"Most likely. We've already searched the peripheral ruins once; if anyone was there, we should have found them."
"What should we do now?"
Steele was the leader of these few Error-Purgers, and also a highly experienced explorer within the History Department. He quickly spoke up, halting the group's discussion.
"Since no new orders have arrived, we execute the previous command. Stand by here. Perhaps some new situation arose, forcing Elsa to withdraw early."
"Maybe... this time, we'll be escorting not just her, but the entire exploration team."
Before his words fully faded, he suddenly saw a twisted black shadow dart out from the staircase area of the library. The thing was extremely fast, disappearing in a flicker.
Steele alertly drew his pistol, aiming at where the shadow had flashed, and immediately shouted sharply.
"Who's there!"
His heart pounded. The next moment, a cephalopod creature covered in black scales quietly emerged from the rubble of the ruins. Then it extended its tentacles, lunging straight at him.
"What is this..."
The Abyssal Sea abomination climbed up Steele's leg. The sharp scales on its tentacles instantly tore through the thick leather of his trousers, leaving bloody gashes.
The entire process happened in an instant, and the attack came from a blind spot. Even though he was alert, he couldn't counter it.
Most Error-Purgers around had drawn their firearms, aiming at the Abyssal Sea abomination, but the thing was currently clinging to their leader.
If they fired, friendly fire was almost unavoidable.
"This thing's mouthparts have toxin. Half my body is already paralyzed, and... low-tier mental secret arts don't work on it! Damn it, what are you afraid of? Shoot!"
Seeing his hesitant colleagues, Steele couldn't help but shout.
He could feel the thing's tentacles searching for orifices on his body to enter. If it really got inside, his internal organs would be hollowed out in an instant.
Rather than dying like that, letting others fire freely offered a sliver of survival.
Bang!
A deafening roar echoed, raising a cloud of gray-black smoke.
Before the several Error-Purgers could decide to shoot, one person had already pulled the trigger first. The Abyssal Sea abomination was sent flying back by the shot, detaching from Steele's body.
The power of this shot was immense. The abomination's head, where it was hit, had completely dissolved into a pulp, its hard scaled armor also turned to fragments.
"Even among the little scholars the White Cup sends out for field training, there are still plenty with guts..."
Black Banyan wore a grin of keen interest as he approached the group. Then he stomped on the obviously lifeless body of the abyssal spawn. The earlier roar came from his shotgun.
"Looks like a deep-sea spawn. But this is an inland library. What did this thing survive on?"
Black Banyan inspected the corpse, a barely noticeable trace of regret flashing in his eyes.
That shot directly blew its head apart. Otherwise, the head of such a rare abyssal spawn would have some collection value...
To avoid turning that unlucky Error-Purger into swiss cheese as well, he used a slug round. This thing was very effective against large prey, the only drawback being the severe damage to the corpse...
"Whew, whew... Thank you for your help."
Steele, while catching his breath, looked at Black Banyan.
Although he knew from the newcomer's attire that he was a Secrets-Hunter, he couldn't help but feel a flicker of surprise.
This Secrets-Hunter was far too young. With ruddy lips and white teeth, sporting a head of slightly curly black hair, he looked like he might not even be thirteen... But why did he talk like a guy in his fifties or older?
Black Banyan glanced at the wounds on Steele's leg. The Abyssal Sea spawn on this Error-Purger's leg had been forcibly ripped off by the shotgun's immense force, leaving deep gashes visible to the bone.
He casually rummaged in the storage pouch of his winter hunting outfit for a moment, then took out several doses of emergency trauma medicine, handing them to the Error-Purger beside him.
"Kid, after getting bandaged up, have your comrades carry you back. Your leg is in serious condition. If not treated promptly, you'll probably end up behind a desk for the rest of your life like that Alwin fellow."
Steele's lower body could no longer move, and the numbness was steadily creeping upward. Continuing to stand guard at the library entrance was naturally impossible.
"I understand."
He nodded, a trace of gravity also flashing in his gaze.
Professor Terence and Senior Child were considered veteran explorers of the History Department. But with potential variables in the library ruins now, they might be facing some unimaginable danger, urgently needing aid.
