ushernet Chapter 103: The Explorer's Role
Chapter 103: The Explorer's Role
After the skeletal lizard vanished, everyone's mood turned exceedingly grim.
Charles sighed deeply, "The reason for this predicament lies solely with me. I should have sensed something was off about the blind old man from the very beginning."
Medusa shook her head gently, "This is not your fault. In truth, none of us noticed anything amiss with the blind old man.
If he hadn't willingly exposed his true identity, we might have continued following him deeper into the mine. Who knows, he might have led us to that place where all the dead are destined to go."
Medusa wasn't merely offering comfort to Charles.
Given that Charles's abilities were constrained by The Pale Mask, Medusa considered herself the strongest among the group.
She believed that she should have detected the blind old man's peculiarities beforehand.
Failing to do so, she felt she had significantly neglected her duties.
Upon hearing these words, Little Green intended to add something, but Charles promptly stopped her.
"Taking the blame now serves no purpose. What we need to focus on is escaping from here as quickly as possible. The longer we stay, the more our lives will be gravely endangered."
Charles's words naturally garnered unanimous agreement from everyone.
However, the paramount issue remained: how exactly were they supposed to get out?
Neither Medusa nor Little Green possessed navigational skills.
Despite their formidable strength, it was inconceivable for them to escort everyone all the way to the surface. After all, they were currently far too deep underground.
Charles himself had an exceptionally strong spatial awareness.
But under the constraints of The Pale Mask, his spatial awareness failed to reveal a path leading to the surface.
Moreover, even if Charles were to remove The Pale Mask, the enhancement to his spatial awareness would be minimal.
This is because The Pale Mask restricts Charles's strongest abilities, and spatial awareness is among his least utilized skills.
While Charles and the others were mired in their predicament, Eck suddenly approached them and said, "Perhaps I can offer you some assistance."
Charles and the others turned their gaze towards Eck.
At that moment, Eck took out his notebook. Pointing to a simple diagram he had drawn on its pages, he began to explain.
"I've documented every place we've passed through in this notebook. Although my notes aren't extremely detailed, I, as an explorer, can guide you out of here."
Eck's words brought great relief and joy to Charles and the others.
"I knew having you join us was an exceptionally wise decision," Charles remarked, smiling as he patted Eck on the shoulder.
"Although I am an adventurer myself, I am not nearly as specialized as you. So, I'll leave the navigation to you from here on out; I have full confidence that you can lead us to safety."
Charles had immense trust in Eck.
Medusa understood Charles's implication. She proceeded slowly towards the well, and at the very moment she reached it, Medusa directed her eyes down into its depths.
At that moment, Medusa activated her curse ability.
If there truly was a monster lurking within the well, it would have already been afflicted by her curse. However, there appeared to be nothing inside the well.
After scrutinizing the well for a while, Medusa turned back to Charles and spoke.
"Master, there are no monsters within the well. The scent emanating from it is indeed peculiar, but this might be due to the well being directly connected to an underground river," Medusa suggested.
Charles's expression grew even more grim upon hearing the words "underground river."
"It's possible that the skeletal lizard, which set the trap for us earlier, emerged from a well connected to the underground river. The gradually fading apparition it showed us was likely just a mere illusion," he speculated.
Charles did not believe that the skeletal lizard would reveal its most powerful abilities without encountering significant danger.
Charles suspected that everything the skeletal lizard had done previously was merely to mislead them.
"If this is indeed the case, what should our next course of action be? If we enter the inn, the innkeeper will undoubtedly cause a huge commotion,"
Eck voiced his concern after listening for a while, still unclear about their next move.
Hence, he straightforwardly posed a question to Charles
Upon hearing this, Charles allowed a cold smile to play at the corner of his lips.
"Of course, we must enter the inn. And to be on the safe side, we need to eliminate the innkeeper," Charles declared.
The words spoken by Charles left both Eck and Johann utterly astonished.
"Are you absolutely certain about this course of action? If the guards from the Serpent Empire arrive at the inn afterward, how will we explain ourselves?" Catherine questioned before Charles could respond.
Without hesitation, Medusa interjected.
"If such a situation arises, we will simply eliminate them all. Their strength is not particularly formidable, and we won't be staying here for long anyway."
Eck and Johann, upon hearing Medusa's remarks, began to reassess their opinion of her.
They no longer saw Medusa as merely fearsome; in their eyes, she had transformed into a merciless demon.
Sensing their thoughts, Medusa deliberately cast her gaze toward Eck and Johann.
"What is it? Do you think what I said was wrong?" Medusa inquired, her tone chilling and sinister.
Instantly, sheer panic flashed across Eck and Johann's faces as they heard her question.
"Of course, there's nothing wrong with what you said! We will act according to your plan! We will work together and first kill the innkeeper. If we do encounter the guards from the Serpent Empire, we will eliminate them as well," they stammered.
With a smile, Medusa turned back to Charles after hearing their response.
"Master, I have persuaded everyone. Let us commence our actions immediately. I am eager to return to the inn's room for a proper rest."
Charles nodded in agreement, and without further delay, the group proceeded to enter the inn.