BOOM!!
RUMBLE!!!...
A fierce quake shook the ground, sending a huge tremor across the cave.
The ground split apart, and a cloud of dust was raised.
BOOM!! BOOM!! BOOM!!
Stones which were stuck to the ceiling fell noisily to the ground, leaving behind large craters wherever they fell. At the same time, multiple magic formations appeared on the wall of the caves.
At the same time, small cracks appeared on the surface of the walls covering the magic formations.
The small cracks quickly spread like someone who had hit a glass with a hammer.
"Hey, what's happening?"
I asked in confusion, those magic formations weren't there, at least I didn't notice any of them until now, but at least our earlier thoughts have been proven; this entire cave was the work of someone unknown.
As for who it is that is responsible for creating this entire cave, that is a complete mystery.
"The fighting just now had probably caused the cave's foundation to become unstable; it also seems like those magic formations can't hold or sustain this cave anymore."
Alya's emerald eyes shone faintly as she replied to my question nonchalantly.
How could she remain calm in this situation? Is what I wanted to ask. There is no time for that.
What we have to do now is get everyone out of here right now. We have already completed this quest by getting rid of those goblins; now we have to get everyone out of here as quickly as possible.
Nikita gently tied her long silver hair into a one-sided ponytail to make it easier to move around and went to check up on the other cages nearby.
At the same time, Alya attacks the cages using the wind, but there are no good results from her efforts.
After checking the others, Nikita quickly made her way back and said in a slightly serious voice.
"Those cages over there seem to be made from special material that has high resistance to magical power."
She explained in full seriousness.
"I see so, that's why my attacks aren't working. Whoever made this place had no intention of freeing those villagers, it seems."
Alya said, her eyes narrowing faintly in contemplation.
"Tch, this is annoying. I don't care what those things are made of, I'll rip them apart!"
Nikita suddenly exclaimed in annoyance, her teeth changing into fangs, and her delicate fingernails changed into fox claws.
"Hey, will you calm down, you crazy beast, do you really think your claws could scratch those metal bars?"
Alya asked, completely exasperated. I couldn't help but give a weak laugh, though, cold sweats were running down my back because we were slowly running out of time, and many of the villagers were screaming and begging us to help them.
Though they were being drowned out by the sound of constant rocks hitting the ground in succession.
"I'll try the other cages over there, along with Nikita, Alya. You try the others, okay?"
"Right."
"Please leave it to me."
Both Nikita and Alya nodded their heads firmly.
I promptly went towards the many cages and tried opening them up, but even with all the strength I exerted, the metal bar wouldn't budge an inch.
"Tch, this is troublesome."
A short distance away from me, a small crack appeared on the ground, which was slowly spreading at this rate; the cage will most likely fall between the ground that had split apart.
(I don't have enough time to search for the keys now; we have to destroy them, it seems)
I thought before holding out my palm.
"Mother of wind, slice my target, wind blade!"
A magic formation appeared before my outstretched hand, and wind in the form of blades shot out heading into the direction of the cage.
"Eek!"
Many of the villagers winced and closed their eyes in fright. The wind blades made direct contact with the metal bars, and the wind blades simply dispersed into a harmless breeze.
"I guess I need a stronger attack."
I said while sighing slightly. Inside the cage were roughly twenty kidnapped villagers, among them a large majority were females.
My eyes met with a pair of beautiful amethyst eyes. A young girl who seemed to be only a few years older than me nervously walked towards me.
Her steps were delicate, and her body was soft and petite.
"U-umm. Excuse me, could you please help us?"
She asked nervously. Her voice was soft and pleasant to the ear. I nodded my head once before turning to look at Nikita, who stood a few feet behind me. When our eyes met, she nodded before grabbing the metal bars with her dainty, soft hands.
Nikita gritted her teeth as she put strength into her hold.
"!!!"
Soon, the metal bars released a strange sound as they bent and turned as Nikita twisted them out of place. She pushed them onto either side, creating a hole large enough for the villagers to pass through.
(Why didn't we do this sooner?)
I thought somewhat exasperatedly. The girl with pure amethyst eyes and straight purple hair stepped out from the cage and bowed her head deeply.
After her, the other villagers also slowly made their way out one after another. They each thanked Nikita for freeing them.
"Thank you so much."
"We are forever in your debt."
"She has silver tails, so cute."
One after another, the villagers all thanked Nikita in a somewhat lively voice, causing Nikita's pale cheeks to flush crimson in embarrassment.
BAM!!
A loud banging sound caught everyone's attention. A few distances away, the figure of Ben could be seen frantically hitting the iron cage with a rock in his hand.
Seeing that, it is easy for everyone to tell someone important must be inside that cage to him.
My feet abruptly moved forward to his location while Nikita silently followed me from behind.
BANG!! BANG!! BANG!!
"Damn it! Why won't this thing break?!!"
Ben shouted in desperation while sweat ran down his arms, his breathing was irregular as he continued hitting the iron cage.
When I was at a close enough distance, my eyes caught sight of a young girl who seemed to be roughly ten or eleven years old, trembling with tearful eyes.
"Argh! It's no use, it won't break."
He said before dropping to his knees while breathing heavily from exhaustion, apparently, he had exerted too much strength while banging on the iron cage.
"Hey, do you know this girl?"
I inquired curiously, from the look on his face and the expected look the small girl sends him, it wasn't that difficult to guess that they had some kind of connection.
Hearing my question, Ben's eyes flashed angrily.
"D-do I know her? I'm her father! The only reason I decided to come here is to recover her!"
