Chapter 45 Trial Gate Part 05

One peaceful night passed as Soma and Hina spent their night having a meal that Soma prepared and waiting for the time for them to rest while gazing upon the beautiful stars that scattered around the dark curtain of night. They spent the night in silence, but Soma always tried to keep the conversation going. However, Soma who still didn't want to disturb her personal space, and Hina who slightly still held doubt for him made the night feel so long with an awkward mood between them before they were being swallowed by the darkness itself.

Morning had arrived Soma as usual received his daily quest and today, the quest was jogging. He is circling the place and like the other day, he must jog for the thirty minutes aforementioned time.

Hina who found it weird for him to do running in the trial gate began to tag along and they are now running side by side. Maybe because Hina was also the hard worker type she could follow Soma's pace just fine.

"You good at this".

"..Well, I used to train at home. How long are we going to run in a circle like this?".

"..Let's stop after thirty minutes".

"..Okay".

She probably still had something to say but she dismissed the thought and began to focus herself on the activity she was currently doing.

[Daily Quest complete]

[Jogging 30 minutes]

[All stats increase +1]

"Fuuuh, that was a good warm-up".

"Yeah,, Fuu,, haa,, Yes, I agree with that".

They regulated their breathing to calm down their racing hearts. After calming their breath, Soma felt that his throat was barren. So he took water from his storage and took a couple of drinks before sharing some of it to Hina, who seems also in need of water.

"Here".

"..Thanks".

Hina received a new bottle of water from Soma as she mumbled some words that caught his ear. He smiled wryly hearing an honest word that came from her mouth.

Replacing the lost body fluid they exert while running, both of them began to prepare to continue the exploration within the maze. Soma already marked this place on the map. There were three routes before him, and he began to choose the straight route in front of him.

"Let's go".

Hina nodded as she began to follow Soma in behind. The flat ground showed a sign of changes, the ground was in the form of flat rocks and now it was a rectangle paving block that was made from natural rocks lining up neatly like it was arranged by a human's hands.

Walking a while, they found the first junction with two directions. Soma turns his gaze sideways before choosing the right route. While scribbling the note in hands Soma's mind began to wander.

The thing about the trial gate he read from the internet. It was said that the time inside the trial gate was erratic. There are notes in the past that said that a person who enters the trial gate only spent an hour inside but a year had passed outside and the reverse was also possible.

Soma was a bit worried, he spent all night thinking that the time in this space was distorted. Because the time on their phone always shows some error display. However, if the matter about erratic time is true. He just hoped that the time inside the space was faster than the outside world, for he still had something to do in two months' time in the outside world.

Soma soon dismissed the thought, afraid that his mind would be corrupted with worry. He soon found there was another turn that led them to the right and they could see a wide space with green scenery. Soma stopped his walk and saw the unusual sight inside the rocky wall that always entered his sight.

"What is this?".

Hina beside him interjects with wide eyes. Soma could see a wide garden in a rectangular space. There is a paved white block on the ground showing the way around the place, on each side spread a green hedges plan, separated by the hedges there is a lush green grass that was trimmed neatly and a couple of trees standing with variations of fruit stands on it.

In the middle of the place, there was a small pond with blue water that reflected the sky and a white gazebo that stood on top of that blue small pond. The scene that entered his sight made him wonder.

"What is this place?"

[Welcome to Oasis]

""Oasis?"".

A translucent window began to appear before their eyes. Seeing the place name that appeared in the notification, and the place they already spent days exploring. It describes the place in front of their sight.

Soma turned his eyes to Hina who simultaneously turned her sight at him. As if they understood each other, they nodded simultaneously and stepped into the place.

The place welcoming them with a cool breeze drifted along grazing their skin and the fresh air that entered their lungs relaxed their wary mind. They enjoy the green scenery before Soma feels that his sleeves are being pulled off by Hina beside him. He turned his gaze to the side and found her with wide eyes and directed her sight toward the middle of the place.

Soma followed her gaze, then he also opened his eyes wide. Before they stepped to Oasis, they couldn't see the gazebo too clearly because it was being disrupted by a single tree that stood stall and had many fruits on its branches tip. But, after they enter and stand in the open space that leads straight toward the gazebos. They discover something precious.

