71. Box in a Box

Now that I thought about it, people had referred to Halfa as the Maiden of the Destiny God before. I’d wondered what that actually entailed, but it seemed her role involved receiving oracles like the one she’d just had.

The fact that she had received a proper oracle this time might have meant, conversely, that the Destiny God hadn't been involved in our previous troubles at all.

No, that wasn’t right. Shiroru had said there was no interference outside of the Pandora Gifts, which meant the god had been interfering, just using the gifts as a medium.

Even so, just because an item pops out of a Pandora Gift doesn't mean we'll act exactly as intended. It was a remarkably hands-off approach to divine intervention. Not that I was complaining—I wasn’t exactly itching for a god to micromanage my life.

Anyway, as for the crucial oracle itself...

"He said there's a dungeon nearby that's been affected by Garnalava's interference, and he wants us to destroy it. He mentioned that if the dungeon is destroyed, the monsters inside will vanish along with it."

Halfa relayed the message as casually as if she were sharing a bit of gossip from a friend.

Wait, that was really an oracle?

I’d expected something a bit more solemn or grand, but...

Apparently, the Destiny God was an incredibly friendly deity. Although the actual time she’d spent in the trance was short, from Halfa's perspective, she had been face-to-face with the god for quite a while. When I thought of "oracles," I imagined a one-sided delivery of divine commands, but Halfa claimed she’d been invited into the "God’s House" to have a nice chat.

"He also said he’s already told my mother and the others that I’m safe."

"Oh, really?"

As expected of a god. I suppose distance meant nothing to him if he could communicate with the Wingfolk Village just like that.

"In that case, wouldn't he know the location of your village, too?"

"Ah, well, yeah. But he suggested that since I’m already out here, I should try continuing the journey for a while. He said he’d tell me where it is if I absolutely couldn't find it on my own, but..."

Halfa trailed off, looking up at me tentatively.

What was that look for? Did she think I’d tell her it was better to head home immediately?

I couldn't say the thought hadn't crossed my mind. Even if they were told she was safe, any family would want to see their child in person to be sure. However, it was a suggestion from a god, and if Halfa was satisfied with it, I had no intention of objecting.

...No, that wasn't the whole truth.

If I were being honest, I preferred things this way. If we found her home now, it might mean saying goodbye. While I felt like Halfa would come with me if I asked, there was no guarantee her parents would allow it.

"I see. That’s good. It means we can keep traveling together for a bit longer."

"Mhm!"

Halfa nodded, a bright smile lighting up her face.

The search for the Wingfolk Village would continue, but unlike before, there was no need to rush. Knowing we could simply enjoy the journey made me feel a lot more at ease. Now, if I could just secure the ingredients for Spira's medicine, everything would be perfect.

To achieve that, we first had to handle the Destiny God's request.

Halfa seemed to know exactly where the dungeon was. According to her, it was a tiny, improvised thing, and the core wasn't even hidden, so clearing it wouldn't be difficult. The real problem was how to get past the Killer Apes to reach it.

We needed Halfa as a guide, but I was the only one who could move undetected using Shadow Hiding.

After some deliberation, I came up with a solution: Operation Piggyback!

The name was exactly what it sounded like.

It turned out that if I used Shadow Hiding while carrying Halfa on my back, her presence became just as faint as mine. Interestingly, simply holding hands didn't work. Perhaps the area of effect was just that small, or maybe the skill treated her as a piece of "equipment" while I was carrying her.

Regardless, it seemed we could manage a stealthy approach, so we went ahead with the plan. Since becoming an adventurer, my Stamina and Strength had increased enough that carrying Halfa didn't hinder my movements much at all. Still, I had to move with extreme caution. If I made too much noise, the Shadow Hiding would break.

We slipped through the mountainside, dodging the eyes of the prowling apes. Every so often, Halfa would tug on one of my ears—that was the signal for a course correction. I couldn't speak without breaking my stealth, so I simply turned in the direction she pulled. We reached the dungeon without any issues, though my ears were a bit sore by the end.

Her guidance led us to a cave mouth gaping open in the mountainside. Based on Halfa's reaction, there was no doubt—this was the place. It was pitch black inside, but lighting a lantern would definitely alert the Killer Apes outside. It was risky, but we had to proceed in the dark. I really should have cast Night Vision on us beforehand.

After standing still for a moment to let my eyes adjust, I managed to make out the interior. And when I say the whole interior, I mean all of it. It was less of a cave and more of a burrow. The entire thing wasn't even ten meters deep. The ceiling was low, too; Halfa and I could stand, but Lowell wouldn't have stood a chance. I’d already put Halfa down so she wouldn't hit her head.

I couldn't blame the Killer Apes for wanting to stay outside if this was the kind of "home" the dungeon provided.

"Halfa, where’s the core?" I whispered.

Now that she was off my back, Shadow Hiding had already deactivated, so there was no need for total silence.

"Um... that's it over there."

Halfa pointed to a skull sitting on the floor. So that was the core? Dungeons really could be made of anything. When I thrust my Dagger of Piercing into it, the bone offered almost no resistance. It split in half and dissolved into light.

Is that it? Objective complete?

I waited for a moment, and then the cave began to shudder. It was the sign of a collapse. We had to get out, and fast.

And yet, at that exact moment, my eyes caught sight of a treasure chest tucked away in the corner!

I wasn't sure if it was a reward for clearing the place or if I’d just missed it in the dark. Either way, there was no way I was leaving a treasure chest behind!

"Tort, we have to go!"

"I found a chest! Halfa, you head out first!"

"Ehh?! Ugh, fine, but hurry up!"

I’d intended for her to save herself, but she clearly planned to wait for me. That meant I had to be even faster.

It was too dark to see clearly, but Detect Magic gave me a hit. It was a magic trap.

If that was the case, the solution was simple. I gave the chest a light tap with my Rune Breaker, and the trap vanished instantly. Seriously, I loved this tool. All that was left was the lock, which was child's play for me. I was skilled enough now that I could feel the mechanisms clicking into place through the pick even in total darkness.

There—open!

Inside the treasure chest sat a single, smaller box. No, it wasn't a matryoshka situation. I didn't even need to use my Appraisal Loupe to recognize it.

It was a Pandora Gift!