Chapter 9: The Ancient Underground Temple Part 1

The water city of Elana has stood for 450 years. The city remains very clean, and its buildings are still very sturdy. The majority of Elana's inhabitants are mermaids, and their main livelihoods are as traders and fishermen. They all worship the Water Goddess, Osania, believing that she created the sea and its inhabitants, including the mermaid race.

To this day, they have not seen the true form of the Water Goddess Osania, as they follow the teachings of their ancestors in worshipping her. As a testament to their ancestors' legacy, there is an old temple located underground in Elana City. However, this place has now fallen into disrepair, and the locals no longer visit it.

Today, it's nearing morning, and Nao is preparing to head to the underground cave they are targeting. According to Syilfie, who monitored it using magic, the place is vast, resembling ancient ruins. Syilfie began telling the story of the cave last night, which excited Anna greatly.

Now, Nao goes to Anna's room to wake her up. Nao and Anna share the same room, while Syilfie and Rion are in the adjacent room. Nao gently taps Anna's shoulder.

Nao: Anna, get up! We need to

         have breakfast first.

Anna: Hmmm... Dad? Are you up?

           "Anna rubs her eyes."

Nao: Come on, you need to get ready.

         We're heading to the cave that

         Syilfie talked about yesterday.

Anna: Oh, right, I forgot. "Anna quickly

            gets out of bed." You go ahead,

            Dad; I'll catch up.

Nao: Alright, just don't take too long.

Anna: Okay, Dad! "Anna starts stretching

           her body."

Nao exits the room, heading to the first floor for breakfast. The innkeeper and her twin daughters have already prepared food on the dining table. They are warmly welcomed by the innkeeper.

The mother's name is Diana, the founder of the Siren Inn in Elana City. The inn is well-known among adventurers for its well-equipped rooms and delicious food. Not only that, adventurers are also drawn by Diana's beauty and that of her twin daughters.

Lala is busy cleaning; she works as housekeeping at the Siren Inn. She is diligent and skilled in cleaning everything, including guest rooms. She despises dust and dirt. Lulu, on the other hand, is shy and assists her mother with various tasks. She's also skilled at setting the dining table.

Diana: Good morning, Mr. Hunter. You

             woke up early. We've just

             prepared breakfast on the table.

Lala & Lulu: Good morning, Mr. Hunter.

                     "They both wear broad

                      smiles."

Nao: Good morning, Miss Diana, Lala,

         and Lulu.

Lala: Mr. Hunter, where is Anna?

Nao: Anna is changing her clothes;

          she'll be down soon.

Lala: Let's go, Lulu; let's go get Anna

          to come down here. "Lala quickly

          climbs the stairs to Nao and

          Anna's room."

Lulu: Lala, you cheater! Wait for me!

        "Lulu immediately follows to chase

         Lala."

Diana: Huhuhu, it seems they both like

            playing with your daughter. Sorry

            for any trouble.

Nao: It's okay; Anna is also happy to

         have friends like them now. In our

         village, there were no children her

         age, so I'm glad she has friends

         now.

Diana: That's good to hear. Come on, Mr.

             Hunter, enjoy the breakfast

             prepared by my husband. I'm sure

             you'll like it.

Nao: Alright, thank you very much, Miss

         Diana. I accept your offer.

Nao starts enjoying his breakfast, chicken soup with carrots, while the conversation continues. Meanwhile, Syilfie comes downstairs and joins Nao, taking a seat next to him.

Syilfie: Nao, have you prepared

             everything for our journey into

             the cave?

Nao: Everything is ready; we just need to

         buy a few ingredients to make flash

         bombs and smoke bombs.

Syilfie: Flash bombs and smoke bombs?

             Looks like you're planning to be

             quite bold in infiltrating the

             bandit's hideout.

Nao: I don't want this mission to drag on

         too long; it's a matter of life and

         death for someone. So, we can't

         afford to be too slow.

Syilfie: I agree. So, when are we setting

             off?

Nao: We'll head out at 11 AM. It's when

         nocturnal creatures won't be active,

         making it easier to find the entrance

         to the cave.

Syilfie: Nocturnal creatures? What do you

             mean by that, Nao?

Nao: I mean the cave rats, which are

         nearly the size of adult humans.

Syilfie: Huh! If there are monsters like

             that, why would the bandit groups

             that kidnapped Misbel hang

             around there?

Nao: It seems they have a plan that

         somehow makes that place their

         headquarters.

Syilfie: Oh, Misbel. "Syilfie looks

             worried."

While they chat, Anna finally comes down to the first floor, escorted by the twins. Anna is afraid of them, so she rushes behind Nao when she sees him. She glances at Nao.

Nao: Anna, why are you muttering

         behind me? Did they treat you

         badly?