Something that was filled with hope and greed by the awakeners who visited the sub-dimension like gate, or dungeon.

"That is?!".

"Treasure box".

What stood on the floor of the gazebo was a distinctive figure of a large treasure box where the exterior of that thing was painted in a clear brown color, adorned with intricate carving of gold.

As it was their first time finding something that valuable, slowly with a stiffened body. They began to walk, approaching the box. Each time they took a step forward the stir in their heart began to turn wild as their facial muscle also loosened showing their white teeth.

The two figures of excited teenagers stood in front of the box, after crossing the small bridge that connected the gazebos and the ground. They paused for a moment then simultaneously stared at each other.

"Who will open it?".

"I don't know you?".

Soma and Hina cautiously begin to point at each other to open the box. He already knows that in the dungeon or gate, there will be a time when the person who is lucky enough will find a treasure box that contains treasure, items, equipment, or even relics from the past. But reading it and finding it in the flesh is an entirely different story.

"Okay let's open it together".

"..Um, Okay".

Soma gives his advice which Hina accepts. They approach the box Soma puts his left hand on the right side of the wooden lid and Hina on the other, to confirm it once more they stare at each other and then nod.

"One two..".

"Three".

After Hina finished the three count. They both exerted some strength in their hands and pushed away the lid of the box, opening it simultaneously. Their gaze was blinded by the blinding light from gold and jewelry that reflected the ray of the morning sun. Unlike the exterior of the box, the interior of the box was pretty much bigger. Inside there are many treasures such as glittering gold, and jewelry. Then also there are some item-like potions that have dark color put on the basket in full set.

However, what intrigued him the most was a pair of purple gauntlets and a green sheath Katana.

"This..".

"..Amazing".

Soma and Hina began to empty the items inside and spread them neatly. They still left the gold and the jewelry inside. The haul they got today was: One green katana, a pair of purple gauntlets, one rectangle-framed glasses, a set of potions with different colors, and last a scroll with a worn-out parchment.

From the items alone it was already decided which is going to be given to.

"Hina, you can take the katana".

"Eh? Are you sure".

Hina jerked her head sideways as she asked to confirm his decision, but Soma could see the elated feeling she tried to hide deep inside. Soma nodded his head and Hina's face broke into a smile.

"..Thank you".

Seeing Hina taking a weapon that meant to harm others with a blossoming smile on her face made him chuckle and wonder 'How time changes a person'. A girl he used to know would always squeak if they found some cute accessories or maybe some new fashion trend that appeared following the season, but the girl beside him was different.

"What?".

Hina, who notices being stared at, turns her gaze while holding the equipment tightly in her embrace. Soma shook his head to the side and pointed his finger at the remaining items.

"So these gauntlets will be mine and the potions we will share if the time comes between us who needs it"

"Okay".

"As for the scroll, and the glass, what should we do about it?".

"Try putting it first".

Hearing Hina's suggestion, Soma hesitated before he put the glasses in his face.

"Hmmm,,".

"What?".

"..Nothing".

Hina cast her gaze to the side not wanting to answer his question. Soma tilted his head then he soon opened his eyes wide after a strange floating word began to appear in his sight. What he saw was Hina who was wearing a new outfit and holding a Katana in her hands.

[Silk Jacket: A jacket made from using high-quality monster silk that is comfortable to wear]

[Sports underwear: An underwear made from high-quality silk that could absorb a moisture, giving the wearer a comfortable feeling]

[Silk long pants: Pants made from high-quality monster silk that are comfortable to wear]

[Rubber shoes: Shoes that are made from a monster leather that has an elastic and strong durability giving the wearer a comfortable experience because of the good shock absorption]

[Fujin Katana(Epic): A Replica of equipment that resembles the Katana Fujin had in his possession created by his power. It has a sharp edge capable of cutting the atmosphere itself and has the ability to gather a natural wind in the surroundings by infusing a bit of Mana into its blade.

- Equipment Skill Tachi Kaze (1X): A powerful slash that could cut even the space.

- Raised Agility Status +50]

"Wow?! Is this?".