Chapter 136
---------------
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
---------------
Chapter 136
At my question, the three men nodded and gathered their belongings.
Unlike when we had entered the narrow path leading to the Bunker, this time I felt far less afraid.
Enoch, Kaiden, Rujeep, and Silver Earthworm were all by my side. With them, I could face anything in this world.
"Can't you cut through with magic?"
I asked Kaiden, who shrugged apologetically.
"Magic isn't omnipotent. As you saw when you used that magical artifact earlier, the entire Cave could collapse if we're not careful."
In other words, there really was no way around it.
Moreover, when the Cave had crumbled moments ago, it had affected the campfire, and the embers were nearly extinguished.
'I really do need a flashlight this time.'
I examined the telescope and flashlight I had set aside earlier. The word "Alea" was engraved on the side of the flashlight, indicating it was a modified item.
But no matter how many times I pressed the on button, it wouldn't work. I reluctantly set the flashlight back on the ground, though I grabbed it anyway just in case.
As I was gathering supplies to venture deeper into the Cave, a green light suddenly flickered from within.
I lifted my head in surprise. The three men turned to look in that direction as well. The light coming from afar grew steadily closer.
It wasn't just one light—there were dozens of them. Small creatures like fireflies were glowing as they drifted through the Cave.
"Wow... they're so beautiful."
I found myself mesmerized, gazing at them without thinking.
"I wonder where they came from."
"They seem to help with visibility. Should we catch them all and use them as lanterns?"
Unlike my genuine admiration, Enoch and Kaiden were conversing with their typical pragmatism.
But then, the firefly-like winged insects suddenly swarmed together and rushed straight toward me.
"Ahhh! Stay away!"
Fireflies are beautiful, but I hate bugs! I immediately bolted away from them.
"Margaret!"
I heard the three men calling my name, but I couldn't stop running. Unfortunately, I quickly reached the entrance of the Cave.
I ducked to avoid the swarming insects and rolled across the ground. In doing so, the flashlight I was holding tumbled from my grasp and hit the floor with a thud.
Enoch, who had chased after me, immediately grabbed my arm, pulled me close, and retreated. Kaiden and Rujeep then stepped forward protectively, keeping watch over the insects.
Fortunately, the firefly insects didn't rush at me again and instead hovered around the Cave entrance. More precisely, they were circling the flashlight I had dropped.
"What are they doing?"
Kaiden muttered with a puzzled expression.
The creatures, emitting green light as they circled endlessly, seemed as though they were contemplating something.
Sssss—
I heard Silver Earthworm's voice calling to me from beneath my feet. When I looked down, the creature tilted its head curiously.
It looked at me once, then at the insects, and licked its lips as if eager to devour all those winged creatures.
That's when I remembered that Silver Earthworm could consume Monsters. Confidence suddenly surged within me. Yes, with Silver Earthworm here, there's nothing to fear!
With newfound composure, I spoke to Silver Earthworm.
"Wait for now, will you? Let's see what they're doing."
At my words, Silver Earthworm nodded in understanding and turned its attention to the winged insects.
Buzz buzz—
They made sounds like fluttering wings as they flew around the flashlight, as if engaged in discussion.
'Why on earth would they rush toward the flashlight...?'
The moment I was puzzled by this, they finished their discussion and suddenly charged toward the flashlight.
"What...?"
Along with Kaiden's bewildered murmur, I watched as they were sucked into the flashlight.
What in the world.
I was so startled I lost my words. Soon, as all of them were completely drawn into the flashlight, the surroundings fell silent.
Click.
Then light emanated from the flashlight. Inside the convex focusing lens, I could see tiny firefly-like insects condensed and fluttering about. It seemed the light was coming from them.
"Wait here."
Enoch patted my shoulder once and moved. He picked up the fallen flashlight from the ground and examined it, then returned to me.
"The characters engraved beside the flashlight appear to be the 'Alea' you mentioned."
Enoch pointed to the characters carved beside the flashlight as he spoke.
"Ah.... Yes, that's right. It seems this has been modified as well."
Silver Earthworm, who had crawled up my leg, hung from my forearm and peered in front of the flashlight with a curious expression.
