Chapter 340: Passcode

Chapter 340 - Passcode

"Wh, a, a hidden passage!?"

"Are you, a-are certain this is safe? Will nothing emerge from within?"

"There's such a thing in this forest!? I, I've lived here for so long yet I was unaware...."

"I'm scared, truly scared!"

The elves were startled by the pitch-black staircase.

And we were surprised ourselves.

"Seriously...... incredible...."

『...... I never knew something like this was hidden......』

"Big brother, it's dark...... hug."

"Hm, hmph. You're such a coward, Espie, getting scared and clinging to Brother over something like this...... r, right? B, brother."

"...... The Demon King Army didn't know much about this area...... but, not only did the elves live here, but there were even hidden passages like this......."

What in the world would pop out? No, what's at the bottom of this?

That's what I thought......

"Fear not. Nothing lies within these depths. The stairs' descent is not so deep. Once we reach the bottom, we shall emerge into a spacious chamber. Ah, mind the stairs, lest you stumble. Once all have descended, we shall take count."

The Chieftain, without any warning, quickly descended down the stairs.

"H, hey, Chieftain!"

"Say, dear, wait!"

For the time being, the Chieftain's appearance suggested that there was no danger here.

I don't know what's going on, but we made up our minds and went down the stairs one after the other.

『...... This wall ......』

「Tre'ainar?」

『...... Tis made to be indestructible even with great force...... I see...... I never thought something like this really existed.....』

On the way down the stairs, Tre'ainar had a difficult expression on his face as he tried to make sense of the ceiling and walls.

That's just how unusual this is.

"You should commit this knowledge to memory, should you have need of it henceforth, Young man. Whether you choose to abuse it or not... is a matter left to your discretion."

I could hear the voice of the Chieftain as he led the way.

Abuse...... it's true that a hidden passage like this...... if the technology that lies in its depths was real, it would definitely be a threat if it was abused.

The threat is that neither the Demon King Army nor the Allied forces at that time knew the existence of this place...... I mean, in this era, neither Tre'ainar nor my father didn't know about it.

In other words, it is a secret that most people in the world do not know.

"Yes, we've arrived."

"Huh! Ah...... i, it's so wide......."

At the end of the stairs, there was a spacious, bleak space.

It was square-shaped, large enough to hold a hundred of us, and in the center of the room was engraved a pattern that I had never seen before.

"Wow, what is that? Here......?"

"Dear...... nothing is here!"

"...... I don't feel any magic or anything...... Chieftain...... is the power that makes teleport possible really here?"

We all looked around the room, but it was just dimly lit and nothing spectacular.

Is there really such a power in a place like this......

"Big brother, is there something glowing?"

"Huh? Ah...... the Master Key is ......"

"What!? Young man, are you okay!?"

I noticed it when Espie told me.

The Master Key was emitting light.

Was it resonating with something here just like at the entrance?

"Oh~, fret not, Young man. There is no cause for concern. The device has merely responded, akin to the entrance. All is well."

However, the Chieftain doesn't seem to have any particular problem with it......

"Ah~, 'Activate Gate. Set transfer destination to [Institute Headquarters].'"

[Command and Master Key Confirmed]

"""""Wow, again!?? """""

And then I heard that voice again.

"I see, Chieftain! If you're going to do anything, at least explain what will happen before you do it! Don't frighten us!"

"I concur, dear!"

"Ah, I almost used magic in self-defense......."

The Chieftain was calm, but for us, each and every single surprise was bad for our hearts.

[Please Note, For Security Reasons, A Passcode Is Required For Transfer To Headquarters. Provide A Passcode Please]

"Ah~...... the passcode for the headquarters...... Indeed, that was a necessity~...... yet, the passcode for the entrance has remained unchanged over time...... 'Passcode: 4545072'!"

[Passcode Authentication Confirmed. System Startup]

"...... as before, it remained unchanged... Truly, a careless oversight......."

But even so, the Chieftain nonchalantly replied to the voice of someone who was not in front of him, as if he were working, and ......

"Wow, what!?"

"Heh, the room... the walls are spinning!?"

"What's going on!?"

Something strange was happening in the room.

No, not the room, but our eyes?

Suddenly, the wall in front of me seemed to be spinning at high speed, and the dimly lit space was illuminated by various lights, making it difficult to understand what was happening.

「Tre'ainar, is this okay!?」

『...... The principle is different from teleportation magic...... however, twisting time and space...... this without using any magical power.』

「Hey, come on!」

I asked Tre'ainar if it was okay, but he kept a serious look on his face and nodded curiously.

With things like this, I guess the current situation was okay for the moment......

"Hmm? Oh, the rotation is ......."

Then, gradually, the phenomenon of the scenery of the room spinning subsided, the light disappeared, and we ...... Hmm?

"Huh? Hey, Big brother...... here......."

"H-huh? The scenery in the room has changed a bit!?"

"It's true...... and there's a door in the corner of the room! There shouldn't have been anything like that!"

"What's going on, Chieftain?!"

Just when we thought the strange phenomenon had subsided, the room had changed?

The Chieftain smiled wryly......

"I have mentioned thus before? We were to warp. Here we stand, not within our familiar forest anymore. We tread beneath the realm of Shiznautmy."

"""""Eeeehhh!!???"""""

Huh!? This is the place!?

"Wha...... huh? Chieftain, wait a minute! No way, no, now we're...... have we moved?"

"Yes. From hereon, we emerge briefly onto the surface and then traverse the land. Yet, much distance has been shortened, easing our path."

"That can't be... right......?"

Sure, we were told that we could warp with a teleportation device or something.

But between now and then, we're already there?

No, warp was understandable when you consider magic, but in this situation where I didn't feel any magical power, even if told that the warp was finished, it doesn't make sense at all.

"For now, shall we ascertain the truth by observing the surface? There appears to be a mechanism akin to an elevator that leads there...... ah, yet the presence of the Demon King Army does unsettle me...... Perhaps it's prudent for just you, the Young man's group and I to venture forth initially, and gauge the situation??"

With that said, the Chieftain led me, Espie, Slayer, and Larou'iph to check on the situation above ground, while I was still confused.

Suddenly, something lifted me onto a platform, forcing me off my feet and up....... No good. I don't understand everything anymore.

Also, it seemed like there was a considerable distance to the surface, so even my radar couldn't see what was happening on the ground.

Is this really Shiznautmy?

I don't get it. If we come up to the surface in such a confused state――――

TL's Note

Some readers will recognize the passcode from aaaaAAAAAAALLLL the way back in Chapter 6. Read the comment section there for more clarification hehe...