Inside the Cave
By the time we arrived in front of the cave, evening had fallen.
Thus, we decided to camp for the night and explore the cave further the next day.
Plum's maids were tasked with setting up a campsite at the cave's entrance, which would serve as our main camp.
If we found what we were looking for in a day, all the better.
If not, we'd search for several days.
Our mission was cave exploration, and with prior knowledge of spider-type monsters, we needed to be cautious of traps.
The next morning, after breakfast, it was finally time for the cave exploration.
At the front was Rumaja.
The members of the Wildcat Claws followed, with me placed in between them.
Plum took up the rear.
Using the light created by Rumaja and Plum’s magic as our guide, we advanced deeper into the cave.
But we couldn't sense even a hint of life.
There weren’t even the usual cave-dwellers like geckos, bats, or snakes.
What was going on here?
“Hmm. There’s no doubt some kind of monster has made its home here.”
“Is that so, Plum?”
“In my experience, caves occupied by monsters rarely host wild creatures. They either get eaten or flee.”
“I see. In the case of this cave, which do you think it is?”
“We can’t say for sure until we investigate further. There are hardly any traces of other living beings.”
Even Plum seemed at a loss.
Rumaja was advancing cautiously while scanning the surroundings, suggesting that this might be a highly dangerous cave.
After several hours of wandering through the cave, we hit yet another dead end.
Deciding not to press our luck further, we exited the cave for the day.
Both Rumaja and Plum agreed that the cave wasn’t dungeonized, based on their shared observations.
They had noticed signs that the cave had been deliberately dug out.
Apparently, when a cave becomes dungeonized, any signs of digging quickly disappear.
So, while it wasn’t clear if the cave was naturally formed or painstakingly excavated, it was confirmed that someone had expanded it.
The mystery only deepened.
We spent another night at the campsite outside the cave.
The following morning, upon returning to the cave, we were met with a startling change.
One of the paths at a fork in the cave was now blocked by a spider web.
Comparing this to the map we made the previous day, the path that led to the dead end was the one now blocked.
Was this a sign inviting us to proceed further?
Both Rumaja and Plum decided it was dangerous but worth investigating, so we pressed on.
As we ventured deeper, we found that many of the forked paths were similarly sealed with webs, guiding us down the unobstructed paths.
These led us steadily into the depths of the cave.
Eventually, we reached a spot where light poured in from above.
Before us stretched an incredible scene: sunlight filtering through a collapsed cave ceiling, a massive subterranean lake, and—for some reason—patches of cultivated soil.
What was this place?
(So, you have come, visitors.)
A deep, gravelly male voice echoed in my mind as I stood captivated by the sight.
(If you mean no harm to our land, you are our guests. But if you intend to take it from us, you are our foes. Which are you?)
As the voice faded, spiders descended from the ceiling—more than ten of them.
Judging by their appearance, they seemed to be jumping spiders.
I wasn’t very knowledgeable about spider species, so that was all I could deduce.
Their fur was a light brown, and they were smaller than humans.
They didn’t seem particularly friendly, but as long as we didn’t show hostility, it felt like they might listen to us.
Were these spiders strong?
And, would they be willing to cooperate with us?
What do you think about this chapter?