"Mr. Secrets-Hunter, please also be mindful of your own safety. After we return, we will request Cult assistance..."
Before he could finish, another Abyssal Sea abomination, wriggling its body, lunged, leaping towards Black Banyan's head.
"Look out!" Steele couldn't help but cry out.
No reminder was needed; Black Banyan had already heard the wind sound close at hand. He showed no fear, his eyes holding only the fierce zeal of a veteran hunter.
"Good, very good! I'm still short a complete head specimen. Yours should be quite suitable..."
He smashed a heavy fist into the Abyssal Sea abomination's body. The brass signet ring worn on his index finger now served as a knuckle duster, knocking it to the ground with one blow.
Upon closer observation, one could see that wooden cracks spread from where the abyssal spawn was struck—the effect of [S-923. Death Banyan] directly damaging life force.
After recovering, Black Banyan discovered he hadn't just gained the life force contained within the Death Banyan... to some extent, he now was the living embodiment of the "Death Banyan."
Confirming the target was dead, he took his hunting knife and severed the Abyssal Sea abomination's head along the seams of its scales. Black-red blood plasma splattered all over the ground.
"Alright, hurry back. I'll guard here. Don't just call your people; remember to also alert that Naur fellow. His Church of Silence is close by; he can get here faster."
Looking at this boy with blood-stained hands and a smile still playing on his lips... Steele's expression momentarily turned strange.
"Alright."
After a moment's hesitation, he finally left the library ruins supported by his comrades.
---
Elsa gazed somewhat distractedly at that Ancient Banyan statue, her expression complex as she bit her lip.
She was still worried about the professor's safety and harbored a vague fear of the dangers here.
But at the same time, an irresistible excitement welled up in her heart. She had actually made it to a secret sanctuary from the Order of Dust era! That unknown history lay right before her, like a dream...
Seizing the brief rest period, Elsa eagerly observed the surrounding antiquities.
However, worried about triggering some ancient trap, her inspection was limited to "looking"; she didn't reach out to touch anything the entire time.
...Only after meticulously examining everything inside this tower did Elsa slowly rein in her scholarly enthusiasm.
With the two Children of the Whiskered Tree absent, Fran no longer needed to meticulously maintain her disguise. Her amber eyes now held not timidity and reserve, but a hint of languor.
"Let's go. First, head to where the Children of the Whiskered Tree stored their sacred artifact and wait. With the same destination, the others will find it eventually."
"Shouldn't we try to reunite with Professor Terence and the others first? And there might still be dangers here..."
Elsa raised her hand, asking somewhat uncertainly.
Before Fran could answer, Haida spoke up first.
"With Child there, they won't be in danger. Don't worry too much, Miss Elsa. As for us here..."
She pondered for a moment, seeming to weigh her words.
"If something exists here that even we cannot resist... then numbers lose their meaning. No matter who comes, survival would be impossible."
Haida's tone carried the steady, resolute quality characteristic of a Secrets-Hunter.
"That's true..."
Elsa nodded slightly, not disputing the nun's statement.
After all, she had witnessed this nun's combat state firsthand... As the sword swept through, the tide of Banyan Root Mimicries seemed like mere weeds awaiting harvest. Anything daring to approach would be torn to fragments the next moment.
If not for having to protect the others, she probably could have easily extricated herself...
Vivian and the crow on her shoulder maintained complete silence throughout, with no intention of speaking up. Quietness was also an excellent quality for an accessory; she had long understood this well.
Fran adjusted the silk gloves she used to cover her suture marks, covered her mouth as she yawned.
"A pity we couldn't get the corpse of an Abyssal Sea abomination; otherwise, we could examine it... I suspect those extraplanetary spawn appearing here are related to the changes in the library ruins."
She slowly walked out of this dilapidated library tower, scrutinizing the ancient architectural complex beneath the deep pit.
Unlike the exterior, this place overflowed with dense spiritual essence. It was everywhere, practically filling every corner.
Fran rubbed her fingertips, her gaze flickering subtly behind her silver-rimmed glasses.
