"What is this…? I just stepped on something soft."
Rolin's voice carried a hint of irritation.
"Likath. We've reached the ground. Get out so I can see."
"No."
A vein almost popped on Rolin's forehead.
"You damn wolf—get out, or I swear I'll throw you into the deepest hole you'll ever see in your life."
A second later—
Likath emerged from Rolin's chest.
His form manifested like a blazing lantern, crimson flames casting restless shadows across the darkness. He looked visibly annoyed, grumbling under his breath.
The space around them lit up.
They were standing on something… sticky.
Dark.
Fleshy.
It clung faintly to their boots.
And the cavern—
It was vast.
So vast that even Likath's fire couldn't reach its edges.
Rolin glanced around, unfazed.
"Alright… let's go deeper."
Likath turned his head slowly.
"…Why are we going deeper?"
Rolin answered calmly,
"To find something useful."
Likath let out a dry, mocking laugh.
"What are the odds we'll find some ancient artifact in a hole under a tree?"
He gestured around with his tail.
"More likely we'll find the remains of this forest's residents—fused into one disgusting creature made of rotten flesh and filthy black weeds, trying to eat us."
Rolin smirked faintly.
"That sounds fun."
Likath stared at him.
"…You sick masochist."
They moved forward.
The deeper they went, the stranger the cavern became.
The walls—
Black stone.
But intertwined with them were thick, twisted tree stems… still continuing downward, as if they had grown through the rock itself.
Some of them pulsed faintly.
Alive… or something close to it.
Rolin's gaze lingered on them.
How far do they extend…?
How tall are these things…?
Do they even have roots…?
…Are they even trees?
He clicked his tongue softly.
Irrelevant.
He pushed the thoughts aside.
After a few minutes of walking—
Rolin suddenly stopped.
There, carved into one of the black stones…
Writing.
Likath tilted his head.
"…So someone actually lived in this hell before us?"
He narrowed his eye.
"Don't tell me they came from the Academy too."
Rolin didn't answer.
Because he didn't have one.
He stepped closer.
Placed his hand over the carving.
And tried to read.
"…We… all… for equality…"
"…nothing remains… of… Ailak…"
The text was incomplete.
Broken.
Fragments of a sentence barely holding together.
Trying to extract meaning from it was like assembling a shattered mirror.
Equality…?
Rolin's eyes narrowed.
That's the second time I've seen that word.
What does it even mean here…?
Ailak… is that the name of this place?
He shook his head slightly.
No… I can't rely on my translation. It could be wrong.
He reached into his bag.
Pulled out a piece of paper and a pen.
Carefully copied the strange text.
Then tucked it away.
Professor Latifia will like this.
"Done?" Likath asked lazily.
Rolin stood up.
"Let's move."
They continued forward.
Minutes passed.
Then—
"AAAAAH!"
Likath suddenly screamed.
Chains snapped into Rolin's hands instantly.
Twin daggers appeared as he dropped into a combat stance.
"A monster?!"
Likath's voice trembled slightly.
"There's something under this… this disgusting floor!"
Rolin frowned.
"Stop yelling."
Likath lowered his fire toward the ground.
The sticky surface shimmered.
Rolin stepped closer.
Without hesitation—
He grabbed one of Likath's daggers and drove it straight down.
Thud.
The triple-edged blade pierced something solid beneath the surface.
He pulled it back out.
Something came with it.
A skull.
…No.
Half a skull.
The left jaw was missing.
The right eye socket… empty.
Gray.
Dead.
Rolin recognized it instantly.
A human skull.
…Someone who came with me?
His eyes darkened.
No… impossible. It wouldn't decay this fast.
Then someone from the forest?
…Or maybe Likath is right.
Maybe from a previous expedition… one that got trapped in this hell.
He examined it briefly.
The bone was thick. Large.
A man.
He must have suffered… to die in a place like this.
Rolin tossed the skull aside without interest.
"Let's keep going."
Likath stared at him for a moment.
"…You're really not normal."
They walked.
And walked.
For a long time.
Until—
They saw an opening.
A wide crack ahead, faintly illuminated from within.
Rolin slowed.
Likath's flames dimmed slightly.
They approached carefully.
Then—
They looked inside.
And both of them froze.
Rolin's expression darkened.
"…Likath."
His voice was flat.
"Don't say it this time."
Because in front of them—
Was exactly what Likath had joked about.
A massive creature.
A grotesque mass of rotting flesh…
entangled with writhing black vegetation.
It pulsed.
It breathed.
And it was very much alive.
Likath swallowed.
"…Yeah."
He paused.
"…That doesn't look friendly."