I Became a Ruined Character in a Dark Fantasy-Chapter 390

"I swear I won't do anything reckless. By the Blazing Goddess, I promise." Placing her left hand on her breastplate, Lucia quickly added, "I can't let you face danger alone."

"I told you, it depends on the situation. More importantly," Ian, who had been answering indifferently, shifted his gaze toward the mist rolling beyond the ridge. "That looks like our destination."

The outline of a city appeared, nestled into a hollow along the mountainside ridge. Even from this distance, it was clear the city was nothing more than a ruin.

"Yes," Diana said, naturally quickening her pace as she spoke. "It's a city that was once called Nor Mene. Now, as you can see, it's just a ruin."

"Nor Mene. I think I've heard that name before. Though I can't quite recall the details," Lucia murmured, narrowing her eyes.

Ian turned to Diana. "Explain it in more detail."

"It was a Northern city that became part of the Empire during the age of war. It served as a supply hub for the front lines."

"Not that kind of stuff." Ian couldn't care less about the city's history. He let out a short, dry chuckle and asked, "Was this once an ancient city?"

"Yes. Like many others," Diana replied.

"As expected. I see where you guys live." Ian finally nodded.

Diana glanced back at him with a slight furrow of her brow. "You've already suspected as much, haven't you, Ian Hope? You're as sharp as a fairy."

"Well, it wasn't a hard conclusion to reach."

"Wait, am I the only one who doesn't understand?" Lucia asked, blinking in confusion. Thanks to their brief rest, she was now keeping pace with their quick strides without difficulty, almost like a scout.

"What does being an ancient city have to do with the base?"

"Why do you think there are so many cities built atop ancient cities?" Ian asked, turning to her.

"Well, because the infrastructure—like waterways—is already there, so... ah." Lucia's eyes widened as realization struck. "Underground. So the base exists beneath the ground, not above it."

"Yes. I had a feeling that might be the case—" Ian's eyes took in the ruins that were getting closer. "Everything here really is the opposite of what's above ground."

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Just as the corrupted ones of the continent retreated into dark underground sanctuaries filled with sinister spells and scriptures, here, the civilized races sought refuge underground to protect their sanity.

"Though I doubt they'd survive this long in an ordinary underground waterway."

Diana said nothing, only quickened her pace.

As they neared the old crumbling walls, the full view of the ruined city came into sight. Fog clung to the area, and the stillness was almost eerie—there wasn't even the faintest trace of life, not from survivors or even animals.

"Everything seems untouched," Lucia murmured as they entered the city.

Rubble and bricks piled up everywhere, and the remains of buildings were little more than skeletal walls or frames. Cracked and sunken flagstones paved the streets.

Ian nodded, his gaze following Diana as she navigated the debris.

"The underground likely holds more secrets. This was Northern territory, after all," he said, glancing at Lucia before adding, "Probably ancient dwarven ruins."

"Honestly." Diana, now walking along the outer edges of the ruins, turned back to Ian. "How do you figure all this out so easily without so much as a hint of surprise?"

Because it's obvious.

Ian shrugged, though he kept that thought to himself. "It's not my first time seeing Northern ancient ruins."

"What does that even— ugh. No, never mind, whatever," Diana muttered, shaking her head as she stopped near the wall of a crumbling building. With only one side remaining, it almost looked like a simple fence built along the fortress wall.

Without a word, she crouched and slid one of the large flagstones at the edge to the side, revealing a makeshift staircase leading downward. It was the entrance to the underground waterway.

"There's not a drop of water, so don't worry," Diana remarked as she descended the stairs. Before bending down, she glanced back at Ian and added, "It would be best if you covered the entrance after coming in."

"Sure," Ian replied casually.

Lucia wasted no time stepping onto the staircase, and Ian followed last. As he descended, he grabbed the angled flagstone and pulled it into place, sealing the entrance above. The space was instantly plunged into darkness, and the air grew heavy with a musty scent of mold.

Even without water, sewers are unpleasant.

Ian smacked his lips, adjusting to the cramped surroundings as he turned. The tunnel was narrow enough for only one person to pass at a time and low enough that he had to stoop slightly. It was clearly built for dwarves.

