Echoes of the Kergo Ruins

The mountain range stretched endlessly like the humps of a camel. According to what they had heard, at the very end of that range lay the ruins of Kergo.

Amy spoke up.

"So this is Toa Mountain. My brother told me that Galliant was originally a volcanic island. Lava seeped out from beneath the sea and solidified, expanding the island's radius. After a volcanic eruption five hundred years ago, it entered a dormant phase, but there's always a chance it could become active again."

"Hmm, I see. I also heard that the Kergo Ruins were buried under volcanic ash, so only half of them have been restored."

"That's right. The Galliant autonomous government proposed a full restoration of the site, but it was opposed by the indigenous people, so the plan fell through. I guess we'll see for ourselves how much is still buried once we get there."

Tess asked curiously.

"Why would they oppose it? Wouldn't restoring the ruins be beneficial for the indigenous people too?"

"I don't know either. They must have their reasons. Maybe there's a secret buried there that they don't want to reveal. Besides, the Galliant government has only been on the island for less than a hundred years."

"Thinking about it that way, this place is full of mysteries. It's not just an ordinary tourist destination."

"Exactly. There are very few ruins still managed directly by indigenous people. That's why the Kergo Ruins hold such high historical value."

Shirone observed the mountains again.

The jungle of Toa Mountain belonged to the Kergo people. Even the Galliant government did not dare trespass into the indigenous autonomous region.

'A mysterious place... I'd love to explore it too...'

At that moment, Shirone suddenly felt a chilling sensation.

Deep within the mountains, an inexplicable wild gaze seemed to be staring at them. Was it just his imagination?

"..."

While Shirone was lost in thought about the mountains, the carriage came to a stop a kilometer away from the Kergo Ruins. The coachman explained that they could not proceed any further by carriage.

Hearing this, Shirone stepped out and looked around.

Numerous shops lined the streets, suggesting that there was an exclusive agreement between the transportation guild and the local merchant associations.

'But does that justify blocking carriages altogether?'

As he pondered this, a commotion erupted behind him.

"What the hell? I paid for this carriage, so why can't we go any further? And what am I supposed to do with all this luggage?"

A middle-aged man, who had also disembarked at the same stop, lashed out at the coachman. His wife and two daughters, who had just stepped out of the carriage, wore expressions filled with dissatisfaction.

"That's just how the transportation contract works. There are paid storage facilities available where you can leave your luggage."

"You bunch of robbers! The road ahead is completely open, yet you're saying we can't go through? Don't expect me to spend another dime here!"

"Unfortunately, there's nothing we can do about it. We apologize for the inconvenience. Have a great trip."

It seemed the coachman had encountered such complaints many times before. He remained professional and, without another word, drove off.

The middle-aged man, grumbling under his breath, waddled toward the paid storage facility with his arms full of luggage. However, when his daughters pointed toward a snack stand, he put the luggage down and bought them some treats.

Watching this, Shirone commented,

"If we had known in advance, we could have packed lighter."

"It shouldn't be a big deal. This place doesn't seem particularly dangerous, but it's better to be overprepared. Our goal is exploration, after all."

Rian glanced back at the middle-aged man.

Now in a much better mood thanks to his daughters' affection, the man burst into laughter as he headed toward the ruins.

"Sneaky, but smart. Tourists can't help but spend money here."

"You can't just dismiss it as a scam. If the tourism industry here doesn't thrive, the indigenous people won't be able to maintain the site either."

Acknowledging Shirone's reasoning, the group set off on foot.

As expected of a historically significant site, the number of visitors increased as they got closer. By the time they reached the ticket booth, the place was completely packed, causing a bottleneck at the entrance.

"Wow, look over there. People from other countries are here too."

"This place must be world-famous. See that guy standing under the arch? He's probably an indigenous local."

Following Amy's gaze, the group looked toward the entrance.

A man of average height stood guard at the gate. Though his clothing had been modernized, the way he stared forward with piercing eyes was unmistakably wild.

Tess shuddered slightly.

"Ugh, he looks terrifying. Even his face is tattooed."

"Yeah. He looks strong too."

"Agreed."

Shirone and Amy shared the same thoughts.

It wasn't just the tattoos. Their sharp perception allowed them to recognize the disciplined aura of someone well-trained in combat.

However, Rian wasn't concerned.

"Hmph! Staring intensely doesn't magically make you stronger. There's nothing to be afraid of."

Perhaps Rian simply lacked the same level of discernment as the others, but Shirone knew better.

No matter the opponent, Rian would always stand at the forefront to protect his friends.

"Alright! Let's start our exploration!"

Once past the ticket booth, their real investigation began.

The Kergo Ruins were once a temple dedicated to the gods, structured in a perfect square measuring two kilometers in both width and length.

A 200-meter-long bridge crossed a moat, leading to a long colonnade. From there, it was another 500 meters along the sacred path before they could reach the central temple.

"Wow, this place is enormous. Are you telling me this was built thousands of years ago?"

"I overheard some people talking earlier. Apparently, this is only what's visible. Much more of it remains buried under volcanic ash."

Shirone looked down at the ground.

The volcanic eruption had occurred five hundred years ago, so the layers of ash would be buried beneath the surface.

Amy, who had gone ahead, turned back and called out to him.

"What are you doing? We still need to check out the central temple."

"..."

Shirone stood frozen, a faint smile forming on his lips.

Curious, Amy walked over and asked,

"What's wrong? Did you notice something?"

"Amy, it's a Spirit Zone."

"A Spirit Zone? Why bring that up all of a sudden?"

As she spoke, realization dawned on her, and she clapped her hands.

"Oh, I see!"

A mage could extend their senses using a Spirit Zone.

If something was hidden below, it would be impossible for their heightened perception to miss it.

"Alright, I'll give it a try."