"I-is this the real entrance to the ruins?"
Chris leaned closer. Although her cheeks were still faintly red from Kōichi's depraved confession earlier, her instincts as a professional Thief immediately drew her attention to the map.
"Wait, this location... Isn't that the Cursed Forest that everyone says you should never enter? Supposedly, even high-level adventurers lose their way in there and end up becoming fertilizer for the bizarre plants..."
She looked up and happened to meet Kōichi's focused gaze. The memory of being pinned against the wall flashed through her mind, making her heart skip a beat.
Flustered, Chris quickly turned her head away, her voice becoming strangely awkward.
"W-what are you looking at?! Just because we have the map doesn't mean I agreed to go with you somewhere that dangerous! Unless... unless you formally apologize for those rude things you said earlier! And you have to treat me to the finest marbled red crab!"
Just then, Vanir's penetrating voice rang out from beyond the Barrier.
"Kuhaha! It seems the secret within has finally been revealed. Kōichi-kun, I should warn you that the moment that map was activated, the ruins' anti-theft system also came online. By now, every sharp-nosed individual in town is probably heading this way."
As if to prove Vanir right, Aqua's terrified scream came from above the cellar.
"Aaaaaah! Kazuma, look! There's a black pillar of light coming down into the forest! That has to mean some incredibly valuable... No, incredibly evil treasure has appeared! We need to hurry over there and purify it!"
"You idiot, Aqua! Stop yelling in someone else's shop!"
Kazuma's exasperated voice immediately followed.
"Kōichi! If you haven't died in there yet, hurry up and get out! We've got a mission! This could be huge!"
Kōichi looked down at Sylphy, then at the map in his hand.
He knew the real trouble was only beginning.
Holding the faintly glowing Sylphy in one arm, Kōichi strode out of the Void Barrier.
"Everyone, grab your supplies immediately! We don't have time to waste!"
His voice was low and commanding. He completely ignored Darkness, who was trying to block his path with her body, her face flushed and her breathing ragged.
"Ah! Kōichi! That cold stare... That utter contempt, as if I were nothing more than a pebble by the roadside... Could it be that while you were inside the Barrier, you and Chris reached some secret agreement to cast aside your lawful wife?! Please, order me around just as ruthlessly! Even if you command me to act as bait and let the monsters devour me..."
Darkness covered her face with both hands, twisting her body as strange noises escaped her lips.
"Stop getting worked up, you masochistic Knight! Can't you see that pillar of light in the sky? That thing smells like money!"
Kazuma grabbed Darkness by the cloak and dragged her toward the door, giving Kōichi a thumbs-up at the same time.
"Nice work, Kōichi! I already made three backups of that whole 'exclusive plaything' confession. If you give me a bigger share of whatever we find in the ruins, I might consider not selling it to the receptionist at the Adventurers Guild."
Chris followed behind Kōichi with her head lowered. Her normally stylish Thief cloak was wrapped tightly around her body as she desperately tried to hide her burning-red face.
Every time Kōichi glanced back at her, she would shrink into herself as if shocked, muttering in a voice barely louder than a mosquito.
"Pervert... depraved freak... You actually had the nerve to come out here afterward... Everyone's looking..."
Aqua had already rushed to the shop entrance and was pointing toward the black phenomenon hanging over the distant forest.
"Hey! You're all way too slow! If we get there too late, the treasure will definitely be stolen by those evil members of the Axis Order... No, wait, by the evil Demon King's Army! My luxurious feast and premium sparkling wine are both riding on this ruin expedition!"
The group stormed out of Wiz's Magical Item Shoppe. Quite a few adventurers were already gathered in the street, pointing and murmuring about the pillar of light.
Using his tactical instincts, Kōichi quickly led the Party out through one of Axel's side gates and plunged straight into the mist-shrouded Cursed Forest.
The deeper they went, the more twisted and grotesque the trees became, their warped trunks resembling screaming human faces.
Sylphy seemed to sense something.
She clutched tightly at Kōichi's collar, while the tiny halo created by Divine Protection above her head shone through the mist like a giant light bulb, illuminating the restless shadows surrounding them.
"Daddy... trees moving."
Sylphy warned him in a tiny voice.
"Don't worry. Daddy's here."
Kōichi tightened his grip on his staff, feeling the tremendous surge of power flowing through him thanks to Sylphy's blessing.
Then he looked toward Chris.
"Chris, stop spacing out. Put those Thief skills to use and lead us around the troublesome traps. We need to reach the entrance before anyone else!"
The fog in the Cursed Forest grew increasingly dense. The rotten smell of damp earth gradually gave way to a sharp stench of sulfur.
Just as Kōichi's Party passed through a thicket covered in Venus flytraps, a rapid series of metallic clashes and the explosive sounds of some flashy skill came from a clearing ahead.
"Oh? Looks like we're not the only lucky ones."
Kazuma immediately crouched down and pulled Aqua behind a crooked tree, while also taking out his monocular.
Several men and women stood in the clearing ahead. Their equipment was first-rate, and their bearing was completely different from that of Axel's usual bunch of hopeless adventurers.
At their head stood a young man with short black hair and eyes as sharp as a hawk's. A longsword glowing faintly blue rested in his hand as he effortlessly cut several berserk Goblins attempting to ambush him into pieces.
Behind him stood a young woman dressed in ornate magical robes and a stern-looking warrior clad in heavy armor.
"Is that... the Party led by Hibiki Mikuriya, the Hero Candidate?"
Chris whispered beside Kōichi's ear, caution entering her voice.
"They're elites sent from the Royal Capital. They specialize in clearing high-difficulty ruins and Demon King's Army strongholds. Kōichi-san, should we go around them?"
But it was already too late.
The small halo above Sylphy's head, formed by Divine Protection, looked like a miniature sun amid the dim fog.
It instantly drew their attention.
Hibiki Mikuriya lowered his longsword and peered through the layers of mist, his gaze locking precisely onto the silver-haired little girl in Kōichi's arms.
One eyebrow rose slightly. Surprise flashed through his eyes before he strode toward them with the rest of his team.
"Everyone, please stop."
His voice was calm, yet carried an authority that left little room for argument.
He stopped five meters from Kōichi, his gaze never leaving Sylphy.
"I am Hibiki Mikuriya. If I'm not mistaken, the magical fluctuations coming from this little girl... are identical to those of the recently awakened Ruin, the Obsidian Court. In fact, one could say that she herself is some form of high-ranking Vessel of Divinity."
He turned his attention to Kōichi, his gaze becoming more scrutinizing.
"Adventurer, I don't know how you came to be responsible for this child, but taking her into such an evil ruin is extremely dangerous. For her safety, and to prevent the power of the ruins from spiraling out of control, I suggest that you hand her over to us. We will escort her to the Royal Capital, where the High Priest will perform her baptism and place her under protection."