[Author's Note: For bonus chapters, the goal is
25 Power Stones
50 Power Stones
Every Week]
Volume 1 Chapter 65: Extracting a Hemisphere from the Chest
Pepper's response was accurate, as she could see the exit of the passage from her position. However, she was uncertain about how many more times Carmilla and Eve would circle around before reaching it.
Pepper continued to watch as Carmilla and Eve circled around a few more times. However, they eventually stopped circling and resumed walking straight ahead.
Observing this, Pepper began following the two. However, to her surprise, Carmilla and Eve continued walking even as they approached the exit, where there was no longer any ground to walk on.
Pepper was on the verge of reminding them, but her warning came too late. Carmilla and Eve had already taken the step, and they began to fall.
Carmilla and Eve exclaimed.
Carmilla/Eve: "WAAaaahhh!"
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Seeing that Carmilla and Eve begin to fall into the stone spikes, Pepper quickly runs toward the passage exit before shouting.
Pepper: "MASTER, EVE, QUICKLY TRANSFORM INTO A BAT"
Carmilla/Eve: "WAAaaahhh"
As Carmilla and Eve were in the midst of their descent, their eyes locked onto the formidable expanse of stone spikes below. It was precisely at that crucial juncture that Pepper's frantic shout reached their ears, breaking through the tense atmosphere.
Swiftly, both of them rapidly proceeds into transforming into bats, they flap their wing with practiced ease. Hovering just above the perilous expanse of stone spikes, they took a moment to collect their thoughts and steady their nerves before embarking on a gradual ascent, their wings propelling them upwards with ease.
Upon reaching Pepper's altitude, Carmilla initiated a conversation with their shared connection to convey her irritation, since having a constraint thats bats lacked verbal communication abilities.
Carmilla: "Pepper, why didn't you warn us about the fall? It seems falling would mean certain death."
Pepper: "But Master, I reminded both you and Eve. Don't you remember?"
Carmilla: "When did you remind us?"
Hearing Carmilla and Pepper's conversation, Eve reminded Carmilla.
Eve: "Master, I think Pepper might have been referring to when she mentioned to us to watch our steps back then."
After Eve's words, Carmilla recalled Pepper's caution about watching their steps, the memory surfacing in her mind.
Carmilla began to recollect her conversation with Pepper's and her earlier words and the responses exchanged between them.
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Pepper: "Oh, I almost forgot to tell you two, watch your step, okay?"
Carmilla: "Don't worry, I'll watch my steps even though I can't see, ahahaha."
Eve: "Yes, I'll be careful too."
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Regret wash Carmilla for not listening to Pepper as she realized how she had mocked and dismissed the warning.
Returning to the present moment.
Eve's words prompted Pepper to consider the possibility that the three of them had misunderstood something.
Pepper: "Master, it seems that the three of us misunderstood something."
Carmilla: "It does seem that way. I initially thought your warning was about watching our steps was to prevent tripping."
Pepper: "That's not what I meant when I warned both of you. At that moment, I was cautioning you about this very danger. When I was walking, I fell down too and barely managed to avoid the spikes."
Carmilla: "We were fortunate to make it in time. But enough about that. Is there a place or location where the darkness can block our sight? And where do we go from here?"
Upon hearing Carmilla's two questions, Pepper didn't dwell on them much, as she had already observed everything in her last visit.
Pepper: "As for the darkness, I'm certain there isn't a place it can envelop us. Nonetheless, we should maintain our caution. And regarding our destination, I noticed a chest situated atop the central platform. During my exploration, I didn't come across any other viable landing spots."
Carmilla and Eve began to ponder as Pepper recounted her earlier experience exploring this opening.
Carmilla: "Shall we head to the platform first and examine the chest's contents? Afterward, we can double-check our surroundings. Are both of you in agreement with this plan?"
Eve: "No problem, Master."
Pepper: "Sounds good to me."
Carmilla: "Since both of you are in agreement, Pepper, please lead the way."
Upon hearing this, Pepper took flight towards the flat platform, with Carmilla and Eve following closely behind.
After a brief flight, the flat platform came into view, revealing a small dot in its center.
As they approached the flat platform, the chest's appearance became clearer and more defined.
Pepper was the first to land, followed by Carmilla and Eve.
Pepper: "Master, there's the chest. I refrained from opening it, as my bad luck could potentially affect what will drop."
Upon hearing Pepper's mention of her own bad luck, Carmilla began to feel remorseful, recalling the times she had indirectly referenced Pepper's unfortunate choices of entrances that led to dead ends.
Carmilla: "Pepper, I want you to know that when I called you a black cat and teased you about your bad luck before, I was only joking. Please don't take it too seriously."
Pepper: "No need to worry about me, Master. Let's just open the chest so we can begin exploring the cave."
Carmilla: "You're right, but I still feel bad. How about you open the chest yourself?"
Carmilla suggested.
Hearing Carmilla's offer, Pepper initially attempted to decline, but Carmilla persisted. Helplessly, Pepper approached the chest, placing her hand on top of it. She looked back at Carmilla, who nodded reassuringly. Gaining a bit of confidence, Pepper applied some force to her hand, attempting to open the chest.
As Pepper exerted force on the chest, it unexpectedly began to open on its own. Startled, she retreated to where Carmilla and Eve were standing.
The trio watched as the chest's lid gradually lifted, and once fully open, a round pearl-like thing came into view.
However, as it floated higher, the three of them noticed that the pearl- like thing was actually cut in half, resembling a hemisphere.
Observing that nothing else emerged from the chest except for the hemisphere, Carmilla approached, reached out, and grabbed it before stepping back once again.
At that moment, the chest began to disintegrate into particles, gradually fading away until it disappeared entirely.
Once the chest had vanished, the trio's attention focused intensely on the hemisphere that Carmilla held in her hands.
Pepper: "What's this?"
She inquired, while poking at the hemisphere.