As I looked at it and wondered why it seemed so familiar, Daniela returned from her stroll .

“There really is nothing around here… What, that, that…!”

“Ah, Daniela . Yeah, this . I know I’ve seen it before, but I can’t remember where . ”

“That is an ancient elven crest!”

“Re-really?”

I frantically took my bag off and pulled out the ancient elven sword . On close inspection, it really did have the same crest on its handguard . I see . I rarely looked at it and so I had forgotten…

“It’s the same…”

“So this ruin was made by the ancient elves… Asagi, this is quite a discovery!”

“I guess . But if it’s so important, why hasn’t anyone realized it before?”

Supposedly this place had been investigated many times . That seemed very inept on their part .

“Well, people had long a.s.sumed that there was some value to this place . They must have been careful not to change too much . I imagine they would not have been turning everything over…”

“So in other words, I was the first person to flip this rock here . And so it was discovered . ”

It was a weird coincidence . My job when I worked the night s.h.i.+ft was mostly cleaning, and so I liked to keep things tidy . And I suppose that tendency led to this . My days as a part-time worker were not for nothing then .

“But this building is in a lot worse condition than the other one . ”

“There would be some kind of preservation magic on the important parts . That means there could be something where we cannot see . ”

Now that was something our predecessors should have looked into . But I guess they didn’t turn things over and shovel and sweep as part of investigations in this world . In fact, seventy percent of the building had practically returned to nature .

“Well then . If we investigate this place thoroughly, that could lead to a great discovery…”

“I know that we are not exactly in a hurry, but surely you do not think we are going to set up camp here and dig around forever?”

There was the matter of food as well . Daniela added . It didn’t seem the most convincing coming from Daniela, but it would definitely be a problem . If we stayed here for too long, we wouldn’t have enough food when crossing the mountains .

“We could return to Replant once…”

“You…spent all that time saying goodbye to everyone, and you want to return before a week has pa.s.sed…?”

I have no shame .

“Ah, but one can’t ignore the possibility of a treasure right in front of him . ”

“I understand how you feel, but it will not do . If it is there, then it is hidden . You must start by searching for it . It could be underground or in the sky…”

“The sky? How would you hide something in the sky?”

Surely there isn’t a castle floating up there…

“They say that islands floated in the air during the age of advanced magic, you know? Perhaps remnants of it still remain . ”

“Huh… Must have been amazing back then…”

Islands in the sky on a sunny day . I looked up now, but of course, there was nothing there . Maybe it was hidden…

“Huhhh…I guess it’s no use then…”

“I am disappointed about it as well . ”

I get it…but I didn’t like it at all…!

“Daniela, you go on ahead . ”

“What?”

“I’m a romanticist . I cannot abandon the possibility this lies in front of me!”

I wrung my fists and burned with the pa.s.sion of an adventurous soul . Would I be a man if I gave up here?

“How will you eat?”

“I’ll go hunting . ”

“Are you stupid?”

“Maybe I am!”

She looked at me with exasperation, but it did not change my resolve .

“Huhhh… You can be stubborn at the strangest of times, Asagi . I suppose it is I who must bend…”

“I’m sorry, Daniela . I promise . I’ll finish in two days . Even if I don’t find anything, I’ll come after you once those two days are up . ”

“…Very well . Walk straight from our last camp, then you will reach the mountain path . It is an actual path with signs, so you should have no trouble catching up to me with your speed . ”

“Got it!”

I handed Daniela the hollow bag .

“I’m used to sleeping outside . You should take everything . ”

“Two days . I hope you will not forget it in your fervor?”

“Don’t worry . I’ll keep my promise . ”

I knew that I wasn’t making it easy for her . But surely it was fine to do as you want, once in a while…

To crush just a little of my guilt, I picked Daniela up and used Legs of the Forest Wolf to carry her back to our camp . This way, she wouldn’t waste any energy on me .

“Well, see you in two days . ”

“Aye . I shall have no expectations . ”

“I’ll try to bring back something good . ”

You will try . Daniela said with a laugh and waved . I returned to the ruin in a hurry . I would find what so many had failed to find in a limited time frame . I had to hurry .

And so my detour began .

And then the first day ended . I had found nothing . I even looked through the sky, but it was no use .

With the power of Legs of the Forest Wolf, I could run in the air . I could explore where no one else could . No one could search this world inhabited by the birds…I think . Probably .

I ran up directly over the ruins . As there was a danger of me running into an invisible wall, I created several ice s.h.i.+elds above me as protection . And like that, I went up as high as my body would allow me . It became cold very quickly, and I couldn’t breathe… Still, I found nothing . Though the view was quite nice . It was so surprsingingly beautiful, in fact, that I wanted to show it to Daniela next time .

