The underground passage stretched endlessly ahead.
Only the sound of footsteps echoed through the darkness.
The faint blue crystals embedded within the walls had long since disappeared.
The deeper they went—
the darker it became.
Behind the group—
Ryke frowned.
He scratched the back of his head.
"...You know."
"I didn't hear anything."
Aldric glanced over one shoulder.
"...Shut up."
"As if someone as weak as you could hear a damn thing."
He snorted.
"...Even if she'd whispered it directly into your ear."
Ryke sighed.
"...Yeah."
"...Figures."
Beside him—
Kaelira casually raised a hand.
"...I heard it."
"It wasn't loud..."
"...but I heard it."
Pythia nodded slightly without breaking her stride.
"...That's only natural."
She glanced toward Kaelira.
"...You're a demi-human."
"Your hearing is considerably more sensitive than that of an ordinary human."
She paused.
"...And you aren't weak either."
Kaelira's wolf ears twitched happily.
A grin spread across her face.
"...Yeah."
Ryke stared at both of them.
"...Great."
"So I'm basically the punching bag around here."
He peered farther into the darkness ahead.
"...Am I also the only one who can't see a damn thing?"
Kaelira answered immediately.
"...You got that right."
Her grin widened.
Ryke let out a long sigh.
"...Making fun of me really seems to make you feel better about yourselves, doesn't it?"
Kaelira didn't deny it.
She simply kept smiling.
"...What do you think?"
Ryke shook his head.
"...I can't even see your face right now..."
"...but I'm one hundred percent sure you're smiling."
He reached into his coat.
A moment later—
a small dagger appeared in his hand.
He poured a thin stream of mana into it.
**Hummm...**
A soft white light bloomed from the blade.
The dark tunnel was immediately illuminated.
The rough stone walls.
The uneven floor.
Everyone nearby became visible once more.
Ryke raised the glowing dagger.
Pointing it toward Kaelira's face.
"...Yeah."
"I knew it."
"You're smiling."
Kaelira immediately leaned back.
"...Hey."
She waved a hand in front of the glowing blade.
"...Get that thing out of my face."
Her eyes shifted toward the weapon.
"...Where'd you even get something like that?"
Ryke lowered it slightly.
He examined the glowing dagger with a shrug.
"...This?"
"It's just a magic item."
"I always carry it around."
He offered an awkward smile.
"...Gotta stay safe somehow."
He lightly tapped the flat of the blade.
"...Since I'm weak and all."
Kaelira stared at him for a moment.
Then smirked.
"...For someone who keeps calling himself weak..."
"...you've got quite a few useful toys."
Ryke shrugged.
"...Being weak means preparing."
"If I can't win with strength..."
"...then I've got to survive with everything else."
Aldric laughed.
"...That's the first smart thing you've said."
Ryke blinked.
"...Was..."
"...was that a compliment?"
Aldric's face immediately became expressionless.
"...Don't push your luck."
Ryke nodded at once.
"...Right."
"...Never mind."
Kaelira chuckled quietly.
"...See?"
"...You learn fast."
Still at the front—
Draven continued walking without slowing.
The gentle glow from Ryke's dagger stretched their shadows across the ancient stone corridor.
Pythia's crimson eyes remained fixed ahead.
No one spoke after that.
The group continued deeper through the narrow underground passage.
Only the sound of their footsteps echoed through the darkness.
After several more minutes—
Pythia suddenly stopped.
Aldric looked at her.
"...What is it?"
A grin spread across his face.
"...Have we finally arrived at your little rat hole?"
Pythia ignored him completely.
Kaelira looked ahead.
Her ears twitched.
"...The passage keeps going."
She frowned.
"...There's still a tunnel straight ahead."
Pythia slowly raised one hand.
Her palm rested against the cold stone wall beside her.
"...It does."
She nodded once.
"...But not for us."
"...The passage ahead is only a decoy."
"...A trap for anyone who isn't meant to be here."
Soft blue mana gathered beneath her fingertips.
A magic circle silently spread across the wall.
Ancient runes rotated one after another.
**Click...**
A deep rumble echoed through the stone.
Instead of the wall before them moving—
the opposite wall slowly slid aside.
A hidden corridor revealed itself.
Pythia lowered her hand.
"...There."
Without hesitation—
she stepped inside.
Draven followed immediately.
The others entered after them.
The hidden passage closed behind them.
**Rumble...**
The sound gradually faded.
Nothing remained to suggest another corridor had ever existed.
Several moments later—
the air changed.
A damp, earthy smell filled the passage.
Then—
they emerged into a vast underground sewer.
Dark wastewater flowed steadily through broad stone channels.
Strange pale slimes clung to the walls.
Others drifted lazily along with the current.
They quietly consumed the moss, algae, and refuse coating the ancient masonry.
The entire place—
despite being a sewer—
was surprisingly clean.
Kaelira wrinkled her nose.
"...It still smells."
Aldric slowly looked around.
Disbelief spread across his face.
"...You're kidding me."
He threw both hands into the air.
"...What the hell?"
"All that security..."
"...just to end up inside a damn sewer?"
He turned toward Pythia.
"...You little rat."
"...Are you trying to piss me off?"
Pythia answered calmly.
"...If the entrance were easy to find..."
"...it wouldn't be much of a hideout."
A faint smile appeared beneath her hood.
"...Would it?"
Aldric clicked his tongue.
"...Still disgusting."
Without another word—
Pythia stepped into the shallow water.
Ripples spread around her boots.
She raised one hand.
Another intricate magic circle expanded beneath her feet.
Its concentric rings rotated slowly.
A deep vibration echoed throughout the sewer.
**Rumble...**
The stone beneath her suddenly began rising.
Water spilled away to both sides.
A circular platform steadily lifted upward.
Then—
it stopped.
A narrow shaft had opened beneath it.
Stone steps descended into darkness once more.
Kaelira's wolf ears immediately perked up.
"...That's actually pretty cool."
She looked from the hidden entrance—
to the surrounding sewer.
"...Even if it's hidden inside a place like this."
Pythia looked toward Draven.
"...My Lord."
Without a word—
Draven stepped onto the platform.
He descended into the newly revealed passage.
Pythia followed close behind.
Aldric walked after them with both hands tucked into his pockets.
He slowly shook his head.
"...You damn rat..."
He laughed quietly.
"...You people sure put a lot of disgusting work into digging your little holes."
Pythia's smile never faded.
"...It has kept unwanted guests away for centuries."
"...I'd say the effort was worthwhile."
One after another—
the rest of the group descended.
Ryke cast one final glance around the sewer.
"...If someone had told me there was a secret organization hiding beneath this place..."
"...I'd have laughed."
He stepped onto the staircase.
The moment everyone entered—
the platform slowly descended once more.
**Rumble...**
Stone slid back into place overhead.
The flowing water quickly covered it completely.
Within seconds—
no trace of the hidden entrance remained.
Only the quiet current of the sewer continued flowing—
as though nothing had ever disturbed it.