While it was fortunate that there was no water, the atmosphere was eerie, as if a monster could spring out at any moment.

"Keep your eyes on the person ahead of you. There are many branching paths," Diana's voice echoed from the front.

Watching Lucia walk ahead with her head lowered, Ian spoke lightly, "It seems we'll be walking for a while."

It made sense. This depth alone wouldn't be enough to evade the notice of demons or monsters.

The sight that greeted them was enough to induce claustrophobia in an ordinary person: darkness, narrow corridors, stale air, and the constant sound of footsteps ahead. Diana led the way without hesitation, just like she always did.

They navigated several sharp corners and a seemingly endless series of forks in the path, yet she never hesitated. Even Ian, with his sense of direction, soon found himself utterly disoriented.

A literal underground labyrinth.

Perhaps it had been designed that way from the start. Without knowing the exact route to the underground ruins, one would only wander in circles through the sewers.

However, Diana steadily led them deeper underground. Before long, the ceiling, like the walls and floor, became completely sealed.

"This path doesn't seem convenient for moving large groups. It must be difficult to use often," Lucia muttered. While she moved relatively easily compared to the others, the confined space was no less suffocating.

"There's probably more than one entrance," Ian responded instead of Diana. "We're outsiders, so we're likely being led through the most difficult and convoluted route."

A sigh escaped from ahead, where Diana was walking. "I guess there’s no point in keeping my mouth shut anymore. Fine, you're right. But this is still a commonly used path. The ones who venture outside the most are people like me—Owls. And we prefer the safest routes, even if they're the most complicated."

"Owls, huh?"

What a fitting nickname.

While Ian muttered to himself, Lucia's voice followed. "How did they even find ruins like this? It wouldn't have been easy to locate, even with a map."

"I've heard the dwarves discovered it. There was a legend passed down among them," Diana spoke, as if she had decided there was no point in keeping it to herself now that Ian had already pierced most of it together—or maybe she just wanted to show off a little.

"A tale of an underground paradise where their ancestors escaped the oppression of dragons and giants. Supposedly, one dragon took pity on them and offered an abandoned nest left behind by their kin."

"A dragon!" Lucia's voice momentarily grew louder.

A name he was all too familiar with flashed through his mind.

"It's a hard story to believe. Even more so, that a dragon did it to save those ugly, hairy dwarves," Diana scoffed quietly and added as she turned another corner,

"But, regardless, it seems the dwarves have long known that this legendary ruin was here. They just didn't dare venture because the city had been built over it, and the sewers were full of filth."

"Even if they discovered it, I doubt they would have shared it openly from the start," Ian remarked offhandedly.

Diana responded slowly, "I wouldn't know about that. Well, I suppose they aren't complete idiots."

Her voice, which had been echoing faintly, changed just then. Shortly afterward, the walls to Ian's left and right widened dramatically. Though the ceiling remained low, they entered an elongated underground chamber.

Continuing her stride, Diana added, "If they'd holed up like moles among themselves, they'd have starved to death long ago."

Though the chamber lacked any visible light source, it was bright enough to distinguish the surroundings easily.

A spell circuit.

Ian sensed a faint flow of magic—so subtle it would have gone unnoticed without his intuition.

"Then are all the strongholds based on dwarven ruins?" Lucia asked quietly.

Crossing the chamber, Diana shrugged. "Not all. Some are other underground ruins or mage towers. I've even heard of a place where a group of mages supposedly buried an entire city underground. Never seen it myself, though."

She replied as they approached another set of stairs descending further into the depths on the opposite wall.

It sounds like they don't share the locations of their bases, Ian noted as he followed her.

It made sense. If everyone knew each other's positions, one stronghold falling could put the others in grave danger. The locations were likely only shared with a select few.

Thud— Thud—

Walls and a ceiling engraved with magic circuits lined the long, straight staircase. Though devoid of magic, their traces were clear enough to the naked eye.

"What spells could these be?" Lucia murmured, running her hand along the wall.

Diana, descending the stairs upright, shrugged again. "I don't know. I don't want to know. And I hope I never have to find out."

The straight staircase twisted a sharp corner right after.