This world was certainly round, I thought, as I descended, having depleted quite a lot of magical energy . And so the first day ended .

I was very tired as I searched for a place to sleep . I had given everything to Daniela, so the only thing to do was to make some vine ropes and sleep in a tree . It would be impossible, if there were any blood apes around, but they have never been known to live around here . They stayed in the northern forests of Replant .

Still, I set up some animal traps on the ground before climing the tree . Besides, if something got caught in it, I would have something to eat later… Well, I wouldn’t get my hopes up too high . And with that, I tied the vines around my body so I was secure, and closed my eyes .

The next morning, I woke up without having had any dinner the previous day . I sighed as I looked down to untie the rope around my stomach, when I noticed there was a rac.o.o.n caught in the trap below me . Oh, so I suppose there would be breakfast after all . I untied the ropes and then launched an ice arrow into the brain of the squirming animal . I landed on the ground and saw that it had died with one hit . After joining my hands in front of it respectfully, I began to gut it . Then I gathered some branches together and used way too much magic to create a fire . I disliked fire magic a lot… I understood it for the most part, but I didn’t have the right attributes, which made it irritating to use . Otherwise, I would be causing explosions with a snap of my fingers… Well, maybe I would just have to settle with freezing things .

Freezing an entire area with a snap… That would be so cool…

The fire went out as such stupid thoughts distracted my mind . I felt very miserable as I wasted even more energy in making the fire again .

I walked around the ruins while stuffing rac.o.o.n meat in my mouth . If it wasn’t in the sky, then it must be in the ground . After all, things always tend to be buried when it comes to ruins . They were always excavating things on TV . Buried gold or earthenware . All underground . If it was one thousand years ago, it could easily be buried, with trees growing over it .

Of course, that was my view as a modern man, and that wasn’t very useful here . After all, this ruin wasn’t even underground . It didn’t matter if it was a thousand years ago .

Unless they hid it underground from the beginning . They hid it there and built a building on top . Yes . They put a building here to draw all the attention, all the while hiding what is really important . But they still wanted someone to find it, so they left a hint . Otherwise, why leave any kind of marking on the surface?

In that case, what ever is hidden must be incredibly valuable . I told myself this as I spat out the bones from the meat and marked the place that I would dig .

I couldn’t turn the whole place upside down . I would concentrate on one point and cause an explosive wind with Legs of the Forest Wolf . Obviously, it would use a lot of magical energy, so I would not be able to do it many times .

First, the center of the ruins . That is where I would dig . I used Jack of all Trades, Master of None to visualize it . It allowed me to try different methods through simulation, and pick which method would be the most effective . The unique skill was really good for that reason…now if only my techniques could catch up with it .

After a few minutes, I concentrated the green and silver wind around my legs to the underside of my feet as I levitated in the air . It went from my legs to a single point below me . It was like piercing the ground with a needle and allowing the energy to explode from that point . The power of the Forest Wolf caused a great wind directed towards the ground . I was blown up into the air by the force of it, but it was all according to my predictions .

“Hmmm… It must be a success then…”

The dust slowly blows away in the wind . And the hole in the ground shows itseld . It worked . There was now a two meter deep hole there . However, there were no visible traces of anything being hidden . Once the dust had settled completely, I went down and inspected it .

“Hmm…mmm…? What’s this?”

I had tried using Presence Detection, and that’s when I noticed that there was magic flowing inside the ground .

I wondered if maybe I had made a mistake, and so I tried again after getting out of the hole, but everything was normal again . So then I went back in the hole and activated Presence Detection . Same strage feeling . It was like I was inside of a dragon vein .

“Is there some magic at work here…?”

Maybe this was the preservation magic? But I wasn’t strong enough to be able to a.n.a.lyze it . Though, there was definitely something here . I knew that . The ruins were quite broken down, and yet, it was somehow still a vehicle for this magic . It was when I thought this, that something  started to bother me .

“Could it be…that it was made like that from the beginning?”

How…aged it looked . Broken down…that atmosphere . And that ancient elven crest that had been flipped over almost purposefully . What if it acted as some kind of magic circle?

I was afraid to find out . What if I destroyed it and it exploded… No thanks . I didn’t want to meddle with it if it really was what was preserving the place . Someone who knew about these things should look at it . But then again, no such person existed in this world anymore .

“If there is preseveration magic, and I can dig up the earth here . That means the ground is not protected…so it only affects manmade things?”

I should dig a little more . This is the place where the crest had been . Maybe I would find something . Treasure Hunter Asagi smirked as he gathered a second wind to his feet .

As I looked at it and wondered why it seemed so familiar, Daniela returned from her stroll

 .

“There really is nothing around here… What, that, that…!”.

“Ah, Daniela . Yeah, this . I know I’ve seen it before, but I can’t remember where . ”.

