Vol. 6 Ch. 117

After they had walked for about twenty more minutes, Elusa spoke up.

"This inner space is much larger than we estimated from outside. It looks like the tomb of someone important."

At that, Leon raised his eyebrows and asked,

"Didn’t your Empire’s royals all get buried in official cemeteries after death? What kind of important figure would end up buried in a place like this?"

Elusa shook her head and continued walking as she explained,

"Not necessarily someone from the Empire. It could be a royal from another race in exile, or even someone from a civilization that lived here a very long time ago. Once you’ve been in archaeology long enough, nothing surprises you anymore."

Leon nodded in surprise. "I see."

The area they were in resembled a cavern. The surroundings were filled with whitish-gray stalactites, and from time to time, droplets of water fell from the pointed tips above, echoing softly through the wide underground chamber.

They hadn’t gone much farther when suddenly, footsteps splashing in water echoed nearby.

Elusa turned her head toward him. "What is it?"

"Listen closely. Sounds like water."

"Water?"

Elusa perked up and listened carefully.

Sure enough, faint sounds of water came from nearby.

"Professor Javier always said, if a team accidentally gets separated, the first thing to do is find a water source. Then regroup at the water."

Elusa said, "Let’s follow the direction of the sound and see. We might find them."

"Alright."

The presence of water not only meant a possible source of life—it could also hint at another exit.

As they followed the direction of the flowing water, the surrounding passageways gradually narrowed, but were still wide enough for three or four people to walk abreast.

However, Leon gradually noticed that the path underfoot was becoming more and more convoluted.

Back when they had first split up from Rosvisser, he and Elusa had only needed to follow one route straight ahead.

But ever since they heard the water, they had passed by multiple forks in the road.

If not for the sound of water guiding them, they might already have been hopelessly lost in this damned place.

That thought made Leon worry about Rosvisser.

He had no idea how things were going for her right now…

As if sensing his concern, Elusa suddenly spoke up.

"Madam Melkvey is smart. And brave. For all we know, she’s already found Professor Javier and the others."

Leon forced a small smile and replied with dry humor,

"You’ve only known her for two days and you already know she’s smart and brave?"

Elusa turned around with a warm smile on her face as well.

"Because she’s the girl you love. How could a hero of the Empire like Leon Casmod fall for someone cowardly or weak, right?"

Leon hadn’t expected that angle of reasoning.

But he still felt it was the kind of thinking that only arose in people who had loved but never received love in return—yet still remained rational.

Elusa was exactly that kind of person.

She didn’t feel jealous of Rosvisser. Nor did she try to stir drama about their relationship.

She was very clear that there would never be anything between her and Leon.

But Elusa also refused to settle.

That was why she still hadn’t started a relationship with anyone.

Friends had told her countless times not to give up her own happiness just because of Leon—that there were so many beautiful kinds of love waiting to be enjoyed in the world.

But Elusa’s answer had always been simple and striking:

"I’m not single because of Leon. And I’m not wasting my life waiting for him.

I just don’t want to be with someone for the sake of being with someone.

Love isn’t something you 'talk yourself into.'

It’s a seed planted the instant you see someone, and before you know it, it takes root and grows—until you love that person so deeply you can’t tear yourself away.

I know I might never meet another person like Leon in my entire life. But I’d rather grow old alone than force myself into something shallow.

Because that would be irresponsible to myself."

That was why she was still alone.

Yes, Elusa admitted it. Her heart, which had lain dormant for so long, had stirred again.

When she reunited with Leon two days ago, that quiet stirring had been a mix of tenderness and unwillingness.

And when she saw the happy family Leon had built, the stir became a touch of bitterness.

But her sense of morality—and her absolute clarity—quickly helped her let it go.

Samael Continent—so vast, yet so small.

Small enough that even walking down any random street, she could run into the man who had changed her life... with his wife and daughters by his side.

And she had always known it would end up like this. She would never act like those immature little girls who tried to steal what wasn’t theirs.

Elusa was very aware that the woman Leon had chosen—someone she had studied personally—was truly exceptional.

And she was willing to acknowledge that.

There was nothing wrong with facing that fact.

Her thoughts returned to the present, and Elusa gave her head a shake, no longer dwelling on the sentimental.

"Wait. Something ahead."

Leon raised a hand, signaling for her to stop.

Elusa immediately halted.

At a bend in the road ahead, a flicker of eerie purple light reflected a shadow onto the wall.

Leon and Elusa slipped back behind a corner. Leon extinguished the lightning magic in his hand and whispered,

"Anyone in your archaeology team use that kind of magic?"

Elusa shook her head. "No. Most of us only know basic fire or wind spells. Nothing with that color."

"That’s weird… aside from us, could there be someone else here?"

As they spoke, the purplish light drew nearer.

Leon grew alert, ready to strike at any moment.

The approaching footsteps were light—sounded like a woman.

As the sound neared, Leon bit his lip, preparing to launch a preemptive strike.

But just as he turned and got ready to move, a flash of violet glinted in the other person’s eyes—and in the very next moment, both sides pulled back their attacks in time.

"Safina?! What are you doing here?"

"Duh. My mission is to track you. Wherever you are, I’m there too."

Safina grumbled, then her eyes shifted and landed on Elusa behind Leon. Immediately, she smirked teasingly.

"Yo, having a secret date with your first love, huh? Where’s your wife?"

Leon was speechless. "She’s not my first love. We were just classmates."

"Really? But she looks pretty into you—like the super sentimental, long-lost-love type—hehehe!"

Leon couldn’t take it anymore. He reached out and covered her mouth.

"You can follow me, but we need to set some ground rules."

With her mouth covered, Safina nodded vigorously like a pecking chicken, her eyes saying, Go ahead, I’m listening.

Leon raised his index finger.

"First, stop making wild assumptions about me and Elusa."

"Mmm mmm!" Void warrior Safina nodded rapidly, and in her pretty purple pupils it practically said "Got it, boss!"

He held up his middle finger. "Second, no matter what we find up ahead, let’s try not to fight here. We could hurt the missing archaeologists."

"Mmm!"

Leon let go of her mouth and added,

"Third, this place feels off. If we run into trouble—help if you can."

Safina gave an OK sign with her hand. "No problem at all. I’ll follow your lead. This is your hometown turf, after all."

Leon rolled his eyes so hard it hurt, and quietly prayed his daughters wouldn’t grow up to be like Safina—lively to the point of chaos.

"Let’s keep going, Elusa."

"Alright."

Leon started walking again, and Elusa obediently followed behind him.

"Hey! Wait up!"Safina called out from behind and hurried to catch up.