"By the way… do you know how to get out of here?" Yelan asked, focusing on the most pressing issue.
"If you want to leave, I can send you out right now," Lora replied calmly.
"I'm not leaving." Yanfei shook her head. "You said this place was created by the Fantastic Compass, right? I was commissioned to retrieve it, so I'm staying."
Behind her, Itto immediately puffed up his chest.
"If my benefactor's staying, then I'm staying too! I always repay my debts! I'll help you bring back that… uh… whatever that disk thing is!"
Lora glanced at the last person.
"And you?"
Yelan met her gaze. "It's my job to investigate what's happening here. I'll be staying."
"Mm. Thought so."
That was about what she expected.
Everyone present bore a Vision—people like them naturally had far more nerve than ordinary folk when faced with something like this.
And even the two who might be considered "ordinary" were anything but. Both were more than capable—and more than willing to take risks.
"In that case, stay close," she said, already turning forward. "This place is saturated with Abyssal energy. It can affect your mind."
With that, she headed deeper inside.
The others followed.
But as they continued on, something began to feel… off.
The scenery was starting to look familiar.
Before long, even Itto—slow as he usually was—noticed.
"Hey… uh…" He raised a hand. "Don't take this the wrong way, but… are we lost?"
She stopped dead in her tracks and turned sharply.
Startled, the oni flinched. Shinobu quickly grabbed his arm.
"Please don't mind him," she said calmly. "That's just how he is."
Lora cleared her throat.
"I'm not upset. It's just…"
She paused.
…a little embarrassing.
After all, she was lost.
Yelan studied her for a moment. "Even with your abilities, you can't find the right path here?"
"Finding the path isn't the problem." She scratched her head. "I need to find someone first."
"Who?"
"Xiao."
"The Conqueror of Demons?" Yanfei blinked in surprise. "He's here too? I thought we were the only ones who entered."
"I came here for him."
"Hah! Then it's my time to shine!"
Itto suddenly burst into laughter, throwing his arms wide in a dramatic pose.
"Everyone, witness my true power! Come out—Ushi!!"
A surge of Geo energy gathered—and a rock bull appeared before them.
"This is my partner, Ushi! He's great at finding the way. With him around, we won't get lost!"
Lora met the bull's gaze.
"Moo—"
Ushi let out a low call.
Lora glanced at Itto. "Is it mocking me?"
"Of course not!" he shot back instantly. "He's just being friendly. Ushi likes you!"
"…Right." She gave a dry laugh. "I'm sure he does."
In the end, their guide switched from Lora to the bull.
And under Ushi's lead, they wound through the twisting paths—this time without getting lost.
As they pressed on, still without any sign of Xiao, they came across a strange room.
"…Why is there a room here?" Yanfei frowned, studying it. There was nothing unusual about the structure itself—but its very existence felt wrong.
This was a sealed space.
So who would build a room here?
Tilting her head, Lora tried to recall its purpose—but nothing came to mind.
"I've got it!" Itto clapped his hands. "This must've been built by adventurers who came here before us! They left it behind as a rest stop for future explorers! Yeah—that's definitely it!"
At that, everyone turned—almost in unison—to Shinobu.
She pressed a hand to her forehead with a quiet sigh.
"…Please don't mind him."
"It's fine," Yanfei said with a smile. "We don't."
Lora looked back at the oni. "Let me get this straight—you think that in a sealed space no one's entered for hundreds of years… someone left behind a rest stop for future visitors?"
"Why not?" he shot back without hesitation.
She fell silent.
…Somehow, that almost made sense.
Yelan spoke up, voice low and steady. "Either way, whether it's recent or centuries old, this is the only lead we have. If we want answers, we'll need to go inside."
"I'll go!" Itto immediately volunteered.
"You stay right there," Lora cut in, exasperated. "You don't even know what's inside and you're already charging in? What if it's a trap and you walk out with something ridiculous stuck to your head?"
"It'd be an oni's head," he corrected.
"Moo!" Ushi chimed in.
"And a bull's head!" he added proudly.
"…Right."
"I'll go," Yelan said, stepping forward. "Investigating is part of my job. If something's off, I should be the one to check it first."
"Then let me," Yanfei added. "I'm half-adeptus. If something happens, I'll have a better chance of getting out safely than any of you."
Lora watched them go back and forth.
After a moment, she sighed.
"…Did all of you forget I'm still standing right here?"