NPC wa Eiyuu no Yume wo Miru ka? (VRMMORPG : Elysia Online)

I took a deep breath, staring at the ruins in front of us. Large moss-covered stones were scattered around the area, some of which appeared to be parts of an ancient structure that had crumbled over time. Tall pillars loomed in the distance, cracked and covered in vines, indicating that this place had long been abandoned.

"We need to be careful," I muttered, my eyes scanning every suspicious corner. "This place might hold more secrets than we realize."

"I feel like we're entering a secret dungeon," Lyra said excitedly, her hands resting on her hips. "I think this is going to be interesting!"

"As long as we don't get caught in old traps or trigger something dangerous," Celine added, tightening her grip on her staff. She glanced around cautiously, as if she could sense something lurking in the darkness of the ruins.

I stepped forward slowly, making sure each step was safe before moving further. We didn't know what was inside, and my instincts told me that this place might not be just ordinary ruins.

Suddenly, the small fox on my shoulder stirred, its fur slightly standing on end as if it could sense something we couldn't see. Its eyes stared straight into the ruins, its body tensing slightly.

"There's something in there," I murmured.

I raised my hand, signaling Lyra and Celine to stop. The three of us stood in silence, listening carefully.

From within the ruins, a faint sound could be heard—the rustling of wind, or perhaps something moving in the shadows?

"Should we go in?" Lyra asked, her voice half excited, half cautious.

I thought for a moment. If we stepped in without preparation, we might face danger without knowing what lay ahead. But if we waited too long, we could miss an important moment or even allow whatever was inside to prepare for us.

I took a deep breath, feeling the damp air slowly seep into my lungs. These ruins... felt different. Not just because of the ancient structure looming in front of us, but also because of the atmosphere, which felt so... heavy.

"There's something hiding here."

"Alright, stay alert," I said, looking at Lyra and Celine. "We don't know what's waiting inside."

Lyra responded casually, stretching her shoulders as if this were just another adventure. "If there are monsters, the sooner we go in, the sooner we face them, right?"

Celine, on the other hand, seemed more cautious. She raised her staff, muttering something that sounded like a detection spell. "I'll try to sense if there's any unusual magical energy around here. If these ruins have traps or something sealed, we should know before going too far."

I nodded. "Good. We'll go in slowly. Stay in formation."

Our first steps into the ruins echoed, bouncing off the stone corridor that seemed long abandoned. The light from crystals embedded in the walls provided a faint glow, enough for us to see our surroundings.

However, something felt off. The air inside felt heavier than outside. As if something was pressing down on us from all directions.

Suddenly, the small fox on my shoulder—which had been quiet until now—growled softly. I turned to look at it, and its golden eyes stared straight into the dark corridor ahead of us.

"Do you sense something?" I asked quietly.

The fox didn't answer, of course, but its slightly raised fur made me certain that we weren't alone here.

"Get ready. I have a bad feeling about this."

We ventured deeper into the ruins. Our footsteps echoed through the dark stone corridor, illuminated only by the faint light of glowing crystals embedded in the walls. The air inside was damp and cold, mixed with the scent of wet earth and something indefinable—like traces of the past left here for hundreds of years.

"This is a strange place," Lyra murmured, her eyes scanning every corner of the room. "No signs of inhabitants, but it doesn't feel completely abandoned either."

Celine nodded in agreement. "I don't see any moss or wild plants growing here, even though this place has clearly been abandoned for a long time. It seems like something is maintaining the stability of these ruins."

I sharpened my vision, observing the carvings on the walls that became clearer as we moved further. Strange symbols were etched into the stone, some of which looked like ancient letters I had never seen before. Some were spirals, while others appeared as intersecting lines forming geometric patterns.

"I wonder what all of this means," I murmured as I touched one of the symbols with the tip of my finger. As soon as I touched it, a strange sensation ran through my palm. It wasn't pain, but more like a flow of energy that felt both foreign and familiar at the same time.

Suddenly, the fox on my shoulder twitched. Its ears perked up, and it stared straight ahead with a wary expression. Instantly, I also felt something—a faint vibration coming from the ground.

"Did you feel that?" I asked.

Lyra and Celine exchanged glances before nodding. "Yes... Like something is moving," Celine replied cautiously.

I shifted my gaze to the corridor ahead. The darkness there seemed thicker than in other parts. As if something was hiding in the shadows, waiting for the right moment to emerge.

"We need to decide, now." I looked at them both seriously. "Do we keep moving forward, or retreat and find another path?"

Celine bit her lip, hesitating for a moment before nodding. "We've come this far. Turning back now would only make us lose our trail."

"Agreed," Lyra chimed in with her usual relaxed smile. "Besides, I'm getting curious. If the fox senses something ahead, maybe we should see it for ourselves."

I let out a slow breath. "Alright. Stay alert, and don't act recklessly."

We started moving again, our steps slower and more cautious than before. The ruins felt darker than they should, as if the light couldn't penetrate beyond a certain point. The large moss-covered stones and walls filled with strange carvings added to the mysterious atmosphere.