Anna: How can they not treat me

           badly? They came into my room

           when I was changing, and they

           teased me.

Lala: Come on, Anna, you're so cute that

          you're tempting to touch, but we

          restrain ourselves.

Lulu: Lala is right; we don't touch you

          because you're cute

Anna: Aaah... Dad, help me! "Anna

           clenches Nao's shirt sleeve and

           tugs."

Nao: It's okay, Anna. They're nice

         people; don't worry.

Anna: Dad is mean! "Anna immediately

           turns around and pouts while

           hugging Nao's hand."

Syilfie: Huhuhu, you two are very close,

          aren't you? I envy you.

Nao: Come on, Anna; sit down. Let's

         have breakfast first and then we'll

         accompany Dad to buy crafting

         supplies.

Anna: Huft... "Anna sits on the bench and

          starts eating her bread."

After breakfast, Rion also comes downstairs from the second floor and joins them at the table. At the same time, Diana's husband, Edlyn, has prepared food for Anna and Syilfie. Edlyn, an elf, serves as the inn's cook and has traveled to various regions. He met Diana when they were young, fell in love, got married, and had twin daughters.

Edlyn: Here you go, Diana, please take

              this to the ladies.

Diana: Edlyn? Are you more interested

            in those women than me?

            "Diana feels jealous of Syilfie."

Edlyn: It's not like that, my love. If I

            had to choose, I'd always choose

            you.

Diana: Oh, my dear Edlyn, I love you.

Nao: (I overheard their conversation, and

        suddenly I feel awkward.) "Nao's

        face turns pale."

Diana serves the meals to Syilfie and Anna, carrot and corn soup, with warm sweet tea as their drink. After everyone has finished eating, Nao and Anna head to the adventurer's equipment store, not far from the Siren Inn. Meanwhile, Syilfie and Rion go back to their room to prepare their adventurer gear.

Nao: Alright, we'll buy fireflies and flour

         to make flash bombs and smoke

         bombs.

Anna: Shouldn't we buy other supplies

          like torches, healing potions, and

          stamina potions?

Nao: Ah, you're right. We should buy

         those too, now that we're a group.

Anna: Dad, can you also buy me another

          weapon like a short sword for a

          secondary weapon?

Nao: Can you use dual-wield techniques,

         Anna?

Anna: Of course, I can dual-wield, so can

          I have one, please?

Nao: We'll see; for now, let's get what we

         need immediately. If everything goes

         smoothly, I'll consider getting one

         for you.

Anna: Really!? Yay! Okay, let's finish

          this mission quickly.

Nao: Huh. (When i give Anna a promised

         something, she gets so motivated.

         Well, it's better this way, so she

         cooperates easily.) "Nao smiles."

They finally buy the necessary equipment for their journey. Afterward, they return to the Siren Inn, go to their rooms to don their armor and weapons, and then gather in the lobby. Nao and Anna are already prepared, and Syilfie and Rion are waiting for them by the exit.

Syilfie: Are you all ready?

Nao: Everything is prepared. Let's go;

         there's no time to waste.

Before they depart, the twins approach Anna. Anna turns around to face them, and Lala gives her a small pouch.

Anna: What's this?

Lala: It's a lucky charm bag. It will keep

          you safe, Anna.

Lulu: Lala is right; we were worried

          about you, so we made it for you.

Anna: Thank you both. I accept your

           gift, so don't worry. I promise I'll

           come back.

Lulu: Really? "Lulu with a big smile."

Anna: Yes, I promise.

Lala: In that case, let's make a pinky

           promise.

Lulu: That's a great idea, Lala; let's do

           it.

Anna: A pinky promise?

Lala: Yes, lift your pinky finger.

Anna: Like this? "Anna raises her pinky

           finger."

Lala: Yes, just like that. "Lala holds Anna's

           pinky with her own."

Anna, Lala, and Lulu make a pinky promise, and then Anna joins the group again. She waves to Lala and Lulu, and they head towards the underground cave to rescue Misbel. Upon arrival, they don't immediately enter the cave. Nao begins to question Syilfie about the location of the cave behind the Elana City church.

Nao: So, is this the place? Why haven't

         the people here ever checked it,

         allowing adventurers to enter?

Syilfie: This place has long been forgotten

              by the city's residents, but the

              adventurer guild still has

              documents about it, so we have

              permission to enter.

Nao: Huh, does the city's governor know

         about this?

Syilfie: Yes, he does, which is why the

             adventurer guild has the right to

             explore this place.

Nao: It seems my limited trips out of the

         village have left me in the dark about

         this.

Syilfie: Huhuhu, let's save Misbel, Nao.

Nao: Alright, everyone, let's start our

         expedition into the ancient ruins.

TO BE CONTINUED...