“That is an ancient elven crest!”.

“Re-really?”.

 .

I frantically took my bag off and pulled out the ancient elven sword . On close inspection, it really did have the same crest on its handguard . I see . I rarely looked at it and so I had forgotten….

 .

“It’s the same…”.

“So this ruin was made by the ancient elves… Asagi, this is quite a discovery!”.

“I guess . But if it’s so important, why hasn’t anyone realized it before?”.

 .

Supposedly this place had been investigated many times . That seemed very inept on their part

 .

“Well, people had long a.s.sumed that there was some value to this place . They must have been careful not to change too much . I imagine they would not have been turning everything over…”.

“So in other words, I was the first person to flip this rock here . And so it was discovered . ”.

 .

It was a weird coincidence . My job when I worked the night s.h.i.+ft was mostly cleaning, and so I liked to keep things tidy . And I suppose that tendency led to this . My days as a part-time worker were not for nothing then

 .

“But this building is in a lot worse condition than the other one . ”.

“There would be some kind of preservation magic on the important parts . That means there could be something where we cannot see . ”.

 .

Now that was something our predecessors should have looked into . But I guess they didn’t turn things over and shovel and sweep as part of investigations in this world . In fact, seventy percent of the building had practically returned to nature

 .

“Well then . If we investigate this place thoroughly, that could lead to a great discovery…”.

“I know that we are not exactly in a hurry, but surely you do not think we are going to set up camp here and dig around forever?”.

 .

There was the matter of food as well . Daniela added . It didn’t seem the most convincing coming from Daniela, but it would definitely be a problem . If we stayed here for too long, we wouldn’t have enough food when crossing the mountains

 .

“We could return to Replant once…”.

“You…spent all that time saying goodbye to everyone, and you want to return before a week has pa.s.sed…?”.

 .

I have no shame

 .

“Ah, but one can’t ignore the possibility of a treasure right in front of him . ”.

“I understand how you feel, but it will not do . If it is there, then it is hidden . You must start by searching for it . It could be underground or in the sky…”.

“The sky? How would you hide something in the sky?”.

 .

Surely there isn’t a castle floating up there….

 .

“They say that islands floated in the air during the age of advanced magic, you know? Perhaps remnants of it still remain . ”.

“Huh… Must have been amazing back then…”.

 .

Islands in the sky on a sunny day . I looked up now, but of course, there was nothing there . Maybe it was hidden….

 .

“Huhhh…I guess it’s no use then…”.

“I am disappointed about it as well . ”.

 .

I get it…but I didn’t like it at all…!.

 .

“Daniela, you go on ahead . ”.

“What?”.

“I’m a romanticist . I cannot abandon the possibility this lies in front of me!”.

 .

I wrung my fists and burned with the pa.s.sion of an adventurous soul . Would I be a man if I gave up here?.

 .

“How will you eat?”.

“I’ll go hunting . ”.

“Are you stupid?”.

“Maybe I am!”.

 .

She looked at me with exasperation, but it did not change my resolve

 .

“Huhhh… You can be stubborn at the strangest of times, Asagi . I suppose it is I who must bend…”.

“I’m sorry, Daniela . I promise . I’ll finish in two days . Even if I don’t find anything, I’ll come after you once those two days are up . ”.

“…Very well . Walk straight from our last camp, then you will reach the mountain path . It is an actual path with signs, so you should have no trouble catching up to me with your speed . ”.

“Got it!”.

 .

I handed Daniela the hollow bag

 .

“I’m used to sleeping outside . You should take everything . ”.

“Two days . I hope you will not forget it in your fervor?”.

“Don’t worry . I’ll keep my promise . ”.

 .

I knew that I wasn’t making it easy for her . But surely it was fine to do as you want, once in a while….

 .

To crush just a little of my guilt, I picked Daniela up and used Legs of the Forest Wolf to carry her back to our camp . This way, she wouldn’t waste any energy on me

 .

“Well, see you in two days . ”.

“Aye . I shall have no expectations . ”.

“I’ll try to bring back something good . ”.

 .

You will try . Daniela said with a laugh and waved . I returned to the ruin in a hurry . I would find what so many had failed to find in a limited time frame . I had to hurry

 .

And so my detour began

□　　　□　　　□　　　□.

 .

And then the first day ended . I had found nothing . I even looked through the sky, but it was no use

 .

With the power of Legs of the Forest Wolf, I could run in the air . I could explore where no one else could . No one could search this world inhabited by the birds…I think . Probably

I ran up directly over the ruins . As there was a danger of me running into an invisible wall, I created several ice s.h.i.+elds above me as protection . And like that, I went up as high as my body would allow me . It became cold very quickly, and I couldn’t breathe… Still, I found nothing . Though the view was quite nice . It was so surprsingingly beautiful, in fact, that I wanted to show it to Daniela next time

This world was certainly round, I thought, as I descended, having depleted quite a lot of magical energy . And so the first day ended

 .

