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Last of Seven Mysteries (6): Well-Drained Lake

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The underground passage led to a hidden door. We carefully walked to the west from the western-style mansion. Unlike the east side, where we quickly reached a dead-end, the west passage extended long, filled with dark, humid air.

As Linkert-san had said, there were a few light fixtures, but they were corroded or the ignition parts were unusable, so none of them could properly light the way. We proceeded with few words. Suddenly, from behind me, I heard a small muttering voice. The voice belonged to Hana.

“Hana, what’s wrong?” (Hana)

I asked.

“Ah, did you notice? I apologize, degozaru.” (Hana)

Hana’s reply came, accompanied by an echo.

“No, it’s not that I’m particularly concerned, but what are you doing?” (Lux)

“It’s a habit when walking in the dark. I’m measuring the distance by counting my steps, degozaru.” (Hana)

Apparently, Hana’s admired warrior type, called “ninja,” lived only in the darkness. Because of that, to avoid losing a sense of distance even without light, she had made it a habit to count her steps.

“…Isn’t that pretty impressive?” (Lux)

“Is it, degozaru?” (Hana)

It seems that true impressive skills are often something the person doesn’t realize themselves.

Then, Heinz, who had been walking ahead of me, spoke.

“Wait a minute, then Hana, do you know where we are right now?” (Heinz)

“Well… if this path continues straight, we should be close to the old school building, degozaru.” (Hana)

“Impressive… Hana, sorry, but can you walk behind Lite and occasionally tell us your position relative to the surface?” (Heinz)

“Of course, degozaru!” (Hana)

Hana, who aimed to be a ninja, was full of energy after her ninja abilities were praised! She began counting her steps, walking behind Lite. A little further ahead, a path turned to the left.

“Maybe this is the entrance to the old school building, degozaru?” (Hana)

It seemed Hana was right. Lite held up the light and looked ahead, but the path was too dark to see clearly.

“Shall we go check it out?” (Lite)

“No, let’s trust Hana’s sense. If this is the entrance to the old school building… if it’s the entrance from the original mansion, we can leave it for later.” (Heinz)

Nodding at Heinz’s words, Lite proceeded further west.

“Isn’t it… in stories like this, there are usually skulls lying around, right?” (Ratt)

Ratt-kun’s casual words, while we were walking silently, struck us strangely.

“Hey, stop it, Ratt-kun.” (Sonia)

Sonia said as she scolded him.

“But you know, skulls are pretty common in cave explorations.” (Ratt)

Ratt-kun replied.

Indeed, Ratt-kun had a point. In cave explorations, skulls are often found. Skulls with eye patches, or skulls of thieves stabbed by old swords, etc. Though, this isn’t a cave, and there likely aren’t thieves fighting here. Probably… yeah, probably not.

As I thought about that, I felt something suddenly tug at the hem of my cloak.

I turned to look, thinking it was Maria, but it was Lev, holding my sleeve with his brow furrowed.

That’s unexpected.

“Lev, are you okay?” (Lux)

When I asked in a small voice, Lev, realizing he had unconsciously grabbed my sleeve, quickly let go and apologized.

“Ah, sorry.” (Lev)

“It’s fine, but if you’re scared, don’t force yourself, okay?” (Lux)

“…Yeah.” (Lev)

She answered, looking quite demure.

“However… there’s nothing here…” (Rick)

This was the voice of Rick-san, who was supposed to be walking at the back.

Indeed, while we were walking, shining the light to the sides to look for anything, the path continued straight without anything unusual.

When you think about it calmly, that makes sense. It’s an evacuation route, so there’s no need to make it unnecessarily complex.

Having walked quite a distance, Ratt-kun muttered, “Hey, doesn’t the air feel fresher now?”.

Frank immediately teased him, “What? Did Rat finally learn how to eat air?”

“It’s not like that, Frank. I mean, doesn’t it feel like the air doesn’t have that stuffy feeling anymore?” (Ratt)

Now that he mentioned it, the musty smell that had been faintly clinging to the air before was gone. It felt like fresher air was flowing in.

“Hana, do you know where we are now?” (Heinz)

Heinz asked.

“Well… we should have entered the practical area by now, degozaru.” (Hana)

Hana replied

Are we already under the practical area?

After advancing a little further, Lite, who led us, suddenly stopped.

“Hey, I see light.” (Lite)

A little ahead, a faint light was leaking from the right. We quickened our pace and moved toward the place where the light was leaking. Lite carefully checked ahead from the shadow of the passage.

“It seems safe, but… I’ll go ahead first. Wait here for a moment.” (Lite)

Lite said this and disappeared around the corner.

After a short while, we heard his voice.

“Hey! Come here! This is amazing!” (Lite)

And we rushed toward Lite.

 

—

 

The place was incomparably wider than the underground passage we had been walking through. There was a river running through the ceiling, and light was shining through it. The light flickered on the water surface and fell fantastically over the place where we stood.

Further along the room, the end had turned into a waterfall, and the water gently flowed down the wall, falling further below us. Part of that water was absorbed, and amazingly, plants were growing in this room.

“What is this… amazing.” (Maria)

Maria said, gazing up at the ceiling in awe.

“Could this be… the artificial lake in the practical area?” (Lux)

I asked.

“Given the positioning, it seems to be without a doubt, degozaru.” (Hana)

Hana replied.

“Was there such a mechanism at the bottom of the artificial lake?” (Lux)

The bottom of the artificial lake was made of a transparent material that allowed light to pass through, and light was shining through from there.

“Water from the artificial lake must be flowing here.” (Lite)

Lite said as he approached the waterfall along the wall and peered further down.

“Be careful.” (Lev)

Lev said with concern, but Lite muttered to himself.

“Ah, I see. That’s it.” (Lite)

“Did you figure something out?” (Heinz)

Heinz asked.

“Yeah. I can hear the sound of flowing water further down. It’s underground water flowing there, directed to flow into here.”

“Now that you mention it, I remember when we were investigating the secret of the artificial lake, Instructor Burke said the drainage in that area is really good.” (Lux)

When I shared Instructor Burke’s words, Lite nodded.

“So, they must have designed it so that excess water flows here.” (Lite)

We had unintentionally uncovered one of the Seven Mysteries which was the secret of the artificial lake.

“Then… there must be a reason for that.” (Frank)

Frank, who had been crouching and staring at the plants, said casually.

Rick-san, who had been listening, asked, “What do you mean by ‘that’?”.

Frank stood up and simply answered, “The statue”.

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