suddenly said, “Ah!” and pointed behind Hana. (Maria)

Where Maria was pointing, there was an old door hidden by vines.

 

—

 

“There it is…” (Heinz)

Heinz muttered, looking at the door, while Frank protested.

“It has nothing to do with the ground!” (Frank)

We all gathered in front of the door and stared at it silently for a moment.

Someone gulped nervously.

“I’m going to open it.” (Heinz)

Heinz said as he stepped forward and grabbed the door, but it didn’t budge.

“Is it locked?” (Lux)

I asked, and Heinz shook his head.

“No, it seems like it’s warped and won’t move. It hasn’t been used in a long time, after all.” (Heinz)

“Alright, this is my time to shine!” (Lite)

Lite said, stepping up to replace Heinz. Indeed, among our group, Lite was the strongest.

He grabbed the door and, with a grunt, began putting his strength into it. He pushed, pulled, and even tried lifting it up, struggling with the door, when suddenly, there was a dull “crack” sound.

“…Did you break it?” (Lev)

Lev asked quietly, and Lite quickly responded.

“No, no! Something was just stuck! Look!” (Lite)

When Lite let go of the door, it slowly creaked open.

The space beyond was pitch dark, just like that drainage tunnel we explored before.

“Is this the entrance to the hidden room?” (Maria)

Maria asked, tilting her head.

“…Alright, let’s go in,” (Heinz)

Heinz said, but Lite hurriedly stopped him.

“Hold on, hold on. I know they said we don’t need to be too cautious inside the academy, but in situations like this, let me go first.” (Lite)

Without waiting for Heinz’s reply, Lite slipped into the darkness.

“What’s it like inside?” (Heinz)

“It smells moldy! The path extends sideways. It’s wide enough for one person to walk comfortably.” (Lite)

“Alright, we’ll follow, so keep going.” (Heinz)

“Got it.” (Lite)

After Lite moved ahead, Heinz followed, and then I did too. Once inside, the musty smell was overwhelming.

A little ahead, Lite called out.

“There’s a step… it’s a staircase. Be careful.” (Lite)

I moved cautiously, sliding my feet forward, and my toes bumped into the step. It seemed to lead upwards.

Though we were moving slowly, the staircase was long. Even accounting for the darkness, it felt like we’d climbed more than one floor.

“It’s pretty long. Be careful.” (Lite)

I warned the others following behind me when suddenly, with a thud and an “Ouch!”. Lite’s voice echoed.

“Are you alright?” (Heinz)

Heinz asked quickly, to which Lite replied.

“It’s a dead end… No, it’s a door? Wait there for a moment, everyone.” (Lite)

I turned back and relayed.

“He says to wait for now.” (Lux)

Just like that, the message was passed down the line.

After a short while, there was a loud “thud!” and light poured in from above.

Still, there was no word from Lite. Just as I was about to call out in impatience, Heinz, who was ahead of me, said in a hushed voice.

“Lite says from here, speak quietly and don’t shout no matter what you see.” (Heinz)

I whispered back, “Understood”, and passed the message down the line.

After that, I sensed that Heinz had started moving again, and slowly followed.

“We’re moving forward.” (Lux)

As we moved a little further, I could see the blue sky. The moment I stepped out into the open, squinting at the sudden brightness, I almost let out a cheer but quickly covered my mouth. We were standing on top of the castle walls. Below us, the breathtaking view of the town of Rodon spread out before my eyes.

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