Chapter 46: Love at First Sight

"Do you want to go separate ways?" Haru asked. "It's more likely that the hot spring was on the north. But just in case, I'll check out the other route."

Ali seemed to ponder about it a little until he shook his head and grabbed Haru's shirt. Haru was a bit surprised, since he had the impression that Ali was the type of kid to just follow whatever he says.

It didn't mind him anyway, so he just smiled at the little boy and nodded, saying they could go together.

He was about to follow the north route, but Ali insisted they go west.

Again, Haru didn't mind, so he just went with the child's whim and followed the west route.

Another thought was that Haru trusted Ali's intuition since all this time, it was thanks to Ali that they were able to progress this much.

When they reached the end of the west route stream, they found a huge earthly cave looming with darkness inside.

Haru stepped back a bit, feeling scared of its appearance as he had been a bit traumatized from the one he entered in the Tale Park World.

Ali was tugging his shirt and pointing inside, saying he wanted to enter that place.

"N-No, no! We can't enter that!" Haru exclaimed, shaking his head in disagreement. "Don't you remember what happened to me before?" He even lifted his injured arm a bit, squirming at its memory. "Let's get out of here before—"

Haru was shocked when Ali suddenly ran towards the cave's interior, the darkness swallowing him.

"Ali! Ali, come out immediately!" Haru yelled, his heart beating loudly.

He looked back, hesitating, thinking if he should call for Camille first. He shouted several more times, asking if Ali's there or if he's still alright, but there was no response.

Panic intruded Haru's mind, so he couldn't think straight that he just went in with his eyes closed. He's still scared, but he thought he had to save Ali.

He gripped his shoulder where his arm was injured and thought he'd just have to endure it.

But as soon as he was inside, he was more astonished at what he found.