"This place... doesn't feel like ordinary ruins," Celine murmured as she touched one of the carvings on the wall. "There's something here older than we imagined."

I noticed how the tip of her finger carefully traced the carving. At that moment, a faint flash of light emerged from the stone, startling all three of us.

"What was that?!" Lyra immediately raised her weapon, ready for anything that might appear.

However, there was no attack. Only the feeling of my hair standing on end.

I shifted my gaze to the fox on my shoulder, which now seemed even more restless. Its tail twitched rapidly, its eyes staring sharply into the dark corridor ahead.

"Keep moving forward," I finally said, my voice low but firm. "I'm sure we're getting closer to something important."

Celine nodded slowly, her eyes tracing the carvings on the walls that now seemed clearer under the faint light of the glowing crystals in the ceiling. Lyra, on the other hand, just let out a small snort while crossing her arms behind her head.

"Seriously, this place feels more and more like an ancient dungeon with a big secret," she murmured as she tapped the floor with the tip of her shoe. "But... I'm curious. Why do these carvings feel different from ordinary ruins?"

I glanced at the relief carved into the stone. Its shape resembled the pattern on the map we found in the library. There was a large circle with strange lines connecting several key points.

"This must be related to the world's balance mentioned in that book," I said as I examined it more closely.

As I moved closer, Celine also stepped forward. Whether she was too focused or simply unaware, she stood too close to me. Her shoulder almost touched my arm, and I could feel the warmth of her body.

"Oh..."

Celine finally noticed and immediately tensed up. Her cheeks turned slightly red as she quickly stepped back, almost stumbling.

"I-I just wanted to get a closer look!" she stammered.

Lyra, of course, didn't miss the opportunity. She grinned mischievously as she looked at us. "Oooh~? So this is what intense academic research looks like?"

I let out a long sigh. "Focus on the ruins, Lyra."

"Yeah, yeah, of course."

Celine cleared her throat, trying to calm herself before returning to examine the carvings. I also chose to ignore the incident and focus on what was more important.

However, before we could continue our analysis further...

A strange sound came from within the ruins.

I immediately stopped walking, my body tensing reflexively. That sound... wasn't just an ordinary echo from the ancient ruins. There was something there—something moving.

I glanced at Lyra and Celine. They clearly heard it too.

"There's something ahead," whispered Celine, her expression turning serious. She tightened her fingers around her staff, ready to cast a spell if needed.

On the other hand, Lyra just grinned. Of course she'd be excited.

"Isn't that just more interesting?" she said, leaning slightly forward. "If there's something inside, it means we didn't come to an empty place."

I let out a long sigh. Of course she'd think that...

The fox on my shoulder suddenly tensed.

"Grrr..."

I immediately sharpened my focus. If even this creature was reacting like that, then there was likely a real threat ahead of us.

The air in the corridor grew colder. A slow breeze carried the damp, dusty scent typical of long-abandoned places. However, the breeze felt unnatural—as if something was breathing in the darkness.

I gestured with my hand. "Stay alert. Let's approach slowly."

Celine nodded, her steps more cautious. Lyra also seemed to hold back a bit, though I could see the curiosity shining in her eyes.

We ventured deeper, passing stone pillars adorned with ancient carvings that faintly glowed in the dark. I could feel something... wrong about this place.

CRASH!!

Suddenly, a loud sound echoed!

I reflexively pulled Lyra back to prevent her from stepping forward recklessly. However, due to my sudden movement, Lyra stumbled and lost her balance!

"W-Whoa?! Be careful, idiot!" she exclaimed, while I reflexively caught her before she fell.

...and then I realized something.

Our current position... was very awkward.

Lyra was leaning right against my chest, her face just inches from mine. Up close, I could clearly see a faint blush on her cheeks.

On the other hand, Celine was staring at us with an unreadable expression.

"Ahem."

I quickly let go of Lyra and cleared my throat, trying to shift focus to something more important.

"Whatever's inside, we need to be ready." I tried to neutralize the atmosphere. "If this is a trap, we can't afford to be careless."

The strange sound from within the corridor continued to echo, faintly audible between the ancient stone walls covered in carvings. I glanced at Lyra and Celine, making sure they heard it too.

"Whatever's inside, we need to be ready," I murmured while tightening my grip on my sword. "If this is a trap, we can't afford to be careless."

Celine nodded slowly, her fingers already poised on her staff, while Lyra stared straight ahead, a rare serious expression on her face.

"So, do we go in or try to figure out more first?" Lyra asked in a half-whisper.

I thought for a moment. If we rushed in, we could end up in a difficult situation. But if we overthought it, we might lose the chance to take the initiative.

Ahead of us, the corridor split into two paths. The sound came from the right branch, but something felt off... Like something was watching us from the darkness.

Ahead of us, the corridor split into two paths. The sound came from the right branch, but something felt off... Like something was watching us from the darkness.

I felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, my instincts screaming that there was something we needed to be wary of here. The small fox on my shoulder stirred restlessly, its bushy tail twitching warily. Lyra and Celine also felt the tension, though they didn't say it outright.

I had to make a decision now.

Without hesitation, I stepped forward, following my instincts and the reaction of the small fox, which seemed to sense something ahead. My breath hitched as we passed through the narrowing corridor. The air here felt colder than before, as if something was enveloping this room with a mysterious aura.

Lyra and Celine walked behind me, quietly observing our surroundings. The fox on my shoulder squirmed uneasily, occasionally letting out soft sounds as if warning us.

"Something's not right..." Lyra murmured softly, her eyes narrowing as she looked ahead.

I nodded. "Stay alert." My steps became even more cautious, and I could feel cold sweat forming on the back of my neck. Sometimes, the greatest danger doesn't come from something visible, but from something hiding in the darkness.

Suddenly, the walls beside us changed. The ancient symbols that were once faint now glowed with a bluish light, creating intricate patterns along the corridor. A cold wind blew, carrying faint whispers that sounded like human voices... but not in any language I could understand.

Celine carefully touched one of the symbols. "This... isn't just ordinary ruins. There's an active mechanism here."

I stared at the walls of the ruins covered in mysterious symbols, some of which seemed eroded by time, while others remained clear despite the faint light from the glowing crystals embedded along the corridor. There was something about these symbols that felt... familiar, even though I was sure I had never seen them before.

Lyra rested her sword on her shoulder, looking at me with a mix of laziness and curiosity. "So? Are we just going to stand here staring at the walls, or can you actually read something from that?" she asked teasingly.

Celine, on the other hand, looked much more serious. Her hand reached out toward one of the symbols, but she stopped before actually touching it. "I feel like there's something hidden here... but I don't know what."

I sighed, stepping closer to get a better look. Each symbol seemed to have a specific pattern—-not just random carvings. If I could understand this pattern, maybe we could find something useful before venturing further into these dark and mysterious ruins.

As I tried to analyze it, the small fox on my shoulder suddenly let out a soft sound, its ears twitching restlessly. I glanced at the creature. From the beginning, this fox had shown unusual reactions to this place, as if... it knew these ruins well.

"Do you see something?" I half-murmured, though of course, I didn't expect an answer from it.

However, the next reaction was quite surprising. The fox jumped down from my shoulder, then walked to the wall and stopped in front of one of the larger symbols. It looked at me, as if signaling something.

"Wait... is this a clue?" Celine looked at me with a curious expression.

I narrowed my eyes, trying to understand the meaning of the symbol the fox was pointing at. Unlike the other symbols that looked like ancient writing or decorative patterns, this one seemed more... complex. Its lines were deeper and more structured, as if it wasn't just an ordinary carving.

"This might be a hidden mechanism," I murmured, carefully touching the symbol.

As soon as my finger touched it, I felt a slight vibration. Moments later, the air around us changed.

"Uh... I don't like this," Lyra took a step back, gripping her sword tighter.

From behind the wall, a faint sound could be heard, like something moving. It was as if large gears were slowly turning. The floor beneath us trembled slightly, enough to make us exchange wary glances.

"What did you just do?" Celine asked with a worried tone.

I took a deep breath, still keeping my hand on the symbol. "I just... pressed it a little. It seems like some kind of trigger mechanism."

Suddenly, a loud thud echoed from deep within the ruins. A hidden passage in front of us slowly opened, revealing a path leading further into the ruins.

"So, we just opened a new path?" Lyra raised an eyebrow, looking half-impressed and half-suspicious.

Celine was still staring at the other symbols, as if trying to analyze if there was anything else to learn. I, on the other hand, looked at the newly opened passage with a mix of curiosity and caution.

One thing was certain: this wasn't ordinary ruins.

I took a deep breath before turning to the two of them. "We need to decide now. Do we go into this passage, or investigate the other symbols further before moving deeper?"

Lyra looked at the symbols on the wall with a thoughtful expression. "These symbols... I feel like I've seen them somewhere before."

Celine narrowed her eyes, her fingers slowly tracing the intricate carvings on the wall. "I agree. They don't look like mere decorations. There's something hidden here."

I nodded, but before I could say anything—

"Oh? What happens if I touch this?" Lyra's voice sounded light, but before I could warn her—

Click!

A symbol lit up brightly as Lyra casually touched it. In seconds, a faint vibration spread along the walls of the ruins.

"Lyra! You can't just touch things randomly!" I immediately stepped closer, but it was too late.

The once-solid wall began to shift, producing a creaking sound that echoed throughout the corridor. The floor beneath us trembled slightly, and the sound of ancient mechanisms could be heard from behind the walls.

Celine took a step back, a tense expression on her face. "Uh... that wasn't supposed to happen, was it?"

Lyra chuckled nervously, raising her hands as if innocent. "Oops. But at least now we know this is some kind of secret mechanism, right?"

I took a deep breath, then sharpened my hearing. Something was moving in the darkness—