He yelled as he grabbed the collar of my jacket. Seeing his state, I couldn't help but sigh. I then turned my gaze towards Nikita, seeing that she quickly nodded her head and went towards the cage.
BOOM!!
THUMPH!!
Within a few minutes, Nikita had completely removed the iron cage bar before throwing it downwards with a loud thud. She then steps aside, allowing those trapped inside to step out.
All those who were separated were finally reunited with the others. Alya had also managed to free the other cages as well, and she kept attacking the cages, slowly weakening the bars before breaking them herself.
"Now that everyone is free, we should get out of here."
I said as I observed everyone present, Alya slowly raised her hand before speaking.
"Haruto, please allow me to create a path. With the foundation of the cave now collapsing, it would be too dangerous to go back the way we came; after all, that pathway is too narrow. And if we have to fight another monster on the way, it will only make things more dangerous in this situation."
Alya explained, voicing her concern with an unusual stern expression on her face. Hearing that, both Nikita and I nodded in agreement.
It was true that fighting another monster now would be the worst possible option, as the cave is already collapsing; fighting now would only speed up the dangers in this cave.
"So, how are you going to create a path?"
Nikita inquired, tilting her head curiously. Hearing that Alya's feet moved gracefully, and she appeared before me.
Hm? I looked confused as her face approached my own.
"?!"
In an instant, our lips touch. My body stiffened as I felt the soft sensation of her exquisite lips. After roughly twenty or so seconds, she finally moved her face away as our lips parted.
Alya then showed a mischievous smile as she brought her hand to her lips.
"H-hey! Alya! What the heck was that just now? Do you mind telling me why you kissed me?"
I asked dumbfoundedly. Hearing my voice also brought Nikita out of her dazed expression as she suddenly stared at Alya with a red face.
"Yeah, you perverted spirit! Doing such a thing in the open while being surrounded, do you have no shame?!"
Nikita asked while glaring at Alya.
"Oh, my, if you also wanted a kiss, you could always ask Haruto, you know."
"I-I do not!"
Nikita retorted sharply, her white cheek dyed crimson.
"Fufufu, if you say so, the reason I did that is that I needed more mana, I really didn't have much choice."
Alya said, shrugging her shoulders casually.
"You say that, we both know you wanted to do that! And I'm certain there are other methods."
"And so, what if I did?"
Nikita's crimson eyes shone as she glared at Alya like a beast.
"Ahem, have you guys forgotten the precarious situation were in right now? You two can argue as much as you like once were outside."
I said tiredly. The villagers were watching the scene with an awkward expression; they wanted to say something, but they had no opening to voice their opinions.
When I stopped the two maidens from fighting, I heard voices filled with both happiness and relief.
"Right, leave it to me."
Alya said with a cute wink. She then held her hand upwards while closing her eyes. Soon, everyone noticed the wind in the surroundings was becoming greatly restless. The wind gathered around us in a spiral motion, and the speed at which the wind travelled increased.
As everyone was wrapped inside a tornado, their feet were lifted off the ground.
"Blast wave!"
WHOOSH!!!
BOOM!!!
RUMBLE!!!....
Alya said at the same time, a torrent of wind shaped as a spear shot forward like a bullet, easily drilling a hole inside the cave, which was roughly thirty meters in diameter.
From the hole, bits of sunlight made their way through, filtering with blinding sunlight, causing the kidnapped villagers who hadn't seen the sun for weeks to close their eyes.
Some stared at the sun as though to burn the image into their minds, while tears appeared at the corners of their eyes.
(No wonder they would react that way for them, I guess it's been a while)
I thought while showing a faint smile. Nikita had a similar expression on her face as she watched the villagers. Soon, the tornado carried us outside.
As the cave started crumpling and collapsing faster.
***
Approximately ten minutes later, we finally landed on the ground.
BOOOM!!!...
The cave has completely fallen to the ground. Everyone who stared at the scene gulped in fright. If they hadn't made it out in time, it seems they were too scared to guess what would have happened to them.
"Once again, thank you, Sir Haruto, Lady Alya and Lady Nikita, on behalf of the entire village, I once again thank you."
Ben said, lowering his head, standing next to him, while holding his hand was a young girl with brown-coloured hair who seemed to be roughly ten or eleven years old.
Also bowed her head following the gesture of her father. The red-haired girl whom I saved from the hobgoblin also bowed her head, followed by the amethyst-eyed girl.
"It was nothing, we were simply following the quest."
I replied simply.
***
Meanwhile, Haruto and the villager were conversing in the distance, and a pair of curious eyes were observing him from a distance inside the forest.
"Interesting, so they manage to make it out alive, I guess I should have expected that much from a spirit and one of those silver fox demi human but, but that human boy, his aura is too powerful for him to simply be a human."
A woman with long white hair and deep red eyes muttered to herself. Around her body was a long snake that easily measured ten meters. The snake had black skin and red glowing eyes.
The white-haired woman then turned to look at the slightly chubby body, bald head and bearded chin. The man trembled in fear as he backed away, wetting his pants.
He leaned against a tree trunk while he was surrounded from all sides by large creatures that resembled a dog.
Though their fur was completely black, they had yellowish eyes.
Just being near them had enough pressure to fully intimidate someone completely into submission.
The woman's mouth was upturned into a devilish grin as she slowly said.
"Are you willing to give me some information? Well, whether you do or not, it completely depends on whether you live or die. If I were you, I would choose the right option that allows me to live."
She said gently, while looking down on the bald, bearded chin man.