At that, the firefly insects contained within the focusing lens saw Silver Earthworm and went into a frenzy. They seemed genuinely frightened.
"Silver Earthworm, back away a bit."
At my words, Silver Earthworm turned to look at me with a displeased face.
"They're scared."
Silver Earthworm glanced once at the inside of the focusing lens, then at me, gauging my reaction.
It looked like I was scolding a willful child, but I grew worried as the firefly insects truly panicked inside.
After warning Silver Earthworm once more, the creature reluctantly descended to the ground.
"They seem like a mother and daughter."
Rujeep, who had been quietly observing the scene, apparently shared a similar thought and spoke up.
Watching Silver Earthworm, who had taken offense and wouldn't even look my way, I laughed and shook my head.
"We won't need a separate lantern."
Enoch, stroking his chin with a contemplative expression as he looked at the flashlight, opened his mouth.
At his words, I pressed the on/off button on the flashlight. But it didn't seem to be something operated by the button.
Since the firefly insects emit their own light, it would become a constant lantern independent of batteries and such. That's convenient.
"Let's move forward."
At Enoch's words, we all gathered our belongings again. We took the flashlight, shined its light, and continued deeper into the Cave.
However, the Cave was larger and deeper than expected. Moreover, a Crossroads suddenly appeared, and we found ourselves in a predicament.
"A Crossroads?"
"Doesn't Silver Earthworm know about things like this well?"
Kaiden seemed to recall when we first met Silver Earthworm and they had shown us the way.
I looked back at Silver Earthworm who was following behind. Then, meeting my gaze, Silver Earthworm puffed out their cheeks and turned away. What, already in a rebellious phase?
Flustered, I looked at Kaiden. He also wore a bewildered expression.
"Seems they're sulking."
Enoch murmured as if amused.
Then the light from the flashlight went out. My vision darkened in an instant.
"Huh? Why is this happening?"
I tapped the flashlight gently. But the light showed no sign of turning on.
"Did the insects die inside it?"
"I'm not sure."
I needed to see something. I answered Rujeep's question while shaking the flashlight, and suddenly the light flickered back on.
"Oh? It works."
But the light died again shortly after. Struggling with the flashlight in confusion, a sudden thought occurred to me.
I lifted the flashlight and shone it at one of the paths at the Crossroads. When I illuminated the right path, the light stayed on; when I pointed it at the left path, it went out.
"This flashlight... it seems to be showing us the way?"
Kaiden, who had been watching this, spoke up. I looked at the flashlight as he spoke. Inside the lens, I could see the insects flying about leisurely.
"You're right. Is it telling us to go right?"
Had Jenath really given me this flashlight as a gift to help us?
"It could be a trap, though."
Enoch stared at the flashlight with a troubled expression. I looked back at Silver Earthworm.
The creature peered curiously toward the flashlight, but when our eyes met, it quickly turned its head away.
I crouched down in front of Silver Earthworm.
"Silver Earthworm, I'm sorry."
At my apology, Silver Earthworm flinched. It glanced at me sideways, but when our eyes met, it startled and turned its head away.
"I was wrong. I was just worried about you."
At my words, Silver Earthworm slowly looked at me. Then it tilted its head as if asking, "Really?"
The gesture was so adorable that I covered my mouth and nodded vigorously.
"How much your sister loves you, Silver Earthworm."
Then Silver Earthworm's face lit up with pure joy as it bounced excitedly in place. It circled around me in spirals before crawling quickly toward the Crossroads.
Standing before the right path that the firefly insects had indicated, it faced me with a dignified posture and flicked its tongue.
So cute.
I smiled and stood up, picking up the flashlight. That's when I caught the gaze of the three men, who were all looking at me with rather subtle expressions.
"In all my life, I never thought I'd be jealous of a snake."
Kaiden muttered while running his hand through his hair, and Enoch and Rujeep remained silent.
Recalling the conversation I'd just had with Silver Earthworm, I felt a bit embarrassed and didn't respond to Kaiden's remark.
And so we ventured deeper into the Cave.
None of us knew then that this path led directly to where the Monster's progenitor dwelled.
---------------
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
---------------