Volume 6 Chapter 9, Part 2 Look. Everyone Can Do It Properly
Randy, tilting his head, recalls the memory of his first visit here.
He remembers that, like the statue of Athena in the Parthenon, the massive goddess statue shone in the sunlight.
"Do you remember? This ruin was originally hidden by that statue."
Randy recalled the stairs that spread out at the base of the goddess statue in response to Cecilia's words, saying, "Now that you mention it..."
"So..."
"This ruin was originally in this form, or it was designed to take on this form."
Randy pondered with a "hmm" at Cecilia's addition.
He had heard that the upper ruins were built later to conceal what lay beneath.
How could it be that this form was normal, or that it was made to take on this form?
In a situation where mysteries piled upon mysteries, Randy scratched his head and said, "Shall we gather information for now?"
With Randy calling for a gathering, everyone temporarily paused their investigations and assembled in front of the large door.
"Well... there are many unknowns, but we've also learned a few things."
Nodding at Randy's words, it was Catherine and Leon who first spoke up.
They noted that the content of the mural had slightly changed, and the deciphered code matched the current mural without a doubt.
"The glowing parts of the mural... probably utilize the moon's magical power for this seal as well,"
Lucius nodded in agreement with Ellie's addition, saying, "That seems likely."
As the mural suggested, the 'black moon' represented the new moon, hinting that when the seal weakens, one should take the correct approach.
"So, does that mean the stronger glow in the glowing parts corresponds to the current lunar phase?"
"Indeed."
With Ellie's nod, a chorus of "oh" rose from the group.
It was a fact they had almost figured out, but the change in the mural confirmed it.
It was a very small step, but a step forward nonetheless.
"Then, shall we move on to our next task..."
Randy smiled and nodded at Annabelle, who had raised her hand impulsively, saying, "Go ahead."
"W-We were investigating the empty coffin..."
Annabelle continued, explaining that there were no signs of anything buried within the coffin itself, and they had investigated it along the lines of some curse or ritual.
"There were no signs of people being buried, but traces of something burning were found in all the coffins."
Suddenly chatty Annabelle was in *Ghostbuster* mode.
"Perhaps there were some burial goods resembling ancient sacrificial offerings."
In front of the talkative Annabelle, Randy tilted his head and asked, "Burial goods resembling sacrificial offerings?"
"You're such a fool. It's like those Terracotta Warriors."
With a sigh, Catherine said so as Ranyd clapped his hand, "I see.".
"So, it means they were sealed here so they wouldn't be lonely... right?"
In response to Randy's question, the loquacious Annabelle hesitated, saying, "If we think normally... but..."
If everything was indeed burned, the story would change.
A great grudge, or perhaps some kind of curse.
"From the remnants of magical power faintly left in the coffin, I sensed something similar to the door..."
"Even though they sealed it, they burned everything. Right?"
To Randy, who tilted his head, Annabelle sighed, "So there's a possibility of a sealing ritual..." and she slumped her shoulders, unable to say more.
"No, no. That's more than enough. As expected of Lady Annabelle."
Next to the nodding Randy, Catherine smiled with a vein popping on her forehead, saying, "Hey, what about my Terracotta Warriors? What about my biased knowledge?"
"Got it, got it. You're impressive too."
At Randy's casual reply, Catherine let out a shriek, "Ugh!" and was once again restrained by Leon, who said, "Calm down."
"Well then, next it's our turn."
Luke began to speak about the unease of the ruins above.
It was the same content he had just heard, but the other members, except for Randy, listened with fresh faces.
Only Lucius seemed to know some of the content through oral tradition, nodding occasionally and saying, "That's right."
After Luke's explanation, everyone was excited, thinking that the ruins above might have some kind of mechanism.
(As for the story so far... the research institution must have grasped it.)
This was Randy's impression as he watched everyone getting excited.
No matter how brilliant they were, if a group of students could investigate and understand it, the experts in that field would have undoubtedly solved it as well.
Still, for Randy and the others without connections to the research institution, the progress made in these few hours has been very beneficial.
In fact, to achieve this much in just a few hours is impressive.
High mountains could be crossed in one leap, and Randy involuntarily muttered, "Just as expected," so that no one could hear him.
That said, the story changes from here on.
A mystery even researchers couldn't elucidate.
However, there is a person among Randy and the others who could be considered the breakthrough.
One of those from the group, Lucius, who is likely the most knowledgeable about this ruin, is accompanying them.
"There are only excellent students here."
Lucius seems pleased, but noticing Randy's gaze, he nods with satisfaction.
"It is undoubtedly true that the upper ruins were constructed to conceal this ruin... but according to what I have heard, even that might be a bluff."
"In other words?"
"It was a premise that *they wanted it to be found*... one could say that."
Everyone stirs at Lucius's words.
While hidden, the premise was for it to be discovered.
There's an unbroken seal with no traces uncovered and a mysterious burial item.
Randy is in total confusion.
The purposes of the upper and lower ruins do not align at all.
(While sealed, they wanted it to be found...)
"What the... the source of the dissonance is becoming apparent..."
As Randy scratches his head, Ellie grins and says, "Well, hold on."
And this existence is indeed the joker within the current group.
A great being that calls itself the ancient Wisdom (the final boss).
"We should draw a conclusion after hearing the results of our investigation."
Thus, Ellie began to speak about the secrets of the door she investigated with Lucius.
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