Lucia tilted her head in confusion. A solid, dark brick wall, tightly packed and impenetrable, was blocking the end of the staircase.

"When I give the signal, step forward," Diana instructed.

Crouching, she pushed firmly against a brick near the bottom corner.

Clunk, click.

The sound of machinery activating echoed as the brick sank inward.

Click, rumble...

A low rumble followed, and a row of bricks around Diana's waist level slid apart, revealing a narrow gap.

"Owl's here," Diana finally said, glancing back at them. Then she added, "Brought two chicks along."

Ian and Lucia, now at the base of the stairs, stood shoulder to shoulder in the narrow space. Ian could feel eyes scrutinizing him through the opening beyond.

Rumble, rumble...

The sound of moving bricks came again from the wall. The bricks slid to the sides, revealing a small, arched entrance. It took less than a minute for the passage to form.

Looks like a dog door for large breeds.

Diana bent down slightly. "When you come in, stand side by side and place your hands behind your neck."

She then stepped through the opening. Exchanging glances with Lucia, Ian followed her.

The first thing that caught Ian's eye was a middle-aged dwarf with a thick, braided red beard, the center strand running long down his chest. Though lean for a dwarf, his sturdy build was clear. He wore dark, rough leather of unknown origin and carried a pole-like weapon that resembled a short spear.

Next to him stood another dwarf with a shaggy black beard, similarly dressed.

Two-man patrol, it seems, Ian observed, standing upright under their intense gaze.

As Lucia stepped in behind him, Ian clasped his hands behind his neck, complying with Diana's earlier instructions.

The rectangular stone chamber was markedly different from the previous space. Unlike the earlier tunnels, this room appeared to be directly carved from the earth.

The red-bearded dwarf tugged at a handle protruding from the wall.

Clank, rumble...

The machinery groaned as the bricks slid back into place, sealing the entrance again.

Despite the closed door, the chamber didn't grow dark. The air carried a faint musty smell but was breathable, even pleasant, with a subtle warmth.

"You look like you have a lot of questions," Diana said as soon as the door shut. She must have noticed the two dwarves staring at Ian. "Save them for later."

"Inspections are a guard's duty, Pointy-Ear," the red-bearded dwarf retorted gruffly.

One of Ian's eyebrows arched slightly. Calling an elf pointy ear to their face? On the surface, such words would have sparked a fight, regardless of the coexistence between elves and dwarves.

"Not right now, you foolish Half-Pint," Diana replied, frowning but otherwise unbothered.

"What do you mean, not right—"

"They're from outside the Wall. They're outsiders," Diana interrupted. "So make your report first. If you have questions, save them for later."

The dwarves exchanged glances, their eyes widening before narrowing with interest. Though they didn't stop Ian and Lucia from proceeding, their curiosity was palpable as they watched the pair walk away.

"You seem to be on great terms with them," Ian remarked as he moved toward the passage, his hands still clasped behind his neck.

Diana, entering the passage, muttered in response, "I'd rather not deal with such insults."

"I was worried a fight might break out," Lucia added.

Diana let out a quick snort. "If that kind of thing started a fight, everyone would've died long ago."

The passage curved steeply downward, leading further underground. The air grew warmer with each step and the surroundings gradually became brighter.

Looking at the patterns etched on the walls and ceiling, Ian eventually noticed an inscription in ancient script running along the ceiling.

By the great and benevolent... bestowed upon us... all dwarves... in gratitude...

Ian deciphered the scattered words he could read. It appeared to be a hymn praising a dragon. Diana straightened her back and surged ahead, showing that the passage had ended.

"By Lu Entre, what a sight," Lucia muttered in awe.

Ian stepped out of the passage as well, and his mouth opened slightly in astonishment.

A massive, oval-shaped cavern stretched before them, its expanse breathtaking. Along one side of the cavern wall, a sprawling underground city extended upward like a series of wide, cascading steps.

Ian's eyes narrowed sharply the moment after. Releasing his hands from behind his neck, he glanced at the back of his left hand.

Shwaa...

Mantra circuits, normally hidden and faintly visible, now glimmered softly, resonating with a gentle magic energy.