It seemed the low-oxygen environment in the deep pit was meant to suppress the activity of organisms here. To prevent them from overproliferating due to absorbing excessive spiritual essence, ultimately destroying the inherent ecosystem. Yet, this intervention also bore clear signs of human artifice.
The Order of Dust era was ten thousand years past. Could the measures left by the Children of the Whiskered Tree have remained effective for so long?
She deeply doubted that...
"Haida, any lingering discomfort?" Fran turned her head, asking the nun who was still wiping her power sword.
"None remaining."
She slowly stood up, seemingly having completely shaken off the discomfort from both the contamination and the low-oxygen environment.
Seeing her steps and breathing were quite steady, without any sign of strain, Fran then spoke slowly.
"If possible, use psychic profiling to observe this place. The Old Sanctuary is rich in spiritual essence; it should also retain a lot of information."
"Hmm." Haida slowly walked out of the shattered library tower, gazing out over the vast expanse of the Banyan Root Sanctuary.
Her gray-chestnut eyes focused as she activated her psychic empathy.
Instantly, countless human figures flashed chaotically before her eyes, illusory and heterogeneous. Like outlines sketched purely from smoke and dust, their faces and forms indistinct.
Those were the residual traces of the Children of the Whiskered Tree within the spiritual essence. Their actions were frozen in a certain moment—cultivating flowers and leaves, perusing ancient texts, studying secret arts... But given the immense passage of time, further peering was difficult.
The lingering emotional resonance was already minuscule. If not for the spiritual essence concentration here far exceeding the outside world, it would likely have long since dissipated.
Haida imitated one of the Children of the Whiskered Tree who was tending a bonsai, her expression relaxed and leisurely, as if enjoying leisure time during a vacation. She held an imaginary pair of pruning shears, meticulously and patiently trimming stray branches from the flowers.
Haida's movements were very skillful and focused, her gaze also tinged with a touch of gentleness.
"Miss Flamel, what is Sister Haida doing?" Elsa cautiously approached Fran, whispering the question in her ear.
"An application of psychic talent in forensics. Don't disturb her for now."
Fran likewise responded in a low voice.
Snip, snip, snip—
Although Haida was only holding air, it was as if she truly held pruning shears, emitting crisp metallic sounds with each movement.
Snip.
As the flower-pruning action abruptly stopped, a different emotion surfaced on her face.
Her pupils constricted, her face turned pale, her moist lips instantly lost all color!
The earlier serene expression vanished completely. The nun tightly bit her lip, immediately falling into hysterical delirium. Her eyes held nearly overflowing pain, and despair... Her lips parted slightly, the wail silent and hoarse.
Vivian looked nervously at Fran, as if asking whether she should terminate Haida's empathy and administer first aid...
However, the contorted expression on Haida's face lasted only a moment before completely dissipating, returning to her slightly indifferent poker face.
"I saw..."
Her tone was as steady as ever, just carrying a hint of hesitation.
"The emotional traces contained within the spiritual essence have nearly all dissipated; only pain and despair remain most intense. But I cannot see the specific circumstances."
"Pain?"
Fran's gaze shifted, seemingly very interested in this point. "Can you describe what type of pain specifically?"
"It was like being slowly gnawed and hollowed out, turned into an empty shell."
Haida recalled the earlier sensation, quickly giving an answer.
Upon hearing this, Fran thought for a moment, then a slight smile touched the corner of her lips.
"Looks like it should be related to 'pests'..."
Hearing this, Elsa, who had been observing the whole time, couldn't help but feel nervous.
Judging by the familiarity in Miss Flamel and Sister Haida's conversation, they seemed to know each other already. A Lamp Moth High Priest and a Burial Court Director... if she overheard something too important, would she be silenced afterward...
+++
T/N: Hey readers~! New Translator here! Before I say anything, I'd first like to thank the original author for creating this wonderful story. Without them, I wouldn't have the chance to share this adventure with you. I hope my translation does justice to their work, and that together, we can enjoy this story.
With that said, I'm happy to let you know I'll be uploading daily chapters. And for those who wish to support my work and gain early access, I've set up a Patreon where advanced chapters will be available.
[email protected]/PeakTL