I was very tired as I searched for a place to sleep . I had given everything to Daniela, so the only thing to do was to make some vine ropes and sleep in a tree . It would be impossible, if there were any blood apes around, but they have never been known to live around here . They stayed in the northern forests of Replant

Still, I set up some animal traps on the ground before climing the tree . Besides, if something got caught in it, I would have something to eat later… Well, I wouldn’t get my hopes up too high . And with that, I tied the vines around my body so I was secure, and closed my eyes

 .

The next morning, I woke up without having had any dinner the previous day . I sighed as I looked down to untie the rope around my stomach, when I noticed there was a rac.o.o.n caught in the trap below me . Oh, so I suppose there would be breakfast after all . I untied the ropes and then launched an ice arrow into the brain of the squirming animal . I landed on the ground and saw that it had died with one hit . After joining my hands in front of it respectfully, I began to gut it . Then I gathered some branches together and used way too much magic to create a fire . I disliked fire magic a lot… I understood it for the most part, but I didn’t have the right attributes, which made it irritating to use . Otherwise, I would be causing explosions with a snap of my fingers… Well, maybe I would just have to settle with freezing things

 .

Freezing an entire area with a snap… That would be so cool….

 .

The fire went out as such stupid thoughts distracted my mind . I felt very miserable as I wasted even more energy in making the fire again

 .

I walked around the ruins while stuffing rac.o.o.n meat in my mouth . If it wasn’t in the sky, then it must be in the ground . After all, things always tend to be buried when it comes to ruins . They were always excavating things on TV . Buried gold or earthenware . All underground . If it was one thousand years ago, it could easily be buried, with trees growing over it

 .

Of course, that was my view as a modern man, and that wasn’t very useful here . After all, this ruin wasn’t even underground . It didn’t matter if it was a thousand years ago

Unless they hid it underground from the beginning . They hid it there and built a building on top . Yes . They put a building here to draw all the attention, all the while hiding what is really important . But they still wanted someone to find it, so they left a hint . Otherwise, why leave any kind of marking on the surface?.

In that case, what ever is hidden must be incredibly valuable . I told myself this as I spat out the bones from the meat and marked the place that I would dig

 .

I couldn’t turn the whole place upside down . I would concentrate on one point and cause an explosive wind with Legs of the Forest Wolf . Obviously, it would use a lot of magical energy, so I would not be able to do it many times

 .

First, the center of the ruins . That is where I would dig . I used Jack of all Trades, Master of None to visualize it . It allowed me to try different methods through simulation, and pick which method would be the most effective . The unique skill was really good for that reason…now if only my techniques could catch up with it

 .

After a few minutes, I concentrated the green and silver wind around my legs to the underside of my feet as I levitated in the air . It went from my legs to a single point below me . It was like piercing the ground with a needle and allowing the energy to explode from that point . The power of the Forest Wolf caused a great wind directed towards the ground . I was blown up into the air by the force of it, but it was all according to my predictions

 .

“Hmmm… It must be a success then…”.

 .

The dust slowly blows away in the wind . And the hole in the ground shows itseld . It worked . There was now a two meter deep hole there . However, there were no visible traces of anything being hidden . Once the dust had settled completely, I went down and inspected it

 .

“Hmm…mmm…? What’s this?”.

 .

I had tried using Presence Detection, and that’s when I noticed that there was magic flowing inside the ground

I wondered if maybe I had made a mistake, and so I tried again after getting out of the hole, but everything was normal again . So then I went back in the hole and activated Presence Detection . Same strage feeling . It was like I was inside of a dragon vein

 .

“Is there some magic at work here…?”.

 .

Maybe this was the preservation magic? But I wasn’t strong enough to be able to a.n.a.lyze it . Though, there was definitely something here . I knew that . The ruins were quite broken down, and yet, it was somehow still a vehicle for this magic . It was when I thought this, that something  started to bother me

 .

“Could it be…that it was made like that from the beginning?”.

 .

How…aged it looked . Broken down…that atmosphere . And that ancient elven crest that had been flipped over almost purposefully . What if it acted as some kind of magic circle?.

I was afraid to find out . What if I destroyed it and it exploded… No thanks . I didn’t want to meddle with it if it really was what was preserving the place . Someone who knew about these things should look at it . But then again, no such person existed in this world anymore

 .

“If there is preseveration magic, and I can dig up the earth here . That means the ground is not protected…so it only affects manmade things?”.

 .

I should dig a little more . This is the place where the crest had been . Maybe I would find something . Treasure Hunter Asagi smirked as he gathered a second wind to his feet